| Publisher | Abacus |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 16 September 2021 |
| ISBN-10 | 0349143749 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0349143743 |
| Format | paperback |
| Pages | 384 |
| Price | £ 8.99 |
The Survivors
by
Keiran Elliot returns to his beachside hometown where a killing brings past events to the surface past and force him to re-examine the guilt he has been carrying for a decade.
Review
Jane Harper’s depiction of the parched Australian hinterland add significantly to the appeal of her books. The setting for her latest is a Tasmanian village, and again she has used the backdrop, in this case the sea and the beach resort that depends upon it, to create a powerful evocation of atmosphere.
Keiran Elliott, now 30, returns to the small town where he was raised to help his mother pack for a move. His father suffers from dementia and is to be put in a home. The return is problematic for Keiran because of the burden of guilt he carries for the death of his brother and a friend, who lost their lives at sea attempting to rescue Keiran when, as an 18-year-old, he was trapped on the rocks by an incoming tide.
Keiran, his wife Mia and baby Audrey call in at the beachside Surf and Turf to meet old friends Ash, Olivia and Sean; they also meet Bronte, a waitress who is sharing a house with Olivia. The next morning Bronte is found on the beach, strangled. Sean’s nephew Liam was the last person known to have seen her and is in the frame for her killing.
Although Keiran has been away for many years, old relationships are soon re-established and the past looms large, dragging at his spirits. However, a detective has been drafted in to help with the recent death and her investigation encompasses another death, this one at the time of the storm that killed Keiran’s brother. Her research reveals brings to light some previously obscure facts that greatly benefit Keiran and in return he is able to shed some light on recent events.
I couldn’t help feeling that there were one or two weak points in the plot, and if you tend to be picky about this kind of thing then your enjoyment might be significantly spoiled. Despite that, Harper does a good job bringing the environs to life, and small-town intensity of feeling is ably conveyed with plenty of gossip, local social media posts, inter-family spats and strained social interactions. This is a book where mileage will vary, with some finding enjoyment and others making for the hills, but either way, it is well done.
Keiran Elliott, now 30, returns to the small town where he was raised to help his mother pack for a move. His father suffers from dementia and is to be put in a home. The return is problematic for Keiran because of the burden of guilt he carries for the death of his brother and a friend, who lost their lives at sea attempting to rescue Keiran when, as an 18-year-old, he was trapped on the rocks by an incoming tide.
Keiran, his wife Mia and baby Audrey call in at the beachside Surf and Turf to meet old friends Ash, Olivia and Sean; they also meet Bronte, a waitress who is sharing a house with Olivia. The next morning Bronte is found on the beach, strangled. Sean’s nephew Liam was the last person known to have seen her and is in the frame for her killing.
Although Keiran has been away for many years, old relationships are soon re-established and the past looms large, dragging at his spirits. However, a detective has been drafted in to help with the recent death and her investigation encompasses another death, this one at the time of the storm that killed Keiran’s brother. Her research reveals brings to light some previously obscure facts that greatly benefit Keiran and in return he is able to shed some light on recent events.
I couldn’t help feeling that there were one or two weak points in the plot, and if you tend to be picky about this kind of thing then your enjoyment might be significantly spoiled. Despite that, Harper does a good job bringing the environs to life, and small-town intensity of feeling is ably conveyed with plenty of gossip, local social media posts, inter-family spats and strained social interactions. This is a book where mileage will vary, with some finding enjoyment and others making for the hills, but either way, it is well done.
Reviewed 25 June 2022 by Chris Roberts
