Set in the year 2000, Melaleuca follows Renee Taylor, an Aboriginal detective based in Brisbane who returns to her remote hometown of Goorungah, Queensland, to care for her ailing mother. What she expects to be a short stay changes when the body of an unidentified woman is found near a creek – brutally murdered.
As Renee investigates, she uncovers the town’s dark undercurrents: a culture of silence, corruption and fear. Her search for answers reveals disturbing links to the 1965 disappearance of two Aboriginal girls, Caroline and Bessie. The narrative shifts between 1965 and 2000, offering poignant insight into both the missing girls’ lives.
The 1965 storyline, set before the Referendum that granted First Nations people basic rights, paints a chilling picture of systemic racism and segregation, with Aboriginal families confined to camps on the town’s outskirts.
Renee’s investigation is hampered by intergenerational trauma, racism and an inept police sergeant. Yet, her intelligence carries her through, making her a compelling protagonist.
I really enjoyed this novel. Though Goorungah is a fictional town, it serves as a paradigm for Martin, illustrating how it’s possible to live harmoniously within a community. Her ability to weave suspense with sharp social commentary and nuanced character development places her firmly within the ranks of exceptional Australian crime writers.
For her debut novel, Martin delivers a compelling, finely crafted story that is both a gripping page-turner and a powerful exploration of Aboriginal life – past and present.
Reviewed by Sue Stanbridge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angie Faye Martin (Kooma/Kamilaroi/European) is a writer/editor currently living on Gubbi Gubbi Country (Redcliffe). She worked in public policy for 15 years before launching a freelance editing business, Versed Writings. She has a Bachelor of Public Health, a Masters of Anthropology, and a passion for fiction.
Melaleuca is her debut novel.
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