Judgement Day

Ilona Urquhart: Mali Waughs debut novel opens with an omniscient narrator observing that there were no signs or omens that family court judge Kaye Bailey was to be murdered that day. Due to Waughs impressive talent for creating characters, readers will be mourning Kayes loss despite knowing her fate from the first paragraph. Kayes murder requires detectives to immerse themselves in the refined yet grubby world of the Melbourne family law courts, exposing a number of grim realities within family law. There is no shortage of suspects_ within the legal profession and its clientele, and each suspect is artfully written. The investigation also provides a means for Detective Senior Sergeant Jillian Basset to return to work from maternity leave early. Jillian is an experienced and astute police officer who drives the investigation while learning to work with her flashy maternity leave replacement, but her personal life complicates the narrative. The authors compassionate depiction of Jillians struggle with overwhelming feelings of inadequacy as a mother, and her tendency to use her work as an excuse to avoid her problems, will appeal to fans of Sarah Baileys crime novels. Waughs expertise as a family lawyer shines throughout this legal thriller, ensuring a place for her among the crop of recent excellent Australian crime debuts. Ilona Urquhart is a childrens and youth services librarian on the Bellarine Peninsula and has a PhD in literary studies.

Mali Waugh has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Monash University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. She has previously worked in a library and a chocolate shop, and now works as a lawyer. This is her first novel.

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