Shortlisted for Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australia): Fiction 2008.

Karen writes:

I have never read anything quite like El Dorado which means I haven't read anything written by the extraordinary Dorothy Porter. I'm completely in awe of her talent as El Dorado is one of the most gripping, emotionally powerful books I've ever read. The plot is quite straightforward. There is a copper, Bill' who is trying to stop a serial killer murdering young kids. His childhood and best friend Cath is on holiday from her high powered film career in LA and tries to help. Cath and his rebellious teenage daughter, Caitlin, are the loves of Bill's life. As a small sidebar, Cath falls in love with the much younger Lily. Dum de dum de dum, so goes the plot of many crime novels. 

The writing, well, oh my god! It's exquisitely paced. You will devour it and race through the thrilling bits (and it's so thrilling) and you will slow and weep through the rest. What Dorothy Porter says about love and friendship will stay with you. How she describes falling in love is exquisite.  Apart from that it is just one of the best crime novels I've read. Don't be put off by the narrative verse, just read two pages and take the rest of the day off to finish it.