One of Australia’s most respected journalists, during his long career Michael Brissenden has covered politics, national security issues and spent many years working as a foreign correspondent. He now writes gritty crime novels that tackle social issues while maintaining a gripping pace.

DUST
by Michael Brissenden
Affirm Press/ Simon & Schuster, September 2025
(via The Pilkington Agency)

Lake Herrod, a once-thriving community, now lies in the shadow of a nearly dry lake. The town, like the water, is evaporating and its residents are left clinging to what little remains.

When Aaron Love discovers a fresh corpse near the cracked lakebed – along with evidence his missing father is alive and linked to a web of organised crime – he is thrust into a world of deception, injustice and betrayal. With the town on the brink of collapse, Aaron and a haunted detective, Martyn Kravets, uncover a web of conspiracy that reaches far beyond the small community.

Dust is a dark, gripping thriller that explores the complexities of identity, a search for truth, and the unyielding forces of corruption in a world where lives are lived on the fringe, and nothing is as it seems.

‘A deeply human, timely and utterly compelling crime novel, one of the very best to come out of Australia in recent years’. – The NZ Herald

‘Heartbreakingly good.’ – The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Brissenden was a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for 35 years. He was posted to Moscow, Brussels and Washington and worked in Canberra for many years in various roles – including as the Political Editor for the daily television current affairs program – The 7.30 Report, as the ABC’s defence and security correspondent and as the presenter of the ‘AM’ Current Affairs program on ABC radio. From 2017 to 2021 he was a reporter with the ABC’s investigative television documentary program – Four Corners. Michael has contributed to a number of essay collections over the years and written for The Bulletin, The Canberra Times and New Matilda. He now writes fiction and has published four novels: The List, Dead Letters, Smoke and Dust.