ARC AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: The Survivors by Jane Harper

Publication Date: February 2, 2021 Format: Audio Genre:  Mystery/ Crime Narrator: Stephen Shanahan

Publisher: MacMillan Audio Length: 11 hours 57 min Buy: Kindle | Audio

Synopsis

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....

Review: 

Back in his home town for the first time in many years Kieran is once again drawn into the guilt of his brothers drowning death and the mystery of a missing girl on the same day.  Now a new girl is found murdered on the beach and the why and the who are dragging up old memories and old feelings.  

Set in a small town in Australia that is a known tourist attraction but seems to be losing its glitter and appeal.  There are a lot of characters in this book so it may be easy to get lost or not be able to follow if you aren't used to listening to audio books.  I didn't have this issue and loved it. The narrator's accent helped place me in Australia and you could get a feel for how small the town really was just by them setting foot outside their door only to moments later find themselves "in town". There is a lot of emotion and flawed characters and strange things that go on in the town that leave you guessing.  

Kieran can barely forgive himself for the death of his brother which he blames himself for since his brother was out trying to rescue him during a horrible storm, and his mother struggles with the loss of her son and in some ways blames Kieran as well.  His father has dementia and is getting things mixed up and setting himself up as a viable suspect in both the missing girl from years ago and the dead girl on the beach.  Meanwhile a community bulletin board online is airing everyone's dirty secrets and shattering everyone's trust.  I really enjoyed this book and mystery. I really felt like I was a spectator in this small town watching as everything unfolded. 

I want to thank netgalley and the Macmillan audio for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.