Diamond Dove, by Adrian Hyland

Hyland's story, while hugely entertaining, also deals with serious issues that face rural Australia today

Book Review by Laurel Wilson | 08 Sep 2007
Book title: Diamond Dove,
Author: Adrian Hyland
Diamond Dove, the debut novel from Adrian Hyland, tells the story of Emily Tempest as she returns to her home town after several years away. The novel works within the detective/crime genre, using outback Australia as its setting, as Emily investigates the murder of her old friend Lincoln Flinders. Emily is a strong, believable character, the daughter of a white miner and an Aboriginal woman. Emily's narrative voice is filled with devious humour and intelligence; she is feisty, but confused about her identity. The cast of supporting characters are equally believable; shrewd, conniving or compelling, depending on the angle. Hyland describes the Australian landscape with beauty and poise. His in-depth knowledge of Aboriginal life and culture is clear, as is his admiration for those still living by those traditions. Hyland's story, while hugely entertaining, also deals with the serious issues that face rural Australia today; the relations between white farmers and townspeople and the traditional owners of the land, the Aborigines. Hyland does not address the issues directly, nor provide any answers, but the problems are evident in the plot and simmer away beneath the surface. This book has been an unexpected hit in Australia, and is a good example of how well a twist can be applied to the detective genre. [Laurel Wilson]
Out Now. Published by Quercus. Cover Price £10.99.