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A review by annie_brewer
The Dry by Jane Harper
mysterious
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.25
Read via audiobook (Wavesound from W. F. Howes Ltd)
A solid mystery! Really enjoyed the small town atmosphere, very accurate of rural Australia.
I appreciate that the police work was mostly just collecting the information through questioning. The barrier to get people talking was excellently conveyed, but the solving of the case felt achievable once all the information was acquired. This seemed like a very accurate representation of how cases with limited resources could be resolved albeit doesn't provide the reader with an overly satisfying revelation.
I did find that Falk was a very average protagonist. He seemed to not have any motivations, nor large personality flaws, and was overall a bit underwhelming. The secondary characters were also a bit basic, but maybe were written to be reserved to add to the tension within the novel in regards to the drought, financial struggles and the distrust of the protagonist.
This was quite a slow paced read, but the duel timeline mystery of Falk's past was very interesting and kept me hooked.
Excited to read the next installments! Hopefully we learn a bit more about Falk and he becomes more developed.
A solid mystery! Really enjoyed the small town atmosphere, very accurate of rural Australia.
I appreciate that the police work was mostly just collecting the information through questioning. The barrier to get people talking was excellently conveyed, but the solving of the case felt achievable once all the information was acquired. This seemed like a very accurate representation of how cases with limited resources could be resolved albeit doesn't provide the reader with an overly satisfying revelation.
I did find that Falk was a very average protagonist. He seemed to not have any motivations, nor large personality flaws, and was overall a bit underwhelming. The secondary characters were also a bit basic, but maybe were written to be reserved to add to the tension within the novel in regards to the drought, financial struggles and the distrust of the protagonist.
This was quite a slow paced read, but the duel timeline mystery of Falk's past was very interesting and kept me hooked.
Excited to read the next installments! Hopefully we learn a bit more about Falk and he becomes more developed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction