Unbury the Dead (Fiona Hardy, Affirm)

Fiona Hardy’s Unbury the Dead is a masterful blend of fast-paced crime and Australian noir, balancing grit and dry humour with effortless skill. Set against the vivid backdrops of rural and suburban Victoria, this crime thriller introduces two heroines – Alice and Teddy – and their warm and authentic friendship. Hardy’s knack for crafting sharp, natural dialogue shines throughout, making even the darkest moments crackle with life. Alice and Teddy work for Choker, a man running a morally ambiguous operation. Alice is hired for a seemingly quick job for good pay – to drive a dead billionaire home to his resting place before anyone realises he is gone. Meanwhile, Teddy is tasked with finding a missing teenager no one seems to care about. The chapters alternate between Alice and Teddy as their parallel experiences reveal some great plot twists. Hardy excels in creating tension, particularly through the layered motivations of her lead characters and their morally complex decisions. The dynamic between Alice and Teddy anchors the novel, while the well-drawn supporting characters – Choker, Art, and Rusty – provide counterpoints of humour and emotional richness. For fans of Peter Temple’s Jack Irish novels or Mick Herron’s Slough House series, Unbury the Dead is a terrific read that marks an impressive adult debut for Hardy (How to Make a Movie in 12 Days).

Books+Publishing reviewer: Sarina Gale is a publishing professional and 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.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews