Author: Jane Harper
Year Published: 2021
Category: Adult fiction (mystery)
Pages: 384
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location (my 2021 Google Reading map): Australia
Summary (from Amazon): 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...
This book takes place in Tasmania so it's nice to have a new location that is beach-oriented. Deep diving to see sunken ships, drownings, the sand, cliffs and caves, and beach shenanigans all playing a significant role in the story. There are lots of characters to keep track of, but it isn't overwhelming or complicated. I liked Kieran, our main character, and he is easy to empathize with. I like that his dad's dementia is present and the family's struggle is present and handled well. I also like the friendships that span back to high school for the main characters as they bring history into their present.
I did not figure out who committed the murder and that's always a good thing. There were a few possibilities in my mind and the truth wasn't any of them. But, it's a realistic (and sad) ending. I do think Harper did a great job of connecting the past, the present, the families, and friends. In fact, the title The Survivors, has a few meanings and they are all impactful. I can't say what they are since that would ruin the story.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Cloak and Dagger
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