Bones of Contention

Bones of Contention
by Jeanne Mathews

The Top End of northern Australia is where Cleon Dobbs has decided to deal with cancer on his own terms. He asked his family to come to a remote, rundown lodge outside of Katherine for a final good-by. Everyone in this hodge-podge group comes with his or her own agenda -- even Dinah Pelerin, our spunky heroine. This debut novel sparkles with wit. Dinah, in a rush to get to Crow Hill Lodge, doesn't wait for the next commercial flight from Darwin to Katherine but accepts a plane ride from one of the colorful locals. Jacko insists on giving her a scenic air tour of the area, including Melville Island where he found body of a murdered journalist a few weeks before. As the plane circles the island, Jacko tells Dinah about finding the body of the reporter impaled on a sea turtle. By this time, Dinah believes that she flying with a madman who will never take her to Katherine. She thinks that the plane will crash and that she will die. But Jacko is true to his word and deposits her safely in the Katherine airport where Eddie, her brother's partner picks her up. They drive down a rutted dirt lane to the shabby lodge where things are not what they seem. Jeanne Matthews weaves a colorful tapestry of Australia and its people. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try books by Ann Cleeves and Cornelia Read.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official Bones of Contention page on the official Jeanne Mathews web site ]

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