The reunion by Bronwyn Rivers

Five friends gather to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the death of one of their friends. Ed disappeared during a planned three or four day hike in the Blue Mountains when they were all celebrating their last year of high school, and now his mother Martha has invited the disparate group to reunite for a memorial weekend. The friends have each gone their own way since that eventful weekend, and while they might say they are glad to catch up, there is some underlying uneasiness.

The tension ratchets up when Martha disappears and things start to go wrong in the house: the water dries up, the Internet modem is gone, and their cars are all drained of fuel. Strange blue notes appear, each hinting at some hidden shame, and it becomes apparent that Charlotte, Hugh, Jack and Alex have all got something to hide. And as for Laura, is she with the group, or is she complicit in Martha’s crazy plan?

The storyline turns back and forth between the present and the past, as the mystery gradually unravels, providing insight into psychology of each of the group. But the plot continues to twist, and just when the reader thinks they have it all worked out, there is another turn.

This is an absorbing debut mystery thriller from an Australian writer, in the vein of The rush (2023) by Michelle Prak, and Girl falling (2024) by Hayley Scrivenor.

Themes: Mystery, Missing person, Guilt, Secrets, Revenge.

Helen Eddy