THE SURVIVORS BY JANE HARPER

PLOT SUMMARY:

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...

MY REVIEW:

This was my first book by Jane Harper and I can happily say that I would read more from her. The writing was beautifully atmospheric and transported you to the serene sea side town of Evelyn Bay in Tasmania.

The Survivors is a story of tragedy, loss and grief. What appears to be a picture perfect and tranquil seaside escape is in fact a small community that have been shaken by tragedy over the previous years. From shipwrecks to tragic drowning, the people of Evelyn Bay know loss better than would appear.

This thriller is slow paced and very character driven. Harper creates a fantastic atmosphere that completely immerses the reader. We can so vividly picture ourselves walking along the beach, barefoot in the sand. The wind through our hair and that scent of saltiness that lingers in the air. The idea of The Survivors is amazing and I can imagine how breath taking and impressive they would look in real life. Surrounded by water and constantly a reminder of loss and life that comes with a tragedy. The writing is so beautifully descriptive and is definitely the winning factor for me in this book.

The characters are the heart of this book. Each of them have their own story and all have a distinct role to play in unravelling a new mystery and tragedy that has struck this small community. From Ash's strong and outspoken personality, to Verity's maternal protectiveness, to Kieran's struggle to come to terms with his past, they all come through so strongly and you get to know them on a deep level as the story develops.

So, overall the feedback is great but the reason why I knocked it down to 7 is because the mystery/plot didn't grip me. I didn't feel like I was on the edge of my seat and that's what I really enjoy about a thriller. I guess I'm more of a fan of a fast paced, heart racing story that has twists and turns throughout. That saying, I didn't guess the end, which is always a good sign! I did feel like the end came and went very quickly though, it would have been nice if it was a little longer and we potentially saw some of the aftermath.

Big thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this pre publication. I will definitely be reading more from Harper!

IN 3 WORDS/PHRASES:

Atmospheric

Easy Read

Strong Characters

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

'Are they supposed to be happy or sad?...I mean, is it a celebration of the people who made it, or a memorial to the ones who didn't?'

FAVOURITE CHARACTER:

Olivia, she was a really strong character who I would have liked to meet in real life.

OVERALL RATING:

7/10