The Dry

Synopsis

'Spellbinding' Ian Rankin

'A riveting murder mystery and a beautifully wrought picture of a rural community under extreme pressure' Mail on Sunday Thriller of the Week

'Packed with sneaky moves and teasing possibilities that keep the reader guessing...The Dry is a breathless page-turner' Janet Maslin, New York Times

WHO REALLY KILLED THE HADLER FAMILY?

I just can't understand how someone like him could do something like that.

Amid the worst drought to ravage Australia in a century, it hasn't rained in small country town Kiewarra for two years. Tensions in the community become unbearable when three members of the Hadler family are brutally murdered. Everyone thinks Luke Hadler, who committed suicide after slaughtering his wife and six-year-old son, is guilty.

Policeman Aaron Falk returns to the town of his youth for the funeral of his childhood best friend, and is unwillingly drawn into the investigation. As questions mount and suspicion spreads through the town, Falk is forced to confront the community that rejected him twenty years earlier. Because Falk and Luke Hadler shared a secret, one which Luke's death threatens to unearth. And as Falk probes deeper into the killings, secrets from his past and why he left home bubble to the surface as he questions the truth of his friend's crime.

Praise for The Dry

'Riveting' Mail on Sunday

'Stunningly atmospheric' Val McDermid

A WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS CRIME THRILLER BOOK OF THE YEAR
A CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD WINNER
An Amazon.com's #1 Pick for Best Mystery & Thriller

Summary

Chapter 1

* Introduces Aaron Falk, a detective returning to his hometown of Kiewarra, a small town in rural Australia, for the funeral of his childhood friend Luke Hadler.
* Luke and his wife, Karen, recently died in a house fire, leaving behind their teenage son, Billy.
* Falk notices a sense of unease and suspicion among the townsfolk, particularly directed at Luke's father-in-law, Eric Deacon.

Chapter 2

* Falk investigates the fire and finds evidence suggesting arson.
* He learns that Luke was struggling financially and had recent arguments with Eric, who owns the local farm.
* Falk interviews Billy, who claims his parents were not having any problems.

Chapter 3

* Falk digs deeper into Luke's past and discovers that he was a star cricket player with a promising future.
* He learns about a scandal involving Luke's doping accusation and the subsequent cover-up orchestrated by Eric.
* Falk suspects that Eric's involvement in the scandal may have motivated him to kill Luke.

Chapter 4

* Falk investigates the drought conditions affecting Kiewarra, which have led to tensions and water shortages.
* He interviews Melissa Chambers, a climate activist who accuses Eric of hoarding water resources.
* Falk considers the possibility that the drought may have driven Luke to desperate measures.

Chapter 5

* Falk interviews Greta Hadler, Luke's sister, who reveals that Luke suspected his father was having an affair with a teacher.
* Falk learns that the teacher, Rita Scott, is missing and is suspected of fleeing town with Luke's father.
* This information casts doubt on Falk's initial theory that Eric was the killer.

Chapter 6

* Falk investigates Rita Scott's disappearance and discovers that she had a secret relationship with Luke.
* He interrogates Luke's best friend, Jamie Sullivan, who reluctantly reveals that Luke was blackmailing Eric over the doping scandal.
* Falk realizes that the blackmail plot could be the key to understanding both Luke's and Rita's deaths.

Chapter 7

* Falk confronts Eric with his findings and learns that he did kill Rita to protect his secret.
* He also confirms that Jamie Sullivan murdered Luke to prevent him from exposing the truth.
* Falk arrests Eric and Sullivan, bringing closure to the tragedy that has haunted Kiewarra for months.