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Customer Review
- Reviewed in Canada on May 25, 2017This 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!!
