Crime, mystery and romance from Australian author and independent publisher Jai Baidell. Jai lives on Wiradjuri country in the Riverina in south-eastern Australia.
book series
Detective Jud Jeffreys
The Detective Jud Jeffreys crime series follows the fortunes of an inexperienced police detective as he solves crimes, learns from his past mistakes, and faces betrayals and disappointments. The novels take place in an imagined alternative Australia.
The first novel, Deadset Mongrels, is set in Henry Hunt City, the inland capital of the Australian Free States, a city of unbridled self-interest, dark secrets, and political plots.
Deep Leads, second in the series, is set in the mining town of Palerang City. Jud is demoted and banished there to learn his lesson, but Palerang City would test the limits of the toughest officer.
Rakali Springs
The Rakali Springs mystery and romance books are set in Rakali Springs, an imaginary Australian country town set in Australia’s grain and oilseed belt. It resembles many real-world towns, including Wagga Wagga, Temora, Cootamundra, Cowra, Parkes and Forbes.
The stories include many contemporary issues such as environmental destruction, the stress on carers, extreme weather events, corporatisation of rural industries, the scourge of vehicle accidents and the drift of populations to larger centres.
On a personal level, the characters deal with grief, loss, chronic illness, and problems of reputational damage in small towns.
I’ve tried to share what it’s like to live in a grain belt town, but the heart of my books is to tell a story about people. Naturally all my characters are entirely imaginary and not based on living people.
Tender Spies
An Australian action/adventure series about two spies and the woman who loves them.
This contemporary series is set in Canberra, Australia's national capital, and surrounding small towns and rural areas.
Drama, betrayals, tragedies and triumphs, dysfunctional family life, enemies and revenge, a love triangle, occasional humour, even a touch of melodrama.
The series is a mixture of novellas and full length novels.