The Brownout Murders by Luke C. Jackson and Kelly Jackson, illustrated by Maya Graham

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Melbourne, Australia, 1942. In a world at war, people struggle with ways to stay safe.  Australians have been warned of the possibility of Japanese attacks. While the city isn’t extinguishing all lights at night as is London, they are limiting the amount of light--a brownout, not a blackout.  Troop ships from America bring soldiers, visible reminders that Australia is a nation at war and far away from most allies.

The story is told from the point of view of Beatrice, one of three sisters living in Melbourne.  She is a warden and wants to do her part for the war effort. Her sister Lizzie is more interested in the handsome American GIs and having a good time than volunteering, but needs Beatrice’s help to circumvent their mother’s reservations about  about her daughters consorting with soldiers. Sister June casts a cynical eye over both, being a part of a young communists group and not interested in frivolous pursuits.

Then a young woman is found strangled to death, her clothing removed. In a city already under stress, the incident strains nerves to the breaking point.

The black and white illustrations add to the atmosphere.  The authors do a wonderful job of conveying the tension and fear.  Early in the book, Beatrice speaks to a group of school children, explaining what she does to help keep Melbourne safe. Then the children fill out identification cards to carry in case the city is attacked.  I have to admit I had some flashbacks to my childhood when we were told to get under desks in case of a nuclear bomb.

I found this to be a very powerful story.  There is a great deal to unpack here; there are so many layers.  After another murder occurs, there’s talk about evacuating women and children.  There was talk of banning women from going to bars. And the victims were blamed for being victims.  As Beatrice notes, “They blamed alcohol.  They blamed men.  But they blamed women most of all.” 

The serial killings are more of a back-drop to the book than the total focus, but are chilling all the same especially since it’s based on a true story. This book really resonated with me, and I loved the way they used one image in particular to great effect. There’s more I would like to say, but I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone else.  It’s too good for that.