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The Brothers
An isolated house. A mysterious note. Someone is watching ... An absorbing, atmospheric mystery about families, secrets and the bonds of brotherhood set on the Victorian south coast.
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First published August 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 26, 2023
Brilliant debut Australian novel.
I devoured this in a day. Excellent charismatic, realistic and captivating characters - ones I felt I understood their motives intimately. Ex-SAS soldier Jake is so easy to like and I felt his back story was authentic and added depth to his decisions. Stocky and Lucy, balanced things out magnificently.
The plot packs a super-powered punch. So many potential avenues for deception and intrigue. Great location added to the suspense.
Definitely an author I will read again.
I devoured this in a day. Excellent charismatic, realistic and captivating characters - ones I felt I understood their motives intimately. Ex-SAS soldier Jake is so easy to like and I felt his back story was authentic and added depth to his decisions. Stocky and Lucy, balanced things out magnificently.
The plot packs a super-powered punch. So many potential avenues for deception and intrigue. Great location added to the suspense.
Definitely an author I will read again.
December 18, 2022
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
This was an intriguing slow burn mystery debut about a tormented Special Forces veteran named Jake Harlow who has returned to his coastal hometown in Victoria to attend his brother Tom’s funeral. They had buried his parents just three years prior!
His brothers accidental death appears suspicious to Jake when he starts finding threatening notes whilst staying at Tom’s house. Jake knows somebody is after him too and when he starts to investigate his brothers death he is supported by Tom’s best mate Stocky and ex-girlfriend Lucy.
Meanwhile Jake is battling PTSD from his time in captivity with the Taliban, he’s broken, scarred and determined. The author does a wonderful job of getting inside Jakes head and witnessing the turmoil and trauma from his memories.
The supporting characters of Stocky and Lucy were unique, interesting and well developed.
This is a story of family, childhood memories, revenge, grief and PTSD, it has wonderful character development and an absorbing storyline. Towards the end of the book it becomes quite explosive and you’ll find yourself racing to see what happens next!
Publication Date 03 August 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for a copy of the book
This was an intriguing slow burn mystery debut about a tormented Special Forces veteran named Jake Harlow who has returned to his coastal hometown in Victoria to attend his brother Tom’s funeral. They had buried his parents just three years prior!
His brothers accidental death appears suspicious to Jake when he starts finding threatening notes whilst staying at Tom’s house. Jake knows somebody is after him too and when he starts to investigate his brothers death he is supported by Tom’s best mate Stocky and ex-girlfriend Lucy.
Meanwhile Jake is battling PTSD from his time in captivity with the Taliban, he’s broken, scarred and determined. The author does a wonderful job of getting inside Jakes head and witnessing the turmoil and trauma from his memories.
The supporting characters of Stocky and Lucy were unique, interesting and well developed.
This is a story of family, childhood memories, revenge, grief and PTSD, it has wonderful character development and an absorbing storyline. Towards the end of the book it becomes quite explosive and you’ll find yourself racing to see what happens next!
Publication Date 03 August 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for a copy of the book
October 2, 2022
Another amazing Australian debut novel for 2022 - we really are being spoilt this year. The Brothers is a small-town mystery of a broken man and his search for the truth. It is an emotional read with characters that you really find yourself caring about.
Jake Harlow is a decorated Special Forces veteran, with scars both inside and out. He has returned to his hometown of Lorne, on the Victorian coast to bury his brother, Tom. He can't believe that his brother would take his own life, and when he starts to find cryptic notes in his house, he knows there is more to it than he has been made to believe. And now somebody is after him.
The author did a wonderful job getting into Jake's head. You could feel his pain, his torment and his determination to find out what happened to his family. The characters of Stocky and Lucy, all so different, but all with the one goal, were a great addition to the story.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia for my copy of this book to read. The Brothers is out now in Australia.
Jake Harlow is a decorated Special Forces veteran, with scars both inside and out. He has returned to his hometown of Lorne, on the Victorian coast to bury his brother, Tom. He can't believe that his brother would take his own life, and when he starts to find cryptic notes in his house, he knows there is more to it than he has been made to believe. And now somebody is after him.
The author did a wonderful job getting into Jake's head. You could feel his pain, his torment and his determination to find out what happened to his family. The characters of Stocky and Lucy, all so different, but all with the one goal, were a great addition to the story.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia for my copy of this book to read. The Brothers is out now in Australia.
June 25, 2022
I received an ARC of this book.
What a debut! Loved reading a book by a local author set in a local destination. Nearly made me late for work as I had 40 pages to go when my alarm went off - was just hitting the fast paced finish so stayed in bed till I was done 😀
After being away for a long time before coming home, who can you trust? Can you even trust yourself?
This is a book about family connections, about loss and grief and finding a way through. It is about a man who senses all is not right in his world, or with his brother’s death. It is using the grief and the anger in an attempt to find out what is going on. It is also about finding a place in the world you haven’t been a part of in a long time.
Great debut! Loved it and struggled at all times to put it down.
What a debut! Loved reading a book by a local author set in a local destination. Nearly made me late for work as I had 40 pages to go when my alarm went off - was just hitting the fast paced finish so stayed in bed till I was done 😀
After being away for a long time before coming home, who can you trust? Can you even trust yourself?
This is a book about family connections, about loss and grief and finding a way through. It is about a man who senses all is not right in his world, or with his brother’s death. It is using the grief and the anger in an attempt to find out what is going on. It is also about finding a place in the world you haven’t been a part of in a long time.
Great debut! Loved it and struggled at all times to put it down.
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September 11, 2023A mystery suspense thriller set in an Australian coastal town less than an hour's drive from my house!
This was a very impressive debut, with nice prose and a steadily boiling suspense plot. With an ex-Special Forces veteran as the protagonist, I was expecting something a good bit more macho and eye-rollable than what I got, which was an impressively detailed and sensitive treatment of trauma and healing. I haven't ever experienced trauma myself, but as I've been trying to learn and understand more about the topic I was deeply impressed by how well it was depicted in the book. From the local details, to the medical and military details, this book felt meticulously studied and grounded.
If anything, the meticulous level of detail on display here is something of a drawback; Hinton conscientiously lists the names of roads and towns taken by the characters as they drive about the region, and a lot of the book reads like it was constructed from a patchwork of interviews with ADF servicemen; I could have done without the dry and almost claustrophobic level of detail, particularly when it came to the protagonist's backstory. In addition, the protagonist's backstory involves having been captured and tortured in Afghanistan by the Taliban, and while there's some light acknowledgement of what little justification we ever had of sending our military to get involved in that mess, I came away feeling the book was almost exclusively focused on the Australian experience of Afghan war trauma with little understanding of, or sympathy to spare for, the sheer perverse destructiveness which western intervention has wreaked upon that country over the past 200 years. It would have been so easily remedied, too - Afghans migrate to Australia and even get jobs in Lorne sometimes!
This apart, THE BROTHERS was a good read - the suspense kept up a steady simmer, the slow revelation of family secrets and the depiction of trauma were both excellently handled, the female characters were treated with dignity and respect, and it was a pleasure to read a thriller where the characters really felt and acted like Aussies.
(Rating mostly for authentic Australian language, but also for some brief violence, including a fleeting, graphic verbal reference to offscreen sexual violence).
This was a very impressive debut, with nice prose and a steadily boiling suspense plot. With an ex-Special Forces veteran as the protagonist, I was expecting something a good bit more macho and eye-rollable than what I got, which was an impressively detailed and sensitive treatment of trauma and healing. I haven't ever experienced trauma myself, but as I've been trying to learn and understand more about the topic I was deeply impressed by how well it was depicted in the book. From the local details, to the medical and military details, this book felt meticulously studied and grounded.
If anything, the meticulous level of detail on display here is something of a drawback; Hinton conscientiously lists the names of roads and towns taken by the characters as they drive about the region, and a lot of the book reads like it was constructed from a patchwork of interviews with ADF servicemen; I could have done without the dry and almost claustrophobic level of detail, particularly when it came to the protagonist's backstory. In addition, the protagonist's backstory involves having been captured and tortured in Afghanistan by the Taliban, and while there's some light acknowledgement of what little justification we ever had of sending our military to get involved in that mess, I came away feeling the book was almost exclusively focused on the Australian experience of Afghan war trauma with little understanding of, or sympathy to spare for, the sheer perverse destructiveness which western intervention has wreaked upon that country over the past 200 years. It would have been so easily remedied, too - Afghans migrate to Australia and even get jobs in Lorne sometimes!
