Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
This topic is about
The Survivors
Books of the Month
>
The Survivors by Jane Harper - August OCEANIA Theme BOM (starts 18 Aug)
date
newest »
newest »
message 2:
by
Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief
(last edited Aug 15, 2025 03:36AM)
(new)
-
added it
Mod
Date Chapters Pages MPDQs
18 Aug Prologue - 8 20% Judith
19 Aug 9 - 16 42% Eldarwen
20 Aug 17 - 23 61% Beth
21 Aug 24 - 30 80% Catherine
22 Aug 31 - 41 100% Cat
Guidance for DQ setters
Aim for a reasonable number of questions: 4 - 5 is typical. Please don't post too many - any more than 7 gets unwieldy!
Use consecutive numbering of the DQs for your days. So, for example, if Day One is posted as questions 1-4, Day Two should start at number 5 etc.
Don't worry too much about your questions: you aren't being tested on how clever your questions are!
Hints and tips:
- Is there a quote that jumped out at you? Use that in a question.
- What about the characters - do they generate strong feelings? No feelings? - either way, we can explore that!
- What about that plot twist?!
- Explore the writing style: is there an unusual structure being used? what's the tone of voice like? or the point of view?
Want more information about how NBRC runs their Book of the Month discussions? Check out the information here
message 3:
by
Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief
(last edited Aug 15, 2025 03:32AM)
(new)
-
added it
Mod
Judith (nom)
Eldarwen
Beth
Catherine
Cat
Mod
Mod
I'm in for reading this one. I really enjoyed Harper's Aaron Falk series. I can do DQs but am happy to let others take that turn if needed for challenges.
Mod
This will be just after/as Tower Teams ends so no team points for this one. Back to normal :)
Mod
Catherine- I can help with DQ's
Whew! I'd been offline for a few days and thought I missed my day. Forgot this didn't start till the 18th!
Mod
Mod
Can anyone switch me dates. I’ll be out of town 20-25?
I'm good! Catherine, I'd help if I could, but my date is the 20th.
Mod
Thanks Judith. That works
Day 1: Prologue - 8 20%1. The prologue implied a women survived but perhaps would actually turn into a victim if the person watching her was gonna do it, right now. Did this prologue intrigue you and make you want to get right into the book. Or does it bother you, as it seems like the ending wasn't real?
2. Liam blames Kieran for killing his dad even though Sean is still his friend. Do you think Liam is misguided or the friends hid something from everyone else?
3. Bronte was scared she heard something/someone on the beach and then is found on the beach dead. She is in her work uniform, do you think she was murdered on her way home or on her way to work?
4. It's to early for guessing, but do you like to try and figure out the killer/ ending? Or do you prefer to avoid looking into clues to much and just go with the flow?
Mod
Prologue - 8
1. The prologue implied a women survived but perhaps would actually turn into a victim if the person watching her was gonna do it, right now. Did this prologue intrigue you and make you want to get right into the book. Or does it bother you, as it seems like the ending wasn't real?
It could be read in both ways. Either he was the one going to do the killing, or he was going to do the saving? What if the woman was intending to drown herself and he grabbed her before she could finish the job? It also isn't quite certain if it is going to happen or if it already happened. In the meantime, we know that two men were killed 12 years ago, but what about before that?! Maybe what happened 12 years ago was in relation to this woman and whatever happened (or not) to her? Olivia and Mia are in the know as well, not just Sean and Kieran... so many questions!
2. Liam blames Kieran for killing his dad even though Sean is still his friend. Do you think Liam is misguided or the friends hid something from everyone else?
That is something I've been wondering about as well. It is a tad odd that Sean and Kieran are still friends after Sean's brother (and Kieran's) were killed by Kieran, but we don't know what really happened, so... I'm not sure he is entirely misguided, but I'm sure he (along with many others probably) doesn't know the whole story.
3. Bronte was scared she heard something/someone on the beach and then is found on the beach dead. She is in her work uniform, do you think she was murdered on her way home or on her way to work?
From the way the body was described, it sounded like she'd been in the water for some time so my guess would be during the night. Then there's the neighbour who heard talking from the beach and the fact that Liam was seen with her after closing time, and so he maybe was the last to have seen her?! (dun dun dun hehe)
So either he had something to do with her death (wouldn't that be ironic), he saw what happened (should have said something then instead of leaving her), he's lying dead in a ditch somewhere himself, or he was gone and someone grabbed her after Liam left, potentially whoever/whatever she heard at night had something to do with this. Though who knows?
4. It's to early for guessing, but do you like to try and figure out the killer/ ending? Or do you prefer to avoid looking into clues to much and just go with the flow?
For me, that depends entirely on the book. With some books, I try to get it all figured out before we get there, with other books, I just go with the flow. I do like coming up with theories though as to what might have happened and who might have done it. I find this works well with Harper's books - as demonstrated by my answer above haha.
