Host Ky Garvey talks with Troy Hunter about his debut YA crime series - Gus and the Missing Boy and sequels, the shift from adult to YA storytelling, and the craft decisions that shape teen-focused mysteries.

They discuss Agatha Christie’s influence, engaging young readers - especially boys, school responses to the books, writing advice -finishing drafts and joining writing groups, and the rewards and realities of publishing later in life.

About the author:

Troy Hunter is a bestselling crime fiction writer, living in Melbourne/Naarm.

His debut YA novel Gus and the Missing Boy came out in March 2024 and was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award and the BAD Sydney Danger Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction. The sequel Gus and the Burning Stones was published in August 2025. A third and final Gus novel Gus and the Climate Killer is due out in March 2027. He is currently working on an adult crime novel.

Troy is passionate about getting reluctant readers, especially boys, into reading books. He’s also a massive Agatha Christie fan.

He regularly appears at writers’ festivals, runs YA and crime writing workshops, and also hosts of the Queer Writes Sessions podcast.

Troy Hunter

Home - Wakefield Press

About the book:

True crime buff Gus Green has always felt out of place in the world. He's overweight, gay, his injured mum's primary carer, and he only has two real friends: sporty Kane and feisty Shell, who are both dealing with their own problems.

Gus's life is flipped on its head one day when he finds a missing persons website with a digitally aged picture of a missing boy who looks eerily like him. Could he be a kidnapping victim? It would explain a lot about his patchy background, but what would that make his mum - his kidnapper?

As Gus and his friends dive into the mystery, their investigation reveals more questions than answers. Can they unravel the case before his world falls apart? And what will they do if the truth is too much to handle?

Host: Ky Garvey

Theme Song: Claire Houghton

Logo: Tondo Creative - https://www.tondo.com.au/

Production: Aud Pitch - https://www.virtualcreatrix.com/

Totally Lit is an independent podcast. You can help support us to continue to chat with wonderful Australian creatives by leaving a review on Itunes or sharing our socials with your friends. You can also make a contribution at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/Totallylit

For those of you who know me I am kind of a caffeine addict! So you can keep me fueled with caffeine and this will also help with equipment & podcasting platform fees etc.

I love to interact with our listeners so feel free to say hello either by email or social media:

Totallylitpodcast@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/totallylitpodcast