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The Survivors


Even the deepest secrets rise to the surface in this thrilling mystery from New ...
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Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Created: 01/28/21

Replies: 33

Posted Jan. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)


Posted Jan. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ScribblingScribe

Join Date: 02/29/16

Posts: 189

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

This book pulled me in. I felt like I was in the small beach town in Tasmania, wondering about the mysteries contained in the story. It was richly written and I loved the parallel storyline.


Posted Jan. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robertaw

Join Date: 04/20/16

Posts: 83

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I loved the book and it has been my favorite Jane Harper novel so far (I've liked them all.) She does a great job creating atmosphere and describing place. Characters are well drawn and there are good red herrings. Harper is a good mystery writer. I was kept guessing up until the end. I'm ready for her next book!


Posted Jan. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Olivia

Join Date: 02/19/20

Posts: 7

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

It is a very good read; it holds you from beginning to end, hard to put down. The characters are appealing, likeable. The setting and atmosphere created are places we can imagine and find intriguing. Very good entertainment; great for distraction. I would use the word clever to describe the book.


Posted Jan. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews's Gravatar
Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews

Join Date: 03/30/19

Posts: 57

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

It took a bit to connect, but I liked it.


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
melissa c.

Join Date: 01/10/21

Posts: 111

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I have enjoyed all of Jane Harper's books and this one did not disappoint. The book was very easy to read, held my interest from the start and incredibly descriptive. It allowed me to "escape" to this beautiful, small beach town.


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulak

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 264

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I have read all of Jane Harper's books and am definitely a fan. "The Survivors" did not disappoint and is perhaps my favorite. Perhaps it was the change of venue from scorching desert to a seaside community, which evoked the perfect way Harper creates a sense of place. That, together with the theme of secrets, are constant features of her writing. In all of Harper's books, we see the destruction caused by secrets.


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
PKH

Join Date: 01/29/21

Posts: 120

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

It took me a while to get into this book and while it is not my favorite Jane Harper I liked it okay, just okay, not great. There were a lot of things that made no sense to me and weren't resolved at the end. The ending was weak.


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Upstatenyer

Join Date: 01/29/21

Posts: 2

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I was so looking forward to this book and appreciate receiving an ARC through Book Browse; however, I enjoyed The Survivors least out of her 4 books. I found the setting compelling but did not feel drawn in to the story. My favorite character was Mia. I actually listened again to Harper's "The Lost Man" after finishing The Survivors to compare the books; I believe the character development, plot and setting in The Lost Man are much more engaging than The Survivors.


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Mary Alice

Join Date: 01/14/18

Posts: 22

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

This book was such a prize, keeping me guessing all of the time. It seemed that no sooner had one riddle been explained, that another reared its head. I loved the way the author sustained the suspense in a realistic way. I did not feel that any of it was contrived, just life flowing through the plot, but I did have to keep reading!


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
MarieRauter

Join Date: 10/01/18

Posts: 8

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

As with all of Jane Harper's books - I loved this book - the depth of its characters, the visions it gives out of the gorgeous, wild surroundings, and the deep mystery surrounding the storm that left so much pain in its wake. I love this author!


Posted Jan. 29, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Mary Alice

Join Date: 01/14/18

Posts: 22

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Jane Harper is a conjurer, keeping the plot suspenseful, all the while keeping the reader on the edge of her seat. I loved the way the puzzle all fit together, leaving me wanting to read "just one more chapter" before I turned out the light!


Posted Jan. 30, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
victoriac

Join Date: 05/31/19

Posts: 6

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I enjoyed this as much as her previous work, The Lost Man (I also read The Dry). I liked the setting in Tasmania, and the mystery was compelling. I couldn’t figure it out ahead of time.


Posted Jan. 30, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Once again Jane Harper DOES NOT disappoint! What I love the most about her books is that she treats the setting like one of her characters. Her descriptions are rich and evoke such strong feelings. While I didn't like all of the characters in The Survivors, I had opinions about every single one. It is a testament to Harper's writing that I found myself yelling at Verity and rolling my eyes at Ash. I wanted to shake Liam by the shoulders and remind Pendlebury that Evelyn Bay isn't her town. I loved Mia for her unwavering support and steadiness, and I was constantly proud of Kieran's growth and personal strength. My biggest problem is that I am so consumed by the story she creates that I devour it too quickly. And Jane Harper's is the kind of writing I do not want to end.