Mod
1. The prologue implied a women survived but perhaps would actually turn into a victim if the person watching her was gonna do it, right now. Did this prologue intrigue you and make you want to get right into the book. Or does it bother you, as it seems like the ending wasn't real?
I'm not sure if this is a now moment or a then moment or a future one. But intriguing!
2. Liam blames Kieran for killing his dad even though Sean is still his friend. Do you think Liam is misguided or the friends hid something from everyone else?
I think Liam hasn't been able to work through things, possibly because Sean and Kieran remained friends throughout, so he's hanging onto 7-year old angry thinking, with no logic or calm
3. Bronte was scared she heard something/someone on the beach and then is found on the beach dead. She is in her work uniform, do you think she was murdered on her way home or on her way to work?
During the night, before she went to bed.
4. It's to early for guessing, but do you like to try and figure out the killer/ ending? Or do you prefer to avoid looking into clues to much and just go with the flow?
I broadly go with the flow. I'm very sure Liam wasn't involved, though I suspect more shade will be cast on him before it all becomes clear....
Mod
1) The timing was definitely left as a gray area. Intriguing for sure and helped set the tone of the book in addition to grabbing my interest.
2) I think misguided? I get the impression Kieran was there and I’m assuming some sort of boating accident with him being the only survivor. Maybe he was at fault? Or gets the blame because he’s the only one alive left to blame?
3) assuming on the way home. Or shortly after getting home before she had time to change. Maybe she went outside because she heard something (why do people do that? If someone scary is there WTF are you going to do aside from die outside instead of inside?)? Or maybe someone she knew showed up so she went outside to talk?
4) I ponder as I read but try not to over analyze. I want to enjoy the book more than I want to solve the puzzle
Mod
Chapters 9 - 16
5. Does anyone else sense the irony in the fact that Liam is now being considered a murderer after he's been saying the same thing about Kieran for 12 years? Lyn, the waitress, certainly seems to have no qualms in saying so. Red herring or no? But more importantly: was he right? It is a bit of a difficult question, I know, but I keep wondering. Was Kieran at fault the day of the storm? Was it his fault Finn and Toby died? (And it isn't as though Liam is the only one to think that Kieran killed Finn. Brian seems to feel the exact same thing. So does Kieran himself even.)
6. Another mysterious death! What happened to Gabby that infamous day of the storm? Freak accident? Suicide? Elaborate and cruel way of disappearing to somewhere else? Murder? If the latter, who did it? The fact that Kieran's dad has been out and about both times screams red herring as well. Or do you think Brian had something to do with at least one of these deaths?
7. In chapter 14, I was quite surprised to come across this piece of writing: "He knew it for the same reasons Mia did. Because that was life. Because whatever else might come the way of grown men, they didn't wind up strangled to death in the surf. Kieran had no problem walking around Evelyn Bay now for the same reason that he didn't think twice about taking short cuts through unlit parks, and felt no need to quicken his pace when he heard footsteps on the pavement behind him at night. .... from thirty years of lived experience he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't coming for him. Mia knew all this too."
Quite true, isn't it? Though are we certain that Kieran can really walk around as carefree as he thinks? What if it really was Liam after all and Bronte was a practice run? She didn't want to go out with him - according to Lyn the gossip - and he killed her because he was frustrated? What if he realised he enjoyed it and decides to kill Kieran in belated revenge for killing his father?! Though it seems just as far-fetched as one of the tourists to have suddenly made a reappearance just to kill Bronte (as Verity and Ash suggest), doesn't it?
8. Chapter 16 ends with Kieran giving in and asking Liam what happened the night Bronte died. Liam obviously is irked by it, thinking he knew all Kieran wanted to do was ask. Had he not asked, Liam would've been pissed as well. Can't seem to win with this guy. So what do you think really happened?
Mod
5) red herring. I don’t think Liam killed anyone. I think the same person that killed Gabby killed Bronte. Which eliminates Liam as he was only 7 when Gabby disappeared.
6) I’m going with murder, probably to cover up a sexual assault? Or attempted sexual assault? And my money is on the author guy. Even though that might be the obvious guess. Ash gives me a weird vibe too. Brian is a red herring I think, or I surely hope so.
7) I think the general populace of the town like Liam and the reasons making the rumor rounds. It’s straightforward, specific, and an easy story to believe as it’s the plot of so many made for tv movies. Which makes the murder less scary for the small town.
8) I think Liam did exactly what he said he did and when he left, Bronte was alive. I’m guessing someone (author) approached her beach side.
Mod
Mod
Just putting a statement here that keeps jumping out at me while reading: Kieran and his parents have a very, very odd and difficult relationship.
And another thing where I agree with Judith: Ash gives off odd vibes. I can't quite reconcile him with the teenager he was supposed to have been. It doesn't fit somehow.
