Dark Deeds Down Under 2: A Crime and Thriller Anthology edited by Craig Sisterson and Lindy Cameron

Title: Dark Deeds Down Under 2: A Crime and Thriller Anthology

Author: Craig Sisterson and Lindy Cameron (editors)

Genre: Crime

Publisher: Clan Destine Press

Published: 18^th March 2024

Format: Paperback

Pages: 300

Price: $36.95

Synopsis: Dark Deeds Down Under 2, the next volume of our ground-breaking, bestselling anthology series, edited by Craig Sisterson, features 21 short stories by the best storytelling talents from Australia and New Zealand: including international bestsellers, many award winners and a host of fresh voices.

Brand new stories, some with beloved series characters, share the pages of our Down Under world with edgy standalone tales, and the first in new series.

The settings in this vibrant showcase of antipodean crime, range from the seething underbellies of our cosmopolitan cities to New Zealand’s South Island glaciers or Australia’s dusty Outback; from ocean-carved coasts and craggy mountains, via country towns and sleepy villages, to isolated wilderness and sultry rainforests.

The new dark deeds herein are perpetrated by:
Emma Viskic ~ Malla Nunn ~ Jack Heath ~ Charity Norman ~ Ben Hobson
Natalie Conyer ~ Peter Papathanasiou ~ Jennifer Lane ~ Helen Fitzgerald
Chad Taylor ~   Ashley Kalagian Blunt ~ Robert Gott ~ Andi C Buchanan
Shelley Burne-Field ~ Anna Downes ~ Stephen Johnson
Dani Vee ~ Michael Botur

Dark Deeds Down Under 2 also features reprints
from three Aussie legends of the genre:

Jean Bedford ~ Dorothy Porter ~ Peter Corris 

~*~

Crime has long been a popular genre throughout the world, but there’s something quite unique about the Australian and New Zealand crime stories. From police detectives to amateur detectives, and all the way to dubious ends of the spectrum – blackmail, abuse, negligence, or budding sociopaths, corruption and the lengths people go to – the second Dark Deeds Down Under anthology has it all. And the stories span the past, present and future, with many unresolved endings, things that cannot be easily resolved or stories that have simply captured one aspect or one day – a vignette in a character’s life.

And the anthology’s contributors come from all walks of life across Australia and New Zealand, some stories utilise characters from a series that the author might be working on, or have been part of a series in draft form, as with Emma Viskic’s story. Stephen Johnson’s Spotlight crew stars in a new short story, delving deeper into the characters and allowing readers to get a taster of what might be to come next for Jo and Kim. Others, like Malla Nunn, are about entirely new characters who should probably have a series of their own – Ayah was amazing, and I wanted to know more about her and her goals, and I could see she would be a wonderful character to drive a series.

Then we have Jack Heath – the name alone can send shivers down a spine, particularly if you have read his books before. He delivers just as well here – with a Deaf cop who faces challenges and ableism, whose life has changed since an accident. Her determination is what drove the story. It was quite different to his usual fare, but still had the heightened senses and tension driving the story, making my heart pound. It just showcased his versatility even more. And then we have new writers like Dani Vee – whose story is chilling in many ways, with an ending that is deeply disturbing but one that leaves a lot to the imagination. Crime fiction is where we can explore the darkness of humanity, the things that we could never imagine doing ourselves. It is the area where people cross the lines, and where we can examine the dark side of humanity at a distance, but still feel the unease and need for justice as the stories traverse the black, white, and grey areas of the criminal mind and entities. So many crime novels and stories do this, and for e, it’s all in how the author pulls it together – and these authors have achieved this.

Many of these stories leave us questioning how far would we go for a job or our families? What would we do if faced with dilemmas that make us question our ethics and responsibilities? They examine abuse of power, abuse of people, various influences – money, drugs, circumstance – and the very question of what it is to be human, and the wheels of the justice system from all sides – the perpetrator, the victim and the police or detectives. I think this anthology has captured some of the best crime writers in Australia and New Zealand, from powerhouses to new voices whose stories will certainly make an impact and leave a mark. These stories are written well, each is unique – different characters, settings and styles, and each looks at a different aspect of crime – sometimes a subtle aspect, an examination of the past, or a case where the answers may not be found or be as straightforward – and this is what makes the stories work so well. This collection of stories is the perfect taste tester for readers new to Australian crime, as well as these authors or characters, and is also perfect for those who love the genre and know some of these authors. You get to whet your appetite whilst waiting for their next book, and find new gems whose work is sure to make its mark when it comes out.

Stories that had a sense of unease were the ones that lingered, where you weren’t quite sure who to trust, or what had really happened. It was hard to choose a favourite because they were all so well written, and each one will appeal to a different reader. I hope people love this book as much as the first.