Posted Feb. 01, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joang

Join Date: 05/17/12

Posts: 94

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

The Survivors is my first book by Jane Harper. For me it was a different kind of "mystery". It was a slow meandering story, with clues along the way. It was not a fast paced, edge of your seat story. It did however keep me wanting more. It did keep me guessing. At different points in the story i had different people on my list of suspects. Her writing is exquisite, so descriptive. I felt I was there in Evelyn Bay. Her characters are all well developed. I felt I knew them all and was right there with them. She drew me in and I felt connected to them and this beach front community.


Posted Feb. 01, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I really liked this book - but it took me awhile - and I think that is because it was such a different setting from her others. No matter where her works take place, however, as acstrine says, the setting is an additional character and readers use all five senses in meeting it. I am so grateful to this author because I feel that she is really introducing me to the part of the world "down under" that I know so little about. There are so many more characters in this book, they seem younger than in her first books, and they all come right up off the page to greet the reader. I think this is her best book yet, and because she is obviously developing with each book she writes, I expect to say that again after I finish the next one. Just wish I didn't have to wait!


Posted Feb. 02, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djn

Join Date: 05/19/11

Posts: 93

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

This was not my favorite book of Harpers. It may be because I didn’t just sit down and read it but picked it up as I had time. I also think that Kieran left and grew while the rest of the characters couldn’t get out of the past. But she is a compelling story teller and she kept you guessing until the end


Posted Feb. 03, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
judithc

Join Date: 02/28/20

Posts: 31

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I loved it. The subtle momentum of the story starts at the beginning and tension follows through to the end. Harper is one of the best in this genre. I was surprised by the ending. I would recommend it to anyone seeking a smart, intelligent read.


Posted Feb. 04, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
vivianh

Join Date: 11/14/11

Posts: 160

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

This was my least favorite of Jane Harper’s novels. But that is like comparing top notch Bordeaux wines. They are all incomparably good. I loved the characters & the locale. I loved The Dry, The Lost Man & The Force of Nature. I will buy anything she writes! But I thought The Survivors a solid work. Not my favorite Jane Harper is like not my favorite Cabernet, not my favorite crabcakes, or not my favorite cashmere joggers.


Posted Feb. 05, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
linz

Join Date: 08/12/15

Posts: 167

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I liked this book, but I don't feel that it makes me want to read her other books. It made me unsettled reading it. I felt the cold, felt the wind and the water. The setting felt dangerous and unfinished. I knew there was more to the story. The ending was a surprise , mostly because I didn't think the characters were drawn out well enough. We knew more about Bronte than I thought necessary, adn less about "The Survivors".


Posted Feb. 05, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lori

Join Date: 09/15/11

Posts: 15

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I liked The Survivors, but not as much as I enjoyed the author's other works. Her description of the setting put me into the small seaside town, and the difficulty I (and evidently others )had connecting with all the characters made me feel a bit as though I was an outsider coming into this small, tight-knit community, not really knowing who is who and how they are connected. I have to say I didn't really care for the ending, but I definitely did not see it coming either.


Posted Feb. 06, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bjb

Join Date: 10/03/18

Posts: 1

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I very much liked this book. My theory on where the story was headed was very wrong. I liked the actual ending much better than what I thought it would be. All in all felt this was an excellent read!
Would highly recommend it.


Posted Feb. 07, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beverlyj

Join Date: 12/22/11

Posts: 138

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I like The Survivors.
It is my favorite of all the Jane Harper's book that I have read.
I liked it because I felt the author had such control over the story and how the tension was built and maintained over the story.
It was a slow boil with at times I wanted to move along faster but the author, just slow down I need you to understand this before we get to what you want which for me made this a much fuller and more nuanced story.

And I just loved the setting of a small town on the coast of Tasmania! Just the setting I needed during this pandemic.


Posted Feb. 07, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
PiperUp

Join Date: 10/27/15

Posts: 146

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I agree with others; I've enjoyed each of Harper's books. I also really enjoyed the change of setting and scenery. I'll read anything that Harper writes because she's never disappointed me.


Posted Feb. 07, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kateg

Join Date: 04/28/11

Posts: 29

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I really enjoyed this book! It was a departure from my immediate previous reads. I have read all of Jane Harper and while I enjoyed The Dry the best, this book resonated with me as I live near the water. The characters felt very familiar. She writes scenery and location so well, I am always completely immersed.


Posted Feb. 08, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
betsyh

Join Date: 11/21/19

Posts: 5

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

The book pulled me in right from the beginning. I loved the setting, which was almost a character in and of itself. And the coastal setting was a nice change from The Dry and The Lost Man. I think Harper was able to capture the feel of a small town and how you can never really know someone completely even if you grew up together.


Posted Feb. 08, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
judyw

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 70

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

It took me several chapters to engage with the story. It seemed to meander and wasn't easy to follow the characters as written. I just didn't connect with the characters. The ending was also a disappointed-the cause of the deaths came from nowhere. After reading all the other sparkling reviews, I may need to read another book by Jane Harper.


Posted Feb. 10, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beckyk

Join Date: 02/13/19

Posts: 21

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I enjoyed the book, and Jane Harper is a favorite author. All of her books provide engaging characters and a very strong sense of place, and The Survivors is no exception. Although I enjoyed the twist at the end (I had not suspected the culprit at all), I was a little let down by the ending. I don't feel that the circumstances that prompted the first death provided enough of a motive for murder. I realize the characters in question were teens at the time, but the actual "infraction" was nothing more than the normal teen behavior. So while I respect the skill with which Harper displayed in finally revealing the culprit, I wish the ending had more teeth.


Posted Feb. 15, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cindyb

Join Date: 04/14/20

Posts: 110

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I enjoyed the book. It was my first read of a Jane Harper book I’ll definitely read another by this author. The author’s character and setting development kept me reading! The twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I would definitely recommend this book and I think it would be a great book club choice!


Posted Feb. 16, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
debrac

Join Date: 02/16/21

Posts: 1

RE: Overall, what do you think of The Survivors? (no spoilers in this thread please)

The Survivors was my introduction to Jane Harper's work, and I enjoyed it. It's well-written, and also well-woven - a believable plot, moved forward by well-developed, interesting characters, and a mystery that keeps the reader guessing - right to the end as others have observed. The setting, unfamiliar to me, was interesting in itself - I was compelled to research whether Evelyn Bay exists, and whether The Survivors were a real landmark because the descriptions made me believe they were real. It was an enjoyable use of a few hours time, and I recommend it. I'm looking forward to reading more of Harper's work.


Posted Feb. 26, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
taking.mytime's Gravatar
taking.mytime

Join Date: 03/29/16

Posts: 364

RE: Overall, what do you think of The ...

I have read all of Harper's books. I find her books to be well written, usually character driven and with just the right amount of suspense to keep you reading. Harper adds enough twists and turns in the story to keep it interesting, but still allows you to give your own interpretation of what is actually happening. One aspect I like, of her writing, is that you feel that the place the story is occurring is also a character. A strong sense of place tends to pull you even further into a story.


Posted Mar. 10, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolt

Join Date: 03/25/17

Posts: 190

RE: Overall, what do you think of The ...

I really enjoyed The Survivors. I'd enjoyed Jane Harper's first two books, but the third left me cold, so I was glad to find this one back to her original strengths - twists, turns, well-rounded characters (including an interesting sense of place).


Posted Mar. 13, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Mary Alice

Join Date: 01/14/18

Posts: 22

RE: Overall, what do you think of The ...

I agree with the above review in that this novel had a rich sense of place. The characters were interesting and made me care about what happened to them. I have never been to much of Australia so I enjoyed the setting a great deal. Due to this book I am eager to read other novels by this author. This was my first.


Posted Mar. 14, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Iudita

Join Date: 03/14/21

Posts: 2

RE: Overall, what do you think of The ...

I have been meaning to read Jane Harper for years and hadn't got around to it until now when I read The Survivors. The premise was good and I enjoyed the atmospheric tone but honestly I was a little bored. I would love to know how this compares to her previous novels. Should I try another book? I didn't dislike The Survivors - I was just a little underwhelmed.


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