I loved Canticle Creek and was excited to read The Wiregrass. But I was left feeling a little underwhelmed by it. For me the story seemed just a bit too unbelievable for my liking and a lot of it felt over the top. I think there are too many characters in this one, so it’s hard to see them develop. I like Jesse though so I will continue with this series in future.

This is the second book with Jesse Redpath and follows on from Canticle Creek, and it doesn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put it down.
Jesse has a new job in the town of Satellite where there is a big storm and a body of a man is found. But Jesse believes this wasn’t an accident and starts looking for the truth.
There are plenty of twists and the descriptions are so immersive that you feel you are right there. It’s so well written with great characters too.
A brilliant atmospheric crime fiction. I really enjoyed reading this one and look forward to the next. Definitely recommend.
Thanks to #NetGallery #UltimoPress for an arc of #TheWiregrass in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book publishes 7th December 2023.

I recently discovered this author and was pleasantly surprised by this new release.
The story is fast-paced, engaging, and has a twisted plot that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The author's writing style is descriptive and immersive, making it easy to visualise the scenes and characters.
Although I didn't realize it until after I finished reading, this book is actually the second in a series. However, this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story at all, and it can easily be read as a standalone novel.

One of the standout features of this book is the character of Jesse Redpath, the protagonist, a complex and relatable character. I found myself rooting for them throughout the story. The supporting characters are also well-developed and add depth to the plot.

The conclusion of the book is action-packed and enthralling, tying up all loose ends in a satisfying way. I am eagerly looking forward to reading more about Jesse Redpath and other releases by this talented author.

Overall, if you're in the market for a new author or series, I highly recommend giving this book a chance. It's a well-written and engaging read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

It has been a while since I've read a novel set in Australia. "The Wiregrass" didn't really entice me to visit, though my time there was exciting and I really liked Senior Constable Jesse Redpath, the protagonist.

Jesse was a 'badass'. She was cunning, courageous, and very astute. Newly transferred from the back country, she is thrown in at the deep end her first day in the town of Satellite. A severe storm ensures that in addition to power outages, flooded roads, etc. she encounters a murder victim, and saves a woman's life. In her early forties, Jesse is very comfortable in her own skin. She is also comfortable living rough, and the Australian terrain and fauna give her no pause.

When she meets an attractive loner, they immediately 'click', only to have him arrested the following day... Nash is a former cop, who lived in a cult as a child. He blew the whistle on the cult's leaders and has never gotten over his abusive experiences there. Now, though she has only known him briefly, Jesse puts her career on the line to prove Nash's innocence.

Along the way, she encounters villains of every description and puts her own life in jeopardy.

This fast-paced crime thriller was the second book to feature Jesse Redpath. It read very, very well as a stand-alone, though I would like to read its predecessor "Canticle Creek" when time permits.

I'm certain that most fans of the genre will enjoy "The Wiregrass". I can heartily recommend the read.

4.5 stars rounded up

Jesse Redpath is new in town and comes with a warning that nothing will be quiet when she’s involved. Her settling in period consists of a storm, a rescue and an accident that she has second thoughts on. Will she survive long enough to work out if her suspicion is way off or right on the money? One thing we know for certain, wherever Jesse goes it won’t be quiet!

This is the first book from Adrian Hyland that I have read, there has been a previous book including Jesse but this did not have an impact on my reading experience as the back story wasn’t necessary to follow The Wiregrass.
I really enjoyed this read, it took me a couple of chapters to get into it as I found there to be far too many descriptive words, I found this very distracting. However I found the storyline to be captivating and the pace was exactly right to build tension. I was a little surprised to turn the last page and find the epilogue, after all the overly descriptive scenes I thought it ended very abruptly which was a bit disappointing as it felt like the high from that final showdown was cut in half.

My overall thoughts on this book are that it is worth a recommendation. Despite thinking it was too descriptive and finished abruptly I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mystery, suspense thriller and I personally would happily read another book from Adrian Hyland.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Wiregrass but that has in no way influenced my review.

Not that long ago I picked up and read a copy of Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland, and I loved it. I'm a huge fan of Australian crime fiction. It's my 'go-to' fictional setting 99.9% of the time and if it's an Aussie based police procedural that we're talking about, then even better! Which is exactly what Canticle Creek is in all of its thoroughly readable and highly compelling glory. What I didn't realise at the time was that CC was the first book in a new series. So when the opportunity arose to have an early read of the second Jesse Redpath novel, The Wiregrass, I jumped at it. There was no way on earth this one was going to pass me by, based on how much I loved Canticle Creek.