Mod
DQ Day 2: Chapters 9 - 16
5. Does anyone else sense the irony in the fact that Liam is now being considered a murderer after he's been saying the same thing about Kieran for 12 years? Lyn, the waitress, certainly seems to have no qualms in saying so. Red herring or no? But more importantly: was he right? It is a bit of a difficult question, I know, but I keep wondering. Was Kieran at fault the day of the storm? Was it his fault Finn and Toby died? (And it isn't as though Liam is the only one to think that Kieran killed Finn. Brian seems to feel the exact same thing. So does Kieran himself even.)
They are certainly all quick to leap to conclusions! Though Sean's paranoid rallying of defences for Liam can't be helpful in dispelling doubts...
I don't think it's Keiran's fault, nor even Olivia's fault. Is there no official life boat / coast guard rescue in AUS / Tassie? 'cos that's who we'd call in the UK - semi-professional rescue workers with fit-for-purpose boats! Not sure what Finn and Toby were even thinking - a dive cat isn't the vessel you want for close shore work, surely?
6. Another mysterious death! What happened to Gabby that infamous day of the storm? Freak accident? Suicide? Elaborate and cruel way of disappearing to somewhere else? Murder? If the latter, who did it? The fact that Kieran's dad has been out and about both times screams red herring as well. Or do you think Brian had something to do with at least one of these deaths?
I don't think Brian had anything to do with it - he's remembering innocence, and I suspect that elaborate lies would be something that would vanish with dementia.
As for what happened to Gabby.... did she get caught out in the caves, get lost in the North Cave system, maybe?
7. In chapter 14, I was quite surprised to come across this piece of writing: "He knew it for the same reasons Mia did. Because that was life. Because whatever else might come the way of grown men, they didn't wind up strangled to death in the surf. Kieran had no problem walking around Evelyn Bay now for the same reason that he didn't think twice about taking short cuts through unlit parks, and felt no need to quicken his pace when he heard footsteps on the pavement behind him at night. .... from thirty years of lived experience he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't coming for him. Mia knew all this too."
Quite true, isn't it? Though are we certain that Kieran can really walk around as carefree as he thinks? What if it really was Liam after all and Bronte was a practice run? She didn't want to go out with him - according to Lyn the gossip - and he killed her because he was frustrated? What if he realised he enjoyed it and decides to kill Kieran in belated revenge for killing his father?! Though it seems just as far-fetched as one of the tourists to have suddenly made a reappearance just to kill Bronte (as Verity and Ash suggest), doesn't it?
It's not a returning tourist, though the author is a delightful suspect to have!
8. Chapter 16 ends with Kieran giving in and asking Liam what happened the night Bronte died. Liam obviously is irked by it, thinking he knew all Kieran wanted to do was ask. Had he not asked, Liam would've been pissed as well. Can't seem to win with this guy. So what do you think really happened?
I read on here! sorry! though I don't believe Liam's story - not least because if he was in the car (he wasn't) his story needs to explain why he was driving so fast (it doesn't, unless he was lying about the interaction with Bronte (I think he was, but not to the point of killing her!)
Mod
Mod
9) What did you think of the speech Bronte’s mom gave at the community meeting? More effective than a tearful statement?
10) There’s been a lot of mentions of George ripping out all of the landscaping Ash did at his grandmother’s house. Do you think this leads to anything (like Gabby’s missing body) or just distracting small town drama?
11) The community forum proactively spilling all the small town tea is a bit “fun” as an outsider. Like watching a bad soap opera or reality TV. But these are people’s lives and it’s a bit sad and destructive. Do you follow or participate in any local community online forums?
12) E brought this up and I agree. What are you thoughts on Kieran’s relationship with his parents?
Day 3 DQs, Chap 17 - 23Beth got discombobulated and completely spaced on posting yesterday. Thank you for your patience!
There were a lot of interesting observations and statements in these chapters. I found it hard to limit myself to only 5 questions!
13. Liam tells Kieran, "You kind of ruined my life, you know?" Do you agree with that? Should Kieran accept that responsibility?
14. Would you be following the EBOCH chat? Would you be posting and, if so, what would your posts be about? What would your screen name be?
15. Were you surprised when Kieran said that it could have been Liam's car he saw speeding along Beach Road that Saturday night? What reason might he have had to do that, other than thinking it was a way to assuage his guilt for "ruining" Liam's life?
16. What did you make of Trish's throwing out those rock-filled backpacks into the ocean?
17. What were your thoughts about Liam leaving the dive group behind? Was Kieran justified in being angry with him for doing that?
Mod
9) I thought it was raw honesty. A tearful tribute statement would have been moving in the moment but forgotten for the most part by the end of the day. She definitely rocked the boat and hopefully results in finding Bronte’s killer.
10) I’m guessing just small town drama. Gabby’s body I think was lost to the depths of the sea.
11) I don’t really, I don’t have the energy or time for that. Maybe when I’m retired and need the entertainment
12) It is a weird relationship. I do wonder what the dynamic was pre-Finn’s death. There’s definitely silent blame happening. And some sainting of the dead along with Kieran’s own guilt. Very messy and sad, glad he has Mia.
