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A review by jhbandcats
The Survivors by Jane Harper
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Not as tense and riveting as other books of Harper’s that I’ve read, this is more a slow burn as the tension gradually ratchets up. There isn’t a sense that the protagonist and his family are in danger, a typical plot device when inquisitive people question suspicious characters, but the danger is ever-present in the forbidding landscape and its history.
This book is all about grief, guilt, and regret, and the ways families and friends draw apart with silent recriminations, not to mention outright hostility. There’s an emphasis on families - the protagonist has a baby daughter and loving partner, whereas none of his friends do - and how they can draw one in closer and provide stability or, conversely, push one away.
While not a pulse-pounding thriller, this mystery is well thought out, with more depth and insight than I’d anticipated. Jane Harper always provides a good read.
This book is all about grief, guilt, and regret, and the ways families and friends draw apart with silent recriminations, not to mention outright hostility. There’s an emphasis on families - the protagonist has a baby daughter and loving partner, whereas none of his friends do - and how they can draw one in closer and provide stability or, conversely, push one away.
While not a pulse-pounding thriller, this mystery is well thought out, with more depth and insight than I’d anticipated. Jane Harper always provides a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Dementia