Twisted River by James Dunbar had me in its grip from the very first page. The suspense never let up, and while I’d call this more of a suspenseful thriller than a super twisty one, there were still enough turns to keep me hooked until the end.

What really elevated this read for me was the setting. As a South Coast local, I could picture every detail of Roy and Cate’s life in Kiama — the dramatic ocean views, the lush bushland, the winding coastline. The imagery felt so vivid that it was almost like the landscape itself became another character in the story. I immediately requested this ARC when I saw Kiama mentioned in the blurb, and when Echo Publishing approved me, I was elated.

As a dog lover, I adored the inclusion of their dog, Iris. Her little anecdotes and perspective added such warmth in contrast to the story’s darker tension. Iris’s storyline was actually the one I found myself chasing most desperately, and it had me constantly imagining what I’d do if someone ever took my own dog. I was relieved with her happy resolution — though one thing’s certain, I’ll never look for a local dog sitter again unless it’s family or friends!

And then there’s the line that sums up the undercurrent of it all: “Break the dam on that twisted river of technology and everything will start to flow.” It captures perfectly how small choices ripple outward in unexpected ways.

This is an atmospheric and suspenseful thriller, rich in South Coast flavour, that I couldn’t put down.