Greenlight by Benjamin Stevenson

Publisher's Synopsis

Four years ago, in the small town of Birravale, Eliza Dacey was murdered. Within hours, her killer was caught. Wasn’t he?

So read the opening titles of Jack Quick’s new true-crime documentary – one that is persuading its millions of viewers that Curtis Wade was wrongly convicted.

But just before the final episode, Jack uncovers evidence that may prove Wade guilty after all. Convinced it will ruin his show, he covers it up, and months later Wade is released after a retrial.

Then a new victim is found bearing horrifying similarities to the original murder. Has Jack just helped a killer walk free?

My Review of Greenlight by Benjamin Stevenson

Set largely in the New South Wales wine region of the Hunter Valley, Greenlight is a thought-provoking mystery featuring a cast of hot-tempered characters ensuring a hot-tempered story chock full of fiery confrontations. This is a very strong debut by Benjamin Stevenson that shines a spotlight on the ethical veracity of the true-crime documentary field and its role in meting out justice. 

Documentary true crime maker Jack Quick has just put the finishing touches on a local murder case in which he put the theory forward that the man currently serving out a sentence in gaol, Curtis Wade, may not be the person who killed Eliza Dacey.

Quick has put together a compelling argument with evidence examined from a different light. Fast forward to after the show is aired and, what do you know, Curtis Wade has been released from prison. Almost immediately Jack doubts himself - has he just helped a murderer get out of prison early? The sudden appearance of a new piece of evidence, a shoe in fact, starts to really trouble him and he decides he needs to go over the case all over again.

A further blow to his confidence is crushingly delivered to him while on-air on a chat show when it is revealed a second murder, eerily similar to the original, has just been carried out on a woman close to the original case. With Wade now out of gaol, could it be possible he’s done it again? Surely, not…but maybe.

Forced to return to Birravale, the small town where the original murder took place, Jack quickly discovers the hatchet-job he’d done on the townsfolk wouldn’t be easily forgotten or forgiven. Finding a motel room, a meal to eat or a civil conversation is not going to be easy. But he has to persevere if he is to properly reinvestigate the case.

Via his reinvestigation we are given an in-depth look at Jack himself. He is a deeply troubled man with a tragic past. And that past is slowly laid bare to reveal deep psychological scars that he continues to struggle with.

Equally, we are fed a procession of characters, each of whom may have had the motive and opportunity to have committed one or other of the murders. The list of suspects grew, doubts over who to believe clouded my mind and I found myself at a loss over what actually happened. That is, until the monumentally shocking unveiling(s).

Through outstanding pacing and a finely described setting, this is a murder mystery that plays with your mind. It’s heavy with emotional turmoil, uncomfortable confrontations and a compelling, consistently interesting plot.