The action-packed second crime novel by award-winning author Loraine Peck reunites readers with Amy and Johnny Novak as the couple tries to lead a normal life-but will their past decisions come back to haunt them?
You can run, but you can never escape your family.
Amy and Johnny Novak have fled to a seaside town in northern New South Wales. They want a fresh start with their eleven-year-old son Sasha, and Amy is determined to shake off the legacy of Johnny's criminal family.
But it's hard to outrun the Novaks.
Are Amy and Johnny still keeping secrets from each other? And how did they get involved in a high-stakes game with Arturo Raoul De Leon, aka The Snake? Can Amy rise to the occasion to keep her family safe or will she be forced to become Johnny's partner in crime?
Loraine Peck's The Second Son won the 2021 Best Debut Crime Fiction Ned Kelly Award and was shortlisted for two Davitt Awards and the Danger Award. With its character-driven plot, psychological finesse, humour and sparkling dialogue, The Double Bind is an enthralling sequel.
About the Author
From magician's assistant to crime novelist, it's all about mastering the art of subterfuge for Loraine Peck, whose love of crime fiction propelled her to write the kind of book she loves to read. The Double Bind is the sequel to Loraine's debut novel, The Second Son, which won the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction from the Australian Crime Writers Association. It was shortlisted for two Davitt Awards by Sisters in Crime and for a Danger Award by BAD Crime Sydney. Loraine and her husband spend their time between Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Industry Reviews
An urban noir masterpiece. Street-wise, with crackling prose, this is a deep, rich mystery with family at its centre. It keeps all the promises of the best crime fiction on offer.’
Candice Fox, author of Fire with Fire
‘A breathless follow up to one of my favourite books from last year.’
Pip Drysdale, author of The Next Girl
‘Once again Loraine Peck expertly blends family dynamics with organised crime to bring you a razor-sharp, compulsive page-turner that’s as much about love, marriage and parenting as it is about drugs, guns and gang violence. A powerful and very worthy follow-up to The Second Son.’
Anna Downes, author of The Shadow House
‘Australia’s Queen of the heist is back with a new set of twisty double crossings that had me ripping through the pages to find out how Johnny and Amy Novak were going to get away with this one.’
Andy Muir, author of Hiding to Nothing
