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rcsreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was more invested in whether or not Falk was going to do kissing than in the actual crime!
There's a missing woman and an unsolved hit and run and Falk is helped out in solving both by some meddling kids! It's a bit Scooby Doo, I really wanted Luna the dog to find an important clue.
The mystery of the missing woman is well done and I didn't even consider the conclusion in my guessing. The answer to the hit and run is kind of rushed and tacked on the end.
As a whole the book is far more focused on Falk and his life choices than on the actual solving of the crime. I preferred this as I'm more a kissing book person than a crime person. If you're here for some crime noir then you'll probably be a bit disappointed.
There's a missing woman and an unsolved hit and run and Falk is helped out in solving both by some meddling kids! It's a bit Scooby Doo, I really wanted Luna the dog to find an important clue.
The mystery of the missing woman is well done and I didn't even consider the conclusion in my guessing. The answer to the hit and run is kind of rushed and tacked on the end.
As a whole the book is far more focused on Falk and his life choices than on the actual solving of the crime. I preferred this as I'm more a kissing book person than a crime person. If you're here for some crime noir then you'll probably be a bit disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Car accident, Sexual violence, Child death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Rape, and Suicide
horizonous's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Mental illness, and Cancer
◦ Alcohol = Underage drinking◦ Mental illness = Depression
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
This one didn't wow me as much as Jane Harper usually does, but it was an absorbing read right when I needed one, so I'm not mad at all. Maybe the problem was just that I figured out a lot of the pieces to the mystery ahead of time?
I'm still planning to read the next one she writes without even reading the synopsis first (the library goer's version of an 'auto buy author').
I'm still planning to read the next one she writes without even reading the synopsis first (the library goer's version of an 'auto buy author').
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity
kirstym25's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Car accident
Moderate: Domestic abuse
kathleenes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Car accident, Death, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed it, and I was pulling for Faulk to get the ending he did. The bad guy was a bit convenient, maybe, but the twist was fun. It’s less about the mystery and more about the people and place around it.
I really enjoy Harper’s writing
I really enjoy Harper’s writing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
dana_naylor's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I had trouble getting into the book with the switches between present day and the past. The switches weren’t easy to follow on the ebook and that kept me from enjoying the book as much as when it settled on one time period. Good mystery. You’d probably be fine if you haven’t read the others in the series. Trigger warnings are important on this one imo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Mental illness
aileron's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness and Grief
Minor: Cancer
missrhinnan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Honestly, nothing happened for about a good 75% of the book, if not more. It wasn’t bad but it was sloooooow.
Holy shit tho, is this the end of the series??
Holy shit tho, is this the end of the series??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Car accident, Murder, and Grief
what_heather_loves's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Falk exhaled...He felt like there was - 'What is it?' Zara said. She was watching him closely, Falk realised and he shook his head. 'I don't know,' he said, truthfully. But something did feel a bit - what? Off. Fall frowned. Did it? Or was it just a reaction to seeing footage so confronting? He scrossed back again, uncomfortably aware of the kids' scrutiny as the seconds ticked on. He could sense their hope building and shook his head. He wasn't going to do this to then. 'No. I'm sorry. It' s nothing.'...The boy looked disappointed and Fall hesitated again. Because somewhere, buried deep beneath a dusty pile of long-unused basic police training skills, a faint alarm had been activated. Fall waited. The alarm continued, soft but insistent."
Back visiting a vineyard in Maralee Valley in South Australia, for a rescheduled Christening a year after the disappearance of a women, Kim, whose baby was found, left in her pram at the annual food and wine festival. Financial federal investigator, Aaron Falk is on leave and visiting for the Christening of godson, Henry, son of old friend Greg and his wife Rita Raco, who is the stepcousin of Zara, the older daughter of Kim, who has still not been found. This year's festival includes an appeal for new information about Kim. Of course Kim's mental health is questioned and suicide is considered the most likely explanation, but Zara is convinced her mum wouldn't have done this and Raco and Falk are inclined to agree. Will they find out what happened to Kim and why?
The return of likeable Aaron Falk in the third in this Outback Noir crime fiction series that's so very readable, thanks to the author's skill and experience with her characters (some new and some recurring) and the rural setting. As determined Raco and moral Falk informally investigate and assist local cop, Dwyer, memories are tested and secrets are revealed. It's an immersive experience, the reader being presented with past and present narratives. As it all unravels towards the end and it became clear what had happened, I felt fear for Kim then sadness and anger. Outback Noir at it's best, I looked forward to the fourth book in the series.
Back visiting a vineyard in Maralee Valley in South Australia, for a rescheduled Christening a year after the disappearance of a women, Kim, whose baby was found, left in her pram at the annual food and wine festival. Financial federal investigator, Aaron Falk is on leave and visiting for the Christening of godson, Henry, son of old friend Greg and his wife Rita Raco, who is the stepcousin of Zara, the older daughter of Kim, who has still not been found. This year's festival includes an appeal for new information about Kim. Of course Kim's mental health is questioned and suicide is considered the most likely explanation, but Zara is convinced her mum wouldn't have done this and Raco and Falk are inclined to agree. Will they find out what happened to Kim and why?
The return of likeable Aaron Falk in the third in this Outback Noir crime fiction series that's so very readable, thanks to the author's skill and experience with her characters (some new and some recurring) and the rural setting. As determined Raco and moral Falk informally investigate and assist local cop, Dwyer, memories are tested and secrets are revealed. It's an immersive experience, the reader being presented with past and present narratives. As it all unravels towards the end and it became clear what had happened, I felt fear for Kim then sadness and anger. Outback Noir at it's best, I looked forward to the fourth book in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Suicide and Murder
Coercive relationship