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The Prospect

The new bestselling crime series from the author of the Detective Dave Burrows series, for all fans of Jane Harper, Dinuka McKenzie and Chris Hammer
Brief Description
When you dig, will you strike gold... or unearth dangerous secrets? An exciting new series from the queen of rural crime. 'No matter how much or how little you find, you will never, ever own the gold. It will always own you.' After a scandal, investigative... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2699
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When you dig, will you strike gold... or unearth dangerous secrets? An exciting new series from the queen of rural crime.

'No matter how much or how little you find, you will never, ever own the gold. It will always own you.'

After a scandal, investigative reporter Zara Ellison and her partner, policeman Jack Higgins, have moved to Kalgoorlie but they are each struggling with this fresh start. The wild mining town has its own rules, and its inhabitantsβ€”drawn by the lure of gold and richesβ€”guard their secrets carefully.

Zara feels adrift in the swirling red dust of the lawless bush city, without sources or any leads for the hard-hitting stories she's known for. Jack is out of the detective squad and trying to find his feet back in uniform.

On an isolated stretch of highway, a pair of grey nomads is involved in a devastating accident which leaves more questions than answers. Zara starts digging for her own kind of gold, while Jack's investigation sends him on a parallel path towards a dangerous smuggling ring.

In the wide open spaces of the outback, some secrets are buried deep.

'Superb writing and storytelling' The Australian

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781460766897

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 February 2026

Country: Australia

Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Bestselling rural crime author Fleur McDonald has always had a strong affinity with the land and the vast Australian outback. Raised in Orroroo, South Australia, Fleur loves the open roads, red dust and magical sunsets. With 24 fiction novels and more than 850,000 book sales to her name, Fleur has built a strong following of loyal readers with an insatiable appetite for her craft and characters, most notably Detective Dave Burrows. She spends much of her year behind the wheel, traversing our big country, scouting inspiration and potential storylines for future books, and appearing as a guest speaker at a range of events, including country shows, ladies' days and writers' festivals. A trailblazer in all aspects of her life, Fleur has been a jillaroo farming the land for more than 20 years, founded DVassist to help regional dwellers access crucial support for family and domestic violence, and raised two children with developmental and speech delays, teaching them Makaton sign language to communicate. These days, in between putting out two books a year, she has her sights set on learning to fly a plane. Fleur now lives in Esperance, Western Australia with her two children, Rochelle and Hayden, and two fur children, border collie Shadow and energetic kelpie, Jack.

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    A place to hide. A secret to bury. The fourth thrilling novel in the bestselling Kalgoorlie series from beloved Australian crime writer Fleur McDonald. A fiery car crash into a shop is only the beginning ... When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan is convinced it's a chance mishap. But as she starts an investigation,...
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  • The Prospect
    When you dig, will you strike gold ... or unearth dangerous secrets? An exciting new series from the queen of rural crime. No matter how much or how little you find, you will never, ever own the gold. It will always own you. After a scandal, investigative reporter Zara Ellison and her partner, policeman Jack Higgins, have moved to Kalgoorlieβ€”each...
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    When Ashleigh decides to flee her controlling husband, Dominic, she knows he'll hunt her down. The only way to escape is to disappear and reinvent herself. Changing her name to Eliza and driving by night, she is drawn to the tiny rural town of Blinman. There she begins the long road to healing and regaining her self-confidence. Then one day,...
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  • Purple Roads
    Anna and Matt Butler were childhood sweethearts with a dream of owning their own land, a dream they achieved through hard work and determination. But as the seasons conspire against them and Matt is involved in a terrible accident, the couple face financial ruin and the loss of their farm. As they fight for everything they hold dear, they suddenly...
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  • Out in Nowhere
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  • Shock Waves
    Nobody does rural fiction quite like Fleur McDonald. Weekly Times A family drama at heart, the book is an authentic exploration of grief, family estrangement, and life on the land (fans of McDonald's previous novels will enjoy the return of Detective Dave Burrows) The AuReview.com on Voices in the Dark Detective Dave Burrows has longed for the top job in...
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  • Sapphire Falls
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  • The Missing
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  • The Missing Pieces of Us
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  • Where the River Runs
    Fleur McDonald is a formidable talent in the field of Australian rural fiction ... Without fail, I encounter stories from McDonald that are rich, real and deeply authentic. β€” Mrs B's Book Reviews Ten years ago, thirty-year-old Chelsea Taylor left the small country town of Barker and her family's property to rise to the top as a concert pianist. With...
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