Highway 13 – Fiona McFarlane

Crime fiction has a fairly standard formula, so when you hear that Highway 13 examines the impact of a series of brutal backpacker murders along an Australian highway, you probably think you know what you’re getting. I’m happy to tell you that you’re wrong, though. This inventive and insightful collection of stories took me by surprise when Allen And Unwin sent me a copy for review.

Rather than taking the reader through a series of events climaxing with the capture and conviction of the serial killer, Highway 13 tells a collection of interconnected stories about the impact of the crimes. The timeline stretches back to the 1950s, with characters forced to revise their histories in light of the new context, and forward to 2028, where the ripples are still rolling out thirty years after the event.

McFarlane clearly draws inspiration from the crimes of Ivan Milat, but stops short of fictionalising real crimes or rehashing old ground. The stories of Highway 13 are more unsettling and ominous than gory or violent, so they’re perfect for readers who look to avoid full-blown horror.

Of course, in any collection as varied as this one, each story has its own tone and vibe – which means it’s inevitable that each reader will warm more to some than others. For me, the first story (Tourist) had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, strong Baby Reindeer vibes, while the rambling nature of Democracy Sausage really grated and I didn’t take much from it at all. In any case, I applaud McFarlane’s approach to this one, and look forward to reading whatever she does next.

Read Highway 13 on audiobook via Libro.fm here. (affiliate link)