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A review by nixbix_reads
The Dry by Jane Harper
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was such a confident & self-assured debut. I really felt like I was in Kiewarra - the searing heat from the sun, the dry & dusty air, the locals suffering the tragedy of a two year drought now suffering the loss of a loved family.
The opening was powerful and gripping - the story took hold of me right from the start & didn’t let go until the very end. Told mostly from Aaron’s point of view, I felt his reluctance to be back in his hometown, even if it was for his friend’s funeral. The flashbacks to the past & Ellie’s death could have distracted from the story, but they add another layer, showing rightly or wrongly that accusations & suspicions, especially in a small tight knit community, never really go away.
I thought the characters were fully fleshed out & had such depth, they almost leapt off the page. This was a fantastic read. Jane Harper seems to have a knack for writing mysteries set in rural Australia & I hope that we get to read more of them - I have the next book in this series & I can’t wait to read it.
I listened to most of this book via Libby - the narration by Steve Shanahan was excellent.
The opening was powerful and gripping - the story took hold of me right from the start & didn’t let go until the very end. Told mostly from Aaron’s point of view, I felt his reluctance to be back in his hometown, even if it was for his friend’s funeral. The flashbacks to the past & Ellie’s death could have distracted from the story, but they add another layer, showing rightly or wrongly that accusations & suspicions, especially in a small tight knit community, never really go away.
I thought the characters were fully fleshed out & had such depth, they almost leapt off the page. This was a fantastic read. Jane Harper seems to have a knack for writing mysteries set in rural Australia & I hope that we get to read more of them - I have the next book in this series & I can’t wait to read it.
I listened to most of this book via Libby - the narration by Steve Shanahan was excellent.