From the Bookshelf of Around The World…

[close] What's it About?
After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.
Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.

What Did I Think?
A first book for this author and it is outstanding! The language is beautifully descriptive as we are told the story of a brutal family murder in an outback country town . Federal Agent Aaron Falk has been requested...well almost ordered...to come from his home in Melbourne to the small outback town that he grew up in for the funerals. He finds the town hasn't changed much. It's still a town that is bogged down with anger, bitterness, violence, oppressive heat and blow-flies.

The present day mystery is creatively woven in with the last questionable death that occurred in the community decades earlier... one that Falk was suspected of contributing to. It's s sad story with plenty of red herrings. Who killed three members of the Hadler family? Was it the husband before he committed suicide? Did he commit suicide? What did Luke Hadler and Arron lie about those decades ago? You just have to keep reading to find out. Anyone that considers James Lee Burke or Robert Crais one of their favorite authors will certainly like The Dry.