If It Really Happened, It's Even More Gripping
There's something uniquely compelling about a story you know is true. No fictional thriller can match the tension of a real murder investigation, a disappearance that baffled police for decades, or a killer who hid in plain sight. At Rodney's Relics, we specialise in true Australian stories – the people who did extraordinary things, for better or worse – and right now we have eight books that belong on every true crime reader's shelf.
These are the stories that dominated Australian media, sparked national debate, and in some cases, changed the law. Read them and you'll understand Australia differently.
The Books
🔍 The Widow of Walcha
A quiet NSW country town. A wealthy farmer. A much younger woman with a dark past. When Mathew Dunbar died, the questions that followed shook the New England region to its core. This is a story of manipulation, greed, and a justice system tested to its limits. If you've ever driven through Walcha, you'll never see it the same way again.
🔍 Blood Stain
The story of Katherine Knight – the first Australian woman sentenced to life in prison without parole. What she did to her partner John Price in their Aberdeen home in 2000 is almost beyond comprehension. Carol Willcox's account is unflinching, forensic, and deeply human. A landmark in Australian true crime writing.
🔍 The Dark Prince of Melbourne
Melbourne's underworld has produced some of Australia's most notorious criminals, but few stories are as layered and disturbing as this one. A man who moved through society with charm and menace in equal measure – this book pulls back the curtain on a world most Australians never see.
🔍 Great Australian Mysteries
Not every crime gets solved. Not every disappearance has an answer. This collection gathers Australia's most enduring unsolved mysteries – cases that have haunted investigators, families, and the public for generations. Perfect for readers who love the puzzle as much as the story.
🔍 Forensic Investigator
What does it take to solve a murder when the only witnesses are the dead? Australia's leading forensic investigators share the cases that defined their careers – the evidence that cracked cold cases, the science that caught killers, and the human cost of a career spent in the shadow of death. Riveting reading for anyone fascinated by how justice actually works.
🔍 Killing for Pleasure
The Snowtown murders remain one of Australia's most horrifying crimes. This is the definitive account of how a group of killers operated undetected in suburban South Australia, and how investigators finally brought them to justice. Disturbing, important, and impossible to put down.
🔍 Missing Presumed Dead
People vanish in Australia every year. Some are found. Many are not. This book examines cases where the evidence pointed to murder – but no body was ever recovered. How do you prosecute a killer when there's no victim? The answer will surprise you.
🔍 The Lady Vanishes
The disappearance of Juanita Nielsen in 1975 remains one of Sydney's great unsolved mysteries. A socialite, activist, and newspaper publisher who stood up to powerful development interests – and then simply vanished. Decades later, the questions remain. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how power operates in Australia.
Beyond True Crime – Rodney's Relics Specialises in Real Australian Stories
True crime is just one corner of what we do. Rodney's Relics is your destination for authentic Australian stories across military history, bushranger legends, Bingara and New England heritage, and the remarkable people who shaped this nation. If it happened in Australia and it matters, we probably have the book.
Whether you're buying for yourself or looking for a gift that will genuinely be remembered, our collection is curated with care by someone who loves these stories as much as you do.
We Post Anywhere in Australia – Gift Wrapped
We can gift wrap and post to anyone in Australia – just use their address when checking out. A true crime book makes an unforgettable gift for the reader in your life who thinks they've read everything.
Rodney of Rodney's Relics absolutely guarantees returns/refunds for anyone unhappy with their purchase.
Call our Bingara main street shop on 02 6724 1500 with any questions.