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The Shark
Every monster has a weakness.
At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects her own disturbing connection to the killer.
Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych abduct and imprison the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day, or are there intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, what stops them from going to the police?
A dark and voice-led serial killer thriller that subverts the tropes of crime fiction at every turn, The Shark is an unforgettably propulsive novel about victimhood, power and autonomy from Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize-winner Emma Styles.
_____________
Uniquely Australian and packed with atmosphere, The Shark follows Raych and Carmen, both affected by loss and guilt, as they track down a serial killer in their community.
Bursting with tension, this is riveting reading -- SAM HOLLAND, author of THE COUNTDOWN KILLER
Reader reviews of No Country for Girls
'What an incredible, high octane, thrilling ride this book is!'
'I desperately wanted to know what happens next'
'I loved the characters and the setting, which was described with vivid and rich imagery'
'Incredibly well plotted'
'Tense and thrilling . . . Highly recommended, there are absolutely no slow bits to this story'
At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects her own disturbing connection to the killer.
Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych abduct and imprison the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day, or are there intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, what stops them from going to the police?
A dark and voice-led serial killer thriller that subverts the tropes of crime fiction at every turn, The Shark is an unforgettably propulsive novel about victimhood, power and autonomy from Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize-winner Emma Styles.
_____________
Uniquely Australian and packed with atmosphere, The Shark follows Raych and Carmen, both affected by loss and guilt, as they track down a serial killer in their community.
Bursting with tension, this is riveting reading -- SAM HOLLAND, author of THE COUNTDOWN KILLER
Reader reviews of No Country for Girls
'What an incredible, high octane, thrilling ride this book is!'
'I desperately wanted to know what happens next'
'I loved the characters and the setting, which was described with vivid and rich imagery'
'Incredibly well plotted'
'Tense and thrilling . . . Highly recommended, there are absolutely no slow bits to this story'
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2026
About the author
Emma Styles
2 books39 followersEmma Styles writes contemporary Australian noir about young women taking on the patriarchy. She grew up on Whadjuk Noongar Country in Perth, Western Australia and now lives in London where she was born. Emma loves a road trip and once sat out a cyclone on the north west coast of WA in a LandCruiser Troop Carrier. She is less afraid of great white sharks than she should be, and hopeless at surfing.
Emma has an MA in crime fiction from the University of East Anglia. Her debut novel, No Country for Girls, won the Little, Brown UEA Crime Fiction Award in 2020 and will be published by Sphere in the UK in July 2022, and by Hachette in Australia and New Zealand in September.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 15, 2026
EXCERPT: I turned north towards home. I was thinking about the coming night, yet another Sunday, about the pattern of girls disappearing, and what I was going to do.
I can't think about him too hard or I lose my nerve. His MO. What condition the bodies have been in when they've been found each time by an unlucky beachgoer. Only once was it a dog walker, so it's not always the way they show it in the movies.
The Polaris task force has never released details, not one whisper of a leak to the media, but there's always someone with a smartphone on the scene these days. The first time, they thought the girl, Christine Taylor-Watkins, was a genuine shark fatality. That is, until other evidence came to light.
ABOUT 'THE SHARK': Every monster has a weakness.
At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects a disturbing connection to the killer.
Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych abduct and imprison the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day, or are their intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, what stops them from going to the police?
MY THOUGHTS: I wanted to love The Shark but I found it disjointed and impossible to like either of the main characters, Raych and Carmen. Sometimes I love to hate a character, but I couldn't even ramp up that much emotion for either of them. Both these negatives made it impossible for me to become fully invested in The Shark and I struggled to read to the end.
In all fairness, the final portion of the book ramped up the tension and flowed better, but by then I was unable to overcome my disappointment and really didn't care.
