Scan barcode
theunrealerin's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
Well written, reasonably-paced mystery, but the bread crumbs were either too subtle or lacking subtlety. Still solid.
skhan11's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
TW for eating disorders. Compelling mystery, would reccomend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
4.0
There's a something about GREENLIGHT that feels like a non-too-subtle dig at the commercialisation of true crime. There's always been a sub-set of true crime writing that's been about the crims, their exploits, personalities and too big to be believable criminal histories. Ranging from reflective and analytical in style, to tongue in cheek, many books and programs seem to have contributed to the rise of the "celebrity criminal".
It's no surprise then that the rise and rise of the true crime investigative journalist is increasingly leaking over into the crime fiction realm, with GREENLIGHT by debut Australian author Benjamin Stevenson introducing documentary maker Jack Quick doing a major TV program on the murder of Eliza Daley. Not exactly a cold case, this was supposedly solved, the owner of the property where her body was found already convicted of her murder. Starting out with the chilling final moments of Eliza's life, as the walls of the cellar she's been held in start to "bleed", GREENLIGHT then switches to the final episode of Jack Quick's TV series, and doubt being cast on the conviction of Curtis Wade for her murder. Once Wade is released, it takes the copycat murder of his defence lawyer to trigger a crisis of confidence in Quick and his return to the small winemaking region around Birravale.
Whilst there is much to be made of the true crime industry, GREENLIGHT doesn't lose track of the core crime fiction component of solving an actual crime. In this case the murder of Eliza Daley is treated as a part cold case and part possible miscarriage of justice, with Quick starting out assuming the later, and things rapidly taking on the hue of the former. The murder of Wade's defence lawyer ramps things up substantially, with the idea that Quick's program may just have allowed a killer to walk free, but it also creates a more immediate sense about the investigation - it's a current case that is in the focus now, with echoes back to the murder of Daley.
Set in a rural location, GREENLIGHT has some street cred in terms of setting and the dynamics in which the original murder took place. A predominantly wine-growing region a few hours outside Sydney, Birravale has problems. A small community, made up of original families, and blow-in's, dealing with the complications of an incoming workforce of backpackers, tourists and now, investigative journalists, Birravale daily life revolves around the pub, but the wineries bring the people and the money in.
Adding to the mix in this novel is the "hero" of the piece as a flawed individual in his own right. An accident in their teenage years has meant that his older brother is comatose, cared for by their father, the circumstances of his brother's accident aren't clear but it's obvious that there is something very traumatic happened to them both. It has triggered bulimia in Quick, a condition that's rare in males, and the source of many complications in his life and relationships. As the story of Eliza Daley's murder plays out, Quick's personal story is revealed, balancing nicely, explaining much about his behaviour, rounding out the reader's connection and understanding of both.
Playing with this cast of characters, their connections, the things that bind them and drive them apart, there's a great sense of small community, shared and private secrets, and people searching for ways forward. The plot is fairly laid out, allowing the detective readers to solve the mysteries along the way or simply ride along with Quick as he searches for the truth. Well paced out, populated by flawed but approachable characters, set in a location that doesn't feel manipulative or convenient, GREENLIGHT is about crime, greed, money, influence, bad decisions and human frailty and nastiness.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/greenlight-benjamin-stevenson-1
It's no surprise then that the rise and rise of the true crime investigative journalist is increasingly leaking over into the crime fiction realm, with GREENLIGHT by debut Australian author Benjamin Stevenson introducing documentary maker Jack Quick doing a major TV program on the murder of Eliza Daley. Not exactly a cold case, this was supposedly solved, the owner of the property where her body was found already convicted of her murder. Starting out with the chilling final moments of Eliza's life, as the walls of the cellar she's been held in start to "bleed", GREENLIGHT then switches to the final episode of Jack Quick's TV series, and doubt being cast on the conviction of Curtis Wade for her murder. Once Wade is released, it takes the copycat murder of his defence lawyer to trigger a crisis of confidence in Quick and his return to the small winemaking region around Birravale.
Whilst there is much to be made of the true crime industry, GREENLIGHT doesn't lose track of the core crime fiction component of solving an actual crime. In this case the murder of Eliza Daley is treated as a part cold case and part possible miscarriage of justice, with Quick starting out assuming the later, and things rapidly taking on the hue of the former. The murder of Wade's defence lawyer ramps things up substantially, with the idea that Quick's program may just have allowed a killer to walk free, but it also creates a more immediate sense about the investigation - it's a current case that is in the focus now, with echoes back to the murder of Daley.
