The annual Curlew Street scarecrow competition is back, and the residents of Melbourne’s inner north have never seen an entry like it. Shirt bloody, head and arms slumped over a scarecrow crucifix: Victoria’s most conservative Supreme Court Judge, Harry ‘The Pope’ Somerton, is dead.
Priyanka Pal, a former psychologist turned homicide detective, is disturbed when her investigation uncovers corruption close to home. Forced to confront the abuses of powerful men – the very reason she left psychology – Priyanka’s faith in the justice system falters.
Emma Bloom is sophisticated, intelligent, and seems to have it all together. But her prickly, estranged sister, Margot, knows the truth. Their attempts at reconciliation spiral into crisis with the death of Emma’s abusive husband, The Pope.
As secrets unravel and Priyanka’s investigation cuts close to home, the sisters risk losing what fragile family ties they have left, and Priyanka’s career is on the edge. None of them will ever feel the same way about themselves (or their neighbours) again.
P.S. Mind the cat.
Review
When I try to summarise how I think about Neighbourhood Watch, ‘balance’ is the word that keeps coming to mind. It has the elements of a dark police procedural: we get depictions of violence with the bruises and the blood; we get the dynamics of the police force, including the corruption and complicity; and there’s a sense that darkness lurks in seemingly innocent places (like suburbia). On the other hand, there are elements of what I enjoy about cosy crime: an ensemble cast of compelling characters; humour; and ultimately a sense of hope that systems are not entirely broken, and good people can still win.
It’ll come as no surprise when I say that the main drawcard of the book for me was Priyanka Pal, the main character, the psychologist-turned-police-officer. I had raised an eyebrow when I read the synopsis (why would you go into the police force if you left psychology because of abusive powerful men?), but her motivation for the career change is clearly articulated in the book. It makes for a really interesting character arc when she’s then confronted with the failures of the system she’s believed in. I was also quietly glad that there weren’t any tired tropes about psychologists; Priyanka interviewed people and went about her work without randomly psychoanalsying people.
It is hard to read this book sometimes, but that’s because it’s hard to read about the cycle of domestic violence. Emma Bloom is privileged in a number of ways, but even she can become trapped and isolated. I felt both frustration and empathy for her throughout the book. It is also really frustrating to read about abuse of power in the justice system and how it can be wielded against vulnerable people instead of protecting them. I thought Williams managed those themes well: the book doesn’t beat around the bush, but it also doesn’t sit in that tension for too long.
I also found the Blooms’ family dynamic really compelling, particularly the thorny sisterhood between Emma and Margot. There was a point where the hostility between the two of them felt protracted, but I think overall there was enough backstory to explain how their relationship became what it was. I also enjoyed the depiction of anticipatory grief, and how each member of the family responds to it.
Overall, there is a lot to love about Neighbourhood Watch. It’s not a relaxing read, but it’s compelling. The stakes felt appropriately high throughout the book, and the resolution was satisfying. It also has something to say about community and the justice system without beating you on the head without the message. If you like your crime stories with a good balance of realism and hope, this is the book to pick up.
Thank you to Affirm Press for the review copy.
Review by Priscilla
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