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librarysilence's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
texasrambler's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised to learn that this was Shelley Burr's debut novel since it reads like the work of a more experienced writer. She does a wonderful job of slowly revealing details on her characters while always make sure you know just enough to keep turning pages.
The story itself doesn't seem remarkable even if the setting is. 19-years ago Evelyn McCreery disappeared from their farm house in the Australian Outback, forever uprooting the lives of her family and their community. Mina McCreery, Evelyn's sister, now runs a scaled-down version of the farm, but the ghost of her sister still lingers. Mina lives like a hermit, trying to avoid the occasional journalist or scammer who comes around promising to find her sister.
Which is why it's strange that when Lane Holland, a private investigator, comes around that he starts to make progress. Mina is reluctant to trust him, but he seems to put her more at-ease than others, especially when he makes clear that the multi-million dollar reward is what brought him. It seems refreshingly sincere.
But there's a lot more going on here.
To go any further is to spoil what makes the book a fun and fast read.
The story itself doesn't seem remarkable even if the setting is. 19-years ago Evelyn McCreery disappeared from their farm house in the Australian Outback, forever uprooting the lives of her family and their community. Mina McCreery, Evelyn's sister, now runs a scaled-down version of the farm, but the ghost of her sister still lingers. Mina lives like a hermit, trying to avoid the occasional journalist or scammer who comes around promising to find her sister.
Which is why it's strange that when Lane Holland, a private investigator, comes around that he starts to make progress. Mina is reluctant to trust him, but he seems to put her more at-ease than others, especially when he makes clear that the multi-million dollar reward is what brought him. It seems refreshingly sincere.
But there's a lot more going on here.
To go any further is to spoil what makes the book a fun and fast read.
cyn75's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
harleyglynn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
sarahlovettsreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
A real page turner.
I stayed up late because I just had to know!
I stayed up late because I just had to know!
julie_schoenberger's review against another edition
4.0
A great debut novel!
The story is set in a small outback town in Australia. There are a number of disappearances of young girls which have gone unsolved. This story is focused around the disappearance of Evelyn McCreery, one of those missing girls.
Evelyn’s twin sister, Mina, along with her parents, their town, and the country have spent their whole lives trying to determine what happened to Evelyn, & the other girls.
Lane Holland has also spent his life trying to find the lost girls, but his motivation is not the same as the missing girls families or the law.
This book is mysterious, it contains survivors guilt, and psychological triggers. It includes thrills & chills.
⚠️ CW! ⚠️: If serial killers, and especially child murderers, is a sensitive topic then this book may not be appropriate.
I enjoyed the author’s first novel. I look forward to exploring their future books.
Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me this book to review.
The story is set in a small outback town in Australia. There are a number of disappearances of young girls which have gone unsolved. This story is focused around the disappearance of Evelyn McCreery, one of those missing girls.
Evelyn’s twin sister, Mina, along with her parents, their town, and the country have spent their whole lives trying to determine what happened to Evelyn, & the other girls.
Lane Holland has also spent his life trying to find the lost girls, but his motivation is not the same as the missing girls families or the law.
This book is mysterious, it contains survivors guilt, and psychological triggers. It includes thrills & chills.
⚠️ CW! ⚠️: If serial killers, and especially child murderers, is a sensitive topic then this book may not be appropriate.
I enjoyed the author’s first novel. I look forward to exploring their future books.
Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me this book to review.
laurabearc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
ljm57's review against another edition
4.0
A debut in a now long line of Australian outback crime/mystery/murder fiction. One of my favourites in the genre as the characters and setting weren’t quite as stereotypical as many others I’ve read. I found both the plot and the interplay between the main characters very engrossing and couldn’t wait to get back to the book. Nineteen years ago, when Mina McCreery wast just 9 years old, her life was turned upside down when her twin sister was abducted from their shared bedroom on their vast sheep property. Her disappearance has never been solved. Mina now lives a quiet, almost reclusive life in the back-blocks having endured the tragic events that have defined her family, including the police investigation and the subsequent intrusion by media, as well as members of the public. Enter Lane Holland, a private investigator with a successful track record in closing unsolved missing persons cases. Lane has his own harrowing backstory and now needs the huge reward money on offer to set right not only his own life but that of his younger sister. Both Mina and Lane were likeable characters and their stories were a real page-turner for me.
scknitter's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderfully atmospheric crime drama set in a small town in the outback of Australia. The main characters were complex and not particularly likeable until the back story was revealed and you realized that each had lots of baggage to carry – from the time they were children. The more I read the more I felt sorry for them and understood why they acted as they did. I was surprised by how the story ended – but considering the whole atmosphere of the novel I really shouldn’t have been. This is a must read for fans of Jane Harper.