The Barrakee Mystery: The Lure of the Bush (Inspector Bonaparte Mysteries Book 1)

I found the racial references to the indigenous people of Australia as 'abos', 'blacks', etc uncomfortable as often characters are reduced to old [colonial] stereotypes, and although there is obviously some sympathy by Upfield for them the language [of its period - 1930s] is jarring to the modern ear. In case someone out there thinks these are the comments of a 'Woke' reader let me assure them that they are the responses of an historian from the early 21st century used to making independent judgements. The only way this defect could have been avoided [apart from wholesale expunging of the language - which would be completely wrong; better not to publish than to do such a thing] would have been for there to have been an introduction fully exploring the obvious cultural shifts that have taken place and to have contextualised Upfield's [entirely acceptable in his own age] use of such language. After all this, I have to also say that The Barrakee Mystery is certainly not one of the author's best books and Boney is still to mature on the printed page - which he does in later novels. Not a brilliant read but a necessary one if a reader is to fully explore and enjoy the later Boney stories. Upfield's description of the unique Australian landscape DOES begin in this novel and is one of the fascinating things about his writing.

A very good story, vividly illustrating the relations between white Australians and indigenous aborigines and an object lesson in how such matters should be viewed in the context of their time and not in the context of life 100 years later

I have loved the 'Boney' series of books since a teenager, I am well over retirment age now but his books have been a part of my life. I know it is impossible for a brown eyed aborigine mum and a blue eyed dad have an intensly blue eyed son. I know Arthur Upfield wrote with bad grammar, but what the heck, he writes a blooming good story and to me is an amazing wordsmith.I am so glad these books are available on Kindle , I have most of them in green penguin but the pages are getting really brittle now.I was lucky enough to visit Australia last year and most of my enthusiasm for the trip came from books I had first read 45 to 50 years before

I was introduced to 'Bony' at the age of 17 by my late Father..an avid reader of these books...at last they are on Kindle and I can add to my very ancient collection and renew my copies...I love Bony and always enjoy the twists and turns of the books. a joy to reread these wonderful books. If you have never read a Bony book, then you are in for a descriptive treat of the outback, and be transported to the world of a super detective.

Good read

Arthur Upfield once again gives the reader a great deal of food for thought with his detective stories. He writes with wide knowledge of the conditions applying in Australia at the time of his writing.

Good to read these books again after many years Thanks JNR

Am progressing through all the Bony books