This apart, THE BROTHERS was a good read - the suspense kept up a steady simmer, the slow revelation of family secrets and the depiction of trauma were both excellently handled, the female characters were treated with dignity and respect, and it was a pleasure to read a thriller where the characters really felt and acted like Aussies.
(Rating mostly for authentic Australian language, but also for some brief violence, including a fleeting, graphic verbal reference to offscreen sexual violence).
August 21, 2022
I realise I probably didn't enjoy The Brothers by SD Hinton as much as others because of my disinterest in all-things-war-related.
I liked Hinton's examination of the Jake and Tom's relationship (even in Tom's absence) and the respective relationships they had with their parents. Jake's able to reflect on his childhood and realise (now) all was not well in the seemingly happy household and better understand the nuances of his parents' marriage.
Although I confess to skimming the parts of the story related to Jake's time in the military I enjoyed the mystery on offer here and Hinton does a great job at teasing out past secrets and lies, making this another great debut by an Aussie author.
3.5 stars
Read the full review on my website: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I liked Hinton's examination of the Jake and Tom's relationship (even in Tom's absence) and the respective relationships they had with their parents. Jake's able to reflect on his childhood and realise (now) all was not well in the seemingly happy household and better understand the nuances of his parents' marriage.
Although I confess to skimming the parts of the story related to Jake's time in the military I enjoyed the mystery on offer here and Hinton does a great job at teasing out past secrets and lies, making this another great debut by an Aussie author.
3.5 stars
Read the full review on my website: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
July 31, 2022
The Brothers by J. D. Hinton is an excellent debut novel. Set on the south coast of Victoria this story oozes atmosphere.
Jake has returned from an horrendous tour of duty in Afghanistan with Special Forces of the Australian Defence Force where he was captured and tortured. Having recovered in West Australia he returns to Lorne for the funeral of his brother Tom. When Jake starts finding unnerving provocative notes left inside his locked house he starts to investigate his brothers death which no longer seems like an accident.
Jake’s investigation brings in Tom’s best mate Stocky and ex-girl friend Lucy who become embroiled into the dangerous situation. Great character development and contrasting personalities.
Written in a relaxed Australian style with a plot that had many twists and turns, it also explores family connections and the impact of secrets.
A highly recommended read.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Publisher Australia via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jake has returned from an horrendous tour of duty in Afghanistan with Special Forces of the Australian Defence Force where he was captured and tortured. Having recovered in West Australia he returns to Lorne for the funeral of his brother Tom. When Jake starts finding unnerving provocative notes left inside his locked house he starts to investigate his brothers death which no longer seems like an accident.
Jake’s investigation brings in Tom’s best mate Stocky and ex-girl friend Lucy who become embroiled into the dangerous situation. Great character development and contrasting personalities.
Written in a relaxed Australian style with a plot that had many twists and turns, it also explores family connections and the impact of secrets.
A highly recommended read.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Publisher Australia via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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November 14, 2023Had a woo-woo moment while listening to this audio book in the car. Just as the narrator talked about an intersection on the Hamilton Hwy, I passed it.
February 22, 2023
Another great Aussie read - still a bit of crime/mystery but with less police involvement, which was interesting.
I love how the storyline unfolded- a bit of a different one too, with the main character being an ex soldier. Another one I couldn't put down and had to read whenever I had a moment!
I love how the storyline unfolded- a bit of a different one too, with the main character being an ex soldier. Another one I couldn't put down and had to read whenever I had a moment!
January 24, 2023
I seem to have found another Australian debut crime novel set in Victoria in current times. Knowing the Lorne and Anglesea area I was transported to the area and was invested in the unfolding drama of all the family members and friends.
August 14, 2022
Thank you Harper Collins for sending us a copy to read and review.
Environmental issues both external and internal can damage a person.
