Review: The Dry

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

Note: This is a series, this is the first one in the series. However both novels are standalones so it shouldn't be a problem if you read one and didn't read in order.

Originally I got this novel through the most read section and through some very few but definitely convincing Goodreads Friends such as Kevin (even though some of their reviews weren't so positive..) hence why I picked this novel up. I've also ordered the sequel, and it's on the way haha..

So to begin..

The cover - is definitely close to the dry, often dry and sweltering weather here where I live, in Melbourne, Australia. Overall, I liked it a lot, hence why the points.

The summary -"It hasn't rained in Kiewarra for two years. Tensions in the farming community become unbearable when three members of the Hadler family are discovered shot to death on their property. Everyone assumes Luke Hadler committed suicide after slaughtering his wife and six-year-old son. Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk returns to his hometown for the funerals and is unwillingly drawn into the investigation. As suspicion spreads through the town, Falk is forced to confront the community that rejected him twenty years earlier. Because Falk and his childhood friend Luke Hadler shared a secret, one which Luke's death threatens to unearth..."

I wish I could shorten it but there's no way to shorten something that needs the description. A mystery like this with so many suspects and a murder that threatens to take the tail of a long winded memory lane with its own secrets will definitely be it for me. Hence why the points..

The characters - All of them have a motive, some interaction with the late Hadler family, some reason to be there for the family, but they're there. They all seem to fleshed out well and have some part or other in the novel, no one is useless. As for Aaron, he's also playing a part as the reluctant detective plus being involved in one of the town's most horrid secret that was once the reason for his misery, back in his days living in the town. I feel they were all hard not to think about, so brilliantly written were the characters. Hence why the points again.

The mystery itself - A whole family shot to death, reminds me you of the amityville horror, I wonder why no one talks about it through this angle..anyway, there's no specific reason given about why they're all shot to death, except maybe that luke had finally given up on life/lost his mind and had decided that no one around him was worth living and shot them all. Meanwhile Aaron has to come in for the funeral and is unwillingly tossed into the investigation. I think it all sounds swell, a bit slow sure, but still everything comes together to make sense close to the end, so I don't think the suspense is delayed too much..hence why the points.

The only problem -Not a satisfactory ending to Ellie and her end. He could've reported the criminal but he doesn't. He just up and walks.

LIKE WHAAT? IS THERE NO JUSTICE GIVEN? Like seriously, why does the author not see him reporting this shit to the Feds? WHY NOT? Hence why the point taken away.

Overall, a very satisfactory novel, if you exclude Ellie's conclusion. Not a bad one.

Until the next read,

TMR

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