Preview of The Altree Mystery Series

Preview of The Altree Mystery Series A.F. Stacey, PhD Meet Dr Mark Altree, an exploration geologist turned amateur detective featured in an ongoing series of engrossing “who done it” mysteries. Altree’s entry into solving crime starts unexpectedly after experiencing a number of serious incidents while travelling into the Queensland interior. His determination to find those responsible for the murder of a girl he discovers on the side of a lonely track, and later when he is assaulted during work on a mining site, drives him to pursue a number of baffling cases in “The Gilgunnia Girl” and in “Yarraman Gold” [Books 1 and 2]. Behind the scenes, Altree’s romantic heart belongs to Sonja who he has worked with in a geological exploration company. Soon their work partnership blossoms into a deeper, more permanent relationship and they eventually marry. With Altree often working away from home for extended periods, Sonja has time to reflect on his current adventures, always worrying about him. At first Sonja is reluctant to see Altree become involved in detective activities but she grows to understand and support his enquiring scientific mind. Altree keeps on fine-tuning his ability and confidence to unravel crimes allowing him to piece together forensic puzzles. ---oo0oo--Just when geologist Mark Altree thinks he and his partner Sonja Nielsen, can enjoy a relaxing holiday visiting friends in a remote coastal area of SA, two unexplained deaths capture Altree’s attention in “Solstice at Flinders Cove” [Book 3]. The discovery of a man’s body at an ocean lookout in the exclusive housing resort of Flinders Cove, near Port Lincoln perplexes his partner and residents. The police consider the death a suicide but much to the frustration of Sonja, Altree is not convinced. He is sceptical of initial assumptions and once again applying his problem-solving skills, probes for evidence into a death he increasingly regards as suspicious. The mystery deepened when the body of Altree’s friend, Drew Addison is found at the base of the same cliff. Altree and the collaborating caretaker, who they are staying with, employ devious methods to untangle the threads of these complex murders involving jealousy, betrayal, homosexuality and corruption. Altree is often sought out by friends to help trace missing persons, as occurs in “The Apstein Enigma,” (also “Anna’s Missing” and “Winning Streak”). In “The Apstein Enigma”, Bente, a scientist, and the wife of a university colleague of Altree, suddenly disappears from their Brisbane home. It is suspected she may have been murdered by her husband Samuel, a mine geologist but the police initially fail to find any incriminating evidence. Distraught by Bente’s puzzling disappearance Sam travels overseas where confused by illness and over medication, he is about to leap from a cliff. By chance is saved by Altree’s fortuitous arrival, who learning of Sam’s predicament, tries to trace Bente. This decision takes him on a perplexing search through research laboratories, across cities and international borders. Altree must reconcile these events and prevent the false arrest of his friend while tracking what could have happened to Bente. ---oo0oo--In “Serpent Salt” [Book 4] it is Altree who goes missing much to his fiance’ Sonja’s consternation. Whilst working in a Middle Eastern country he is abducted. It starts with Russian criminals stealing railway freight that included the radioactive chemical ‘hex’ described as drilling salt, destined for a secret nuclear enrichment programme. Determined to retrieve the toxic compounds, Iranian agents design a devious plot and kidnap geologists working for gold exploration companies in eastern Turkey to establish their credentials as legitimate buyers of the salt. Australian friends of one of the geologists, Mark Altree become concerned by his disappearance and collaborate with another militant group to pursue their captors, free Altree and foil the recovery of the uranium fuel. The thrilling chase across Georgia and turkey involves collusion, double agents, murders, explosive action and romance. Meanwhile, it is through the persistence of Altree’s partner Sonja, supported by his business partner and friend Dan, that he is rescued in a nail-biting plot that evolves into a race against time to stop dangerous cargo falling into the wrong hands. The dramatic escapade tests Altree’s endurance and life saving skills. ---oo0oo--Safely returned home, Altree enjoys a very different and more relaxing interlude using his research skills after he is contacted by Lavinia Zappi, a young conservator of paintings from Bologna and working as an intern at the National Gallery of Victoria. She is involved in investigating whether a fragile yellowish oil painting of mother and child could be a genuine work of art by an early Renaissance artist Parmigianino, who lived between 1503 and 1540. The absence of documentary proof of acquisition and the deciphering of volatile historical events make it difficult for Zappi to piece together the slim threads of evidence of ownership. Learning of earlier unfinished scientific work of Dr Mark Altree when he had analysed paint samples from the painting identified with number 268, Lavinia requests Altree’s help to authenticate this oil painting recently acquired by the National Gallery. In “268 - The Mystery of a Parmigianino oil painting,” [Book 5] Altree uses his specialist geochemical and historical knowledge to further identify and date the paint used on the artwork. Also known as “Madonna and Child”, number 268 creates a sense of intrigue for Zappi as the profile of the woman in the picture resembles that of Zappi’s own Italian grandmother. For Zappi, this painting begins a quest for meaning about her own heritage as she wonders whether there could be an ancestral connection with the model in the painting. The inquiry also involves a visit to Italy for Zappi, who is joined by Altree, to help her establish the provenance of the canvas. The art research is frustratingly convoluted and findings are both puzzling and enlightening. Zappi finally unravels the mystery surrounding her Italian ancestral threads, while for Altree, there is also a conflict of emotions that impact on his relationship with Sonja. ---oo0oo--Life then takes on darker challenges for Altree and his team in Queensland when they learn of some rather macabre Brisbane based crimes in “Dead Skin” [Book 7]. This episode introduces