Mod
Mod
13) No, I don’t but I understand why Liam might feel that way. And having read beyond this section and learning more details from the storm 12 years ago, I am doubling down on Kieran’s lack of fault for what happened.
14) I’d be lurking for sure but probably not posting. I’m too nosy not too. I only love drama when I’m not involved in it.
15) Not really. He didn’t really lie but saying what he said I think made him feel less guilty towards Liam and Sean.
16) I think it felt like a productive experiment for her where she generally felt helpless in most ways. Also, that she may think something hinky was going on with the where and when Gabby’s book bag appeared on the beach.
17) I think it was an anxiety attack of one sort or another. But leaving like that and his reaction after was immature and dangerous. Sean was right to be upset, on a professional tour with paying clients and that behavior could cost him his dive business
Mod
13. Liam tells Kieran, "You kind of ruined my life, you know?" Do you agree with that? Should Kieran accept that responsibility?
No, I don't agree with that statement. I can absolutely see where Liam is coming from - I can't imagine what it can do to a person to lose a parent so early in life and under such difficult circumstances no less, but that robbed him of a father, it did not ruin his life.
14. Would you be following the EBOCH chat? Would you be posting and, if so, what would your posts be about? What would your screen name be?
I probably wouldn't be able to help myself to follow it irregularly because I sometimes find it fascinating how weirdly people can react to certain things and how they suddenly let their true colours show, but these kinds of things always piss me off rather quickly. It's why I avoid most social media. People are assholes, even more so when they can hide behind a screen.
15. Were you surprised when Kieran said that it could have been Liam's car he saw speeding along Beach Road that Saturday night? What reason might he have had to do that, other than thinking it was a way to assuage his guilt for "ruining" Liam's life?
It was plausible. And then he was doing a life-long friend a favour by helping point the blame away from the guy's nephew.
16. What did you make of Trish's throwing out those rock-filled backpacks into the ocean?
I felt sorry for her. Under different circumstances it would probably have been an interesting experiment but at least it was same way for her to cope with the fact that she felt the police didn't take her concerns seriously about the backpack appearing rather conveniently.
17. What were your thoughts about Liam leaving the dive group behind? Was Kieran justified in being angry with him for doing that?
Absolutely justified. Liam was supposed to have been one of two people looking out for everyone else and he just up and disappeared without letting anyone know, except for George who was a bit of a newbie at deep-diving and not exactly qualified to help out others should something happen underwater. Not the behaviour of someone who is supposed to help out with a business. Hearing the later conversation between Liam and Sean, it was understandable though, if not exactly a very good move.
Mod
9) What did you think of the speech Bronte’s mom gave at the community meeting? More effective than a tearful statement?
Whatever works for the parents, I'd say. Some people react to tears, others react to a firm statement. Guess it depends on the audience. And frankly, it shouldn't really matter how effective it is. What should matter is that it was heart-felt, even if she basically accused the entire community at the meeting of having killed her daughter.
10) There’s been a lot of mentions of George ripping out all of the landscaping Ash did at his grandmother’s house. Do you think this leads to anything (like Gabby’s missing body) or just distracting small town drama?
I really, really wondered how many skeletons he would dig up in that garden! Wouldn't that be convenient haha.
11) The community forum proactively spilling all the small town tea is a bit “fun” as an outsider. Like watching a bad soap opera or reality TV. But these are people’s lives and it’s a bit sad and destructive. Do you follow or participate in any local community online forums?
Nope. I'd joined one shortly, but left fairly quickly again because most things were non-sense. Important information is distributed through different channels anyway, so there's no point reading up on the rest.
12) E brought this up and I agree. What are you thoughts on Kieran’s relationship with his parents?
Since Kieran and Mia first set foot into his parents' house, I found their relationship to be really odd. Of course, there would always be a death lurking between them, but damn. I felt like there was never a single honest word coming out of Verity's mouth and it was always this therapy-style speech. I've read on so I'm not going to say more.
DQs Day 1: Prologue - 81. The prologue implied a women survived but perhaps would actually turn into a victim if the person watching her was going do it, right now. Did this prologue intrigue you and make you want to get right into the book. Or does it bother you, as it seems like the ending wasn't real?
Definitely intrigued me and pulled me in! I made a mental note of things about the woman and tried to project them on people as the story unfolded. In Chapter 1, Bronte is described as gathering her skirt above her knees as the woman in the prologue… is she a future victim? Mia wears a silver chain in Chap 1; what, if any, significance does that have?
2. Liam blames Kieran for killing his dad even though Sean is still his friend. Do you think Liam is misguided or the friends hid something from everyone else?
At this point, I think Liam is simply misguided and is misdirecting his anger about a crushing loss to Kieran.
