The Survivors

This was a slow-burn mystery. The setting, the town, and the beach community made the story eerie and unique. Jane Harper's descriptions were vivid and impressive. It was like watching a movie.

The story was gripping and intriguing from the start. The community's secrets, lies, sad memories, and tragedies kept me invested in the book as everything unfolded. The layered characters, the mysteries, the emotions, the suspense, and the twists were interesting and very well done. The themes in it were intense and dark, the guilt and the grief were almost overwhelming at some points. I don't think this book will work for everyone.

I was suspicious of almost ALL the characters, so I wasn't sure what the ending would reveal. Unfortunately, I don't think the ending was what it could've been, it was a little rushed. The way it wrapped up felt close to anticlimatic, even though the ending made sense. I read The Survivors in February and I still think about this book. The atmospheric setting was that great. Apparently, an atmospheric, creepy, eerie setting really works for me.

Overall, a very suspenseful, slow, compelling, entertaining story. I definitely need to read more books written by Jane Harper.

Major trigger warnings: Dementia; Death; Grief; Loss of loved ones; Depression; Suicidal thoughts; Survivor's Guilt; Drowning

I have seen a lot of hype surrounding Jane Harper???s previous books, particularly The Dry. I knew that I should check them out as I enjoy a good mystery and all the reviews I had seen where full of praise. I decided to try out the latest release on Netgalley and I am so glad I did. Spoiler alert: a lot more praise coming from me.

Coming home dredges up deeply buried secrets???

Kieran Elliott???s life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home.

Kieran???s parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn. When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away???

Kieran hoped the numbness would set in soon. The ocean???s icy burn usually mellowed into something more neutral, but as the minutes ticked by he still felt cold. He Braced himself as a fresh wave broke against his skin. The water wasn???t even too bad, he told himself. Not at the tail end of the summer with the afternoon sun doing its best to take the edge off. Definitely goosebumps rather than the hypothermia. Kieran knew he had personally described water far colder than this as ???nice???. Only ever here in Tasmania, though, where sea temperatures surrounding the small island were relative.???

But no, Kieran was serious. Because all he could think of was Finn???s warning. If you???re in here at high tide, you are not coming out.

The Survivors continues Jane Harper's amazing run. From her debut, The Dry, up to now it has only been excellence. In this book we have a murder on the beach in a small tourist town. We have a few strong suspects and a possibility that this crime may be linked to events in the past. It's fast paced and gripping, not just because of the plot but also because of the characters and location.

Very similar to other of Harper's novels, which means well-written, fully-formed characters, a past tragedy informing the present-day mystery and setting that's a character itself-this time, one set not in the dry desert interior but a coastal town, with the water forming a sinister backdrop for a young woman's murder. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their crimes less bloody and more thought-provoking. Plenty of suspects to choose from and a poignant family story woven in as well.