‘Kemble’s other life as a journalist is evident in his writing and his convincingly realistic characters … Skin Deep is a fine debut for both Kemble and Echo Publishing, which offers more than a passing nod to John Birmingham and Stephen King.’ – Books+Publishing
‘The novel has the crucial ingredients of the best of the genre (cracking pace, intricate plotting, irresistible intrigue) while largely evading the cheesy, overblown language of its cheaper examples.’ – The Saturday Paper
‘A dark novel that sets an energetic pace and reflects Kemble’s other life as a journalist.’– Otago Daily Times
‘Despite my belief I wouldn’t enjoy any book with supernatural or violent themes, it was hard not to like a book so well written and with such a great plot. It keeps you guessing until the end …’ – Weekly Times
‘Equally, not many ghost stories have this kind of immediacy, or tactility. No strange frissons or fleeting shadows here! It’s all blood, drained batteries and murderous rage, stinking of bourbon in the subtropical humidity.’ – Tabula Rasa
‘This is an excellent debut from Gary Kemble. Fans of Stephen King will love this Australian author.’ – Manly Daily
‘This book has been touted as a genre mash up – and maybe that is what I found so refreshing and unique about [it]. It is an action adventure, a paranormal crime thriller, a story of life and regrets and bikies and drugs and corrupt land developers and crime and politics and abuse, and … a little bit of everything else but all balanced and all with its own place in this narrative.’ – Reading, Writing and Riesling