” They met by the headstone. Nathan knew he would have to
look down at some point. He delayed the moment by opening his mouth.”
When I heard the author of The Dry and Force of Nature had
another novel published, I was chomping at the bit to get a copy. Thanks to the
sheer height of my ‘to be read’ pile, I’ve only just got around to it. Let me
start by saying how much I missed Aaron Falk as a character and it took a while
for me to get into the rhythm of this standalone novel. Was it, I wondered,
because the protagonist wasn’t a particularly charming bloke? Was it the fact
that the other two books were so good? Personally,
I think both statements ring true. Nevertheless, I persisted, and it really was
worth it in the end.
While the novel commences with the death of Cameron in the
outback, it takes quite a while before, as a reader, I felt particularly
invested in the mystery behind that outcome. The jury was out on the guy telling
the tale, however, that distance, once you get to know the character better, is
actually quite brilliant. Nathan is remote, distanced, troubled and his
narrative painfully reflects that. This is one of those books that, I think,
upon re-reading, would elicit even further praise.
The thing about crime novels that draws you in, is rarely
the crime. Characters drive the action and as a reader, I felt I was getting to
know these characters as the tale progressed. Their hidden secrets, their
communication issues, their foibles and their failings trickle out in a slow,
but compelling fashion. The development of the relationship between Xander and
Nathan was particularly poignant. I also loved the way my perceptions of
characters changed wildly as I discovered (through Nathan) what was really
going on.
When I closed the last page somewhere around the witching
hour, I’d come to the realisation that this was a yet another stellar read from
a fantastic author. I’ll be buying whatever she ships next!
5 out of 5 dusty trails
and backpackers don’t mix.
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