From the bestselling author of How to Kill a Client‚ÄØand The Bluff comes a page-turning thriller of fraud and lies, murder and greed.

'Come for the murder, stay for the almost-too-close-to-the-bone social satire. I loved it, but don't tell my neighbours I said so.' JACK HEATH, author of Kill Your Husbands

'Joanna Jenkins has written another cleverly constructed crime mystery with surprises, intriguing characters and humour to lighten the tension. Four stars.' Good Reading Magazine

Ruth Dawson finds her ideal living space in an Art Deco building in Potts Point, The Lumen. A twenty-minute walk from her office in the city, the apartment boasts parquetry flooring, a wall of books and Harbour Bridge views from the sofa.

It's perfect until Ben, the homeless guy, dies under the corrugated iron lean-to in the garden where he lived.

The residents of The Lumen do little to hide their relief. They can cease their half-hearted attempts to find an acceptable solution to 'the Ben problem', and return to more important issues.

They're not happy when Ruth brings in a detective. But she's certain Ben was poisoned, and one of her neighbours knows it too.

Praise for Joanna Jenkins:

'A very impressive novel.' Canberra Weekly

'A satisfying and twisting thriller.' Books + Publishing

'A fabulous page turner.' Sydney Arts Guide

'Eminently readable.' The Justinian

Details

ISBN13: 9781761474019
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 400
Edition:
Publication Date: 04 Aug 2026
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Dimensions (cm): 23.4(H)x15.3(L)427
Weight (gm): 427

Author Biography

Joanna Jenkins grew up on a small farm in country Queensland. After graduating from the University of Queensland with degrees in English Literature and Law, she practised as a solicitor, including for many years as a partner of an international law firm. She now writes full-time. Married with three sons, Joanna lives in Brisbane. Her debut novel, How to Kill a Client, was published in 2023. The Bluff, her second novel, was published in 2025.

Reviews