The Dry: A Novel

This is my kind of mystery! Well drawn characters and lots of possible outcomes for both mysteries. The dual timeline worked really well in this novel and kept the plot interesting. I particularly enjoyed the feel of the Australian outback in the midst of a drought.

I really liked the mystery for the first half or so of the book but then INB trying to drag out the suspense it became more clear where it was going. The attempts to throw you off the track were a lot contrived too. But I did like the plot and characters and probably will give her next book a chance.

Pretty good. Enjoyed the Australian accent!

The Dry brings reader into Falk's childhood and, the in a way, the broken part of him that's never gotten over the death of his childhood friend or the their home town. Aaron Falk faulted under the scrutiny and knowful eyes of the town after being drawn back for the horrible death of another childhood friend and his family. Suddenly, Falk isn't a detective anymore, but the timid, unsure and awkward teenager they all seemed to remember. As Falk and the local police scowler over details of the case, readers have glimpses of the past leading up to the untimely death of Ellie. Haunted more by the unanswered questions surrounding her death more so than the current case that pulled him back, Falk buggys from one detail to the next. Are the crimes/deaths related? Was his close childhood friend's family death connected to their past? All these questions encompasses Falk, threatening to drive a wedge further between the town and Falk. But Falk is relentless; digging through the secrets of Kiewarra readers and Falk eventually get to the bottom of both cases, but at what cost to the community and Falk himself? The Dry is the first Jane Harper novel I've read. I found the plot and story interesting enough. Can't say I like or dislike Falk much. This fact is important as this is a crime series where readers follow him through these cases. The details of the Hadler's murders were horrific and I was satisfied that the murder is caught. (i even suspected the suspect when they were introduced) But I must admit that I was more invested in Ellie's case. I feel the ending gives readers a sense of closure by finally revealing what really happened to her, but it was not as satisfying in my opinion. Perhaps that is to be expected with these small towns and clenching secrets that are so harmful to those around them. And for Ellie who was just a young teenager and a victim, I feel Kiewarra should have done more for her instead of blindingly placing blame. It felt like they were belittling her life and existence after her death. When it was clear to a lot of them that something was happening to her when she was alive but ignored it. And placing blame on Aaron and his father was a mirror of their own shame and guilt. And to be honest, I wanted her murderer to receive justice on the page. Too often, justice for crimes like that go unpunished in the real world. And if fiction is a full separation from reality, then why didn't we get that?

I finally, finally read this highly rated mystery. A small Australian town with big, big secrets and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Jane Harper's smooth writing will place you in the heart of this Australian town; the people, the drought, the tragedy, and the suspicions. A wonderful debut with solid characters that I'll eagerly return to in this new mystery series.