06/22/2020
Early in Gentill’s thrilling eighth mystery set in 1930s Australia (after Give the Devil His Due), real-life Czech journalist Egon Kisch arrives by boat at the port of Fremantle for a speaking tour. Aristocratic artist Rowland Sinclair offers to fly Kisch to Melbourne to give the keynote address at the National Congress against War and Fascism, unaware that the Australian government is trying to stop Kisch, a communist, from entering the country. After Kisch succeeds in getting into Australia, Rowly’s faithful bohemian friends—poet Milton Isaacs, a communist; landscape painter Clyde Jones; and sculptress Edna Higgins—head to Canberra to await Kisch’s arrival there. When Milton goes to Parliament House to meet fellow communist Jim Kelly, he finds the man’s throat slit. Rowly, Milton, Clyde, and Edna are soon busy sorting out Kelly’s murder, protecting Kisch, and dodging members of a ruthless clandestine arm of the New Guard, a fascist organization. Gentill provides romance, suspense, intrigue, and thought-provoking views on the easy appeal of jingoism. Through it all, Rowly continues to “speak what some called the truth and others considered a dangerous language.” Readers will look forward to the further adventures of Rowly and friends. Agent: Jo Butler, Cameron Creswell Agency (Australia). (June)
