Lyrebird by Jane Caro

Jane Caro has begun Lyrebird with a unique premise – a young PHD student hearing a woman begging for her life. An ornithology student Jessica Weston had been bird watching and recording birds and their calls in the remote Barrington Tops when she realised that it was a lyrebird imitating a terrified woman. She reports this to the police, giving them video of the lyrebird, but no body was found by the new detective, Megan Blaxland, and no women were reported missing so the case was dismissed. Now, twenty years later a body has been uncovered and the case reopened. Megan is called back from retirement to head the investigation and reunites with Jessica.

This is a twisty gripping police procedural, and I found it difficult to work out who was the killer. As well as outlining how Megan sets about solving the case, Caro cleverly threads dark themes throughout the book of sex trafficking, motherhood and the problems of bringing up children, overcoming grief and climate change. All of this is set against the background of a deadly bushfire raging near Maitland and in the Barrington Tops. Will Megan be able to solve the case and bring the victims the justice that they deserve? Has the killer been watching Jessica and her daughter?

Once started, I couldn’t put Lyrebird down. The idea of a lyrebird being a witness to a murder was compelling and original, the danger of bushfires was vividly described and the suspense kept me reading to the stunning conclusion. I will certainly be seeking out Mother by Jane Caro, while eagerly waiting for another cleverly crafted crime book by this author.

Themes: Murder, Sex trafficking, Lyrebirds, Bushfires, Detectives.

Pat Pledger