Redbelly Crossing
- Judith D Collins
- Apr 28
- 5 min read
By: Candice Fox
Narrators: Jeremy Water, Lani Tupu
Spotify Audiobooks
ISBN: 9798892425650
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: 04/28/2026
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
A fractured family of police detectives must solve the murder of a young woman in a small Australian town, unearthing dark secrets thought long buried.
Since a violent confrontation tore apart a family five years ago, brothers and fellow cops Russell and Evan haven’t spoken a word to each other. When they’re both assigned to the murder of a young journalist in the tiny town of Redbelly Crossing, their paths are forced to cross again.
This was supposed to be the week Russell could repair things with his teenage daughter, and instead, he has to drag her on a murderous ride into the middle of snake-infested nowhere.
For Evan, this case is exactly what he needed: a high-profile investigation that will give him the chance to rebuild his career after a terrible mistake that nearly ended it.
Then a dark discovery leaves Evan with only one way out: to bury the truth Russell is so determined to uncover.
My Review
For Candice Fox’s Redbelly Crossing (April 28, 2026), the story marks a return to her gritty, "Aussie noir" roots. This gripping standalone police procedural is as much about a dysfunctional family as it is about a murder. Inspired by chilling true events of real-life murders of two women in Sydney in the early 70s.
Highlights...
~The Vibe: Gritty, visceral, and "Aussie Noir."
~Mood: Suffocating, muscular, moral complexity, snake-infested.
~Themes: Generational trauma, toxic masculinity, and brothers on opposite sides of the law.
~The Hook: The Powder brothers are stuck in the outback; one is trying to solve a murder, while the other is trying to bury the evidence to save himself.
Blood and Dust: A Duel of Brothers in Redbelly Crossing
"Blood is thicker than water— but too much leaves a trail. In this visceral Aussie noir, estranged cop brothers Russell and Evan Powder are forced to reunite in the snake-infested town of Redbelly Crossing. As one brother hunts for a killer and the other works to bury the evidence, Candice Fox delivers a muscular, suffocating masterpiece of generational trauma and outback suspense."
My thoughts...
"Candice Fox returns to the high-stakes, gritty storytelling of her roots with Redbelly Crossing, a novel that has been called, 'Australian noir at its most suffocating.' When a young journalist is found murdered in a tiny outback pub, Sydney Detective Russell Powder and his disgraced brother Evan find themselves working the same case—but with violently different agendas.
Told through alternating perspectives, the story is a morally alert study of a disastrously dysfunctional family. While Russell relentlessly pursues the truth, Evan discovers a secret that leaves him with only one way out: burying the very facts his brother is uncovering. With brittle dialogue and an eerie, 'venomous' atmosphere, Fox creates a complex world where the suspects aren't the only ones with something to hide.
An intricately plotted unputdownable journey into the hearts of two damaged men, proving that in Redbelly Crossing, the past is never truly buried.
As a massive devoted fan of Candice Fox for many years, I can confidently say that REDBELLY CROSSING stands as one of her finest works. The story unfolds in a small, isolated outback town, where the atmosphere is thick with tension and despair.
The setting is not just a backdrop but an integral character in itself—snake-infested and oppressive, it amplifies the novel's haunting "noir" essence. Fox has a unique talent for weaving dark and gritty police procedurals, and her ability to captivate readers is unparalleled. The narrative pulls you in and holds you spellbound, leaving you breathless with each twist and turn.
In the Author's Note,
Candice Fox details her personal connection to two real-life, unsolved 1970s cold cases in Sydney, Australia, which inspired the novel. Redbelly Crossing reimagines key aspects of these murders in an attempt to spark new information that could help bring the killer to justice.
Morally complex, unlike a standard whodunit, the focus is on the moral corruption of its protagonists. Visceral and explosive from the "bloody opening line" to the "venomous" environment, Fox explores the "toxic" and "fractured" dynamics of the Powder family and generational violence.
The Verdict: 5/5 Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"REDBELLY CROSSING" emerges as a gripping and robust police procedural, distinguished by its rich character development and an evocative "Aussie noir" ambiance. The novel reflects the pinnacle of Fox's storytelling prowess, weaving a tapestry of intense emotional experiences that resonate deeply with readers. It stands as one of her finest works to date, further enriching her impressive catalog of compelling narratives.
Takeaway Message:
Responsibility is as much moral as it is legal. The story serves as a meditation on the long shadow of generational violence, proving that justice is often messy and that inherited trauma can drive even brothers to violently different ends.
Candice Fox is an acclaimed Australian crime author known for fast-paced thrillers, standalone novels, and her upcoming Redbelly Crossing (2026), alongside high-octane collaborations. Her standalone works often feature intense outback scenarios or gripping, high-stakes plots.
Recs...
Based on Redbelly Crossing, being an outback Australian police procedural thriller, similar earlier Candice Fox books include her high-tension, rural-set crime thrillers and the Crimson Lake series, which features similar small-town secrets, dark atmospheric settings, and complex characters dealing with, or involved in, serious crimes. I highly recommend the author, this novel, and her entire backlist.
~Crimson Lake Series
~The Archer & Bennett Series
~Standalone Australian Thrillers
~High Wire (2024)
~Collaborative Works (with James Patterson)
If you like the fast-paced detective work and rural settings, her Harriet Blue series starts with Never Never (2016), which is also set in the vast Australian outback.
I also recommend
~Devil's Kitchen (2024)
~Fire with Fire (2023)
~The Chase (2021)
Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Praise for Candice Fox
Praise for Redbelly Crossing:
“A sturdy police procedural that shines more brightly, and darkly, as the study of a disastrously dysfunctional family.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Fox delivers two complex and very human characters in a dark, literally venomous tale with a profound sense of place.”
—Booklist
'Sign me up as a big-time Fox fan!'
— Lee Child
'A bright new star of crime fiction'
— James Patterson
'Top of my must-read pile.'
— Ian Rankin
'Definitely a writer to watch!'
— Harlan Coben
'One of Australia's finest crime writers'
— Chris Hammer
'Fascinating, compelling page-turner'
— Jane Harper
'Addictive. Cancel all your plans!'
— Sally Hepworth
'Edge of your seat from the first word'
— Jane Caro
'A twist-lover's dream'
— Anna Downes
'Every chapter is a trap door'
— Christian White
About the Author
Candice Fox is the author of eleven crime novels and the winner of three prestigious Ned Kelly Awards. She has also co-written seven New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson, the world’s bestselling thriller writer.
Candice's novels Crimson Lake and Redemption Point were adapted into a major ABC TV series called Troppo.
A meticulous researcher, Candice has interviewed a serial killer on death row and been to prison three times (for work purposes). While on honeymoon in the US, she took a road trip to famous crime scenes looking for clues. She has also dined with a former president of the United States, filmed a cameo role in her latest screen adaptation, and, as a volunteer for WIRES, has rescued countless wild animals.
She lives in Sydney. WEBSITE
