Stillwater (Tanya Scott, A&U)

Tanya Scott’s debut, Stillwater, masterfully weaves together the past and present in a suspenseful, emotionally charged crime thriller. Luke Harris returns to his hometown of Melbourne seeking a ‘normal life’ but unexpectedly crosses paths with his former underworld boss, Gus Alberici. Suddenly, Luke’s effort to leave behind his troubled teenage years, shaped by a dysfunctional family and violent upbringing, is derailed as his father vanishes, Gus’s cash goes missing, and suspicion begins to mount. Tension builds through alternating dual timelines, prompting questions about Luke’s true intentions and encouraging the reader to doubt their perception of him. Scott presents Luke as an ordinary commerce student on the surface, but gradually reveals a more complex and conflicted figure through immersive storytelling. Each chapter begins with a day and time stamp – a clever structural device that reinforces Luke’s relentless drive to keep moving, as if marking time might help him outrun his past. While themes of star-crossed lovers and a tangled web of blackmail may feel familiar to some readers, Scott’s tightly plotted narrative is compelling and unpredictable. Stillwater is a gripping debut filled with moral ambiguity and unexpected twists, and will appeal to fans of Jane Harper (The Dry, Force of Nature) and other thoughtful, character-driven crime fiction that explores how the past can resurface in unexpected and dangerous ways.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Sophie Helfgott is a teacher librarian and judge for the 2025 and 2026 CBCA Book of the Year Awards in the Younger Readers category. 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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