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timmytunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury
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
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
tibbarasden's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
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
smrankin5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Dementia, Death of parent, and Outing
melissa_b_67's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Incest, and Sexual violence
Minor: Pregnancy
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
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
- 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
Content warnings: parental abuse, gun violence, murder/death (including of a child), implied/perceived suicides
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent