In a new estate near Pokolbin, a woman has been found strangled in her home. Riley calls in her colleague Priya Patel to assist, and the two book in to a local inn as they realise this case may take a while to solve. The woman's husband, a geologist working for the coal industry, has an alibi. But there are plenty of other suspects for Riley and Patel to investigate and rule out.
When the forensic analysis reveals similarities to cold cases interstate, Riley's investigation becomes much bigger. She needs to crack the case before the killer strikes again. With the local tabloids muddying the waters, she calls on Adam Bowman to resurrect the working relationship they established on the earlier case. He arrives in the area and quickly begins following his own leads, some of which may land him in trouble.
Spencer has crafted a captivating thriller. He excels at the police procedural aspects of the case, and has created compelling new characters like the local cop Christian Rodrigues who has been assigned to help Riley and Patel. There are plenty of intriguing subplots and red herrings along the way to keep readers guessing. Riley is smart and diligent, but with an underlay of vulnerability. Patel is a perfect partner, with her quick wit and likability, she can build relationships to assist in their work.
One aspect I really appreciated was the way in which Spencer covered the tension in the area. The tourism industry, which thrives on weekends, causes the towns and villages to swell and locals resent being priced out as homes are converted to AirBnBs and boutique hotels. Beyond the vineyards, farmers are struggling with increased costs, and the coal industry which has sustained generations of workers faces protest from environmentalists.
Broke Road is an excellent novel which can be read on its own, but I would encourage starting with Black River to get the full effect.