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Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte #23
Journey to the Hangman
"Bony - a unique figure among top-flight detectives." BBC
Three times the killer has struck in Daybreak, a small town in Western Australia; but what is the connection between these three very differently executed killings? Why are the local Aborigines always far away from the town at the time of the murders? And why should so many people suspect the strange 'bad boy', Tony Carr?
This is a small community, too close-knit for Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte to penetrate... But all doors will surely open to a job-seeking cobber like Nat Bonnar!
Three times the killer has struck in Daybreak, a small town in Western Australia; but what is the connection between these three very differently executed killings? Why are the local Aborigines always far away from the town at the time of the murders? And why should so many people suspect the strange 'bad boy', Tony Carr?
This is a small community, too close-knit for Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte to penetrate... But all doors will surely open to a job-seeking cobber like Nat Bonnar!
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
15 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Arthur W. Upfield
110 books107 followersAka Arthur Upfield
Arthur William Upfield (1 September 1890 – 13 February 1964) was an Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte ('Bony') of the Queensland Police Force, a half-caste Aborigine.
Born in England, Upfield moved to Australia in 1910 and fought with the Australian military during the First World War. Following his war service, he travelled extensively throughout Australia, obtaining a knowledge of Australian Aboriginal culture that would later be used extensively in his written works. In addition to his detective fiction, Upfield was also a member of the Australian Geological Society and was involved in numerous scientific expeditions. Upfield's works remained popular after his death, and in the 1970s were the basis for an Australian television series entitled "Boney".
Arthur William Upfield (1 September 1890 – 13 February 1964) was an Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte ('Bony') of the Queensland Police Force, a half-caste Aborigine.
Born in England, Upfield moved to Australia in 1910 and fought with the Australian military during the First World War. Following his war service, he travelled extensively throughout Australia, obtaining a knowledge of Australian Aboriginal culture that would later be used extensively in his written works. In addition to his detective fiction, Upfield was also a member of the Australian Geological Society and was involved in numerous scientific expeditions. Upfield's works remained popular after his death, and in the 1970s were the basis for an Australian television series entitled "Boney".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 1, 2024
Arthur Upfield, author of this book, was a British born Australian author best known for the series of books featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, a a half-caste Aborigine of the Queensland Police Force, known as 'Bony'. This is of course is one from that series - it is number 23 of 29. Upfield moved to Australia at the age of twenty, and travelled the country extensively, learning about the Aboriginal people - that he holds the Aboriginals and their culture in high esteem is a central part to this book and obviously the series.
In this book (no spoilers, this is all in the blurb) Bony is sent to a small, remote town of Daybreak, where three murders have occurred, with no apparent common traits. In order to make inroads with the small, tightknit community Bony must approach undercover, as a horse-breaker.
It is unusual to come across writing in this era (published 1959) where an Aboriginal (part-Aboriginal) is the main character, but is portrayed as an intelligent, thinking character - a Detective Inspector no less. For this aspect alone I would try a few more in this series. Generally I enjoyed the writing, but there were some aspects I wasn't enthused about. On a couple of occasions there were things the author kept from the reader that Bony knew - we (the reader) were there when he learned them, but they were only unveiled later - I found this aspect almost unfair as we were also puzzling through the evidence to determine the murderer's identity. It also became reasonably obvious who the murderer was with still a wadge of pages to read, and it was spun out a bit.
Notwithstanding those issues, I found it an interesting enough setup to want to explore this character a bit more.
I had expected there would be plenty of copies of the vintage editions available second hand, but there are many more recent re-publications than vintage copies in the market in NZ. I was briefly in Melbourne last month and couldn't find any copies at all in the couple of second hand bookshops I perused, so it may be a while before I get to read more!
I am hoping that there is a bit more back-story covered in the earlier books as to how Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte came to be.
A solid 3 stars.
In this book (no spoilers, this is all in the blurb) Bony is sent to a small, remote town of Daybreak, where three murders have occurred, with no apparent common traits. In order to make inroads with the small, tightknit community Bony must approach undercover, as a horse-breaker.
