Tallowwood Paperback – September 12, 2019

Who cares, right? Who cares if facts and dates don’t match up throughout the story? It’s not like they’re significant or imperative to the plot in any way…Seriously. I’m so done. I loved this book, but the elephant in the room—yet again—that represents the poor mechanics just ruins everything.The plot? Interesting as hell, because the elements used to freshen up a stale and slightly overused concept were actually cool. The drug they used in the book was fascinating, and the way everything connected in the end was satisfying.The characters? Also interesting, because they were very multidimensional. HOWEVER, COMMA, I wasn’t the biggest fan of making literally everything they did fall back on their “gay”-ness, but only because it felt like it was taking away from all of their other amazing qualities for no reason. They were both amazing, strong, and proudly out characters who did so much good for their community, but not just because they were gay. They were compassionate, had a desire to do and be better to help those in need, intelligent, driven.. there are so many ways they could’ve been described, acknowledged, but no, let’s just make their entire personality their sexuality. It took away from them until they felt one-dimensional, which negates everything we’d come to learn about them throughout their character development on page.People aren’t just their sexuality, and I’m not sure about anyone else, but I know from personal experience that I’m a good person because I have a desire to make life awesome for everyone around me, not because I have a place in the rainbow. I would like to think people don’t say I helped them or was good to them because I’m pan or poly, but because I’m a good human. I just so happen to be those things. Those things aren’t all I am.ANYWAY…This book was good, but it was deeply flawed on both a technical execution level and a sense of ick level. It left me confused and with a bad taste in my mouth.2.5/5, but I still recommend reading it. The bones are there, just use your own imagination to help it along, and try to keep up with the dates. 2001 isn’t the same as 1998, and 18 years doesn’t equal 20. Time is weird in this world, obviously 😐😗

Once again, N R Walker did it for me. Started out not sure i could get into this story, with gay murders, etc. But soon got caught in the tangles of love with Jake and August. Such a beautiful story and ending. Great writer.

N.R. Walker like you have never seen her before! Tallowwood is mystery, intrigue and heartache with the touch of finding new love in the most unexpected places. That last bit though, we all know Walker does without fault.Sydney detective August Shaw has spent the last eight years working on cold cases to find a killer no one believes is real. After losing his partner August became a shell of his former self. Always alone and only working on these cases. For him this is the only thing he can do to get justice for the man he loves.When a body shows up at Tallowwood Reserve, Senior Constable Jacob Porter isn't buying that this is a suicide. Things aren't adding up. He reaches out to detective August Shaw after a tip because his cold cases are far too similar to the body he has found.As Jake & August work together on solving these cases and trying to catch a serial killer who has been on the loose for far too long, they realize that there is much more between them than just these cases. As one day turns to two more bodies show up. They are running out of time. Can they catch a killer before one of them is next?I am not sure why but there were several awful comments on the narration, but I loved it. Antony Ferguson had a deep voice with a beautiful accent that really came through on emotion, strength and overall greatness. Personally, if given the choice I would listen to the audio again.This shows that this is book one in the Tallowwood series and I do hope that we can expect a book two at some time in the future.

August Shaw works cold cases in a state police office just outside of Sydney. He works alone and that's the way he wants it. August likes the idea of bringing closure to families that have lost someone. Only, there's one case he hasn't been able to crack: a string of murders of gay men going back nearly a decade. The deaths have mostly been ruled suicides, but they have too much in common for that to be the case, but August's superiors refuse to see it and think he's too emotionally involved. That might be true, but it doesn't mean he's wrong. When Constable Jacob Porter calls him from the small town of Tallowwood with a case that might be related, it could be just the break that August needs, and Jacob might just be the man to bring August out of his self-imposed exile from humanity.“Tallowwood” is quite a delicious little mystery, with an equally charming bit of romance along the way. The mystery is definitely a perplexing one. In some way, there's a mystery within a mystery. August will probably have you convinced within the first few chapters that the supposed suicides are connected, and therefore the work of a serial killer, so the question becomes, why is he having such a hard time convincing everyone else? The answer to that becomes clearer as the culprit ultimately comes into focus. While you might have suspicions about who the murderer is, it doesn't really become obvious until it does to our two heroes.The romance is low key and feels entirely natural. The mutual attraction between Andrew and Jacob is undeniable from the beginning. They're both very conscious of their own feelings, but for quite understandable reasons are reluctant to act on them. This is definitely a slow-burn romance that evolves over the course of the book. Both of the men are quite likable, although it may take a while to warm up to August.The peripheral characters are also quite interesting. This is one of those stories where you won't know who to trust by the end, as a few of the good guys turn out to be baddies. The Big Dramatic Conclusion scene is a little bit cliché, and you will see it coming a few chapters out, but while it might be predictable it's still very well done.In addition to the good mystery and well developed characters, there's also a health dose of humor that makes what could otherwise be a rather grim story more readable. The comedy is quite natural and generally comes out of the interaction between August and Jacob as they dance around their feelings.

