“What a cracking read! One of Australia’s finest crime mystery writers, Simon Rowell, first introduced us to Zoe and her service dog Harry in The Long Game, which he followed up with Wild Card. Now, he’s back with the third novel in his wonderfully original Detective Zoe Mayer series, featuring the best dog-detective duo I’ve read in a long time…Rowell hits the sweet spot, marrying an edge-of-your-seat mystery that you’re compelled to read to the end, with a team of crime fighters whose company you genuinely want to spend time in.

And then, of course, there’s Harry. Boy, do I love Harry! The Good Dog himself. His characterisation is subtle, with his amazing capacities as a service animal presented for what they are – never embellished, overdone or anthropomorphised. He’s a hero in the quietly loyal way that all the best dogs are.

We meet a host of characters with plausible motives, and the conclusion is believable while being totally unexpected. Once you’re done, you’ll no doubt feel compelled to go back to Rowell’s previous books. Having plowed through this page-turner in a day, I certainly didn’t feel ready to leave the characters behind!” - Better Reading review

“…a thoroughly engaging central plot…Rowell complicates and then unfurls a case that never loses a connection with the painstaking process of good detective work, or canine intuition. Go Harry.” - Sydney Morning Herald

“There’s nothing quite as satisfying as an efficient police procedural, especially one with a date and time stamp at the start of every chapter that lets you know exactly just how fast (or slow) the investigation is travelling. Fortunately, The Good Dog by Simon Rowell fits the bill perfectly.” - The Age

“An underappreciated gem of Australian crime writing. Well plotted and briskly paced, this is another accomplished novel by Rowell that will keep you keenly reading to the end.” - Canberra Daily

“If you enjoy well-written police procedurals The Good Dog, along with its prequels, The Long Game and Wild Card, are a treat that will leave you begging for more.” - Book’d Out

“A whip-smart read with a whole lot of heart. Harry the dog may well be my favourite character in crime fiction today.” - Loraine Peck, author of The Second Son

“This is a gripping police procedural mystery…With multiple suspects, red herrings and twists and turns, The Good Dog is a page turner that many readers will want to read in one or two sittings as I did. It is an easy to read, engrossing story and I hope that I see more novels featuring Zoe and Harry.” – ReadPlus

“…this is a series that really deserves following. Since the commencement of this series I've been singing it's praises. The characters that Rowell has developed - Mayer, her partners, the work colleagues that switch around based on each case, are believable, with realistic flaws and minor superpowers… the balance between plot and character is pitch perfect… If you're new to this series, read them all, you won't regret it.” – AustCrime review

‘Not your typical Aussie noir. Rowell hits the sweet spot, marrying an edge-of-your seat mystery with a team of genuinely likeable crime fighters.’ - The Weekend Australian

“I found this very hard to put down as the mystery gathered pace and channels of investigation were followed - consequently pushing into the wee hours when it should have been lights out…An engaging and satisfying mystery.” – Abbey Bookseller Pick

“Just as we think we know who did what, and to whom, and why, the author Simon Rowell wrong-foots us again, and cleverly brings the past into the bright life of modern police procedure. A good ripping yarn, a good detective, and a good dog.” - Monaro Post 

“A gripping thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.” Australian Dog Lover

“Rowell has really hit his stride here. Wild Card is an engrossing read with one helluva plot twist that I did not see coming – I’m still thinking about it days later. It’s an indication that Rowell is willing to do whatever it takes to produce something special. Where will Rowell take Zoe (and Harry) next? I can’t wait to find out.” - Better Reading Review

“Simon Rowell quickly made a name for himself when The Echo of Others was longlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards for Best First Crime. His second novel, The Long Game, introduced Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer, who was back at work after extended trauma leave, her new service dog. Harry returns with Zoe here in the second book in the series and the two of them make a compelling crime-fighting duo. Rowell has said that his fiction ‘centres on the interplay between culture, morality and truth’ and he delivers just that. Wild Card is an unputdownable, engrossing mystery about gang warfare and small-town corruption, with a plot twist you won’t see coming.” - The Weekend Australian Review.

“WILD CARD by Simon Rowell is coming out on the 23rd of January and had me hooked from the first page. I laughed out loud and actually cried at one point (I’m not telling you when) because Simon has written a book starring a protagonist I instantly cared about. Det Sgt Zoe Mayer and her trust service dog, Harry, are delightful company in this page-turner with a rollicking plot. Twists and turns I didn’t see coming set in Murray River country. A true delight.” - Loraine Peck, award-winning author of The Second Son.

