Both sides of Luke’s person was painted so vividly, that it was easy to understand how quickly people could demonize him, but also be so enthralled by his attention. There were times I’d find reading about his attitude disturbing, but there was a magnetism and charm in the way that Harper wrote him that made his character so appealing. Also, unpopular opinion time but I also found myself liking Luke’s character.
I just really wanted to reach out and give him a hug most of the time (lol). His backstory and past connection to the town was so compelling, and it created such a well of sympathy in me for him. I found myself really invested in Aaron Falk’s character. There were those with the typical small town mentality, the usual assholes and douchebags, and the few good guys that made the town more bearable, which contributed to understanding what living in such a small ‘town’ would feel like where everyone knows each other and incidents from twenty years ago are still deeply etched in memories. The characters were complex with interesting backstories.
“To look out and see not another soul between you and the horizon could be a strange and disturbing sight.” Harper has created an almost tangible atmosphere with her vivid descriptions, which serve to add to the sense of wrongness that surrounds the town, and it is woven so brilliantly through all parts of the story. There’s no escape from the dry heat that seeks you out through every small crack and crevice. There’s a sluggishness and desperation in the people that’s been created as a result of their environment, and never has a spotless blue sky been so agonizing and terrifying. The pervasive drought that struck Kiewarra, the small Australian farming town where the story is set, and the surrounding area has sucked all the moisture out of the ground and most of the life out of its citizens. It’s definitely a slow burn murder mystery, so if you’re expecting a fast paced thriller, this isn’t for you but the journey was so worth it! What impressed me the most were her descriptions of the punishing temperatures of the Australian outback. With this book, Jane Harper has written such a spectacular story that drew me in completely from the start with her riveting and hypnotic prose. It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in years! …And with that little bout of nostalgia out of the way, let’s get to the review! 😬
Granted, I was also as city as you could get living and studying in Melbourne, but reading about the outback and the environment really brought out a familiar sense of longing for a home that I’ve missed. I’m surrounded by a lot of Australians here in Bali, so it’s not like I’ve missed the accent or the people or anything like that. There’s something about reading a story based in a country I used to live in for six incredible years that has struck a very nostalgic chord in me. Let me start of by saying WOW I absolutely loved this book.
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