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23rd out of 131 books
—
186 voters
Darkwater
Amanda Clarke is dead.
Her body was found floating facedown by the riverbank, and no one knows what happened. As rumours fly and fear grows, it seems that everyone suspects Lyndon, one of Amanda's friends. He's known for his temper, his cruelty and his criminal family - and now the police want to talk to him.
It's the end of summer, 1973, the heat is enough to melt asphalt...more
Her body was found floating facedown by the riverbank, and no one knows what happened. As rumours fly and fear grows, it seems that everyone suspects Lyndon, one of Amanda's friends. He's known for his temper, his cruelty and his criminal family - and now the police want to talk to him.
It's the end of summer, 1973, the heat is enough to melt asphalt...more
Paperback
Published
July 1st 2010
by Random House Australia
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I was attracted to this book by its dreamy cover and the endorsement from Rebecca James on the front that read 'Utterly compelling and unputdownable'! Beautiful Malice was one of my fave Aussie YA reads from 2010 so I was going to believe those words!
Let's just say that although I am still apt to believe Rebecca James... maybe her and I have got... different tastes. I found the first chapter of Darkwater solidly and well written. But there was the niggling factor that it didn't quite captivate m...more
Let's just say that although I am still apt to believe Rebecca James... maybe her and I have got... different tastes. I found the first chapter of Darkwater solidly and well written. But there was the niggling factor that it didn't quite captivate m...more
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Darkwater is a languid, atmospheric novel about murder and coming of age in 1970s Australia. It draws much of its strength from Blain’s use of setting; she paints an authentic and vivid picture of life in that time: summer days swollen with heat, the tick of ceiling fans through the interminable school hours, front doors left open and unlocked, skateboarding and joints under the underpass.
It’s an accurate rendering of a different time, and Blain’s attention to detail is notable, though I do wond...more
It’s an accurate rendering of a different time, and Blain’s attention to detail is notable, though I do wond...more
the character in this novel who interested me was the main character Winter because the novel was written in her view but i could still not understand her and i could not figure out her emotions.
The setting in the story was weird because the some particular characters who played a big part in this text were where their friend died so why would they be there, that part was hard to understand.
I think i just keep on reading this because it was a mystery book and i wanted to know who killed who.
I wo...more
The setting in the story was weird because the some particular characters who played a big part in this text were where their friend died so why would they be there, that part was hard to understand.
I think i just keep on reading this because it was a mystery book and i wanted to know who killed who.
I wo...more
I read this only last night and forgive me if I seemingly cannot remember anything. So, I stopped reading a book I really want to read to read this.
It was, to my utmost surprise, startling good. I can't even remember why I picked this book up, but the emotions drawn out by Winter, and the conflict she feels, it felt real. It was all very brief, but I liked this briefness. God, I'm not explaining it well. Put it this way, if something can confuse me this much, it must be good right?
Who am I kidd...more
It was, to my utmost surprise, startling good. I can't even remember why I picked this book up, but the emotions drawn out by Winter, and the conflict she feels, it felt real. It was all very brief, but I liked this briefness. God, I'm not explaining it well. Put it this way, if something can confuse me this much, it must be good right?
Who am I kidd...more
Dec 20, 2012
Rebecca
added it
I thought Darkwater would be an intense mystery and while there are mystery parts the main focus isn’t on clues and the investigation but on Winter and the events surrounding Amanda’s mysterious death.
I quite enjoyed Darkwater and I managed to read it in a day because the pages tend to read quite fast and the story is pretty engrossing. I was able to guess who had played a part in Amanda’s death although the why wasn’t what I had thought it would be.
I felt that there was one part of the story th...more
I quite enjoyed Darkwater and I managed to read it in a day because the pages tend to read quite fast and the story is pretty engrossing. I was able to guess who had played a part in Amanda’s death although the why wasn’t what I had thought it would be.
I felt that there was one part of the story th...more
This isn't what I expected. First, I wasn't aware that it was YA even though the main character is a teenager. Secondly, I thought this would be a meatier mystery. After all, a girl has died under suspicious circumstances and the local bad-boy is the prime suspect. Despite Blain's skill the tension just didn't build the way it should have. Nevertheless, this should please many: the characterisation is good--even if MC Winter is just a tad too perfect--and the crime's perpetrator is well conceale...more
I really enjoyed the story and liked the pace and development until the end. The story was progressing and when it was revealed who killed Amanda the story came to a quick conclusion and an abrupt end. I didn't want a lot more of the end, the length was great, it just would have been nice if the reveal could have been better developed. Other than that great novel.
Darkwater is an incredibly suspenseful and captivating story. Winter is left terrified by the murder of a school girl. She no longer feels safe in her own town. Neither does her friends. Determined to find Amanda’s killer, Winter and her friends begin to join the pieces together, to get justice, for Amanda, and for her family.
I really dig that 70's vibe, where it's still safe to let your kids roam the streets (that's a bit shattered though, after the death of Amanda), before mobile phones and social web pages and other technology clogged our attentions.
May 16, 2013
Jojiwoji
marked it as maybe-read
Apparently this is about a girl who drowns off the Gladesville bridge.
Now, I row under Gladesville bridge, and just recently a body was found at the bottom of Tarban Creek, nearby. So forgive me if I'm interested.
Now, I row under Gladesville bridge, and just recently a body was found at the bottom of Tarban Creek, nearby. So forgive me if I'm interested.
amazing book. One of my all time favourites. Georgia Blain is one of my few role models. Darkwater is moving, exciting and exhilerating. This book should be a classic. A MUST READ!!
Interesting plot, liked the mystery about it, predicted the ending though so that was disappointing. But overall a good book and was hard to put down at times.
Jan 28, 2011
Heidi
added it
This was a great read. I read it two nights, It was a pageturner I couldn't stop reading.
Really cool and pretty cover, but a fairly average story. :)
Having gone to high school during the 70s there was a real 'ring of truth' about this book for me. The way the characters interacted and the self-consciousness of teen years was really convincingly portrayed. I really liked the writing and found the mystery and tension built really well. Enjoyable read!
Unforgettable!
Sep 25, 2012
Emma Louise
added it
My main problem with this novel was that I didn't really understand why the author chose to tell the story from Winter's point of view. I guess I didn't really understand what Winter had to do with this Amanda girl being found dead. Sure her brother had a somewhat close tie to her but it just didn't work for me in this aspect. It lost a fair bit of the impact of the death by watering it down to being in Winter's POV, I think.
Dec 20, 2011
caityclare
added it
I luv this book.
2.5 stars
Meh.
Meh.
The book started out slow. Most of the time I was having a hard time trying to figure out Winters thoughts and trying to keep up with all the characters. Besides that I really enjoyed reading this book because it was descriptive, captivating and all in all a good read.
A well-conceived mystery story, atmospheric and suspenseful.
May 16, 2013
Natasha Fenwick
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Marilyn
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Mickslibrarian
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Anna Pham
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Evelyn
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Athena
marked it as to-read
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