In the quiet seafaring town of Tornwich little goes unnoticed. Neighbourhood gossip spreads like wildfire, leaving few skeletons in closets. But late one night a man is shot dead in his home. A short time later another body is discovered.
The town is gripped by fear. The finger of blame is pointed in all directions. False accusations and outlandish charges leave a trail of shattered relationships in their wake-and still the crimes remain unsolved, and the culprit at large.
Far more than a murder mystery, The Suburbs of Hell is a profoundly disturbing psychological drama with a devastating conclusion. Inspired by the Nedlands Monster, a serial killer who terrorised Perth in the 1960s, The Suburbs of Hell is an atmospheric thriller from one of Australia's most significant writers.
'Both a traditional murder mystery and a meditation on the random depredations of death.' Australian Book Review
Industry Reviews
`[A] murder mystery and a meditation on the random depredations of death.' * Australian Book Review *
'Poetic accuracy is only one aspect of a rich talent...Mr Stow has a narrative gift as well...He is, in fact a real novelist.' * Observer *
`It is a rare pleasure for those of us who are already fans to have these works at our disposal...[Stow was] the most talented and celebrated Australian author of the post-White generation.' * Monthly *
`It should be taken as no commentary on contemporary Oz Lit that I choose Text's fistful of Randolph Stow reissues for my local favourite(s) during 2015. Their appearance reminds us that a gentle, wise, wounded, and immensely talented poet in prose once lived among us.' * Geordie Williamson, Australian Book Review, Books of the Year 2015 *
`Fans of heady, noir-est of noir fiction, take note: Randolph Stow might be that "missing" writer you didn't know you loved.' * LitReactor *
`A cleverly crafted whodunit...Stow is an example of the high calibre of Australian writers of yesterday...For fans of the psychological thriller and those readers who enjoy a foray into a metaphorical tale, Stow delivers the goods.' * Salty Popcorn *