I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, it didn't hit the mark for me. I found the credibility of the storyline just stretched my boundaries too much.

I did, however, enjoy the narrator, and I would definitely listen to more from him.

3.5 stars


Every so often, Callum would marvel at the fact he'd only been home 3 days, or 4... and frankly I knew hoe he felt.
It felt like a lifetime.
But I dont mean that in a bad way.
A lot happened, and in those three days, along with all the action, I was trying to remember how everyone was connected.
A great small town thriller, that had a couple of reveals I did not see coming, and a few that seemed too predictable.
An enjoyable audio book, with excellent narration.

This Aussie crime debut from Veronica Lando went on to become the winner of the 2021 Banjo Prize for Fiction, the location of Granite Creek in Far North Queensland, with its eerie and menacing rainforest, holds centre stage. I listened to this on audio, ably narrated by David Tredinnick, and is 11 hours and 12 minutes long. Investigative journalist, Callum Haffenden, travels from Hobart, leaving behind his daughter, to return after 30 years to the place he grew up in and is haunted by, leaving with his family after his horrifying life changing accident. He has come back to join search parties looking for the missing Lachie Wyatt, but it's not immediately clear why this should have precipitated his arrival to a place he had promised to never return to.

Granite Creek teems with local legends, of the whistling and the whispering of the wild rainforest that has form in luring children to their deaths in the past. We can see immediately that Callum is highly susceptible to the call of the whispering wild, he can't help but be drawn to the rainforest, despite the constant heavy rain and the threat of an approaching cyclone. It is not long before he is being recognised, and many in the small local community are far from happy to see him, including Brett Wyatt. When Lachie's body is found, it is at first deemed to be an accident, but as Callum tells Eddy, the police officer and old friend, there are indications that it might be murder.

Despite the cost to his physical health and damage to his leg, Callum is relentless and determined in his inquiries, in the process resurrecting and recovering his memories of the past, Pip, the love of his life, and members of the local community, learning that not everything or everyone is as he remembered. The reader is hit by revelation after revelation, the secrets of a community, including those of Callum, such as the reasons why he moved to Hobart. This was a tense and compelling listen that held my attention, although there are occasions when the author's writing veered a little too often into repetitive territory, but her descriptions of the rainforest and its insidious whispering are stellar. A wonderfully atmospheric listen! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio.

The audio version is an excellent way to experience this book, set in a small town in outback Australia. A missing person brings Calum back from the big city. Calum finds a dark side of violence and abuse which has him questioning himself and everyone around him. The story has plenty of suspects, and twists and turns, to satisfy the listener. It keeps you guessing through to an exciting ending. Thank you to Bolinda audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This was a fairly slow burn for me. The storyline is gripping at times. However at other times I found it to be quite repetitive. I found Calum quite difficult to relate to. But, it still merits a 3 star review, the premise of the story is great. I just felt it could’ve been slightly shorter. It got a bit confusing.

Think murder mystery/detective series meets a bit of fantasy and superstition. I enjoyed the narration.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda audio U.K. for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.