We Saw What You Started (Carla Salmon, Pan Australia)

Carla Salmon’s debut novel, We Saw What You Started, is set in Red Sands, a classic Australian coastal town with a ‘barefoot and boardshorts’ summer holiday vibe, where Instagram-worthy scenery attracts tourists and the local kids hang out at the beach or skate park. Teenage siblings Jasper and Milly are vying to be named surf club captain – Jasper with his larrikin charm and Milly driven by a desire to be taken seriously by their father. Meanwhile, newcomer Otto, a Californian surfer trying to rebuild his life after being implicated in a devastating fire back home, is starting to feel a sense of belonging in Red Sands – until a bushfire breaks out in the nearby national park. When a series of suspicious arson attacks follow, Otto quickly becomes the prime suspect. With growing distrust of the police, escalating danger, and a threatening local bully, the teens decide to take matters into their own hands, launching an investigation in true Nancy Drew fashion. Told in alternating perspectives from Otto and Milly, the novel explores complex moral questions around honesty, integrity and responsibility – both in relationships and within a broader community still grappling with trauma. It also engages with themes of expectations, single-parent families, harassment and cyber-bullying. Otto and Milly’s distinct voices broaden the book’s appeal across genders, while the twist-filled plot, subtle romance, evocative setting, well-defined characters and sprinkling of mischief make for an absorbing read. A confident addition to the recent release of several strong YA mysteries, We Saw What You Started is recommended to readers aged 12+.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Joanne Shiells is an English teacher, editor and former retail book buyer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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