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The Dry: A Novel Audio CD – CD, Jan. 10 2017
麻豆区
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM IFC FILMS STARRING ERIC BANA
*INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*
*Winner of the CWA's Gold Dagger Award**Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award*
“A breathless page-turner, driven by the many revelations Ms. Harper dreams up…You’ll love [her] sleight of hand…A secret on every page.” ―The New York Times
“One of the most stunning debuts I've ever read… Every word is near perfect.” ―David Baldacci
A small town hides big secrets in The Dry, an atmospheric debut mystery by award-winning author Jane Harper.
After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.
Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMacmillan Audio
- Publication dateJan. 10 2017
- Dimensions2.54 x 2.54 x 2.54 cm
- ISBN-101250117607
- ISBN-13978-1250117601
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Product description
Review
"Debut author Jane Harper's fine prose and narrator Steven Shanahan's expert delivery combine for a transcendent Australian noir experience."
-AudioFile Magazine
"The setting is so extraordinarily vivid that the overwhelming heat and dusty dryness are almost palpable. This, along with the skillful turns of the plot, make the novel outstanding... the choice of a distinctly Australian reader to tell the story adds to its reality. His semi-voiced, crisp. deliberate speech reflects the mood and authenticity of this audio experience." -SoundCommentary.com
"...narrator Stephan Shanahan’s Australian accent is making me consider jumping ship to audio for the rest of the books!" -BookRiot
“Harper’s devastating debut…spins a suspenseful tale of sound and fury as riveting as it is horrific.”
―Publishers Weekly, starred and boxed review
"One of the most stunning debuts I've ever read. I could feel the searing heat of the Australia setting. Every word is near perfect. The story builds like a wave seeking the purchase of earth before it crashes down and wipes out everything you might have thought about this enthralling tale. Read it!"
―David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guilty
“A stunner…It’s a small-town, big-secrets page-turner with a shocker of an ending…Recommend this one to fans of James Lee Burke and Robert Crais, who mix elements of “bromance” into their hard-boiled tales.”
―Booklist, starred review
"With The Dry, Jane Harper immediately takes her place among the elites in the mystery world. If this book doesn't garner an Edgar (Best First Novel) or two (Best Novel), there is no justice. Terrific characters, unique and evocative setting, knockout plot construction. This book has it all."
―John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of The Fall
"It’s extremely rare and exciting to read a debut that enthralls from the very first page and then absolutely sticks the landing. Told with heart and guts and an authentic sense of place that simply cannot be faked, The Dry is the debut of the year.”
―C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Off The Grid
"Every so often a debut novel arrives that is so tightly woven and compelling it seems the work of a novelist in her prime. That's what Jane Harper has given us with The Dry, a story so true to setting and tone it seemed I fell asleep in Virginia only to wake in Australian heat. It's rare, that sense of transportation, and I loved every minute of it. Thank you, Jane Harper."
―John Hart, New York Times bestselling author of Redemption Road
“From the first paragraph onward, Jane Harper creates a menacing landscape out of which long-held secrets emerge.The Dry is a marvelous novel that once begun is hard to put down, once finished even harder to forget.”
―Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of Serena
“You will feel the heat, taste the dust and blink into the glare. The Dry is a wonderful crime novel that shines a light into the darkest corner of a sunburnt country.”
―Michael Robotham, New York Times bestselling author of Life or Death
“Every now and then an Australian crime novel comes along to stop your breath and haunt your dreams…There is about The Dry something mythic and valiant. This a story about heroism, the sins of the past, and the struggle to atone.”
―Sydney Morning Herald
“A razor-sharp crime yarn dripping in the sights, sounds and smells of the Australian bush…The storytelling is accomplished, with a bald sparseness to the writing that draws you in and characterization that rings resoundingly true…as the action twists and turns, the pace build[s] to a fantastic finale that will leave you breathless.”
―Australian Women’s Weekly
“A tightly plotted page-turner that kept me reading well into the night…Harper shines a light on the highs and lows of rural life – the loyalty born of collective endurance in adversity, as well as the loneliness and isolation, and the havoc wrought by small-town gossip. She also explores the nature of guilt and regret, and the impact of the past on the present. In this cracker of a book Harper maintains the suspense, with the momentum picking up as it draws to its nerve-wracking conclusion.”
―Australian Financial Review
“The Dry is a page-turner written with a maturity of style rarely seen in a first-time novelist and it’s here the writer excels. Harper’s exploration of the pressures of a small town where people are not able to escape the past is thoughtful and mature. Her plot twists and layering are intricate and subtle and keep you guessing to the end while the townspeople grow on you despite their dirty secrets.”
