Aaron Falk is in town to celebrate the christening of his godson, when the subject of Kim’s disappearance comes up. It’s a case that weighs heavily on this tight-knit community and Aaron is asked to investigate the case in an unofficial capacity.

Jane Harper scrive thriller particolari, che si distinguono: c’è poca violenza e poco sangue, pochi morti; c’è un fatto, o più, del passato che stende ali di colpa e inquietudine sul presente; c’è un presente che va sistemato riconciliandosi col passato, risolvendo cosa e come è davvero successo tempo prima. Aaron Falk has a lot of baggage, which he is also working to resolve. And I became more than a little frustrated with him over his indecision and often inept pursuit of Gemma when it seemed clear they should get together. But Falk, a mixture of subtlety and pathos, is a character I liked immediately and seems a real person. Harper also expertly fleshes out the rest of the cast who seem like people I can easily imagine might inhabit rural Australia. All are relatable and I felt like I got to know all the characters well by the end of the book. Unlike other Australian authors I’ve read, who use descriptions of the Australian landscape to establish a sense of place, Harper relies more (at least in this book) on using the Australian manner of speech in both dialogue and inner thoughts of the characters to accomplish that. It’s effective and makes the reader aware the story takes place in Australia, yet perhaps not as effectively as Australian writers, who descriptively transform the sense of place into almost a character in its own right. The Australian Mystery Road movies and television series are good examples of this. And I’ve read several novels where the authors used similar techniques in their prose. Harper’s technique isn’t necessarily bad, just different. Kim Gillespie vanished over a year ago leaving her baby in her pram. Kim had not been found and there have been no clues or explanation as to why she would leave her baby behind. Everyone who knows her claims this is out of character for her. She was a devoted mother.As ever, Falk is introspective. With the dynamics of the cases and his romantic life combined with the constant push and pull of memories, including those of his relationship with his father, Harper highlights Falk's vulnerable side. Federal Investigator Aaron Falk is on his way to a small town deep in Southern Australian wine country for the christening of an old friend’s baby. But mystery follows him, even on vacation. Once again Harper proves that she is peerless in creating an avalanche of suspense with intimate, character-driven set pieces that are as learn about the seemingly dangerous reservoir; get depictions of the annual teen drinking party, where the kids get blotto; and more. Every book has an uncertain outcome – but every now and then, due to a strange alchemy that publishers wish they could bottle, a megahit emerges. Thanks in large part to the Dry, Harper has sold 1.5m books in Australia and 3.5m worldwide. The Dry also became a hit film in 2020, starring Eric Bana as Falk. The Dry is now the 15th highest-grossing Australian movie ever; another adaptation is in the pipeline for Harper’s second Falk novel, Force of Nature, which will also star Bana.

An outstanding novel, a brilliant mystery and a heart-pounding read from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors. No spoilers here but I will tell you that there is more than one mystery to solve and also a budding romance, or two!! Aaron may have some important lifestyle decisions to make as he spends time in this beautiful wine country and meets a very special woman. The pace here is certainly much slower than Melbourne!!

Harper’s writing is very descriptive and she does make it easy to envision each scene. She also does a good job of mixing the personal life of the MC with the mystery.

I loved Jane Harper’s debut novel The Dry and was happy to see the return of her beloved character Aaron Falk… Harper’s vivid depictions of Australia make for a rich, moody and atmospheric reading experience.” Joining the celebrations is federal investigator Aaron Falk. But as he soaks up life in the lush valley, he begins to suspect this tight-knit group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk's closest friend, a missing mother and a woman he's drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge.

What is Jane Harper's latest novel?

This is a slow burn crime story. While I am quite comfortable with slow pace, it feels quite different from the earlier two as the pace for nearly 60% of the book is far slower than in the other two books. What I did not much like though is the introduction of some character behaviours in the later part of the book, which is now usual in psychological thrillers and is becoming a silly & painful pattern. The plot elements are however, very strong and I liked how the last sections closed on the two mysteries in the book. The descriptions of the locales, as in the previous books is excellent. Aaron Falk’s character, as in the previous books is very well developed, nuanced and a treat to read.