Murder at Frog’s Hollow by Karen Thurecht is a mystery, crime fiction story set in 1886 in Brisbane.
This is the third Book of the Dr. Hamish Hart Mysteries but each book stands alone.
Dr. Hamish Hart is asked to examine the body of a Chinese businessman found murdered.
Hamish recognises the man as Ah Chit, the uncle of his childhood friend. Hamish feels he owes it to Ah Tay, his friend, to find the person responsible.
However, the police would prefer Hamish not to be involved with their investigation.
The investigation takes Hamish into Frog’s Hollow, a seedy part of the city. Frog’s Hollow has many secrets, gambling houses, opium dens, prostitution, and poverty.
Hamish discovers that the Chinese secret society, The Sheathed Sword, is involved. There is no way they want an investigation into their activities.
Hamish finds himself in danger and unprepared for where the investigation takes him.
It doesn’t end there because this book is also Kate’s story.
During the investigation Hamish meets Daisy and Kate, prostitutes working in a gambling house run by Ah Chit, they are both addicted to opium. They live in poverty in Frog’s Hollow. Kate dreams of a better life.
Rita, Hamish’s friend and also a doctor, has a strong interest in the plight of women. She has a boarding house where women can seek refuge from domestic violence or get help to change their lives for the better. Rita offers Kate a chance to escape from Frog’s Hollow.
Each chapter of the book is introduced by an article from a newspaper of the time, giving the reader an insightful account of early Australian history. I found them quite fascinating – from the Contagious Diseases Act, to the Chinese customs and the food they introduced to Australia.
The history in the book is well-researched and the characters bring it to life.
Hamish, Rita, and Wallace, his long time friends, his little dog Red, plus Sergeant Bellamy who always needs Hamish’s help are great characters.
The Hamish Hart series is really enjoyable and I thoroughly recommend this book. It is full of suspense, twists and turns, and an unexpected ending.
I can’t wait for Hamish’s next adventure.
Thank you to Shawline Publishing Group and Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read this excellent book.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Murder at Frog’s Hollow. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I love to read, any book on any topic. I now love ebooks as they are easier to store, I was running out of bookshelves! My other interests are family, gardening and our beautiful King Charles spaniel dog who is my reading companion.
This is the third book in the series, all interesting and able to be read alone.
Dr Hamish Hart is involved in solving the murder of his childhoof Chinese friend’s uncle. He feels he should help his friend. So he involves his friends Wallace, Rita and Red the dog. They find themselves in trouble in the Chinese opium dens of the 1880s.
Rita tries to help two prostitutes get away from their hard life as well.
Even though I had trouble downloading the book, I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading the next book.
Well as usual it was an enjoyable pleasure to read all about Dr Hamish Hart’s latest adventure in Frog’s Hollow. To me it was a bit different to the other books in the series because I don’t really feel like Hamish solved the mystery. I still love the relationship between Hamish and Rita and even though she is not that way inclined, I really do hope that they get together. I enjoyed learning about the Chinese people’s move into Victoria and Queensland during the gold rush and what life was like for many people back then. These are slower paced books with no technology like we have today, so to get anything done they have to do it all by themselves, on foot rather than just picking up a phone or looking something up on a computer and I really like that about these stories. I can’t wait for the next instalment to come out. Thank you Beauty and Lace for letting me read this book :0)
I truly enjoy the Dr Hamish Hart series, not only is it easy to ready but you gather such fascinating insights of lives gone by. I have particularly enjoyed this one set in Brisbane in the 1800s as a Brisbane gal it’s lovely to know the street names and picture the story as it enfolds.
It is also comforting to feel like you know some of the characters from earlier stories – Rita and Wallace – they are such worthy supporting characters who help to add life to the story.
The storyline is quick-paced with plenty of suspense and mystery that keeps you interested throughout. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes history and mystery or tales set in Australia.
Murder at Frogs Hollow is the third book in the Dr Hamish Hart mystery novels, all which are able to be read standalone.
Hamish, Bellamy, Rita and Wallace are back with another trilling mystery to solve. This time Hamish’s childhood friend Ah Tay has come to
Brisbane. Hamish and friends then find themselves in the middle of the 1880’s Chinese opium ring.
A massive thankyou to Beauty and Lace, Shawline Publishing and Author Karen Thurecht for the opportunity to read and review this amazing series