This is an amazing debut that I could not put down!” Bearing the scars of the town's past, Aaron Falk returns home for the funeral and is forced to make a choice between saving himself and facing a secret he has been hiding from for 20 years. In a remote section of rural Australia during an extended drought, devastating weather conditions collide with an unexpected turn of events that ultimately results in the murder of a young family. It’s enthralling, enticing, and I read it in a day.“This story of a small town and the secrets it has been protecting for decades is fast-paced and never predictable. If you’re looking for a fantastic thriller to read in this hot summer, I definitely recommend The Dry. Jane Harper has written another novel following Aaron Falk, Force of Nature, which is now on my list of future reads. A small community built on the notion of not rocking the boat doesn’t start telling the truth too willingly… I did have some lingering questions regarding the plot but it’s probably because Harper has captured so well how confusing a web of lies can become. Foolish teenage decisions leave a stark mark on the present investigation and as the tension grows, so did my admiration for the character of Falk. As much as this is a thriller focusing on a gruesome murder, Harper touches on other themes family relationships, poverty stricken communities and the risks you’ll take to protect a secret. The ending is satisfying and yet (surely as with all good books?) I wanted more. Neighbours are turning on each other and a community is cracking along with the baked ground.

The Dry perfectly illustrates the all-encompassing desperation in a town that hasn’t seen rain in over 2 years. As characters develop, the heat intensifies. Protagonist Aaron Falk is brooding, burdened with a secret he’s kept faithfully for 20 years, and looking for closure in a community that rejected him.Įxcept, as with all good thrillers, Harper’s novel is full of unexpected twists. A horrific crime has been committed leaving a young family murdered and as far as some community members are concerned, the case is closed.

A fiery, powerful narrative centres on the Australian town of Kiewarra and the secrets within. Jane Harper’s debut novel, The Dry, is as intense from the opening page to the last word. As fabulous as that book was (I was thoroughly gripped by the ending), I decided to move on from smaller suburban fires to a raging heat in the Australian Bush. Last month I published my first ever book review, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

The dry novel by jane harper