DETECTIVE BRADEN: THE PLAN
– AN INTRIGUING NEW AUSTRALIAN CRIME THRILLER
BY LINDA OLTSAIL
Gritty crime with a touch of humour, layered with betrayal, loyalty, and blurred lines between justice and street code.
Escalating tension and scenes that land with cinematic impact
AVAILABLE NOW
Detective Braden:
THE PLAN
Detective Damon Braden has spent years navigating the quieter corners of the city where corruption settles, loyalties shift and humour is often the last defence against the darker parts of the job. But when his partner’s misguided prank lands a frightened young woman on his doorstep, the moment spirals into something far more dangerous than either of them imagined.
The woman is not the damsel his partner expected. She carries evidence that unsettles powerful players in the underworld, drawing Braden into a conspiracy tied to organised crime and the very systems meant to protect the city. Suddenly he’s responsible for a witness people are desperate to silence and he finds himself confronting shadows from his past while trying to stay one step ahead of men who rarely miss their mark.
To keep her alive, Braden must bend rules he once stood by, navigate explosive confrontations and turn to an old friend whose influence runs deep through the underworld. Their alliance blurs the line between justice and survival, pushing Braden into a chase where every decision tightens the stakes.
Twisting allegiances, sharp tension and moments of unexpected humour shape a story where danger moves quickly, trust is fragile and the path to the truth is anything but straight.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Detective Damon Braden
Detective Damon Braden has experience when it comes to the city’s darker edges, where trouble hides in plain sight and justice is rarely straight forward. Known for his sharp instincts and a reluctant sense of humour, he’s the kind of man who runs toward trouble while others step back. But when a frightened young woman comes to him with evidence that rattles influential figures, Braden is pulled into a case that forces him to confront old loyalties, buried secrets and the dangerous cost of doing the right things.
Tilly Jasper
Tilly Jasper never expected to become to centre of a criminal operation. Smart, organised and quietly resilient, she has spent her career supporting others from the background, until one overheard threat changes everything. Now she carries information people are willing to kill for and the only person standing between her and the men hunting her is a detective she barely knows. Tilly’s journey pushes her into the heart of a conspiracy far greater than she ever imagined, revealing strengths she never knew she had.
The Hood
Little is known about the man called The Hood, only that he moves through the city with purpose and silence, watching more than he reveals. His connections run deep, his loyalties run dark and his methods don’t answer to badges or law books. When Braden steps into a world far beyond standard procedure, The Hood’s movements cut across his path at every turn, disrupting an investigation already on unstable ground.
Owen Connor
Owen Connor is not driven by chaos but by control. As President of The Underground, he operates outside crime law, shaping events through discipline, restraint and decisive action. A former defence man, his authority is earned rather than declared and he prefers silence over spectacle. Connor respects Detective Braden enough to shield him from The Underground’s darkest work, but that distance comes at a cost.
EARLY READERS THOUGHTS
“The Plan’s fast, fun action sequences are bright spots.” “Thriller lovers are sure to delight in the novel’s action.”
— BLUEINK REVIEW
"This sharp, fast-paced detective novel delivers a gripping blend of suspense, intrigue, and character-driven storytelling."
—JEANETTE JONES
“Oltsail’s writing carries a natural rhythm that makes the story incredibly easy to sink into. Once you start, it’s difficult to step away.”
— DIANNE GREENWOOD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Oltsail is an emerging Australian crime writer whose debut novel, Detective Braden: The Plan, launches readers into a world of danger, conspiracy and razor-sharp suspense. With an instinct for atmosphere, character tension and cleverly constructed storytelling, Linda steps confidently into the crime and thriller space.
Set against local landscapes and driven by gritty, high-energy action, her writing follows Detective Inspector Damon Braden as he’s drawn into a web of corruption, organised crime and personal reckoning. Linda’s scenes land with cinematic impact: explosive confrontations, underworld dealings, unexpected humour and moments of human vulnerability woven between the chaos.
Though Detective Braden: The Plan is her first published novel, Linda’s storytelling reflects a writer deeply attuned to human motivation, hidden agendas and the ripple effects of crime in ordinary lives. From tense cat and mouse manoeuvres to flashes of dark wit, her debut showcases a compelling new voice in the genre and signals there is much more to come.
The Hood traveled down south to meet the man who was desperate for his money. Oh, the joys of addiction.
The designated meeting place was a deserted back lane outside an old shopping center where hardly any shops were leased. The place was heavy with graffiti. The stench of unclaimed rubbish assaulted his nostrils.
The man appeared out of the dark, dressed in his police uniform and held out his hand. The Hood handed him an envelope filled with wads of cash. “You can count it if you want.” “No need to. The CCTV was wiped. They are trying to get the footage back, but they can’t. They traced the suspect computer, and they suspended the police officer concerned. They know now that people had called the station the night Matheson was killed, but it’s neither here nor there now. I’m in the clear.” “Great,” said The Hood, feeling bored.
“We’re holding four of your guys in custody, and don’t ask me their names. They’re not talking, and they’re in court tomorrow. They refused legal assistance.”
The Hood’s eyes widened. “And?”
The cop wouldn’t meet his gaze. He rubbed his arm. “Don’t know anything else. As soon as they were on to the sabotage, they restricted all our access.”
The cop knew something. He was holding back because he wanted more money. The Hood’s nostrils flared. There wasn’t much difference between this cop and the stench assaulting him.
The cop took a step back and his hand retreated behind his back. The Hood was losing patience fast. “I need to know where they were arrested so I know what went down.” The officer jerked his head up, bared his teeth, and sneered, “I told you we don’t have access—” The Hood shoved him up against the wall, knocking a gun out from behind his back and kicking it away. He put pressure on his windpipe, choking him. “I can take you down anytime I want! Don’t forget that! Do what it takes. Get me the information. Where’s Braden?” The officer took a deep breath and coughed a few times. “He’s on leave,” he croaked. “He got beaten up badly. He was sent away somewhere to recuperate.” The Hood released him. “Get me the information and there’s more cash in it for you.” He grabbed the cop’s gun and pointed it at him.“Start walking.”
“But I need my gun.”
“You’ll get it back. Now start walking!”STEP INTO THE STORY
Braden looked back up from his phone to see an alarming sight. He texted Connor:
I think we’ve got a problem here. Dueno’s men are blocking the exit. I’ll give them a distraction.
He immediately received a reply:
I’ll give them a distraction.
Before Braden could type a reply, he heard booming sounds followed by the sounds of people screaming outside. People started to panic inside as well.
Braden yelled at Sneddon over the noise, “Get out of here, quick!” Through the chaos, Braden got Sneddon and his friend out through the exit and lost sight of them. More of Dueno’s men were coming up the stairs. Braden ducked behind the curtains in the space where he had been with Tilly earlier. He waited for his eyes to adjust in the darkness. He pulled out his Glock and used the torch on his phone. The room was bare. He shone his torch around, looking for another exit and, relieved, found steps that led down to a door.
Screams rang out as more large booming sounds were heard much closer to the building. Braden quickly went down the stairs and through the door.
A man suddenly came out of the shadows, straight toward him, holding a knife. Braden grabbed his arm and twisted it up at an odd angle. The man howled in pain as he went down. The screams and panic continued on the other side of the building. Sirens were approaching the venue.
He felt a sudden blow to his side. The wrong side. Braden gasped in pain. He turned to find a big burly man about to hand him another blow just as he saw the butt of a gun slam down on the thug’s head. As the thug collapsed, Braden saw Connor standing there with his usual grin and holding his Colt. “Let’s get outta here.”
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