scribepub's review against another edition
This book is fluently written around a story that is set squarely in the world that Anderson knows so well … Richard Anderson is a good writer and a good observer of human behaviour.
Dominion Post Weekend, Wellington
A captivating, incredibly well-written rural crime novel … At its core, Retribution is about punishment and vengeance – the dark things that people do to get what they want. But it’s also a book about the frailty of humans – our emotional vulnerability, and our innate desire to be loved and accepted … Retribution is a ripping thriller, deeply Australian, and an absolute must-read for all crime fans.
Better Reading
This powerful novel has thrills and emotions to spare … the evocation of dust and heat all come together for a tense tale of human emotions at their rawest. A genuine discovery and a unique voice.
Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time
If you like your crime hot, gritty and dusty then this gem, set in rural Australia, is for you … A fine tale that’ll have you sweating with its heat and intensity.
Jon Wise, Weekend Sport
[A] slow-burning thriller that reads like a neo-Western … vividly captures the vast, rugged landscape and the brutal intensity of the heat in the back country.
Declan Burke, The Irish Times
Richard Anderson is … a fine writer … In lucid, unflashy prose, he relates how the theft of a priceless mare, retribution, results in a human pile-up for five utterly believable characters, good, bad and ugly.
Saga
Retribution is a good one, different, unusual and a refreshing twist on crime fiction as a whole … Elegantly written, beautifully evocative of the sense of place, and people in it, Richard Anderson knows that of which he writes.
Aust Crime Fiction
Retribution is full of interesting texture, fresh characters, authentic rural issues, and an absorbing storyline.
Craig Sisterson, Crime Watch
A lovely elegiac book about a horse and an unlikely love affair between a couple of lonely misfits … the book is a triumph of the very best kind of gritty Aussie writing.
Listener
Dominion Post Weekend, Wellington
A captivating, incredibly well-written rural crime novel … At its core, Retribution is about punishment and vengeance – the dark things that people do to get what they want. But it’s also a book about the frailty of humans – our emotional vulnerability, and our innate desire to be loved and accepted … Retribution is a ripping thriller, deeply Australian, and an absolute must-read for all crime fans.
Better Reading
This powerful novel has thrills and emotions to spare … the evocation of dust and heat all come together for a tense tale of human emotions at their rawest. A genuine discovery and a unique voice.
Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time
If you like your crime hot, gritty and dusty then this gem, set in rural Australia, is for you … A fine tale that’ll have you sweating with its heat and intensity.
Jon Wise, Weekend Sport
[A] slow-burning thriller that reads like a neo-Western … vividly captures the vast, rugged landscape and the brutal intensity of the heat in the back country.
Declan Burke, The Irish Times
Richard Anderson is … a fine writer … In lucid, unflashy prose, he relates how the theft of a priceless mare, retribution, results in a human pile-up for five utterly believable characters, good, bad and ugly.
Saga
Retribution is a good one, different, unusual and a refreshing twist on crime fiction as a whole … Elegantly written, beautifully evocative of the sense of place, and people in it, Richard Anderson knows that of which he writes.
Aust Crime Fiction
Retribution is full of interesting texture, fresh characters, authentic rural issues, and an absorbing storyline.
Craig Sisterson, Crime Watch
A lovely elegiac book about a horse and an unlikely love affair between a couple of lonely misfits … the book is a triumph of the very best kind of gritty Aussie writing.
Listener
nighthawk1818's review against another edition
3.0
I was provided a review copy of this book.
Retribution by Richard Anderson is a third person, multiple perspective crime novel set in a small country town in Australia. The novel primarily tells the story of Graeme Sweetapple, a rancher who has had more bad times than good, and the things he does to improve his standing.
The pacing was a little inconsistent for me; at times the writing felt slow and meandering, but at others it seemed like we were skipping over parts of the story that would have been better off expanded upon. By the end, however, I found myself to be invested in the outcome of a few particular characters story arcs and felt the ending was a satisfying conclusion and tribute to the novel’s name.
Retribution by Richard Anderson is a third person, multiple perspective crime novel set in a small country town in Australia. The novel primarily tells the story of Graeme Sweetapple, a rancher who has had more bad times than good, and the things he does to improve his standing.
The pacing was a little inconsistent for me; at times the writing felt slow and meandering, but at others it seemed like we were skipping over parts of the story that would have been better off expanded upon. By the end, however, I found myself to be invested in the outcome of a few particular characters story arcs and felt the ending was a satisfying conclusion and tribute to the novel’s name.
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There wasn't enough tension, and the character's motives felt too grandiose to be believable. It just coasted along and came to an inevitable conclusion.
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