4.5★s
The Autumn Murders is the third book in the Holiday Murders series by Australian author, Robert Gott, and follows on directly from The Port Fairy Murders. Still intent on settling scores, George Starling goes into hiding and changes his appearance, to continue evading capture, until he can kill, preferably very slowly, DS Joe Sable and Constable Helen Lord, for a start. When he needs accommodation and support, he knows just where to go.

After recent shocking events in Port Fairy, Helen Lord is angry and disappointed by her two-week suspension, despairing that she has lost her position in the Homicide division despite DI Titus Lambert’s efforts in her favour. But more grief is coming her way when it appears that her uncle may have incurred someone’s homicidal wrath: a corrupt cop, a disgruntled ex-fiancée and a dissatisfied businessman are all in the frame for this.

Joe Sable is witness to a disturbing shooting that he cannot, in all conscience, allow to go unreported, to the likely detriment of his career, and possibly his safety. Titus Lambert’s brother-in-law is recovering well from the torture he endured at the hands of Ptolemy Jones and determined to track down George Starling to bring him to justice; he invites Joe Sable to participate.

By the end of this instalment, there is a fairly high body count that includes four police officers, although not all are murders, and the murders are not all committed by George Starling. Titus Lambert’s Homicide division is much depleted, through killings, dishonourable discharge and resignations.

Gott easily evokes the era, with a community mindset pervaded by homophobia, xenophobia, religious intolerance and a culture of corruption within the police force. The story features several characters suffering what will later be termed PTSD, courtesy of violent criminals and the war, as well as an interesting side effect of pollution.

While this is a dark and gritty tale, both dialogue and inner monologues are sources of (often very black) humour that breaks the tension. Gott’s main protagonists, especially the strong and smart females, have more than enough appeal, for all their flaws (except Maude, who clearly has no flaws at all!). This is very atmospheric historical crime fiction, and it will be interesting to see where Gott takes the reader in the next book, The Orchard Murders.