Set in a rural location, GREENLIGHT has some street cred in terms of setting and the dynamics in which the original murder took place. A predominantly wine-growing region a few hours outside Sydney, Birravale has problems. A small community, made up of original families, and blow-in's, dealing with the complications of an incoming workforce of backpackers, tourists and now, investigative journalists, Birravale daily life revolves around the pub, but the wineries bring the people and the money in.
Adding to the mix in this novel is the "hero" of the piece as a flawed individual in his own right. An accident in their teenage years has meant that his older brother is comatose, cared for by their father, the circumstances of his brother's accident aren't clear but it's obvious that there is something very traumatic happened to them both. It has triggered bulimia in Quick, a condition that's rare in males, and the source of many complications in his life and relationships. As the story of Eliza Daley's murder plays out, Quick's personal story is revealed, balancing nicely, explaining much about his behaviour, rounding out the reader's connection and understanding of both.
Playing with this cast of characters, their connections, the things that bind them and drive them apart, there's a great sense of small community, shared and private secrets, and people searching for ways forward. The plot is fairly laid out, allowing the detective readers to solve the mysteries along the way or simply ride along with Quick as he searches for the truth. Well paced out, populated by flawed but approachable characters, set in a location that doesn't feel manipulative or convenient, GREENLIGHT is about crime, greed, money, influence, bad decisions and human frailty and nastiness.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/greenlight-benjamin-stevenson-1
lollylauren1's review against another edition
5.0
Benjamin Stevenson can do no wrong! This book gave me chills!
never4get's review against another edition
3.0
Benjamin Stevenson has a great capacity for descriptive writing and conjures up the Australian landscape particularly well. His characters were deeply drawn. This is a complex novel. TV producer, Jack Quick produced a series about a convicted murderer, Curtis Wade, in which he picked apart the evidence for the conviction. As a result, there was a retrial and Curtis walked free. However, Jack starts to have doubts about this. He goes back to the small town, where he is made decidedly unwelcome. The Wade vineyard sits alongside the expensive winery of Andrew Freeman. Andrew used to be police sergeant in the town and wields a lot of influence.
The first murder attributed to Curtis was of Eliza Dacey, a backpacker/fruit picker, whose naked body was found on his property with two severed fingers in her mouth.
After he is released from prison there is another murder - Alexis, who had been his defence lawyer. Jack does not believe the two murders are related, but many people do and want Curtis back in prison.
Curtis has a sister, Lauren, who was a young teenager when Eliza was murdered. She tries to encourage Jack to work with her to work out what really happened.
There's a back-story with Jack's family and his brother Liam and mental health issues that affect Jack as a result of an accident he suffered.
I did enjoy this book, and the ending was a surprise, but it was very convoluted.
The first murder attributed to Curtis was of Eliza Dacey, a backpacker/fruit picker, whose naked body was found on his property with two severed fingers in her mouth.
After he is released from prison there is another murder - Alexis, who had been his defence lawyer. Jack does not believe the two murders are related, but many people do and want Curtis back in prison.
Curtis has a sister, Lauren, who was a young teenager when Eliza was murdered. She tries to encourage Jack to work with her to work out what really happened.
There's a back-story with Jack's family and his brother Liam and mental health issues that affect Jack as a result of an accident he suffered.
I did enjoy this book, and the ending was a surprise, but it was very convoluted.
bekah1210's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
priceliketag's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Definitely has a bit of debut-itis in terms of being able to follow the story through every twist and turn, but the ending more than makes up for that with some really impressive reveals.
ernis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book had great twists. However my main frustration was it felt like we were never given a clear picture of Eliza's death. It's hard to lean into a suspect when there's no information on who might be guilty. For instance, they talk a lot about how finding certain evidence proves that Eliza was murdered by a specific suspect. Yet they never emphasized why this evidence was so damning towards the suspect, why it had to be that person only. I find it hard to solve a mystery when I know very little about the death of the victim!
I also found the novel to be significantly slower paced than most thriller/mysteries I read.
I would instead recommend Benjamin Stevenson's "Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone" as it was an enjoyable and more lighthearted read.
I also found the novel to be significantly slower paced than most thriller/mysteries I read.
I would instead recommend Benjamin Stevenson's "Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone" as it was an enjoyable and more lighthearted read.
bookish20's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
You really need to pay attention when reading Stevenson as he leaves nuggets of information throughout the story