War as unnecessary as it is, has a lot to answer for.
The irreparable emotional upheaval it causes can be lifelong and causes relentless suffering for many.
Jake returns to the coastal town of Lorne to bury his brother.
Burying his parents only a few years previously.
Unsettling notes begin to turn up with cryptic messages that lead to suspicions and fears.
Someone is after Jake.
As a member of the special forces in Afghanistan he needs all the skills, nerve and arrogance to determine where this threat is coming from.
Carrying both physical and mental scars from time served he musters assistance and investigates all leads.
Delving into his past and his parents past he finds himself reflecting and regretting decisions and actions he made.
Criss crossing Victoria on the hunt for the allusive note scribbler he finds the lead and the story changes pace as it unfolds.
A well written story that was set in such familiar places for me was a bonus and a plot that held intrigue, a good sign of enjoyable experience.
It was a little drawn out but this gave the reader a good insight into how damaged this guy was.
Jake was a well developed character that set the tone for the book.
A great debut for this author.
Environmental issues both external and internal can damage a person.
War as unnecessary as it is, has a lot to answer for.
The irreparable emotional upheaval it causes can be lifelong and causes relentless suffering for many.
Jake returns to the coastal town of Lorne to bury his brother.
Burying his parents only a few years previously.
Unsettling notes begin to turn up with cryptic messages that lead to suspicions and fears.
Someone is after Jake.
As a member of the special forces in Afghanistan he needs all the skills, nerve and arrogance to determine where this threat is coming from.
Carrying both physical and mental scars from time served he musters assistance and investigates all leads.
Delving into his past and his parents past he finds himself reflecting and regretting decisions and actions he made.
Criss crossing Victoria on the hunt for the allusive note scribbler he finds the lead and the story changes pace as it unfolds.
A well written story that was set in such familiar places for me was a bonus and a plot that held intrigue, a good sign of enjoyable experience.
It was a little drawn out but this gave the reader a good insight into how damaged this guy was.
Jake was a well developed character that set the tone for the book.
A great debut for this author.
November 2, 2022
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A debut novel from Australian author S.D. Hinton. I always get excited when I see an Australian novel being released.
Jake Harlow a Special Forces veteran is returning to his hometown of Lorne to bury his brother who tragically died while diving.
He soon starts to discover threatening notes being left for him and realises that maybe his brother's accident was in fact murder.
Together with his brother's best friend Stocky and ex-girlfriend Lucy, they start digging to find who might be targeting him and his family. Long ago secrets are unearthed as they move closer to the truth.
Meanwhile Jake is battling his own physical and mental scars from his time in captivity with the Taliban. The author did such an amazing job in writing about Jake’s PTSD. I really enjoyed his character throughout the book.
I will admit I did struggle but through the middle of the story. I was waiting for more action not just threatening notes but about 50-60 pages from the end it starts to come together and you want to race to finish the book.
Still, such a great read and I look forward to seeing what the author does in the future.
A debut novel from Australian author S.D. Hinton. I always get excited when I see an Australian novel being released.
Jake Harlow a Special Forces veteran is returning to his hometown of Lorne to bury his brother who tragically died while diving.
He soon starts to discover threatening notes being left for him and realises that maybe his brother's accident was in fact murder.
Together with his brother's best friend Stocky and ex-girlfriend Lucy, they start digging to find who might be targeting him and his family. Long ago secrets are unearthed as they move closer to the truth.
Meanwhile Jake is battling his own physical and mental scars from his time in captivity with the Taliban. The author did such an amazing job in writing about Jake’s PTSD. I really enjoyed his character throughout the book.
I will admit I did struggle but through the middle of the story. I was waiting for more action not just threatening notes but about 50-60 pages from the end it starts to come together and you want to race to finish the book.
Still, such a great read and I look forward to seeing what the author does in the future.
December 5, 2022
In The Brothers, Jake Harlow returns to Lorne, Victoria, for his brother’s funeral, but it’s just the latest grief in his life, which began with his parents’ death by accidental carbon monoxide poisoning three years previously, followed by his own capture and torture by the Taliban while on tour in Afghanistan. Still attempting to recover physically and mentally, he’s soon confronted by a series of threatening messages that suggest that Tom’s death wasn’t an accident, that their parents may also have been targeted by a killer – and that Jake and his surviving sister are now in the crosshairs.
