SCRUBLANDS

Narrator Rupert Degas exhibits mastery as he delivers this gripping debut novel. In a gritty, nuanced tone, he captures the toughness and complexity of the denizens of Riversend, a drought-ridden Outback town pulled from obscurity by a brutal mass murder. From the outset, Degas's convincing Aussie accent and Hammer's rich descriptions draw the listener into a story that starts as a simple assignment designed to save a reporter's failing career and quickly builds to a provocative tale of crime, secrets, and tangled relationships. Hammer's well-developed characters are given credible identities with Degas's deft use of accents, modulation of tone, and varied pacing. The action is fast, the plot multilayered, and the listening experience smashing. Listeners will be left hoping for more from Hammer and Degas. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]