The Diggers Rest Hotel

Charlie Berlin, Book 1

By: Geoffrey McGeachin

Narrated by: Peter Byrne

In 1947, two years after witnessing the death of a young Jewish woman in Poland, Charlie Berlin has rejoined the police force a different man. Sent to investigate a spate of robberies in rural Victoria, he soon discovers that World War II has changed even the most ordinary of places and people. When Berlin travels to Albury-Wodonga to track down the gang behind the robberies, he suspects he's a problem cop being set up to fail.

Taking a room at the Diggers Rest Hotel in Wodonga, he sets about solving a case that no one else can - with the help of feisty, ambitious journalist Rebecca Green and rookie constable Rob Roberts, the only cop in town he can trust. Then the decapitated body of a young girl turns up in a back alley, and Berlin's investigations lead him ever further through layers of small-town fears, secrets and despair.The first Charlie Berlin mystery takes us into a world of secret alliances and loyalties - and a society dealing with the effects of a war that changed men forever.

©2010 Geoffrey McGeachin (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing

Great story

McGeachin developed several interesting characters in a story line that kept my interest as well as entertained. The scenes were descriptive to the point of allowing the reader t see, smell and taste.

best book I've heard for a while.

Any additional comments?

It was a good mystery, a great historical and a fine read. I felt like the author did a ton of research but didn't shovel it down our throats--only let the it shine through with the details, making the book's world vivid (and grim). I'm going to find the rest in the series. The only criticism I have is that dialogue uses names too often as in "Hello, DC Berlin" and that's not how people talk.
Some pronunciations were odd, and I wonder if it's Australian vs US (and British)

Australia post World War 2- Murder mystery

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes- very entertaining. Learning experience about rural North Australia

What other book might you compare The Diggers Rest Hotel to and why?

The other Charlie Berlin books

Have you listened to any of Peter Byrne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Possible

Any additional comments?

Entertaining murder mystery

Very enjoyable

What made the experience of listening to The Diggers Rest Hotel the most enjoyable?

Back to the old days

Narrator does a good job with the story and it potrays life in country Victoria and the laid back Australian way

A few twists and turns along the way to the plot and the story itself makes for a great listen

Recommended

Who was your favorite character and why?

Charlie - down to earth, common sense and willing to take people as he sees them

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - but with over 8 hours a good listen when commuting

A solid listen

This is the first book by Geofrey McGeachin my husband and I have listened to. He gives gives a real sense of time and place to the story. The beginning of the story takes a little while to get going because of it. In my opinion it is time well spent. Inspector Berlin becomes a real person we come to care about. The plot moves along with interesting characters filling out the roles. There is lots of dialog and we enjoyed the humorous exchanges. The reader did a great job setting just the right tone.