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A review by aplace_inthesun
The Liars by Petronella McGovern
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Set against the backdrop of a northern New South Wales town, The Liars by Petronella McGovern was a gripping Australian noir book, involving environmental activism, LGBTQIA+ phobias, sexual assault, misogyny, and the role of mothering against the lure of a career.
Meri has been stuck in Kinton Bay her whole life, despite dreams of travelling the globe as a news journalist. Instead she's a small-time journalist at a small-town paper, writing only feel good stories to give a positive bent on the businesses that rely on the tourist dollar around town. When one of her twins Siena stumbles across a skull, Siena embarks upon a quest to expose the town's history, and ensure the local First Nations people have a platform for giving their own take on the history of the town. It ruffles a few feathers, and when the skull is discovered to be more recent than Siena anticipated, it becomes apparent there are locals who have been faking good for many years. Meri and her husband Rollo, Siena's father find they are at odds - Rollo wants to keep things quiet, Meri wants to follow the evidence and see where it leads.
This book had the elements of a great Australian noir novel. A strong sense of setting, interconnectedness between the multitude of involved characters, multiple characters to point the finger at, and layers and layers of misdirection and half-truths. It maintained my interest and I read this over two days.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for a copy of The Liars to review. All opinions are genuine and my own.
4.5 stars
Meri has been stuck in Kinton Bay her whole life, despite dreams of travelling the globe as a news journalist. Instead she's a small-time journalist at a small-town paper, writing only feel good stories to give a positive bent on the businesses that rely on the tourist dollar around town. When one of her twins Siena stumbles across a skull, Siena embarks upon a quest to expose the town's history, and ensure the local First Nations people have a platform for giving their own take on the history of the town. It ruffles a few feathers, and when the skull is discovered to be more recent than Siena anticipated, it becomes apparent there are locals who have been faking good for many years. Meri and her husband Rollo, Siena's father find they are at odds - Rollo wants to keep things quiet, Meri wants to follow the evidence and see where it leads.
This book had the elements of a great Australian noir novel. A strong sense of setting, interconnectedness between the multitude of involved characters, multiple characters to point the finger at, and layers and layers of misdirection and half-truths. It maintained my interest and I read this over two days.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for a copy of The Liars to review. All opinions are genuine and my own.
4.5 stars