Broke Road A Detective Rose Riley Thriller #2

Author: Matthew Spencer

Publisher: Allen & Unwin 

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Year of release: 2025

Release date: 01/07/25

Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book #2 of 2 can be read as a stand-alone.

Synopsis 

A late-night phone call is never good news for Homicide Detective Sergeant Rose Riley. This time she’s being sent up to the Hunter Valley, where a woman has been found dead in her home.

Rose grew up further along the valley. She knows that for every vineyard and golf course resort visited by tourists to the ‘wine country’ there are as many dilapidated fibro houses as possible and drug dens, in the shadow of one of the state’s largest prisons.

A media hound points the finger at the husband, angering Rose but capturing the attention of journalist turned true crime author Adam Bowman. His book on the ‘Blue Moon Killer’ made him famous but the case nearly cost Rose her life, and she’s not sure how she feels about seeing him again.

Suspects abound, from the grieving husband to sinister business interests and suspicious locals. But when new evidence connects the crime to an old case, Rose realises they have no time to lose. The murderer is ready to strike again.

Review 

Wine country hides deadly secrets; a detective races to solve.

Detective Sergeant Rose Riley is on her way to the Hunter Valley after receiving a late-night phone call – when you work in homicide, it’s never a good thing. A woman has been found dead in her home.

Rose is no stranger to the valley; she grew up a little further up the road. Unlike the tourists, she doesn’t see the Hunter through rose-coloured glasses. She’s witnessed the dilapidated fibro houses, drug dens, and struggling communities, so the golf course resorts hold little appeal for her.

Once the media catches onto the death, they immediately point fingers at the husband. This angers Rose, but it also catches the attention of journalist-turned-true crime author Adam Bowman. His book on the Blue Moon Killer made him famous – a case that nearly cost Rose her life – so she’s not sure how she feels about seeing him again.

It doesn’t take long for the list of suspects to grow from full to overflowing from the grieving husband, to sinister business interests, to suspicious locals. Rose feels there are more questions than answers. When new evidence links the case to an old investigation, she realises time is running out. The murderer is ready to strike again.

Can Rose catch the killer before it’s too late, or will she have to bury a friend before the case is over?

I devoured Black River by Matthew Spencer, so when I found out Broke Road was on the way, I knew I had to have it. The mystery and thriller genre has had me in its grip in recent years, thanks to the Rose Riley series and authors like Spencer. The simmering tension, the realistic characters, and the vivid Australian settings – places you may well have visited yourself – make this series irresistible.

Broke Road places Detective Sergeant Rose Riley front and centre once more. She makes for a brilliant heroine. What drew me to her even more in this sequel was the way Spencer showed glimpses of her life outside of her job, while still keeping her trademark grit and determination. Too often in crime series, important details are dropped between instalments, but here Rose feels consistent while also opening up to readers in new ways.

For readers who enjoy the return of familiar faces, journalist Adam Bowman is back. His reappearance was a highlight for me – the story truly felt underway the moment he stepped onto the page. Spencer’s own background as a journalist shines here, giving Adam’s character and the broader narrative a sharp, believable edge.

While Adam doesn’t undergo major growth in this book, there is a subtle shift in the final chapters that left me hopeful for a third instalment. Even without sweeping changes, Spencer uses him effectively to balance suspense with lighter, human moments – a thread that ties the series together without ever feeling repetitive.

The supporting cast – from community members to fellow police officers – adds to the small-town atmosphere. They give the story texture and depth, creating the sense of actually visiting the Hunter Valley. These minor characters never feel like placeholders; instead, they contribute to the authenticity of both the setting and the tension.

I found the pacing of Broke Road slightly slower in the opening chapters than I expected. However, having finished the book, I’m glad it unfolded this way – the slower build heightened the adrenaline once the story truly took off. If you’re looking for a mystery-thriller that simmers before boiling over, Broke Road delivers exactly that.

The Hunter Valley setting may have been used in previous novels, and there’s certainly no shortage of police procedurals on shelves right now, but Matthew Spencer has once again delivered a story that grabs hold from start to finish without ever feeling over the top.

I didn’t fly through Broke Road the way I did with Black River, but that felt right for this story. I found myself wanting to slow down and savour it – to sit with the suspense, take in the tension simmering beneath the surface, and enjoy the way the characters and investigation unfolded. It was a book to be absorbed rather than rushed. That said, I truly hope a third instalment is on the horizon, because I’d return to Rose Riley’s world in a heartbeat.

Subplots and Tropes Included in Broke Road: 

• Blackmail
• Coast of NSW
• Detective returns home
• Female lead detective
• History returns
• Journalist/media involvement
• Killer plays with detective
• Light bulb moment
• Police procedural
• Police suspect
• Small town
• The big reveal
• Twist ending

Much like with Black River, I wasn’t able to guess the ending of Broke Road. I was so impressed by the big reveal that I’m calling it my favourite ending of a book in 2025. It’s also the reason behind my enthusiastic five-star rating.

Perfect for fans of Margaret Hickey, Mark Brandi, and Shelley Burr, Broke Road cements Matthew Spencer’s place on the crime/thriller shelf.

I highly recommend this novel to a mature audience. Calling all avid readers of the crime, mystery, and thriller genres – if you’re unsure about this series, let me assure you: don’t wait a moment longer. You’ll love it.

With continued thanks to Allen & Unwin and author Matthew Spencer for sending a physical copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.