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The Brothers (S D Hinton, HarperCollins)

S D Hinton’s debut novel The Brothers is a masterclass in menacing tension. Set on the Victorian south coast, it starts with an isolated house and a series of threatening, anonymous notes. War veteran Jake Harlow suffers from PTSD and the ongoing effects of being captured and tortured while in Afghanistan. His injuries and his memories chase him ferociously—his parents are both dead and his brother has recently passed away in an apparent accident, pulling Jake back into the small community he grew up in. But then someone starts to hunt him, threatening the fragile equilibrium he clings to in order to get by. Hinton masterfully builds the suspense by weaving in harrowing flashbacks of Jake’s war experiences and juxtaposing these scenes with the silence and stillness of the Lorne hinterland. Atmospheric and moody, the novel chills with its subtle allusions to an unknown enemy that is too close for comfort. Perfect for readers of Garry Disher, Chris Hammer and Jane Harper, The Brothers combines the idyllic Australian surf town setting with unseen dangers—both physical and mental—that lurk in the shadows. Hinton explores the bonds of brotherhood that transcend death and the lengths that some will go to to uncover the truth and protect those that they love.

Kate Frawley is a bookseller and a manager at The Sun Bookshop.

 

Category: Reviews