A powerful sequel and captivating whodunnit that holds a mirror to the continuing struggle of the LGBTIQ+ regional community.
Feature image credit: MidnightSun Publishing
It’s been 20 years since the death of James Brandt’s cousin Tony, the first love of his life, and through that entire time his passing has been labelled a suicide – alongside several others in the small rural community of Kippon. Now, there is a major NSW enquiry into the deaths of same-sex-attracted men, with a particular focus on regional deaths.
As James watches with interest, he and his family have provided statements to the enquiry, while members of the family suspected of the historic crime, the Joneses, return to Kippon. The younger family member, now a family man, is a self-declared advocate with a transitioning child, and makes it known he will not tolerate any abuse directed at his child.
Suddenly, Kippon is turned on its head with the apparent murder of Johnny Jones – and all eyes are on James Brandt. With only a single police officer sent to investigate, tensions mount as old truths surface, hard feelings are unbottled, and the past and present collide with further murderous intent.
Michael Burge’s decision to return to the setting of his first novel, Tank Water, was inspired and driven by the recent NSW enquiry into LGBTIQ+ hate crimes and the personal want to meld fact with fiction to address the question of how the Brandt family would respond to such an enquiry after an extended period of unanswered questions.
Unlike its predecessor, Dirt Trap maintains a linear narrative and a current timeline, with glimpses of the past coming through investigative revelations, rather than flashbacks. It perfectly encapsulates the notion that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In spite of specific dating apps for finding likeminded people and the support provided to students of diverse sexualities, the risky meet-ups at beats and the beatings from homophobic thugs still plague the LGBTQ+ community.
It also reminds us that, as hard as we try to bury the past, some truths will find the light.
Dirt Trap is a captivating sequel, filled with genuine characters and heartfelt sincerity for the ongoing struggle of the regional LGBTIQ+ community and cements Burge’s place in the Australian noir genre.
Reviewed by Glen Christie
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: NewSouth Books
Released: November 2025
RRP: $34.99
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