Drought is hitting hard in a small Australian town. The livestock is dying, the river is empty, and people are losing their minds. A man kills his wife and one of their children before turning the gun on himself—or at least, that’s what everyone thinks. But his childhood friend, who is also a cop, isn’t so sure. Are there other suspects lurking in the dry bush?

This book feels like a modern version of Agatha Christie. All the suspects are right in front of you, and every possible explanation is on the table.

Rating: 4.5/5 – It’s a fantastic, well-written book, though it’s dark.

The dry riverbed photo is from Bansko, a day before it rained.