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The Big Dead Dry-bookcover

By: Portia Stanton-Noble

The Big Dead Dry

Pages: 230 Ratings: 4.8
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Would you drive into a small Australian town in drought, packed with intrigue, lust and murder?Brumby Flat, a small country town in South Australia, suddenly rises to notoriety and becomes the centre of the world through a baffling series of murders and accidental deaths.Raquel Willaston and her son, Steve, have just moved into town, and Raquel soon gets caught up in the local goings on, whether she wants to or not, and a love entanglement she’d rather not deal with.The quiet arrival of a mysterious homeless man and his subsequent brutal murder at the base of the town silos is the catalyst for the chaos which erupts.City-based Senior Detective Phillip Duncan is in charge of the ensuing investigations and has to cope with some colourful and quirky characters to find out who the killer is. There’s Anabella Williams who wears vintage clothes and still lives in the 1950s and is renowned for her ‘killer cakes’. Famous silo mural painter Phil Proctor, newly arrived from New York, seems to know more than he lets on. There’s Chris Jones, an ex-military officer, who lives his life with military-like precision. Bridie Browne, who runs the local post office, seems more preoccupied with the male of the species rather than actually sorting mail.And then there’s ‘The Raindrops Shop’ run by Bette Mitchell which offers a range of merchandise completely at odds with a town in the middle of a two-year drought.Nothing is as it seems in Brumby Flat. It’s going to be a tough ask to identify the serial killer hiding amongst them.

Portia was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, to Estonian parents who migrated to Australia after World War II. She has worked in the retail, telecommunications and real estate sectors. Always wanting to be a writer, over the years, she has edited and written articles and reviews for various university student newspapers and independent publications.


She currently lives with her son in the picturesque Gilbert Valley region, South Australia, nestled between the wine-growing regions of the Barossa and Clare Valleys.


In her spare time, Portia is busy working away on her next book projects, which will include the sequel to her debut novel The Big Dead Dry.

Customer Reviews
4.8
5 reviews
5 reviews
  • Sarah

    A really fun read

  • Nancy M

    I started reading The Big Dead Dry 3 days ago and just finished it. The story draws you in and I couldn't put the book down as I kept wanting to know what happened next. The characters in Brumpy Flat are so interesting and the love affairs are so hot & spicy! Loved this book and can't wait for the sequel!!!

  • Jacque

    Enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to the next one.

  • Samantha T

    Hi. My sister, Marnie, bought me your book for Christmas and I read it today. A page-turner and an enjoyable read, thank you. And congratulations
    on the major achievement of writing your first novel and having it published.

  • Glenis C.

    Your books were very easy to read & the storyline flowed. Even though I am not a fan of sex scenes, I still found the books a good read. So much so, that I passed on the books to a friend to read as well. She enjoyed the read too & is now following your website for more news on the next book. The ending to book two – Pretty Dead Ordinary – was quite a surprise and am eagerly waiting for the next book to be published.

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