Date Published: 11-11-2025
Publisher: Epicenter Press
As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer’s crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there’s another pressing problem—the plague of rats in his apartment block.
Detective Ryan’s hands are well and truly full.
Excerpt:
Chapter Four -
Detective Ryan checked his watch as the elevator juddered to a halt. He was forty minutes late-hardly a glowing endorsement for his first day with the Homicide Squad—but he'd had to see his mother, so consequences be damned.
Ryan knew little about a breast biopsy-Dr. Google, whom he'd consulted quickly after parking the car, said it was a routine procedure carried out to determine whether a lump in the breast was cancerous or not. Apparently, the vast majority of biopsy results came back negative, so Ryan reassured himself there was nothing to be concerned about. He repeated this mantra in his head as, clutching his briefcase tightly, he stepped out of the lift and
headed down the corridor.
Reaching the Homicide Squad office, the detective opened the door and entered. There was little reaction to his appearance—just a few nods and grunts as the detective walked to his allocated desk. Wanting to be ahead of the game, he had moved his stuff up from the Organized Crime Department over the weekend. He lowered himself into his seat, but before he could settle, a voice yelled out: "Ryan. Here. Now!"
Detective Ryan turned to see the imposing figure of Detective Superintendent Dan Dudley standing by his office door in the far corner of the room. Six feet four and weighing in at around two hundred pounds with cauliflower ears, a pug nose, squinty eyes, and a large head, Dan Dudley looked more like a prizefighter than a man chosen to run one of the most powerful police units in Australia.
"Hurry up. I haven't got all day," Dudley yelled as the detective hurried to join his boss.
"Come in," Dudley said, waving and lowering his considerable bulk into the chair behind his oak desk.
Detective Ryan went to take a seat and did a double take. A pretty Asian woman in her mid-twenties, conservatively dressed in black trousers, jacket, and white shirt, sat opposite the superintendent.
"Ryan, I believe you know Detective Yang," Dudley said.
"Hi, Ryan. Good to see you again," Detective Yang said, swiveling around and smiling.
Ryan was surprised. "Detective?" he queried.
"Yes," the woman said. “For over a year now."
Dudley cut in. "Okay, enough of the pleasantries. First things first. You're late, Ryan."
"Yes, sir. I called in that I would be late. I had to go..."
"I don't care," Dudley said, interrupting. "It will not happen again. Understood?”
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now, you missed my stirring motivational speech this morning, but I'll give you the gist. I explained that, like everyone else in the force, I was shocked by the sudden death of Superintendent Green and that I would do my best to match the excellence of his leadership. I then introduced Detective Yang and gave you a name check . . . even though you weren't there."
"Sir, like I said, I'm sorry..." Detective Ryan began.
“Yes, yes . . . we've already been through all that, the superintendent said. "Now, I want you and Detective Yang to work together."
"As a team?" Ryan said doubtfully.
"Yes, of course," Dudley said. "A case has just come in, and I've already given Yang the details.”
"A homicide, sir?” Ryan asked.
Dudley stared at him. “This is the Homicide Squad, Detective.”
"But sir..." Ryan started.
Dudley sighed. “I know. You have questions, so here are the answers. I have assigned Detective Yang to the squad. She will be your subordinate and assist you on this case" He stopped as Detective Ryan frowned. “Is there a problem?"
"Sir, if I could have a word?" Ryan said. "In private," he added, glancing over at Detective Yang.
Superintendent Dudley stood up, strode across the office, and yanked open the door. “Burke, in here, now," he shouted.
Moments later, a rotund, scruffily dressed man in his mid-forties appeared at the office door-Detective Terry Burke, one of the leading lights in the Homicide Squad.
"Sir?" Detective Burke asked, entering.
“Burke, I want you to meet Detective Ryan," Dudley said. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, he missed this morning's address and introductions."
Detective Burke glanced over at Ryan. “We've already met,” he said.
"At the weekend" Ryan concurred. The detective had bumped into Detective Burke when moving his belongings into the Homicide Squad office.
"Really," Dudley said. "That's good. Consider this an official introduction." Detective Burke nodded but didn't move.
"That's all, Detective. You can go," Dudley said.
Burke turned and left.
"What do you think of Detective Burke, then, Ryan?” Dudley asked. "Think? I haven't had enough time with him to form an opinion, sir.” "Bull poo. Of course you have. And I think I know what you think. But here's the thing. I know what the 'private talk' you want with me is about. I thought I'd short-circuit that conversation and let you meet the alternative."
"Detective Burke?” Ryan asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Yes," the superintendent confirmed. "Do you still want to have that talk?”
"No, sir," Ryan said quickly.
"And I take it you are now happy to partner with Detective Yang?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you with Ryan, Yang?"
"Yes, sir," Detective Yang replied.
"Wonderful. That's all sorted, then. Chop, chop. Off you go." Dudley waved them off.
Rising, the two cops moved to the door.
"And Detectives," Dudley said.
Ryan stopped.
"I want a quick result on this one."
"I'll do my best, sir,” Detective Ryan said, opening the door and stepping into the main office. Detective Yang followed.
The two detectives headed down the corridor to the elevators. Detective Ryan pressed the button.
Silence. Then: "When did you know?" Ryan asked.
"About coming down to Sydney?" Detective Yang asked.
Detective Ryan nodded.
"A few days ago."
"Oh. So, it was sudden?"
"Very sudden," Yang began, "You see
Ryan waved his hands, brushing her off. That's okay. I don't want to pry. What I do want to know is what Dudley's told you about the case."
There was a beep as the elevator door slid open.
"We have to go to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park” Yang began as she entered the empty elevator. "A man's body was found in a holiday rental cabin. I have the location. That's all the information he gave me,” she said as the door closed and the elevator descended.
Detective Ryan snorted. "That's Dudley for you. He gives you the bare minimum."
The elevator came to a halt. The door opened, and the detectives entered the underground car park. “You coming with me or taking your car?” Ryan asked.
"I haven't got a pool vehicle yet, Yang said. She looked at Ryan and smiled broadly. “I know this wasn't what you expected, but I want you to know I'm very pleased to be working with you again."
The detective shot her an awkward glance.
"It's still early days. Let's see how you feel by the end of the week,” he said grimly before pointing toward his Hyundai. "My car's over there."
'All Or None' sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit's, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel.
Clive's other books include 'Off Season' - book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; 'Kill Code' - a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change; ‘Scary Lizzy’ - a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost – and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ - a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems. He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ - a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.
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