Your Preview Verdict: When It Rains by Dave Warner

Buy a copy of When It Rains here.

Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:

For around the last 7-8 years I have been mainly reading biographies so this book was a nice change. Several years ago I read many of Peter Corris’s Cliff Hardy novels which I enjoyed reading. This novel is a little similar except that it’s set in NW Australia instead of the Cliff Hardy novels being mainly set in cities. Dave’s Clement character seems a likeable character. There was so many twists and turns in the book to keep me guessing and towards the end I just couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed Dave’s music back in the late 70s/early 80s and I have become a fan of his writing. I’ll definitely be seeking out more Dan Clement novels to read and I have put biographies on hold for now. I can recommend this book. Bob, NSW, 5 stars

I had never read any previous Dan Clement novels, and the beautiful part is that it doesn’t matter. Dan is so easy to get to know, and could be someone you probably DO know- on the edge of 50, divorced, wondering where his career and life is heading, possibly facing a mid life crisis when he embarks on an affair with a much younger partner. Dedicated and good at his job, with a knack for seeing through life’s peripheral crap, Dan is a man’s man with the same insecurities as most people but exudes a veneer of having everything together. I think this book works so well because we actually like Dan, we understand his logical thinking and believe he is trying to help everyone and actually do some good in the world. I devoured this in two days- it was well written, clever and had me on the edge of my seat for every chapter. I could also see and feel the characters and their surrounds- I have never been to the Kimberley, but Warner’ graphic descriptions of the bushland and surrounding areas made me feel like I was standing smack dab in the middle of everything. Highly recommended. Kathy, VIC, 5 stars

This is the first time I have picked up a novel by David Warner, but after reading When It Rains I can guarantee you it will not be the last! The book’s protagonist, Dan Clement, is a detective who works in the top end of Western Australia. Somewhat scarred by some past personal events, when the novel begins Dan has found comfort in a new relationship. However a bashing and a brutal murder soon takes him away from his home, as the travels the remote locales for the top end, playing cat and mouse with a potential serial killer. This book has red herrings galore, right up until the final pages. But there are enough clues and teasers along the way to ensure the reader feels they may just be on the cusp of figuring things out. Warner uses the rugged, dangerous location to his advantage – we know that danger is never far away, whether it is from the weather, the locals, or the rivers full of sharks and crocodiles. This book is hard to put down, a classic case of ‘just one more chapter!’ Kate, VIC, 5 stars

Set in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, that alone peaks my interest. A murder investigation with a host of Aussie characters, this book will appeal to anyone who loves Australiana. A great story that keeps you guessing. Dianne, WA, 5 stars

What a wild ride When It Rains by Dave Warner is. From the first two pages to the the very last line this book is non-stop action. Peppered with great musical references and fantastic lines like “The pool cues had higher IQs than the blokes wielding them….” this is one of Dave Warner’s best books yet. Given I am a huge fan this is not said lightly. Dan Clements has a new love in his life and a lot to think about when it seems a psychopathic spree killer had come to Broome. As the action spreads from Broome to Halls Creek to Kununurra and the killer always seems one step ahead. Will Dan and his team finally get a lucky break, is Dan tired and past his best? Is it time to take that desk job and leave the catching of the bad guys to those younger, fitter and keener? All the while the killer is still out there and killing in the most venal way. A terrifying, scary brilliant book with a main character guaranteed to steal your heart. Peta, QLD, 5 stars

Well, this book has more red herrings than an English wood! Dave Warner spins a great ‘Stralian tale in When it rains. If you have ever been to the Kimberley region of WA it is easy to relate to the heat, humidity, storms and growing tension that escalates through the investigation. I really enjoyed my first taste of Daves laconic aussie style and hero Dan Clement and would recommend this book to fans of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer. Prepare for a twisty ride. Karan, VIC, 5 stars

Dan would rather be at home with Lena than solving crimes, but one crime after another keeps him at work. At first there seems no correlation between the crimes, but then there seems to be a distinct thread. Just when you have a suspect, things change and another crime comes across the desk which could be related. They are right It never rains but it pours. A real page turner and respect for the Crime Scene Investigators and the work they do. Glenys, NSW, 5 stars

I’d enjoy reading the crime story set in the Kimberley region, Australia. Dan Clement, a Broome detective suddenly involved with busy crime cases starting from a beaten-up police officer, an assaulted woman, and a woman’s hand discovered in crocodile territory. The team works wonders to investigate the cases. It is a surprising end. Margaret, NSW, 5 stars