Jake’s mission now is to discover who has a grudge against the Harlow family and to discover the truth before he and Ali fall to the same killer. Tom’s friend and business partner Stocky and ex-girlfriend Lucy get drawn into the dangerous mystery, despite Jake’s attempts to keep them out of danger.
SD Hinton’s prose is crisp and tightly wound, but her economy of style is also powerful and evocative as she explores Jake’s PTSD, its causes, and how that trauma and his therapy in dealing with it affects his interactions with the friends, enemies, strangers, situations and landscapes he encounters.
The lead characters unfold gracefully to the reader as Jake learns to know and trust their strengths, and as Stocky and Lucy display intelligence, courage and the measure of when and how to stand up to, and side by side with, the rather intimidating Jake. The trio’s growing comradeship and teamwork is central to the success of the story, which is as much about their relationship as is it about the mysterious killer’s identity and motivations.
Hinton keeps the tension high, particularly with a depiction of PTSD that feels real, while never making Jake into a more generic, high-octane, Jack Reacher kind of superhuman action hero. Instead, we find a person who has been pushed to extremes trying to find his way in a community when he’s once more pushed to the limit. His physical scars affected how he moves and thinks. He has limitations now, and his ability to protect himself, let alone others, has been compromised. He has to rethink his approach to combat, and survival, as he, Stocky and Lucy walk deeper into danger. The result is a very textured, very believable character.
It’s also deliciously refreshing to see this wounded lone-wolf type see that he needs help, and battles his own past to accept it. It helps that both Stocky and Lucy are smart, loyal and determined, really strong and interesting characters in their own right.
The Brothers is fantastically taut, tense and dynamic, a fabulously tight thriller with complex, appealing leads and a textured denouement that, after the truth becomes visible, still doesn’t opt for the obvious.
Jake’s mission now is to discover who has a grudge against the Harlow family and to discover the truth before he and Ali fall to the same killer. Tom’s friend and business partner Stocky and ex-girlfriend Lucy get drawn into the dangerous mystery, despite Jake’s attempts to keep them out of danger.
SD Hinton’s prose is crisp and tightly wound, but her economy of style is also powerful and evocative as she explores Jake’s PTSD, its causes, and how that trauma and his therapy in dealing with it affects his interactions with the friends, enemies, strangers, situations and landscapes he encounters.
The lead characters unfold gracefully to the reader as Jake learns to know and trust their strengths, and as Stocky and Lucy display intelligence, courage and the measure of when and how to stand up to, and side by side with, the rather intimidating Jake. The trio’s growing comradeship and teamwork is central to the success of the story, which is as much about their relationship as is it about the mysterious killer’s identity and motivations.
Hinton keeps the tension high, particularly with a depiction of PTSD that feels real, while never making Jake into a more generic, high-octane, Jack Reacher kind of superhuman action hero. Instead, we find a person who has been pushed to extremes trying to find his way in a community when he’s once more pushed to the limit. His physical scars affected how he moves and thinks. He has limitations now, and his ability to protect himself, let alone others, has been compromised. He has to rethink his approach to combat, and survival, as he, Stocky and Lucy walk deeper into danger. The result is a very textured, very believable character.
It’s also deliciously refreshing to see this wounded lone-wolf type see that he needs help, and battles his own past to accept it. It helps that both Stocky and Lucy are smart, loyal and determined, really strong and interesting characters in their own right.
The Brothers is fantastically taut, tense and dynamic, a fabulously tight thriller with complex, appealing leads and a textured denouement that, after the truth becomes visible, still doesn’t opt for the obvious.
August 13, 2022
Welcome home, Jake ...
When Special Forces veteran Jake Harlow returns to the hamlet of Lorne on the Victorian south-west coast for his younger brother Tom's funeral, he finds a sinister series of notes that suggest Tom's death was no accident.
With Tom's best friend Stocky, and ex-girlfriend Lucy, Jake starts to dig into secrets old and new. Who might be targeting the Harlow family, and why?
