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bones_jackson's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
arkwen452's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
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.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
zeevee93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jane Harper’s The Dry is a masterclass in atmospheric tension and a vivid portrayal of life in rural Australia. The narrative pulls you in with its unrelenting grip, leaving you both satisfied and unsettled—a testament to Harper’s extraordinary writing.
From the very first page, the prose is strikingly real and relatable, almost to an unsettling degree. Her depiction of the drought-ravaged landscape isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character in itself, mirroring the desolation and secrets buried within the small-town community. Having lived through one of the worst droughts of the 21st century on a remote property in southwest Queensland, I found Harper’s portrayal of the setting eerily accurate. It resonated deeply, bringing back memories of the harsh, unforgiving land and the tight-knit, sometimes suffocating, dynamics of small-town life.
Harper’s writing is so believable that it verges on the Uncanny Valley. You know you’re reading fiction, yet the characters and their world feel so real, so lived-in, that you can’t help but feel a little uneasy. It’s this blend of authenticity and psychological depth that makes The Dry not just a compelling mystery, but a deeply immersive experience.
One of the more unique aspects of Harper’s writing is her seamless integration of flashbacks. These glimpses into the past are not only essential to the plot but are woven into the narrative with such finesse that they feel like natural extensions of the present. The flashbacks add layers to the story, offering deeper insights into the characters and the events that shaped them, all while maintaining the novel’s relentless pace.
The story’s conclusion is both fitting and unnerving. While the mystery is unraveled with skill, Harper doesn’t tie everything up with a neat bow. The sense of justice remains elusive, leaving you with a lingering feeling of discomfort—almost as if resolution was within reach but ultimately slipped away. This lack of closure, though unsettling, is perfectly in tune with the novel’s themes of isolation, guilt, and the long shadows cast by the past.
Despite the heavy hype surrounding this novel, it more than lives up to expectations. The Dry isn’t just the best book I’ve read this year—it’s a haunting exploration of human nature that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Harper has set a new standard for crime fiction, and I can’t wait to read more of her work.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Misogyny and Grief
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
magca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism and Animal death
amberinbookland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Self harm