Part of Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, book 22
First published 1989
A murder tears through the remote Australian wilderness. A woman lies dead and her young daughter has disappeared without a trace. The only suspect is Ole Fren Yorkey, a disturbed drifter who wanders the harsh outback terrain. Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte takes the case, but the evidence points in conflicting directions. Is Yorkey a cold-blooded killer or simply another victim of the unforgiving landscape? Bonaparte must navigate both the physical dangers of the remote territory and the psychological complexities of a man whose grip on reality seems tenuous. The investigation leads deeper into a world where ancient Aboriginal traditions collide with modern police work. As Bonaparte pursues the truth, he discovers that solving this case requires understanding forces that extend far beyond conventional detective methods. The missing child's fate hangs in the balance while the detective races against time and the elements to uncover what really happened in this desolate corner of Australia.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: detective-investigation, missing-person
Setting: Australia, Australian Outback
Period: 20th Century
188 pages · Paperback · Macmillan