a new crime fighting character in the guise of police Inspector Helena Costa who also becomes the romantic interest of Altree’s business partner, Dan Hawkes. Helena had previously been grateful for Altree and Dan’s help with circumstances surrounding a missing scientist in the Apstein Enigma. In this new case Altree, Sonja and Dan again work as a team to provide important back up to Inspector Costa. In this unusual and sometimes dangerous mission, they decide to collect dead skin samples to identify a serial killer with their own impressive detective work. Altree cleverly pieces together the new forensic evidence for Costa which leads to another successful arrest, saving her promotion as Detective Inspector. ---oo0oo--In “Somebody Knows,” [Book 8] Altree is shocked to learn he has been accused of being a suspect in a separate local murder of a fellow geologist. He must quickly prove his innocence. As it happened on the same day at various locations in Brisbane, the geologist, a taxi driver and a journalist are shot and killed. The geologist, Paul Faulkner was murdered in his office at Rankin Coal after arguing with Altree about an upcoming drilling contract. Although considered a suspect, Altree engages in clandestine activities, hoping to identify the murderer. Detective Inspector Helena Costa follows the romantic link between Faulkner and Sommerville and learns about alleged corruption involving a mining executive and a government Minister. With the help of Sonja, Costa and Dan, Altree looks for connections between the murders and the alleged misconduct and questionable motives of a senior politician. Eventually, Altree is able to prove his innocence but too many questions remain unanswered. ---oo0oo--In “Shadow of a Man” [Book 9], Altree is still not quite himself because the triple murders in Brisbane have remained unsolved. He argues with his wife Sonja, after she had insisted he attempt to find the killer by tracking down a key suspect, Alphonso Giardino. But Altree resisted her demands by saying there was no evidence against Giardino and leaves home feeling angry and upset. Having escaped the continuous arguments Altree then learns Sonja is pregnant. The news catapults him back into his past, a period of depression and anxiety. Overcoming his personal issues, Altree succeeds in finding Giardino, but unbeknown to him he was followed. The attempted murder of Giardino leads Altree into trouble but with Sonja’s help he figures out the identity of the murderer. ---oo0oo--“Heartburn” [Book 10] brings dramatic events when Helena Costa is killed and Altree’s friend Dan Hawkes is arrested for her murder. It is a race against time for Altree to find out who did it, and to get him off. Dan is devastated by the rapid turn events. It had started so simply. After buying pastries Daniel returns to his girlfriend’s apartment and finds DCI Helena Costa lying in a pool of blood. He is accused of assaulting her and then indicted for murdering the Police officer after she dies. Dan is shattered and helpless. His friends, Dr Mark Altree, Sonja and a retired Police officer assist in the investigation, believing Hawkes is innocent. Altree and his friends search for the crucial nuggets of truth to explain what actually happened in Costa’s apartment? ---oo0oo--“Anna’s missing” [Book 11]. Oxana Yablonska, a Brisbane accountant, reports the disappearance of her old school friend Anna Bauwens. She also asks Dr Mark Altree to help in the search because Anna had often spoken of Altree, a close friend of Anna’s parents. Not having seen Anna for more than thirty years, Altree has no leads is a reluctant investigator. He gradually develops an illuminating portrait of Anna and her complex life, spurring him on a desperate race to find the woman he barely knew as a teenager. Altree traces her troubled life as he unravels the destructive and unpredictable side of alcoholism which caused this young woman to disappear. ---oo0oo--In “Winning Streak” [Book 12] Altree reluctantly leaves his pregnant wife Sonja at home in Brisbane with the support of his friend and business partner Daniel Hawkes, to accept short term consultancy work in South Australia. Whilst in Adelaide he is contacted by Fiona Baxter about the disappearance of her brother, Russell, a former university colleague of his. Agreeing to help her find him, Altree uncovers evidence of a break in at Russell’s house and finally suspects the burglar was looking for something which could be linked with Russell’s unfinished book. It was about horseracing. Meanwhile Altree’s life is shattered by news of a personal disaster. He learns his wife Sonja needed to be rushed to hospital by his friend Dan. Sonya survives, but their unborn child cannot be saved. As his personal demons continue to haunt him Altree is unable to handle the tragic news and delays returning to be with Sonja in Queensland. Despite knowing she needed him, he felt paralysed to help until he could come to terms with his own emotional turmoil. His reaction is to turn to the only thing he could focus on – his work, and while still in Adelaide accepts an overseas exploration project in North America. A series of events leads Altree to Mexico. By chance he is able to trace the whereabouts of his fellow Australian geologist, Baxter, but he reaches him too late. Altree unknowingly becomes enmeshed in a drug smuggling ring and their kidnapping of a child. Altree survives the failed exchange of the ransom, but he too is abducted by bandits and faces life threatening circumstances on a long journey. He manages to escape from his captors while crossing the mountains, saving the little girl at the same time, but they are far away from civilisation and must hike over rough terrain with only moonlight to guide them. They are eventually helped by a goat herder and his wife living high up in mountainous territory, however the only way to the nearest village is, descending precipitous ridges by riding a mule down to the valley below. Altree and the child are finally rescued, and Altree is thanked by the child’s grateful parents. Before he returns to Australia, Altree has one more task to attend to – to visit the goat herder couple and help them install running water to their cottage. Once back in Adelaide, Altree follows up with Russell Baxter’s sister to solve the mystery of his disappearance which is linked to his interest in local horse racing. Only then was Altree able to return home to comfort his wife. ---oo0oo--