Title: All That Glitters
Subtitle: Deceit, Murder, and Passion in the New South Wales Goldfields
Author: Robert Walker
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 9781543408942
Pages: 208
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Synopsis
Having successfully concluded a lengthy court case involving the kidnap and murder of a child, Detective Sergeant Grant Williams is looking forward to enjoying a well-earned vacation. After an abortive attempt to join his estranged family on their Gold Coast holiday, he decides to go camping alone at beautiful, peaceful Tumut in the southern New South Wales Snowy Mountains region. This will give him a chance to finally relax and reflect. Or will that be possible? While having a couple of drinks at a hotel in Tumut, Grant befriends some locals who are talking about the reopening of the Adelong gold fields a short distance from Tumut. He accepts an invitation to visit a local gold mine owned by one of his newfound friends. As a result of a slight miscommunication, Grant goes into the wrong mine where he discovers two recently deceased bodies. He reports his discovery to the local police. Grant receives advice from his boss in Sydney that local police are not able to handle the matter due to other critical cases, so Sydney Homicide must take the case. As Grant was already in the area, his boss asks him to curtail his holiday and lead the investigation. Grant agrees and enlists the help of a very attractive local officer, Constable Sophie Laycock. Before long, strong feelings develop, and they share some steamy sex scenes while they are investigating the murders. Experiences they share bring Grant and Sophie ever closer together. There is much interest and excitement for the local community with recovery of the bodies, use of helicopter transport, involvement of the drug squad, and a local motorcycle gang. The sleepy township of Adelong will never be the same again. Note: Adult story with strong language and sex scenes.
About the Author
Robert Walker is recently retired after fifty-plus years of active work life, firstly in the international aviation industry and, more recently, in managing aged care homes. He is a graduate of the Writing School, covering such diverse subjects as novellas, poetry, short stories, radio, television, and stage plays. He has long held a passion for exploring and fossicking outback Australian mining areas. In particular, he has chased gold, opals, and gemstones. His travels following this passion have taken him to Lightning Ridge (home of the famous black opals) as well as to the Snowy Mountains region, Bathurst, Sofala, Gulgong, and Hill End, sites involved in the New South Wales gold rush of the mid to late 1800s. This novel, his first, is the realisation of a dream to share some of his outback experiences, encapsulated in a murder-mystery.
