In this clever and explosive thriller, a feisty but flawed investigative journalist battles unexplained deaths, big business, trade unions and media manipulation amidst the gritty underside of Melbourne.
When investigative New Zealand journalist Chrissie O’Brian lands a senior job at The Argus newspaper in Melbourne, she is desperate to escape the nightmares of her past. Her life has become a daily battle to numb the pain with drugs and alcohol. But her job is something she can do better than anyone else – and the only thing that keeps the memories at bay.
A face-off on the waterfront between the unions and big business is just the kind of story to get her career back on track. But after a dockworker who confided in her turns up dead, Chrissie becomes obsessed with unravelling the truth.
When another worker dies and a gruesome threat lands on her desk, it’s clear someone will do anything to stop her. But this is one battle Chrissie won’t give up without a fight.
Who is more dangerous – a ruthless enemy or a woman pushed to the edge? Used to fighting her own demons, this is one battle Chrissie is determined not to lose.
Where the Truth Lies was shortlisted for the prestigious Unpublished Manuscript Award in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, the same award that launched Jane Harper’s The Dry. Anyone who has read that will immediately understand the quality of work you can expect to find here. Karina Kilmore has delivered an exceptional debut. This is excellent Aussie crime, with polished writing, great structure, compelling characters and a vivid Melbourne setting.
Chrissie O’Brian is a complex, feisty protagonist, whose tragic past is weaved into the story, and who is supported by a cast of really interesting characters. Karina used to be a journalist, so she’s writing what she knows, and writing it well. We had her visit the Better Reading office to record a Facebook Live and a Podcast. There is a lot of buzz around this book and rightly so. It’s a fantastic read and Karina is great. I’m sure you’re going to be hearing a lot more about her, with many future novels. But for now, Where the Truth Lies is one of the most exciting debuts we’ve read for a while, and definitely one you need to get your hands on immediately.
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