Past Event

Launch of A Murder Without Motive by Martin McKenzie-Murray

25th Feb 2016

Presenter: Scribe Publishing
Website: http://www.scribepublications.com.au/
Event Duration: 120 minutes

In 2004, the body of a young Perth woman was found on the grounds of a primary school. Her name was Rebecca Ryle. The killing would mystify investigators, lawyers, and psychologists - and profoundly rearrange the life of the victim's family.

It would also involve the author's family, because his brother knew the man charged with the murder. For years, the two had circled each other suspiciously, in a world of violence, drugs, and rotten aspirations.

A Murder Without Motive by Martin McKenzie-Murray is a police procedural, a meditation on suffering, and an exploration of how the different parts of the justice system make sense of the senseless. It is also a unique memoir: a mapping of the suburbs that the author grew up in, and a revelation of the dangerous underbelly of adolescent ennui

"Martin McKenzie-Murray is a writer of exceptional moral heft. He assays pain and loss with an intimacy few others achieve, never losing sight of the humanity that blooms around trauma" - Erik Jensen, The Saturday Paper

"At the time of her death, one man stripped away Rebecca Ryle’s dignity. In some small way, those involved in the telling of this story have reinstated that dignity with love, thoughtfulness, and a passion to challenge the status quo" - Ken Lay, former Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police

Whilst entry is primarily by invitation only, a small number of FREE TICKETS are available for the general public, and can be booked below!

DOORS OPEN @ 5.30PM


About the Author

Scribe Publishing first noticed Martin McKenzie-Murray’s talent back when he was an opinion writer for The Age, and signed him on the strength of his outstanding nonfiction proposal for a book centered around the murder of a young girl in Perth.

Martin is now Chief Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, and has been producing consistently powerful and challenging work. All we can say is that if you’ve been impressed by his work there … well, just wait until you read his book.

When asked what he’s looking forward to about being published, Martin's response was characteristically thoughtful, displaying the same qualities of self-awareness and compassion that make his writing so powerful.

‘At risk of sounding like a mawkish twat, the publication of my first book will realise a modest dream of mine. But any excitement is tempered by the fact that the book’s centre is a murdered young woman and her grieving family. I can only hope that the book properly measures the trespass, and the size of their grief.’