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The Survivors is a sculpture in the sea by an old wreck and also those who survive a terrible storm over ten years ago including Kieran Elliott. His return home to Evelyn Bay in Tasmania opens up old wounds especially as more tragedy befalls the small coastal community.

This is a story of grief, guilt and blame which weighs heavily on people and this is depicted really well and at times, very movingly. As you would expect from Jane Harper this is extremely well written and is an excellent portrait of a small community with suspicion hanging over it and the devastation that can cause. There are tantalising hints about the past and events in the present in this slow burner of a novel. In places I find the pace is a bit too slow in the first 50% but the pace increases in the second half as the mystery deepens and mistrust strengthens. This half makes for gripping reading as you really don’t know who to trust, who to believe and you cast your eye over everyone. I think the outcome is a good surprise and fits well with those tantalising hints! I love the atmosphere that the author creates using the weather to great effect and especially the past storm, she uses the ebb and flow of the cold ocean to symbolise the attitudes of the inhabitants of Evelyn Bay. This really resonates with me and it is as if you are actually present on the shore. I love the use of the dangerous caves which hide as much as the people do and are an excellent metaphor for submerged secrets. The character development is really good especially in Kieran’s family and you feel so much is weighing on his mother Verity's shoulders.

Overall, despite my thoughts on the first part this is a really good, exceptionally well written and atmospheric slow burner with a fantastic setting in Tasmania, which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.