Barrenjoey Road

Barrenjoey Road is a non-fiction book based on the acclaimed ABC podcast and TV series created by Australian journalists, Ruby Jones and Neil Mercer. In the early hours of Sunday, June 25th, 1978, Trudie Adams left a dance at Newport Surf Club, began hitchhiking along Barrenjoey Road, and was seen getting into a car. She never arrived home. Her disappearance, and public appeals for information brought forth a flood of reports by young women who claimed to have been picked up, taken elsewhere and raped under similar circumstances. Most had not been brought to police attention, either through fear that threats of their attackers would be carried out, or lack of confidence that the police could/would do anything. Those that were reported earlier were barely acted upon. All these reports provided location, description and material evidence, and yet there was practically no action. Trudie’s mother was convinced her daughter had been murdered by people wanting her to act as a drug courier from Bali, but this was never proven. The main suspect in the attacks was not interviewed until thirty years later. Part One of the book illustrates how, at that time, the NSW Police Force were, at best, woefully inadequate and jaw-droppingly incompetent. It exposes a culture of male entitlement and police who were often sceptical and engaged in victim-blaming. “Women attacked, brazenly, without fear of repercussions. And police doing little to help.” Part Two details the life and crimes of the principal suspect for the rapes and murder, a career criminal, a very slippery character whose legal counsel was clever, who made use of corrupt police and took advantage of their ineptitude. From there the book detours to the Roselands Lads, possible suspects who attracted the police attention for some time, on the heresay account of a certain witness. Jones and Mercer recount how part of the failure to progress with the case seemed to stem from the fact that those conscientious police working on the case were often moved on. Part Three details new investigations that uncovered even more sexual assault cases that fit the pattern. The Inquest, held thirty-three years after Trudie’s disappearance was, for her family and friends, difficult and frustrating and brought no closure. The case took a heavy toll on those members of the police force who were genuinely doing their best with limited resources. This is a book that will appeal to fans of true crime who may enjoy the pages dense with facts that others may find repetitive. Sixteen pages of colour photographs and a map of the area enhance the text. This unbiased review is from an unsolicited copy provided by ABC Books