The Crimson Lake Series in Order

About the Crimson Lake series

Series Premise

The series begins with Ted Conkaffey, a Sydney detective whose life implodes when he's accused of abducting and assaulting a 13-year-old girl, Claire Bingley. Though the charges are dropped for lack of evidence, public opinion convicts him—his marriage collapses, his career ends, and he's hounded by media and vigilantes. Seeking anonymity, Ted flees north to the remote, humid town of Crimson Lake in Far North Queensland.

There, through his lawyer, he connects with Amanda Pharrell, a convicted murderer who served time as a teenager for a brutal killing and has since reinvented herself as a private investigator. Amanda—quirky, fearless, and unapologetically eccentric—hires Ted as her partner. Together, the unlikely duo takes on cases no one else will touch: missing persons, suspicious deaths, and crimes tied to the town's underbelly. Their investigations often uncover hidden truths about the community, while Ted grapples with his own unresolved case (Claire's abductor remains at large) and the constant threat of his past catching up.

Each book features a central mystery—disappearances, murders, abductions—while advancing Ted's personal arc: clearing his name, protecting his estranged daughter, and finding purpose amid shame. Amanda's own past and unorthodox methods add layers of tension and dark humor. The premise explores justice in an imperfect system, the cost of public judgment, and unlikely alliances forged in adversity.

Main Characters

Ted Conkaffey: The central protagonist—a former Sydney detective in his late 30s/early 40s, tall, physically imposing, but emotionally shattered. Accused (but not convicted) of a horrific crime, he's haunted by guilt, shame, and the need to protect his young daughter. Intelligent, methodical, and deeply moral, Ted struggles with trust and self-loathing while finding purpose through work with Amanda.



- Amanda Pharrell: Ted's brilliant, unconventional partner—a convicted murderer who served time as a teenager for killing her boyfriend. Eccentric, fearless, socially awkward, and fiercely intelligent, Amanda is a master investigator with an unorthodox style (often reckless). Her dark past and quirky personality create tension and humor; she's loyal, protective, and one of the most memorable characters in Australian crime fiction.



- Supporting figures: Ted's ex-wife Kelly and daughter Lillian (distant but central to his emotional arc); local police (often hostile or skeptical); various suspects and victims from cases; recurring allies/enemies like journalist/journalist figures or criminals from past investigations.

Setting

The series is set in Crimson Lake, a fictional, steamy town in Far North Queensland near Cairns—lush, tropical wetlands filled with crocodiles, mangroves, rainforests, and isolated communities. The environment is vivid and menacing: oppressive heat, sudden storms, crocodile-infested waterways, and dense bushland that hides bodies and secrets. The town itself is small, insular—locals know each other's business, tourists come and go, and the isolation amplifies vulnerability and suspicion.



Ted's rented house on the lake's edge, Amanda's cluttered office, local bars, and remote properties provide intimate backdrops for investigations. The Queensland wilderness—humid, dangerous, beautiful—mirrors the characters' inner turmoil: a place to hide, but also where secrets surface.

Tone & Themes

The tone is dark, suspenseful, and psychologically intense—gritty Australian noir with sharp wit and emotional rawness. Fox delivers taut pacing, shocking twists, and unflinching depictions of violence and trauma, but balances it with dry humor, especially through Amanda's offbeat personality and Ted's wry self-reflection. The atmosphere feels oppressive and humid—sweaty tension, moral ambiguity, and the weight of guilt permeate every page.

Yet the series isn't relentlessly bleak: moments of camaraderie, quiet compassion, and small triumphs offer relief. Ted's internal struggle and Amanda's irreverence inject humanity and occasional levity amid the darkness. The tone evolves slightly across books—from Ted's initial isolation to growing partnership—but remains compelling and character-driven, with a focus on psychological depth over procedural minutiae.

The Crimson Lake series is a standout in Australian crime fiction—Candice Fox delivers dark, twisty thrillers that combine atmospheric tension, psychological depth, and unforgettable characters. Through Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell's unlikely partnership, the books explore guilt, redemption, justice, and survival in a vividly rendered tropical wilderness. With its blend of suspense, sharp dialogue, and emotional authenticity, the series offers compulsive reading that lingers long after the final page—proving that even in the shadows of disgrace and danger, unlikely alliances can lead to truth and healing. For fans of gritty, character-driven mysteries, Crimson Lake is essential—raw, compelling, and impossible to put down.