The Dry by Jane Harper

When Luke Hadler kills his wife, child, and then himself in a drought-plagued rural Australian community, the locals are shocked but unquestioning. Rural life has become virtually economically unsustainable and Hadler's family are a tragic consequence of this environment.
Luke's childhood friend Federal Police Investigator Aaron Falk attends the funeral,and is persuaded by Luke's parents to stay and unofficially search out answers to the cause of the tragedy.
An incident from the past involving Luke and Aaron resurfaces and small town tensions reignite.
A great debut crime thriller with a well written sense of place, this book has desevedly been on the best-seller lists recently.

Reviewed by Katrina

Catalogue link: The Dry