3. Bronte was scared she heard something/someone on the beach and then is found on the beach dead. She is in her work uniform, do you think she was murdered on her way home or on her way to work?
Too early to tell. Maybe at her home and then dumped on the beach?
4. It's too early for guessing, but do you like to try and figure out the killer/ ending? Or do you prefer to avoid looking into clues to much and just go with the flow?
I'm a go-with-the-flow reader. I pick up things here and there and wonder if it's foreshadowing or if it's the piece to solve the puzzle, but I'm usually wrong.
DQs Day 2: 9 - 165. Does anyone else sense the irony in the fact that Liam is now being considered a murderer after he's been saying the same thing about Kieran for 12 years? Lyn, the waitress, certainly seems to have no qualms in saying so. Red herring or no? But more importantly: was he right? It is a bit of a difficult question, I know, but I keep wondering. Was Kieran at fault the day of the storm? Was it his fault Finn and Toby died? (And it isn't as though Liam is the only one to think that Kieran killed Finn. Brian seems to feel the exact same thing. So does Kieran himself even.)
Yep, I definitely look at it as a karma payback kind of situation. My guess is it's not Liam, because why would Bronte's murder be revealed to early in the story? We've all read enough mysteries to know it's rarely (ever?) the person that the author originally points us toward. As for Kieran, I'm not sure. He may think he's responsible, but I feel like that's more from a sense of survivor's guilt than any malicious action on his part. And I wonder if that's not everyone else's feeling ("if that kid hadn't been in that situation, no one would have had to try to save him")
6. Another mysterious death! What happened to Gabby that infamous day of the storm? Freak accident? Suicide? Elaborate and cruel way of disappearing to somewhere else? Murder? If the latter, who did it? The fact that Kieran's dad has been out and about both times screams red herring as well. Or do you think Brian had something to do with at least one of these deaths?
I think Brian has a lot of secrets to tell, for sure. Not sure about Gabby's death yet. I need some more info.
7. In chapter 14, I was quite surprised to come across this piece of writing: "He knew it for the same reasons Mia did. Because that was life. Because whatever else might come the way of grown men, they didn't wind up strangled to death in the surf. Kieran had no problem walking around Evelyn Bay now for the same reason that he didn't think twice about taking short cuts through unlit parks, and felt no need to quicken his pace when he heard footsteps on the pavement behind him at night. .... from thirty years of lived experience he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't coming for him. Mia knew all this too."
Quite true, isn't it? Though are we certain that Kieran can really walk around as carefree as he thinks? What if it really was Liam after all and Bronte was a practice run? She didn't want to go out with him - according to Lyn the gossip - and he killed her because he was frustrated? What if he realised he enjoyed it and decides to kill Kieran in belated revenge for killing his father?! Though it seems just as far-fetched as one of the tourists to have suddenly made a reappearance just to kill Bronte (as Verity and Ash suggest), doesn't it?
I definitely agree that men do not fully understand the fear that women have in so many situations. Women are continually told to keep themselves under control, dress in a certain way, act a certain way or else what happens to them, at the core, their fault. While I do realize that is a BROAD generalization, it is perception in most cases. Which is not to say that men don't get murdered, aren't stalked, aren't attacked, etc; it's that it's so much more frequently that women are victims of the killer-in-the-night type of crime.
8. Chapter 16 ends with Kieran giving in and asking Liam what happened the night Bronte died. Liam obviously is irked by it, thinking he knew all Kieran wanted to do was ask. Had he not asked, Liam would've been pissed as well. Can't seem to win with this guy. So what do you think really happened?
I'm still making up my mind and don't have any final thoughts yet.
DQs Day 3: 17 - 23 (out of order)13. Liam tells Kieran, "You kind of ruined my life, you know?" Do you agree with that? Should Kieran accept that responsibility?
Based on what we know now, Kieran is not maliciously responsible for that death. Did his behaviors and actions put him in a dangerous situation that led others into a fatal situation to save him? Seems like it. But it could be that we still don't know everything.
14. Would you be following the EBOCH chat? Would you be posting and, if so, what would your posts be about? What would your screen name be?
Nah, I wouldn't be on the site. I don't participate in any now. I do belong to my town's FB group, I usually just shake my head and wonder why people don't have better things to do with their time when I read some of those posts. ("Did anyone else hear that noise?" "Oooh, I took a picture of the license plate of the person whose driving I didn't like, and now I'm posting that photo online!" "Our trash collectors are terrible!") No thanks.
15. Were you surprised when Kieran said that it could have been Liam's car he saw speeding along Beach Road that Saturday night? What reason might he have had to do that, other than thinking it was a way to assuage his guilt for "ruining" Liam's life?
Yep, that did surprise me. And it seemed to surprise Mia, too. Kieran must believe Liam's guilty, or else why would he bother to lie for him?
16. What did you make of Trish's throwing out those rock-filled backpacks into the ocean?
My heart went out to her. She feels like the police didn't look hard enough for her daughter, and she's feeling like she has to take matters in her own hands with no support.
17. What were your thoughts about Liam leaving the dive group behind? Was Kieran justified in being angry with him for doing that? Oops, it was Sean who got angry with Liam, not Kieran!
Tough situation. If Liam really did have an anxiety attack (and I'm not sure I believe he really did), then I get why he did what he did. And I understand why Sean was so angry with him.
DQs Day 4: 24 - 309. What did you think of the speech Bronte’s mom gave at the community meeting? More effective than a tearful statement?
Yes! Much more powerful! I was impressed by her and liked that she said what she needed to say despite her husband trying to quiet her voice.
10. There’s been a lot of mentions of George ripping out all of the landscaping Ash did at his grandmother’s house. Do you think this leads to anything (like Gabby’s missing body) or just distracting small town drama?
It does seem likely that something will come of it. Maybe that’s where Gabby’s body is?
11. The community forum proactively spilling all the small town tea is a bit “fun” as an outsider. Like watching a bad soap opera or reality TV. But these are people’s lives and it’s a bit sad and destructive. Do you follow or participate in any local community online forums?
No, I don't. Which is to say that I belong to my community's FB group. I use it for entertainment purposes. 😅 As I mentioned in Q13, it mostly just makes me shake my head and wonder what people are thinking!
12. E brought this up and I agree. What are your thoughts on Kieran’s relationship with his parents?
It's challenging, as are many relationships between parents and their grown children. The fact that his father has dementia compounds the issue. They don't have a great relationship, but it's better than many I've known of.
Mod
18. First off, what did you think of the reveal and resolution? Any thoughts on the late theme of "Kieran is less of a dick than he was back then", and it's impact on the crimes?
19. There's a lot of truth-telling in this section, from the copper, as well as Verity, Mia and others. What do you think about the view presented that keeping secrets is the cause of more pain later? (and that telling the truth can be near-instantly healing, as with Verity and Kieran)
20. The author made a comment "Places like this, they need to be tight-knits to work. Once the trust is broken, they're stuffed" Do you agree with this?
21. Linked to that question, the other books by Harper that I've read have been much more distinctly Australian in location, whereas this - to me - felt like it could be any coastal community. What did you think of the setting? If you haven't, will you read more of Harper's work? If this isn't your first - how did it compare?
Mod
18. First off, what did you think of the reveal and resolution? Any thoughts on the late theme of "Kieran is less of a dick than he was back then", and it's impact on the crimes?
I can't remember quite at point I began thinking "fuck, I think it was him", but that came crashing in as a thought that should have been obvious for so long for so many reasons. But that's what I like about these kinds of books. So many theories swirling around in my head, so many options for the murderer and yet, there is always that one person you forget until suddenly, there is the thought and then the reveal is already just around the corner. I liked it. I found it incredibly sad and I hadn't realised just how twisted his mind was until he spilled the beans to Kieran.
Kieran being less of a dick was practically a must after what he had been through. Thinking that his selfish thought of wanting to get in some sexy time with his girlfriend despite the risk he was running and this costing two lives... it would've changed anyone - anyone decent in any case. As for his behaviour before the storm having an impact? Of course it did. But there is also the fact that teenage boys are teenage boys. Is it cool? No. Will it ever change? Probably not. There will always be the cool ones who razz their friends for not getting any, there will always be those who lie about their conquests, there will always be those who will do whatever it takes to be part of the cool gang. It sucks, but it's part of growing up in a way. As long as at least some of them learn from their mistakes and realise that they've been utter assholes...
Not saying Kieran's behaviour had anything to do with what happened. It was and always will be Sean's decision, but it certainly didn't help that Kieran and Ash were the way they were. Teenage boys with a shy bestie.
19. There's a lot of truth-telling in this section, from the copper, as well as Verity, Mia and others. What do you think about the view presented that keeping secrets is the cause of more pain later? (and that telling the truth can be near-instantly healing, as with Verity and Kieran)
It depends on the truth/secret as well as on the lies. Leaving Trish to think that the backpack washing up was awfully convenient was a terrible thing to do. It would certainly not have made the pain any more bearable over the years, but at least she wouldn't have tortured herself for years, and in turn she wouldn't have tortured the ones around her for years either. Verity and Kieran should have aired their little truths years ago. They would probably have had a better relationship. Those two are also completely different things. Some pain will not go away, whether you've been told truth or lie. Some truths make the pain worse as well. Though in theory, telling the truth is always better than hiding behind a lie.
20. The author made a comment "Places like this, they need to be tight-knits to work. Once the trust is broken, they're stuffed" Do you agree with this?
Small places work better when they're more tight-knit. People are more willing to help out when someone is in trouble. But they also know far more than they should about everyone else. It can turn toxic when the situation goes bad, as it did with Liam in this case. So I guess what I'm saying is that yes, I think I agree with George's statement.
21. Linked to that question, the other books by Harper that I've read have been much more distinctly Australian in location, whereas this - to me - felt like it could be any coastal community. What did you think of the setting? If you haven't, will you read more of Harper's work? If this isn't your first - how did it compare?
I agree, it could have been any kind of coastal community. As for the writing, I enjoyed it as I always do her work. I've read all of her other books - unless I missed one - and they were all good. I remember starting with The Dry and while reading, I felt my skin itch from heat and drought, even though I was sitting comfortably on my couch. I like the atmosphere she creates in her novels.
I find this novel had far more grey areas in terms of guilt and perspective on behaviour etc. It had more potential for making the reader think, and potentially stop and consider certain things.
Mod
18. First off, what did you think of the reveal and resolution? Any thoughts on the late theme of "Kieran is less of a dick than he was back then", and it's impact on the crimes?
It made sense at a certain point I was wondering about Sean. I'm glad Gabby wasn't assaulted before her death at least, I was afraid that was the reason she was killed. I think we all look on our teenage selves and cringe a bit. We don't realize how we can impact others at that age.
19. There's a lot of truth-telling in this section, from the copper, as well as Verity, Mia and others. What do you think about the view presented that keeping secrets is the cause of more pain later? (and that telling the truth can be near-instantly healing, as with Verity and Kieran)
Truth always comes out eventually and secrets really are a type of poison. People can't ever really heal until the poison has been removed, even when they don't know explicitly it's there.
20. The author made a comment "Places like this, they need to be tight-knits to work. Once the trust is broken, they're stuffed" Do you agree with this?
Yes. I do.
21. Linked to that question, the other books by Harper that I've read have been much more distinctly Australian in location, whereas this - to me - felt like it could be any coastal community. What did you think of the setting? If you haven't, will you read more of Harper's work? If this isn't your first - how did it compare?
I agree that this could of been any coastal small town. Her other books gave a more distinct sense of place. I think I've read all of her works. Or most of them anyway. Not my favorite of hers but it holds up.
Mod
Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DQs Day 5 - Chapters 31 - end18. First off, what did you think of the reveal and resolution? Any thoughts on the late theme of "Kieran is less of a dick than he was back then", and it's impact on the crimes?
Kieran less of a dick was a relief, to be honest. And I was sad about the actual guilty party, but I wasn't really excited for any of the characters to be guilty. The whole situation was tragic and unnecessary.
19. There's a lot of truth-telling in this section, from the copper, as well as Verity, Mia and others. What do you think about the view presented that keeping secrets is the cause of more pain later? (and that telling the truth can be near-instantly healing, as with Verity and Kieran)
There are so many stories where holding on to a secret is a driving motivation for a character and when they release the secret, it turns out that the other person didn't even think negatively on the situation the secret was about (did that make sense??). The Lion Women of Tehran, which I just finished, is a good case in point of that. So, yes, I think there are situations where truth telling can bring release and relief and start healing. I also think that there are times when the hurt that was covered up by the secret was too much to get over, and a relationship is lost. But even with that, the guilt of the secret is ended, and healing can happen, even though the couple/friends/family members/whatever are no longer on any kind of terms with each other. You can't carry secrets. One way or another, you have to let go of them.
20. The author made a comment "Places like this, they need to be tight-knits to work. Once the trust is broken, they're stuffed" Do you agree with this?
It makes total sense. With a small town, where everyone has known everybody else and their family forever, there comes an deep amount of trust (at least I would think so! I've never lived in a place like that.). Especially in a climate as unforgiving as in Tasmania, the town folks need to be able to rely on each other for help and support when needed. Once trust is broken, it's hard to want to ask others for help, so it's harder for individuals to get by on their own.
21. Linked to that question, the other books by Harper that I've read have been much more distinctly Australian in location, whereas this - to me - felt like it could be any coastal community. What did you think of the setting? If you haven't, will you read more of Harper's work? If this isn't your first - how did it compare?
I enjoyed the setting, and I agree that it didn't feel particularly "down under." I loved the Aaron Falk series, which is why I was eager to read this one. I'm a sucker for a central detective character, especially when they are troubled, and Falk is a deeply complex character. All three books in that series were 4-star reads for me.
Day 1: Prologue - 8 20%1. The prologue implied a women survived but perhaps would actually turn into a victim if the person watching her was gonna do it, right now. Did this prologue intrigue you and make you want to get right into the book. Or does it bother you, as it seems like the ending wasn't real?
It drew me in right away and I wanted to know what, where, why.
2. Liam blames Kieran for killing his dad even though Sean is still his friend. Do you think Liam is misguided or the friends hid something from everyone else?
Possibly both. It hurts to loose someone and being able to blame it on someone helps.
3. Bronte was scared she heard something/someone on the beach and then is found on the beach dead. She is in her work uniform, do you think she was murdered on her way home or on her way to work?
4. It's to early for guessing, but do you like to try and figure out the killer/ ending? Or do you prefer to avoid looking into clues to much and just go with the flow?
I definitely like to go with the flow with most books but a few I like to make a guess, I am usually not ever even close though 🤣🤣
DQ Day 2Chapters 9 - 16
5. Does anyone else sense the irony in the fact that Liam is now being considered a murderer after he's been saying the same thing about Kieran for 12 years? Lyn, the waitress, certainly seems to have no qualms in saying so. Red herring or no? But more importantly: was he right? It is a bit of a difficult question, I know, but I keep wondering. Was Kieran at fault the day of the storm? Was it his fault Finn and Toby died? (And it isn't as though Liam is the only one to think that Kieran killed Finn. Brian seems to feel the exact same thing. So does Kieran himself even.)
Feeling it is your fault and being at fault are definitely different. I mean pushing someone off the cliff and preventing someone from slipping and falling off that cliff are not the same,
6. Another mysterious death! What happened to Gabby that infamous day of the storm? Freak accident? Suicide? Elaborate and cruel way of disappearing to somewhere else? Murder? If the latter, who did it? The fact that Kieran's dad has been out and about both times screams red herring as well. Or do you think Brian had something to do with at least one of these deaths?
Perhaps she was taken by the sea as well. No one knows where she was at, so its hard to not wonder.
7. In chapter 14, I was quite surprised to come across this piece of writing: "He knew it for the same reasons Mia did. Because that was life. Because whatever else might come the way of grown men, they didn't wind up strangled to death in the surf. Kieran had no problem walking around Evelyn Bay now for the same reason that he didn't think twice about taking short cuts through unlit parks, and felt no need to quicken his pace when he heard footsteps on the pavement behind him at night. .... from thirty years of lived experience he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't coming for him. Mia knew all this too."
Quite true, isn't it? Though are we certain that Kieran can really walk around as carefree as he thinks? What if it really was Liam after all and Bronte was a practice run? She didn't want to go out with him - according to Lyn the gossip - and he killed her because he was frustrated? What if he realised he enjoyed it and decides to kill Kieran in belated revenge for killing his father?! Though it seems just as far-fetched as one of the tourists to have suddenly made a reappearance just to kill Bronte (as Verity and Ash suggest), doesn't it?
It wouldn't be too smart with his loud opinion of blaming Kieran for his fathers death even though he did not shoot a gun. It's weird no one speaks up to that point,
8. Chapter 16 ends with Kieran giving in and asking Liam what happened the night Bronte died. Liam obviously is irked by it, thinking he knew all Kieran wanted to do was ask. Had he not asked, Liam would've been pissed as well. Can't seem to win with this guy. So what do you think really happened? I think she shot him down in some way.
Day 3 DQs, Chap 17 - 23There were a lot of interesting observations and statements in these chapters. I found it hard to limit myself to only 5 questions!
13. Liam tells Kieran, "You kind of ruined my life, you know?" Do you agree with that? Should Kieran accept that responsibility?
Kieran has already accepted that. But to face it daily, absolutely NOT! Fight back man,
14. Would you be following the EBOCH chat? Would you be posting and, if so, what would your posts be about? What would your screen name be?
I think I would and would probably join in the gossip, Which we all know is never harmless, so not sure why I feel I would contribute.
15. Were you surprised when Kieran said that it could have been Liam's car he saw speeding along Beach Road that Saturday night? What reason might he have had to do that, other than thinking it was a way to assuage his guilt for "ruining" Liam's life?
I think thats exactly why he did it. But if Liam is a killer than why help him?
16. What did you make of Trish's throwing out those rock-filled backpacks into the ocean?
It's her grief trying to understand why her daughter would be anywhere near or on the ocean that day. I feel for her because she needs to know and someone has to know.
17. What were your thoughts about Liam leaving the dive group behind? Was Kieran justified in being angry with him for doing that?
Absolutely, that was unprofessional and super dangerous.
Day 4 ch 24-309) What did you think of the speech Bronte’s mom gave at the community meeting? More effective than a tearful statement? A bit of both depending on the listener. Some would take it and hear it for a long time while others would scoff.
10) There’s been a lot of mentions of George ripping out all of the landscaping Ash did at his grandmother’s house. Do you think this leads to anything (like Gabby’s missing body) or just distracting small town drama? Depends why he was doing it. Seems to me like he was making a statement.
11) The community forum proactively spilling all the small town tea is a bit “fun” as an outsider. Like watching a bad soap opera or reality TV. But these are people’s lives and it’s a bit sad and destructive. Do you follow or participate in any local community online forums?
No I avoid the news now days even.
12) E brought this up and I agree. What are you thoughts on Kieran’s relationship with his parents?
It is so sad and true. Right like being a mother needing to blame someone who took your child away is hard when it's your other child who is the target. I love that Kieran's girl was able to talk him down and to give her time and not leave.
Coming home dredges up deeply buried secrets...
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...
=======
nominator: Judith