⭐⭐.2
#TheShark #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: EMMA STYLES writes contemporary Australian noir about young women taking on the patriarchy. She grew up on Whadjuk Noongar Country in Perth, Western Australia and now lives in London where she was born. Emma loves a road trip and once sat out a cyclone on the north west coast of WA in a LandCruiser Troop Carrier. She is less afraid of great white sharks than she should be, and hopeless at surfing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand via NetGalley for providing a DRC of >i>The Shark by Emma Styles for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I can't think about him too hard or I lose my nerve. His MO. What condition the bodies have been in when they've been found each time by an unlucky beachgoer. Only once was it a dog walker, so it's not always the way they show it in the movies.
The Polaris task force has never released details, not one whisper of a leak to the media, but there's always someone with a smartphone on the scene these days. The first time, they thought the girl, Christine Taylor-Watkins, was a genuine shark fatality. That is, until other evidence came to light.
ABOUT 'THE SHARK': Every monster has a weakness.
At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects a disturbing connection to the killer.
Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych abduct and imprison the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day, or are their intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, what stops them from going to the police?
MY THOUGHTS: I wanted to love The Shark but I found it disjointed and impossible to like either of the main characters, Raych and Carmen. Sometimes I love to hate a character, but I couldn't even ramp up that much emotion for either of them. Both these negatives made it impossible for me to become fully invested in The Shark and I struggled to read to the end.
In all fairness, the final portion of the book ramped up the tension and flowed better, but by then I was unable to overcome my disappointment and really didn't care.
⭐⭐.2
#TheShark #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: EMMA STYLES writes contemporary Australian noir about young women taking on the patriarchy. She grew up on Whadjuk Noongar Country in Perth, Western Australia and now lives in London where she was born. Emma loves a road trip and once sat out a cyclone on the north west coast of WA in a LandCruiser Troop Carrier. She is less afraid of great white sharks than she should be, and hopeless at surfing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand via NetGalley for providing a DRC of >i>The Shark by Emma Styles for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shark is a deeply disturbing and dark thriller set in the coats of Western Australia. Both main characters are broken women and not easy to like at all but you do feel for them both and what they have suffered in their lives. It is an emotional story, unsettling and graphic in parts. Not the easiest read, and based on the real life Claremont Stalker.
Carmen and Raych are sick of violence against women in their town. Both have hard upbringings and don’t like each much to begin with, but they are united in their quest to stop the serial killer stalking women in their area, known as The Shark. They will stop at nothing to get him, even using themselves as a trap. They are angry women, with their own reasons for putting themselves in such dangerous situations.
This is a revenge story, one with quite an emotional underpinned story
Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for/NZ for my advanced copy to read. Out in the world on March 10th.
Carmen and Raych are sick of violence against women in their town. Both have hard upbringings and don’t like each much to begin with, but they are united in their quest to stop the serial killer stalking women in their area, known as The Shark. They will stop at nothing to get him, even using themselves as a trap. They are angry women, with their own reasons for putting themselves in such dangerous situations.
This is a revenge story, one with quite an emotional underpinned story
Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for/NZ for my advanced copy to read. Out in the world on March 10th.
May 3, 2026
A serial killer hunts his prey like a shark, leaving grisly remains and a murder weapon as elusive as an icicle.
A random thoughts style review to come, opposed to the usual formatted one:
-appealing title (shark + serial killer = a must have)
-set in Perth in the Cottesloe area
-Cottesloe is known for shark attacks, Perth for the real life serial killer that was at large for too long, this book capitalises on both
-several Jaws references
-largely a non-police investigation angle
-two protagonists are seeming to get to the bottom of the matter, but from different angles, yin and yang, though both moody and secretive
-I lacked the patience for the perpetual, “can I trust you?” vibe mixed with the, “I have a secret agenda” trope
-the killer(s) (see no spoilers…the opening line was just for show) was/were original enough (and no, I didn’t get it right…)
-the method of murder: glad it wasn’t me i.e. a 10 on the fear and pain scale
-gore level: actually quite low, like a 3 (no bodily damage description I can recall)
-the implicated: hmm, didn’t buy all of it but fair enough I guess
-the mystery/clues: they were there-ish, since this was a non-police investigation, and without access to the forensics, it’s no wonder they bumbled their way through it. I loved the reveal about how and why the victims met their bitter end, especially the how
-the cons: the melodrama between the protagonists had me skipping dialogue but it was still fine
-# pages could have been snipped by 50 pages
A random thoughts style review to come, opposed to the usual formatted one:
-appealing title (shark + serial killer = a must have)
-set in Perth in the Cottesloe area
-Cottesloe is known for shark attacks, Perth for the real life serial killer that was at large for too long, this book capitalises on both
-several Jaws references
-largely a non-police investigation angle
-two protagonists are seeming to get to the bottom of the matter, but from different angles, yin and yang, though both moody and secretive
-I lacked the patience for the perpetual, “can I trust you?” vibe mixed with the, “I have a secret agenda” trope
-the killer(s) (see no spoilers…the opening line was just for show) was/were original enough (and no, I didn’t get it right…)
-the method of murder: glad it wasn’t me i.e. a 10 on the fear and pain scale
-gore level: actually quite low, like a 3 (no bodily damage description I can recall)
-the implicated: hmm, didn’t buy all of it but fair enough I guess
-the mystery/clues: they were there-ish, since this was a non-police investigation, and without access to the forensics, it’s no wonder they bumbled their way through it. I loved the reveal about how and why the victims met their bitter end, especially the how
-the cons: the melodrama between the protagonists had me skipping dialogue but it was still fine
-# pages could have been snipped by 50 pages
March 21, 2026
4.5★s
The Shark is the second novel by award-winning Australian author, Emma Styles. When he regains consciousness, the young man’s wrists and ankles are cable-tied. He realises he’s on the back seat of his own car, the captive of two teenage girls…
Over the last eighteen months, a serial killer is taking young women from the Perth suburb of Cottesloe Beach. All of them, four so far, excel at watersports; all wash up on nearby beaches looking like victims of a shark attack. The police have set up the Polaris task force, but locals are frustrated at their lack of progress. Police have singled out one man for interrogation and search, but no arrest has been made.
Neil Fraser Lock has stated on TV that he drives the streets at night to keep young women safe, but for many, he’s the prime suspect. Her FIFO father frequently absent, eighteen-year-old and motherless, Raych Valenti, resorts to what looks like very risky behaviour: presenting herself as a target for the man who has been dubbed The Shark. It’s the only way, she is convinced, that she can find out what he did with her girlfriend, Piper, almost a year ago.
Carmen Chase has been watching them both with increasing exasperation: she has her own reasons for the covert surveillance. She can’t remember what happened on that night, before she was stuck in the psych ward for attacking her foster-sister, but she knows Lock was there, she recognised his voice, and needs him to tell her. Is there a connection with the women he’s taken…?
Despite very different agendas, the two somehow find themselves taking Lock captive. But in trying to find out what they want to know, they encounter multiple hurdles.
Apart from the prologue, Styles employs two narrators to deliver the story, and it’s soon clear that Carmen’s narrative is not a reliable one. She dissociates under stress, and has blackouts where she can’t remember what she has done, or how she got there. Several characters are less than honest so it’s often not apparent what the real facts are. The action ramps up to a nail-biting climax, and even the most astute reader will be surprised by the reveal. Definitely a page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
The Shark is the second novel by award-winning Australian author, Emma Styles. When he regains consciousness, the young man’s wrists and ankles are cable-tied. He realises he’s on the back seat of his own car, the captive of two teenage girls…
Over the last eighteen months, a serial killer is taking young women from the Perth suburb of Cottesloe Beach. All of them, four so far, excel at watersports; all wash up on nearby beaches looking like victims of a shark attack. The police have set up the Polaris task force, but locals are frustrated at their lack of progress. Police have singled out one man for interrogation and search, but no arrest has been made.
