Reviewed by Garry Robinson

I have just finished reading Arthur Upton's Great Melbourne Cup Mystery. This Australian author from the depression days who became famous as a newspaper writer, wrote the Mystery as a serial leading up to the 1933 Melbourne Cup and was never published in book form until recently.

Racing buffs will enjoy Upfield's work and even non-racing readers will enjoy this tale with its descriptions of the general scene in the 1930's. The Racing world itself was less rigid with one of the characters Tom Pink both training and riding the mythical Olary Boy.

We hear of police turning up minutes after the call was put in (did they really do that in those days?) and the offer of protection and all sorts of things that these days would be "user pays". I guess what I'm saying is that the book is worth a read if only to understand how the Melbourne scene was back then.

We obtained our copy from Dymock's book shop. It should also be available through your local library or you could contact the publishers ETT Imprint of 11 Cove Street Watson's Bay 2030. It sells for $19.95 and whilst it is not another Tom Clancy, it is, as I say, an interesting read.