The Survivors is the first standalone novel by Jane Harper, after the success of her Aaron Falk series.
The Survivors was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection and a Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller.
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Plot
Kieran Elliott is back in his hometown to help his mum and dad prepare for a big move. The small coastal town he once called home is full of memories and regrets. 12 years ago a reckless mistake led to the death of his brother and friend, and a local girl was lost in a huge storm. The guilt has followed Kieran throughout his life and intensifies now he’s back home.
When a young woman is discovered dead on the beach, the small town’s secrets begin to unravel and questions are asked about what really happened that night 12 years ago.
The Survivors Book Review
I really enjoyed this book. I love a character-driven mystery and this one was done so well.
There were a lot of characters to get to know but it was never confusing. The author describes them so well I could visualise them all clearly and I loved that I never really knew who to trust. However, I did find I didn’t care about any of the characters to the extent I have in other novels. It wasn’t that they were particularly unlikeable or poorly developed, I just didn’t feel an emotional connection to any of them. Having said that, the parts focusing on Kieran’s dad’s dementia were very well done and the sadness and hopelessness expressed by the family felt achingly familiar.
I really enjoyed the setting, a small Tasmanian coastal town. It enabled the author to focus not only on the mystery at the centre of the story but also to explore the family drama, romance and friendship amongst the characters.
It was a really atmospheric read, especially in the sections in and about the caves. As someone with claustrophobia, I found some of these moments unsettling to read. The small community was full of secrets, rivalries and resentments and I loved how the author drip-fed us clues throughout. The events of 12 years ago were expertly weaved into the present-day narrative without any confusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading Jane Harper’s other novels.
What to read next
I would definitely recommend reading Jane Harper’s other standalone novel, The Lost Man. The Aaron Falk series was also absolutely brilliant, so I would definitely suggest reading all three of the books in the series.
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