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Riptides
In 1974, in country Queensland, Charlie Campbell forces a car off an unlit and rarely travelled dirt road into a tree, killing the pregnant driver. The crash wakes Charlie’s sister, Abby, who’d been sleeping in the passenger seat next to him. They were heading to their father’s farm.
A dead woman has no place in either of their plans. They drive away, leaving her on the ground as heavy rain falls. They cannot help her, there are no witnesses, and there is too much at stake.
When they arrive at the farm, the siblings learn that the dead woman, Skye, was their father’s fiance.
They resolve to tell no one what they’ve done — to admit to this crime will cost them their father and their future. Charlie leans on his older sister to lead them out of trouble, to act as the protector she’s had to be since their mother died. But their secret grows more complicated by the day.
Abby, however, is not one to give up. She keeps the single piece of evidence hidden, and decides to redeem herself. She determines to raise Skye’s son as her own, study, and make a difference. She is convinced that she and Charlie can get back on track. But along the way, they need to reconsider exactly what it is they want.
A dead woman has no place in either of their plans. They drive away, leaving her on the ground as heavy rain falls. They cannot help her, there are no witnesses, and there is too much at stake.
When they arrive at the farm, the siblings learn that the dead woman, Skye, was their father’s fiance.
They resolve to tell no one what they’ve done — to admit to this crime will cost them their father and their future. Charlie leans on his older sister to lead them out of trouble, to act as the protector she’s had to be since their mother died. But their secret grows more complicated by the day.
Abby, however, is not one to give up. She keeps the single piece of evidence hidden, and decides to redeem herself. She determines to raise Skye’s son as her own, study, and make a difference. She is convinced that she and Charlie can get back on track. But along the way, they need to reconsider exactly what it is they want.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2020
49 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Alexander
11 books182 followersKirsten Alexander is the author of three novels: Half Moon Lake (PRH, Australia & NZ, 2019; published as Lost Boy Found by Grand Central/Hachette, US & Canada 2020), Riptides (PRH, 2020) and After the Fall (Ultimo Press, 2025).
Kirsten has worked as a nonfiction book editor, copywriter (inhouse four years for Aesop, also for Crumpler, M.L. Vintage, House + Universe), and occasional article writer (for the Age, the Daily Beast, Notebook, the Melbourne Weekly, Atticus Review and others). She’s worked as a reviewer for ABC Radio National’s The Book Show, a magazine section editor, and content manager for several websites.
She was co-founder and editor of three-volume digital journal Open Field.
Currently she works as an editor and tutor for the Faber Writing Academy.
Kirsten was born in San Francisco, raised in Brisbane, and lives in Melbourne with her partner and two sons.
author photo credit: Lee Sandwith
Kirsten has worked as a nonfiction book editor, copywriter (inhouse four years for Aesop, also for Crumpler, M.L. Vintage, House + Universe), and occasional article writer (for the Age, the Daily Beast, Notebook, the Melbourne Weekly, Atticus Review and others). She’s worked as a reviewer for ABC Radio National’s The Book Show, a magazine section editor, and content manager for several websites.
She was co-founder and editor of three-volume digital journal Open Field.
Currently she works as an editor and tutor for the Faber Writing Academy.
Kirsten was born in San Francisco, raised in Brisbane, and lives in Melbourne with her partner and two sons.
author photo credit: Lee Sandwith
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
April 25, 2020
Set in Brisbane in 1974, Riptides has a wonderful feel for Australian life at that time. For anyone who grew up here in the 70's the nostalgia value is pure gold.
The story opens with a tragedy and the choices made by the survivors, which have unforeseen repercussions. There are no really likeable characters in the book, just people who sometimes make bad decisions and have to live with them. Most of them are self centred and their choices and justifications are morally and ethically questionable.
Events move along at a good pace and one really good thing comes out of it allThe epilogue rounds things off beautifully.
I thought this was a good read made especially enjoyable by the well described setting and the reminders of how we lived then.
The story opens with a tragedy and the choices made by the survivors, which have unforeseen repercussions. There are no really likeable characters in the book, just people who sometimes make bad decisions and have to live with them. Most of them are self centred and their choices and justifications are morally and ethically questionable.
Events move along at a good pace and one really good thing comes out of it allThe epilogue rounds things off beautifully.
I thought this was a good read made especially enjoyable by the well described setting and the reminders of how we lived then.
May 12, 2022
Charlie & Abbey Campbell run off the road as they were headed to their fathers farm, they hit a heavily my first read by pregnant woman, but they decide to leave the scene of the accident the year 1974
unbeknown to the siblings the woman they left for dead is their fathers fiancé it’s pouring with rain 🌧 & leaving her like that has consequences for all concerned.
This was my first read by Kirsten Alexander she is an Australian author who I have not heard of the prose was good set in Chinchilla Queensland it’s atmospheric well written with multiple layers & enjoyable.
unbeknown to the siblings the woman they left for dead is their fathers fiancé it’s pouring with rain 🌧 & leaving her like that has consequences for all concerned.
This was my first read by Kirsten Alexander she is an Australian author who I have not heard of the prose was good set in Chinchilla Queensland it’s atmospheric well written with multiple layers & enjoyable.
February 4, 2020
Riptides is such a multi layered story and I loved every minute of it. Kirsten Alexander is a new Australian writer for me and this is her second book. I feel that she has a hit on her hands with this one. There is so much going on in this fantastic book and I can't recommend it enough. There were moments that made me laugh, and moments that made me cry. It has it all and once you start it you won't want to put it down.
It is 1974 in Queensland, Australia. Charlie and her sister Abby are heading home to their fathers farm. It is raining heavily and dark and it is a small, narrow dirt road. Then both of their lives change forever. They force a car off the road, killing the pregnant driver instantly. Scared they drag the woman from the car but leave her on the side of the road in the rain, dead. When they arrive at the farm they are horrified to find out that the woman was Skye, their fathers fiancé .
The siblings decide to keep what happened to themselves, a decision that tears them up - and apart. The more they lie and avoid the police the more they change as people. Their friendships and relationships suffer. It is a story of family and what it means to different people. It is the 70's and there is corruption and abuse of power. It was a different time, an easier time in some ways.
Alexander reels you in with her descriptions of 1970's Australia, I felt as if I was there and watching it all unfold. The characters are so real and you feel for them and the situations they get themselves into.
Thanks to Better Reading and Penguin Random House for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
It is 1974 in Queensland, Australia. Charlie and her sister Abby are heading home to their fathers farm. It is raining heavily and dark and it is a small, narrow dirt road. Then both of their lives change forever. They force a car off the road, killing the pregnant driver instantly. Scared they drag the woman from the car but leave her on the side of the road in the rain, dead. When they arrive at the farm they are horrified to find out that the woman was Skye, their fathers fiancé .
The siblings decide to keep what happened to themselves, a decision that tears them up - and apart. The more they lie and avoid the police the more they change as people. Their friendships and relationships suffer. It is a story of family and what it means to different people. It is the 70's and there is corruption and abuse of power. It was a different time, an easier time in some ways.
Alexander reels you in with her descriptions of 1970's Australia, I felt as if I was there and watching it all unfold. The characters are so real and you feel for them and the situations they get themselves into.
Thanks to Better Reading and Penguin Random House for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
June 24, 2020
Set in mid 70s Brisbane, Riptides is a multilayered domestic drama, with some suspense elements to it.
