Class Act: Volume 2 (A Bill Murdoch Mystery) Paperback – 10 Jan. 2018

An intriguing mystery that sees rough diamond and former drug dealer, Bill Murdoch and his offsider, Davie, try to clear the name of an PR company boss accused of murdering the receptionist of his company after a trip on his yacht. The fact that the boss in question, James Harte, was sleeping with the receptionist seems to be an open secret but does not deter James’s wife from trying to clear his name. The thinking being that he may be a rat, but he isn’t a murderer.An intriguing sidebar to the principal mystery sees Bill tasking a ghost writer to pen his previous adventure, Headland, the first book in the Bill Murdoch series. This element of the book offers plenty of tips to aspiring writers and is very neatly slotted in between the prevailing story.Bill comes across as being crass and uncouth at times but there’s no denying that he gets results and he certainly has some street smarts about him. I have not read Headland as yet and it’s possible that some scenes and characters in Class Act would have resonated more had I done so but I found this to be a very readable novel in its own right.I’ll be keeping up with Bill. There’s a dearth of decent Aussie crime fiction novels and this one is well worth a read.

This is the second Bill Murdoch and I find it as good at least as the first. A very flawed character but not in the stereotypical way that some police detectives are. I like the quirks that make the hero quite unacceptable at times and certainly quite maddening but it all makes for a great read. I think some of the psychology here is of a far better standard than a number of other tales of flawed men and I like the complexity. Bill’s near obsession with celebrity ias frustrating in one sense, but fits well with his backstory, let alone his developing relationship with his sidekick, Davie , another character less one dimensional than he might seem at first glance.I wasn’t sure at the outset, that this would match the first book and the scene setting seemed almost amateur, but as it moved on to the main story, it gathered its pace and the writing returned to its previous standard. Loved it and am just starting the third of the three so far written.

Following on from the most enjoyable debut of Bill Murdoch, this book continued to please. Nice to escape to somewhere different and the Australian setting fit that bill nicely.

An unusual take on a private detective themed murder mystery. The main character a complex mix of faults and anxieties is well drawn. His flaws tie in perfectly with the plot. As a reader it was easy to become invested in the outcome for him and his loyal friend. It is a perfect follow on from the first book in the series. A definite I highly recommend it.

I liked Headland so I bought Class Act. You must read Headland before you read Class ACT for reasons that will become apparent. The heroes are not very admirable and often slappable but....they are fascinating in a bizarre way. Half way through I thought I wasn't even close to the murderer, or if indeed, there was one. I was hooked on the cleverness of the structure as most English teachers will be. Its like a template for creative fiction; a metaperspective. Enjoy!

Having been completely hooked by the prequel Headland, I was yearning to learn what had become of the tenacious and creative main character Bill Murdoch. Well, instead of spending his dubiously sourced funds enjoying a luxurious lifestyle, he wheedles himself into a series of glamorous and dangerous situations, encountering some intriguing personalities en route. Ged Gillmore’s descriptive skills, particularly in relation to some of the dodgy but glitzy characters, as well as of Sydney and the Central Coast are utterly believable and I felt myself completely drawn in by them.Class Act is an entertaining and gripping page-turner.I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

A great sequel to Headland. A cracking read, I thoroughly enjoyed this following Bill Murdock's adventures in the darker parts of Australian life. Cant wait for the next one

Class Act is the second book in the Bill Murdoch series lives up to the first. Bill commissions Suzie to write a book about the events that took place in Headland. Suzie describes the process of writing a book to Bill, which sets the structure for Bill to solve another mystery. Roll on book 3.

Really liked to read this book, kept my interest. This is second of authors I’ve read. Plan to read more. This author has way with words! Characters were interesting and funny at times.

This is the most fun novels I've read in a long time. ON level just an entertaining page turner, but it is also a tongue in cheek PoMo construction that adds to the fun.Great series with great heroes, and this one is a gem.

An extremely good story well told and in many instances for me at times laugh out loud although of course it is a good mystery who dun it. I live where it is set and although names of places are changed it is fun working out real areas. Think I have managed to get a few right. Love the interaction between all the various characters. Have downloaded number 3 in series.

It passed my good book test:- Did I read it straight through without starting another book? Tick.- Was it getting me to reach for the Kindle more than the iPad? Tick.- Was I thinking about the story as I went through my day? Tick.Murdoch is hilarious. Davie reminds me too much of myself. I liked the foxy lady.My best advice is to go for it. It's a lot of fun.

In this one, Bill Murdoch, former borstal boy turned drugs criminal turned private detective in sunny Australia, solves a double murder involving a swanky PR Agency in Sydney. Bill now lives in the lovely house in coastal Montauben previously owned by the architect/murderer Bill uncovered in book one, Headland. The fun conceit in this book is that Bill has teamed up with frail octogenarian journalist Suzie Bourne to write that story and as Suzie explains the necessary steps in writing a crime novel, Bill duly lives them out in solving the present case. She even suggests a pen name for the author: something that rhymes with “dead” and something that rhymes with “kill more”.Ged Gillmore has a great way with words, often using them in fresh and original ways. It’s also fun to read a story set in places you know well. He captures the essence of Sydney and the central coast to a T. In this second book his sidekick, reluctant real estate agent and willing surfer Davie, shows more depth as he demonstrates a new capacity for work, trawling through piles of financial data for clues. He’s motivated to collect their fee because his ex wife wants to sell the house he’s been living in. Suzie wryly comments that traditionally, The Resolution involves getting everyone in the same room for the the big announcement of whodunnit, but supposes that authors rarely do this now. So of course, Gillmore does exactly that. He also injects a bittersweet note into The Epilogue, as per Suzie’s suggestion. A great story.