Not long after arriving in a new town, Jesse Redpath is called to assist when the weather turns nasty and storms and major flooding cause havoc for the local residents. After courageously rescuing a woman, Jesse and colleagues discover a terrible accident where a local farmer has met a sticky end. But there's something about the scene that just doesn't quite sit right for Jesse. Returning to the area later that same night, Jesse makes a number of startling discoveries and what first looked like an accident is confirmed as murder. Before long former police officer Nash Baker is arrested for the crime. But Jesse has recently become acquainted with Nash and despite the evidence, firmly believes he is not guilty. Can Jesse prove Nash is innocent or will this case be the death of her...?

The Wiregrass is a superb follow up to Canticle Creek and delivers on all counts. I once again thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Jesse's company. Things have changed for Jesse since the last book. She has moved away from the Northern Territory where we first met her and is now based in a small town 50 kilometres or so from Melbourne. With new colleagues, different weather conditions and a crumbling shack which she laughingly calls home, Jesse once again has a lot on her plate! When she starts to have doubts about the scene of an accident, Jesse isn't the type of person to let it go. She valiantly heads out on her own to have a quiet poke around. I love Jesse's tenacity, her drive and determination to do the right thing. She's fearless and the more time I spend with the character, the more I like her.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of The Wiregrass. Hyland has created a new favourite character in Jesse Redpath and I hope there are many more books featuring her to come. The supporting characters are also very well drawn and play their parts immensely well. One of the things which made my heart sing about the first book was how Hyland created such a mesmerising sense of place. Setting is clearly very important to the author as they have once again made the book's location an integral part of the plot and I am here for that 100%! The story unfolds at a steady, yet highly compelling pace until it reaches its thrilling conclusion. I was on the edge of my seat having not seen any of the reveals or revelations coming at any point along the way. All in all, I can't recommend The Wiregrass enough. I think it could be read without having read Canticle Creek first but why would you do that when both books are truly excellent?! An intelligent, assuredly written police procedural that has both heart and grit. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Wiregrass. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Once again Adrian Hyland writes and describes the Australian outback beautifully, and draws us into the life of Jess Redpath, a young police woman who has relocated to Canticle Creek. We follow her progress as she focuses on proving that her new boyfriend is not the twisted killer he’s being made out to be. She’s a very loyal friend and girlfriend, who like in the last book, won’t let things lie if she knows the case facts don’t match her theories. She’s a force to be reckoned with, which generally gets her into hot water!.
I was delighted to know that there was another book on the horizon in this series ,as I thoroughly enjoyed the previous book called Canticle Creek.
#Netgalley, #ultimopressuk, #adrianhyland.

Thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the series.
As with the first book a lot of effort has gone into describing the natural beauty of Australia with so many plants and areas talked about in fabulous detail.
Also rural policing is placed under the microscope which obviously differs massively from their urban counterparts.
It was great to meet a few of the characters again from the earlier book.
The plot is well written and definitely one which has you thinking and never truly knowing if certain people are good or not.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes unusual crime thrillers. Which keep you guessing until the end.

Australian rural crime author Adrian Hyland brought character Jesse Redpath from the red outback of Northern Territory to a tinder-dry Victorian country town in Canticle Creek. There was a raging bushfire in the climax to Canticle Creek but when Hyland’s follow-up The Wiregrass opens, the weather could not be more different. Jesse finds herself working with the local rural fire brigade to clear roads of fallen trees and rescue people trapped by rising flood waters as the rain hammers down on her new posting, in the Windmark Ranges and the tiny town of Satellite.
Jesse is a bit of a firebrand and it does not take long for her to find herself in the middle of trouble. During the storm it is Jesse who realises that what looked like death by falling tree was actually murder. Not long after Jesse finds herself attracted to a loner called Nash Rankin, an ex-policeman, who is arrested for the murder. Jesse is not so sure and despite being warned off investigating, starts to try and clear Nash’s name, a quest that will reveal long held dark secrets and put her in the crosshairs.
Hyland does a great job of keeping revelations coming and the tension high in The Wiregrass. From the reader’s perspective Jesse is always in the right but she is always pushing against authority and deliberately shaking things up to see what will happen. She is fearless, laconic, compassionate and intuitive. And Jesse also inspires loyalty from her friends and finds that Nash also has some people in his corner who can help her find her way to the truth.
The other highlight of The Wiregrass is Hyland’s feeling for the landscape. From the opening pages set on the night of the big storm - “trees and poles down everywhere, roads washed away, sinkholes opening up, flashfloods and landslides descending” to expeditions into the remote, former mining country of the Wiregrass Valley:
I made my way down serpentine trails and watercourses, hacked a passage through thick scrub, startled wallabies and lyrebirds, stirred up stroppy pigs and kangaroos… A step in the wrong direction and you could vanish into a tangle of wolly wattle or cat’s claw, never to be seen again. Thick vines twisted and clung to messmates and mountain ash, giving the impression that they’d mummify you if you gave them half a chance.
The Wiregrass is another great piece of evocative Australian rural crime fiction. One that uses as its jumping off point deep and in some cases unresolved issues around the way the authorities deal with cults and sexual abuse. Despite her remote posting, it is likely that Jesse Redpath will be back (it seems hard to stop her), a return which would be welcome.