―The West Australian
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Macmillan Audio
- Publication date : Jan. 10 2017
- Edition : Unabridged
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 1250117607
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250117601
- Dimensions : 2.54 x 2.54 x 2.54 cm
- Book 1 of 3 : Aaron Falk
- 麻豆区 Rank: #20 in Australian & Oceania Literature
- #248 in Small Town & Rural Fiction
- #406 in Police Procedurals (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Jane Harper is the author of The Dry, winner of various awards including the 2015 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, the 2017 Indie Award Book of the Year, the 2017 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year Award and the CWA Gold Dagger Award for the best crime novel of 2017. Rights have been sold in 27 territories worldwide, and film rights optioned to Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea. Jane worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK and lives in Melbourne.
Customer reviews
Customers say
Customers find the content well-written, enjoyable, and compelling. They also appreciate the surprising ending and the Australian context that captures the true spirit of rural Australia. Readers describe the plot as great and keeping them guessing. However, opinions are mixed on the pacing, with some finding it moving along at a good pace and others saying it doesn't move at breakneck speed.
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Customers find the book well-written, enjoyable, and compelling. They say it's an excellently written mystery and page-turning novel. Readers also mention it's a good summertime read and keeps their interest the whole way through.
"This is a terrific, atmospheric crime novel/police procedural. The characters are well developed and believable. There are a number of suspects...." Read more
"I would have actually given this book a 4.5. It is well written, has great character development and a surprising ending...." Read more
"I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful novel with its great character development, a fascinating plot, and great tension-building writing techniques..." Read more
"An enjoyable read with many twists and turns." Read more
Customers find the ending surprising.
"...It is well written, has great character development and a surprising ending...." Read more
"...I liked the ending and will recommend to all fans of a good thriller and to everyone who wants to learn more for the life of Southern Australia." Read more
"A great book, a surprise ending. I was ready to read the end in the last 50 pages to see. Glad I waited, keeps you wondering." Read more
"Yes, it moved along at a good pace, good character development and decent ending." Read more
Customers appreciate the Australian context of the book. They mention it captures the true spirit of rural Australia and describes it accurately.
"...Jane Harper describes rural Australia accurately and draws you into the mental anguish that accompanies a never ending drought...." Read more
"...Good story, well told. Enjoyed it and the Australian background." Read more
"...with a writing style that draws the reader in and captures the true spirit of rural Australia." Read more
Customers find the plot great and well-constructed. They say it keeps them guessing.
"Great mystery! I wish that the town had to eat their prejudice a bit more at the end but otherwise I really enjoyed it." Read more
"...This is a well constructed novel which kept me guessing. I read it in one day, rarely moving from my seat...." Read more
"Great mystery, with the Australian landscape a character woven in...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it moves along at a good pace, while others say the plot doesn't move at breakneck speed.
"Yes, it moved along at a good pace, good character development and decent ending." Read more
"...Jane Harper is a good writer. However, the plot moved rather slowly for me and some of the plot developments I could see coming...." Read more
"...The book moves forward at a good pace and kept me wanting to turn the page. Well done" Read more
"...Although the plot doesn’t move at breakneck speed, it nevertheless holds your attention and keeps you in that ‘feel good’ state of wonder and..." Read more
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on May 25, 2017Verified PurchaseThis is a terrific, atmospheric crime novel/police procedural. The characters are well developed and believable. There are a number of suspects. Even if you guess who committed the crime, you are unlikely to guess the motive until it is revealed. There is a major clue in plain sight which I missed. Very clever. It is hard to comprehend that this is a debut novel.
The story takes place in a small, rural agricultural town in Australia during the worst drought in memory. Crops have failed, resulting in loss of income and family farms. The surrounding bush land is so dry the whole town might go up in flames.
Almost 20 years before, teenaged Aaron left town under a cloud of suspicion. A young girl, a friend of Aaron drowned, and he was accused of her murder. His best friend, Luke, gave them both an alibi so Aaron was never charged.
Now Aaron is a financial investigator with the Melbourne police department. He has been invited back to the town where he grew up by Luke's father to attend Luke's funeral. There is also an ominous note: " I know you both lied." The community is in shock and turmoil compounded by the relentless heat. It seems that Luke went on a horrific rampage, shooting his wife who was a beloved local teacher, his young son and himself. Did he go berserk due to financial problems with his farm, or some other reason?
Aaron's arrival is greeted with hostility and downright hatred by some people of the town. Luke's father asks the reluctant Aaron to stay and investigate what happened and why. He joins forces with a new police officer, Sergeant Raco, who was assigned to investigate the crime. Both begin to believe there is something suspicious about the killings.
The author avoids the frequent mistake of introducing too many characters in the story. The ones we do meet all come under suspicion. This is a well constructed novel which kept me guessing. I read it in one day, rarely moving from my seat. I have seen that this is the first book in a series. Can't wait!!
- Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2017Verified PurchaseI would have actually given this book a 4.5. It is well written, has great character development and a surprising ending. Jane Harper describes rural Australia accurately and draws you into the mental anguish that accompanies a never ending drought. The book moves forward at a good pace and kept me wanting to turn the page. Well done
- Reviewed in Canada on January 1, 2020Verified PurchaseEntertaining book! First, I was intrigued by the settings of the dry season in Southern Australia. For a person who survives 6 months winter in Canada, was interesting to learn about the life of the farmers in Australia.
