Ever since I read The Dry, I’ve been a big fan of Jane Harper. Haven’t been able to decide which of her novels has been my favorite, but with The Survivors, there is definitely another contender for that title! 

The narrator of The Survivors is a  young man named Kieran Elliott. He and his girlfriend Mia return to the small coastal town of Evelyn Bay on the Tasmania Coast for a visit with a purpose:  to help Kieran’s parents, Brian and Verity, as they pack up and complete the move from the family home, necessitated by Brian’s worsening dementia. 

Kieran and Mia reconnect with old friends Ash, Sean, and Olivia, and things soon turn ugly when Olivia’s roommate Bronte is found murdered. The old friends have a complicated history: for twelve years, Kieran has suffered from guilt and depression due to his part in the drowning deaths of two young men (including Kieran’s brother) and Mia’s best friend, 14-year-old Gabby. 

Kieran realizes how far his father’s health has deteriorated and how hard things are for his mother. Seeing them so broken and in pain makes him feel even more  sadness and also resentment as he sees his parents’  ongoing focus on his brother. Old memories and new demons begin to haunt him as the mystery surrounding Bronte’s murder begins to unfold.  

The characters’ stories unfold gradually, and those who have stayed in their small town seem stuck with their regrets and sadness. Redemption, forgiveness, family, guilt, and secrets all play a part in the story and, as usual, Ms. Harper’s exquisite presentation of the setting makes it another character in this complex yet straightforward story.  I love the way the red herrings were presented – all had a place in the plot and none were just tossed in to advance the intrigue. Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this five-star review!