An introduction

Hi. My name’s David Baxter. I am a writer and teacher who lives on the Mornington Peninsula, near Melbourne, Australia. I am working on my 8th unpublished novel. Almost all have been of the ‘crime’ genre, although they are less “whodunnits” than “whydunnits”.

Without - despite several attempts – any success in finding a publisher (or an agent, for that matter!) with the perspicacity to see what terrific material my novels contain, I have decided to place a couple of my novels (or parts of, at least) online, in the belief that they’re a lot better than much of the crap that does find a plcae in glossy covers on bookshop shelves!

So enjoy, or dismiss … as you will. Any feedback – of the constructive kind – is ALWAYS welcome. I don’t in the least mind criticism … It just needs to be something I can work with to improve, and “You’re hopeless, give up!” doesn’t quite provide the kind of direction I’m looking for. Actually, neither does the, “Your writing is finely crafted and powerful. However, our publishing schedule is very full for the conceivable future” kind of comment!

My ouvre – in order – is:

The sins of the father; An eye for an eye; So Cruel; Tour de Death; So Cruel; Highway hunter;  Terror Australis; and Weatherman. I am currently working on Windshift. I will change the link list from time to time. Email me if you like ‘em … find somewhere else if you don’t!

Enjoy!

David Baxter

Highway Hunter

OK: so here’s the first of the novels that I’m going to place up here.

It’s not my first (that’s not fit for publication, just at this point!), but it’s probably my ‘favorite’. “Highway Hunter” arose out of two things. The first was the kidnapping/murder in the Northern Territory of Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio. A few months after this event happened, I travelled up the Stuart Highway with my three children and then wife. I came home gobsmacked by the eerie emptiness and callousness of the place … That’s not to say that the people were like that – they were anything but. However, from the roadside, littered with the ripped carcases of dead animals, to the immense vastness that seemed to squeeze you small just by being so enormous, there was a sense that what had happened there was not uncommon. So, when I got home, I wrote about it. See what you think! The file is available as a PDF. Please respect the copyright!

Highway hunter