March 2021

I love books that bring me to a part of the world that I know little about, especially during the pandemic. That is what Jane Harper has done with THE SURVIVORS. While it is her fourth thriller, it is the first that I have read.

Set in Tasmania, the book braids a tragedy from decades ago with a recent one. Kieran Elliott and his wife are back in their hometown for a visit, as his parents are preparing to downsize following his father's diagnosis with Alzheimer's.

It's a small town where everyone knows each other, and their secrets. Decades earlier, Kieran’s brother and another friend died at sea in an incident that is blamed on him, which is a burden he has carried. A young girl also perished in that same brutal storm.

Shortly after his arrival back in town, another girl is found dead on the beach. This leads people to relive the past with all of the questions and finger-pointing that one may expect.

Jane chooses a setting carefully, as it drives her storytelling. I am looking forward to reading more from her.

Curious to hear more? Watch or listen to my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Jane.