It is unusual to come across writing in this era (published 1959) where an Aboriginal (part-Aboriginal) is the main character, but is portrayed as an intelligent, thinking character - a Detective Inspector no less. For this aspect alone I would try a few more in this series. Generally I enjoyed the writing, but there were some aspects I wasn't enthused about. On a couple of occasions there were things the author kept from the reader that Bony knew - we (the reader) were there when he learned them, but they were only unveiled later - I found this aspect almost unfair as we were also puzzling through the evidence to determine the murderer's identity. It also became reasonably obvious who the murderer was with still a wadge of pages to read, and it was spun out a bit.
Notwithstanding those issues, I found it an interesting enough setup to want to explore this character a bit more.
I had expected there would be plenty of copies of the vintage editions available second hand, but there are many more recent re-publications than vintage copies in the market in NZ. I was briefly in Melbourne last month and couldn't find any copies at all in the couple of second hand bookshops I perused, so it may be a while before I get to read more!
I am hoping that there is a bit more back-story covered in the earlier books as to how Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte came to be.
A solid 3 stars.
June 10, 2025
Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte had a challenge - the small town of Daybreak in outback Western Australia, had had three murders in a short period of time, and the local cop was unable to find the killer. So Bony descended on the town as one Nat Bonnar, looking for work, horse-breaking was his fame. Working for Melody Sam in his pub, as well as breaking the local cop's feisty horse, saw Nat able to circulate through the town, watching each and every resident. He found out more detail about the murders; he also discovered the aboriginal tribe who was local to the area, had been on walkabout each time a murder occurred. Slowly things righted themselves in his mind...
is #23 in the Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte series by Aussie author and this one was brilliant! He integrated himself well with the locals, speaking like them, acting like them - he was soon one of them. Bony is unique - I'm looking forward to reading more in the series. Recommended.
is #23 in the Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte series by Aussie author and this one was brilliant! He integrated himself well with the locals, speaking like them, acting like them - he was soon one of them. Bony is unique - I'm looking forward to reading more in the series. Recommended.
December 29, 2019
As a whodunit an utter failure.
December 10, 2015
I was fortunate not long ago to be browsing a yard sale when, for $5, I picked up a collection of paperback mysteries featuring a mixed-race Australian detective named Napoleon Bonaparte.
Set in the Thirties, Forties and Fifties these novels, many of them short, are remarkable; almost as remarkable as the character of the police inspector whose aboriginal mother gave birth to him before dying.
Almost as remarkable, in fact, as Bonaparte's creator Arthur W. Upfield: A Brit who lived most of his life in Australia. Upfield was many things in his life: A soldier, a bushman, a journalist and - eventually - the writer of a dozen mysteries that sold millions of copies in several languages.
"Journey to the Hangman" is one of his later novels. Written in 1959, it centers around a small, tightly knit Outback town called Daybreak where a killer has struck three times. Bonaparte has to go undercover as an itinerant horse breaker to solve the crime because, as an outsider, there's no way that the residents are going to talk to the police even if it is to catch a killer.
This novel is well plotted and the mystery an intriguing one but, for me, the real joy of "Journey to the Hangman" came from reading the vivid descriptions of the town and its people. Although not especially well known these days, Upfield had a real knack for describing the people and places of Australia, especially the Outback.
If you've never read an Upfield mystery, I'd recommend finding one.
Set in the Thirties, Forties and Fifties these novels, many of them short, are remarkable; almost as remarkable as the character of the police inspector whose aboriginal mother gave birth to him before dying.
Almost as remarkable, in fact, as Bonaparte's creator Arthur W. Upfield: A Brit who lived most of his life in Australia. Upfield was many things in his life: A soldier, a bushman, a journalist and - eventually - the writer of a dozen mysteries that sold millions of copies in several languages.
"Journey to the Hangman" is one of his later novels. Written in 1959, it centers around a small, tightly knit Outback town called Daybreak where a killer has struck three times. Bonaparte has to go undercover as an itinerant horse breaker to solve the crime because, as an outsider, there's no way that the residents are going to talk to the police even if it is to catch a killer.
This novel is well plotted and the mystery an intriguing one but, for me, the real joy of "Journey to the Hangman" came from reading the vivid descriptions of the town and its people. Although not especially well known these days, Upfield had a real knack for describing the people and places of Australia, especially the Outback.
If you've never read an Upfield mystery, I'd recommend finding one.
