In Hot Ground, author Lisa Ellery draws on her experience in mining law and her life in Kalgoorlie-Boulder to craft an authentic and suspenseful crime novel. The story begins when veteran prospector Max Cochrane stakes a promising gold tenement lease in the remote Western Australian bush, only to vanish under mysterious circumstances. Detective Jessy Parkin, recently reassigned from Perth, leads the investigation with help from Max’s daughter Mia. Rich in detail about prospecting, police procedures, and mining tenements, the novel delivers multiple twists, memorable characters, and a vivid outback atmosphere. Reviewer Serena Kirby praises Hot Ground as a well-paced and cleverly plotted thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy crime fiction infused with gold fever, rugged landscapes, and long-buried secrets.