Crime writer Matthew Spencer brings Broke Road to Singleton Library

Published on 30 September 2025

Crime will hit close to home when bestselling Australian author Matthew Spencer brings his Hunter Valley thriller Broke Road to Singleton Library on Thursday 9 October from 5.30pm–7pm.

Following the success of his debut novel Black River – which won the 2023 Danger Award for Debut Crime Fiction and was shortlisted for a 2023 Ned Kelly Award – Spencer returns with Broke Road, a haunting thriller set in the shadows of the Brokenback ranges in Singleton’s internationally-acclaimed suburb of Pokolbin in Hunter Valley wine country.

Crime fiction lovers will hear how a conversation with a Hunter-based forensic pathologist sparked the idea for Broke Road, which digs beneath the surface of the wine country to uncover chilling undercurrents between coal miners, winemakers, and the darker edges of human nature.

Singleton Council’s Director Corporate and Community Services, Dwight Graham, said it was a total thrill for Singleton Library to host another of Australia’s most exciting crime authors.

“Matthew Spencer is not only an award-winning writer, but he has chosen the Hunter Valley – right here in our backyard – as the setting for his latest novel,” he said.

“Author talks like this give our community the chance to step inside a story, hear about the inspiration behind it, and see how local landscapes can come alive on the page.

“This talk is a wonderful way to spark curiosity, celebrate Australian writing, and remind people how much joy reading can bring.”

Tickets are free, but bookings are essential. Reserve your place at https://tinyurl.com/yc7xt3nz