Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Dry

Uma história muito bem escrita e que prende muito a atenção, até a última página. Não tive a mínima ideia de quem era culpado e a revelação foi bombástica, me surpreendi

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zeevee93's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5/5 - Hands down the best book I’ve read this year.

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.

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tibbarasden's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. It does have the darker theme of a child being murdered and child abuse, so keep that in mind if it is a trigger warning. The plot did stall a bit midway, and some some side characters got a little lost. I did enjoy the setting and the main character. I liked the addition of the drought to the storyline. I personally did not see the twist coming for the present-day plot and the who done it. I did have my suspicions on the mystery of the past, which proved out. Though how that was wrapped up was very anticlimactic and rushed, while at the same time not being fully resolved. The outcome of the present-day plot felt a little forced. Not a bad read, but it definitely didn't wow me.

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marleens's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was an outstanding book. Books like this with a police main character trying to solve a crime, can be so hit or miss. And sometimes they start to feel samey. But this was absolutely excellent. Aaron Falk was a great MC, with a history and personality that tied really well into the setting and plot. I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere, and all the characters we met along the way. Had my suspicions about how things had happened, some were right, some weren’t. Just as I like it. Most importantly it was very well written and paced. I flew through it in a couple of days and will definitely read more of Harper’s works!

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