As they get closer to the truth, the danger becomes very real. But can Jake, burdened by scars both physical and mental, still protect anyone - including himself?
What a fantastic debut novel. Totally absorbing and atmospheric and interesting plot and characters. I am in love with this book. Thank you netgalley and harper Collins Australia for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #netgalley #thebrothers
When Special Forces veteran Jake Harlow returns to the hamlet of Lorne on the Victorian south-west coast for his younger brother Tom's funeral, he finds a sinister series of notes that suggest Tom's death was no accident.
With Tom's best friend Stocky, and ex-girlfriend Lucy, Jake starts to dig into secrets old and new. Who might be targeting the Harlow family, and why?
As they get closer to the truth, the danger becomes very real. But can Jake, burdened by scars both physical and mental, still protect anyone - including himself?
What a fantastic debut novel. Totally absorbing and atmospheric and interesting plot and characters. I am in love with this book. Thank you netgalley and harper Collins Australia for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #netgalley #thebrothers
December 13, 2022
3.5 stars
When Jake Harlow, a Special Forces veteran dealing with his own traumas, returns home to Lorne (coastal Victoria) for his younger brother Tom's funeral, he is drawn into the mystery of not just Tom's death, but also the death of their parents some years before. With the aid of best friend Stocky and Tom's ex-girlfriend Lucy, he digs into the past to solve the incidents involving his family.
I enjoyed this well written debut novel. The pacing was good. The characters well drawn and it always adds a certain something when you know the setting personally. Another in the Australian crime genre, but this one had something different to offer.
When Jake Harlow, a Special Forces veteran dealing with his own traumas, returns home to Lorne (coastal Victoria) for his younger brother Tom's funeral, he is drawn into the mystery of not just Tom's death, but also the death of their parents some years before. With the aid of best friend Stocky and Tom's ex-girlfriend Lucy, he digs into the past to solve the incidents involving his family.
I enjoyed this well written debut novel. The pacing was good. The characters well drawn and it always adds a certain something when you know the setting personally. Another in the Australian crime genre, but this one had something different to offer.
February 11, 2023
Jake Harlow returns to his coastal hometown for the funeral of his younger brother Tom who died as a result of a diving accident. Jake finds it difficult to accept that his brother’s death was an accident and when threatening notes start to be left for Jake he begins to investigate the circumstances leading up to Tom’s death. Family secrets are unearthed as Jake moves closer to the truth.
The first few chapters are a bit slow but definitely worth pursuing as the suspense increases. A great debut novel.
The first few chapters are a bit slow but definitely worth pursuing as the suspense increases. A great debut novel.
December 14, 2022
A solid read with great character development, and I loved that I knew a lot of the places the book was set in. The mystery part may seem quite simple for some people, but I really enjoyed the journey. By the climax, you knew what was going on but I was so invested in the characters that I was holding my breath hoping nothing bad was going to happen to them. Overall, a fantastic debut!
The audio narration was on point too. I look forward to reading what they come up with next.
The audio narration was on point too. I look forward to reading what they come up with next.
September 3, 2022
'The Brothers' wastes no time unfolding the mystery, with the revelation of Tom's death in the first paragraph and the first mysterious note appearing on page 2.
If you're after a page-turner with intrigue, you should try this debut novel from an award-winning author.
If you're after a page-turner with intrigue, you should try this debut novel from an award-winning author.
September 11, 2022
I listened to this debut book written by Iongtime friend and was thoroughly intrigued by the storyline and exploration of characters.
Further consideration of the complexities of families and war was prompted and I will suggest this read for bookclub discussion.
Further consideration of the complexities of families and war was prompted and I will suggest this read for bookclub discussion.
March 23, 2023
SD Hinton’s debut novel uses the structure of a thriller to explore myriad responses to trauma. Full review at Newtown Review of Books.
December 6, 2022
Absolutely brilliant! I couldn’t put it down. So well written. Kept me intrigued and totally drawn into the characters lives. Loved it!
