'A heart-wrenching mystery . . . A stellar debut.' Jane Harper
My best friend wore her name, Esther, like a queen wearing her crown at a jaunty angle. We were twelve years old when she went missing.
On a sweltering Friday afternoon in Durton, best friends Ronnie and Esther leave school together. Esther never makes it home.
Ronnie's going to find her, she has a plan. Lewis will help. Their friend can't be gone, Ronnie won't believe it.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels can believe it, she has seen what people are capable of. She knows more than anyone how, in a moment of weakness, a person can be driven to do something they never thought possible.
Lewis can believe it too. But he can't reveal what he saw that afternoon at the creek without exposing his own secret.
Five days later, Esther's buried body is discovered.
What do we owe the girl who isn't there?
Character-rich and propulsive, with a breathtakingly original use of voice and revolving points of view, Hayley Scrivenor delves under the surface, where no one can hide. With emotional depth and sensitivity, this stunning debut shows us how much each person matters in a community that is at once falling apart and coming together.
Esther will always be a Dirt Town child, as we are its children, still.
'You will not be able to put it down.' Hannah Kent
'Masterful. Australian crime has a new star.' Chris Hammer
Praise for Dirt Town:
'A heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor's remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut.' - Jane Harper
'Dirt Town is a remarkable debut, Hayley Scrivenor masterful in her deft handling of the tensions underpinning a small, regional town, and the complex characters that populate it. You will not be able to put it down.' - Hannah Kent
'I loved this. What wonderful writing. Scarily good! . . . Masterful. Australian crime has a new star. The characters of Dirt Town are rich, raw and beautifully realised. One of the crime books of the year. Intelligent, nuanced and compassionate.' - Chris Hammer
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The kids call it Dirt Town, a name both fitting and self-fulfilling. It is they who watch as missing Esther is found. And it is one of them who holds a secret, who saw some thing that might have helped her be found sooner. Dirt Town contains a multitude of voices, as the disappearance of one little girl is investigated. Unforgettable. - Vanessa (QBD)
Guest, 05/06/2022
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Esther and Ronnie are best friends – until one day, Esther never makes it home from school. Set in a town in rural Australian, Dirt Town is a gripping novel, with rich, authentic characters and a page-turning plot- Hayley Scrivenor's writing is sure to keep you hooked. - Amy (QBD)
Guest, 04/06/2022
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Dirt Town is a beautifully unique crime set in outback Australia. when 12 year old Esther goes missing, best friend Ronnie is determined to find the answer. Class-mate Lewis knows more than he says, but refuses to inform the police. Can a new-in-town officer solve this case?
Compelling from the first page, Scrivenor has crafted a thrilling world. A must for fans of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer. - Kaitlyn (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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Durton is a small town populated with secrets. When 12-year-old Esther goes missing on her way home from school, these secrets begin to unravel.
Dirt Town features a range of interesting and complex characters, from Esther's best friend Ronnie, who is determined to find her, to Detective Sarah Michaels, who is still struggling with the breakdown of her past relationship. A must read. - Laura (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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A truly atmospheric read that is sure to pack a punch. With its interesting character development and striking plot, it's not one you want to miss. - Mia (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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A chilling mystery set in a sweltering town. Travel back in time, meet young Ronnie, and say goodbye to self-proclaimed queen Esther. This debut Australian crime novel delivers a compelling twist to the traditional theme of a mystery book. Travel the agonising journey with Ronnie as she learns from Detective Sergeant Sarah the capabilities brought from desperation, and uncover long buried secrets. - Sophia (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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Durton. A small town in outback Australia. Everyone knows everbody. On the surface it's the perfect community to raise a family, but when 12 year old Esther vanishes on her way home from school, suspicion festers, fingers are pointed and devastating secrets are brought to light. Who killed Esther and why did they do it? - Joanna (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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'We are the children of a town that has been dying since before we can remember'
Dirt Town is a atmospheric slow burn of a crime novel that chronicles the five days following 12 year old Esther's disappearance. The inhabitants of Durton 'Dirt town' all have their secrets and make this a complex and thrilling read.
