Dirt Town Synopsis
SHORTLISTED FOR CRIMEFEST'S SPECSAVERS BEST DEBUT CRIME NOVEL
Twelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton - and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia. Dirt town. Dirt and hurt - that's what others would remember about our town . . .
THE DETECTIVE As the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.
THE MOTHER The girl's mother, Constance, believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.
THE FRIENDS Ronnie is Esther's best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police? And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?
Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor will appeal to fans of Jane Harper's The Dry and Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End.
About This Edition
Hayley Scrivenor Press Reviews
'A heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor's remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut' -- Jane Harper, bestselling author of The Dry
'A stunning debut. Achingly atmospheric, thrilling and heartfelt, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' -- Chris Whitaker, internationally bestselling author of We Begin at the End
'Beautifully written, compassionate, with an entirely credible but heart-breaking ending. A stunning debut' -- Ann Cleeves, The Sunday Times bestselling author of Vera and Shetland
'Dirt Town deserves its praise. It is an intelligent novel, one that grapples with complex social and political dynamics, and brings a fresh voice to familiar narratives' - Guardian
'A deeply impressive first novel . . . It is a powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness, and another devastating indictment of the outback mentality' - The Times
'Best crime debut in ages, Hayley Scrivenor is a major new talent. Page-turning, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching stuff. I can't remember when I enjoyed a book so much' -- Erin Kelly, The Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She Said
'Masterful. Australian crime has a new star. The characters of Dirt Town are rich, raw and beautifully realized. One of the crime books of the year. Intelligent, nuanced and compassionate' -- Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands
'A chilling and darkly atmospheric novel. I literally couldn't put it down.' -- Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
'Raw and intimate, Hayley Scrivenor unpacks small town life and its tragedies with heart and prowess ' -- Anna Bailey, author of Tall Bones
'Highly doubt I will read a better debut in 2022. Evocative, immersive, heart-breaking and ultimately hopeful. In a word, brilliant' -- Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile
