Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Dry by Jane Harper

24 reviews

mels_reading_log's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

This is a story set in a drought in a rural Australian town where a double-murder/suicide has just happened. The cops, not being satisfied with that story start up an off-books investigation that unravels all of this small town’s secrets. I really liked the premise and all of the twists and turns, but the pacing was a little slow for me.

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Content Warnings

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

alicia_g's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Good consistent plot- just would have liked more of actually the explanation of the murders. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mollyfischfriedman's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Vomit

lizgriffinwords's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

This book/author came recommended by Adrienne Young as a great example of voice & timeline/POV jump “rule breaking” used effectively to paint a great mystery. Very much enjoyed this riveting tale with plentiful twists and suspicions thrown on several characters before the real criminals (past and present) are revealed.

Content warnings: parental abuse, gun violence, murder/death (including of a child), implied/perceived suicides

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent

rockshaw22's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

satuhurme's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Self harm, and Dementia

keirahelena_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Racial slurs

kponturo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder

fraeyalise's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Maybe I'm just not one for thrillers/mysteries, but the mysteries all seem contrived to me. 

The resolution of my mystery seemed to come out of nowhere precisely because the author gave absolutely no foreshadowing. And Ellie seems like an afterthought. Scott's character changed so fast it almost gave me whiplash.

 

Maybe my standards are just too high for mysteries. I did finish it, it was pretty easy to get through, but I'm left feeling more hollow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

booksof_fern's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol