Book 3 of the Jade Riley Mysteries The Man in the Dam has now been released with Next Chapter Publishing. Find it on Amazon US, Amazon AU or Books2read. If you can’t get hold of a copy, reach out via the contact page, and I’ll help to resolve it.
Hot off the press … The Man in the Dam placed as a Gold Finalist in the Indie Gold Awards, recognizing the best in mystery, thriller and suspense writing! And … it won a Literary Titan Gold Award. Thank you to the Indie Gold Awards judges and to every reader who has supported this journey.
Murder. Theatre. Community secrets.
Journalist Jade Riley hosts a dinner at her parents’ idyllic country property with members of the local amateur theatre society. The next morning, she finds one of her guests dead in a dam.
As Jade investigates, the players tighten their grip on long-held secrets. Grudges and tangled motives emerge, and the past refuses to stay buried.
At the same time, a proposal from her boyfriend forces Jade to consider how much she’s willing to give up for love.
An atmospheric, fast-paced mystery, THE MAN IN THE DAM is the third book in Andrea Barton’s Jade Riley Mysteries series.
Here are a couple of photos to show the dam Andrea had in mind for the opening scene. Note the larger body of water is Lake Eildon, the dam is the small farm dam closer in.
Here’s a photo from the Mansfield launch of The Man in the Dam hosted by the one and only Charlotte Lindsay at Ink Bookshop in Mansfield, one of the locations in the book.
Enjoy these photos from the Melbourne Book Launch of The Man in the Dam celebrated at Bad Shepherd Brewery on March 15. Travel writer Kirstie Bedford hosted a Q&A with Andrea. Kirstie Bedford is an award-winning travel writer, trained journalist, editor and podcaster. She has just announced a two-book deal with Bloodhound Books
Praise for The Man in the Dam:
“Book three in the Jade Riley mystery series and what a cracker! …This fast paced, action packed story was cleverly written with twists I didn’t see coming and prose that kept me intrigued right from the first page.”
Farah
“A pacy, tight mystery that’s a love letter to Mansfield.”
Bella Ellwood-Clayton, author of The Swimming Group
“A great read. The characters are so well drawn and the setting in and around Mansfield is another character. A very fine book with a great plot, a lovely twist and a satisfying ending.”
Sarah Bourne, author Exile
“A fast-paced mystery sure to keep readers turning pages. You will not want to miss this intriguing story with relatable characters.”
Steve Rush, author of The Shocking Truth
“As a magnet attracts iron, Jade Riley attracts murder victims. In Barton’s new novel, The Man in the Dam, her protagonist gets another mystery to solve and does so in Agatha Christie fashion. A fast moving, well structured and well written story.”
Mike Paull, author The Head Case
“A well-paced and well-researched read. Barton has captured the dynamics of a small country town along with beautiful descriptions of the natural environment. Jade’s love versus career dilemma kept me guessing as well as the dramatic crime storyline.”
Kate Murdock, author of Stone Circle and The Orange Grove
“Kicking off with a gripping opening, this mystery has a strong sense of place and a tight plot involving multiple generations.”
Nadine Davidoff, Editor
“Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? Let alone a treasure hunt with a murder mystery attached … and better still, with a flourish of theatrical activity and a touch of romance. This is an intriguing read, set in rural Australia, with loads of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and turning the page.”
Sarah Hawthorn, author of Love. Camera. Action.
“This is fast-paced and skilfully written crime fiction at its best, with an excellent plot featuring murder, community theatre, small town secrets, a marriage proposal and hidden treasure.”
Lisa Heidke (Darcy), author of The Pact and Lily’s Little Flower Shop
“A well-paced mystery with plenty of action set in Mansfield, an Australian country town. Jade is a believable, sympathetic protagonist, supported by her boyfriend, Brett, who complements her skills. The underlying tension in their relationship is the emotional heart of the story.”
Sue Anderson, Editorial Head New Authors Collective
“I was gripped by Jade’s new adventure which begins when she finds a dead body setting off a twisty, fast-paced search for the culprit amongst a group of diverse and engaging dinner party guests.
“Assistance and romance come from her boyfriend but draw personal conflict, too.
“Set in rural Victoria, the history, landscape and wildlife play an important role alongside characters who all have secrets and motives to kill. “Jade’s every move brings risk to her and the man she loves, making this is a taut, edge-of-the seat experience. I loved it! Bravo, Andrea Barton.”
Diane Clarke, author of The Photograph
See the other Jade Riley Mysteries, The Godfather of Dance, A Killer Among Friends and The Runaway Girl.