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The Porter Sisters #5
Larapinta
Widowed and at a crossroads in her life, Sandra Porter knows she must find the courage to find her true self. Deciding it's time to push her boundaries, she makes a booking to trek the Larapinta Walk across the centre of the remote Northern Territory.
World-renowned nature photographer Graysen Hughes has come to the outback seeking solace after the death of his wife. Always a loner, Graysen isn't happy when the tour guide insists on the participants walking in pairs. At least Sandra Porter is quiet and keeps to herself.
After a suspicious accident and the sudden disappearance of their guide, the group struggles on—but then another accident occurs. It soon becomes obvious that someone doesn't want them to complete the trek. Without any means to call for help, Graysen and Sandra flee into the bush in an attempt to stay safe....
World-renowned nature photographer Graysen Hughes has come to the outback seeking solace after the death of his wife. Always a loner, Graysen isn't happy when the tour guide insists on the participants walking in pairs. At least Sandra Porter is quiet and keeps to herself.
After a suspicious accident and the sudden disappearance of their guide, the group struggles on—but then another accident occurs. It soon becomes obvious that someone doesn't want them to complete the trek. Without any means to call for help, Graysen and Sandra flee into the bush in an attempt to stay safe....
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First published March 11, 2022
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About the author
Annie Seaton
170 books703 followersAnnie Seaton lives near the beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. She is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing and has been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them. Her career and studies spanned the education sector for most of her working life until she took up a full-time writing career. Each winter, Annie and her husband leave the beach to roam the remote areas of Australia for story ideas and research.
Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 2, 2022
Sandra Porter was mother to Dru, Ellie and Emma, step-mum to Ryan, mother-in-law to Connor, Kane, Jeremy and Dee, and grandmother to James, Ellie and Kane’s little boy. Since Sandra’s husband Peter had been murdered, Sandra had been through a range of emotions, seen a counsellor and was finally off her medication. Now she was preparing to trek the Larapinta Trail from end to end, through the vast wilderness of the Northern Territory. Once her family had got over their shock, they rallied around to help her book the tour. Sandra’s arrival in Alice Springs from Darwin, where she would meet the rest of the tour participants, saw her filled with excitement and a little nerves.
Grayson Hughes, well known nature photographer, had flown into Alice Springs from Sydney and was looking forward to being on his own throughout the trek. He still missed his wife after her death five years previously, and wanted this to be some downtime, after the work he’d just finished. He wasn’t too impressed to be told each person had to partner with another, to ‘watch each other’s backs’. But Sandra seemed quiet and not intrusive, so he made the best of things. Some days into their trek, the tour guide, Andrew, went missing and when Grayson and Sandra realized three others were also missing, they headed into the scrubby bush, trying to get as far away and as hidden as they could. What was going on? Why were people missing?
Wow! What a spectacular ending to this fabulous series! Larapinta is the 5th and final episode of the Porter Sisters series by Aussie author Annie Seaton, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Completely absorbed in the story, it went back and forth between Sandra and Grayson’s trek and Darwin where other events were occurring with Sandra’s family. Tense and gritty, fast paced and chilling, Larapinta is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to the author for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Grayson Hughes, well known nature photographer, had flown into Alice Springs from Sydney and was looking forward to being on his own throughout the trek. He still missed his wife after her death five years previously, and wanted this to be some downtime, after the work he’d just finished. He wasn’t too impressed to be told each person had to partner with another, to ‘watch each other’s backs’. But Sandra seemed quiet and not intrusive, so he made the best of things. Some days into their trek, the tour guide, Andrew, went missing and when Grayson and Sandra realized three others were also missing, they headed into the scrubby bush, trying to get as far away and as hidden as they could. What was going on? Why were people missing?
Wow! What a spectacular ending to this fabulous series! Larapinta is the 5th and final episode of the Porter Sisters series by Aussie author Annie Seaton, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Completely absorbed in the story, it went back and forth between Sandra and Grayson’s trek and Darwin where other events were occurring with Sandra’s family. Tense and gritty, fast paced and chilling, Larapinta is one I recommend highly.
With thanks to the author for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2022
Book five in this excellent series.
This time it is the girls' mother's turn to feature in her own book. Sandra Porter has lost her husband in tragic circumstances and and has watched all her children marry and begin their own lives. Now she feels it is time to do something for herself and she makes plans to walk the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a tough walk but she is doing it in style - glamping, which at least means she gets hot showers and good food cooked for her at night.
