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A review by piperhath
The Dry by Jane Harper
challenging
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
The Dry is set in the small outback town of Kiewarra, outside Melbourne, Australia and follows the story of Aaron Falk, a federal agent who returns to his hometown after the suspected murder-suicide of his childhood friend, Luke Hadler and his family. As the inconstancies begin to pile up, Falk begins to investigate the travesties of the Hadler family and finds not everything as it seems. After all, it's the least Falk could do after Hadler kept his secret twenty years ago.
I loved this one! The world-building was phenomenal and it had me hooked from the very first chapter. Harper describes the dramas of small towns so perfectly. They're always a place where everyone knows your business and will do anything to cause some drama. It's clear Kiewarra is no different. Everyone seems to have a bone to pick with each other likely caused by the crippling drought. Falk gets more than most after being driven out of town twenty years ago for the rumored murder of one of his friends, Ellie. Oh Ellie, my heart ached for her and I wish she could have had a happier ending. I hope that she got the justice she deserved.
As I said, I didn't guess the ending but it worked so well throughout the story. Harper leading us down so many roads had me constantly guessing and at times tunnel-visioned onto two particular characters. But at the end of it, I was like of course! How did I not see this coming?! It was very well written. My only bone to pick with this is that Harper spent so much time world-building and developing the story just to have the ending hastily rushed. It's almost as if Harper was over with the story and wanted it to end. I just wanted it a little bit more drawn out and potentially more into Falk's life after all was said and done.
Nevertheless, this book was highly gripping and enjoyable. If you haven't considered picking this one up, definitely do! If you've been putting off reading this, stop and move it up your list.
I loved this one! The world-building was phenomenal and it had me hooked from the very first chapter. Harper describes the dramas of small towns so perfectly. They're always a place where everyone knows your business and will do anything to cause some drama. It's clear Kiewarra is no different. Everyone seems to have a bone to pick with each other likely caused by the crippling drought. Falk gets more than most after being driven out of town twenty years ago for the rumored murder of one of his friends, Ellie. Oh Ellie, my heart ached for her and I wish she could have had a happier ending. I hope that she got the justice she deserved.
As I said, I didn't guess the ending but it worked so well throughout the story. Harper leading us down so many roads had me constantly guessing and at times tunnel-visioned onto two particular characters. But at the end of it, I was like of course! How did I not see this coming?! It was very well written. My only bone to pick with this is that Harper spent so much time world-building and developing the story just to have the ending hastily rushed. It's almost as if Harper was over with the story and wanted it to end. I just wanted it a little bit more drawn out and potentially more into Falk's life after all was said and done.
Nevertheless, this book was highly gripping and enjoyable. If you haven't considered picking this one up, definitely do! If you've been putting off reading this, stop and move it up your list.