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shrewdbard's review against another edition
3.75
This books strengths aren’t in wild, jaw-dropping twists, but in the realism and the character writing. I loved that this novel was critical of the common mystery trope of “every tiny misspeak is a clue and no moment is ever misremembered.” Instead, people’s memories are flawed. They forget to mention details, not even out of maliciousness. Which likely feeds into the larger theme - that most people who do bad aren’t bad people. Just people who have found themselves up against irrevocably bad choices.
I spent the whole book wishing Clint would die. He was such a pig, but in a depressingly all too real way. I was worried this writer wasn’t great at portraying 12 year olds at the beginning, but that’s just Ronnie’s uniquely innocent point of view - you’ll notice Lewis’s chapters feel more like they come from a middle school boy. The Greek chorus was an incredibly cool touch.
I figured out the perforator the moment they were introduced. But not the how or the why!
I spent the whole book wishing Clint would die. He was such a pig, but in a depressingly all too real way. I was worried this writer wasn’t great at portraying 12 year olds at the beginning, but that’s just Ronnie’s uniquely innocent point of view - you’ll notice Lewis’s chapters feel more like they come from a middle school boy. The Greek chorus was an incredibly cool touch.
shelleyanderson4127's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a better than average written piece of Australian crime fiction.
Esther, a 12-year-old school girl, has disappeared. The small, rural community of Durton (or Dirt town, as the town's school children call it) is terrified. Enter Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels from Sydney, a lesbian cop who specializes in missing children.
I loved the queer sensibility that permeates this story. Main character Ronnie, who is 12, is in love with her best friend Esther and determined to find her. Lewis, an outcast adopted by both Esther and Ronnie, is in love with another boy at school. Esther's single mother has a best friend named Shelly. And Detective Sergeant Michaels seems to be developing feelings for Ronnie's mother.
It's all messy and real and very well-written. I would read this novel about the dark side of small towns just to savor again the words about Lewis's eventual fate. Not everything in the novel works--I found the chapters entitled "We", evidently a Greek chorus of the town's children, confusing-- but this is a rock solid debut. Definitely for Jane Harper fans.
Esther, a 12-year-old school girl, has disappeared. The small, rural community of Durton (or Dirt town, as the town's school children call it) is terrified. Enter Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels from Sydney, a lesbian cop who specializes in missing children.
I loved the queer sensibility that permeates this story. Main character Ronnie, who is 12, is in love with her best friend Esther and determined to find her. Lewis, an outcast adopted by both Esther and Ronnie, is in love with another boy at school. Esther's single mother has a best friend named Shelly. And Detective Sergeant Michaels seems to be developing feelings for Ronnie's mother.
It's all messy and real and very well-written. I would read this novel about the dark side of small towns just to savor again the words about Lewis's eventual fate. Not everything in the novel works--I found the chapters entitled "We", evidently a Greek chorus of the town's children, confusing-- but this is a rock solid debut. Definitely for Jane Harper fans.
leavesnpages's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This novel was such a slow-burn mystery! The story is set in a rural Australian town, Durton, where life appears idyllic in a close-knit community. Until 12-year old, Esther, goes missing. Buried secrets are revealed and everyone comes under scrutiny.
Each chapter's point of view switches to a different character, and the timeline shifts, so you get the opportunity to see the story from several different perspectives - I really liked this aspect of the book. I liked the mix of POVs from both children and adults too.
Each character was well-written and complex, however Constance and her lack of self annoyed me a little bit, and Sarah's obsession with her ex that never went anywhere seemed redundant to me.
If you love a good, slow-burn mystery, then you will love this book.
Each chapter's point of view switches to a different character, and the timeline shifts, so you get the opportunity to see the story from several different perspectives - I really liked this aspect of the book. I liked the mix of POVs from both children and adults too.
Each character was well-written and complex, however Constance and her lack of self annoyed me a little bit, and Sarah's obsession with her ex that never went anywhere seemed redundant to me.
If you love a good, slow-burn mystery, then you will love this book.
hayleyee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookph1le's review
4.0
Woo hoo! This is my 100th book of 2022 and I enjoyed it!
One of the best mystery/thrillers I've read in a while. It's the sort of book that's totally my jam. It takes place in a small, closed environment, it's far more concerned with the psychology of its characters than it is with flashy plot twists, and when the big revelation happens it makes sense. It all felt very grounded in reality and tragically believable to me, which is what made it work. It is worth noting, though, that it's the kind of book where the misery is so palpable, it'll make you want to run far, far away from the setting--in this case, a small town in Australia.
I do have a couple of quibbles with it. I didn't care for the chorus of child narrators. To me they felt like they existed just to reinforce the misery of the setting, but that was entirely unnecessary because all the other parts of the book do plenty to establish the setting's misery. I also didn't find Ronnie's POV chapters all that convincing because her voice came across as far too old for an 11-year-old to me.
Kudos to this author and to the book for giving all of the characters plenty of shades of gray, and for allowing them to do bad things and be bad people, but doing so in a way that felt authentic to who the characters were. I'm always thrilled when I finish a book and feel like I totally understood everyone's motivations (which is not to say I agreed with them) rather than feeling cheated by cheap narrative tricks. I think this author has a lot of potential, and I'm definitely interested in reading more.
One of the best mystery/thrillers I've read in a while. It's the sort of book that's totally my jam. It takes place in a small, closed environment, it's far more concerned with the psychology of its characters than it is with flashy plot twists, and when the big revelation happens it makes sense. It all felt very grounded in reality and tragically believable to me, which is what made it work. It is worth noting, though, that it's the kind of book where the misery is so palpable, it'll make you want to run far, far away from the setting--in this case, a small town in Australia.
I do have a couple of quibbles with it. I didn't care for the chorus of child narrators. To me they felt like they existed just to reinforce the misery of the setting, but that was entirely unnecessary because all the other parts of the book do plenty to establish the setting's misery. I also didn't find Ronnie's POV chapters all that convincing because her voice came across as far too old for an 11-year-old to me.
Kudos to this author and to the book for giving all of the characters plenty of shades of gray, and for allowing them to do bad things and be bad people, but doing so in a way that felt authentic to who the characters were. I'm always thrilled when I finish a book and feel like I totally understood everyone's motivations (which is not to say I agreed with them) rather than feeling cheated by cheap narrative tricks. I think this author has a lot of potential, and I'm definitely interested in reading more.
frenchfrybri's review against another edition
4.0
i liked the writing and the pacing was excellent. i did not like the “we” chapters and how it was multiple POV but only ronnie was first person? also didn’t like how it ended but it worked- i just didn’t want it to turn out like that
katezim's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
mrsshelvey69's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thepagelady's review against another edition
4.0
When 12 year old Esther disappears on the way home from school her best friend Ronnie, is determined to find Esther. So when schoolfriend Lewis tells Ronnie that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why won't Lewis speak to the police? And who else is lying?
This is a slow paced heartbreaking riveting story with great writing, realistic characters & entertaining plot! Dirt Creek is an isolated town that is hiding some dirty secrets. Multiple pov & the timeline changes with the pov but the reader gets a great understanding of what happened. Hayley Scrivenor's writing truly brings everything to life right before your eyes! Wonderful debut novel!
This is a slow paced heartbreaking riveting story with great writing, realistic characters & entertaining plot! Dirt Creek is an isolated town that is hiding some dirty secrets. Multiple pov & the timeline changes with the pov but the reader gets a great understanding of what happened. Hayley Scrivenor's writing truly brings everything to life right before your eyes! Wonderful debut novel!