Not everything turns out as she expected. I am sure no one plans for murder to happen on a popular walking trail, but it does. On the plus side though there is a romance with a good looking photographer which helps a lot!
I really enjoyed this book. The romance was lovely and I was very happy for Sandra. There was an interesting mystery where it was hard to guess which members of the group were the bad guys. The end was quite scary and very dangerous for our main characters.
I was happy too to see all the rest of the family going about their daily lives. There were an awful lot of babies happening and if the author wanted to continue her series there would be many possible areas to focus on. If this is the last book then it was a good one and it went out with a bang - literally.
This time it is the girls' mother's turn to feature in her own book. Sandra Porter has lost her husband in tragic circumstances and and has watched all her children marry and begin their own lives. Now she feels it is time to do something for herself and she makes plans to walk the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a tough walk but she is doing it in style - glamping, which at least means she gets hot showers and good food cooked for her at night.
Not everything turns out as she expected. I am sure no one plans for murder to happen on a popular walking trail, but it does. On the plus side though there is a romance with a good looking photographer which helps a lot!
I really enjoyed this book. The romance was lovely and I was very happy for Sandra. There was an interesting mystery where it was hard to guess which members of the group were the bad guys. The end was quite scary and very dangerous for our main characters.
I was happy too to see all the rest of the family going about their daily lives. There were an awful lot of babies happening and if the author wanted to continue her series there would be many possible areas to focus on. If this is the last book then it was a good one and it went out with a bang - literally.
March 19, 2022
This was a one sitting read, I could not put it down till I got to the end and it is a fabulous finish to this awesome series, Sandra Porter deserved her HEA so much after all that she has been through and she got one, this story is action packed, fast paced and a highly recommend read.
After all that Sandra has been through it is time that she found herself again and she is determined to get there, she has been looking into doing a trek through the outback it won’t be easy but that is what Sandra wants, the family is not overly happy but soon are on board with her doing the Larapinta Walk across the centre of The Northern Territory.
Graysen Hughes is a famous photographer since losing his wife he has become a loner with no fixed home he has travelled the world, but it is time to come home and maybe settle, he books this trek hoping to get some wonderful photos although he is unimpressed when he has to pair up with another walker, he is pleased that Sandra seems to be a quiet person and is keeping to herself.
There are nine people on this trek with a few guides it is going to be tough at times and it seems that not everyone is getting on that well at first, there are a couple of incidents that worry Sandra and Graysen, they are getting closer as they trek together and opening up but when there is an accident and two walkers and a guide go missing things start to get very dangerous and it is obvious that someone does not want any of the walkers to make their way out.
When the group is separated Sandra and Graysen do everything they can to stay safe, they have no means of contacting anyone and the ground is rough and harsh their supplies are minimal, will they ever get out alive? The one thing that is happening is that they are opening up to each other and finding their hearts becoming entwined even with danger around every gorge.
I loved this story from start to finish, it is a fabulous romantic suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat and cheering Sandra and Graysen on through some very dangerous times, it was lovely catching up with the rest of the family as well. The descriptions of the area made me feel like I was there and the ending is amazing, yes this is a must read story, don’t miss this one Annie Seaton is a fabulous author who knows how to write an amazing story.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review
After all that Sandra has been through it is time that she found herself again and she is determined to get there, she has been looking into doing a trek through the outback it won’t be easy but that is what Sandra wants, the family is not overly happy but soon are on board with her doing the Larapinta Walk across the centre of The Northern Territory.
Graysen Hughes is a famous photographer since losing his wife he has become a loner with no fixed home he has travelled the world, but it is time to come home and maybe settle, he books this trek hoping to get some wonderful photos although he is unimpressed when he has to pair up with another walker, he is pleased that Sandra seems to be a quiet person and is keeping to herself.
There are nine people on this trek with a few guides it is going to be tough at times and it seems that not everyone is getting on that well at first, there are a couple of incidents that worry Sandra and Graysen, they are getting closer as they trek together and opening up but when there is an accident and two walkers and a guide go missing things start to get very dangerous and it is obvious that someone does not want any of the walkers to make their way out.
