Only Killers and Thieves

A Novel

By: Paul Howarth

Narrated by: David Linski

Two brothers are exposed to the brutal realities of life and the seductive cruelty of power in this riveting debut novel - a story of savagery and race, injustice and honor, set in the untamed frontier of 1880s Australia - reminiscent of Philipp Meyer's The Son and the novels of Cormac McCarthy.

An epic tale of revenge and survival, Only Killers and Thieves is a gripping and utterly transporting debut, bringing to vivid life a colonial Australia that bears a striking resemblance to the American Wild West in its formative years.

It is 1885, and a crippling drought threatens to ruin the McBride family. Their land is parched, their cattle starving. When the rain finally comes, it is a miracle that renews their hope for survival. But returning home from an afternoon swimming at a remote waterhole filled by the downpour, 14-year-old Tommy and 16-year-old Billy meet with a shocking tragedy.

Thirsting for vengeance against the man they believe has wronged them - their former Aboriginal stockman - the distraught brothers turn to the ruthless and cunning John Sullivan, the wealthiest landowner in the region and their father's former employer. Sullivan gathers a posse led by the dangerous and fascinating Inspector Edmund Noone and his Queensland Native Police, an infamous arm of British colonial power charged with the "dispersal" of indigenous Australians to "protect" white settler rights. As they ride across the barren outback in pursuit, their harsh and horrifying journey will have a devastating impact on Tommy, tormenting him for the rest of his life - and will hold enduring consequences for a young country struggling to come into its own.

Re-creating a period of Australian and British history as evocative and violent as the American frontier era, Only Killers and Thieves is an unforgettable story of family, guilt, empire, race, manhood, and faith that combines the insightfulness of Philipp Meyer's The Son, the atmospheric beauty of Amanda Coplin's The Orchardist, and the raw storytelling power of Ian McGuire's The North Water.

©2018 Paul Howarth (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Great book

great book, similar to McCarthy but a bit easier to read extra words to meet quota

Slow build to a powerful story

I would describe this a a very deliberately-paced story, and that is meant as praise for the author's ability to establish the settting and characters. The writing is almost cinematic - I could visualize the scenes so clearly ( be forewarned, there is horrific violence, vividly discribed, so this isn't for the faint-hearted). The story is somewhat predictable, but this is a morality tale, not a tale of suspense. I thought the ending was poignant and haunting.

No country for old men meets Quigly Downunder

I feel like the character development and the descriptive details are first class. Linski’s narration is near flawless as each character is as unique in voice as Howarth brings to life their conflicted souls.

Blood Meridian for the southern hemisphere.

Paul Howarth has envisioned a view of colonialism that's right at home with current models of politically correct movements across the west. Apart from it's rather one sided and largely incorrect account of the settlement of Australia; which we allow him for this work of fiction, the novel is solid.
What is most striking is his accomplishment in the character of inspector Noon, a looming, almost mythical character moving through the land like a reincarnation of McCarthy's, Judge Holden or Kurtz of Conrads Heart of Darkness.

Tremendous Story

Loved every sentance. Riveting, human and characters that are real. excellent. This story will part of many libraries.

Must read!

Wow kept thinking this would be an awesome movie!! Characters were so uniquely interesting and story moved smoothly and held our interest to the end. Narration was superb as well!

Industrial-Strength Racism

The story takes place in the wild wild southwest of late 19th century Australia. In a scenario resembling the killing and displacement of the native American Indians, white Australian settlers killed and displaced native dark-skinned Aborigines, called "blacks." The racist settlers' goal: Aborigine extermination. To say that the violence portrayed here is brutal, heartless and inhuman would be an understatement. If you have a tender antiracist nature, as does one young boy in the story and myself as well, you will find the brutality nauseating, repulsive and a harsh violation of your innate sense of the dignity of all humans. Be forewarned: proceed with caution.

Australian Western Novel

This is a great western novel. I can't recommend it enough. Strong writing and great characters.

You can lose your childhood out here...

Two brothers, Billy and Tommy are recent orphans and try their hand at revenge when their Father's former rival and neighbor, Sullivan,"saves" them by offering to help find the men responsible for the deed. With no one else to turn to, the brothers find that they are forced to become more than men, but outlaws instead. Of the worse kind. With a small, armed posse of men, including a somewhat religious lawman named Noone with his own hidden agenda for hunting the indigenous people, they track down the party they believe are to blame for their loss. I can't say that this book won't bring tears or isn't cringe worthy when they describe the horrible acts that the brothers do, some by their own choice and others not so much, but they aren't the same boys by the end of it. They're not even men, in my opnion. Each heinous action takes them further from decency and humanity while keeping them indebted to their saviour, but you (the reader) can't help but "grow" as a result of this book; however, this isn't a book for enjoyment. This is more for survival. You realize that there are still "men" like this out there and that if you see any signs of them like you're reading in this book, you should run because they will catch and murder the good that makes you you.

Eye opening, moving, bleak but touching

I loved this book. People will make obvious comparisons to McCarthy and those aren't wrong. The narration was also great.