A stand-alone (at least so far) from Garry Disher, who is just. so. darned. good. I really tore through this one. Acting Sgt. Alan Auhl has returned to work after a brief retirement, and is now assigned to Cold Cases and Missing Persons. Nevertheless, he seems to run across a lot of pesky recent crimes, which he'd much rather be working on. And then there are the domestic troubles of the tenants who share his three-story house in the Melbourne neighborhood of Carlton. Auhl has been hosting a sort of safe house for "waifs and strays"--friends or family members between jobs, women escaping abusive relationships, his own underemployed daughter, troubled teenagers needing a time-out, and since his wife moved out, the occasional overnight visit from her as well.

As a procedural, this was pretty good, my only quibble being that everyone in Auhl's work circle seems to be a bit too snarky and uncooperative just for the hell of it. But Auhl's personal set-up is the most intriguing part of the story; he has a bit of a messiah complex, and can't resist trying to help "fix" things for people who he sees as having got a raw deal. This leads him into some murky moral dilemmas, and left this reader slightly discomfited about her own reactions. Auhl is a very interesting character, and I hope Disher isn't through with him.

Unfortunately, some of Disher's books are very hard to come by in the U.S. I'll read everything I can get my hands on. ( )

After an absence of 5 years Sargent Alan Auhl is working cold cases in Melbourne, one of which has been open since he left the force. 3 unconnected cases, and the effort to help a young woman keep her estranged husband away from their daughter keep the book moving. Gloriously while all the cases have interesting developments they remain entirely unconnected nor do they have to do with dark corners of Auhl's former life. This book appears however to only slightly shade its moral grey. ( )

This was well-narrated and I found the narrative compelling throughout. The hero, cold case detective Alan Auhl was a mature, thoughtful and kind character who worked well with others.

SPOILERS

It was a bit of a surprise then when he travelled to Bali to murder the vindictive and abusive estranged husband of one of the waifs and strays he had taken in. This was particularly odd, given that there was plenty of material available to deal with him using the courts and due legal process. Given that I always say how much I disapprove of characters taking the law into their own hands, it is a testimony to how well-written this book is that I'm still giving it 5 stars. ( )

Well I am starting to enjoy my foray into crime fiction.
This story had a taut opening with the appearance of a snake. His hiding place revealed a dead body and so begins the series of cold cases. Alan Auhl , a policeman is brought out of retirement to put his practiced eye over unsolved murders. Alan's personal life is unusual. He and his wife, although separated, come together for occasional sex in Alan's three story home, which he inherited. He has an eclectic mix of boarders including his daughter, Bec. Through his wife Liz he has taken in Neve and Pia Fanning, who are seeking refuge from Neve's ex-husband. Alan does his best to support them both through custody hearings. As well as his regular work he has an annual look at a case that he worked on some years previously, as he is dissatisfied with the outcome.
So there are several cases in the mix as well as his personal problems. He is determined to resolve these issues but does he overstep the mark due to his frustration with the system? ( )

Disher is a new author for me, although he's written many books, mostly set in Australia. This book was billed as a stand-alone, which seemed a good way to be introduced, but having read the book, I hope very much this will be the first of a series.

Detective Alan Auhl, a burned-out 50-something homicide cop, has returned after five years to work cold cases. He lives in an old 3-story house left to him by his parents, and he fills the house with troubled souls, students, and visiting professors; his estranged wife (who comes and goes to her second floor rooms and occasionally allows him to spend the night with her), and their college student daughter (third floor). His relationship with the other cold-case staff begins tentatively because of his age, but that changes as they realize what a valuable co-worker he can be. Auhl is a wonderful main character, a dogged detective who cares about the people around him and the victims and families whose cases he works, but capable of surprising actions when he feels they're warranted. I ended the book with great respect for him, tinged with wondering what this man is capable of doing in the future.

I was hooked from the first few pages. Highly recommended. And now I'm off to look for more by the author. ( )