May 20, 2011
I like Arthur Upfield despite his datedness and I am planning to read as many as I can. Yes he's racist and horribley fruity sometimes, but if you want to know about a time read the fiction. Reading between the lines in Upfield gives you a very good idea of what it was like to be aboriginal in the 1950's not something I know a lot about becasue aboriginal autralians were pretty much inviisble in those days and about what country life was like in Australia in that forgotten time. The stories are o.k and By God he does great scenery - he loves the australian landscape. Does a wonderful line in Australian Gothic too.
July 6, 2024
I've been trying to read this book for about 20 years. It all started when I was visiting a friend and she had the full series. She said they were GREAT books but I couldn't take them out of her house because they were "out of print" and relatively hard to come by. I don't know if that's true, but if someone has a full set of something I can understand being cautious. That day i passed on the book yet several years later when I happened upon another friend who recommended this series he loaned me the Journey to the Hangman.
I remember being stumped by the first page. It's a wonderful description, if you're Australian. But I was trying to read this book in the early days of Wikipedia and there were just too many words like "mulga forest" "jam trees" "saucer" (used as a geographical description) that I could not make head nor tail out of. Suffice it to say the book did not grab me from page one. It paints a broad picture of the setting, which if you like reading books that take place in exotic places (I know I do) can be fun, but nothing is footnoted.
This book also follows the 20th century convention of spelling dialect speech phonetically, which I particularly dislike. There are some words that have entered our text life like "gonna" which even auto correct will finish for you, but others like I remember reading a JD Salinger book with phrase "Djeet yet?" which was supposed to read: did ya eat yet? But at the time I felt annoyed with having to read the phrase aloud. There is plenty o' that in this book which slowed me down enough that I put down the book for another ten years.
Stumbled across the book again and tried to read it a second time to no avail. Now that I have finished it I can tell you why, the author repeats himself too much and makes the action slow to a crawl. There is one lovely chapter that describes a cat and a mouse, but then that idea is revisited about four more times til I'm like "I Get It! I Get It! Can something please happen now? Or are we going to have yet another character repeat the analogy to someone new?"
And this is why the reveal just felt. . . hollow. By that time I kinda didn't care who did it. I'm giving this book three stars and not two because the author displays a certain level of skill in writing. It does not come across as amateur. It's more like it just wasn't my cup of tea. I found our sleuth to be too much "noble savage" which rubbed me the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with admiring people of another race, their culture, their skills, music, fashion - but the way Bony is described as basically turning back into an animal when he tracks was kind of ewww. How do we know he isn't more of a man because he can track that way and less of an animal?
In sum: main character kind of problematic, but not unlikeable. Plot too simplistic, there's only one suspect and then a reveal that suggests it is NOT our suspect but Bony already knows who dunnit and we, poor readers, have to hear about a cat and a mouse for hundred more pages until we get the reveal. So in total only two suspects? Agatha Christie always has a whole houseful.Just sayin'
I remember being stumped by the first page. It's a wonderful description, if you're Australian. But I was trying to read this book in the early days of Wikipedia and there were just too many words like "mulga forest" "jam trees" "saucer" (used as a geographical description) that I could not make head nor tail out of. Suffice it to say the book did not grab me from page one. It paints a broad picture of the setting, which if you like reading books that take place in exotic places (I know I do) can be fun, but nothing is footnoted.
This book also follows the 20th century convention of spelling dialect speech phonetically, which I particularly dislike. There are some words that have entered our text life like "gonna" which even auto correct will finish for you, but others like I remember reading a JD Salinger book with phrase "Djeet yet?" which was supposed to read: did ya eat yet? But at the time I felt annoyed with having to read the phrase aloud. There is plenty o' that in this book which slowed me down enough that I put down the book for another ten years.
Stumbled across the book again and tried to read it a second time to no avail. Now that I have finished it I can tell you why, the author repeats himself too much and makes the action slow to a crawl. There is one lovely chapter that describes a cat and a mouse, but then that idea is revisited about four more times til I'm like "I Get It! I Get It! Can something please happen now? Or are we going to have yet another character repeat the analogy to someone new?"
