*Winner of the Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger Award 2023*
Twelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton - and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.
'A heart-wrenching mystery' - Jane Harper, author of The Dry
'A stunning debut' - Ann Cleeves
THE DETECTIVE
As the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.
THE MOTHER
The girl's mother, Constance, believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.
THE FRIENDS
Ronnie is Esther's best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?
And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?
Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is perfect for fans of Jane Harper's The Dry and Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End.
'I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' - Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End
'A powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness' - The Times
'Dirt Town deserves its praise' - Guardian
Rezensionen / Stimmen
A heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor's remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut -- Jane Harper, bestselling author of <i>The Dry</i> A stunning debut. Achingly atmospheric, thrilling and heartfelt, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough -- Chris Whitaker, internationally bestselling author of <i>We Begin at the End</i> Beautifully written, compassionate, with an entirely credible but heart-breaking ending. A stunning debut -- Ann Cleeves, <i>The Sunday Times </i>bestselling author of Vera and Shetland Dirt Town deserves its praise. It is an intelligent novel, one that grapples with complex social and political dynamics, and brings a fresh voice to familiar narratives * Guardian * [A] deeply impressive first novel . . . It is a powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness, and another devastating indictment of the outback mentality * The Times * Best crime debut in ages, Hayley Scrivenor is a major new talent. Page-turning, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching stuff. I can't remember when I enjoyed a book so much -- Erin Kelly, <i>The Sunday Times</i> bestselling author of <i>He Said/She Said</i> Masterful. Australian crime has a new star. The characters of Dirt Town are rich, raw and beautifully realized. One of the crime books of the year. Intelligent, nuanced and compassionate -- Chris Hammer, bestselling author of <i>Scrublands</i> A chilling and darkly atmospheric novel. I literally couldn't put it down. -- Ruth Hogan, <i>Sunday Times</i> bestselling author of <i>The Keeper of Lost Things</i> Raw and intimate, Hayley Scrivenor unpacks small town life and its tragedies with heart and prowess -- Anna Bailey, author of <i>Tall Bones</i> Evocative, immersive, heart-breaking and ultimately hopeful. In a word, brilliant -- Sarah Hilary, author of <i>Fragile</i> A gripping mystery told in authentic and innovative fashion, Dirt Town will keep you engrossed. Hayley Scrivenor is an exciting new voice and an author to watch -- Adam Hamdy, <i>The Sunday Times</i> bestselling author of the Scott Pearce series and the Private series (with James Patterson) Dirt Town is a remarkable debut, Hayley Scrivenor is masterful in her deft handling of the tensions underpinning a small, regional town, and the complex characters that populate it. You will not be able to put it down -- Hannah Kent, author of <i>Devotion</i> and <i>Burial Rites</i> I loved it. Brilliantly written, evocative and touching -- Charlotte Levin, author of <i>If I Can't Have You</i> and <i>If I Let You Go</i> Broadchurch but in a scorched, dying town in rural Australia. Immersive, sweeping and superb -- Catherine Ryan Howard, author of <i>The Trap</i> and <i>56 Days</i> [An] exceptional slice of outback noir * i online *
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Zielgruppe
Interest Age: From 18 years
Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-1-5290-8029-2 (9781529080292)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Hayley Scrivenor is a former director of Wollongong Writers Festival. Originally from a small country town, Hayley now lives and writes on Dharawal country and has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales. Dirt Town is her first novel. An earlier version of the book was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize and won the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award.
