tlaynejones's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Really great, human focused mystery perfect for fans of Jane Harper.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Infidelity, Gun violence, Child death, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
tricky's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For Mina, life altered in a way she never thought possible when her sister Evelyn disappeared 19 years ago. Those years meant plenty of media scrutiny, a dysfunctional family life and never being able to trust anyone. She has finally come a kind of normality when private investigator Lane Holland stirs up the past.
Burr's debut novel has been roundly lauded and the kudos is warranted. The book is a page turner, great pacing and an interesting premise. You have Mina who is dealing with the guilt, the pain and the accusations of not knowing what happened to her twin sister. She is also dealing with the expectations of carrying on the search that her mother begun. Lane's story is just as intriguing, initially with a motivation of wanting the reward money but morphs into something else.
While I enjoyed the story, I picked where this was heading pretty early on and was not surprised by the direction. Burr knows how to hook a reader and brings about a refreshing take on the crime genre.
Burr's debut novel has been roundly lauded and the kudos is warranted. The book is a page turner, great pacing and an interesting premise. You have Mina who is dealing with the guilt, the pain and the accusations of not knowing what happened to her twin sister. She is also dealing with the expectations of carrying on the search that her mother begun. Lane's story is just as intriguing, initially with a motivation of wanting the reward money but morphs into something else.
While I enjoyed the story, I picked where this was heading pretty early on and was not surprised by the direction. Burr knows how to hook a reader and brings about a refreshing take on the crime genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
thespinystacks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a fun and twisty read. I really enjoyed the vivid imagery of the desolate rural Australia.
Sometimes there were too many twists in the plot and I found it hard to keep up with who we were suspecting and not, but the plot was so fast paced it was quickly forgiven.
Sometimes there were too many twists in the plot and I found it hard to keep up with who we were suspecting and not, but the plot was so fast paced it was quickly forgiven.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Violence and Blood
kirstym25's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Child death, and Child abuse
bookishnookish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This kept me up at night, first reading it and the thinking about it.
Wake is set in a fictional town, Nannine, in Australia. Mina McCreery is a recluse whose twin sister, Evelyn, disappeared 19 years ago. Lane Holland is a private investigator who is trying to crack the most famous missing case so he can make ends meet for his sister and himself.
Mina and Lane have one thing in common that they are both hiding facts about themselves. Shelley Burr writes a fast-paced novel about a decades old cold case that has ties to many involved.
I felt deep empathy for Lane's character, because growing up the way he did couldn't have been easy and yet he tries to do the right thing for the sake of his sister, Lynnie. Both of them overcome their traumatic pasts to create a life for themselves and its enough to root for them.
There are quite heavy topics at play here in the form of domestic abuse, assault, murder, childhood trauma that are not discussed in too much detail, but the implication is there.
Wake is set in a fictional town, Nannine, in Australia. Mina McCreery is a recluse whose twin sister, Evelyn, disappeared 19 years ago. Lane Holland is a private investigator who is trying to crack the most famous missing case so he can make ends meet for his sister and himself.
Mina and Lane have one thing in common that they are both hiding facts about themselves. Shelley Burr writes a fast-paced novel about a decades old cold case that has ties to many involved.
I felt deep empathy for Lane's character, because growing up the way he did couldn't have been easy and yet he tries to do the right thing for the sake of his sister, Lynnie. Both of them overcome their traumatic pasts to create a life for themselves and its enough to root for them.
There are quite heavy topics at play here in the form of domestic abuse, assault, murder, childhood trauma that are not discussed in too much detail, but the implication is there.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Addiction
rachaelreads92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
G. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel. It is soooo good! I loved this book. I honestly did not expect many of the twists and turns and was kept on the tip of my toes for much of the book. I really connected to all of the characters and really wanted them all to get a happy ending.
This gave me "The Dry" by Jane Harper vibes. Except a little less graphic. Both will go down as two of my favourite Australian mystery thrillers.
This gave me "The Dry" by Jane Harper vibes. Except a little less graphic. Both will go down as two of my favourite Australian mystery thrillers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
proceduralbob's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
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