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A review by snugglesandpages
Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
DIRT TOWN unfolds in 2001 in the isolated Australian country town of Durton, where the disappearance of 12-year-old Esther Bianchi has shaken the community to its core.
The novel unfolds through multiple perspectives, each offering a nuanced glimpse into the town's intricate dynamics. Esther's mother, Constance, navigates grief and despair, while Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels grapples with personal flaws amid the investigation.
I found Ronnie and Lewis' chapters particularly compelling because they shed light on the complex web of relationships and emotions intertwined with Esther's disappearance. One of the novel's distinctive features is the use of a Greek chorus-like perspective from the town's children, collectively referred to as "We", which lends an eerie sense of foreboding to the narrative.
Something unexpected for me was the profound sense of nostalgia I experienced while reading this book. It transported me back to my own childhood: hiding Mamee Noodles and playing Power Rangers with my friends during lunch (Captain Planet was also a favourite). It reminded me of the innocence and freedom (naivety) of those times.
Hayley adeptly navigates themes of loss, innocence, and the complexities of human emotions under pressure. Her vivid descriptions breathe life into Durton as a character itself, haunted by its murky past and uncertain future.
I recommend DIRT TOWN for readers seeking a character-driven, slow burn mystery with evocative prose and atmospheric storytelling.
The novel unfolds through multiple perspectives, each offering a nuanced glimpse into the town's intricate dynamics. Esther's mother, Constance, navigates grief and despair, while Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels grapples with personal flaws amid the investigation.
I found Ronnie and Lewis' chapters particularly compelling because they shed light on the complex web of relationships and emotions intertwined with Esther's disappearance. One of the novel's distinctive features is the use of a Greek chorus-like perspective from the town's children, collectively referred to as "We", which lends an eerie sense of foreboding to the narrative.
Something unexpected for me was the profound sense of nostalgia I experienced while reading this book. It transported me back to my own childhood: hiding Mamee Noodles and playing Power Rangers with my friends during lunch (Captain Planet was also a favourite). It reminded me of the innocence and freedom (naivety) of those times.
Hayley adeptly navigates themes of loss, innocence, and the complexities of human emotions under pressure. Her vivid descriptions breathe life into Durton as a character itself, haunted by its murky past and uncertain future.
I recommend DIRT TOWN for readers seeking a character-driven, slow burn mystery with evocative prose and atmospheric storytelling.