- this edition published 2026 by Allen & Unwin
- ISBN 978-1-76147-401-9
- 384 pages
Synopsis (publisher)
From the bestselling author of How to Kill a Client and The Bluff comes a page-turning thriller of fraud and lies, murder and greed.
Ruth Dawson finds her ideal living space in an Art Deco building in Potts Point, The Lumen. A twenty-minute walk from her office in the city, the apartment boasts parquetry flooring, a wall of books and Harbour Bridge views from the sofa.
It's perfect until Ben, the homeless guy, dies under the corrugated iron lean-to in the garden where he lived.
The residents of The Lumen do little to hide their relief. They can cease their half-hearted attempts to find an acceptable solution to 'the Ben problem', and return to more important issues.
They're not happy when Ruth brings in a detective. But she's certain Ben was poisoned, and one of her neighbours knows it too.
My Take
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller, a murder mystery with a touch of satirical humour. Ruth Dawson makes an interesting if reluctant sleuth, and the variety of characters who inhabit The Lumen keep the brain engaged with possible solutions.
I will certainly be reading more by this author.
My Rating: 4.7
About the author
Joanna Jenkins grew up on a small farm in country Queensland. After graduating from the University of Queensland with degrees in English Literature and Law, she practised as a solicitor, including for many years as a partner of an international law firm. She now writes full-time. Married with three sons, Joanna lives in Brisbane. Her debut novel, How to Kill a Client, was published in 2023. The Bluff, her second novel, was published in 2025.
