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melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I was not expecting to like this, I heard whispers from a colleague back when it was first released that the book wasn't very impressive so I put off reading it. Happily, I found it compulsive reading. The set-up of a tragedy possibility related to a death from decades ago was intriguing. I think Harper really captured the small town, farm battler vibe. The conclusion wasn't immediately predictable which is admirable for a debut. Looking forward to see what Falk gets up to next.
wietse111's review against another edition
4.0
Het tweede Jane Harper boek dat ik lees, en ik denk dat ik fan begin te worden. Een erg goede detective gewoon. Aaron Falk gaat terug naar het dorpje waar die geboren is omdat een jeugdvriend z'n vrouw en zoon en daarna zichzelf gedood lijkt te hebben. Hij onderzoekt het, en in de tussentijd komt er ook een sterfgeval van vroeger terug. Dit alles speelt zich af in een klein dorpje in Australië waar het kurkdroog is.
Goed geschreven, de karakters zijn voor een detective erg goed, en de setting is een fantastisch sfeervolle achtergrond. Fijne pacing, dit is wel zo'n beetje wat ik zoek in een fijne detective.
Goed geschreven, de karakters zijn voor een detective erg goed, en de setting is een fantastisch sfeervolle achtergrond. Fijne pacing, dit is wel zo'n beetje wat ik zoek in een fijne detective.
ellenmorgan's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t usually read mysteries, but I enjoyed listening to this one.
mbpartlow's review against another edition
4.0
In a setting that's completely alien to me--scorching hot and bitter dry rural Australia--this author swept me up in the mystery and made me care about the people involved in this small town.
I thought the flashbacks were really done well, just enough to give the reader what they need to know.
So many people thought they knew what happened, in both the distant past and the recent past. It's easy to hop on the bandwagon of what everyone else thinks, go along with what people you trust are telling you, ignore the tiny details which doesn't fit, but for which there is probably a good explanation.
But what if you don't? What if you start tracking down the little bits that don't add up? And what if they lead you to new conclusions about your own past, your own shame, your own secrets that you think you share with another. What if his secret turns out to be a different one?
Now that I see this is first in a series, I'm anxious to try another one. The main character is not particularly charismatic, so it will be interesting to see if the author can hold my interest with a different problem to solve in a different setting.
I thought the flashbacks were really done well, just enough to give the reader what they need to know.
So many people thought they knew what happened, in both the distant past and the recent past. It's easy to hop on the bandwagon of what everyone else thinks, go along with what people you trust are telling you, ignore the tiny details which doesn't fit, but for which there is probably a good explanation.
But what if you don't? What if you start tracking down the little bits that don't add up? And what if they lead you to new conclusions about your own past, your own shame, your own secrets that you think you share with another. What if his secret turns out to be a different one?
Now that I see this is first in a series, I'm anxious to try another one. The main character is not particularly charismatic, so it will be interesting to see if the author can hold my interest with a different problem to solve in a different setting.
bosham_belle's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
zojirushiofficial's review against another edition
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
3.5
radair's review against another edition
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
testaroscia's review against another edition
4.0
I'm sort of glad I knew very little of this book except i kept finding it in end of year "best of list" in the Crime genre. Plot is hardly original - Protagonist returns to "deliverance" type town set in the remote Outback where the locals still still blame him for a death twenty years previous he finds himself unraveling another murder/suicide. The two story-lines are well handled, the environment is well described. It is an easy read and well paced and satisfying "reveals". Very strong for a debut novel