When the group is separated Sandra and Graysen do everything they can to stay safe, they have no means of contacting anyone and the ground is rough and harsh their supplies are minimal, will they ever get out alive? The one thing that is happening is that they are opening up to each other and finding their hearts becoming entwined even with danger around every gorge.
I loved this story from start to finish, it is a fabulous romantic suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat and cheering Sandra and Graysen on through some very dangerous times, it was lovely catching up with the rest of the family as well. The descriptions of the area made me feel like I was there and the ending is amazing, yes this is a must read story, don’t miss this one Annie Seaton is a fabulous author who knows how to write an amazing story.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review
May 29, 2022
Annie Seaton's landscapes of the Australian wilderness have been such a draw for me going into her books. Having her write about the Larapinta trail and all the otherworldliness it can offer to a city-dweller makes this part of the book an amazing read.
I've followed Seaton's Porter sisters books on and off and Sandra's story caps it all off, though I'll admit that the sisters' stories have long slipped my mind. 'Larapinta' is good on its own but there are a lot of catch-up chapters of what happened in previous books--more so if you'd like to catch up on Sandra's large family and how they've gotten on after their own stories.
A large source of frustration here however, was the number of open-ended questions that I was left to wonder about after the book's climax. So focused was the entire story on Sandra and Greyson's feelings and experience with some deep third person POVs mainly confined to these two that the larger mystery isn't exactly unravelled for the reader: what really happened to Andrew after the rescue? What exactly was the contract kill about and who were the pair responsible for sparking it all off?
We're given speculative questions and answers but no clear resolutions, with Seaton choosing to put the spotlights on Sandra's daughters (I did skip those chapters as they felt like a domestic distraction that I wasn't too interested in pursuing) rather than drawing an overarching plot around the paid assassination and the collateral damage that followed during the hike itself.
The budding romance between an older couple also seemed to be just that: something shy that we witness over the course of a few days, heightened by the remoteness of the location and the sudden danger then falling flat when there is a sudden skip a few years into the future where Sandra and Greyson are suddenly settled into their HEA.
So this turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag in the end: engrossing because of the Larapinta trail and the suspense, but also disappointing because of the lack of development in that very area, yet with a definitive confirmation that romance isn't just for the young.
I've followed Seaton's Porter sisters books on and off and Sandra's story caps it all off, though I'll admit that the sisters' stories have long slipped my mind. 'Larapinta' is good on its own but there are a lot of catch-up chapters of what happened in previous books--more so if you'd like to catch up on Sandra's large family and how they've gotten on after their own stories.
A large source of frustration here however, was the number of open-ended questions that I was left to wonder about after the book's climax. So focused was the entire story on Sandra and Greyson's feelings and experience with some deep third person POVs mainly confined to these two that the larger mystery isn't exactly unravelled for the reader: what really happened to Andrew after the rescue? What exactly was the contract kill about and who were the pair responsible for sparking it all off?
We're given speculative questions and answers but no clear resolutions, with Seaton choosing to put the spotlights on Sandra's daughters (I did skip those chapters as they felt like a domestic distraction that I wasn't too interested in pursuing) rather than drawing an overarching plot around the paid assassination and the collateral damage that followed during the hike itself.
The budding romance between an older couple also seemed to be just that: something shy that we witness over the course of a few days, heightened by the remoteness of the location and the sudden danger then falling flat when there is a sudden skip a few years into the future where Sandra and Greyson are suddenly settled into their HEA.
So this turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag in the end: engrossing because of the Larapinta trail and the suspense, but also disappointing because of the lack of development in that very area, yet with a definitive confirmation that romance isn't just for the young.
August 23, 2023
Setting: Darwin/Alice Springs/Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory, Australia; modern day.
This is the fifth book in the Porter Sisters series but is mainly about their mother, Sandra, who decides to go on an organised 10-day trek along the Larapinta Trail starting from near Alice Springs. Her daughters have some trepidation about this excursion but 'the lady isn't for turning' so instead they club together to pay for an upgrade so Sandra has a more luxurious experience.
When the trekking party comes together, there are three couples and three singles: Sandra, a woman called Maggie and renowned landscape photographer Graysen Hughes, recovering from the death of his wife. But the reader will already be aware that one of the couples on the trek are not who they say they are and have in fact been tasked with ensuring that another member of the party does not return alive! Initially, Graysen rubs Sandra up the wrong way, as he already has with one of the couples on the trek who he met at the airport, but gradually Sandra's feelings towards Graysen change as the trek progresses.