And this is why the reveal just felt. . . hollow. By that time I kinda didn't care who did it. I'm giving this book three stars and not two because the author displays a certain level of skill in writing. It does not come across as amateur. It's more like it just wasn't my cup of tea. I found our sleuth to be too much "noble savage" which rubbed me the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with admiring people of another race, their culture, their skills, music, fashion - but the way Bony is described as basically turning back into an animal when he tracks was kind of ewww. How do we know he isn't more of a man because he can track that way and less of an animal?
In sum: main character kind of problematic, but not unlikeable. Plot too simplistic, there's only one suspect and then a reveal that suggests it is NOT our suspect but Bony already knows who dunnit and we, poor readers, have to hear about a cat and a mouse for hundred more pages until we get the reveal. So in total only two suspects? Agatha Christie always has a whole houseful.Just sayin'
March 17, 2020
Another re-read after decades. This book was written in the late 50s but it carries a lot of the mindset of an earlier time. The way the First Nations people are spoken of and to, and the way they are treated is unpleasant to read. Yet this masterful story has undercurrents of great respect for the First Nations and of their way of life. It's a good mystery and has some well-drawn characters and descriptions. Much depth.
Vintage Upfield and a good vintage at that.
Vintage Upfield and a good vintage at that.
December 10, 2022
I wish there were six stars to give. I thought I had read all of Upfield's mysteries twenty years ago, and then this new one made it's way to me. What a wonderful writer. His elegant descriptions and character development all came instantly back. Set in Australia, with a half aborigine, half white police inspector, Napoleon Bonaparte, there was a wonderful plot, all woven lovingly together to produce a great deal of reading pleasure. What a terrific series.
May 13, 2023
I always enjoy Bony books (Arthur Upfield's D.I. Napoleon Bonaparte mysteries), and this was a sterling story. Details of dry Australian towns and countryside, interactions with aborigines, Bony's clever and surprising solution to a series of unrelated murders. Sigh. For a few hours, I'm at his side, in the bush, breathing dust and dry air, longing for a cup of his endless tea made in a billycan. My favorite detective. Time for another Bony book...
July 18, 2023
If you have not read one of the 30 books that Arthur Upfield wrote, you are missing one of the best writers that Australia has ever had. These were written many years ago and are now being republished. I have read all but 5, sometimes difficult to find. I have bought then from used book sources for years. Napoleon Bonaparte is a half caste police detective that has never not found the culprit to the crime is investigating. (I mailed some of these to my brother and he nags me for more!)
October 13, 2023
Another great Bony mystery set in Australia’s outback. A serial killer is running amok in the one-pub town of Daybreak. Bony persuades the local aborigines to assist in capturing the killer leading to a strange and eerie ending.
The writing is as lush as ever. “Now and then the easterly wind from the great Interior desert lands brought with it the magically blended perfume of the Fleeting Moment, and the Ageless Past.”
The writing is as lush as ever. “Now and then the easterly wind from the great Interior desert lands brought with it the magically blended perfume of the Fleeting Moment, and the Ageless Past.”
June 7, 2017
Western Australia finds Bony posing as a horse-breaker and later, barman, in a close-knit outback town. There are two and eventually four murders to solve. Bony soon finds out who did the murders but proving it in the eyes of white law is a tricky problem. Superb storytelling makes this my pick in the top few Bony novels.
May 8, 2018
A top Bony mystery. There have been three murders in quick succession in the tiny town of Daybreak, population a few hundred (if that). They have to be related, but the victims are totally different and the modus operandi is different in each case. However the last 2 murders involve a limping man in sandshoes. Enter Bony in the guise of Nat Bonnar, horsebreaker and hotel yardman...
March 9, 2024
Another cracking read from Upfield. Bony is bought in undercover to solve three apparently unrelated murders at a small outback village. There is tension between the white residents and the locally aboriginal population. Marvellous descriptions of the terrain and the protagonists.
An excellent story. Very highly recommended.
An excellent story. Very highly recommended.
May 5, 2025
Det Insp Napoleon Bonaparte is called to outback Western Australia to solve a series of murders in the tiny town of Daybreak. The clues all seem to point to a young Aboriginal man, but Nat Bonner (Bony) is of the belief that the young man is being set up.
As always, Upfield weaves a wonderful yarn and draws pictures of the people and outback that are clear and vivid.
As always, Upfield weaves a wonderful yarn and draws pictures of the people and outback that are clear and vivid.
