Book review: The Reunion

The Sydney-residing Rivers’ début novel has been, of course, compared to Jane Harper’s The Dry books (both filmed), and yet this is less a story about a mystery to be solved, and more about secrets. And how they eat away at us all throughout the years.

Rivers (a former book reviewer herself, and an academic researcher, and much more too) uses a familiar set-up here, with a group of young adults introduced at the end of High School, and how their essential leader, the charismatic Ed, somehow wound-up dead after a hike in the Blue Mountains. We then cut back and forth between the remaining five gathering at the isolated home of Ed’s Mum Martha to celebrate the 10-year memorial of Ed’s death, and a decade before. And what really happened… or did it?

However, any familiarity within the narrative is compensated for by Rivers’ knack for flawed and guilt-ridden, but stubbornly sympathetic characters: there’s the blunt, aggressive Hugh, who seems to be drifting away from pregnant and worried partner Charlotte; longtime-people-pleaser Alex; overachiever Jack; and Laura, Jack’s ex, who could have an agenda all her own. Each is allowed their moments to shine (and agonise), without the plot feeling overly contrived.

Managing a final third or so that heaps twists upon twists, Rivers’ tome should also put you off bushwalking for life.