The Long Game is the first book in the Detective Zoe Mayer series by Australian author, Simon Rowell. The first case that Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer catches after four months leave is a stabbing murder in Portsea. She and Detective Senior Constable Charlie Shaw enter Ray Carlson’s house to find a grisly scene. Zoe has her hard-won Victoria Police Service dog, Harry nearby should she need him.

Thorough investigation reveals that the scene was expertly cleaned and that several people associated with Ray have credible motives. Some have strong alibis, but others are requestioned as more information comes to light. Then a phone tip-off leads to physical evidence that implicates a certain person, and an arrest is made. The team is best pleased with the result, but Zoe isn’t convinced: it’s all a bit too neat.

What has her instincts pinging is an earlier chat with a former investigative TV reporter turned podcaster who cites two stabbing cases that feature remarkably similar circumstances to each other, and, Zoe realises, to the case now supposedly wrapped up. Unable to persuade her partner and their boss, and unwilling to let it go, Zoe continues to investigate, under the radar, in her own time. Can she find enough to persuade them?

The reason for Zoe’s extended leave is hinted at throughout the story, with snippets dropped in via flashbacks, and when finally revealed, demonstrates Zoe to be a gutsy protagonist, while the main story proves her to be smart, thorough and persistent. Amongst her colleagues, she does have to deal with some chauvinistic males but also has the respect and support of those who appreciate her intelligence, integrity and dedication.

Rowell easily evokes his setting and era in this well-thought-out police procedural; his characters have depth and appeal, for all their very human flaws and, luckily for readers, Zoe and her golden retriever, who is bound to win extra hearts, appear in two (so far) further tales: Wildcard and The Good Dog. Brilliant Australian crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from a print copy provided by Text Publishing.