Reviews - Scrublands | The StoryGraph

474 reviews for:

Scrublands

Chris Hammer

3.71 AVERAGE

naomisglobalbooknook's review against another edition

3.5

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

3.5 stars

This book was decent enough...an engaging read, but there was a bit too much going on for me toward the last quarter of the book. Four different crimes all intertwined with each other...it leads to messiness and confusion for the reader.

ankarli's review against another edition

4.0

For me this book took a little to get into, but once I did fall into the groove of the narrative it was a whirlwind of activity. In fact, when I got to the end, it was hard to realise that in the timeline of our main character, Martin Scarsden, was less than two weeks between when he drove into Riversend to the the conclusion of the culminating event. And what a two weeks it was. There was fires (more than one), we had outlaw motorcycle clubs, we had dead bodies, a few people who aren't who they seem or say, and there were lies and untruths. And also the drought, and the heat - a spectre which hung over this dying country town, a scene of much misery but all along questions. Questions of why, and who, and how.

The book also raised questions about the reporting of media in this country. The media seemingly parked in the town and surrounds, after the second 'big event'. Hammer says in his acknowledgement that the media don't act as they do in the book, but I think considering this book is now a couple of years old. The media landscape has changed somewhat, and not always for the better.

The slow start for me may have been because of a lack of time to commit to more than a couple of pages per night, but towards the end I did not want to put it down. I think I will be adding Chris Hammer to be authors to be watched list.

chyneyee's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The buildup of the mystery and how the writer leads the reader to seek the truth are unquestionably brilliant at the beginning. However, the story was told at a slow pace, and it's getting complicated towards the end. The story was draggy, and messy and lost its interest when the writer kept adding more plot twists and side stories.

gregotheold's review against another edition

4.0

An excellent slow-burner.

I thought the pacing of this book was very good and also liked how the reader is drip fed just enough information to want to find out what happens next and also what really happened before.

I did find the relationships between the main character and others in the town to be ever so slightly stilted on occasion, but overall quite well crafted. The various plot twists and clues for the reader to pontificate upon are well engineered and intriguing enough to allow the reader to keep formulating a hypothesis as to what might really be the truth.

My only real criticism in the end, is how it was all tied-up: perhaps a little too neatly for my liking. I just didn't quite buy it. Also, I didn't believe the characterisations of some of the late-comers to the plot. My problem was that it felt to me that certain relationships that had soured became amicable again to suit the plot in a somewhat unrealistic manner. It didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story though.

Bottom-Line: I felt that it was a riveting good yarn and well worthy of the praise it has received.