Voices in the Dark is the 22nd novel in which Detective Dave Burrows appears. He features in six, the most recent being Into the Night, and has a peripheral role in sixteen others, including this one, which follows the events of Broad River Station, but can be read as a stand alone.

Informed that her grandmother is gravely ill, Sassi Stapleton doesn’t hesitate to make the long drive from New South Wales to the South Australian town of Barker, hoping for the chance to say goodbye to the woman who raised her. It’s just past dawn when a kangaroo causes Sassi to veer off the road, trapping her in her rolled car, and while she is rescued with only minor injuries, Sassi is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is already gone. Being back in Barker is not easy for Sassi, who is still disappointed that there was no opportunity for her to work on the family’s farm, and it becomes more difficult when her estranged mother, Amber, shows up, but Sassi has resolved to do whatever she can to support her Pa, who struggles with daily tasks after a crippling stroke.

As the main character, Sassi carries the story well, with the Stapleton family drama dominating the storyline of Voices in the Dark. McDonald explores the issues of family estrangement, farm succession, and racism, as well as some particular sensitive subjects such as rape, and elder abuse. Somewhat surprisingly there is very little suspense in the plot, though there are some tense incidents. There’s no romance either, but I enjoyed the blossoming of new friendships.

Though Dave doesn’t feature in Voices of the Dark, readers familiar with his character will enjoy the scenes in which he appears. While some simply involve him doing his job as a police officer, and mentoring his new constable, Mia Worth, others reveal glimpses of his personal life, including his relationship with his wife Kim, and his two, now adult, daughters from his first marriage.

An engaging novel, I spent an afternoon happy immersed in Voices of the Dark, and I look forward to the next book to feature Dave Burrows and the community of Barker. ( )