A mystery/thriller with strong characters, edge-of-the-seat moments, and great Aussie humour.
Feature image credit: Simon & Schuster
Tim Ayliffe’s world-weary, old-school journo John Bailey returns in what can be best described as an old-school (with modern moments) murder mystery.
When Insta-famous model Tottie Evans is found murdered in her former private military contractor boyfriend’s backyard and her body appears on her online feed with a message directed at him, it’s just the start of a series of events that link back to a crime that Bailey’s lost love, Detective Sharon Dexter, was reinvestigating prior to her untimely death.
Into the mix comes Detective Holly Sutton, a now-seasoned cop, who was a rookie at the time that Sharon Dexter was part of the crime squad investigating a decade-old serial killer’s murder spree.
As Bailey and Sutton uncover various interlinking strands, they are faced with challenges (both physically threatening and obstructive) that could result in them joining Tottie.
The Wrong Man is Tim Ayliffe’s fifth novel in the John Bailey series – following The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within and last year’s Killer Traitor Spy – and it is a most welcome addition.
The previous novels have had a more political/espionage bent, where The Wrong Man sits in the murder-mystery lane. While the tale could have easily been a standalone, Ayliffe weaves in the roster of existing characters to incorporate into the series.
As with previous novels, the story moves between both time periods and current locations, focusing on different characters. The movement is seamless and sows the perfect amount of seeds. It is also an easy read, with plenty of Aussie humour to lighten the darker moments.
I hope we see more of John Bailey and Holly Sutton, in a style akin to the Harry Bosch/Renee Ballard novels of Michael Connolly. With Ayliffe having a sixth book deal in place, we will know soon enough.
Reviewed by Glen Christie
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Simon & Schuster
Released: July 2024
RRP: $32.99
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