I was stoked to receive a surprise care package consisting of all of the currently published Rowland Sinclair mysteries, I cannot believe I had never heard of them before. An Australian mystery series set in Sydney in the 1930’s amidst the depression, my interest was immediately piqued. Rowland Sinclair is a privileged gentleman born into a respectable and influential family. He is also an artist and generous man sharing his home with his bohemian artistic friends in the current tough times. When his Uncle is brutally murdered he finds himself deep undercover trying the discover the truth admits the current battle being wages amount the Communists and the Loyalists.
I have to admit, I enjoyed this one more than I expected to. I love the setting, Australia in the 30s, the harbour bridge still being built, the bohemian artists blended with the uptight traditionalists from old money. Everything about it was appealing. All I wanted was to more about the characters, I fell in love with Rowly’s crew. Beautiful, effervescent Ed, passionate, poetic Milton who can’t help but quote the classics and salt of the earth Clyde. Oh, and good old Rowly of course. The little dance between Rowly and Edna that has already begun is captivating and fun.
This was a fun and unusual read for me. I found it incredibly easy to get through despite it having a slower pace than what you would expect of a mystery, but certainly not in a detrimental way. I loved that the political background creating the tension was true to the climate of Australia at the time. I’m already looking forward to making my way through the rest of the series. I give A Few Right Thinking Men three palettes of Rowly’s paints.