But as the party wends its way through the rugged landscape in the heat of the outback, a couple of incidents occur which put Sandra and Graysen on the alert - and soon everyone's lives are in peril as the 'assassins' put their plan into action on a remote and isolated section of the trail.
Meanwhile, Sandra's daughters are each coping with children, pregnancy or the attempt to conceive, much of which they are keeping from their mother in order to allow her to enjoy her holiday.....
This was another highly enjoyable episode in the saga of the Porter Sisters and I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the characters in this one. Reading the story and the descriptions of the landscape, flora and fauna made me want to walk the trail myself although I am probably a bit old to be considering that! Nevertheless, I found I just could not put the book (or kindle) down and ended up reading the whole story in a day. Great read, very nearly 5 star for me - 9+/10.
This is the fifth book in the Porter Sisters series but is mainly about their mother, Sandra, who decides to go on an organised 10-day trek along the Larapinta Trail starting from near Alice Springs. Her daughters have some trepidation about this excursion but 'the lady isn't for turning' so instead they club together to pay for an upgrade so Sandra has a more luxurious experience.
When the trekking party comes together, there are three couples and three singles: Sandra, a woman called Maggie and renowned landscape photographer Graysen Hughes, recovering from the death of his wife. But the reader will already be aware that one of the couples on the trek are not who they say they are and have in fact been tasked with ensuring that another member of the party does not return alive! Initially, Graysen rubs Sandra up the wrong way, as he already has with one of the couples on the trek who he met at the airport, but gradually Sandra's feelings towards Graysen change as the trek progresses.
But as the party wends its way through the rugged landscape in the heat of the outback, a couple of incidents occur which put Sandra and Graysen on the alert - and soon everyone's lives are in peril as the 'assassins' put their plan into action on a remote and isolated section of the trail.
Meanwhile, Sandra's daughters are each coping with children, pregnancy or the attempt to conceive, much of which they are keeping from their mother in order to allow her to enjoy her holiday.....
This was another highly enjoyable episode in the saga of the Porter Sisters and I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the characters in this one. Reading the story and the descriptions of the landscape, flora and fauna made me want to walk the trail myself although I am probably a bit old to be considering that! Nevertheless, I found I just could not put the book (or kindle) down and ended up reading the whole story in a day. Great read, very nearly 5 star for me - 9+/10.
April 2, 2022
Thank you Annie for sending us a copy to read and review.
Larapinta is book five and the final story in the Porter sisters series.
Annie is a sovereign of destination fiction and a leader in this genre and this romantic suspense tale is one of her best.
Sandra Porter feels a little lost in her life.
Losing her husband and her adult children are all leading their own lives.
So Sandra decides to take a daring trip and walk the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory.
Graysen Hughes is a famous nature photographer and makes the choice to go to the outback to find some peace after tragedy occurred.
Paired up on the tour the two begin a friendship.
Soon an accident happens, then the guide disappears and then someone in the group is murdered.
Sandra and Graysen must break away and survive the heat and try to stay safe.
But it looks like the dark shadow is out to get them too.
It features and delivers romance, intrigue, secrets and danger all amongst an interesting Australian backdrop and the Larapinta trail is the haven for this glorious fiction tale.
Annie once again wows her audience with an engaging storyline, luscious scenes, colourful characters and a picturesque backdrop.
A great narrative and another example of the talent of writer extraordinaire Annie Seaton.
An author who is respected in her field and who captures the location with such ease and to the point where you feel the air on your cheeks, the wind blowing in your hair and the warmth on your face, simply by turning the page.
A very solid read and a highly entertaining one too.
Larapinta is book five and the final story in the Porter sisters series.
Annie is a sovereign of destination fiction and a leader in this genre and this romantic suspense tale is one of her best.
Sandra Porter feels a little lost in her life.
Losing her husband and her adult children are all leading their own lives.
So Sandra decides to take a daring trip and walk the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory.
Graysen Hughes is a famous nature photographer and makes the choice to go to the outback to find some peace after tragedy occurred.
Paired up on the tour the two begin a friendship.
Soon an accident happens, then the guide disappears and then someone in the group is murdered.
Sandra and Graysen must break away and survive the heat and try to stay safe.
But it looks like the dark shadow is out to get them too.
It features and delivers romance, intrigue, secrets and danger all amongst an interesting Australian backdrop and the Larapinta trail is the haven for this glorious fiction tale.
Annie once again wows her audience with an engaging storyline, luscious scenes, colourful characters and a picturesque backdrop.
A great narrative and another example of the talent of writer extraordinaire Annie Seaton.
An author who is respected in her field and who captures the location with such ease and to the point where you feel the air on your cheeks, the wind blowing in your hair and the warmth on your face, simply by turning the page.
A very solid read and a highly entertaining one too.
March 28, 2022
It must be a sign of an award-winning author but I think that each of the Porter Sisters books has gotten better, which is saying a lot since I absolutely loved the first one! Annie did a great job with this story - Sandra Porter has been through quite a lot since book 1 started. Story 5 combined a great, suspenseful story line along with in-depth character and location descriptions to provide a non-stop book that I had a hard time setting down. Greyson Hughes is a world renown nature photographer who has been trying to recover from the loss of his wife and long-time companion when he signs on to trek the Larapinta Trail across remote areas of Australia and he is buddied up with Sandra. I loved seeing where Sandra's children and spouses are in this story and how their lives were woven into the story without overtaking it. I would highly suggest that you read the first 4 books of the Porter Sisters series but I don't feel that you'd miss anything important if you start with this book and then decide to go back and start at the beginning. I'm definitely not ready for the end of the Porter Sisters books!
June 14, 2025
Larapinta is book five in The Porter Sisters series by Annie Seaton. Sandra Porter, still recovering from the tragic death of her husband and always looking after everyone else, decided it was time she did something for herself. Sandra Porter chose to push herself by walking in a remote area of the Northern Territory known as Larapinta Walk. At the start of the walk, Sandra Porter was paired with photographer Graysen Hughes, who had recently lost his wife and was seeking solitude. However, when the guide went missing, and other suspicious events occurred, they joined forces to try to survive. Readers of Larapinta will continue to follow Sandra Porter and Graysen Hughes to discover what happens next.
I learned about the Larapinta Walk area in the Northern Territory, an area I was previously unaware of. Readers of Larapinta will also learn about grief and its various effects on individuals. I love Annie Seaton's written style, which consistently engages me with her characters and plots. Larapinta kept up my love affair with Annie Seaton's book, a book that I engaged with from the first page.
I love Annie Seaton's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Larapinta was well-written and researched by Annie Seaton. I like Annie Seaton's description of the settings of Larapinta, which allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
I learned about the Larapinta Walk area in the Northern Territory, an area I was previously unaware of. Readers of Larapinta will also learn about grief and its various effects on individuals. I love Annie Seaton's written style, which consistently engages me with her characters and plots. Larapinta kept up my love affair with Annie Seaton's book, a book that I engaged with from the first page.
I love Annie Seaton's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Larapinta was well-written and researched by Annie Seaton. I like Annie Seaton's description of the settings of Larapinta, which allows me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
March 24, 2022
This might be the best of the series. It really pulled me in—especially the second half. Books four and five clearly show how the author has grown in her writing and storytelling craft compared to the much earlier three books—but which I still quite enjoyed.
As with the other books in the series, I enjoyed the sense of place and learning of a location I did not know. The mystery/thriller part was excellent. I was skeptical going in about how believable the romance was going to be, but it worked for me all along.
Did I miss the resolution of who hired the killers? I should go reread the prologue. I would have liked a better debrief of the sequence of events on the fateful day, and some of what the guides knew, once they recovered.
—-
Update after rereading the prologue… Now it’s obvious who hired the killers, but now I really yearn for more resolution. Did he get away? Did the police figure it out?
—-
Update 2: The author updated the story slightly to answer the "whodunnit" part of my questions. I'd have still liked more of a debrief from the guides as they recovered, but the story isn't about them and isn't about the victims, so I guess that's why we don't need much resolution to those storylines.
As with the other books in the series, I enjoyed the sense of place and learning of a location I did not know. The mystery/thriller part was excellent. I was skeptical going in about how believable the romance was going to be, but it worked for me all along.
Did I miss the resolution of who hired the killers? I should go reread the prologue. I would have liked a better debrief of the sequence of events on the fateful day, and some of what the guides knew, once they recovered.
