The Dry

The Dry by Jane Harper

Blog written by Lee

At our meeting there was only one reader who did not thoroughly enjoy The Dry by Jane Harper. Everyone else, those attending and those who couldn’t, all gave very positive feedback and ranked it one of the most easy and enjoyable reads we have chosen.

A good novel from a first time novelist, The Dry is set in the bush a few hours drive from Melbourne where the local famers have been enduring a drought for many years.  The first pages set the scene in the dry yellowing bush, where cattle and sheep are dying and the farmers are all on edge.   A perfect scenario for a tragic event.  What seems to be a murder-suicide by a local farmer has brought back vivid and unhappy memories when Aaron Falk returns at the request of Luke Hadler’s father to attend the funeral.  Tensions grow amongst the locals as Aaron investigates the deaths, he being a Federal Police Officer if only in the forensic accounting department.  All the elements of a good thriller are there, domestic violence, gambling, alcohol abuse, financial problems and the local rednecks, plus the blistering heat.

Jane Harper writes some compelling scenes through flash backs to explain the animosity felt towards Aaron as he goes about trying to piece together what had happened to cause this unexpected act of despair - suicide, or crime - murder.  While not being overly lavish with descriptions of the landscapes, her depictions of the townspeople is well managed and leads to several red herrings as the investigation continues.    Some readers spotted the perpetrator quickly, but others like myself were led astray and were surprised as all was revealed in the dramatic climax.   A page turner which rated well with our members, something a little different from our usual choices, that brings together too many tragic real life events that happen in our farming communities.


Jane Harper won the Indie Prize Book Award for 2017 for The Dry. She was born in England but moved to Australia at the age of eight and lived in country Victoria.

We rated The Dry an average of 8.7 out of 10.  It was also described as easy, suspenseful and enjoyable.  Our next book selection is Lincoln and The Bardo by George Saunders and will be at Sharon's on Wednesday May 31st.