It was an easy-breezy read, with some relatable and interesting themes. Despite all that, at times it felt too familiar and pedestrian and it dragged on.
The dual narrative didn't do much for me, I would have prefered to hear just Abby's point of view, as Charlie's, Abby's brother, didn't add that much to the story.
It was a palatable enough novel, but, I'm afraid, forgettable.
It was an easy-breezy read, with some relatable and interesting themes. Despite all that, at times it felt too familiar and pedestrian and it dragged on.
The dual narrative didn't do much for me, I would have prefered to hear just Abby's point of view, as Charlie's, Abby's brother, didn't add that much to the story.
It was a palatable enough novel, but, I'm afraid, forgettable.
May 4, 2020
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**3.5 stars**
Riptides by Kirsten Alexander. (2020).
It's December 1974. Abby and her brother Charlie are driving to their dad's isolated farm on a dark country road when they swerve into the path of another car, forcing it into a tree. The pregnant driver is killed instantly. In the heat of the moment they make a fateful decision and flee. They have no idea who they've just killed or how many lives will be affected by the death. Soon the truth is like a riptide they can't escape, as their terrible secret pulls them down deeper by the day.
This novel is a family drama beginning with the death of Skye, a pregnant woman accidentally killed in a car crash caused by Charlie. Abby is in the car with Charlie and while they are horrified, they come to the decision that they need to walk away and pretend they were never there. The rest of the book is the consequences for both of them because of this decision, as well as other issues in their family. While I appreciated the author cleverly demonstrating the long reach effects of such an event, for me I found the book a bit slow and dragging in places. I didn't really respect Charlie much but I did like Abby so enjoyed her chapters more. I have seen loads of reviews absolutely loving this book, and I did like it, so if you like the sound of the synopsis then definitely give it a read :).
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**3.5 stars**
Riptides by Kirsten Alexander. (2020).
It's December 1974. Abby and her brother Charlie are driving to their dad's isolated farm on a dark country road when they swerve into the path of another car, forcing it into a tree. The pregnant driver is killed instantly. In the heat of the moment they make a fateful decision and flee. They have no idea who they've just killed or how many lives will be affected by the death. Soon the truth is like a riptide they can't escape, as their terrible secret pulls them down deeper by the day.
This novel is a family drama beginning with the death of Skye, a pregnant woman accidentally killed in a car crash caused by Charlie. Abby is in the car with Charlie and while they are horrified, they come to the decision that they need to walk away and pretend they were never there. The rest of the book is the consequences for both of them because of this decision, as well as other issues in their family. While I appreciated the author cleverly demonstrating the long reach effects of such an event, for me I found the book a bit slow and dragging in places. I didn't really respect Charlie much but I did like Abby so enjoyed her chapters more. I have seen loads of reviews absolutely loving this book, and I did like it, so if you like the sound of the synopsis then definitely give it a read :).
March 30, 2020
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Alexander explores how a moment in time, a decision taken, can alter the lives of many, having a rolling effect.
Abby and Charlie’s decision to leave a woman dead on the side of the road after an accident they caused has far reaching effects. The two siblings grapple with their conscience, come to terms with and try to justify what they have done.
Told by dual narrators we get both Abigail and Charlie’s point of view. Neither character is totally likeable, which is understandable considering what they have just done, but Charlie had my anger rising as he displayed a total lack of remorse.
Set in the mid 70’s Alexander uses real events to place the story solidly in its time frame.
The story gripped me from the very first page and as the dead woman weaved her way into their lives again and again I was eager to learn how this was going to end. Likeable or not the engaging cast of characters were easy to connect with and give for some compelling reading.
Love, trauma, family, responsibility, a hippy commune and police corruption all combine to make this book un-put-downable.
*I received a copy from the publisher
Alexander explores how a moment in time, a decision taken, can alter the lives of many, having a rolling effect.
Abby and Charlie’s decision to leave a woman dead on the side of the road after an accident they caused has far reaching effects. The two siblings grapple with their conscience, come to terms with and try to justify what they have done.
Told by dual narrators we get both Abigail and Charlie’s point of view. Neither character is totally likeable, which is understandable considering what they have just done, but Charlie had my anger rising as he displayed a total lack of remorse.
Set in the mid 70’s Alexander uses real events to place the story solidly in its time frame.
The story gripped me from the very first page and as the dead woman weaved her way into their lives again and again I was eager to learn how this was going to end. Likeable or not the engaging cast of characters were easy to connect with and give for some compelling reading.
Love, trauma, family, responsibility, a hippy commune and police corruption all combine to make this book un-put-downable.
*I received a copy from the publisher
February 20, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
Riptides is a complex family crime based drama from Australian writer Kirsten Alexander. It is an heart-wrenching affair, that examines the fallout from a tragic accident that rips apart a family unit. Contemplative, divisional and involving, Riptides commands your full attention from the explosive first chapter to the final word.
Riptides brings the reader to the end of 1974, in the state of Queensland. One evening, Abby and her brother Charlie are travelling along a dimly lit country road when they accidentally move into the path of another car. The other car veers off the road and it hits a tree. The force of this accident causes the immediate death of the driver, a pregnant woman. When Charlie and Abby realise what they have done, they make a terrible decision that has far reaching implications. This selfish decision is made to safeguard their lives, but it has devastating consequences. When they eventually discover the identity of the driver they killed, it plunges them both in a pit of guilt, anxiety and lies. Riptides concerns itself with the implications of a fateful decision, with a bitter aftermath.
I was first introduced to Melbourne based author Kirsten Alexander just over a year ago when I read her gripping historical mystery novel, Half Moon Lake. I was keen to dive into Alexander’s second book and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
Riptides is a rich and wonderfully complex family drama. It peels back layer after layer, revealing a litany of core issues. The focus family of Riptides has their problems, which is unpacked as the story progresses. I liked how Alexander unpicked these individual and group misgivings, by fleshing them out in the form of an intriguing narrative fold. Whilst I could appreciate the flaws of the siblings in this tale, along with their father, I also felt a great deal of sympathy for them. My anxiety levels were constantly high while I read this novel too! Alexander does an excellent job of placing the reader in the emotionally fraught shoes of her characters. With this aspect of the novel drawing appeal, I would love to present Riptides to my book club as a potential group read. There would be plenty to raise, discuss and theorise.
In terms of the structure, I really appreciated Alexander’s approach. The use of a double perspective narrative has enabled Alexander to explore different perspectives of the same incident and the fallout of an awful act of indecision from contrasted viewpoints. This is intertwined with a corrupt police investigation and the feelings of the father of the siblings. The accompanying dialogue and the authentic actions of the characters, ensures that Riptides remains a compelling read. I was amazed by just how fast I managed to get through the pages of this novel. Riptides is seducing, addictive and utterly consuming.
Alexander counterbalances the crime and mystery based aspect drawn from the pivotal opening accident, with a succinct portrait of life in the past, situated in mid 1970s Queensland. As a child of the eighties and a West Australian, I was appreciative of Alexander’s thorough presentation of this time period, as well as specific location. Riptides made aware of the political movements, social upheavals, corruption and community attitudes of this time. I found it insightful and engrossing, adding yet another powerful layer to this supreme crime novel.
A poignant, life affirming and awakening style conclusion completes Alexander’s journey with her intricate and tormented character set. A careful consideration of themes such as irresponsibility, blame, guilt, loss, grief, loneliness, dissatisfaction, fulfilment, aspirations, trust, loyalty, protection, justice and how we make decisions based on the greater good are explored with a deft hand.
Riptides is a family drama presented with an ethical touch. Kirsten Alexander’s second offering is a highly commendable novel, that will be sure to strike a chord with readers from a variety of preferred genres.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Riptides is book #15 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
4.5 stars
Riptides is a complex family crime based drama from Australian writer Kirsten Alexander. It is an heart-wrenching affair, that examines the fallout from a tragic accident that rips apart a family unit. Contemplative, divisional and involving, Riptides commands your full attention from the explosive first chapter to the final word.
Riptides brings the reader to the end of 1974, in the state of Queensland. One evening, Abby and her brother Charlie are travelling along a dimly lit country road when they accidentally move into the path of another car. The other car veers off the road and it hits a tree. The force of this accident causes the immediate death of the driver, a pregnant woman. When Charlie and Abby realise what they have done, they make a terrible decision that has far reaching implications. This selfish decision is made to safeguard their lives, but it has devastating consequences. When they eventually discover the identity of the driver they killed, it plunges them both in a pit of guilt, anxiety and lies. Riptides concerns itself with the implications of a fateful decision, with a bitter aftermath.
I was first introduced to Melbourne based author Kirsten Alexander just over a year ago when I read her gripping historical mystery novel, Half Moon Lake. I was keen to dive into Alexander’s second book and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
Riptides is a rich and wonderfully complex family drama. It peels back layer after layer, revealing a litany of core issues. The focus family of Riptides has their problems, which is unpacked as the story progresses. I liked how Alexander unpicked these individual and group misgivings, by fleshing them out in the form of an intriguing narrative fold. Whilst I could appreciate the flaws of the siblings in this tale, along with their father, I also felt a great deal of sympathy for them. My anxiety levels were constantly high while I read this novel too! Alexander does an excellent job of placing the reader in the emotionally fraught shoes of her characters. With this aspect of the novel drawing appeal, I would love to present Riptides to my book club as a potential group read. There would be plenty to raise, discuss and theorise.
In terms of the structure, I really appreciated Alexander’s approach. The use of a double perspective narrative has enabled Alexander to explore different perspectives of the same incident and the fallout of an awful act of indecision from contrasted viewpoints. This is intertwined with a corrupt police investigation and the feelings of the father of the siblings. The accompanying dialogue and the authentic actions of the characters, ensures that Riptides remains a compelling read. I was amazed by just how fast I managed to get through the pages of this novel. Riptides is seducing, addictive and utterly consuming.
Alexander counterbalances the crime and mystery based aspect drawn from the pivotal opening accident, with a succinct portrait of life in the past, situated in mid 1970s Queensland. As a child of the eighties and a West Australian, I was appreciative of Alexander’s thorough presentation of this time period, as well as specific location. Riptides made aware of the political movements, social upheavals, corruption and community attitudes of this time. I found it insightful and engrossing, adding yet another powerful layer to this supreme crime novel.
A poignant, life affirming and awakening style conclusion completes Alexander’s journey with her intricate and tormented character set. A careful consideration of themes such as irresponsibility, blame, guilt, loss, grief, loneliness, dissatisfaction, fulfilment, aspirations, trust, loyalty, protection, justice and how we make decisions based on the greater good are explored with a deft hand.
Riptides is a family drama presented with an ethical touch. Kirsten Alexander’s second offering is a highly commendable novel, that will be sure to strike a chord with readers from a variety of preferred genres.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Riptides is book #15 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
December 16, 2019
Riptides is the newest novel by Kirsten Alexander
The plot is an absolute page-turner. It’s a gripping story of a horrifying and dark situation that siblings Abby and Charlie find themselves in when a heavily pregnant woman is killed after a terrible accident. After a moment of panic sets in they make an appalling decision.
The siblings hide the crime and as their lies grow bigger, the consequences set in. It’s soon revealed that the woman killed had a secret connection to their lives, which will shock them all and change their lives forever.
Mix this up with police corruption, a failed kidnapping, a hippie commune and an interesting cast of characters and you have a great story.
Riptides is set in Queensland, Australia in the 70’s, and it was lovely to see a bit of nostalgia throughout the storyline.
There are multi-layered relationships in the story and it goes to show what lengths a person will go to to save their selves and those they love.
I really enjoyed this novel, it was emotional and constantly moving, great flow and a recommended read!
Thank you to Better Reading for an Advanced Copy to read in return for an honest review
The plot is an absolute page-turner. It’s a gripping story of a horrifying and dark situation that siblings Abby and Charlie find themselves in when a heavily pregnant woman is killed after a terrible accident. After a moment of panic sets in they make an appalling decision.
The siblings hide the crime and as their lies grow bigger, the consequences set in. It’s soon revealed that the woman killed had a secret connection to their lives, which will shock them all and change their lives forever.
Mix this up with police corruption, a failed kidnapping, a hippie commune and an interesting cast of characters and you have a great story.
Riptides is set in Queensland, Australia in the 70’s, and it was lovely to see a bit of nostalgia throughout the storyline.
There are multi-layered relationships in the story and it goes to show what lengths a person will go to to save their selves and those they love.
I really enjoyed this novel, it was emotional and constantly moving, great flow and a recommended read!
Thank you to Better Reading for an Advanced Copy to read in return for an honest review
December 9, 2019
Riptides is the second novel by Australian author, Kirsten Alexander. Abigail Campbell and her brother Charlie, driving to their father’s Queensland outback farm one December night, are the cause of a fatal car accident. A heavily-pregnant young woman dies instantly and, despite Abby’s best efforts, her brother coerces her to leave the scene, reasoning nothing more can be done for the victim, and their lives will be the worse for admitting their part.
Arriving at John Scott’s farm the next morning, they find a police constable breaking the news that his fiancée has perished in the accident. Exactly where Skye was going is unclear, but their father’s engagement to a woman of their own age comes as a shock to the siblings, on top of dealing with John’s grief. And the fact that they are responsible for the death of their half-brother or -sister.
Meanwhile, the police are not completely convinced from the crash scene that Skye’s fate was an accident. And they are not entirely satisfied with the cover story that the siblings tell; even a distraught John Scott is considered a suspect. After they have arrived at Abby’s Brisbane home, John reveals that Skye had a young son, whom he intends to rescue from a violent father.
Taking place over a period of four months from the end of 1974, Alexander’s story grips from the first page and doesn’t let go. Brisbane is well depicted and the heat and humidity of Queensland summer is palpable. Alexander locates her tale firmly in time with mentions of popular culture, headline news and police corruption. Her characters certainly fit with that era and their dialogue is credible.
The twin narrative, carried by Charlie and Abby, allows the reader into the heads of this twenty-something duo. Neither guilt nor remorse seem to form part of Charlie's repertoire, pointing to his shallow, self-centred, entitled nature; rather, he seems intent on coming to terms with the event and getting back to his idyllic life in Bali, happy to remain an irresponsible adolescent.
Abby certainly feels guilty, but seems more focussed on measuring the personal cost of telling the truth, preferring to maintain the status quo. All their fine rationalising of their actions is quite staggering: surely nothing can excuse a deed so large?
The first half of the story is delivered as deadly serious, but then, as she ramps up the tension, Alexander inserts some instances of black humour: the attempted kidnapping is almost farcical. Shocking and thought-provoking, this is an incredibly powerful read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Random House Australia.
Arriving at John Scott’s farm the next morning, they find a police constable breaking the news that his fiancée has perished in the accident. Exactly where Skye was going is unclear, but their father’s engagement to a woman of their own age comes as a shock to the siblings, on top of dealing with John’s grief. And the fact that they are responsible for the death of their half-brother or -sister.
Meanwhile, the police are not completely convinced from the crash scene that Skye’s fate was an accident. And they are not entirely satisfied with the cover story that the siblings tell; even a distraught John Scott is considered a suspect. After they have arrived at Abby’s Brisbane home, John reveals that Skye had a young son, whom he intends to rescue from a violent father.
Taking place over a period of four months from the end of 1974, Alexander’s story grips from the first page and doesn’t let go. Brisbane is well depicted and the heat and humidity of Queensland summer is palpable. Alexander locates her tale firmly in time with mentions of popular culture, headline news and police corruption. Her characters certainly fit with that era and their dialogue is credible.
The twin narrative, carried by Charlie and Abby, allows the reader into the heads of this twenty-something duo. Neither guilt nor remorse seem to form part of Charlie's repertoire, pointing to his shallow, self-centred, entitled nature; rather, he seems intent on coming to terms with the event and getting back to his idyllic life in Bali, happy to remain an irresponsible adolescent.
Abby certainly feels guilty, but seems more focussed on measuring the personal cost of telling the truth, preferring to maintain the status quo. All their fine rationalising of their actions is quite staggering: surely nothing can excuse a deed so large?
The first half of the story is delivered as deadly serious, but then, as she ramps up the tension, Alexander inserts some instances of black humour: the attempted kidnapping is almost farcical. Shocking and thought-provoking, this is an incredibly powerful read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Random House Australia.
June 28, 2024
Riptides is set in Queensland. The year is 1974, Australia is discovering near neighbours such as Indonesia and the tourist island of Bali and life appears to be laid back and trouble free. For some. But this family drama demonstrates that all of that can change with one poor decision.
Charlie and Abby are driving to their father’s property along deserted dirt roads when Charlie, who had too much to drink after his flight from Bali, falls asleep only to wake as they hit another car. The car rolls and when they get to it they find a pregnant woman who has been thrown out and is lying, dying.
Their response to this crisis is the wrong one. They leave the woman to die, choosing to head back to a nearby town in the hopes that no one can link them to the accident. When they get to their father’s property the next day they discover the woman they killed was their father’s fiancé.
Continuing to hide the truth from both their father and the police creates an unbelievable level of tension between the siblings. It also deepens the trouble they’ve created for themselves and there’s a definite feeling of impending doom surrounding every interaction they have. Eventually, somebody’s going to inadvertently give the game away.
There are more issues lying below the surface for each of the central characters here and the family drama begins to play out in earnest. Charlie is a man-child who refuses to grow up while Abby appears to be overly self-absorbed, more concerned about the impact her mistakes might have on herself and her immediate family.
I found it difficult to have any sympathy for Abby and Charlie’s father who turns out to be quite the arsehole. Even for the times, the man is a misogynistic buffoon who treats his daughter deplorably, never showing an ounce of compassion or care for his children. He also comes up with a ridiculously flawed plan to carry out what amounts to being a kidnapping in an effort to retrieve his dead fiance’s son from a nearby commune.
Kirsten Alexander has captured the 1970s time period in which Riptides is set particularly well. There is an overarching feeling of “she’ll be right mate” about so many of the characters who appear throughout. Charlie’s friends from Bali, Abby’s husband and her neighbours, even the cultish commune leader with whom Charlie has a few run-ins with.
My main problem with the story comes from the pacing. The early portion tended to drag as we were taken exhaustively over the accident and the attempts to hide the siblings’ involvement while the ending was too abrupt with many promisingly interesting storylines left untold or incompletely resolved.
In the end I was left feeling as though I wanted some kind of resolution that would justify the journey I had just been taken on. I felt kind of let down in that respect.
Charlie and Abby are driving to their father’s property along deserted dirt roads when Charlie, who had too much to drink after his flight from Bali, falls asleep only to wake as they hit another car. The car rolls and when they get to it they find a pregnant woman who has been thrown out and is lying, dying.
Their response to this crisis is the wrong one. They leave the woman to die, choosing to head back to a nearby town in the hopes that no one can link them to the accident. When they get to their father’s property the next day they discover the woman they killed was their father’s fiancé.
Continuing to hide the truth from both their father and the police creates an unbelievable level of tension between the siblings. It also deepens the trouble they’ve created for themselves and there’s a definite feeling of impending doom surrounding every interaction they have. Eventually, somebody’s going to inadvertently give the game away.
There are more issues lying below the surface for each of the central characters here and the family drama begins to play out in earnest. Charlie is a man-child who refuses to grow up while Abby appears to be overly self-absorbed, more concerned about the impact her mistakes might have on herself and her immediate family.
I found it difficult to have any sympathy for Abby and Charlie’s father who turns out to be quite the arsehole. Even for the times, the man is a misogynistic buffoon who treats his daughter deplorably, never showing an ounce of compassion or care for his children. He also comes up with a ridiculously flawed plan to carry out what amounts to being a kidnapping in an effort to retrieve his dead fiance’s son from a nearby commune.
Kirsten Alexander has captured the 1970s time period in which Riptides is set particularly well. There is an overarching feeling of “she’ll be right mate” about so many of the characters who appear throughout. Charlie’s friends from Bali, Abby’s husband and her neighbours, even the cultish commune leader with whom Charlie has a few run-ins with.
My main problem with the story comes from the pacing. The early portion tended to drag as we were taken exhaustively over the accident and the attempts to hide the siblings’ involvement while the ending was too abrupt with many promisingly interesting storylines left untold or incompletely resolved.
In the end I was left feeling as though I wanted some kind of resolution that would justify the journey I had just been taken on. I felt kind of let down in that respect.
February 11, 2020
Riptides by Kirsten Alexander begins with the most compelling first chapter I’ve read in a long a while.
“I wake when Abby shouts. She reaches across me and grabs the steering wheel. A car horn brays. White beams flare at us and then pitch to the right. For an instant, a rump of blue metal shines in our headlights.”
Siblings Abby and Charlie are driving to their father’s farm in rural Queensland when a moment of inexcusable negligence results in a young, heavily pregnant driver being forced off the road and into a tree. Shocked when they realise the woman is dead, and too scared of the repercussions for reporting the incident, Abby and Charlie drive away, vowing to pretend it never happened. Perhaps that would have been possible, but then they learn the dead woman, Skye, was not only the mother of a five year old boy now left in the clutches of her abusive ex-boyfriend, she was also their father’s fiancée, and the child she was carrying their half-sibling. Forced to bear witness to the consequences of their act, Abbey and Charlie begin to feel like they are drowning.
Set largely in Brisbane over a period of four months during the mid 1970’s, Alexander firmly establishes a sense of time and place. The city floods, and then bakes in the summer heat, police corruption is rife under a Premier who heaps scorn on ‘feminists, fags, and foreigners’ while privately profiting off shady land deals. Nobody thinks twice about driving after having a few, or more, drinks.
