Shark Arm

A shark, a tattooed arm and two unsolved murders

By: Phillip Roope, Kevin Meagher

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Paperback | 2 July 2024

At a Glance

Paperback
304 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.8 x 12.8 x 2.54

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Truth can be stranger than fiction. In a Coogee aquarium in 1935 a shark coughed up a man's tattooed arm. The authors of Shark Arm have unravelled an extraordinary tale of high-class smuggling around Sydney Harbour and police collusion that has eluded many investigations into this famous cold case.

Shorlisted for the 2020 Ned Kelly Awards

'The biggest tabloid shark story in the history of the world' - Peter FitzSimons

'A truly gripping whodunnit which throws fresh light on one of Australia's most extraordinary murders.' - Kate McClymont

It all started with a ruthless murder. An ex-boxer and petty police informer was efficiently disposed of, sending a ghastly warning to others. That would have been the end of it, had not a shark, in a million-to-one chance, vomited up the victim's arm in an aquarium and shone an unwelcome light into some very dark places.

With so much at stake, the guilty closed ranks and gradually, with intimidation, money, and the murder of a mate who they feared would betray them, they re-imposed their control and the light was turned off again. The memory of those events, and the terrible fear they inspired, kept those who knew the truth silent unto the grave.

Others have written about the Shark Arm murder but Phillip Roope and Kevin Meagher, having digested the entire cold-case police file, reveal a very different story: an extraordinary tale of high-class smuggling, a frantic cover-up and the truth behind one of the most infamous cases in Australia. Except there were actually two gruesome murders . . .

About the Authors

Phillip Roope and Kevin Meagher are former high school English and History teachers. After Phillip left teaching he worked as location manager on feature films and television series ranging from Blue Murder for TV to Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. Kevin completed his career in public education securing corporate and philanthropic support for visual and performing arts programs.

Industry Reviews

'An intriguing page turner, atmospheric and full of shady characters who you'd never want to meet in real life' - Sydney Morning Herald

'As gripping a murder/mystery as anything you will find on the fiction shelves' - The Daily Telegraph

'The quintessential Australian true crime story' - The Canberra Times

'Certainly not your average true-crime whodunit, this will mesmerize readers with the chilling details of Smith's abduction and murder.' - Booklist Online

'Authoritative and fresh' - The Australian

'Horribly fascinating' - New Zealand Herald

'An incredible investigation into a notorious, gruesome death' - Readings

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