This is better than The Dry! A must-read. - Jessica (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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Searing heat and searing pain pulse off the pages of Scrivenor's debut novel, which draws upon the colonialy forged dysfunction that punctuates small rural townships across Australia. When 12-year-old Esther's disappearance befalls the town of Durton, her best friend Ronnie – our protagonist-- is left reeling from the fallout. Suspense and gut-twisting intrigue make Scrivenor's 'Dirt Town' a must. - Paul (QBD)
Guest, 03/06/2022
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Hayley Scrivenor's debut novel 'Dirt Town' is a well-written rural Australian mystery that keeps you engaged for its full duration. Full of interesting characters and suspects, as well as many twists that leave you guessing and surprised throughout, I simply could not put 'Dirt Town' down. Scrivenor makes an excellent first impression with this novel, and I can't wait to see whats next. - Karla (QBD)
Guest, 02/06/2022
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Everything seems rosy in a quiet rural town until a young girl goes missing. The Police come to investigate and the town is no longer "rosy".
Everyone seems to have a secret they are desperately clinging onto, and suddenly you don't know whot o trust.
Great Aussie Thriller by a new Australian author. - Peter (QBD)
Guest, 02/06/2022
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Yet another win for Australian crime fiction.
Much in the same vein as Jane Harper, the book takes place in a small country town where everything is everyone's business and yet secrets lie very shallow beneath the surface.
When these secrets mean that one of the town's children is found dead, heartbreak, secrecy, desperation, and most importantly mystery ensues. - Zara (QBD)
Guest, 02/06/2022
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Pretty good read. - Jessalyn (QBD)
Guest, 02/06/2022
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A brilliant Aussie debut, perfect for fans of Jane Harper.
Dirt Town centres around the disappearance of 12 year old Esther Bianchi and everyone in small, rural Durton is a suspect.
Told through multiple perspectives, this gut-wrenching mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the very end. - Alison (QBD)
Guest, 01/06/2022
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Dirt Town is a intricate tale of small town Australia with a unqiue voice. Using a mix of children and adults to tell the story leaves the reader feeling they are intimately involved. A missing girl and a town full of secrets. Fresh and compelling I couldn't put it down. For lovers of Jane Harper and Chritian White - Gillian (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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An amazing debut novel with so many plot twists I couldn't stop reading! Such beautiful, heart-breaking characters with an ending I did not expect! If you love a faced-paced mystery read that will have you hooked from the first page then this is your book! - Chelsea (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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This novel had me from page one and did not let go! I had to know what happened to Esther.
The small regional town of Durton - Dirt Town to it's children - has many secrets. Why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police? Who else is lying? - Sandra (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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This book will tear at your heart strings with a mother's anguish, this book gives us a look at how a missing child effects all in this town. What is unique in common plot, is that in between chapters we hear from a collective We, the children of the town. - Abbey (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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The story is told from several points of view: Sarah, the Detective Sergeant leading the case; Ronnie, Esther's best friend; Lewis, another school friend; Constance, Esther's mother and we who are the collective children of the town...This is an outstanding piece of literary crime, told with a uniquely Australian voice hat reminded me of Craig Silvey. - Karen (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Another fantastic debut Australian rural crime! I really wasn't sure where this one was heading-so many possibilities & interwoven connections. Who is responsible for Esther's disappearance?
Who is telling the truth? What other secrets are about to be uncovered? Ultimately, a great read with characters that we still want/need to know more about. - Susan (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Hayley Scrivener is the next Jane Harper! What a thrilling, Australian mystery!
Reminiscent of many a small town with secrets lurking behind every door. An absolutely addictive novel that I could not put down. - Shannon (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Dirt Town is a stunning debut novel from new Australian writer Hayley Scrivenor.
We are taken on a journey of three young friends. Esther never makes it home from school, Ronnie will do anything to find her best friend, and Lewis who may know more than he is letting on.
Fans of The Dry will eat up this heart-wrenching mystery which makes us ask, what do we owe those who are no longer here? - Jazmin (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Ronnie and Esther always walk home from school together. In a small country town like theirs, the watchful eye of a parent isn't needed, everyone knows everyone and nothing out of the ordinary ever happens. Except today. Today, Ronnie and Esther walk home together. Today, Esther never makes it home. Today, a community will be ripped open and the secrets hidden within will come spilling out. - John (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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A slow-burn Australian neo-noir, Dirt Town is an atmsopheric crime drama revolving around the disappearance of 12 y/o Esther, and a small, close-knit community where everybody knows everybody's business and everybody has something to hide. Nobody is truly innocent and nobody above suspicion. The town's darker heart is a powderkeg waiting to explode. For fans of Jane Harper & Chris Hammer - Marc (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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In a small town community is everything, it can heal, it can also tear apart.Detective Michaels is sent to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. She has seen what people are capable of.
