Audio Review: The Survivors by Jane Harper

 

The Survivors by Jane Harper

Publication Date: February 2nd 2021 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 370

Audio Book Length: 11 hrs 56 min

Narrators: Stephen Shanahan

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Link: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Libro.fm | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Kieran is back in his hometown after years of staying away. There are painful memories after a big coastal storm ended with a tragic accident that took the life of his brother and another local man. Kieran feels responsible and the guilt has weighed him down, but he must come back to help pack up the family home as his father’s dementia has been worsening.  When a local woman turns up dead on the beach murdered the past is again stirred up, and you’re left to wonder if the past has collided with the present as they try and find the killer.

There are a cast of characters in play, Kieran and several of the locals who used to run around together enjoying the seaside and town with a bit of rivalry and a secret or two between them.  They drifted apart after the brutal storm that marked more than one tragedy, but it’s like hardly any time’s gone by once they get together again. As the search for the murderer proceeds, I was questioning what really happened in the past, and how it related to the recent murder. The past is revealed bit by bit I kept wondering if there was a killer in the midst of these old friends.

The Survivors was an atmospheric mystery with a steady increase of tension as the suspicions mount, and I upped the speed on my audio so I could get my answers as quickly as possible! I was taken by surprise as the actual events of the past were revealed.

Once again Jane Harper creates a story that immediately captured and held my attention! I was sucked into the mystery and felt for Kieran as he faces ghosts from his past. I was pleased that he had his girlfriend Mia and their new baby for support.

This is the second time I’ve enjoyed Stephen Shanahan’s narration. His accent was perfect for the role of Kieran the primary POV for the story. Mr. Shanahan did an excellent job with all the voices and he made The Survivors a riveting experience. I listened at my usual of 1.5x or even faster the normal speed.

4 Stars

Goodreads Description:

The compelling new novel from Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry.

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 town he once called home.

Kieran's parents are struggling in a community which is bound, for better or worse, to the sea, that is both a lifeline and a threat. 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...