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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A good blend of stories and a satisfying conclusion. I saw one thing coming and another plot felt a bit out of nowhere. Overall enjoyed and will read book 2 in the series at some point.
This is my first book by Australian author Chris Hammer and I've already reserved the next in this series. Journalist Martin Scarsend has been sent to the small town of Riversend 12 months after a tragedy in which the town priest, Byron Swift, shot five people. Swift was then shot by the local police officer, and because he was accused of being a pedophile, the police consider it an open and shut case. Martin is supposed to write a story on how the town is coping, 12 months on. He arrives in a dying town, ravaged by drought - things are so bad that the pub has recently closed because the publican shot himself. Once Martin starts talking to locals, though, a different picture of Byron Swift starts to appear. People describe him as charismatic, caring, a good man, and no one believes the accusations against him. Even the police officer who shot him carries guilt, as Byron was his friend. This is supposed to be an easy human interest story for Martin, himself suffering from PTSD after he was locked in the boot of a car for three days in Gaza. Then two bodies are discovered in a dam just outside of town. Martin becomes part of the biggest story in Australia as he is on the ground reporting. Nothing is as it seems though and Martin does not know who to trust. The town is as much a character as any of its residents - and some of the residents have really great names: Harley Snouch and Mandalay Blonde just to name a few.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Police brutality, War
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes