This murder mystery set in Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia is strangely relevant today. It's about a far right, racist, politician whose suddenly elected to parliament taking several seats and holding the balance of power. They want to reform the racial discrimination and equal opportunity laws and people are angry. Their party has links to overseas fascist groups and people aren't quite sure where the money's coming from.

A dead women turns up, another goes missing and in the midst of all this Nicola Sharpe, private investigator is hired to keep watch over a ex-politicians granddaughter who's also the daughter of a famous socialite artist.

Mystery, crime, politics, protests, sneaking about, a bit of a jaunt down the train tracks from Central Station towards Redfern for some graffiti and many easter show visits complete with lamentations of the move from Moore Park to Homebush are contained within.

I really enjoyed it. Helped I knew all the areas in the book. ( )

Private detective Nicola Sharp is 29 and looks like Annie Lennox. She lives in Balmain and works the waterfront. Hired to protect the precocious daughter of an artist, she finds herself drawn into violent conflict with a political group whose leader is having an affair with Nicola's client. And then the murders start.

My name is Nicola Sharpe. I'm six feet tall. Sixty-seven kilos. Unmarried and with no intention of changing my status quo. If you asked me my interests I'd say travel, great music, food and wine. I drive a rusty Peugeot 504 so I'd also include a passion for charismatic cars. Once I'd have included men on the list, but I look after my heart these days. ( )