I love reading books set in parts of Australia that I have visited. The tyranny of distance in the Kimberley makes for a different policing style. There were lots of twists and turns in this story, just when you thought everything came together, it didn’t. Dan Clement is an interesting character and his musings about his age and short comings make for interesting reading. The repercussions of an incident eight years ago set off a chain of events, with a few red herrings thrown for good measure. Lena is likeable and feisty character and I hope we see her in the next instalment if there is one.  Lyn, VIC, 5 stars

A Murder Mystery that has many endings. Dan Clement is a Western Australian Broome detective that finds his sergeant beaten up badly and a woman is brutally assaulted. There’s two accomplices who could have done it. Then a woman’s hand turns up in crocodile infected waters. What a gripping read…. Keeping You glued to the last Page and not knowing what’s going to happen… Dave Warner, brilliance at its best Highly recommended…. I give this 10/10 Noeleen, WA, 5 stars

Immersive and thought-provoking crime thriller with not one but two killers in the mix. This is a fast-paced novel set in the Australian Outback with Detective Dan Clement at the helm. Wonderfully evocative and action packed but gritty and full of characters to keep you on the edge as you unfold this bold, dark, storyline that keeps you riveted until the very end. Australian crime at its best, gripping, terrifying and electrifying. This book allows you to become the “Detective” as you battle the heat, humidity and dark muddy crocodile- infested water to try find the answers. I found that there were too many characters to try to keep track of and I gave up trying but I still enjoyed the mystery as this sharp, intimate story unfolded. The feeling of unease stays with you long after you have put down the book but also leaves you waiting. Glynis, NSW, 4 stars

An unpredictable story set in an iconic part of Australia, that will keep you guessing til the very end. Jody, QLD, 4 stars

When it Rains is a great crime novel which will keep you guessing whodunnit right through to the end of the book. The characters are well written and the descriptions of what is happening throughout the book make it really easy to imagine yourself in the story. This is the first Australia crime fiction novel I have read of Dave Warner’s and it won’t be the last. Angela, QLD, 4 stars

Highly recommended for readers of Chris Hammer, Margaret Hickey and Jane Harper’s outback crime books; this is certainly compelling reading. Until receiving this preview copy, I was unfamiliar with Dave Warner’s work. On seeing this was the fourth in a series featuring Daniel Clement, I was concerned that I had missed a lot of backstory, but this novel stands alone well. The characters are well written and the story is original. Lead investigator Daniel Clement’s self-doubt is very real. Reading this during Melbourne’s extended Winter, it was nice to see that other parts of Australia have sunshine, humidity and, like us, rain. Using helicopters in a search mission is a nice detail not seen in standard crime thrillers and the crocodile on the cover set me on edge from the moment I picked this one up. Heidi, VIC, 4 stars

I wasn’t sure at the outset I’d enjoy this as, despite loving the outback noir genre, a very early reference to “girls who dress a certain way” gave off a ‘women as objects’ feel – as did the woman at the centre who went unnamed for several chapters. I was pleased when the novel developed and proved me wrong. Warner has written an entertaining thriller set in sultry northern WA, with loads of red herrings and a few twists for good measure. I do think there’s a need to brush up on what would be acceptable banter in the police force nowadays, but overall the story flowed at a good pace and kept my interest. Another quality writer of the genre for me to keep up with! Yvonne, NSW, 4 stars

“When It Rains” was my first Dave Warner book and I doubt it’ll be my last. It reads like an Australian version of CSI with the twists and turns a mystery reader craves. Fast paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat! Belinda, VIC, 4 stars

I have never read any Dave Warner novels before but after reading this one I am thinking I will definitely put his other books on my TBR list. This book is set in the Australian outback and of course the outback setting adds to the story. Anyone interested in reading this novel will keep guessing through the twists until the end. Jonathan, NSW, 4 stars

When it Rains by Dave Warner is crime writing at its best: an intriguing and palpable setting featuring the Kimberley in far north Western Australia, great characters, plausible storyline and lots of tension but, crucially: well written, engrossing, and a breeze to read. I appreciated that, while there were twists and turns, there weren’t any clanging red herrings simply thrown in to (unfairly) throw the reader off. My only gripe was that at times the story switched into the point of view of a character – usually a presumed (possible) victim or (possible) perp… but often these weren’t named (to keep the real perp a mystery) but for me, made the story more confusing because I wasn’t sure whose viewpoint I had been experiencing, and at times it was only much later in the book that it became apparent – so, for me, many of these passages were somewhat wasted. But that wasn’t a major issue, and was more than made up for with the great story line, excellent writing, believability and realism and satisfying conclusion. Cathryn, TAS, 4 stars

When it rains is a gripping tale set in the crocodile infested Australian outback. The setting is as much part of the story as the characters – each one well developed and believable. This is an exciting novel with many twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end. This is my first Dave Warner novel, and I look forward to reading the previous books in the Dan Clements series. Highly recommended. Charlene, WA, 4 stars

What a ride Dave Warner takes us on in When It Rains. The first chapter hits you like a punch, and then the tension keeps brewing in the build-up before the rain, culminating in a thunderstorm of aha moments after a sequence of surprises. This story couldn’t have been set anywhere else than the vast and mysterious Kimberly in Western Australia, the magnificent scenery juxtaposed with the tackiness of tawdry motels and outback pubs and unrelenting heat and humidity. All action aside it’s the endearing Dan Clement who makes this story with his vulnerability and self-questioning. He’s playing in a tough game, but he’s nostalgic and a bit of a softie, and I suspect Dave Warner might be as well. Thanks, Dave, for the memories of public telephone boxes, WD40 and Brasso, The Leyland Brothers and Peter Garrett’s unique style of dancing, and for the bonus art lesson on German Expressionism. As my first encounter with Dan Clement, I’m now seeking out the back catalogue! Michelle, VIC, 4 stars

I fluctuated wildly in my feelings about this book. The crimes are nicely gory and Warner doesn’t hold back. The crime plot was super compelling and I was so confident I had worked it out until it was very clear that I was wrong! When I was in the thick of it and the plot was moving forward, that’s when the book was at its best. Unfortunately any time the pace let up and Clement was reflective – or really had any thoughts at all – that’s where I struggled with this. Clement felt like just another cliche detective whose wife left him and his whole life is his job. Until new flame Lena of course. Lena also feels like a walking cliche of a background character but don’t worry, you’ll hear plenty about her body. The dialogue between the detectives felt so clunky and it felt like as the reader you hear each development explained multiple times as each new person to appear had to be caught up to speed. Clement was so awkward with the forensics tech it was cringey to read. When this book was good, it was really good. But when it wasn’t, I struggled with it. Brit, VIC, 3 stars

I wasn’t aware that When It Rains was part of a series, however there was plenty of background information about the main character Dan Clement throughout the book to get an understanding of his character. I love a good crime novel, police procedures and trying to figure out who committed the crime and why. However, I felt Clement was constantly feeling sorry for himself, comparing his age to other characters he comes across throughout his day and didn’t really want to be taken away from his new girlfriend to investigate the crimes being committed. As for the investigative side of the book, it was great. Getting to the truth, the police procedures, constantly chasing the next lead, having to backtrack and the who and why not being straightforward was what kept me reading the book. Writing this review has left me torn, I wasn’t a fan of Clement, but enjoyed the rest of the book. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the other books in the series. Fran, NSW, 3 stars

When it Rains by Dave Warner is a crime fiction novel featuring detective Dan Clements. Set in WA, readers will be able to appreciate the climate in the true descriptions of the outback and the stifling heat and humidity. Between intertwined assaults, crocodile attacks and multiple deaths, Clement is also navigating a new relationship with a young Lena. Exploring the nomadic life of a local tour guide, alongside remote policing and with a surprising revelation late in the story, the main criminal is revealed with the help of Clement’s lover. It is readable but not as gripping as some other page turners and I didn’t feel strongly about any of the characters. The ending was satisfying enough but wouldn’t necessarily encourage me to read more of the Dan Clement Novels. Readable but not a favourite. Meg, QLD, 3 stars

The first two chapters of this book had some rather florid prose so I braced myself for a book full of metaphor and tangled simile. It was quite strange to find the rest of the book was a fairly standard police procedural thriller. Obviously very well researched, there was a strong degree of verisimilitude, everything felt believable particularly main character Dan Clement who felt well-rounded and interesting to spend time with. I hadn’t read any Clement novels before (though I realised I have an earlier one on my unread shelf) but he’s well worth revisiting. The story was a well paced thrill ride with sufficient twists and turns that it was never predictable but also not crazy or unbelievable. The pace accelerated to the end so I had to stay up late to find out whodunnit. Possibly suffered from a few too many extraneous characters so I was struggling to remember which name went with who but even Clement forgot at least once so I didn’t feel bad! Richard, VIC, 3 stars

When it Rains by author Dave Warner started off confusing until I realised, just read the words and let go it will make sense later on. He has a style of writing where he rambles before he actually starts the novel about a lot of nothing. Overall the crime came together but I never guessed who did it until the main character Detective Dan Clement did. Great setting in the Kimberley, Kununurra and very well described during what is the wet season. Felt like I was along for the ride. Debbie, WA, 3 stars

Buy a copy of When It Rains here.