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mhverney's review
4.0
Great Australian outback noir. The description of drug ridden Cobb town and its alcoholic residents is depressingly convincing, so is the description of a closed immigration detention centre. This being said, the refugee angle somewhat lacked in nuances but kudos to the author for at least trying to tackle it. Looking forward to more in the series.
nicjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
The Stoning is ‘outback noir’ at its pitch black most noir!
The small town of Cobb is on the skids. Businesses are struggling, there is a clear racial divide and the additional complication of an immigration centre which hasn’t delivered the jobs and opportunities which were promised. When a primary school teacher is the subject of a brutal attack, DS George Manolis is despatched from the City to solve the crime. Packed full of issues and straight talking dialogue, this is a truly atmospheric slow-burn thriller.
A hugely enjoyable read albeit some of the prose may have benefitted from more editing. I will definitely be looking out for another instalment. A solid 3.5*. Thanks to Netgalley.
The small town of Cobb is on the skids. Businesses are struggling, there is a clear racial divide and the additional complication of an immigration centre which hasn’t delivered the jobs and opportunities which were promised. When a primary school teacher is the subject of a brutal attack, DS George Manolis is despatched from the City to solve the crime. Packed full of issues and straight talking dialogue, this is a truly atmospheric slow-burn thriller.
A hugely enjoyable read albeit some of the prose may have benefitted from more editing. I will definitely be looking out for another instalment. A solid 3.5*. Thanks to Netgalley.
kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
In a conversation with a well known author of Australian Rural/Regional crime fiction on twitter recently, we talked about the differences between "rural noir" and "rural crime". She clarified the difference between rural crime fiction and rural noir fiction for me perfectly - a projection from the author about the place that they are writing. In noir you get the sense that the author feels this place is without hope, lost and struggling to find a future. In rural crime there's more of a sense of affection or hope for a setting, both of which often extends to the handling and depiction of characters.
All of which makes THE STONING one of the most pitch perfect examples of that rural noir definition that you're going to come across. There's something brutal and utterly bereft about the childhood hometown of central character DS George Manolis. Cobb is now a shadow of it's past, with loss of population and prospects, stacked up against community dysfunction and the tension - and what, upon reflection really feels like shame - that comes with being the host town for a detention centre. Sure "community leaders" might have seen the centre as an exciting purveyor of jobs and a future, but it's turned out to create an "us and them" scenario which a town with very few of "us" left can do without.
The crime at the centre of the novel is shocking enough - a local schoolteacher, tied to a tree and stoned to death. There's something very medieval about the crime, and this is all that's needed for some people to connect the dots with potential suspects in the detention centre. Nicely wrapping up the idea that the killer couldn't be a local and demonising a group of people that simply don't need further demonising. Helps that there's connections between the victim and the centre.
Stepping back into the town as the "big city cop", it takes a while for Manolis to process his personal connection to Cobb, understandable really when the local population seems to spend their entire lives obsessed with alcohol, fighting, prejudice and finding anybody else to blame for their plight. The dysfunction nicely reflected by local cops - a sergeant with a drinking problem; a bereaved female constable; and an indigenous, gay young constable who is bullied by just about everybody.
There are absolutely no punches pulled by the author in THE STONING. This is Australian rural noir at it's scathing, pointed absolute best. Uncomfortable reading, it was nonetheless absolutely riveting and it nailed everything about the environment, people, weather and desperation that makes up the subgenre. The sense of place is spot on, the characters utterly believable, the action unrelenting and the reality in your face, brutal and unapologetically so.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/stoning-peter-papathanasiou
All of which makes THE STONING one of the most pitch perfect examples of that rural noir definition that you're going to come across. There's something brutal and utterly bereft about the childhood hometown of central character DS George Manolis. Cobb is now a shadow of it's past, with loss of population and prospects, stacked up against community dysfunction and the tension - and what, upon reflection really feels like shame - that comes with being the host town for a detention centre. Sure "community leaders" might have seen the centre as an exciting purveyor of jobs and a future, but it's turned out to create an "us and them" scenario which a town with very few of "us" left can do without.
