Jane Harper: The Survivors, Little Brown UK, 9781408711989, January 202, hardback

Jane Harper is a brilliant crime writer, a CWA Golden Dagger award winner and I am always excited about anything new she writes. Along with Garry Disher, she superbly portraits what is called the Australian Outback noir. Both authors’ books I devour as I did with Jane Harpers upcoming book “The Survivors”, out in January 2021, which I had the privilege to read as a proof (thank you Little Brown UK!) , set in Tasmania for a change.

Her subtle description of the dark psychological undercurrents running through families and small towns is always intriguing and slowly builds up to an unexpected.

Kieran Elliott has spent most of his adult life feeling guilty about his part in the drowning death of his older brother Finn and his boat partner during a terrible storm after making a thoughtless mistake.  When he and his girlfriend Mia and their baby daughter return from Sydney to visit his parents who still live in the coastal town he once called home, the strong feeling of guilt haunts him even more particularly after the body of a young art student called Bronte who has been working as a waitress for the summer is found murdered by the beach. Bronte’s death stirs up memories of yet another unresolved death of his friend Olivia’s younger sister Gabby, who also disappeared during the great storm but whose body was never found.

I love it how seemingly benign Jane Harper starts her narration and how cleverly she peels away layers of secrets unearthing new truths until the bitter end. Not an outback setting this time but I thought all characters, like those of detectives Sue Pendlebury and Constable Chris Renn or Kieran’s family and friends, where well drawn out leaving various options open until the very end, four stars from me. 

 

William Boyd: Trio, Penguin Viking UK, 9780241295960, C format Export Paperback,

 

William Boyd is one of my favorite English contemporary writers and “Any Human Heart” and “Sweet Caress” are on my shelf of all-time favorite books.  Needless to say, I was really looking forward to reading his latest work “Trio” which is set 1968 Brighton but to my great disappointment I found myself dragging through the read. The  book did not have me fully engaged most of the time; after page 180 my interest picked up somewhat but “Trio” is one of his weaker books in my opinion, I hate to say this of an author I really like.  

Three protagonists are at the center of the novel, they are all connected through a film project that is shot in Brighton during the swinging sixties. My main problem with the novel was that I never really felt connected to any of the main characters, particularly true of the female characters who all come across as weak and with serious mental issues.  Anny Viklund is the star of the film, a beautiful actress with a string of men at her disposal but currently having an affair with Troy, her co-star in the film.  Elfrida Wing, a successful writer with a 10 year writer’s block and a serious alcohol problem is the wife of film director Reggie who is constantly having love interests on the side. Interestingly the best developed and most interesting character I found was the male figure, Talbot, the cunning producer of the film who like Anny and Elfrida, is hiding private secrets and conducting a separate life hidden from everyone else working on the film.  His role in the book was the one that made me want to continue reading when I became disengaged.

For those of you who like me love William Boyd’s work I would say read it and form your own opinion but I hope his next book is one that has my full enthusiasm again. What does have my full approval however is the great cover, love it!