November 22, 2017
A good one for reading footprints
This mystery describes the Australian outback and habits of the aborigines as well as any other book Upfield has written. Bony plays a very effective game of cat and mouse.
This mystery describes the Australian outback and habits of the aborigines as well as any other book Upfield has written. Bony plays a very effective game of cat and mouse.
November 20, 2023
Also titled Boney and the Daybreak Killer and Journey to the Hangman.
Bony goes undercover to sort out three very different killings in a small outpost called Daybreak. Someone has made tracks, but are they true or faked?
Bony goes undercover to sort out three very different killings in a small outpost called Daybreak. Someone has made tracks, but are they true or faked?
November 19, 2024
I have read a few Arthur Upfield books, and I haven't been disappointed by one yet.
Set in Western Australia in the rugged outback, in a remote town where everyone knows everyone. It sure didn't take Detective Nat long to solve the murder.
Set in Western Australia in the rugged outback, in a remote town where everyone knows everyone. It sure didn't take Detective Nat long to solve the murder.
June 11, 2017
I'm a fan of the entire Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte series. The sense of place and the outback characters are unique and wonderful.
Read
September 17, 2019AKA Bony and the Mouse
February 24, 2020
Evocative description, controlled structure and language, interesting characters, clever plot - what's not to love? Also, an interesting glimpse into the values of the 50's.
May 6, 2016
"It is said that Australia rides on the sheep's back. All tosh, of course, because it floats on beer" (32).
"'You know, Nat,' said Melody Sam. 'They call 'em "nigs," they call 'em savages, they call 'em this and that, but they're the only decent people living in the world today. And d'you know what? The sloppy fools down in the cities want to have 'em brought in and made to live in houses and go to work, and eat pork and beef off china plates, and all that. I don't hold with it. I don't hold with forcing them people into our own dirty, murderous, sinful state we call civilisation'" (73).
"'You know, Nat,' said Melody Sam. 'They call 'em "nigs," they call 'em savages, they call 'em this and that, but they're the only decent people living in the world today. And d'you know what? The sloppy fools down in the cities want to have 'em brought in and made to live in houses and go to work, and eat pork and beef off china plates, and all that. I don't hold with it. I don't hold with forcing them people into our own dirty, murderous, sinful state we call civilisation'" (73).
October 2, 2015
A wonderful series detective novel series, written from the 1920s to the 1960s. Most of the books in this series are set in or near towns or stations in the Australian bush. The books offer a wonderful sense of place and culture of the time, good mysteries to solve, and a half-aboriginal, half-white police detective called Napoleon Bonaparte, a character in the Sherlock Holmes mold. A few of the Napoleon Bonaparte books are set in larger towns or cities, but I think the books set in the bush are the best. Their settings are more evocative and the main character is at his best in the bush.
March 3, 2018
Three people have been murdered in Melody Sam's town. All were by different methods. No connections between the three are known. The local police are stymied. Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte is given the assignment.
The most interesting parts were the characters populating this private town and the tracking techniques. These books are much better than travel books about Australia as they paint such vivid pictures with a human side to them.
The most interesting parts were the characters populating this private town and the tracking techniques. These books are much better than travel books about Australia as they paint such vivid pictures with a human side to them.
April 19, 2016
3 people have been murdered in the tiny outback town of Daybreak. The close-knit townspeople resent intruding police and are soon rid of them. The aborigine trackers are surprisingly vague about the killer's footprints. Enter Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, the most patient tracker of the Australian police force, and sits down at the mousehole to lure the killer out. A slow, patient, exciting psychological plot.
August 1, 2022
A most inventive Bony book. As always, Upfield finds new ways to insert psychology into his mysteries, and he leverages his intimate knowledge of Aborigines and their almost supernatural mind powers into the conclusion of this story. A terrific read.
March 17, 2010
very dated but still fun as it has a strong sense of the Australian Bush
May 20, 2016
His descriptive ability is in full form here, both of nature and people. Upfield is up there with Hillerman, Francis and Christie as all time favorites.
June 22, 2012
I thought I had read all the Upfield books. How fortunate I was to find this excellent mystery. It is a gem.
January 3, 2016
"Journey to the Hangman" was also published under the title "Bony and the Mouse," Heinemann, London, 1973.
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