A Murder Unmentioned - Gentill
4 stars

This is the sixth book in this historical Australian mystery series. I’m definitely hooked. Each book features the portrait artist, Rowland Sinclair and his quirky, leftist, artistic friends. The enduring friendship and loyalty of the four friends is the most satisfying ongoing theme. Rowland’s family complications are even more present in this book as the unmentioned murder victim was his father, thirteen years dead, at the beginning of this book. Things look bad for the Sinclair family when a new body turns up and Rowland is arrested for both murders.

I’ve come to accept that there will be frequent and severe injuries, mostly to Rowland, but also to his friends. They have an amazing ability to escape death and to recuperate quickly. This book, like the others, has some very tense moments. The tension is balanced by the presence of Rowland's nephews, the growing cooperation between the Sinclair brothers, and the ongoing romantic fantasies of Lucy Bennett. (I was impatient with the unrealistic way it was assumed that Rowland was ready to marry her. Why didn’t he just tell his manipulative relatives to back off ? But, I forgive the author the ridiculous situation, because the pre-engagement interview with Colonel Bennett made me laugh out loud. It was priceless.)

There were really two mysteries to solve in this book. I could pick out the obvious culprits, but there were many threads to untangle. The final resolution came after two cliffhanger rescues and several encounters with interesting historic personalities. In Sydney, Rowland and Milt met some notorious leaders of the criminal class while spending Christmas in jail. Back at Oaklea, Edna Walling was creating a garden. Not being an Aussie, I’d naturally never heard of her. I looked her up. I’m sure her gardens at Oaklea were beautiful. ( )

Thirteen years ago in 1920 Henry Sinclair was killed, now accusations have been made that Rowland Sinclair killed his father. Old secrets are revealed but will they help to prove his innocence or not. Then another murder is discovered and the noose is tightened around Rowland.
An enjoyable and interesting mystery revealing more of the history of the Sinclair family.
A NetGalley Book ( )

This mystery was sent to me by the publisher Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you.

In this novel Rowland Sinclair and his friends are not traveling the world. In fact, the entire plot is focused on Rowly and his immediate family. During a vast gardening project on the family estate where Rowly’s elder brother Wilfred and his family live, the gun that killed their father 13 years earlier is discovered . Originally, the murderer of Henry Sinclair was presumed to be a burglar since some valuable silver went missing. But when the silver is found with the murder weapon, the police decide to reopen the cold case. Thanks to some anonymous calls that point the police to witnesses not interviewed in the initial investigation, it becomes apparent that an inhabitant of Oaklea is the most likely suspect and Rowly, fifteen at the time of his father’s death, had the best motive for wanting his father dead.

While Rowly and Wilfred try to clear up the mess, another murder occurs which only seems to strengthen the case against Rowly. In addition, someone tries to shoot Rowly and injures his dog instead. Even Rowly’s personal life is in turmoil. He can’t seem to convince Lucy Bennett, his sister-in-law’s best friend, that he is not in love with her. His mother is even more delusional than usual. And Arthur Sinclair, his disinherited first cousin, seems intent on insinuating himself in the family circle and the family businesses.

This, in my opinion, is the strongest novel in the Sinclair canon. Not only is the mystery outstanding, but the characters are really fleshed out. Rowly’s painful childhood is revealed in all of its horror and the strained relationship between Rowly and Wilfred is explained very satisfactorily.

Highly recommended. ( )

A Murder Unmentioned is the sixth book in the Rowland Sinclair series and the third I have read. The unmentioned murder is from the past. Rowland was fifteen when his father died and he was sent to England. We now learn his father was murdered and suddenly Rowland is the prime suspect. The other suspect is his brother, Wilfred. Complicating matters, there is another murder and clearly some secret maneuvering in the background.

The Rowland Sinclair series is a historical mystery series that takes place in Australia during the years fascism was growing in Europe and around the world. Fascist politicians were building power in England and Australia as well and anti-fascist activism by labor and the left were critical to turning those countries away from the abyss. Sinclair is one of those who fought fascism, at considerable risk. Genti;l mixes fiction and fact seamlessly with great effect.

A Murder Unmentioned is the third book in this series I’ve read and my favorite. I was engrossed in the events, perhaps because the mystery was so much more individual, not part of some larger movement or conspiracy. The mystery in the past was fair and I began to suspect the solution, not too soon, but soon enough I was not surprised by the revelation. That’s the way it should be. In the other books in the series, I faithfully read the bits of real news and fictional news snippets that open the chapters. This time I skipped them. I think that may be the reason I found this book so much more enjoyable.

I received an e-galley A Murder Unmentioned from the publisher through NetGalley.

A Murder Unmentioned at Poisoned Pen Press
Sulari Gentill author site
A Decline in Prophets by Sulari Gentill
Paving the New Road by Sulari Gentill

★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/02/27/9781464206979/ ( )

Australia, murder, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-figures, historical-setting

1933 in Australia where the political scene is uncertain and the world around is polarizing into some frightening camps. Rowland shares his large home with fellow misfits and continues to grow as a artist.
It is a family history, and by necessity it is also a segment of Australia's part in world history. Whatever else it is, it is a riveting book in a fascinating series! This one centers about the unpublicized murder of Rowley's father and the fallout from it.
The author is awesome, the series is additive, and Rowley is just so lifelike. Hope the next one comes out soon!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )