David Whish-Wilson’s latest novel, Free World, is the third in a series, but can be read as an enjoyable stand alone crime novel. It took a couple of chapters to draw me in, but before long I was interested and found it highly readable.
Whish-Wilson is also the author of The Sawdust House, a historical fiction. I enjoyed that, and was initially surprised by the very different style on show here. However, he executes it well, and a lot of crime readers are going to enjoy it.
Lee Southern is hired to go undercover in an Australian prison. A recent murder left the wrong man dead, and Lee is hired to protect the actual target – a disgraced politician. It’s 1999, and the upcoming new year brings with it the threat – or promise – of disruption as the world ticks over into 2000.
The prison is full of tension, threats, violence, and men who’ve done very bad things. Lee not only has to protect his charge but he has to make sure they both get out alive. Increasingly, that looks harder than he’d hoped it’d be.
This is a pretty familiar plot device – uncounted fictional detectives have gone undercover in jails. Whish-Wilson adds a new spin to it, borne out of Lee’s background and the time period. It was well handled and produced genuine tension, particularly around the question of Lee’s survival.
This is a pretty straightforward crime novel, and the plot doesn’t have any big twists. It does offer genuine tension, an aura of reality, and a strong depiction of a particular point in history. Whish-Wilson writes with authority and confidence, and he’ll keep you interested until the end.
Characters are strong, with Lee and his charge taking centre stage. I found both believable and got really invested in the question of who would or wouldn’t survive.
The sense of place is also strong. I vividly remember the fears that were bandied about as Y2K came closer. This isn’t a big part of the story, but is woven in well to help anchor the sense of time and place. The prison is described in a way that feels vivid and grounded, and draws you into the world of the novel. The book canvasses issues which are sadly still relevant a quarter of a century later. This too adds to the sense of credibility that grounds the novel.
Crime readers should generally enjoy this. It’s neither cosy or exceptionally gory, but is believable. You’ll want to know what happens to the characters you meet, and the plot will keep you engaged till the last page.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Free World by David Whish-Wilson. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
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In David Whish Wilson’s novel, Free World ( Fremantle Press) the reader becomes quickly immersed into the seedy, tough world of criminal relationships. At the request of his dad, a small time ex-con, private investigator Lee Southern goes undercover to find a murderer in a prison full of killers.
In prison there is no freedom, and little humanity, just a fight to survive. And it is into this world that Lee voluntarily goes, subjecting himself to incredible violence and personal risk. It is a bleak world where everyone’s on the take regardless of which side of the law they are on, and paranoia, fear and violence are around every corner.
This is far from a pleasant read as it quite graphically depicts actions and motivations that are as low, cruel, and corrupt as a person can possibly go. It is nevertheless an intriguing glimpse into the network of relationships at play in the criminal underworld.
I had not read any of David Whish-Wilson’s previous books so Free World introduced me to a new author for me. David has won several awards for his writing but somehow I missed getting my hands on one of his books. Free World is the third book in the Lee Southern series but it works perfectly ok as a standalone.
I enjoyed the fact that the Y2K Bug was used in this story as I remember that time well and how there was such uncertainty around if the World was going to go crazy when the clock ticked over to the new century. Thankfully it was a non event.
I liked the fact that Lee Southern is really a good guy and does his best for people. Going undercover in a prison to find who murdered an inmate and under the belief that it was a botched assassination attempt. It seems like an impossible task but Lee handles it with his natural calm.
A great book to add to the Christmas book list for those that love a good crime story.
Free World by David Wish Wilson is a suspenseful and action packed crime fiction.
Lee Southern is hired to go under cover in an Australian prison. The wrong man has been murdered and Lee is hired to protect the intended target.
As Lee investigates the murder, putting the pieces together, he realises that it is not actually what it seems. Lee follows the trail, hoping to make those responsible pay. More importantly, Lee needs to survive.
It is easy to be engaged with Lee’s character which keeps you reading to discover the twists and turns as Lee finally uncovers the truth.
Four stars .
I really enjoyed Free World, by David Whish-Wilson. It was a bit different from the books I normally read, but I found it really interesting and it definitely kept me reading.
What I liked most was getting a glimpse into the prison system. I found that fascinating because it’s a world that most of us know very little about. It was interesting seeing what goes on behind the prison walls, the relationships between the prisoners, the power struggles and all the unwritten rules. It made me think about prison life in a completely different way.
I also liked that the people in the story weren’t just straightforward good guys and bad guys. There seemed to be a lot more to them than that, and I found myself wondering how people end up in the situations they are in.
I thought the Australian setting added to the story too. There was something very believable about it, and I could really picture the places and the people.
For me, though, it was definitely the prison side of the story that made the book stand out. I love it when a book gives me an insight into something I would otherwise know nothing about. I found myself quite curious about how much of what was happening was actually based on real prison life.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. It was gritty at times, but I found it absorbing and thought-provoking, and I’m glad I read it.
Free World by David Whish-Wilson was the first of his books I have read. It shows they can be read as a stand alone novel.
As a crime fan, I enjoyed the book very much, more than I expected really. Lee Southern goes to jail at the request of his father to protect a former prime minister who has been accused of murder. He finds things very difficult in jail and fears he won’t be released as planned.
It’s a very interesting book which keeps you in until the end.