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A children's amusement ride. A devastating fire. Seven lives lost. And decades of questions about what really happened. In this episode of The DownUnder Mystery Club, authors AJ Blythe and Ava Ness travel back to June 9, 1979, to unpack the tragic and terrifying fire at Sydney's Lunar Park Ghost Train that changed the nation forever.

Listen in as we separate hard facts from decades of dark underworld folklore—exploring the alarming speed of the blaze, frantic eyewitness accounts of burning kerosene, and the persistent, chilling allegations that Sydney crime boss Abe Saffron orchestrated a mob arson that was aggressively covered up by corrupt police. Then we head into our Mystery Book Club segment to chat about the best mystery novels this devastating cold case brings to mind!

Do you think the tragedy was a historic structural accident, or a calculated crime that got away? Leave a review and tell us your theories on the Ghost Train fire or share your current mystery reading list!

Sorry for the audio gremlins in this episode! A temporary mic glitch caused a slight tinny sound, but it's fixed for next week.

Book Links:

The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood

Mystic Caravan series by Amanda M. Lee

Paradise Heights Miniature Railway Bust-Up by Kate Solly

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

A Roaring Murder by Ava Ness

Joyland by Stephen King

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For the full reference list visit The DownUnder Mystery Club website at ajblythe.com/podcast