Painted Lies

A Sarah Reeves Australian Outback Thriller

In the scorching heat of Alice Springs, where temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, Detective Senior Constable Sarah Reeves is called to investigate when gallery owner Maxwell Reid is found dead among his prized Aboriginal artworks.

What begins as an apparent poisoning soon reveals a sophisticated art forgery operation exploiting indigenous artists and their cultural heritage. When evidence points to multiple suspects—from rival gallery owners to exploited Aboriginal artists with legitimate grievances—Sarah must navigate both the brutal summer heat and the closed ranks of a town where art, money, and cultural appropriation create a dangerous mix.

As a relentless dust storm approaches, Sarah uncovers connections between Reid's murder and his planned publication of sacred Aboriginal cultural knowledge. With limited time before the storm isolates the town, each step closer to the truth tests Sarah's recent transfer from Adelaide and her ability to adapt to outback policing.

The harsh reality of Central Australia has shaped these people, creating a pressure cooker of exploitation and resentment where millions in fraudulent art sales hang in the balance. But in a place where red dust infiltrates everything, some secrets refuse to stay buried.