The Painter: Australian Murder Mystery Thriller – Detectives Belle & Barker
Step into the glittering streets—and shadowed back alleys—of Surfers Paradise in The Painter, the electrifying first novel in the Belle and Barker Murder Mystery Investigations series. Beneath the Gold Coast’s sunlit glamour, a dark predator stalks the city: a serial killer leaving behind a trail of brutality, lies, and cryptic clues.
The Painter: Art Forgery & Murder Mystery with Belle & Barker Detectives
A dangerous web of corruption, betrayal, and hidden crimes ensnares Detective Barker, a relentless veteran investigator. When his partner, the sharp-witted and fearless Belle, uncovers a connection to a black-market network trading in forged masterpieces and stolen treasures, the case takes a deadly turn.
As the body count rises, every lead pulls them deeper into a high-stakes game where art is forged, trust is shattered, and danger lurks behind every glistening facade. With time running out, Barker and Belle must confront their demons and outwit a ruthless killer before the paradise they know becomes a hunting ground from which no one escapes.
In a city where beauty is only skin-deep, the truth can be lethal.
The Painter is a serial killer crime mystery featuring Detectives Belle and Barker. Available 2026 on Amazon
This is a serial killer mystery that will keep readers hooked from the first page to the shocking finale. It’s a murder mystery thriller packed with twists, danger, and psychological tension. The novel launches the Detective Belle and Barker series, introducing two unforgettable investigators. Set against the backdrop of the Gold Coast, it delivers a gripping Surfers Paradise noir atmosphere. The plot blends the intrigue of art forgery mysteries with the high-stakes danger of homicide investigations. A dark thread of crime runs through the story, which explores the black market underworld of stolen masterpieces. Fans of Australian crime thrillers will find both the sunlit glamour and the dangerous shadows of the region brought vividly to life.
It’s a police procedural set in Australia, perfect for readers who love authentic investigative detail. This is crime fiction filled with corruption, betrayal, and shocking secrets, where no one can be trusted. The story is an intense suspense novel that constantly raises the stakes. As the first book in a mystery thriller series, it promises more cases to come for Belle and Barker. Its combination of high-stakes investigation and a richly atmospheric setting will captivate readers. It’s a murder mystery set in Australia that blends local colour with universal themes of justice and revenge. With a strong female lead in Belle, the novel appeals to fans of intelligent, capable heroines in crime fiction.
The Painter: Serial Killer Crime Mystery with Detectives Belle & Barker
Prepare for a white-knuckle plunge into the shadows with Red Banners—a high-octane thriller where every second counts. From acclaimed storyteller Paul Allen comes a masterclass in suspense, delivering intrigue, danger, and betrayal on a global scale.
In the frozen wastelands of the Arctic, an Australian scientist stumbles upon a chilling crime—the theft of two Red Banner nuclear warheads from a Russian submarine. His discovery triggers a covert mission from ASIS, Australia’s elite spy agency.
But the theft is no ordinary heist. The Chinese Ministry of State Security has set the plan in motion, using Baghdad’s infamous Two Brothers to move the stolen nukes across continents. From Murmansk to London, the hunt ignites a deadly chain reaction.
In Moscow, the Kremlin unleashes its most feared sleeper agents—Russia’s brutal ZL kill teams—turning MI5’s counter-terrorism unit into prey. As governments race against time, alliances shatter, and the world teeters on the brink of catastrophe.
The Hunt for the Red Banners has begun.
Each twist tightens the grip, propelling Red Banners towards an explosive conclusion. This is espionage at its most ruthless—a pulse-pounding ride that will leave you breathless and hungry for the next mission.
Red Banners – Countdown to Chaos
THE HUNT FOR THE RED BANNERS
Mistakes are made. Alliances fracture. As the UK Prime Minister faces the threat of terrorism, revenge becomes the driving force. With London teetering on the brink of nuclear devastation, ASIS operative Hunter Wyatt must outwit a maze of unseen enemies, stop the countdown, and unmask the shadowy mastermind pulling the strings.