“This is a very accomplished novel. Rowell is a skilled writer who creates a great cast of credible characters and sets them in a vivid location that will be readily recognizable by many Australians. The plotting is smart and believable, and the story moves along at a decent pace.

One of Rowell’s strengths is his ability to create good, interesting characters and this is once again on display in Wild Card, along with his fine ear for dialogue…An outstanding crime novel that I suspect will be high on my list of the year’s best books by the end of 2023.” - Jeff Popple, Murder, Mayhem and Long Dogs.

“This is a gripping police procedural mystery…With multiple suspects, red herrings and twists and turns, The Good Dog is a page turner that many readers will want to read in one or two sittings as I did. It is an easy to read, engrossing story and I hope that I see more novels featuring Zoe and Harry.” – ReadPlus

“After the wildly successful ‘The Long Game’ our new favourite detective Zoe Mayer embarks on another cracker case with her partner Charlie Shaw and support dog Harry who is really the star of the show.

They are investigating the murder of a prominent bikie on the NSW and VIC border on the mighty Murray River. A fabulous twisting tale of maybe corrupt police, hint of Mafia and the unique style of Zoe, Charlie and Harry, not soft at all. No wasted space in this beginning to end thrill. Nice to see a vulnerable woman save the day, with Harry’s help, no- one spared scrutiny no matter how rich or powerful.

We are lucky with this new breed of crime writer in Australia, more to come I believe.” - Great Escape Books

‘With a mystery that will keep you guessing, and a character I won’t soon forget, The Long Game shows us that Rowell is well on his way to becoming a household name in the crime genre.’ - Better Reading Review

“The Long Game is a gripping suspense thriller…a nailbiting start to what will hopefully become a Zoe Mayer series.” - Cheryl Akle, The Weekend Australian

“The Long Game is compulsive reading. Zoe is a woman of principle who faces her demons as well as her detractors. Rowell drives his clever plot mainly through dialogue, as Zoe's determination to discover the truth eventually puts her life in danger.” - Anna Creer, The Canberra Times

‘Gripping and pacy, The Long Game is another great read from a local author. I can’t wait for the spin-off series featuring canine investigator Harry.’ - Julia Jackson, Readings review

‘Beautifully written, this clever crime thriller kept me hooked till the end.’ - Sara Foster, bestselling author of You Don’t Know Me.

‘The Long Game is a nail-biting ride. Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer and her service dog, Harry, kept me enthralled to the end.’ - Greg Woodland, author of The Night Whistler.

‘A sharply written, vividly set page-turner, inhabited by memorable characters, including Harry the loyal service dog.’ - Tania Chandler, author of ALL THAT I REMEMBER ABOUT DEAN COLA.

‘We just love a good crime novel and this beauty from Aussie writer Simon Rowell is an absolute cracker.’ - The Urban List

‘This is a very entertaining crime novel that is elevated above much of the competition by its easy flowing style, nicely limned characters, vivid descriptions and strong sense of credibility. A terrific read.’ - Canberra Weekly

‘The Long Game is a highly polished piece of crime fiction.’ - Jeff Popple, Murder, Mayhem and Long Dogs.

‘Loved this book…Rowell’s writing is pacey and it’s a thrilling mystery. I’m looking forward to reading more books with DS Zoë Mayer!’ - Emily Webb, author of Angels of Death, Murder in Suburbia, and Suburban Nightmare.

‘Wow! This book by Victorian-based author Simon Rowell was certainly a page-turner! A crime-thriller that introduced a fabulous new crime-busting duo with so many twists and turns I almost got whiplash!’ - Claudine Tinellis, Host -Talking Aussie Books podcast.

"A compelling novel about the charged, ambiguous line between love and hate, between the desire for justice and the desire for revenge." - Kate Ryan, Winner, Writer's Prize, 2015 Melbourne Prize for Literature.

“This is one of the best books I have read in recent years. If you are a fan of mystery/suspense novels this will definitely get you hooked in the early chapters….it's a thrilling read with a lot of substance not found in most works of fiction. ★★★★★” - Amazon Review.

"One of the best crime mystery books I have read. It features a female Australian detective and is set around a crime spree by a vigilante. The plot is fascinating and builds to a climax that knocked my proverbial socks off. ★★★★★” - Charlotte Mainwearing’s review, Waterstones (UK).

“I loved this book. Fantastic plot, fast moving, great characters…could not put it down! ★★★★★” – Amazon US review.

“A fast-moving, thought-provoking read from a powerful and original new voice.”

“Stunning novel. Builds and builds with twists I didn’t see coming. This is a book that will really make you think differently about a lot of things. I am still thinking about it days later. Highly recommended. ★★★★★” - Goodreads review.