When Esther's body is discovered 5 days later her friends try to help by what they have seen and heard.
An emotional and confronting read by a new talent in the mystery genre. - Gina (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Dirt Town is a mystery you will never forget. A missing girl, persistent friends, a heart-wrenching search and unforgettable characters who all have their secrets.
A book about social construct, Intellectual Disability, Drug Use, Domestic Violence and LGBTQIA+ themes, Dirt Town uncovers how sinister some secrets can actually be.
'A heart-wrenching mystery... A stellar debut.' Jane Harper - Tani (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Dirt Town is how the locals refer to their home. This graphic broad reaching social commentary uses a unique narrative style to discuss how quickly our decisions can change us from good to evil. Set in the early 2000s Dirt Town takes you back to a simpler time with land lines and Dunkaroos. Poignantly written, Dirt Town stays with the audience long after the final chapter is read. - Kara (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Hayley Scrivenor's changing the game with her debut novel, Dirt Town. Full of unique character perspectives, this slow-paced mystery follows the disappearance of 12 year old Esther, and shows the impact it has on her friends and the tight-knit community of Dirt Creek. Complete with a heart-wrenching ending, Dirt Town comes highly recommended by the likes of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer. - Bonnie (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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12 year old Esther disappears and impacts the small town Durton unraveling buried secrets.
Realistic characters, tense with an unputdownable story to keep you going to the very end. - Ayano (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Scrivenor's Dirt Town follows the repercussions of 12-year-old Esther Bianchi's disappearance on her way home from school. Sydney-native Detective Sarah Michaels is determined to find young Esther and everyone in Durton is suspect. A novel where the setting is as much a character as the characters themselves, Dirt Town will have you guessing until the final pages. - Tayla (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Dirt Town takes you on a heart-wrenching, multiple-perspective tale through a missing child's case. In this isolated town in rural Australia, you won't come across one person without a secret or two. Brimming with suspects, this literary whodunnit will stun you.
Fans of Jane Harper, Celeste Ng or Craig Silvey, will love Hayley Scrivenor. A stunning debut from the new queen of Australian crime! - Deeandra (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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In the small country town of Durton, or Dirt Town as the kids call it, schoolgirl Esther Bianchi has disappeared. Her best friend is the last to see her alive.Told from various perspectives including the children. Lots of very clever twists, wonderful language and imagery, and a look behind the masks we all wear every day.
Think a cross between The Dry, Jasper Jones and The Lovely Bones - Kirsty (QBD)
Guest, 31/05/2022
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Set in outback Australia, a small town everyone loves, a girl goes missing and her best-friend is sure it could have never ended in death. After the body of 12 year old Esther is found the small town is thrown into the chaos of an investigation where people's secrets are bound to be uncovered. Multiple perspectives let you never miss a step in the ongoing mystery sure to keep you reading all night - Jessica (QBD)
Guest, 30/05/2022
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Dirt Town is a thrilling story about 12 year old Esther's murder. With changing perspectives and different timelines, we uncover town secrets that will surprise the readers and the characters in the little town of Durton. This debut Australian thriller is perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Shelley Burr. - Sarah (QBD)
Guest, 30/05/2022
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Dirt Town has been compared to the likes of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer, but it really stands on its own. It's a slow-burn mystery set in a claustrophobic small town with twists that you won't see coming. If you love a whodunnit, character studies, and books with lots of atmosphere, this one is for you. - Tamara (QBD)
Guest, 30/05/2022
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This debut novel from Hayley Scrivenor provides a page turning, complex mystery with intriguing twists while maintaining a air of vagueness as the reader tries to piece together who the suspect is.
A multilayered story with compelling characters that offer a heartbreaking narrative that creates a melancholic feel across the whole town that the story takes place in. Highly recommend. - Josh (QBD)
Guest, 30/05/2022
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A slow burn mystery full of twists, turns and the ever ominous "we", Dirt Town is a novel that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. An atmospheric tale of heartache, mystery and hidden truths, this masterful debut is a guaranteed hit for lovers of Australian and international crime alike - Natasha (QBD)
Guest, 30/05/2022
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Director of the Wollongong Writers Festival Hayley Scrivenor hits the Australian crime fiction genre in style.
