They blamed alcohol. They blamed men. But they blamed women most of all. 

Set in Melbourne in 1942, 'The Brownout Murders' is told from the perspective of three fictional sisters, whose story unfolds against a backdrop of shocking true events. 

At the height of the Second World War, 30,000 US servicemen were stationed in Melbourne as a bulwark against Japanese expansion. 

This formidable military presence was initially met with enthusiasm and relief by the majority of Australians at a time when fears of a Japanese attack were widespread. 

The relief turned to fear after three women were murdered on Melbourne’s dimly lit streets during the brownout, and the press and general public began to suspect that the culprit was, in fact, an American serviceman. 

This led to a widespread effort to limit the freedoms of young women, whose independence was widely viewed as a threat to the family unit. 

Written by Luke C Jackson and Kelly Jackson, co-authors of the highly-acclaimed 'Two-Week Wait' (Scribe, 2021) and illustrated by Maya Graham, this graphic novel suggests that the moral panic that once engulfed Melbourne is the same instinct that underpins responses to the latest story of a woman targeted and killed while walking home alone. 

Praise:

‘The Brownout Murders is a rich, satisfying read. It’s moving, funny, and tense. The text is taut, and the illustrations are stunning.’ Robert Gott, author of The Holiday Murders.