—-
Update after rereading the prologue… Now it’s obvious who hired the killers, but now I really yearn for more resolution. Did he get away? Did the police figure it out?
—-
Update 2: The author updated the story slightly to answer the "whodunnit" part of my questions. I'd have still liked more of a debrief from the guides as they recovered, but the story isn't about them and isn't about the victims, so I guess that's why we don't need much resolution to those storylines.
March 29, 2022
I walked the Larapinta trail a couple of years ago so was interested to read this murder mystery set in such a remote but amazing setting. The author's descriptions of the walking track, the huge skies, and the ruggedness of the terrain were perfect. The mystery was ok too.
June 5, 2022
Great to catch up with the Porter family and get to know Sandra in a wonderful setting.
April 26, 2022
This review can also be found on Mic Loves Books: https://miclovesbooks.home.blog/2022/...
Larapinta is the 5th in the Porter Sister series and it is a fitting end; at the end of every book I have been left wanting that little bit more but not this time. Larapinta closes out the series and leaves us with a complete picture of the lives of all the Porters.
Sandra Porter is the matriarch of the Porter family, a woman who struggled in the aftermath of her husbands murder; staged to look like a suicide. Now that they have some answers and Sandra can finally move on she is determined to do something for herself, to find herself and to demonstrate her strength. She books herself on a trek along the long and arduous Larapinta Trail in a small tour group.
The suspense kicks in early and you know that something is going to happen but the red herrings are also placed early so you’re never quite sure what’s going on.
The Larapinta trekking group is quite diverse; there are two honeymooning couples, an older retired couple, a rich lady, a renowned landscape photographer and Sandra Porter. There are personality clashes from day one but that’s always to be expected.
Seaton has, as always, painted beautiful pictures of the landscape and the settings with her words; evoking vibrant images in the mind and setting up a wanderlust desire to see more of our gorgeous country. It shows that she does research travel for her books so that she is familiar with the spectacular places she writes about.
All of the main players, of the Porter family and the Porter Sisters series, make an appearance in Larapinta and allow us to take a peek into their lives as they look now; like checking in on old friends next time you pass through town.
Seaton looks at loss and the different way we experience it, grieve it and move on from it. Larapinta also explores the wide range of fertility issues and stages that can be present in a family simultaneously and how it all has an affect on everyone.
I really do love the Porters, I can’t really believe that one family can go through quite so much; and I can’t help but feel for them. But they have great courage and strength, and more importantly they have each other.
Larapinta was a book that took me way too long to read, not because I wasn’t enjoying it but because I wanted to make it last and savour it.
Sandra lost the love of her life when her husband was murdered and she has been content devoting her life to her children, and now her grandchildren, but when she goes off to find herself on the Larapinta Trail and finds way more excitement than she ever would have wanted will she also find that maybe there can be more than one big love in a lifetime.
Larapinta is pretty dark and pretty hard going a lot of the time, the suspense is palpable and you don’t want to make a sound but there also moments of levity and humour which help to balance out the emotions. There are many moments of stunning beauty as Seaton describes the backdrop and the scenery; the flora and the fauna of great wild centre of our glorious country.
Whether you are new to the Porter Sisters or you have followed from the beginning I’m sure you’re not going to be disappointed. This is a book that stands on it’s spine just as well as it rounds out the series.
Larapinta is the 5th in the Porter Sister series and it is a fitting end; at the end of every book I have been left wanting that little bit more but not this time. Larapinta closes out the series and leaves us with a complete picture of the lives of all the Porters.
Sandra Porter is the matriarch of the Porter family, a woman who struggled in the aftermath of her husbands murder; staged to look like a suicide. Now that they have some answers and Sandra can finally move on she is determined to do something for herself, to find herself and to demonstrate her strength. She books herself on a trek along the long and arduous Larapinta Trail in a small tour group.
The suspense kicks in early and you know that something is going to happen but the red herrings are also placed early so you’re never quite sure what’s going on.
The Larapinta trekking group is quite diverse; there are two honeymooning couples, an older retired couple, a rich lady, a renowned landscape photographer and Sandra Porter. There are personality clashes from day one but that’s always to be expected.
Seaton has, as always, painted beautiful pictures of the landscape and the settings with her words; evoking vibrant images in the mind and setting up a wanderlust desire to see more of our gorgeous country. It shows that she does research travel for her books so that she is familiar with the spectacular places she writes about.