Full of small town mystery and intrigue, Hayley will have you hanging onto every character's next move.
From the likes of Jane Harper and Christian White, Dirt Town will have you hooked from the first chapter. - Kylie (QBD)
Guest, 30/05/2022
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12 year old Esther has mysteriously disappeared on her way home from school, shocking everyone in the small town of Durton (Dirt Town). Ronnie, Esthers best friend, has taken it upon herself to find her, but when school chum Lewis says he saw Esther with a strange man on the day of her disappearance, more questions are raised than answered. An amazingly gripping debut novel by Hayley Scrivener! - Ella (QBD)
Guest, 29/05/2022
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A thrilling on the edge of your seat novel about the mysterious murder of 12 year old Esther bianchi, this turn of event brings forth a vengeful best friend, town secrets that have no chance of remaining buried and a police investigation that will shake the core of little town Durton. - Fatima (QBD)
Guest, 28/05/2022
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After 12 year old girl Esther goes missing, her best friend Ronnie vows to find her. Told from various perspectives, the novel explores the importance of community in times of tragedy. Comparable to Jane Harper's 'The Dry', Dirt Town is a slow burn, complex mystery that you will not be able to put down. - Elijah (QBD)
Guest, 28/05/2022
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Best friends Ronnie and Esther are inseparable. But one day after school, Esther never makes it home. When her body is found, suspicion clouds the town of Durton and its residents. What secrets are they keeping. A fantastic read that keeps you on the edge of your seat till the last page. For fans of Australian crime fiction. - Julie (QBD)
Guest, 28/05/2022
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Dirt Town is a novel by Australian author Hayley Scrivener about a 12-year-old girl named Esther who goes missing on her way home from school one hot summer afternoon. We follow the events of her disappearance, and how it affects the town. Dirt Town is a slow-burning mystery that takes the reader through multiple points of view and timelines before tying everything together in a satisfying climax. - Jason (QBD)
Guest, 28/05/2022
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Dirt Town is a brilliant debut crime novel by Hayley Scrivenor. When 12 year old Esther goes missing the town fears the worst. Five days later her body turns up. But who could have done this? And why? Scrivenor digs deep into the mysteries surrounding this town in this atmospheric novel perfect for fans of The Dry. - Sarah (QBD)
Guest, 28/05/2022
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Dirt Town is another dazzling Australian crime novel that will delight lovers of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer, and Christian White. Set in the quiet town of Durton, Hayley Scrivenor weaves a dark and atmospheric tale of secrets, suspicion, and rural communities. Tense, atmospheric, and absolutely unputdownable, Dirt Town is one heck of a yarn. - Melanie (QBD)
Guest, 27/05/2022
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12 year old Esther has gone missing; her mother is distraught, Esther's friend's Ronnie and Lewis have a plan to find her, but what can a couple of kids from a rural outback town do when the town is harbouring secrets and thing's are not what they seem. A slow burn mystery that is dark and gripping 4 stars - Kaylei (QBD)
Guest, 27/05/2022
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Hayley Scrivenor sets the scene for her atmospheric crime novel in the rural town of Durtton (Dirt town), where we hear the heart renching narrative of the friends and family of the missing girl Esther. We learn everyone has secrets,and what they are truly capable of. A great read and a wonderful new voice to Australian crime. Perfect for fans of the rural crime genre e.g Harper, Hammer, Disher - Vanessa (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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Already shaping up to be an iconic addition to the australian crime bracket, 'Dirt Town' is a fresh and exciting debut novel you won't be able to put down. Perfect for fans of Chris Hammer's 'The Dry.' - Julia (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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Dirt Town explores the disappearance of twelve year old Easter while walking home from school. With the perspective changing from each character revealing dark secrets the town of Durton is hiding, as well as showing the rippling effect a disappearance can have on the town. With a compelling setting and characters, Dirt Town is every bit as emotional and sensitive as it is a compelling mystery. - Roy (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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Hayley Scrivener's Dirt Town follows the sudden disappearance of 12 year old Esther on her way home from school one hot summer's afternoon. We follow the aftermath of her disappearance, and the impact it has on the small rural community. Dirt Town is a slow burn mystery offering different points of view and timelines to the reader, bringing all threads together to a satisfying conclusion. - Darren (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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You know the story: small town, child missing, body found.The town of Durton is devastated, and Ronnie can't believe her best friend is gone. What happens next is a meticulously crafted story by Hayley Scrivenor. Dirt Town is so rich in character, I was left reeling for little Esther who was murdered and Detective Sarah trying to solve the case.. but maybe things aren't what they seem in Dirt Town - Emily (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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From the opening stanza Hayley Scrivenor tells a gripping mystery tale that will leave you hooked and desperate to find out what happens next in Durton. The masterfully crafted voicing for different characters point-of-view will leave you fully immersed in a story of heart break and sorrow cut with rays of hope, invoking memories both joyous and worrisome of your own childhood in equal measure. - Hazel (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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In Durton 12 year old Esther goes missing on the way home from school, and while it looks like the perfect town on the surface, this innocent looking town has some dark secrets which the police are about to find out... - Steven (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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A complex mystery told from the perspectives of multiple characters. Dirt Town is a deep and enriching novel that slowly chips away at the surface of Durton, a rural town with many secrets under the surface. After Esther never makes it home from school, this novel invites you to dive into her disappearance and uncover the truth. A great read for fans of The Dry. - Michael (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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A quiet regional town changes after the disappearance of Esther on a normal day, when she doesn't come home after school.
