Bony Mysteries by Arthur Upfield

Just finished two more Bony mysteries by Arthur Upfield. The first, Bushranger of the Skies, is one of the best of the series: It starts quickly, with dramatic action. Bony is called to central Australia to investigate unsolved murders and, while approaching the settlement on foot, sees a police car bombed from a small but swift plane, and narrowly misses being bombed himself. The strong-willed owner of the station, called The MacPherson, by the local aborigines, stonewalls Bony's attempts to investigate. Despite The MacPherson's vehement and threatening opposition, Bony persists in his investigation and quickly identifies the perpetrator of the crimes. The exciting remainder of the story deals with the challenging task of apprehending this lunatic. This book is filled with memorable characters, such as Burning Water, a half-caste like Bony, and chief of the local tribe - handsome, intelligent, powerful, and light-hearted but fiercely loyal to The MacPherson. In fact, Burning Water is one embodiment of the underlying theme of the book, spelled out in an early conversation between Bony and The MacPherson's niece:

Niece: "What makes the world go round?"
"Money."
"No."
"Love?"
"No. I'll tell you. It's loyalty. Only the basest of us are not actuated by loyalty: loyalty to one's class, to one's people, to one's ideals."

Wonderful story!

Then I read Mr. Jelly's Business - even better than Bushranger! After quite a bit of drinking, a farmer jumps in his car to head home, passes his correct turn and runs up to the Number 1 Rabbit Fence, requiring him to back the car up to make a right turn...but he veers off into a ditch containing a large pipe, which traps the car. He is not hurt, so gets out of the car and.......vanishes. Days and then weeks go by. Has he "taken a bunk?" Or been murdered? The open country provides little cover for hiding a body. Bony takes a job working on the Rabbit Fence and systematically examines the ground, meets the man's wife and neighbors, and initiates investigations into the man's recent travels and financial situation. One neighbor is the very mysterious Mr. Jelly, who intermittently goes away for a few days, returning haggard but wealthier, and his charming and sensible daughter Lucy and her younger sister, the delightful Sunflower. This is an excellent mystery, and a compelling story with very emotional scenes between Bony and these daughters, and an extremely tense search that must be completed before the homeowners return. Outstanding!