The crime at the centre of the novel is shocking enough - a local schoolteacher, tied to a tree and stoned to death. There's something very medieval about the crime, and this is all that's needed for some people to connect the dots with potential suspects in the detention centre. Nicely wrapping up the idea that the killer couldn't be a local and demonising a group of people that simply don't need further demonising. Helps that there's connections between the victim and the centre.
Stepping back into the town as the "big city cop", it takes a while for Manolis to process his personal connection to Cobb, understandable really when the local population seems to spend their entire lives obsessed with alcohol, fighting, prejudice and finding anybody else to blame for their plight. The dysfunction nicely reflected by local cops - a sergeant with a drinking problem; a bereaved female constable; and an indigenous, gay young constable who is bullied by just about everybody.
There are absolutely no punches pulled by the author in THE STONING. This is Australian rural noir at it's scathing, pointed absolute best. Uncomfortable reading, it was nonetheless absolutely riveting and it nailed everything about the environment, people, weather and desperation that makes up the subgenre. The sense of place is spot on, the characters utterly believable, the action unrelenting and the reality in your face, brutal and unapologetically so.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/stoning-peter-papathanasiou
kellyvandamme's review
4.0
I spotted The Stoning on Twitter and felt myself drawn in by that gorgeous cover. It spoke of hot and dusty desolation and set all my spidey senses atingle. Reading the blurb, I knew it was a done deal. Outback noir? Hell yeah! In a world rife with thrillers of all sorts, I’m always on the look-out for elements that set them apart from all others, and a not-quite-common setting does wonders.
Although I have to admit I don’t think Cobb is really the place to be. For starters, a woman had just been murdered. I mean, murder happens in the best of towns, it’s not something that should prevent us from going somewhere or living there, murder is all around us. Or do you suppose I read too many thrillers? Yet, this particular murder was particularly brutal: this woman was stoned to death. With the so-called brown house, Cobb’s immigration detention centre, just around the corner, the locals are eager to point the finger at refugees from countries where stoning is still common practice.
DS Manolis is sent from the city to Cobb, where he was born and raised, to help the local police force, such as it is, to find the culprit. The poor man has been there for all of 2 minutes and some so-and-so burns down his car. See what I mean about Cobb not being the place to be?
Manolis is a brilliant character, though. Anyone who shares their crackers with a possum and prevents someone from driving down a kangaroo, is a good person in my book, I don’t care how many crops said kangaroo might have destroyed. He’s originally Greek and he has some lingering Greek habits, he’s a bit of an outlier himself, which I think really helps him understand the refugee issues. He feels very authentic, he’s very hands-on, wants to get the job done but keeps hitting his head against a brick wall every which way he turns. His frustration is palpable but he never loses his wry sense of humour. I just love it when a book makes me snort wholly unladylike.
Strictly speaking a police procedural, The Stoning is very different from your average murder investigation. Cobb is like the wild west, with Manolis as acting sheriff trying to figure everything out while keeping everyone in line, including the actual sheriff. I adore small town settings with the characters veering from slightly off to completely bonkers, and the author did an amazing job with Cobb. The Stoning has a brilliant small town vibe that I’m sure fans of Chris Whitaker will lap up.
The refugee issues are a vital story element, and one that captured and kept my attention throughout, to some extent because it was completely new territory for me. It made me realise that I must have subconsciously considered Oceania so remote that it would not have any refugees, let alone that it would need halfway houses where refugees are detained until they either get permission to stay or are thrown out.
The Stoning also touches upon the Aboriginals and how they have been mistreated throughout history and that there is still racism towards them today. Again, something I had never considered. I’ve heard and read about the struggle of native Americans but I never realised that a native people on the other side of the world had gone through and are going through the same thing.
