The Dry

A Novel

By: Jane Harper

Narrated by: Stephen Shanahan

Instant New York Times best seller.

Winner of the CWA's Gold Dagger Award.

Winner of an AudioFile Eaphones Award

"A breathless page-turner, driven by the many revelations Ms. Harper dreams up....You'll love [her] sleight of hand....A secret on every page." (The New York Times)

"One of the most stunning debuts I've ever read....Every word is near perfect." (David Baldacci)

A small town hides big secrets in The Dry, an atmospheric debut mystery by award-winning author Jane Harper.

After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke's steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn't tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.

Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there's more to Luke's death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.

©2016 Jane Harper (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Debut author Jane Harper's fine prose and narrator Steven Shanahan's expert delivery combine for a transcendent Australian noir experience.... Shanahan's accent and speech patterns immerse listeners in the Australian countryside. He also consistently sprinkles in little touches - a stifled yawn, a burp after a swig of beer, a nasally voice for a man with a broken nose - that breathe vivid life into the story and characters." (AudioFile)

Eh

Eh it's an ok book. The narrator could use something to break up whenever he is flashing back to the past. There were times I had a hard time understanding especially if I got distracted for a moment.

WOW!

Lived up to all the great reviews. Beautifully written and plotted. I hope for more mysteries from her.

Dryer than a popcorn fart!

The power to engulf a reader into a scene and setting with only spoken word is an incredible gift. Jane Harper's words delivered through Stephen Shanahan's voice leaves you feeling parched and licking the imaginary dust off your lips. I started listening while working on my car and had to eventually stop after the first "Whoah... What just happened?" moment. I instead gave it the time and attention it needed and found myself fully immersed in the twists and turns set against the backdrop of the Australian outback. The story is interesting. I wouldn't say ground breaking or earth shattering but the book is definitely worth the listen, the credit and the time.

Palpable and engaging!

THE DRY is the perfect blend of character and plot. The people are so real you want to punch them, comfort them, shake them and cry with them. Add to that a journey and a telling that is poignant and intimate and you have a story that is rich, urgent and as present as the sweat on your brow.

Give it a chance

You need to give this book a chance. It is well worth it. The author expertly intertwines the environment surrounding the characters with the plot. You can feel the dry, hot, thirsty southern Australian landscape. It helps highlight the desperation and anger of the supporting characters. The plot is cleverly revealed through sequences of the past lending meaning to the current situations and dialogue. It takes a bit to get used to the interchanging time and points of view. It moves in and out of the past and present rather smoothly once you’re more familiar with the characters. The ending was not predictable and yet plausible. I didn’t predict anything right.

Flawless

Meticulously crafted plot, where you discover clue by clue along with the protagonist. Great character development. Excellent narration. Five stars without doubt.

Better read than listen I think

I think that because this was an audiobook it is effecting my rating. I should’ve read the book, I think. It took me a long time to really get into it, about midway. I think by then, I missed a lot that would’ve help me appreciate what was going on. The last half I was completely invested and really enjoyed. My attention had been focused and I was eager to find out what happened. This was probably a great “read”, not so much a listen IMO.

Excellent Mystery-Within-a-Mystery

Where does The Dry rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best audiobooks I've heard. Compelling, skillfully-crafted story of four shocking deaths in a small town weighed down by secrets performed by an actor with a good range. Vivid setting and an unexpected twist make the novel even better.

Gigi

I may listen to The Dry for the second time because it was a wonderful book, in my opinion. It was difficult to put down. Loved the narrators accent which was very soothing.....yet exiting when necessary.

Great story! Great reading!!

I doubt if I’ll have the opportunity to visit Australia, yet I feel I have walked the dry and dusty fields and roads with Faulk after listening to this story. Jane Harper’s descriptions are lively and vivid. The story is captivating and Stephen Shanahan does a wonderful job of distinguishing the characters without affectation. A great road-trip listen. I barely noticed the drive!