February 6, 2023
Better than Garry Disher and Chris Hammer. More believable/more realistic. Better and more developed characterisation – more Jane Harper. West coast Victoria setting. Atmospheric. Interesting credible plot [a couple of holes]– without the usual histrionics. Deep relatable personalities that one could empathise with.
August 2, 2022
“As long as you don’t let it stop you from doing things with your life. If you do that, you’re just giving them more power, you know that, right?”
Jake Harlow returned home to the Victorian south coast to burry his brother. The special forces veteran finds an note that alludes that Tom’s death was no accident.
As Jake starts to dig, more notes appear. No one’s safe. Tom’s best mate Stocky and ex girlfriend by his side Jake unfolds secrets about the Harlow family and the closer they get to the truth the more dangerous it becomes.
Jake battle isn’t only with the person targeting him, I’m his emotional and physical well being has suffered over the years and his special forces scars are something he’ll never be able to rid himself of. Jake will stop at nothing to protect the people he loves.
This small town mystery had me hooked from the start, I love a broken man with a heart of gold and really enjoyed the twists and turns the plot takes you on. This is a great Aussie debut novel, for lovers of Jane Harper and Kyle Perry.
Jake Harlow returned home to the Victorian south coast to burry his brother. The special forces veteran finds an note that alludes that Tom’s death was no accident.
As Jake starts to dig, more notes appear. No one’s safe. Tom’s best mate Stocky and ex girlfriend by his side Jake unfolds secrets about the Harlow family and the closer they get to the truth the more dangerous it becomes.
Jake battle isn’t only with the person targeting him, I’m his emotional and physical well being has suffered over the years and his special forces scars are something he’ll never be able to rid himself of. Jake will stop at nothing to protect the people he loves.
This small town mystery had me hooked from the start, I love a broken man with a heart of gold and really enjoyed the twists and turns the plot takes you on. This is a great Aussie debut novel, for lovers of Jane Harper and Kyle Perry.
December 17, 2022
The second half of this book is what brought it from a 2 star to a 3 star
August 23, 2022
As a new to crime/mystery fiction fan, and as a young Aussie (Victorian) reader, I was stoked to stumble across this genre set in the region I grew up in! So many of my newly discovered authors write thrilling reads set in the USA, UK, Norway etc. Having spent summer holidays as a child in Lorne and Anglesea, attending high school in Ballarat, playing football against Sebastopol and completing university in Geelong this book took place in these familiar settings.
Aside from this familiar connection S.D. Hinton beautifully tells the story of a troubled returned soldiers search for the truth behind his brothers death. Seeking answers to more than he bargained for as mysterious signs keep pushing him and his support network deeper and deeper into a dark situation.
Aside from this familiar connection S.D. Hinton beautifully tells the story of a troubled returned soldiers search for the truth behind his brothers death. Seeking answers to more than he bargained for as mysterious signs keep pushing him and his support network deeper and deeper into a dark situation.
January 20, 2023
I really liked the premise and it was an enjoyable read but sadly didn’t live up to my expectations. The characters were just off and the way everyone discussed Jake’s torture just seemed incredibly unrealistic. I wouldn’t think anyone would bring it up so casually and constantly. Overall it was good just not exactly what I had expected
September 24, 2022
Loved the audio book.
April 16, 2024
An impressive Australian debut novel
Ms Hinton has chosen a stunning backdrop for her debut novel. The south coast of Victoria is beautiful at any time of the year, and equally menacing. It suits the plot very well.
The places in this novel are real places. Her description of the architecture and landscape gives you a detailed sense of where everything takes place..it is very easy to visualise..
Life on this coast does ebb and flo with the seasonal tourism. It is as likely a setting as any for this highly charged family drama.
Apart from the instantly recognisable local context, the author has researched the roles of Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan, the kind of combat they engaged in and the often fractured lives they lead afterwards. Her background in nursing has stood her in good stead in understanding PTSD as well..
Small town loyalties and corruption form the moral spine of the book..There are some very seedy characters as well as exemplary relationships..
The plot is quite complex. A decorated soldier returns home for his brother's funeral and becomes embroiled in a game of cat and mouse with a mystery combatant. The facts of the story are trickled out slowly. The full force of the denouement doesn't occur until the very end.