I haven’t read the first book by Mr Hyland featuring Jesse Redpath but I will remedy that having read this one. The writing and plotting is that good. One of the things I really liked about this book is the sense of place. I know nothing about the Northern Territories of Australia but having read this book, I feel like I’ve been there and wonder whether I’ll ever be warm and dry again ;-) Jesse is continually fighting the rain and storms - even in her own bed.

Jesse transfers to a new job in a homicide unit and while helping out during a huge storm stumbles across an ‘accident’ that she believes is murder. That brings her into ‘contact’ with a disgraced former cop Nash Baker. Jesse’s life (and Nash’s) take off at breakneck speed and the story drags you along. There are loads of twists and less than salubrious folks but also caring, decent folk which make the town seem real.

The characters are excellent, the plotting is tight, the descriptions are critical, and overall a very enjoyable book. I’m looking forward to more Jesse adventures (after I’ve read the first one).

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

The first time I have read this author. A enjoyable book, even though it was quite difficult to read as it wasn't Kindle compatible . It had some interesting characters, lots of twists through it and great pacing throughout. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

While I had not read the first book featuring Jesse Redpath (Canticle Creek), it wasn't necessary to enjoy this book. Jesse Redpath is just getting settled into her new job in a remote area of Victoria when there is a terrible storm. She ends up rescuing a woman and then encounters a man who was killed by a fallen tree. The details don't seem to add up and, when she returns, she figures out that the man, Raph Cambric, was murdered. As she is investigating, she meets Nash, an apple grower, nature lover, and ex-cop. Nash and Jesse end up attracted to each other and are found in a comprising position when the local police come to search his home and arrest Nash for Raph's death. Jesse is convinced that he's innocent and starts stirring up trouble when she investigates. She finds out some of Nash's backstory; he brought down a religious cult as a teenager and as a cop was relentless in pursuing justice. Jesse starts looking at Nash's old cases. Her investigation eventually gets her suspended and attacked in her home. The story builds to an exciting conclusion. The characters are quirky yet believable. You can also feel the author's love for rural Australia - the descriptions are so immersive that you feel you are there. This was a good crime mystery and I hope that we'll see more of Jesse and Nash.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ultimo Press for this ARC.

Nash Baker was once a celebrated cop, but his career was ended when he chose to take justice into his own hands. Now he’s living a quiet life in a small town caring for the local wildlife and trying to stay away from trouble.

Jesse Redpath has a new job in a new town, Satellite – the stormy weather that greets her first few days on the new beat seems like a sign for what’s to come. A local has died in what seems like an accident, but Jessie isn’t so sure that ‘accident’ wasn’t planned. All evidence seems to point to Nash, but Jessie’s not sure about that either.

This is the follow-up to Canticle Creek, which I read and reviewed a few months ago. This is equally as good. Well written and paced. Believable characters that we can identify with. Great description and an intriguing storyline that holds attention to the end. There are lots of references to the previous book and, indeed, many of the original characters are here too. It does read like the next episode but it still works as a standalone story as well. On the whole, it’s a great read.

My thanks to #NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second Jesse Redpath book and follows on shortly after events of Canticle Creek.
She is now the officer in charge at the town of Satellite. There is a big storm and there are lots of floods and downed trees. The body of a man on his tractor is found under a tree, but Jesse spots all is not as it seems.
Cue the proverbial can of worms. What has Jesse got herself involved in this time.
This is a very readable book, with plenty of action.

