Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Dry by Jane Harper

44 reviews

wandering_canuck's review

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

5 intense stars!!

I read this in one sitting. I was captivated from the opening sentence to the last word. I picked up this book only because it was a prompt for a reading challenge and I expect it to make my top 10 of 2024. 

Exceptional writing. Harper builds a vivid landscape, where the 

This is how a mystery-thriller should be written. The story was well fleshed out. Harper avoids the pitfalls of convenience and coincidence to make the story fit the outcome. Two whodunits within one novel, and both told in a way that left you guessing until the end. Though there are no loose ends left to be tied up, I never once felt I was being led by the hand. Her writing kept me engaged and I happily buckled in to ride out the story until the very end. 

This book was simply brilliant and would make a great book club read. I'll definitely pick up another of her novels. She has me hooked!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Bullying, Gun violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship

the_tea_collector22's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Quick pulsed mystery with lots of twists and details along the storylines. I loved how Harper consistently mislead readers throughout the story with careful misdirection, it was so satisfying seeing how things came together. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Alcoholism, and Death

smrankin5's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

Engaging mystery.  Dark subjects.  Thrilling ending 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Death, Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, and Grief

xiekaili's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gun violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Vomit

bek_p87's review

dark 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

4.5

This was excellent. The landscape was tangible, the tension gripping, the people real. The horrors numerous and grounded in real life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse

bootsmom3's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Animal death, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Outing, Death of parent, Dementia, and Misogyny

lids_84's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What an incredible read! I could not put this book down. 
So many twists and turns as the story unfolds. I love that it’s set in the dry Australian outback and is a must read for any murder mystery / thriller lovers. 
Off to the book shop to get Jane Harpers next book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Gun violence, and Murder

melissa_b_67's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Gun violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, and Child death

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual violence, and Incest

Minor: Pregnancy

msagerber's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Dementia, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Incest

mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child death, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide and Domestic abuse

Minor: Addiction