It may have taken three decades of living in Australia, but renowned crime author Barry Maitland has finally brought some of his literary characters a closer to home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ash Island is the second in a trilogy of novels that follows the story of homicide Detective Sergeant Harry Belltree, who is preoccupied with tracking down the people who killed his parents.
The novel is set in the Hunter, mostly in Newcastle, where the detective has been sent from Sydney, where previous novel Crucifixion Creek was set.
After being sent away to a quieter life in the Hunter, a body is found buried on Ash Island, near Newcastle, and Detective Sergeant Belltree begins his investigations.
The novel will be launched at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on Wednesday night and Mr Maitland, who lives in the city that shares his name, will sign books and speak as part of Maitland City Council’s latest Look Who’s Talking event.
Mr Maitland said the public spotlight being shone on corruption in recent years made Sydney and the Hunter an appealing setting for his novels.
Many of his previous novels, including the acclaimed Brock and Kolla series, were set in London, closer to his native homeland of Scotland.
“I’ve resisted [setting a novel in NSW] over the years,” he said.
“But all the scandals over the last few years have made it seem like a great setting for a series of crime novels.”
Parts of the novel take place around Newcastle Harbour and the characters also venture to the Barrington Tops.
Mr Maitland said bringing Detective Sergeant Belltree to the Hunter had given him the chance to look at the region in a new light.
“It’s a terrific experience to research the area with fresh eyes,” he said.
Maitland City librarian Keryl Collard said Mr Maitland’s work was extremely popular with local readers.
“Barry Maitland is widely recognised as one of Australia’s foremost crime fiction writers and has been nominated by The Australian as one of the top five crime writers in the world,” she said.
“We are honoured to launch Ash Island locally.”
Visit www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/library to book a place at the free event, which will be held at Maitland Regional Art Gallery from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday.