The writing is very well structured. It is a joy to read a book where the format and grammar go hand in hand with descriptive, even poetic prose.
I am looking forward to more books by this author.
Ms Hinton has chosen a stunning backdrop for her debut novel. The south coast of Victoria is beautiful at any time of the year, and equally menacing. It suits the plot very well.
The places in this novel are real places. Her description of the architecture and landscape gives you a detailed sense of where everything takes place..it is very easy to visualise..
Life on this coast does ebb and flo with the seasonal tourism. It is as likely a setting as any for this highly charged family drama.
Apart from the instantly recognisable local context, the author has researched the roles of Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan, the kind of combat they engaged in and the often fractured lives they lead afterwards. Her background in nursing has stood her in good stead in understanding PTSD as well..
Small town loyalties and corruption form the moral spine of the book..There are some very seedy characters as well as exemplary relationships..
The plot is quite complex. A decorated soldier returns home for his brother's funeral and becomes embroiled in a game of cat and mouse with a mystery combatant. The facts of the story are trickled out slowly. The full force of the denouement doesn't occur until the very end.
The writing is very well structured. It is a joy to read a book where the format and grammar go hand in hand with descriptive, even poetic prose.
I am looking forward to more books by this author.
December 9, 2025
What a terrible way to conclude a story. Elements in the wind-up were not featured in the story but proffered as explanation beyond the necessary. ‘Always more than one truth’ - great line that could have been enough - but too often, too much detail, too much information that went beyond creating context. Explanations of putting an item on a bench, tedious detail that detracted from the action. 40 chapters, being concluded with a list of hypothesis was sad. Too much lament, even if it was three months later. The location (Lorne) and most of the SAS details were really interesting. The inner psyche and methodical thought processes of Jake Harlow was interesting and thoroughly researched - I learnt much of the trauma of Afghanistan Vets - which makes this book very worthwhile. Stocky and Lucy turn offer humorous opportunity – a little too much like Shaggy and Valerie in Scooby Doo. Their courageous and preparedness to stand up to the unseen threat, and their fast commitment to Jake was pretty unbelievable, but I enjoyed them as characters and many of the most entertaining parts of the story were driven by their antics and loyalty. A fun read - for a fan of Lorne, particularly.
October 25, 2022
“Only that fear’s okay, normal, but you can’t give it its head. Takes off like a line of dominos. It’s there to keep you safe, not f*!k you over.”
3 years after burying his parents, Special Forces veteran Jake Harlow has once again returned to seaside Lorne - this time to bury his younger brother Tom. But when Jake finds a series of sinister notes, it becomes clear that his brother’s death was not the accident it seemed to be. With the help of Tom’s best mate Stocky, and ex-girlfriend Lucy, Jake attempt to uncover who is targeting the Harlow family, and why?
Jake is burdened by both physical and mental scars from his time in the Special Forces, but must learn to trust his new allies as they uncover new and old secrets. As expected in a suspenseful thriller, the closer they get to the truth, the more real the danger becomes.
The Brothers is full of suspense and tension, yet thoughtful and laced with the very real trauma experienced by so many military veterans. It explores messy family dynamics and economic divide, set against the stunning backdrop of Victoria’s West and the small surf town of Lorne.
——
Many thanks to Harpercollins Australia for the review copy of this book.
3 years after burying his parents, Special Forces veteran Jake Harlow has once again returned to seaside Lorne - this time to bury his younger brother Tom. But when Jake finds a series of sinister notes, it becomes clear that his brother’s death was not the accident it seemed to be. With the help of Tom’s best mate Stocky, and ex-girlfriend Lucy, Jake attempt to uncover who is targeting the Harlow family, and why?
Jake is burdened by both physical and mental scars from his time in the Special Forces, but must learn to trust his new allies as they uncover new and old secrets. As expected in a suspenseful thriller, the closer they get to the truth, the more real the danger becomes.
The Brothers is full of suspense and tension, yet thoughtful and laced with the very real trauma experienced by so many military veterans. It explores messy family dynamics and economic divide, set against the stunning backdrop of Victoria’s West and the small surf town of Lorne.
——
Many thanks to Harpercollins Australia for the review copy of this book.
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