Tamam Shud: The Somerton Man mystery

If you’re really interested in the Somerton Man mystery don’t bother buying this book, just read Wikipedia - it will be more accurate and focused. I should have listened to the other 1 star reviews, but I took a punt. There are only 9 chapters and chapter 5 rambles on about murders in Adelaide. Nothing about Somerton Man. Seriously, I’m 5 chapters in and I think I found out more from 5 paragraphs on Wikipedia. The irony in chapter is that Greenwood mentions that there is an interesting book on Somerton Man written by the retired detective Gerald Feltus. This 2010 book doesn’t appear to for sale anywhere. I wish I’d bought that book instead.

as always excellent kerry greenwood

Not really the best book to buy if you are interested in researching this fascinating mystery.Don't waste your cash.

This is a rambling book on what (should be) a fascinating subject. Key details are left out, while chapters consist of random opinions from the author's friends which turn out to be dead ends, irrelevant speculation and parental anecdotes abound. The author is apparently a fiction writer and has zero of the journalistic skills required to do this story justice. If you're interested in this story there are numerous great podcasts and a book called The Unknown Man (which I'm having trouble finding in the US). I regret wasting money on this book.

I really liked this book. It is pretty short, I think I read it over two or three days. Written by well-known Australian author, Kerry Greenwood (of the Miss Fisher Mystery series) Tamam Shud is part memoir of Ms. Greenwood's early life in Australia and part crime/mystery of the unsolved case of the Somerton Man. There is a bonus chapter at the end that is really satisfying. I won't spoil it for readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of the book!