Last year, Gabriel Bergmoser introduced me to outback horror, now The Stoning has given me a taste of outback noir, and I have to say the Australian outback makes for a perfect setting! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Stoning, it’s both entertaining and thought-provoking, it’s extremely atmospheric throughout, and I can’t wait to be reunited with DS Manolis. Recommended.
Massive thanks to MacLehose Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Although I have to admit I don’t think Cobb is really the place to be. For starters, a woman had just been murdered. I mean, murder happens in the best of towns, it’s not something that should prevent us from going somewhere or living there, murder is all around us. Or do you suppose I read too many thrillers? Yet, this particular murder was particularly brutal: this woman was stoned to death. With the so-called brown house, Cobb’s immigration detention centre, just around the corner, the locals are eager to point the finger at refugees from countries where stoning is still common practice.
DS Manolis is sent from the city to Cobb, where he was born and raised, to help the local police force, such as it is, to find the culprit. The poor man has been there for all of 2 minutes and some so-and-so burns down his car. See what I mean about Cobb not being the place to be?
Manolis is a brilliant character, though. Anyone who shares their crackers with a possum and prevents someone from driving down a kangaroo, is a good person in my book, I don’t care how many crops said kangaroo might have destroyed. He’s originally Greek and he has some lingering Greek habits, he’s a bit of an outlier himself, which I think really helps him understand the refugee issues. He feels very authentic, he’s very hands-on, wants to get the job done but keeps hitting his head against a brick wall every which way he turns. His frustration is palpable but he never loses his wry sense of humour. I just love it when a book makes me snort wholly unladylike.
Strictly speaking a police procedural, The Stoning is very different from your average murder investigation. Cobb is like the wild west, with Manolis as acting sheriff trying to figure everything out while keeping everyone in line, including the actual sheriff. I adore small town settings with the characters veering from slightly off to completely bonkers, and the author did an amazing job with Cobb. The Stoning has a brilliant small town vibe that I’m sure fans of Chris Whitaker will lap up.
The refugee issues are a vital story element, and one that captured and kept my attention throughout, to some extent because it was completely new territory for me. It made me realise that I must have subconsciously considered Oceania so remote that it would not have any refugees, let alone that it would need halfway houses where refugees are detained until they either get permission to stay or are thrown out.
The Stoning also touches upon the Aboriginals and how they have been mistreated throughout history and that there is still racism towards them today. Again, something I had never considered. I’ve heard and read about the struggle of native Americans but I never realised that a native people on the other side of the world had gone through and are going through the same thing.
Last year, Gabriel Bergmoser introduced me to outback horror, now The Stoning has given me a taste of outback noir, and I have to say the Australian outback makes for a perfect setting! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Stoning, it’s both entertaining and thought-provoking, it’s extremely atmospheric throughout, and I can’t wait to be reunited with DS Manolis. Recommended.
Massive thanks to MacLehose Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
jess_morgan111's review
3.0
This book was a good insight into gritty, uncomfortable small town demons and the secrets that come along with that. However, this book seemed to drag on with no concrete developments until the last 40 pages or so. I liked the characters and the setting had potential, but I really felt like the tension was missing.
daniel_mc_adam's review against another edition
5.0
A real Gem of a Book.The Main Character in this book has the potential to go a long way.
I really look forward to the next book and hope I don’t have to long to wait.
If this is the Authors Debut things can only get better.
I really look forward to the next book and hope I don’t have to long to wait.
If this is the Authors Debut things can only get better.
elnell's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
wrxtacy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
CAWPILE score: 5.0 (35/70, Good)
FRTC
FRTC
noveldeelights's review
4.0
There is just something about small towns in crime fiction novels that will always grab my attention and let’s face it, any crime fiction fan worth their salt is surely swayed by that opening line of the book description. A stoning! In Australia? For real?! WTF!