What are her friends hiding? Will they really discover what happened to her?
Another great crime book by great australian author.
Stef - Stefana (QBD)
Guest, 26/05/2022
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A masterful debut from Hayley Scrivenor, a fresh new voice in Australian crime fiction.
Set in a small town in rural Australia, “Dirt Town” follows 12-year-old Rosie who has just lost her best friend to mysterious circumstances.
Every character has their own agenda and we, along with Rosie, are left wondering who to trust while trying to figure out what actually happened. - Melissa (QBD)
Guest, 25/05/2022
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Durton aka Dirt Town is the setting of this explosive debut novel from Hayley Scrivenor. Ronnie and Esther are best friends and one afternoon Esther doesn't make it home from school. The story is told through POV chapters and is filled with so many secrets, lies, shocks, thrills and twists. Continuing in the rich vein of Australian rural crime thrillers this one is not to be missed. - Sean (QBD)
Guest, 24/05/2022
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life is hard enough without your best friend going missing. Even harder when someone you know could be the killer... Dirt town is a captivating debut Australian novel brinmibng with complex characters and a gripping plot - Piper (QBD)
Guest, 23/05/2022
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Following the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl in a small town in rural Australia, Dirt Creek is a slow-burn mystery following multiple viewpoints that'll have you gripping the pages with anticpation right up until the final page. I loved how the book featured a sensitive topic but did so in a careful manner. If you love Jane Harper and Chris Hammer, Dirt Town will be right down your alley! - Olivia (QBD)
Guest, 20/05/2022
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With the backdrop of a rural Australian town, a 12-year-old Esther never returns home from school. A town full of secrets, a police investigation that starts to pull those in the town apart. And a best friend that would do anything to find out what happened. A slow-burn mystery that explores the characters of the town and more. - Angelique (QBD)
Guest, 20/05/2022
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A rural Australian town, all at once being torn apart and brought together by the disappearance of young Esther. Delve in to find out all the mysteries lurking beneath the surface and find out the truth about this young girls fate. A fantastic new Australian Crime by debut author Hayley Scrivenor, Dirt Town is perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer - Gabrielle (QBD)
Guest, 20/05/2022
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Secrets and scandals will be exposed in this small town after a child goes missing. A town whose community will come together and yet also be torn apart in the aftermath. A slow burn mystery with intriguing characters, perfect for fans of Shelley Burr and Jane Harper. - Kylie (QBD)
Guest, 19/05/2022
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Aussie crime just keeps getting better! Durton is a boring dusty outback town where the population is as defeated as the landscape. Young Ester's murder looms large in everyone's mind but DS Michaels knows that someone is hiding something. What are the secrets lurking in this dull place that even the locals have renamed Dirt Town. Loved this! - Lucy (QBD)
Guest, 15/05/2022
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Hayley Scrivenor's Dirt Town is *THE* crime book to read in 2022! Scrivenor's debut, set in the small town of Durton, follows the disappearance of a young girl, Esther. Written with a choir of voices, Dirt Town unravels small town secres and lies over the course of a week. An Australian crime debut for the ages, and perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer. This is a 5/5 must read book! - Dion (QBD)
Guest, 20/04/2022
