The Barrakee Mystery is the first of Upfield's Inspector Bonaparte mysteries. Bony is introduced as he travels to Barrakee station, a large homestead in the Darling River basin, to investigate the death of King Henry, a local aborigine leader. The wealthy and successful owner of Barrakee station had a gracious wife, a beautiful niece, and a son returning from college. Two things marred John Thornton's happiness: an unresolved argument concerning his son, and the murder of King Henry. When Detective-Inspector Bonaparte arrived, the peaceful Station suddenly erupted--as long-kept secrets were laid bare, and easy-going people turned to violence.

The Barrakee Mystery was first published by Hutchinson of London in 1929. The first American edition was published by Doubleday as part of its Crime Club collection in 1965 (pictured above).