The Survivors by Jane Harper

The Survivors by Jane Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 375

Publisher - Little Brown Books

Source - Netgalley & Bought Hardback

Blurb from Goodreads

Coming home dredges up deeply buried secrets...

Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences.

The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home.

Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn.

When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away...



My Review

Book location is Evelyn Bay, Tasmania, beautiful but unpredictable sea that has already claimed lives. Kieran Elliot is back to help his mum, dad's dementia is much worse than Kieran realised and being home reignites all his guilt. Twelve years ago his brother and friend died and it is all Kieran's fault. Now back with his partner, also from there, with their baby Kieran is feeling mixed emotions and reception from people. When a young girl is found dead an investigation starts and a lot of the past is raked up which is never a good thing in a small town.

Intrigue, mystery, secrets, love, friendship, lies it has a mix of everything and I loved reading it when our weather turned so we had a thunder and lightning storm. It just made it for perfect reading, very atmospheric, she creates a great visual for the reader anyway but having it both on paper and surrounding me was just perfect timing.

It isn't the type of book where it is actions and fast paced, more of a slow burner but absolutely drawing you in. Small town, no privacy, everyone has an opinion on everyone and everything and you feel Kieran reexperiencing how he obviously felt back when the tragedy struck. Things highlight why we left i the first place, the impact on his relationship with his parents. Small bits of the story teased out and slowly revealed so you are kept guessing, well I was.

I think this is my second book by Harper and will absolutely be reading her others, 4/5 for me this time.

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The Dry by Jane Harper

The Dry by Jane Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 336

Publisher - Abacus

Source - bought

Blurb From Goodreads

A small town hides big secrets in this atmospheric, page-turning debut mystery by award-winning author Jane Harper.
In the grip of the worst drought in a century, the farming community of Kiewarra is facing life and death choices daily when three members of a local family are found brutally slain.
Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk reluctantly returns to his hometown for the funeral of his childhood friend, loath to face the townsfolk who turned their backs on him twenty years earlier.
But as questions mount, Falk is forced to probe deeper into the deaths of the Hadler family. Because Falk and Luke Hadler shared a secret. A secret Falk thought was long buried. A secret Luke's death now threatens to bring to the surface in this small Australian town, as old wounds bleed into new ones.


My review

Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk is heading back to his small town home, left under a dark cloud and now no choice but to return. His childhood friend Luke and his family are dead by murder/suicide. Aaron can't quite believe it but on some level maybe just maybe could Luke have really have done this atrocity?

Aaron doesn't get the most warm welcome, the small town is facing the worst drought in one hundred years which is affecting everyone and tempers are raised. Whilst Aaron and one officer unofficially look into the deaths Aaron also has to face the wrath of what he ran from. Small towns don't forget and everything must be answered for.

This is part police investigation, a bit psychological thriller, small town mentality and intrigue as we flip between present and the past with the lead up what led Aaron to leave town. Violence, secrets, lies, friendships, small town mentality and all the jazz that comes with it. You have the two deaths/timelines also the effects of the drought on the towns people and the stresses/issues that brings too. Different but interesting and book one, I will be looking out for the next in the series, 4/5 for me.

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