Warranilla (A Nick Vada Thriller #1) by Jason Summers

Warranilla (A Nick Vada Thriller #1) Reviews

• 
  Kim

  Setting: New South Wales, Australia; modern day.
  Main character: Detective Nick Vada.
  The story - Sydney homicide detective Nick Vada returns to his hometown, the rural town of Milford, for his younger sister's wedding. He has hardly been near the place since his mother was brutally stabbed to death when he has seven years old - a crime that remains unsolved. Nick's sister Jess is marrying the son of the largest landowners in the area, the Waterfords, who own the massive property known as Warranilla. Nick is surprised by her choice - he never got on with Pete Waterford - but supportive if that is what she wants. However, shortly after his arrival, a girl's body is found on the Waterford's land, brutally stabbed to death. As he is 'on scene', his boss in Sydney asks him to take on the investigation. Nick's enquiries take place against a backdrop of a decaying rural town, previously reliant on rice crops but currently suffering from drought conditions and water shortages caused by Government measures, and the apparent attraction by some landowners of dealing with Chinese businessmen keen to use the land for solar power generation. When Nick's enquiries lead him towards his sister's fiance, family loyalties have to take a back seat - much to Jess's annoyance. Nick has his own burdens to bear - his father, still living in Milford, is dying of cancer; his drink problem, which he had suppressed in Sydney, is back with a vengeance; and his mother's unsolved murder is a constant thorn in his side. Then another girl is found murdered.....
  My thoughts - this was a reasonably good rural Australian crime story, a bit 'clunky' in the dialogue but which, as many other reviewers have commented, was thoroughly spoilt by the shocking editing - commas in the wrong place and misused or over-used, capital letters where they are uncalled for, no capital letters where they should be, incorrect words used in context - 'tact' was used on two occasions where it should have been 'tack'; 'indulge' was used instead of 'divulge' and these are just a couple of such errors - and so it goes on. I understand that this book was self-published and self-edited but there is no real excuse for the latter - a quick read through by anyone would have highlighted the problems that have led to so many negative reviews and no doubt affected sales. I don't know how much professional proof-reading costs but surely it would have been a worthwhile investment (would have done it myself for a reasonable sum!!) and it has certainly made me wonder if I want to read more of the series if the editing is as poor in subsequent books, despite the storyline being pretty good. So, only 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for this one, and that's being generous - 5/10.
• 
  Boomer

  Kindle Unlimited Read
  
  As both an Aussie expat and a lover of procedural novels, Warranilla seemed right up my alley. There's the basis for a good story here but the idea has no chance when it feels like I'm reading a first or second draft. Editing and grammar mistakes dominate this book - everything from run on sentences, typos, misuse of apostrophes (eye's, Panadol's, etc) and a major overuse of commas instead of periods. I can overlook a typo here and there but the mistakes here are so blatant they take me right out of the story.
  
  It wasn't until I took a closer look at the book description on Amazon I noticed the author put a disclaimer in the blurb saying this was self published and self edited, and it shows. I only got about 30% into this before the constant mistakes made me put it aside. I have way too many books in my to be read pile to spend my time on something that feels completely unfinished
• 
  Sheri Burns

  I’m always a bit nervous to start an Aussie crime novel. Sometimes the writing is so barbaric in trying to make the characters sounds stereotypical Australian that you just can’t read it. THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.
  
  A great story, easy to follow characters with an intriguing plot.
  
  The only reason it’s not getting 5 stars from me is the way the writer simply finished the main plot of the story. It was super anti climactic and could of been another 100+ pages of building intensity. That part left me a little bit disappointed. Overall though a great read.
• 
  Ashlee Kellock

  This book had me gripped from the start. I could really picture the characters and I think the plot was thoughtfully written. I will be reading the rest in the series. I love celebrating Australian authors. This book was up there with ‘Wake’ for me.
• 
  Courtney Paige

  Nick wasn't the most compelling main character I've read
• 
  Fallon Paige

  Didn’t finish. The writing felt so disjointed and felt like in a chapter it jumped around to different settings without any explanation. I found it very hard to follow.
• 
  Sue

  I was very much looking forward to reading Warranilla! I’m a great fan of mysteries and police procedurals as well books set in Australia and/or written by Australian authors. Unfortunately I was deeply disappointed.
  
  The story and plot have promise, as do the characters. And a book that's 'independently published' by an author does *not* necessarily mean a bad product. However this time that definitely *is* the case.
  
  The writing is riddled with appalling grammar, misuse of apostrophes and commas, frequent poor sentence structure and (at times) poor narrative flow. The author obviously did not engage the editing and proof-reading assistance he so sorely needed.
  
  These issues were so bad, I just couldn't keep reading. I read a couple of chapters, then skipped randomly to a few more places later in the book. I kept hoping against hope it might get better - but it didn't. So I gave up, almost throwing my reader across the room with it!
  
  I'm just glad I borrowed it through my Amazon Prime membership instead of spending good money on it!
• 
  Sarah

  I skipped most of this book. I feel bad, it reminded me a bit of Wolf’s DS Walker books which I enjoyed.
  BUT the grammar checkers were on strike when this book needed to be edited. The basic rules of English did not seem to apply to this book. So I skipped to the end to see what happened and let it go.
  Sorry to the author, it’s a good shot but you.need.an.editor.
• 
  Dee

  Definately a good book to read.
  Well done. Well written. A book i couldn't put down.
• 
  Graham Hartle

  I did enjoy this book, and I fully intend to read the rest of the series.
  However, there were several typo's and incorrect words. Maybe better proof-reading?