I was enthralled by Canticle Creek, the first of author Adrian Hyland’s series of murder mysteries set in a rural Australian location and featuring the unorthodox, intuitive and indefatigable police officer Jesse Redpath. I was hoping for more of the same from The Wiregrass, the second in the series, and I was not disappointed. This is another compelling, captivating tale of dark deeds and good versus evil told with the same mix of gritty action and lyrical beauty. The eclectic mix of characters, the stunningly described beautiful but dangerous Australian landscape, the clever plotting, the flashes of humour and the pace and complexity of the narrative come together to provide a thoroughly satisfying read. Highly recommended.

"The Wiregrass" is the second book by Adrian Hyland to feature Jesse Redpath. As with "Canticle Creek" there is plenty of action, plot twists and outrageous characters; the baddies are really bad and seem to outnumber the good guys and girls. What I really like about these books is that they feature a female lead character who is a thoughtful action hero. She has tracking skills picked up from years working in the Northern Territories, she is tough and doesn't flinch from physical conflict, but is also empathetic. Plus the setting of rural Victoria, Australia is so different from most crime thrillers, which tend toward urban settings. This is refreshingly different and a great read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

From the stormy introduction to Jess to the wonderful atmospheric and gently closing I found myself transported to this beautiful but harsh world. A landscape where stunning beauty and fatal cruelty walk hand in hand and people live lives intertwined with nature, at the mercy of the land and the weather and each other. I loved Jess, I related to her skills and needs in many ways. I gave my heart to Nash too, from the outset I was taken by his caring, deep and complicated personality. Much wronged and damaged, they somehow find each other through the proverbial storms around them. When the turmoil threatens to surround them, swallow and destroy them, Jess finds a strength from her belief in Nash's innocence and ultimately combats intrigue, corruption and murder to piece together the clues and restore their lives, their safety and their sanity to ultimately put some very bad people away. There are so many victims, so many damaged but just as the sun sets it will arise again on their beautiful world as everything is returned to it's right place. A truly wonderful heart warming and enjoyable story.

Excellent book. It took a short time to get into it and to feel comfortable with the characters- but when I did I really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed Canticle Creek and was keen to read this follow-up. It didn't disappoint. The author's easy informative style continued and Jesse is a great unorthodox character with foibles that endear her to you. I still could have used a glossary for the Australian terms, though.

Talented Aussie crime writer, Adrian Hyland, brings back the welcome return of Detective Jesse Redpath in this sequel to Canticle Creek. She has now moved on to be the officer in charge of Satellite Station in Victoria, living in a remote, seriously dilapidated, cabin with a leaking roof, sharing it with rats. A terrible storm heralds power cuts, blocked roads, accidents, flooding, and more, which has her and fellow cop, Lance Cunningham, out in the nightmare weather conditions in the dark, try to help stuck drivers, with a courageous Jesse saving the life of a woman, and coming across the gruesome death of a man by a fallen tree. A wiped out, wet and frozen Jesse returns home, only to reflect, her acute observation skills finally understanding that the male victim, Raph Cambric, was murdered, and she returns to the crime scene.

Caught in a compromising situation with former cop, wildlife and nature lover Nash Rankin, a man she has just met, when the murder squad come to arrest him for the murder, Jesse's gut instinct tells her he is not guilty and so begins a dangerous investigation as she faces threats to her life and her professional career. She finds herself suspended and forbidden to see Nash, not that any of this stops her probing into the lives of a list of possible suspects that include the brother of a serial killer. Few are inclined to view her suspicions as credible, Nash has apparently previously killed a man, Leon Glazier, and spent time in a mental health facility. However, as a boy, he had bravely helped to bring down a horrifying cult, and as a cop, he had been relentless in going after the bad guys, unsurprisingly earning himself enemies.

Will Jesse be able to prove that Nash is an innocent man, so sinned against, and live to ensure that justice prevails in the trickiest of cases? Jesse finds her artist father, Ben's art, helpful in getting to grips with an almost impossible investigation, and gaining insights and perspective when she deploys Aboriginal approaches she has become familiar with. Hyland is a gifted crime writer who immerses the reader in the location with his rich descriptions, whilst providing the reader with a wide range of what feel like authentic and offbeat characters that make an impression, I particularly adored Flinders, the dog. I am really hoping he is planning to continue with this brilliant series with the marvellous Jesse. Highly recommended Aussie crime. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.