Well written book as well, I was able to connect with the character of Aaron Falk and how he relived his childhood after coming back to attend the funeral of his childhood friend. The heat of the thriller was slow but steady and kept my attention. I liked the ending and will recommend to all fans of a good thriller and to everyone who wants to learn more for the life of Southern Australia.
- Reviewed in Canada on January 17, 2018Verified PurchaseI have to admit, I was a bit disappointed.
Certainly a promising premise. Set in small town rural Australia, in the midst of severe drought, pushing people to the emotional limits and the local farmers near financial brinkmanship, a local farmer, Lukem well known and generally well liked in the town for no obvious reason kills himself after killing his wife and son but sparing his infant daughter.
The death brings back Aaron Falk, a detective in Melbourne, specializing in financial crimes, because he grew up in the town and Luke, at one time, was his best friend. The murder/suicide of Luke and his family also brings up other painful memories of the town and for Aaron. 20 years ago a teenage girl went missing, and a friend of both Luke and Aaron. Her body was found drowned in a nearby river. Aaron was implicated in her death on circumstancial evidence, but Luke provided him an ailibi. But the suspicion lingered and ultimately drove Aaron and his father out of town.
Aaron thought he and Luke were the only ones who new his secret. But after coming back to town, he's not so sure. And it turns out he's not the only one holding on to secrets...
Jane Harper is a good writer. However, the plot moved rather slowly for me and some of the plot developments I could see coming. In the end, I guess her writing, simply wasn't enough to offset the slowness of the plot for me.
However, I would like to see some more from her.
- Reviewed in Canada on June 27, 2023Verified PurchaseEnjoyed the storyline
- Reviewed in Canada on January 31, 2018Verified PurchaseI thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful novel with its great character development, a fascinating plot, and great tension-building writing techniques sprinkled throughout the chapters. Although the plot doesn’t move at breakneck speed, it nevertheless holds your attention and keeps you in that ‘feel good’ state of wonder and suspense.
I especially appreciated the added bonus of reading two enthralling and intertwined storylines, as past and present-day mysteries unfolded concurrently. Looking forward to more from novels from Jane Harper.
- Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2021Verified PurchaseAn enjoyable read with many twists and turns.
- Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2024Verified PurchaseWell-written mystery with unexpected twists in plot. Worth the read. I will read this author again.
Top reviews from other countries
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P. OudshoornReviewed in the Netherlands on June 12, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Schitterend debuut
Verified PurchaseThe Dry is een heerlijke leeservaring. Twee verhalen door elkaar gevlochten in een desolaat Australisch stadje. Falk is een nieuwe ster. Een tweede boek komt eraan ! Hoera.
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Silke S.Reviewed in Germany on November 11, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Das Outback
Verified PurchaseDies ist mein Lieblingsbuch der Autorin. Als halbe Australierin bin ich selbst mit dem Outback vertraut, jedoch natürlich nicht in dieser Intensit?t. Das Buch ist sehr atmosph?risch und die Charaktere gut gezeichnet. Das Ende habe ich nicht kommen sehen. Empfehlenswert!
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Neusa Pereira da SilvaReviewed in Brazil on September 14, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars surpreendente
Verified Purchase?tima caracteriza??o da personalidade dos diversos personagens.
Detalhada e rica narrativa sobre vida em cidade pequena.
Final nada óbvio e bastante surpreendente.
- Ian B.Reviewed in France on July 7, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly crafted atmospheric thriller
Verified PurchaseA gripping thriller in the Australian outback, brilliantly depicted in seemingly effortless fashion by the author. Thanks to her limpid prose and highly visual style, you can not only picture the vast dry expanses of the outback, but you can feel the heat and smell the very earth that lies at the heart of the novel. Highly recommended!
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MayReviewed in Japan on January 21, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars 静かなミステリー
Verified Purchaseオーストラリア、メルボルンでFederal Agentとして働くAaron。謎の死を遂げた親友のLukeの葬儀に出席するために町に戻ってくる。その町は、Aaronが20年前に、ある事件で殺人の疑いをかけられ、事件は謎のまま、人々の冷たい視線に耐えられず、父親と逃げるように捨てた町だった。
日照りで川も乾き、暑いオーストラリアの空気が伝わってくるような田舎町で、过去の未解决事件と尝耻办别一家の谜の死を络めて、淡々とミステリーが解决していきます。
ミステリーに加え础补谤辞苍と尝耻办别の秘密、青春时代の男女の微妙な関係、甘酸っぱい思い出も切なく描かれています。
アッというような意外性のあるミステリーではありませんが、デビュー作でありながら、ベストセラーというのも纳得です。