Just finished The Mystery of Swordfish Reef and The Devil's Steps, two more Bony mysteries from Arthur Upfield. I enjoyed Swordfish Reef, but it was an indifferent mystery and was not so strong in the other elements that characterize the best Bony mysteries: delightful interactions between Bony and one or more women characters, and the presence of unusual, eccentric, or oddball "characters" that provide excellent seasoning to the main course. In this book, the main interest was several descriptions of swordfish fishing, which were fascinating and exciting.

The Devil's Steps, in contrast, was excellent! A tantalizing mystery, several interesting and unusual characters, a striking visual image (the Devil's Steps), and interesting interactions between Bony and the proprietress of Wideview Chalet. Bony is a guest at this luxury resort, investigating a man believed to be carrying secret German plans, when the man is killed. Bony must disentangle the efforts of three different groups seeking the same man and perhaps the same plans. Bony strikes up an alliance with Bisker, a rough, hard-drinking former bushman, working at the Chalet and also associates with a mysterious author who lives nearby - and whose feet are gigantic - and, possibly, responsible for the size-twelve Devil's Steps "burned into" the spacious lawn of the Chalet, but only revealed when the lawn is mowed! Lots of action, lots of suspense, amidst beautiful scenery and dangerous adversaries. Great read!