Murder, deceit and corruption might seem to be more at home on the gangland streets of Melbourne than at the Queensland Cat Protection Society. Five Drops of Blood asks many more questions than it answers, which is hardly surprising, as according to the authors the Queensland justice system has also been unable to provide all of the answers to the questions raised by this case. Five Drops of Blood is a slow-burner which will surprise and shock readers. With a cast of characters with few redeeming features, a violent murder which very few of the characters seem to be too upset by, and more conspiracy theories than you would find at a Star Trek convention, after a slow start Five Drops of Blood had me enthralled, even though it was obviously only one side of this complex story. If Andrew Fitzherbert is not guilty of the murder he is currently serving a life sentence for, how did five drops of his blood find their way to the forensic lab and if he is guilty, what motivation was there for this brutal murder? This book will appeal to readers of true crime who enjoy a good conspiracy theory, especially those north of the Tweed River.

Anthony Shaw is sales and marketing manager at Thorpe-Bowker

Tags: paul wilson & dianne mcInnes