All of the main players, of the Porter family and the Porter Sisters series, make an appearance in Larapinta and allow us to take a peek into their lives as they look now; like checking in on old friends next time you pass through town.
Seaton looks at loss and the different way we experience it, grieve it and move on from it. Larapinta also explores the wide range of fertility issues and stages that can be present in a family simultaneously and how it all has an affect on everyone.
I really do love the Porters, I can’t really believe that one family can go through quite so much; and I can’t help but feel for them. But they have great courage and strength, and more importantly they have each other.
Larapinta was a book that took me way too long to read, not because I wasn’t enjoying it but because I wanted to make it last and savour it.
Sandra lost the love of her life when her husband was murdered and she has been content devoting her life to her children, and now her grandchildren, but when she goes off to find herself on the Larapinta Trail and finds way more excitement than she ever would have wanted will she also find that maybe there can be more than one big love in a lifetime.
Larapinta is pretty dark and pretty hard going a lot of the time, the suspense is palpable and you don’t want to make a sound but there also moments of levity and humour which help to balance out the emotions. There are many moments of stunning beauty as Seaton describes the backdrop and the scenery; the flora and the fauna of great wild centre of our glorious country.
Whether you are new to the Porter Sisters or you have followed from the beginning I’m sure you’re not going to be disappointed. This is a book that stands on it’s spine just as well as it rounds out the series.
April 24, 2022
4.5 stars - why? I really enjoyed it but not as much as Hidden Valley, the 4th Porter Sister's book but then Hidden Valley is as good as I've read so this had lots to live up to.
I've LOVED the Porter Sister's series, as much as I've loved any series and by the time the 5th came round it is possible that nothing was going to quite live up to my expectations, which, I am prepared to admit could have been unreasonable.
The setting was excellent, I loved the way Sandra Porter (the sister's mother) decided to do something out of character and go off on her own. I also loved how she found someone she could relate to completely on her own level.
Extremely tense in parts, all well rounded as the completion of this lovely series. I will miss the Porter family but enjoyed the way Annie completed the series.
I've LOVED the Porter Sister's series, as much as I've loved any series and by the time the 5th came round it is possible that nothing was going to quite live up to my expectations, which, I am prepared to admit could have been unreasonable.
The setting was excellent, I loved the way Sandra Porter (the sister's mother) decided to do something out of character and go off on her own. I also loved how she found someone she could relate to completely on her own level.
Extremely tense in parts, all well rounded as the completion of this lovely series. I will miss the Porter family but enjoyed the way Annie completed the series.
August 1, 2022
The fifth book in the series and in my opinion the best yet. I read this in an afternoon as I could not put it down. Annie Seaton has a way of making you feel like you are there and I would love to see the Larapinta walk. I love that Sandra Porter has her own book and she certainly deserves to be happy after all she has been through in previous books. She meets fellow walker Grayson and they get to know each other while trying to make it out of the walk alive after dodging some very shady fellow walkers. A beautiful background update on her lovely family and my favourite book in this series. I was gifted this book by the author.
October 4, 2022
This was a very suspenseful, and engrossing story that displayed the astounding variety and beauty of Australia's wild flora and fauna. Besides the beautiful scenery, there was an undercurrent of treachery and great danger sizzling throughout the plot waiting to eliminate anything in its path. Greysen and Sandra discovered this threat and attempted to save themselves and their fellow trekkers. In the process of escaping mortal danger, their feelings for each other grew stronger. This was a wonderful and extremely exciting adventure into the Outback with all of the suspense and drama of any action movie. It was just Thrilling! Really Amazing Read!!!!! Don't Miss This One!!!!!
June 13, 2022
What an incredible story - I could not put it down! I love reading about new locations and Annie Seaton has the ability to transport the reader right to them.
‘Larapinta’ takes us to central Australia. Sandra Porter travels to Alice Springs to embark on a journey of self discovery. There she meets world renowned photographer Grayson Hughes. They become friends before suspicious activities along the track draws them even closer.
The book kept me going with every page! Brilliantly written and a perfect Number 5 in the Porter Sister Series.
‘Larapinta’ takes us to central Australia. Sandra Porter travels to Alice Springs to embark on a journey of self discovery. There she meets world renowned photographer Grayson Hughes. They become friends before suspicious activities along the track draws them even closer.
