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kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
True Crime writing seems, to this outside observer, to be a minefield of complications. Personal connections to a real crime event, either of the victim, the perpetrator, or community can create a situation that authors must carefully negotiate. Because of this it does seem that true crime structure either takes a particularly fact based / no conclusions drawn approach, or steps into a very personal viewpoint. Martin McKenzie-Murray grew up in the same neighbourhood as Rebecca Ryle, his brother knew the man found guilty of her murder, and even though the author didn't personally know any of the parties, he has used that concept of a personal viewpoint in an unusual manner.
The author is extremely present in A MURDER WITHOUT MOTIVE. Right from the beginning the recounting of the murder of Ryle is filtered through personal experience and observation. Alongside the facts of the case, McKenzie-Martin immediately offers his own analysis of the perpetrator's motives, and the community / society in which the events took place. There is an overwhelming sense that somehow, middle class Perth, created an environment of casual violence and male entitlement that this perpetrator bought into. This over-heated environment then the likely catalyst for why he killed, offering a possible reason in the vacuum of explanation left by the killer himself.
Speculation of motive also expands to a possible recreation of many of the events surrounding Ryle's death. This is a less successful aspect of the book, creating a slightly off tone, perhaps because it moves things from speculation on motive and causation, onto a path with a slight whiff of voyeurism along it.
An extremely unusual approach to True Crime, the style of language employed is also off the beaten track. Very descriptive, dare one say "flowery" at points, it's a style that's either going to engage or grate excessively on individual readers. Which sort of makes sense given the whole nature of A MURDER WITHOUT MOTIVE. The author states in the Afterword (and I'm paraphrasing) that he wanted to write a true crime book that illustrated the impact on family, and the problems associated with moving on. Readers are going to have to make their own minds up on whether or not that aim was achieved.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-murder-without-motive-martin-mckenzie-murray
The author is extremely present in A MURDER WITHOUT MOTIVE. Right from the beginning the recounting of the murder of Ryle is filtered through personal experience and observation. Alongside the facts of the case, McKenzie-Martin immediately offers his own analysis of the perpetrator's motives, and the community / society in which the events took place. There is an overwhelming sense that somehow, middle class Perth, created an environment of casual violence and male entitlement that this perpetrator bought into. This over-heated environment then the likely catalyst for why he killed, offering a possible reason in the vacuum of explanation left by the killer himself.
Speculation of motive also expands to a possible recreation of many of the events surrounding Ryle's death. This is a less successful aspect of the book, creating a slightly off tone, perhaps because it moves things from speculation on motive and causation, onto a path with a slight whiff of voyeurism along it.
An extremely unusual approach to True Crime, the style of language employed is also off the beaten track. Very descriptive, dare one say "flowery" at points, it's a style that's either going to engage or grate excessively on individual readers. Which sort of makes sense given the whole nature of A MURDER WITHOUT MOTIVE. The author states in the Afterword (and I'm paraphrasing) that he wanted to write a true crime book that illustrated the impact on family, and the problems associated with moving on. Readers are going to have to make their own minds up on whether or not that aim was achieved.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-murder-without-motive-martin-mckenzie-murray
melkirkman's review against another edition
3.0
I was looking forward to this book, being a true crime novel but it wasn't really my thing. It was really well written but I found it had too much fluff about community and how they influence kids etc etc etc. I just wanted to read the story!!
As I said though, it is very well written - just not my cup of tea.
As I said though, it is very well written - just not my cup of tea.
scribepub's review against another edition
Honest, sympathetic, reflective — this is true crime at its best. A striking debut from McKenzie-Murray, which pursues uncomfortable truths with candour and care.
Damon Young, Author of Philosophy in the Garden and Distraction
Martin McKenzie-Murray is a writer of exceptional moral heft. He assays pain and loss with an intimacy few others achieve, never losing sight of the humanity that blooms around trauma. As a journalist, his great project is the unexplainable. Nowhere is that project explored with more clarity than in this book. He feels and is felt on every page.
Erik Jensen, Editor of The Saturday Paper and Author of Acute Misfortune: The Life and Death of Adam Cullen
As my speechwriter and policy adviser, Martin McKenzie-Murray made our world a better place with his insight, his empathy, and his passion. In A Murder Without Motive, he brings these skills to the story of Rebecca Ryle, at the same time brilliantly challenging the tsunami of brutality and banality that male culture can be. This powerful book gives us a glimpse of a vibrant and much-loved daughter, sister, and friend — and I challenge any parent not to be touched by the courage, resilience, and generosity of spirit shown by Fran and Marie Ryle. At the time of her death, one man stripped away Rebecca Ryle’s dignity. In some small way, those involved in the telling of this story have reinstated that dignity with love, thoughtfulness, and a passion to challenge the status quo.
Ken Lay, Former Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police
I can’t think of a better, more literate and perceptive reporter.
Jonathan Green, ABC Radio National
[Martin McKenzie-Murray] is that increasingly rare thing … a reporter who will knock on the doors of the bereaved and afflicted, and write humanely about the people he encounters.
Sybil Nolan, Inside Story
McKenzie-Murray has been a columnist with Fairfax in the past, but as the Saturday Paper’s chief reporter, he’s better than he’s ever been. His writing this year has been unmissable for its earnestness, its probing nature, its compassion and its calm authority. More please.
Crikey, 2014 Columnist of the Year
[T]akes an unorthodox but illuminating approach to his subject, beginning with introspection and, perhaps, atonement … McKenzie-Murray firmly rejects the proposition that the murder was an aberration in a life otherwise considered “normal”, something Duggan’s defence counsel submitted in the absence of a criminal history. Indeed the notion of “normality”, particularly in the light of Duggan’s heinous crime, meets with the author’s disdain.
Martin Leonard, Weekend Australian
Penetrating and insightful … one of the most cogent and persuasive aspects of A Murder Without Motive is [McKenzie-Murray's] candid and forensic analysis of the youth culture of the northern-suburbs badlands and the “swell of casual violence and unripe, immature masculinity” he believed silently festered in these young people.
Bron Sibree, West Australian
[D]eeply thoughtful … The main strength of this book is the way it dips between genres — A Murder Without Motive is part-true crime, part police procedural, part-memoir. It’s a consideration of adolescent ennui in Australian suburbia and an engrossing investigation into masculinity and violence.
Tessa Connelly, Canberra Weekly
McKenzie-Murray’s adolescence is closely entwined with the crime, and his deep, thoughtful examination of the suburban male psyche is one of the many strengths of this remarkable book … Insightful and eloquent … His immaculate prose cuts cleanly through the social murk, and his clarity of vision renders the complicated ideas of male aggression and the ugly side effects of suburban malaise at once shocking and shockingly readable.
Michael McGuire, The Saturday Age
Damon Young, Author of Philosophy in the Garden and Distraction
Martin McKenzie-Murray is a writer of exceptional moral heft. He assays pain and loss with an intimacy few others achieve, never losing sight of the humanity that blooms around trauma. As a journalist, his great project is the unexplainable. Nowhere is that project explored with more clarity than in this book. He feels and is felt on every page.
Erik Jensen, Editor of The Saturday Paper and Author of Acute Misfortune: The Life and Death of Adam Cullen
As my speechwriter and policy adviser, Martin McKenzie-Murray made our world a better place with his insight, his empathy, and his passion. In A Murder Without Motive, he brings these skills to the story of Rebecca Ryle, at the same time brilliantly challenging the tsunami of brutality and banality that male culture can be. This powerful book gives us a glimpse of a vibrant and much-loved daughter, sister, and friend — and I challenge any parent not to be touched by the courage, resilience, and generosity of spirit shown by Fran and Marie Ryle. At the time of her death, one man stripped away Rebecca Ryle’s dignity. In some small way, those involved in the telling of this story have reinstated that dignity with love, thoughtfulness, and a passion to challenge the status quo.
Ken Lay, Former Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police
I can’t think of a better, more literate and perceptive reporter.
Jonathan Green, ABC Radio National
[Martin McKenzie-Murray] is that increasingly rare thing … a reporter who will knock on the doors of the bereaved and afflicted, and write humanely about the people he encounters.
Sybil Nolan, Inside Story
McKenzie-Murray has been a columnist with Fairfax in the past, but as the Saturday Paper’s chief reporter, he’s better than he’s ever been. His writing this year has been unmissable for its earnestness, its probing nature, its compassion and its calm authority. More please.
Crikey, 2014 Columnist of the Year
[T]akes an unorthodox but illuminating approach to his subject, beginning with introspection and, perhaps, atonement … McKenzie-Murray firmly rejects the proposition that the murder was an aberration in a life otherwise considered “normal”, something Duggan’s defence counsel submitted in the absence of a criminal history. Indeed the notion of “normality”, particularly in the light of Duggan’s heinous crime, meets with the author’s disdain.
Martin Leonard, Weekend Australian
Penetrating and insightful … one of the most cogent and persuasive aspects of A Murder Without Motive is [McKenzie-Murray's] candid and forensic analysis of the youth culture of the northern-suburbs badlands and the “swell of casual violence and unripe, immature masculinity” he believed silently festered in these young people.
Bron Sibree, West Australian
[D]eeply thoughtful … The main strength of this book is the way it dips between genres — A Murder Without Motive is part-true crime, part police procedural, part-memoir. It’s a consideration of adolescent ennui in Australian suburbia and an engrossing investigation into masculinity and violence.
Tessa Connelly, Canberra Weekly
McKenzie-Murray’s adolescence is closely entwined with the crime, and his deep, thoughtful examination of the suburban male psyche is one of the many strengths of this remarkable book … Insightful and eloquent … His immaculate prose cuts cleanly through the social murk, and his clarity of vision renders the complicated ideas of male aggression and the ugly side effects of suburban malaise at once shocking and shockingly readable.
Michael McGuire, The Saturday Age
amrap's review
5.0
ost true crime books are about the murder of an innocent and the plot is concerned with the motive. The victim acts as a plot device, but in his memoir A Murder Without Motive Martin McKenzie-Murray does something different.
The focus of his book is not on the why, because that is never clear, but on the how. How does a family deal with the aftermath of the brutal murder of their daughter, 50 metres from their doorstep and by someone in their community?
This was a beautifully written memoir that pays homage to Rebecca Ryle's life and that portrays the reality of living after being victims of a violent crime. It really highlighted the fact that our obsession with crime and especially true crime is voyeuristic and can dehumanize us in the process. This is a book that deserves wide recognition and I hope it is recognised on many award lists.
The focus of his book is not on the why, because that is never clear, but on the how. How does a family deal with the aftermath of the brutal murder of their daughter, 50 metres from their doorstep and by someone in their community?
This was a beautifully written memoir that pays homage to Rebecca Ryle's life and that portrays the reality of living after being victims of a violent crime. It really highlighted the fact that our obsession with crime and especially true crime is voyeuristic and can dehumanize us in the process. This is a book that deserves wide recognition and I hope it is recognised on many award lists.
wtb_michael's review
4.0
A thoughtful book that belies its generic title, McKenzie-Murray artfully blends memoir and sociological theorising with a clear and insightful discussion of an utterly senseless murder. Even with the best of intentions, there were times where this all felt a bit ghoulish, but I guess that's impossible to avoid. Perfect length for a Sydney->Melbourne flight too - I finished it right as we got to the gate.
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