The Oz Files: Broometime Serenade

By: Barry Metcalf

Narrated by: Bryan Zee

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

When authorities fail to identify human remains uncovered after a cyclone ravages the Western Australian coastline, Martin and Claire are sent to Broome, a popular holiday destination, far from major population centers. Posing as new arrivals, the SOC agents (offshoot of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization) attempt to merge with the locals in an effort to solve the baffling case and bring the killer to justice.

Lulled by the soporific influences of the sun, sand and surf - known by the locals as the Serenade of Broome - time seems to have no meaning for the two agents, and the investigation drifts from one location to another as they follow a trail of bodies designed to confuse and distract them from their real business in this tropical paradise.

Little do they know, their every move is being watched by an enemy who is both ruthless and deadly. A powerful, sadistic enemy who enjoys toying with others' lives before dispatching them in the most horrifying manner imaginable. As the clues lead them first one way then the other, they fall deeper and deeper into the trap set for them.

By the time they uncover the truth, they will begin to doubt everything they know and face their greatest challenge to date.

©2014 Evolved Publishing LLC (P)2016 Evolved Publishing LLC

Paranormal murder mystery

Set in Australia, this paranormal murder mystery will keep you entertained with an unusual mix of suspense and the supernatural. When a hurricane reveals an unidentified skeletal body, Claire and Martin (x-file type undercover agents) are sent in to investigate and become caught up in a much more complicated plot.
This is an entertaining story with suspense, murder, red herrings, magic and romance. The descriptive writing and the good narration give you visual images and the use of colloquialisms paired with the accent the narrator used, all added to the Australia feel of the story. Claire and Martin are interesting characters, but their romance seemed a little contrived to me. I also got the feeling that there was past history between the two of them and the antagonist, which, I found it a bit confusing as this is labeled as the first book in the series. Overall, this is an entertaining supernatural murder mystery that has also gives some interesting descriptions of the history, geography and culture of the area.

Started well, but in the end quite disappointing

Must admit, I'm a bit surprised by the good reviews on Amazon for this book. To me, it is really obvious that it's a first book - hopefully the 2nd and 3rd ones are better, but not sure I'm going to bother to find out. The reader did his best with the material, but it just wasn't good enough really...

The plot didn't seem to know whether it was an ordinary murder mystery novel, or whether it was a supernatural one. The mixture of the two just seemed contrived and didn't work for me. There seemed to be some back-story regarding an earlier encounter between the witch and one or both of the agents, but as there isn't a previous book I just found this puzzling and a bit annoying.

I got really bored of hearing what tune was playing in the background, on the radio, in a shop etc etc. I didn't find that the over the top description added anything - the same was true of the constant references to who the characters resembled (generally celebrities from the 60s). Part of the fun of reading is to imagine the character for yourself, so knowing that they were fair or dark, tall or short etc would have been sufficient.

I didn't find either of the main characters - Martin and Claire particularly sympathetic - and just found the romance/wedding a bit irritating.

Quite disappointing as the novel started off well and had the other books been available on Audible I might have bought and downloaded them in order to carry on with the series. I'm now glad that I didn't!