This review originally appeared on my blog. I’m interested to read some more Matthew Condon, he’s skilled writer and maybe he will do better at true crime or non-fiction or the contemporary novels he wrote in the past. They didn’t feel realistic enough and as much as I tried I couldn’t get past this fact. But for me I never could get past the cosiness of these crime stories. There are some great elements in these novellas, the humour, the wit and the well-crafted plots.

He was smart and a skilled detective but this was too cosy, I mean who says “Up yours” nowadays and then there is the censored language, it just seems weird. The characters within this book are great this old school detective is witty, strong and could have had the making of a hard-boiled character if this wasn’t a cosy crime novel. I don’t know why but I can’t seem to find what is cosy about crime. I’ve just come to the burning realisation that I’m not a fan of cosy crime. There is nothing wrong with Matthew Condon’s writing I think he is great. This is a real joy to read but there is something that just doesn’t sit right with me. But in retirement things are so much more deadly in this collection of five novellas originally published in The Courier Mail.

In his hey days, this unnamed detective had to deal with some of the most murderous criminals in Australian history. Retirement can be murder! Former Sydney detective recognises someone from his workdays in his retirement home in the Gold Coast.

The Toe Tag Quintet by Matthew Condon