Neighbourhood Watch (Lauren Williams, Affirm)

Lauren Williams’s debut novel, Neighbourhood Watch, is a compulsive crime thriller that opens with a bang and delivers a series of shocking twists, a side of dark humour and a stunning revelation readers will not see coming.

When conservative Supreme Court judge Harry “the Pope” Somerton is found murdered in a quiet Melbourne cul-de-sac, strung up like a scarecrow, residents are aghast, and police scramble to make sense of the bizarre crime. Is it gangland-related, an act of retaliation, or something more sinister unfolding behind the closed doors of Curlew Street?

The narrative centres on 3 compelling female leads who, despite their strengths, are each deemed “flawed” within the misogynistic frameworks shaping their lives. Priyanka Pal, a former psychologist turned homicide detective, has returned from maternity leave only to be passed over for the Somerton investigation, though her meticulous work soon uncovers inconsistencies and systemic corruption. Emma Bloom, the Pope’s widow, is a philanthropist estranged from her family after years of manipulation and domestic violence. Margot Bloom, recently separated from her wife, juggles co-parenting, running the family mechanic business, and the fallout from the discovery of her brother-in-law’s body. Each woman offers a distinct perspective on family dynamics and the roles that women play. Through them, Williams examines the persistence of ingrained gender bias.

For fans of Christian White, JM Green and Sue Williams, Neighbourhood Watch is a dark, surprisingly entertaining debut about the skeletons – or scarecrows – hidden behind well-manicured lawns and white picket fences.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Kate Frawley is a former bookseller. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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