Western Australia Crime Novels: Exploring Criminal Saga in Perth and Beyond
The western Australian city of Perth, its charming port town of Fremantle nearby, and the Swan River flowing through, serve as the backdrop for an array of crime fiction that reflects the city's transformation. Established as a city in 1829, Perth has a rich history rooted in its founding as the Swan River Colony on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk and Noongar peoples. The city's prosperity was significantly boosted by the 19th-century gold rushes, and its impact is still felt today in its lucrative mining industry.
One of the notable authors contributing to this genre is David Whish-Wilson, who has penned ten novels, the Lee Southern series among them. True West (2019) and I Am Already Dead (2023) follow the character Lee Southern, who, after betraying the Knights bikie gang, finds work as a tow truck driver in Perth. The novels delve into themes of crime, corruption, and extremism, providing a gritty portrayal of the city.
Frank Swann, another protagonist, was a cop turned private investigator in Perth. Line of Sight (2010) depicts Swann as the Superintendent of the Western Australia Police, dealing with a murder in 1975 as heroin infiltrates the city's underworld and finds its way into respectable hands. Swann reappears in Zero at the Bone (2013), set in 1979 during a royal visit. The novel explores the struggle for mining leases as the mining boom fuels corruption and greed.
The series concludes with Old Scores (2016), where Swann, now a low-rent PI, is drawn into an investigation of a bugging scandal involving the Premier of Western Australia. In a subsequent book, Shore Leave (2020), Swann returns for a cameo on the Lee Southern series.
Other authors contributing to the crime fiction genre in Perth include Dave Warner, Dervla McTiernan, Robert Schofield, Alan Carter, and Jacqueline Wright. Each of these authors offers a unique perspective on the city and its transformation, contributing to the diversity of stories within the genre.
In summary, the crime fiction scene in Perth offers a compelling lens through which to view the city's transformation, with its narratives often reflecting the city's complex social dynamics, economic evolution, and cultural shifts over time.
Books and general-news often feature pieces on the crime-and-justice scene in Perth, particularly the rich array of crime fiction that reflects the city's transformation. These books provide entertainment, delving into themes of crime, corruption, and extremism, offering unique perspectives from authors like David Whish-Wilson, Frank Swann, Dave Warner, Dervla McTiernan, Robert Schofield, Alan Carter, and Jacqueline Wright.
