The Creeper by Margaret Hickey

Ten years ago the small Victorian town of Edenville was rocked by the death of five hikers on Jago Ridge. Nearby lay the body of Bill 'Creeper' Duvant, known for stalking campers. It seemed obvious that he was the killer, so the case was closed. but as the 10th year anniversary nears, Detective Contstable Sally White begins to look at the case. She is drawn into danger as the Duvant family begin to notice her activities. And she finds secrets in the backgrounds of the five murdered hikers.

Hickey brings alive the location of the small town and the beautiful hiking trails in the surrounding mountains, while building up an eerie atmosphere as details of the evil that was committed are brought to light. Sally White is young and clever, and the reader can relate to her personal problems of fitting into a small town and deciding whether to commit to a relationship with Jim Brear, the park ranger who carried Laura, the only survivor of the attack, down the mountain. Laura is coming back for the anniversary with a film crew and Sally must deal with this as the only member of the police in town. As she investigates the cold case, Hickey ramps up the suspense. Who is watching her? Who can she trust?

This is a gripping Australian crime novel and I look forward to reading other books by this author. Readers who enjoy books by Jane Harper and Chris Hammer may like The creeper.

Themes: Murder, Bushwalking, Thriller, Police, Fraud.

Pat Pledger