The Opal Tomb

An Australian Outback Thriller

By: Phillip Strang

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer, and Garry Disher

In the remote opal mining town of Lightning Ridge, Detective Senior Constable Riley Murphy investigates petty theft and neighbourly disputes. Then, respected opal dealer Elena Kozlov is found brutally murdered in her ransacked workshop.

The crime scene tells a disturbing story. Elena's most valuable stones remain untouched. Her workshop was systematically searched, not robbed. And someone tortured her before killing her—trying to get information she refused to give.

Riley's investigation uncovers Elena's recent obsession: suspicious corporate activity in Lightning Ridge. New faces in town asking questions. Residents being photographed without consent. Mysterious surveying operations with no clear purpose. Elena had started documenting it all—questioning why a remote opal mining town had attracted such attention.

Her questions got her killed.

As Riley digs deeper, she discovers corporate operatives have been surveilling Lightning Ridge for months, building files on residents for reasons no one will explain. When a USB drive surfaces with Elena's encrypted evidence, Riley realises the conspiracy extends far beyond one murdered opal dealer. Lightning Ridge isn't the only target. And Elena wasn't the first to ask dangerous questions.

With federal agencies suddenly taking an interest and powerful people demanding she back off, Riley must decide: expose the truth and risk everything, or let Elena's murder disappear into the outback dust.

In Lightning Ridge, some questions are worth dying for. And some answers could save lives across Australia.