Book review: On a remote property, Indy is caught in a web of murder

Described as a rural romance, Blood Tree River by Sarah Barrie is so much more than that.

Yes there is romance involved, but what is more intriguing is the enigma which surrounds the remote Tasmanian farming property Calico Mountain Lodge which is owned and managed by the mysterious but very handsome Logan Atherton.

Indiana O’Meara, a young undercover policewoman with her own secrets to hide is sent to the remote property because it is the last place that five missing women were seen alive. One has now turned up dead, and the most recent missing woman is the daughter of a prominent senator. Indiana, or Indy as she is called, must keep her secret mission to herself as she investigates further, but she is attracted to the remote but charismatic Logan Atherton who takes her under his wing as he trains her in her tasks about the horse stables and property.

Tension mounts as Indy realises that she herself is being watched, even through her communication with her superiors is unable to be traced due to her careful use of wiping clean her trail on her laptop. But somebody has been through her room and even looked at her phone.  On edge, she considers carefully each family member as a possible suspect; Logan’s sister Tess, the pretty chef Jules who grew up with the Athertons and also Connor, Logan’s brother who is less than welcoming and highly suspicious of Indy.

What could have nosedived into a soppy romance totally gripped me as yet another woman goes missing and evidence as always points to Logan who in every case has always been the last person to see the missing women alive. Indy is questioning her attraction to Logan, but is also convinced that he is innocent and that he is possibly being framed. But then  …  where is he disappearing to when he goes on his long stints into the bush? And why is he so secretive about what he is doing there? Can she afford to trust him, and if she discloses her true identity, how will he react?

Blood Tree River by Sarah Barrie is one of those books which is difficult to put down.

When the mystery of the missing women is finally solved, it is so unexpected that even I, as someone who can usually pick out ‘who dunnit’, was impressed. This is a carefully plotted and crafted book which manages to pique the reader’s attention and to keep it in attendance throughout.

Described as romantic suspense, this novel has it all with it’s strongly Australian character added a sense of authenticity to the story. It is extremely well written by this young Australian writer who also authored the popular Hunter’s Ridge trilogy. I can highly recommend this book.

Blood Tree River by Sarah Barrie, published by HQ Fiction, is available in printed and digital editions – click here for details.