Oh this book pressed all my buttons, detectives, murder, mystery, suspense, hot gay men, I loved it.Sydney detective August Shaw has been working cold cases for a decade and after losing his boyfriend 8 years ago his life just stopped. He lives for his work, he works alone, lives alone and that’s the way he likes it. He is convinced that at least 8 of his cases are linked, including his boyfriends and that there is a prolific serial killer systematically killing gay men and making it look like suicide but August feels like he is banging his head against the proverbial brick wall as no one will listen to him.Jacob Porter is an out and proud gay indigenous Senior Constable in the little town of Tallowwood in the rainforests of northern New South Wales. He loves his job and he loves his town, it’s where he grew up and where his family live.When human remains are found in the rainforest Jacob is sure the case is linked to August’s and he also believes they are not suicides. They work together in a race to find the killer but seem to come against more brick walls and the serial killer has them in their sights.My heart ached for August and what he had been and still was going through. Jacob was a ray of sunshine, always smiling and everyone loved him. August may have been the senior officer but Jacob was the bossy one and August liked it and slowly Jacob pulled smiles out of him and August felt lighter than he had since Christopher died, although the chemistry between them unnerved him at first but he felt ready to let someone in.I loved how sensitive Jacob was with August. He was so in tune with him that he knew when to push and when to let August go at his own pace as he dealt with the guilt and grief that he had carried for the last 8 years.August fell in love with the confident Jacob, his home, his town, his family and even his very vocal cat, but will they both live to enjoy this new, hot and steamy relationship?

Hands down this is the best NR Walker book I’ve read. I cannot believe I put it off for so long, what the heck was I thinking?The mystery in this story was so good, it was so well done!! I genuinely wasn’t sure who the bad-guy was until it was made obvious!There was some definite sadness to this story.. that gay men were being targeted just because they were gay, that the very people we’re educated to trust can in fact be the untrustworthy ones, Augusts deep heartache over losing Christopher, the other victims families and friends and their sadnesses over their lost loved ones.. it was tough stuff and tough to read at some points.Jake was everything August needed to re-kickstart his life and pursue a new version of happiness. They both were amazing, strong and inherently good men and I loved watching their early friendship and easy banter evolve into something solid and so deserved.Special mention goes out to the kookaburras.. I loved their inclusion and their significance.I love how NR Walker often includes animals in important roles in her stories.So good!!!!

Just finished reading this.... again.Loved it the first time but absorbing the finer details and undercurrents has left me thinking about Tallowwood for days now.The deft use of an indigenous protagonist introduces a greater depth to the relationship; it touches on diversity and acceptance; and, frankly THIS would make a fabulous Aussie mini series.

I haven’t read all of N.R. Walker’s books, but everyone I’ve read I’ve enjoyed, this one was no exception.I found the characters complex, especially August, and the crime thriller element of the book excellent, it really was a page turner, however I think the romance element was a bit lacklustre. It’s hard in these types of books to find the right balance between the crime and thriller and the romance, and in this one a really interesting and compelling crime had the romance suffering a bit.Overall it was a really good book, with great characters and excellent writing, but being a romantic at heart, I wanted a bit more from relationship between August and Jake.

This author never ceases to amaze me with her interesting stories. This was a suspense story of serial killings made to look like suicide targeting gay guys.Sydney Detective August Shaw has worked the cold cases after his life partner Christopher was murdered eight years earlier. Christopher was one of the eight cases August was working on as they were all made to look like suicide. When August gets a call from a police officer in a small town of Tallowwood NSW telling him they had found a body presumed suicide with the same MO as August’s cases, he immediately hops a plane.August has had a solitary existence since Christopher’s death, isolating himself from workmates and life and only focusing on finding the murderer. When August meets Jacob the police officer leading the investigation in Tallowwood, he is not prepared for the hero worship and outgoing friendship/attraction. Jacob has been following August’s career as an out and proud Detective with a successful career, and was awestruck at the opportunity of working with him.Soon these two are deeply involved in these cases when a second body is found in Tallowwood. For the first time in eight years August has someone who believes these deaths are not suicides and is just as invested as August at finding the killer.This story will keep you guessing right until the end. The detective and forensic work was so interesting and I wonder how N R Walker does it, her books are all so different with awesome storylines.I loved the development of the relationship between August and Jacob.Jacob was bossy and direct and he was just what August needed to drag him back into the world of the living.Awesome read, highly recommend anything written by the very talented author.