The outback community of Cobb is a pretty miserable place, to be fair. It seems the residents feel the same way and so they spend pretty much their entire days in the pub, drinking to forget or just because there doesn’t seem to be anything better to do. This apparently includes the local law enforcement, whose incompetence and uselessness really comes to the fore when there is a brutal killing.
Local schoolteacher, Molly, is found tied to a tree and stoned to death. Fingers are pointing to the immigration detention centre just outside of town. Tensions in Cobb were already pretty high, but now they’re only rising. Yet, nobody seems to be doing much of anything. Detective Sergeant George Manolis is sent from the “big city” to help solve this horrific murder but he is met with resistance and silence pretty much every way he turns. Will he be able to solve who killed Molly and why?
‘The Stoning‘ is a really impressive crime fiction debut from Peter Papathanasiou. It oozes atmosphere and you can almost feel the relentless Australian heat rising from the pages. The murder mystery is a complicated one to solve. Just like Manolis, I often became rather frustrated at the lack of evidence and the apparent lack of interest in Molly’s death. I had a theory but in the end, it turned out I was only half right and the ultimate reveal was far, far worse than my wee feeble mind could have imagined.
There is so much more to ‘The Stoning‘ than this murder though. It is incredibly apt for our times but also lays bare atrocities from the past, ultimately making the reader realise that history has taught us absolutely nothing. This small town is overrun by misogyny and racism. Not just towards the residents at the immigrant detention centre but also their own neighbours, so to speak. White versus black, being the Aboriginals in this case. There are often many uncomfortable moments due to this topic, as is always the case when being faced with the worst humanity has to offer, but they make for one thought-provoking read.
A compelling murder investigation, a brilliant cast of characters (even if there were a few I really wanted to punch in the face), atmosphere dripping from the pages and topics to make you think … there is so much to like about ‘The Stoning‘. Often harrowing, sometimes heartbreaking, always thought-provoking, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I look forward to the opportunity of hanging out with Manolis again.
The outback community of Cobb is a pretty miserable place, to be fair. It seems the residents feel the same way and so they spend pretty much their entire days in the pub, drinking to forget or just because there doesn’t seem to be anything better to do. This apparently includes the local law enforcement, whose incompetence and uselessness really comes to the fore when there is a brutal killing.
Local schoolteacher, Molly, is found tied to a tree and stoned to death. Fingers are pointing to the immigration detention centre just outside of town. Tensions in Cobb were already pretty high, but now they’re only rising. Yet, nobody seems to be doing much of anything. Detective Sergeant George Manolis is sent from the “big city” to help solve this horrific murder but he is met with resistance and silence pretty much every way he turns. Will he be able to solve who killed Molly and why?
‘The Stoning‘ is a really impressive crime fiction debut from Peter Papathanasiou. It oozes atmosphere and you can almost feel the relentless Australian heat rising from the pages. The murder mystery is a complicated one to solve. Just like Manolis, I often became rather frustrated at the lack of evidence and the apparent lack of interest in Molly’s death. I had a theory but in the end, it turned out I was only half right and the ultimate reveal was far, far worse than my wee feeble mind could have imagined.
There is so much more to ‘The Stoning‘ than this murder though. It is incredibly apt for our times but also lays bare atrocities from the past, ultimately making the reader realise that history has taught us absolutely nothing. This small town is overrun by misogyny and racism. Not just towards the residents at the immigrant detention centre but also their own neighbours, so to speak. White versus black, being the Aboriginals in this case. There are often many uncomfortable moments due to this topic, as is always the case when being faced with the worst humanity has to offer, but they make for one thought-provoking read.
A compelling murder investigation, a brilliant cast of characters (even if there were a few I really wanted to punch in the face), atmosphere dripping from the pages and topics to make you think … there is so much to like about ‘The Stoning‘. Often harrowing, sometimes heartbreaking, always thought-provoking, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I look forward to the opportunity of hanging out with Manolis again.