From the icy edges of the Arctic to the tense streets of London, The Hunt for the Red Banners hurtles through a world where every decision can mean the difference between survival and annihilation.
Perfect for fans of Peter May, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Ann Cleeves, John Grisham, David Baldacci, Paula Hawkins, and Val McDermid, this explosive thriller delivers a relentless blend of intrigue, high-stakes action, and razor-edged suspense.
Acclaimed author Paul Allen delivers a chilling tale of international terrorism that will keep you guessing until the very last, devastating twist.
The Hunt for the Red Banners is now available on Amazon.
You can purchase The Hunt for the Red Banners on Amazon right now. Don’t let this electrifying narrative slip through your fingers!
Revenge or Forgiveness? Two Brothers on a Collision Course—The Hunt for the Red Banners
‘The Hunt for the Red Banners’ is a gripping countdown-to-chaos thriller, following an ASIS team from Russia to London amidst a world of spies—now on Amazon.
If you love heart-racing espionage, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and characters who linger in your mind long after the last page, this is your next must-read. Don’t miss this pulse-pounding thriller—grab your copy today and plunge into a world of deception, danger, and high-stakes intrigue.
Get ready for the adrenaline-charged Hunter Wyatt thriller series from acclaimed Australian author Paul Allen. Packed with explosive action, razor-sharp twists, and breathless pacing, these international adventures will keep you hooked from the first chapter to the final shocking reveal.
These are some of my favourite authors—masters of suspense, mystery, and action. If you enjoy these storytellers, you’ll feel right at home in the world of Paul Allen’s thrillers—packed with high-stakes action, gripping plots, and unforgettable characters. Explore Paul Allen’s novels today!
From Paul Allen: Murder in Milan — a gripping spy thriller and murder mystery. Available now!
An ASIS Spy Thriller of Mafia Secrets, Global Espionage, and a Race to Stop a Biological Catastrophe. From Milan’s streets to Hainan’s skies—Hunter Wyatt’s deadliest mission has begun. One spy. One weapon. There is only one chance to save the world.When the clock hits zero, there’s no second chance.
Murder in Milan—An Explosive ASIS Spy Thriller by Paul Allen
When ASIS agent Hunter Wyatt plans a quiet holiday in Milan, he doesn’t expect it to turn into an international crisis. But when a desperate mafia accountant, hunted by a relentless assassin, stumbles into his path, Wyatt is thrust into a deadly battle involving rival mob families, a corrupt Italian prosecutor, and a conspiracy that stretches across the globe.
In a daring move, Wyatt fakes the accountant’s death on the mysterious volcanic island of Stromboli, only to be forced into a high-stakes escape aboard his ASIS Gulfstream jet. Their flight takes them to the remote Marshall Islands, where the wreckage of a failed AFP operation hides secrets powerful enough to ignite a war.
From the Pacific to Hainan Island, Wyatt uncovers a chilling plot: a Chinese intelligence operative manipulating the US Army missile system to shield the launch of a biological weapon engineered by a kidnapped Swiss scientist. With President Yi fighting to control a nation on the brink and his trusted aide John Moody caught in a deadly web of double agents, Wyatt must act fast.
The clock is ticking. Scaling a rocket assembly tower in a final desperate gamble, Wyatt faces an impossible choice—stop the launch and risk everything, or watch the world descend into chaos.
Packed with espionage, action, and heart-stopping twists, Murder in Milan delivers an unrelenting mix of spycraft, betrayal, and sacrifice. Perfect for fans of CIA thrillers, mafia crime fiction, and global espionage blockbusters.
ASIS, betrayal, intrigue, global catastrophe, you will not be able to put it down!
Chapter 1 Sample
CHAPTER 1 – MILAN, ITALY
The first warning came as a knot in Hunter Wyatt’s gut.
Milano Centrale’s glass-and-steel canopy arched above him like an aircraft hangar, winter sunlight spilling across marble floors polished by millions of footsteps. The air smelled faintly of espresso, diesel, and the damp cold rolling off the tracks.
Hunter had been enjoying none of it. His train to Rome was delayed, his coffee ruined by long-life milk, and the barista’s wink had failed to improve the taste.
He was halfway through a roasted turkey sandwich when the feeling hit. No obvious threat. Just that creeping, icy tingle—the one that had saved his life more than once.
He scanned platform twelve—nothing unusual: tourists wrangling suitcases, a porter offering help, and announcements rolling out in lilting Italian. But the feeling didn’t fade. It sharpened.
The Australian Security Intelligence Service agent—six foot six, lean, tanned, eyes trained to read trouble—moved toward his first-class carriage. He’d bought the ticket under a fresh alias minutes ago. No one should know he was here. Which meant…
…he had just stepped into someone else’s crosshairs.
A glint flashed from the derelict signal tower beyond the tracks. The paint was peeling, the windows fogged by grime. One window sat open. Something protruded from the shadow inside.
Rifle barrel.
Hunter slid behind a steel support beam, gauging its thickness with a tap. Quarter-inch plate. It is thick enough to stop small-caliber rounds, but not thick enough to stop something heavier.
His mind ran through the possibilities. Professional? No. The barrel stuck out too far—sloppy. This implied an unpredictable outcome.
Passengers kept boarding. Hunter started eliminating potential targets. He didn’t target the weak chemo patient. He didn’t target the young businesswoman who was wearing red lipstick. His gaze locked on a man in his forties—expensive suit rumpled, hair greasy, eyes hollow—first-class ticket. No luggage. Anxiety was sweating through his skin.
The carriage door was only three strides away. The carriage door was a perfect place to end his life.
Hunter burst from cover, slammed the door button, and shoved the man inside just as the sniper fired. The shot tore through Hunter’s leather shoulder bag, splintering into the door frame.
The man—Paolo—crashed to the floor, nose bleeding, swearing in Italian.
“You’re here to kill me, aren’t you?” he blurted, voice cracking. “I’ll give it back. I can disappear. Please—”
“I’m not here for you,” Hunter cut in, scanning the crowd. “But someone is.”
The train jolted into motion. They were about to pass the signal tower. Hunter yanked Paolo down.
“Gun!” he shouted.
The first burst shredded the windows, armour-piercing rounds thudding into the carriage frame. Businessmen in their seats froze, eyes wide, useless.
The gunfire faltered—then resumed with a more resounding roar. Full-auto. Point-blank. The sniper was desperate now, hosing the carriage.
Three seats ahead, the businessmen were slumped, dead. Hunter clenched his jaw. He should have done better.
Then came the final weapon—a Russian RPG. It punched through a corpse and… didn’t detonate.
Hunter held his breath. Waited.
Thanks for stopping by Paul Allen Books! I’m passionate about gripping mysteries and pulse-pounding spy thrillers. If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the work of these incredible authors:
When ASIS agent Hunter Wyatt arrives in Milan for a quiet break, he’s ambushed by chaos—a terrified mafia accountant fleeing a lethal assassin. Moments later, rival mob families, a corrupt Italian prosecutor, and a potentially world-changing conspiracy draw Wyatt into a deadly collision.
From a faked death on Stromboli’s volcanic shores to a high-stakes escape across the Pacific, Wyatt uncovers the wreckage of a failed AFP operation and a secret that draws the attention of Chinese intelligence. Soon, he’s chasing a plot involving US Army missile sabotage, a kidnapped Swiss scientist, and a biological weapon with the power to trigger global devastation.
As President Yi battles betrayal on Hainan Island and Wyatt’s trusted aide John Moody faces double-agent treachery, the clock runs out. Scaling a rocket tower in a final act of defiance, Wyatt must choose—stop the launch and risk everything, or let the world burn.
Explosive, relentless, and razor-sharp, Murder in Milan delivers high-octane espionage for fans of Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, and Vince Flynn.
Fast-paced, high-stakes, and impossible to put down.
