A severed hand on the beach. A new casino on the canal. And everyone has something to lose.
Somebody powerful wants that hand forgotten. Detective Lana Cohen wants the rest of the story.
Danger AwardCrime Fiction
Award shortlisted
Shortlisted for both of Australia's crime fiction awards: the Ned Kelly (Best Crime Fiction) and the Danger Award (Crime Fiction).
Highly rated
Over 50 Four and Five star ratings on Goodreads in the first 6 months!
A beautiful book
Traditionally edited, printed and published by Ultimo Press (Sydney).
Hooked by chapter 5 or your money back.
One order. Four gifts.
- The Casino, signed paperback. 336 pages, signed by hand.
- A die-cut bookmark. Hand-selected for your copy.
- An exclusive art print. Not sold in any shop.
- A free ebook. Instant download at checkout.
What Living and Dying Is Like
My short story collection. 144 pages, 4.25 stars on Goodreads.
A brand-new casino. A hand on the sand. Nobody's clean.
Detective Lana Cohen thought she'd finally found some peace on the Coast. Then a woman's hand turns up on Nobby Beach. It didn't wash in. Someone placed it there. Her crooked Inspector tells her to shelve it.
She won't let the severed hand case go, and it pulls her into an uneasy alliance with two men she'd never choose to work with.
Above them sits Colleen Vinton, who built the casino and owns half the people in it. Between the gaming floor and the beach, someone is killing to keep a secret.
Everyone has something to lose. You can bet on that.
What the papers are saying.
A page-turning thriller that reminds us just how blurred the thin blue line of the law can be.The Saturday Paper
This is fast-paced, superbly plotted crime. Readers will eagerly await the next book.Good Reading MagazineRated 4.5 / 5
A high-stakes underworld battle.The Canberra Times
Iain Ryan is one of the most gifted writers in the contemporary Australian crime fiction scene.Steven Powellauthor of Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy
An exciting new voice in Australian crime fiction.Adrian McKintyauthor of The Chain
What readers are posting on Instagram.
When it started with a severed hand washing up on a beach I knew Iain was not here to mess around… Every character is gambling with something.
@ashs.goodreads · “in my opinion his best yet”Read the first page. Then decide.
It all starts with a girl at the wrong party. Grace Holloway is a regular kid. Nineteen years old and acting up. Nothing out of the ordinary there, except her father writes for the newspaper: a man with a conservative audience and a flair for outrage.
The father calls Ewan Hayes personally.
He's frantic. 'I need you to go get her.'
He spits out a dollar amount.
It's a lot.
The deadline's insane. An hour from now, at best.
Ewan takes the job and then the father faxes over a picture of her.
Hooked by chapter 5, or your money back.
Taking a chance on a book is a gamble. So I'm taking the risk instead.
Not hooked by the end of chapter 5? Email me and you get every cent back, postage included. No questions. No forms. No hard feelings.
You keep the book. It's signed. Put it on a shelf and never think about it again.
Before you place a bet.
Do I need to read anything else first?
No. The Casino stands on its own. It's set in the same Gold Coast world as The Strip and The Dream, so if you like it, there's more waiting.
When is it set?
The Gold Coast, 1986. A brand-new casino has opened on the canal, the shopping centres are booming, and the nightlife is loud, bright and rotten underneath.
Who is this book for?
Readers of hard-boiled crime with crooked cops and historical fiction grit. Reviewers keep reaching for the same names: Garry Disher, Peter Temple, Adrian McKinty, and James Ellroy's LA, moved to the Gold Coast.
How long will it take to arrive?
I pack and ship orders within 48 hours. From there, Australia Post does the rest. Most customers have their book within a week.
What if I read it and hate it?
You get your money back. Just email iainkryan@gmail.com and we'll sort out a refund.
Pull up a chair. Hear how it was made.
A long conversation about The Casino with Brad Kelly on Method and Madness. Best with a coffee, or a long drive.
Straight from my desk to yours.
I grew up in the outer suburbs of Brisbane and I write hard-boiled crime about Queensland at its most corrupt.
When you buy here, I sign the book, pack it and send it myself.
Take a seat. Deal me in.
Shortlisted · Ned Kelly Award · Danger Award
Signed at my desk · Shipped by Australia Post