The narrative of Riptides alternates between that of Abby and Charlie. While both in their early to mid twenties, the brother and sister lead very different lives, allowing Alexander to represent the soiciocultural schism of the era. Charlie leads a carefree existence in Bali, running a noodle bar with friends in between surfing, drinking, and partying. Abby, married to an investigative television reporter, is a suburban, stay-at-home mother of their three children, though she dreams of being a lawyer. The characters are well rounded and nuanced as they deal not only with the aftermath of the accident, but also the fallout of the stress on their relationships.
Alexander effectively builds tension as the truth about the incident nears the surface, though I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed by several too-neat coincidences and connections that drove the plot.
Though Riptides is categorised as crime fiction, it is a multilayered novel examining several themes. I appreciated Alexander’s thoughtful exploration of the moral questions regarding Charlie’s and Abby’s decisions. In the main however, the book centers around family and relationships, particularly exploring how far those bonds can stretch before they snap.
A well written and thought-provoking novel, Riptides is sure to sweep you away.
“I wake when Abby shouts. She reaches across me and grabs the steering wheel. A car horn brays. White beams flare at us and then pitch to the right. For an instant, a rump of blue metal shines in our headlights.”
Siblings Abby and Charlie are driving to their father’s farm in rural Queensland when a moment of inexcusable negligence results in a young, heavily pregnant driver being forced off the road and into a tree. Shocked when they realise the woman is dead, and too scared of the repercussions for reporting the incident, Abby and Charlie drive away, vowing to pretend it never happened. Perhaps that would have been possible, but then they learn the dead woman, Skye, was not only the mother of a five year old boy now left in the clutches of her abusive ex-boyfriend, she was also their father’s fiancée, and the child she was carrying their half-sibling. Forced to bear witness to the consequences of their act, Abbey and Charlie begin to feel like they are drowning.
Set largely in Brisbane over a period of four months during the mid 1970’s, Alexander firmly establishes a sense of time and place. The city floods, and then bakes in the summer heat, police corruption is rife under a Premier who heaps scorn on ‘feminists, fags, and foreigners’ while privately profiting off shady land deals. Nobody thinks twice about driving after having a few, or more, drinks.
The narrative of Riptides alternates between that of Abby and Charlie. While both in their early to mid twenties, the brother and sister lead very different lives, allowing Alexander to represent the soiciocultural schism of the era. Charlie leads a carefree existence in Bali, running a noodle bar with friends in between surfing, drinking, and partying. Abby, married to an investigative television reporter, is a suburban, stay-at-home mother of their three children, though she dreams of being a lawyer. The characters are well rounded and nuanced as they deal not only with the aftermath of the accident, but also the fallout of the stress on their relationships.
Alexander effectively builds tension as the truth about the incident nears the surface, though I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed by several too-neat coincidences and connections that drove the plot.
Though Riptides is categorised as crime fiction, it is a multilayered novel examining several themes. I appreciated Alexander’s thoughtful exploration of the moral questions regarding Charlie’s and Abby’s decisions. In the main however, the book centers around family and relationships, particularly exploring how far those bonds can stretch before they snap.
A well written and thought-provoking novel, Riptides is sure to sweep you away.
September 29, 2020
Charlie and Abby are siblings driving to their father's farm when they accidentally force another vehicle off the road. They go to assist, but the woman is dead. Worse, it would appear she was pregnant. They decide there's nothing much they can do and proceed to their father's farm, at which point they learn the dead woman was in fact their father's fiance, Skye! Whoops. They struggle to keep their secret as random events follow.
This books seems to want to comment on how one event can have an unforeseen ripple effect through other people around them. But it doesn't come across well here. Charlie and Abby's justifications for abandoning the scene of the crime are woefully unexplored. I mean, when the debate in a slasher film like I Know What You Did Last Summer, exploring the same situation, is more well thought out and nuanced than what's found here, you know you're in trouble!
Any consequences that arise here aren't really due to Abby and Charlie's actions. The only plot element of any significance is their asshole father John roping Charlie into a mission to kidnap Skye's son, Beau, from a commune where he lives with his father, Finn. I mean, that likely would have happened no matter what the circumstances were of Skye's death. Other elements, such as Charlie's friends Sal and Ryan knowing Finn, are pure convenience or coincidence. Barely anything here is as a consequence of Abby and Charlie's selfish actions. Indeed, so many plot points feel like they don't need to be there at all. Charlie and Abby will flash back to events in their past that have little relevance, and they'll often have flashbacks within flashbacks! It got tiresome and confusing.
I didn't like any of the characters. Charlie and Abby's reasons for leaving the accident scene were thin, so I didn't sympathise with their horrible decision to just leave a dead pregnant woman in a ditch. I mean, really! How awful! I think we're supposed to sympathise with their father as he's lost his fiance, but as said previously, he behaved like an asshole for the entirety of the book. Side characters fare just as poorly, such as Abby's husband, Mark, and Sal, the girl who Charlie is in love with, but is in a relationship with his best friend. Indeed, I actually detested Sal. What a repugnant b****.
It reads easily enough, but it's hardly the insightful study of human interactions that the author seems to think it is.
This books seems to want to comment on how one event can have an unforeseen ripple effect through other people around them. But it doesn't come across well here. Charlie and Abby's justifications for abandoning the scene of the crime are woefully unexplored. I mean, when the debate in a slasher film like I Know What You Did Last Summer, exploring the same situation, is more well thought out and nuanced than what's found here, you know you're in trouble!
Any consequences that arise here aren't really due to Abby and Charlie's actions. The only plot element of any significance is their asshole father John roping Charlie into a mission to kidnap Skye's son, Beau, from a commune where he lives with his father, Finn. I mean, that likely would have happened no matter what the circumstances were of Skye's death. Other elements, such as Charlie's friends Sal and Ryan knowing Finn, are pure convenience or coincidence. Barely anything here is as a consequence of Abby and Charlie's selfish actions. Indeed, so many plot points feel like they don't need to be there at all. Charlie and Abby will flash back to events in their past that have little relevance, and they'll often have flashbacks within flashbacks! It got tiresome and confusing.
I didn't like any of the characters. Charlie and Abby's reasons for leaving the accident scene were thin, so I didn't sympathise with their horrible decision to just leave a dead pregnant woman in a ditch. I mean, really! How awful! I think we're supposed to sympathise with their father as he's lost his fiance, but as said previously, he behaved like an asshole for the entirety of the book. Side characters fare just as poorly, such as Abby's husband, Mark, and Sal, the girl who Charlie is in love with, but is in a relationship with his best friend. Indeed, I actually detested Sal. What a repugnant b****.
It reads easily enough, but it's hardly the insightful study of human interactions that the author seems to think it is.
March 27, 2020
‘I wake when Abby shouts.’
1974, rural Queensland. Charlie Campbell and his sister Abby are driving to their father’s farm. Charlie, who has fallen asleep at the wheel, forces another car of the narrow, unlit road. They stop. When they realise that the heavily pregnant woman is dead, they drive away. They leave her on the ground, as heavy rain falls. They tell no-one.
The next day, they arrive at their father’s farm and learn that the dead woman, Skye, was their father’s fiancée. Charlie and Abby decide to tell no-one what has happened.
‘It will make my life worse, and possibly destroy the lives of everyone around me if I tell the truth.’
The narrative alternates between Charlie and Abby. Charlie, temporarily in Australia, usually lives in Bali. Abby is married to an investigative journalist and is a stay-at-home mother of three. Can they hide their involvement in Skye’s death? Charlie learns, from his father, that Skye had a five-year-old son who is on a commune with her abusive ex-partner. His father wants to rescue the boy and wants Abby to bring him up.
It’s a complicated story, set in the corrupt Queensland of the Bjelke-Petersen era. The characters are well-developed, and I kept turning the pages hoping for an outcome I could applaud. While I didn’t get that outcome and I ended up feeling no sympathy for any of the adult characters, I was completely caught up in the story. Unsettling and uncomfortable.
‘For every action there’s a reaction. Nothing and no one escapes that fact.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
1974, rural Queensland. Charlie Campbell and his sister Abby are driving to their father’s farm. Charlie, who has fallen asleep at the wheel, forces another car of the narrow, unlit road. They stop. When they realise that the heavily pregnant woman is dead, they drive away. They leave her on the ground, as heavy rain falls. They tell no-one.
The next day, they arrive at their father’s farm and learn that the dead woman, Skye, was their father’s fiancée. Charlie and Abby decide to tell no-one what has happened.
‘It will make my life worse, and possibly destroy the lives of everyone around me if I tell the truth.’
The narrative alternates between Charlie and Abby. Charlie, temporarily in Australia, usually lives in Bali. Abby is married to an investigative journalist and is a stay-at-home mother of three. Can they hide their involvement in Skye’s death? Charlie learns, from his father, that Skye had a five-year-old son who is on a commune with her abusive ex-partner. His father wants to rescue the boy and wants Abby to bring him up.
It’s a complicated story, set in the corrupt Queensland of the Bjelke-Petersen era. The characters are well-developed, and I kept turning the pages hoping for an outcome I could applaud. While I didn’t get that outcome and I ended up feeling no sympathy for any of the adult characters, I was completely caught up in the story. Unsettling and uncomfortable.
‘For every action there’s a reaction. Nothing and no one escapes that fact.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 29, 2020
Really a 3.5, rounded up. Although the storytelling was exceptional, evocative of an earlier Australian era, the flawed morality tripped me up. Would be an exceptional choice for a bookclub, as there are likely to be plenty of opposing opinions on the content. Keeps you pondering the humanitarian vs ethical considerations long after you've finished. I personally enjoyed that internal debate.
December 27, 2020
Gripping and entertaining, with a lovely sense of place in some of the Brisbane sections, but a little on the implausible side for me. Still: the perfect book for a plane ride (which is how I read it).
June 23, 2020
Still thinking about this book, and the conundrums it throws up. The characters are all so true to type, and the times are so well written. VERY impressed.
February 15, 2020
This is my first Kristen Alexander book, a tale of two siblings who are involved in a terrible accident and it’s consequences. This book is set in Queensland in the 1970’s a time of corruption and abuse of power in the police force.
I found this very readable and found myself reaching for it at any moment of downtime but having finished it I feel it wasn’t overly impressive. I found the characters unconvincing and there was just too much going on in the plot for me.
I found this very readable and found myself reaching for it at any moment of downtime but having finished it I feel it wasn’t overly impressive. I found the characters unconvincing and there was just too much going on in the plot for me.
October 22, 2020
One of those books where you see the dwindling number of pages left and wonder how it can all come together before the end. In this case it doesn't.
July 16, 2020
Kirsten Alexander’s novel Riptides (Bantam Penguin Random House 2020) begins with a terrible accident: Abby Campbell (married with children) and her brother Charlie are driving to their father’s farm on a dark and rainy night when they swerve into the path of another car which hits a tree, killing the pregnant driver instantly. This is a story where not only do we know very early on that an incident has occurred, but we know the who, the why, the what, the when and the how. Rather than a crime to be solved, the story centres around the decision that Abby and Charlie make that night after the crash, and the repercussions that reverberate afterwards for everyone around them.
The absolute strength of this book is the setting and time. Set in Queensland in 1974 / 75, the story occurs against the backdrop of the corruption of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government and the police state that turns a blind eye (or is actively involved in) drugs, crime, murder and prostitution. The story also features Darwin’s 1974 Cyclone Tracy, another significant and life-changing event of the time. Alexander writes masterful description of place and time – the Brisbane weather, the heat, the storms, the wildlife, both the urban inner-city and the countryside – she transports the reader to Queensland as much as books by Andrew McGahan or Nick Earls. And she entirely captures the mood of the seventies – the music, the food, the fashion, the lifestyle.
The dialogue too is very strong. Alexander has a keen ear and faithfully replicates the language and mannerisms of Queenslanders of that era. She is frequently funny, giving the characters a dry and witty humour that sharpens our sense of their personalities.
The plot is very readable although perhaps a little predictable, and at times some of the characters’ actions or motivations seemed slightly implausible or included some unlikely coincidences. But this was not enough to detract from the enjoyment of the story, and there were enough twists to keep it interesting. This is a tale with a moral dilemma and ethical questions at its heart and I would have liked a deeper interrogation of those themes. The critical event at the opening is one which could happen to anyone and leaves you wondering ‘what would I have done?’, but I don’t think the most was made of the opportunity to explore the ramifications. One small structural criticism is that because the sections marked ‘Charlie’ or ‘Abby’ are both in first person, it was sometimes difficult to remember which character was narrating, especially as they were both relating essentially the same elements of the story. But perhaps this was done deliberately in order to emphasise the discomfort of two close people, siblings, recalling and dealing with a confronting event in two different ways (much as in Imbi Neeme’s recent The Spill).
Queenslanders will enjoy all of the familiar references to places, pubs, buildings, people, landmarks, suburbs and customs. And all readers will engage with this story that is not quite a crime whodunnit but more of an analysis of the repercussions of a crime, tied up in a highly accessible and readable book. With themes of aspirations, choices and consequences, all set during a time of social upheaval and change, this book is a reminder that secrets are dangerous and that truth can be either damning or liberating.
The absolute strength of this book is the setting and time. Set in Queensland in 1974 / 75, the story occurs against the backdrop of the corruption of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government and the police state that turns a blind eye (or is actively involved in) drugs, crime, murder and prostitution. The story also features Darwin’s 1974 Cyclone Tracy, another significant and life-changing event of the time. Alexander writes masterful description of place and time – the Brisbane weather, the heat, the storms, the wildlife, both the urban inner-city and the countryside – she transports the reader to Queensland as much as books by Andrew McGahan or Nick Earls. And she entirely captures the mood of the seventies – the music, the food, the fashion, the lifestyle.
The dialogue too is very strong. Alexander has a keen ear and faithfully replicates the language and mannerisms of Queenslanders of that era. She is frequently funny, giving the characters a dry and witty humour that sharpens our sense of their personalities.
