The Witness by Fleur McDonald

Fleur McDonald returns with another tense, fast-moving rural crime novel.

The Witness is the third novel set against the distinctive red dirt landscape of Western Australia. After enjoying her previous thriller Out in Nowhere, I was keen to dive into this latest Kalgoorlie-set novel and it didn’t disappoint.

The story begins with a trauma that refuses to fade. At just five years old, Molly Walker witnesses the murder of her mother, Constable Sammi Walker, and is placed into protective custody. Twenty years later, everyone assumes the danger has passed. But when Molly’s adoptive parents are killed in what appears to be a car accident, the timing raises immediate questions, especially as they had just begun asking about reopening the investigation into Sammi’s death.

Enter Detectives Jack Higgins and Angie Sullivan. Higgins is the kind of investigator who trusts his instincts and doesn’t accept neat explanations, while Sullivan brings grit and focus that keeps the case moving. As they dig into the accident, the story tightens. Evidence begins to point to deliberate sabotage, and the question shifts from what happened to Molly’s parents to whether Molly herself is still a target, and why.

Fleur’s strong plot is grounded in suspense, alongside a vivid sense of place. If you enjoy rural crime with a strong investigative thread, credible detectives, The Witness is a satisfying ‘just one more chapter’ read.

Reviewer: Andrea Molloy

Harper Collins