The book kept me going with every page! Brilliantly written and a perfect Number 5 in the Porter Sister Series.
September 29, 2025
I thought this was going to be a paint by numbers romance, and for the first half, it looked like I was going to be proved right. The plot took a massive swerve at that point and kept me guessing, up until a point. The climax itself was incredibly late and not really a shock and as a consequence, there wasn't a lot of time for any resolution. However, I'm still looking forward to reading the next in the series.
March 11, 2022
Another enthralling book written by this talented Australian author. Once again it’s not a straight forward story. There are twists and turns along the way. I only received my copy yesterday but I’ve been immersed in Larapinta last night and this morning. Annie’s thorough research is always evident in her stories. After all that’s happened to Sandra now it’s her turn to find happiness.
August 8, 2022
I have read all of Annie Seatons Porter sister books and thoroughly enjoyed them all, this the last is no exception this time it is their Mother Sandras story, she decides to take the Larapinta trail tour but all does not go as planned as there are killers amongst them, on the plus side she meets the lovely Grayson her new love
August 21, 2022
I liked the idea of this being set in Australia and of a 50-something woman, who has come a long way since the devastating loss of her husband, signing on to do the not for the faint hearted Larapinta trek.
There is love after loss, a reimagining of life, and there is danger.
Great read which I started and finished in a day.
Recommended.
There is love after loss, a reimagining of life, and there is danger.
Great read which I started and finished in a day.
Recommended.
January 10, 2023
Larapinta
Another great read by Annie Seaton.
After being widowed some years before, Sandra decides to challenge herself on the Larapinta trek, where she meets Greyson.
However not all in the group are who they seem. All of a sudden Sandra and Greyson are forced to run for their lives snd hide in the bush.
Another great read by Annie Seaton.
After being widowed some years before, Sandra decides to challenge herself on the Larapinta trek, where she meets Greyson.
However not all in the group are who they seem. All of a sudden Sandra and Greyson are forced to run for their lives snd hide in the bush.
April 24, 2023
Well I just want to say what a spectacular series. I loved Larapinta, it is fast paced tense and exciting. I enjoyed how it goes from Sandy on the trek back to the families lives at home. Once again Annie has included mystery with romance and has done it well. I loved all the characters and the settings really make me want to travel around our beautiful Australia and see it all.
August 4, 2022
Good read
I haven't read the first four books as this one was a freebie. Plan on reading the complete series. This book was interesting and I enjoyed the main characters. It does touch on events from the previous books but, does not take away from this one
I haven't read the first four books as this one was a freebie. Plan on reading the complete series. This book was interesting and I enjoyed the main characters. It does touch on events from the previous books but, does not take away from this one
August 6, 2022
An Aussie Tale
I loved the characters, Sandra and Greyson! Out of danger and tragedy came a love story for two widowers. Each opened their hearts and love out of crisis’ bloomed! It was filled with enough suspense to keep you reading until the end.
I loved the characters, Sandra and Greyson! Out of danger and tragedy came a love story for two widowers. Each opened their hearts and love out of crisis’ bloomed! It was filled with enough suspense to keep you reading until the end.
August 8, 2022
I love the way the scenery is brought to life by Annie Seaton. Part of me wants to walk the trail but then I realise I'm not fit enough to run from assassins. Another fabulous tale set in outback Australia.
January 9, 2023
Suspenseful, with a love story.
I liked that the protagonists were an older couple. The suspense was figuring out who was the target and who were the killers and wondering when they would strike.
I liked that the protagonists were an older couple. The suspense was figuring out who was the target and who were the killers and wondering when they would strike.
May 20, 2024
A widow whose husband's death was horrifying decides to walk the Larapinta trail. There she finds love and danger. I listened to the audio book and really enjoyed the cliffhanging story. The climax surprised me.
April 1, 2022
Although I felt the end was a little rushed I loved the build up, the setting and the characters. A great addition to the Porters Sisters series of books.
August 14, 2022
Great adventure.
Starts as a ruthless deed, turns into a hike, developes into a love story and then it blows up into the most exciting story ever! Great read.
Starts as a ruthless deed, turns into a hike, developes into a love story and then it blows up into the most exciting story ever! Great read.
August 25, 2022
Wordy, but entertaining
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews