Tallowwood by N.R. Walker is a powerful MM detective romance set in rural Australia. This emotional slow-burn story follows two men solving a haunting murder while slowly finding their way toward love and healing. If you enjoy queer characters, raw emotional depth, and a touch of mystery, this one’s for you.
Tallowwood by N. R. Walker Genres: Contemporary, MM Romance, Suspense
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Cold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.
Sydney Detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone--and that's exactly how he likes it. His work is his entire life, and he's convinced a string of unsolved cold-case suicides are linked to what could be Australia's worst ever serial killer. Problem is, no one believes him.
Senior Constable Jacob Porter loves his life in the small town of Tallowwood in the middle of the rainforests in northern New South Wales. He runs summer camps for the local Indigenous kids, plays rugby with his mates, has a close family, and he's the local LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Indigenous Liaison Officer.
When human remains are found in the camping grounds at Tallowwood Reserve, Jake's new case turns out to be linked to August's cold cases, and Jake agrees they're not suicides at all. With Jacob now firmly in August's corner, they face one hurdle after another. Even when more remains are found, they can't seem to gain ground.
But when the body of a fellow police officer turns up under the same MO, it can't be ignored anymore. August and Jake must trace the untraceable before the killer takes his next victim or before he stops one of them, permanently.
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I love a good romantic suspense, and Tallowwood checked so many boxes for me: an emotional slow burn, two unforgettable characters, and a well-paced mystery that had me holding my breath.
Let’s talk about that cover first. It completely captures the vibe of the story and the setting. Gorgeous.
August Shaw, a reclusive detective in Sydney, spends his days working cold cases alone. But to him, these cases aren’t just files on a desk, they’re people. People who deserved justice. People who remind him of who he lost.
Because this book isn’t just about solving a crime or falling in love, it’s also about grief. Deep, quiet, unresolved grief. But also about healing, and what it means to trust someone again after your world fell apart.
Over the course of a decade, several gay men have been found dead by apparent suicide, each leaving behind eerily similar notes. But August is convinced there’s something more, that someone is targeting them, and covering it up. No one believes him.
Until he gets a call from Jacob Porter, a young constable in a small town called Tallowwood. Jake is sweet, grounded, kind and he’s found something that matches one of August’s cases. That call sets off a chain of events that will change both their lives.
As the investigation unfolds, so does their relationship. I adored the progression from professional respect to growing friendship, and eventually to something tender and real. It was all so beautifully written that you feel the connection with them, step by step.
Jake’s gentle warmth helps August confront his past and remember that the good memories are worth holding onto, too.
Their dynamic is just perfect. I love this couple.
The mystery is also well done. You’re able to piece things together along with them, which is always more satisfying than a twist that comes out of nowhere.
I’ll admit there was one specific scene near the end that had me thinking “Wait, what!?”, it felt slightly out of character and almost careless. But it didn’t take away from how much I loved the rest of the book.
This is a solid five-star read for me, full of heart, grief, healing, justice, and love.
And yes: The Cat Loved It. 🐾
Final Rating: 5 stars!
Have you read Tallowwood? Were you as obsessed with August and Jacob as I was? Let’s talk crime, love, and favorite scenes in the comments!
About N. R. Walker
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.
She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things…but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She’s been writing ever since…
