The Sands of Windee

A friend who had run across Arthur Upfield books years ago recommended them to me as mysteries that are more than mysteries. He was pleased with the sense of a different place that was incorporated with the mystery story. "Sands of Windee" is the first of Upfield's books that I have read and I heartily agree with his assessment. In addition to a very good mystery story, you are presented with a remote part of Australia in a very different time than we live in today. The detective, Napoleon Bonaparte, is an excellent character, and well supported by other well developed characters. The plotting is also strong and keeps you interested in the developing story. Through it all, you have that sense of a different time and place, a different pace of living, but familiar emotions and motivations. I think this is much better than a "typical" mystery and a very notable book. It was delightful to read, and, now I am working my way through other books in the series (also delightful) as I am able to find them.

This Australian author gives the reader an accurate and vivid glimpse into life and love...and murder... in the Australian outback. In this book, the renowned half-caste, Bony, the detective who has never left a case unsolved, does just that in this story. For the first time ever, Bony realizes that he is not perfect. Finding that he is torn between the complete truth and the happiness of another, he decides to make a noble sacrifice. The characters will make you laugh, and the descriptive settings give the reader a rare glimpse into the harsh and dangerous interior of Australia.

I greatly enjoyed this book. The half-Caucasian, half-aborigine Detective Inspector Napolean Bonaparte (Bony to his friends) becomes involved in this case hoping he's found the perfect murder. A man named Marks visits Windee Station then vanishes. The local police assume he was lost in the bush but Bony has reason to think differently. This mystery is populated with a host of interesting outback characters, aborigines, blackmailers, secondary mysteries, and an awe-inspiring fire. The vision of 1930's Australia is exotic to us in this day and age, yet presented with complete understanding. It is worth noting that Bony and his contemporaries are well aware of his biracial status and some of the language used may bother some. The original copyright of this story is over 60 years ago though, and Mr. Upfield's heart and intentions are in the right place.