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The Barrakee Mystery

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About this listen

 Why was the redoubtable King Henry, an aborigine from Western Australia, killed during a thunderstorm in New South Wales? What was the feud that led to murder after nineteen long years had passed? And who was the woman who saw the murder and kept silent? This first story of Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, the half-aborigine detective, takes him to a sheep station in the Darling River bush country where he encounters those problems he understands so well ‒ mixed blood and divided loyalties. PLEASE NOTE: Part of the appeal of Arthur Upfield’s stories lies in their authentic portrayal of many aspects of outback Australian life in the 1930s and through into the 1950s. These books reflect and depict the attitudes and ways of speech of that era particularly with regard to Aborigines and to women. In reproducing this book the publisher does not endorse the attitudes or opinions they express.©1929 First published by Hutchinson and Company Ltd. Bonaparte Holdings Pty Ltd, 1965 (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Fiction Historical Mystery Police Procedural Crime Murder

Critic reviews

"Napoleon Bonaparte, my best detective." ( The Daily Express)
All stars
Most relevant
the language and attitudes of it's time but wonderfully descriptive of the outback and the way of life

period story

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As always Mr. Upfield delivers a Brilliant detective Inspector Bonerpart mystery with the wonderful backdrop of true Australia

brilliant Bony

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A good read but the language is very much of its time. Great narration and accents

Good story but of its time.

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when I was young I read some Arthur Upfield novels, and I enjoyed to hear this book. It is terrific.

Bony is great.

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Like all the D.I. Bonaparte books I've read so far the plot is good and D.I. Bonaparte is a sympathetic character. However the appallingly racist attitudes portrayed in this novel - however common and acceptable they were at the time - made listening to the book a very uncomfortable experience.
I played fair and listened to the end - Peter Hoskins is a very good reader - but I would never want to hear it again.

A fairly good story spoilt by racist attitude

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