The Barrakee Mystery

The Barrakee Mystery (1929) is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Upfield. It was the second of the author's novels, his first crime novel and the first to feature his recurring character Detective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte. It was originally published in the UK by Hutchinson in 1929, and subsequently serialised in The Herald in Melbourne in 42 daily instalments between 23 July and 9 September 1932.[1]

The Barrakee Mystery
AuthorArthur Upfield
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
SeriesDetective Inspector Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte
GenreFiction
PublisherHutchinson
Publication date
1929
Media typePrint
Pages288 pp
Preceded byThe House of Cain 
Followed byThe Beach of Atonement 

Abstract

"The whirr of a boomerang in the dark — sounds of a struggle — a figure in white, that melted in the gloom.

"The mystery surrounding the death, upon a far northern sheep station, of an aborigine supplies the central theme of the arresting story, "The Barrakee Mystery," by A. W. Upfield."[2]

Location

The action of the novel takes place around the Darling River, in New South Wales.[1]

Publishing history

Following the book's initial publication by Hutchinson in 1929 it was subsequently published as follows:[1]

  • Heinemann, 1965, UK[3]
  • Doubleday, 1965, USA;[4] as part of their Crime Club Special series under the title The Lure of the Bush
  • Goldman, 1966, Germany; under the title Bony und der Bumerang;[5] and then reprinted in 1966 and 1974
  • Pan Books, 1969, UK;[6] and then reprinted in 1970
  • Heinemann, 1972, UK[7]

and subsequent paperback, ebook and audio book editions.

Critical reception

The Herald reviewer "Papercutter" called the novel "one of the most exciting, well constructed, and well written tales we have read for a long time." They then went on to note: "It is a first-rate yarn full of a genuine Australian appeal, which is in no way forced."[8]

In The Brisbane Courier noted: "The scenes of life on a Western sheep station are very faithfully portrayed, and Mr. Upfield has definitely improved in character drawing."[9]

See also

References
  1. "The Barrakee Mystery". Austlit. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  2. "The Barrakee Mystery". The Herald, 16 July 1932, p6. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. "The Barrakee Mystery - Heinemann (1965)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. "The Barrakee Mystery - Doubleday (1965)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  5. "The Barrakee Mystery - Goldmann (1966)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  6. "The Barrakee Mystery - Pan Books (1969)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. "The Barrakee Mystery - Heinemann (1972)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  8. "Recent Books Reviewed". The Herald, 16 May 1929, p29. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  9. "Books of the Week". The Brisbane Courier, 8 June 1929, p24. Retrieved 5 June 2023.


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