The plot is very readable although perhaps a little predictable, and at times some of the characters’ actions or motivations seemed slightly implausible or included some unlikely coincidences. But this was not enough to detract from the enjoyment of the story, and there were enough twists to keep it interesting. This is a tale with a moral dilemma and ethical questions at its heart and I would have liked a deeper interrogation of those themes. The critical event at the opening is one which could happen to anyone and leaves you wondering ‘what would I have done?’, but I don’t think the most was made of the opportunity to explore the ramifications. One small structural criticism is that because the sections marked ‘Charlie’ or ‘Abby’ are both in first person, it was sometimes difficult to remember which character was narrating, especially as they were both relating essentially the same elements of the story. But perhaps this was done deliberately in order to emphasise the discomfort of two close people, siblings, recalling and dealing with a confronting event in two different ways (much as in Imbi Neeme’s recent The Spill).
Queenslanders will enjoy all of the familiar references to places, pubs, buildings, people, landmarks, suburbs and customs. And all readers will engage with this story that is not quite a crime whodunnit but more of an analysis of the repercussions of a crime, tied up in a highly accessible and readable book. With themes of aspirations, choices and consequences, all set during a time of social upheaval and change, this book is a reminder that secrets are dangerous and that truth can be either damning or liberating.
May 11, 2020
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Thank you Penguin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Riptides is a multi-layered story. And I mean multi-layered. As soon as you figure out what you think is going to happen and where the story is going.. BAMB another layer. The twists and turns throughout this book are intense and will leave you second guessing everything. I honestly couldn’t recommend this book, it will have you on the edge of your seat, laughing, gasping and heart thundering in your chest.
Set in 1974 in Queensland, Australia we meet Charlie and Abby who are heading to their father’s farm before they are involved in a horrific car crash that where they killed the pregnant driver of the other car. Leaving her on the side of the road dead, they soon learn she is their father’s fiancé. This single action changed the course of their lives forever.
After deciding to keep the car accident their little secret, they soon find that the secret begins to tear their lives apart as more people become involved with the case.
I swear that this was one of the more intense thrillers that I have ever read! Not only was the plot amazing, but the characters were realistic and the writing was fantastic!
Loved this and would recommend if you wanted something a little more on edge.
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Thank you Penguin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Riptides is a multi-layered story. And I mean multi-layered. As soon as you figure out what you think is going to happen and where the story is going.. BAMB another layer. The twists and turns throughout this book are intense and will leave you second guessing everything. I honestly couldn’t recommend this book, it will have you on the edge of your seat, laughing, gasping and heart thundering in your chest.
Set in 1974 in Queensland, Australia we meet Charlie and Abby who are heading to their father’s farm before they are involved in a horrific car crash that where they killed the pregnant driver of the other car. Leaving her on the side of the road dead, they soon learn she is their father’s fiancé. This single action changed the course of their lives forever.
After deciding to keep the car accident their little secret, they soon find that the secret begins to tear their lives apart as more people become involved with the case.
I swear that this was one of the more intense thrillers that I have ever read! Not only was the plot amazing, but the characters were realistic and the writing was fantastic!
Loved this and would recommend if you wanted something a little more on edge.
March 11, 2021
I listen to this book on audio. It was an exciting mystery and while reading I had no idea how it might resolve. Set in Brisbane in 1974/5 it is a place and a time I know very well.
Narrated by Lachlan Ruffy and Pip Edwards.
Narrated by Lachlan Ruffy and Pip Edwards.
April 2, 2020
Kirsten Alexander’s second novel evokes 1970s Queensland as it explores the fallout of a tragedy. Full review at Newtown Review of Books
April 10, 2020
This was a good read and an occasion where a 3.5 rating would do this assessment more justice than a mere 3.
The novel was very gripping for the first half in particular but less compelling after that. It can be hard to remain a page turner from start to finish but though the second section was not as dramatic, it was still worth the read.
The plot became a little less credible towards the conclusion but the impact of making a poor initial decision was really effectively explored in this account as were the insidious consequences that can flow from a decision taken in haste and under pressure. These outcomes were certainly well considered by Alexander and depict the complicated web that develops when such decisions are made. Rarely can we ever imagine all the consequences of what will flow from such ill-considered actions.
Two insights remain with me from this writing. Firstly, ‘ the world and everything in it rises and falls and changes and grows ... and I can’t control that’. In these uncertain times created by the Coronavirus pandemic that is sobering and important to appreciate.
Another insight that resonates with me stems from her acknowledgments section when Alexander comments: ‘ One thing [life has ] taught me is to never judge a place by its elected officials. Sometimes you just don’t have much to choose from.’ While she was referring to the city in which she grew up herself, there is a kernel of truth in that statement that strikes a chord with me.
The novel was very gripping for the first half in particular but less compelling after that. It can be hard to remain a page turner from start to finish but though the second section was not as dramatic, it was still worth the read.
The plot became a little less credible towards the conclusion but the impact of making a poor initial decision was really effectively explored in this account as were the insidious consequences that can flow from a decision taken in haste and under pressure. These outcomes were certainly well considered by Alexander and depict the complicated web that develops when such decisions are made. Rarely can we ever imagine all the consequences of what will flow from such ill-considered actions.
Two insights remain with me from this writing. Firstly, ‘ the world and everything in it rises and falls and changes and grows ... and I can’t control that’. In these uncertain times created by the Coronavirus pandemic that is sobering and important to appreciate.
Another insight that resonates with me stems from her acknowledgments section when Alexander comments: ‘ One thing [life has ] taught me is to never judge a place by its elected officials. Sometimes you just don’t have much to choose from.’ While she was referring to the city in which she grew up herself, there is a kernel of truth in that statement that strikes a chord with me.
November 24, 2019
Riptides is a captivating tale that examines the multi-layered aspects of family, its strength and weaknesses, and how the decisions we make in a moment of panic and desperation can have long lasting repercussions. Alexander also explores what lengths we will go to save ourselves and those we love, and how those actions can break or strengthen the bonds between parent and child, and between siblings.
There is also an underlying question on the abuse of power and adherence – or lack of – to the law and justice, and for me this was the book's only weakness. Though I do know there are police who will bend the law to their own purposes and personal biases, I was not a hundred percent convinced of Doyle's motivation, though Roberts' was more convincing.
In spite of this, I found the characters well-drawn and complex, the location richly evoked, and I'm impressed by Alexander's ability to build tension. All in all, a book that has convinced me to read Alexander's earlier work.
Thanks to Bantam and Better Reading for this ARC.
There is also an underlying question on the abuse of power and adherence – or lack of – to the law and justice, and for me this was the book's only weakness. Though I do know there are police who will bend the law to their own purposes and personal biases, I was not a hundred percent convinced of Doyle's motivation, though Roberts' was more convincing.
In spite of this, I found the characters well-drawn and complex, the location richly evoked, and I'm impressed by Alexander's ability to build tension. All in all, a book that has convinced me to read Alexander's earlier work.
Thanks to Bantam and Better Reading for this ARC.
December 4, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Riptides by Kirsten Alexander was a little gem of a book. A well paced novel that keeps you turning the pages for more. Very well layered with surprises along the way. Riptides also portrayed some dynamics of Australian 1970s, such as culture, family life, attitude towards women and so on as I have imagined them to be. Would recommend this to my reading friends as a good read.
Thanks to Better Reading for advance copy.
Riptides by Kirsten Alexander was a little gem of a book. A well paced novel that keeps you turning the pages for more. Very well layered with surprises along the way. Riptides also portrayed some dynamics of Australian 1970s, such as culture, family life, attitude towards women and so on as I have imagined them to be. Would recommend this to my reading friends as a good read.
Thanks to Better Reading for advance copy.
December 12, 2019
A really interesting concept but I couldn't feel the characters which made their actions less emotive than needed to fully enjoy the book. Thank you Better Reading and Penguin Random House for my advanced reading copy.
December 19, 2019
3 1/2 stars really as liked it but I didn't always like it and in the end I really didn't like the ending!
January 19, 2020
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Set in country Queensland in the 1970s, Kirsten Alexander’s Riptides is a seductive family drama about relationships, trust, choices, and the consequences of one terrible decision.
The book begins on a deserted highway late at night, when siblings Abby and Charlie accidentally force another car off the road. The pregnant driver dies, and whilst Abby and Charlie should attempt to save the life of the baby, they don’t call for help and instead drive off. They later find out the woman was their father’s new fiancé, and the dead baby was their step-sibling.
“Mark would rail at my stupidity in staying silent and then lying to the police, and for effectively choosing my brother over my husband. He might divorce me. He loves me, no question, but his job means the world to him.”
Structurally, the novel moves between Abby and Charlie’s POV. We spend most of the novel witnessing their guilt, vulnerability and their attempts to lie to the police and move on from what happened.
We also come to understand tensions between family members. The plot jumps back a few times to give us context about Abby and Charlie’s circumstances. Abby is a mother of young children, whose husband is supportive and helpful, but a little absent from the domestic duties.
Charlie has been living in Bali with his best friends Ryan and Sal. Charlie is in love with Sal, and his time in Bali is his way of avoiding any real responsibilities at home. The main reason he didn’t want to call for help at the scene of the accident, is because he didn’t want anything to jeopardise his plans to return home to Bali. He’s a very dependent man. He often lets — or expects — Abby to solve his problems.
“By the time I arrived in Kuta, Ryan and Sal had decided to set up a restaurant that would serve noodles, juice and cheap beer. Not the vibe we’d originally talked about but there was a garden behind the kitchen and the food was right for the location.”
Riptides captures the complex dynamics within a family. Abby and Charlie’s father is a short-tempered man, who appears quite closed off, unwilling to forgive, and still mourning the loss of his wife years earlier. Abby feels she’s missing out on opportunities because she spends so much time doing things for her husband, her children, her father and her brother.
The book is set in a decade where women were expected to be stay-at-home mothers, looking after their children and managing the household for their husband. Abby wants to enrol in university and study law, and whilst her husband is supportive of this plan, her father is sceptical and questions her priorities.
Abby and Charlie constantly bicker and are incredibly different — Abby is reserved and organised, a planner. Charlie is more of a free spirit, never wanting to settle down and always looking for the next thrill. The car accident forces them to confront their differences and align on a plan, and, over time, it forces them to confront each other and overcome their grievances.
“Dad gets up with a grunt. As he stands, Abby steps back. Mum always said Dad’s temper was a war wound. He’s a tough nut. He likes to tell me how easy my life was, as if it’d be good for it to be otherwise.”
Tense, sophisticated and highly addictive, Riptides had me hooked. The writing is tight and polished, cutting to the emotion of the tragedy. The dialogue is realistic and builds suspense. Riptides is set in Queensland during a time of social upheaval, and Kirsten brings Brisbane to the forefront of the story and presents a story that’s fast-paced and compelling. Readers will find themselves enticed and entertained, ripping through the pages.
Recommended for fans of crime, drama, thriller, family dramas and mysteries.
Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in country Queensland in the 1970s, Kirsten Alexander’s Riptides is a seductive family drama about relationships, trust, choices, and the consequences of one terrible decision.
The book begins on a deserted highway late at night, when siblings Abby and Charlie accidentally force another car off the road. The pregnant driver dies, and whilst Abby and Charlie should attempt to save the life of the baby, they don’t call for help and instead drive off. They later find out the woman was their father’s new fiancé, and the dead baby was their step-sibling.
“Mark would rail at my stupidity in staying silent and then lying to the police, and for effectively choosing my brother over my husband. He might divorce me. He loves me, no question, but his job means the world to him.”
Structurally, the novel moves between Abby and Charlie’s POV. We spend most of the novel witnessing their guilt, vulnerability and their attempts to lie to the police and move on from what happened.
We also come to understand tensions between family members. The plot jumps back a few times to give us context about Abby and Charlie’s circumstances. Abby is a mother of young children, whose husband is supportive and helpful, but a little absent from the domestic duties.
Charlie has been living in Bali with his best friends Ryan and Sal. Charlie is in love with Sal, and his time in Bali is his way of avoiding any real responsibilities at home. The main reason he didn’t want to call for help at the scene of the accident, is because he didn’t want anything to jeopardise his plans to return home to Bali. He’s a very dependent man. He often lets — or expects — Abby to solve his problems.
“By the time I arrived in Kuta, Ryan and Sal had decided to set up a restaurant that would serve noodles, juice and cheap beer. Not the vibe we’d originally talked about but there was a garden behind the kitchen and the food was right for the location.”
Riptides captures the complex dynamics within a family. Abby and Charlie’s father is a short-tempered man, who appears quite closed off, unwilling to forgive, and still mourning the loss of his wife years earlier. Abby feels she’s missing out on opportunities because she spends so much time doing things for her husband, her children, her father and her brother.
The book is set in a decade where women were expected to be stay-at-home mothers, looking after their children and managing the household for their husband. Abby wants to enrol in university and study law, and whilst her husband is supportive of this plan, her father is sceptical and questions her priorities.
Abby and Charlie constantly bicker and are incredibly different — Abby is reserved and organised, a planner. Charlie is more of a free spirit, never wanting to settle down and always looking for the next thrill. The car accident forces them to confront their differences and align on a plan, and, over time, it forces them to confront each other and overcome their grievances.
“Dad gets up with a grunt. As he stands, Abby steps back. Mum always said Dad’s temper was a war wound. He’s a tough nut. He likes to tell me how easy my life was, as if it’d be good for it to be otherwise.”
Tense, sophisticated and highly addictive, Riptides had me hooked. The writing is tight and polished, cutting to the emotion of the tragedy. The dialogue is realistic and builds suspense. Riptides is set in Queensland during a time of social upheaval, and Kirsten brings Brisbane to the forefront of the story and presents a story that’s fast-paced and compelling. Readers will find themselves enticed and entertained, ripping through the pages.
Recommended for fans of crime, drama, thriller, family dramas and mysteries.
Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2020
I feel like I'm a latecomer to Riptides by Kirsten Alexander as it seems to have been out for a while, though really it's only been a month or two. It's been hugely popular however and (I understand) already reprinted twice.
Alexander offers readers a challenging narrative as we wonder what we'd do in a similar situation but I must admit what I loved most about this book was the trip down memory lane as it's set in 1974-1975. I would have only been six years of age at the time but it brought back far more memories than I expected.
I loved the quintessential Australian-ness of this book which managed to make me feel nostalgic without ramming sentimentality down my throat or relying on endless Aussie-themed cliches.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Alexander offers readers a challenging narrative as we wonder what we'd do in a similar situation but I must admit what I loved most about this book was the trip down memory lane as it's set in 1974-1975. I would have only been six years of age at the time but it brought back far more memories than I expected.
I loved the quintessential Australian-ness of this book which managed to make me feel nostalgic without ramming sentimentality down my throat or relying on endless Aussie-themed cliches.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
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