Neil Fraser Lock has stated on TV that he drives the streets at night to keep young women safe, but for many, he’s the prime suspect. Her FIFO father frequently absent, eighteen-year-old and motherless, Raych Valenti, resorts to what looks like very risky behaviour: presenting herself as a target for the man who has been dubbed The Shark. It’s the only way, she is convinced, that she can find out what he did with her girlfriend, Piper, almost a year ago.
Carmen Chase has been watching them both with increasing exasperation: she has her own reasons for the covert surveillance. She can’t remember what happened on that night, before she was stuck in the psych ward for attacking her foster-sister, but she knows Lock was there, she recognised his voice, and needs him to tell her. Is there a connection with the women he’s taken…?
Despite very different agendas, the two somehow find themselves taking Lock captive. But in trying to find out what they want to know, they encounter multiple hurdles.
Apart from the prologue, Styles employs two narrators to deliver the story, and it’s soon clear that Carmen’s narrative is not a reliable one. She dissociates under stress, and has blackouts where she can’t remember what she has done, or how she got there. Several characters are less than honest so it’s often not apparent what the real facts are. The action ramps up to a nail-biting climax, and even the most astute reader will be surprised by the reveal. Definitely a page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
March 24, 2026
2,5 stars
This thriller set on the coast of Western Australia has a strong premise, especially with its nod to the real-life Claremont case and the unsettling idea of a serial killer dubbed The Shark targeting young swimmers. It’s dark and the two main characters are messy, damaged young women. The dual POVs felt disjointed—Carmen’s especially, with the blurred line between reality and her own mind making the story harder to follow. The pacing is slow, the unreliable narration added confusion rather than suspense. I also struggled to connect with the characters or believe some of their actions. The level of independence given to two 18-year-olds in such dangerous circumstances felt unrealistic, and the absentee or underdeveloped parental figures didn’t help ground the story. Several plot elements—like the ex-police officer—felt underexplored and left more questions than answers. Overall, the book had potential, but the uneven structure and confusing storytelling made it a tough read for me.
This thriller set on the coast of Western Australia has a strong premise, especially with its nod to the real-life Claremont case and the unsettling idea of a serial killer dubbed The Shark targeting young swimmers. It’s dark and the two main characters are messy, damaged young women. The dual POVs felt disjointed—Carmen’s especially, with the blurred line between reality and her own mind making the story harder to follow. The pacing is slow, the unreliable narration added confusion rather than suspense. I also struggled to connect with the characters or believe some of their actions. The level of independence given to two 18-year-olds in such dangerous circumstances felt unrealistic, and the absentee or underdeveloped parental figures didn’t help ground the story. Several plot elements—like the ex-police officer—felt underexplored and left more questions than answers. Overall, the book had potential, but the uneven structure and confusing storytelling made it a tough read for me.
March 14, 2026
A serial killer nicknamed The Shark has been causing chaos as his victim toll rises. Each girl he targets is a swimmer, found washed up on the beach with evidence of having been victim of a shark attack.
Nearly a year after her girlfriend disappeared Raych is spending her time watching the man the police believe could be linked to the attacks. She finds herself circling a young woman, Carmen, who seems to know a lot more about events than she perhaps ought to.
This thriller sounded intriguing, but it really wasn’t what I expected.
The two female characters were damaged women, desperate to put an end to the violence that surrounds them and prepared to go to any lengths in order to achieve this. There were parts of this story that were confusing, and the ending rather came out of nowhere.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
Nearly a year after her girlfriend disappeared Raych is spending her time watching the man the police believe could be linked to the attacks. She finds herself circling a young woman, Carmen, who seems to know a lot more about events than she perhaps ought to.
This thriller sounded intriguing, but it really wasn’t what I expected.
The two female characters were damaged women, desperate to put an end to the violence that surrounds them and prepared to go to any lengths in order to achieve this. There were parts of this story that were confusing, and the ending rather came out of nowhere.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
Did Not Finish
March 13, 2026I really loved the sound of this — it wasn’t what I was expecting at all, and unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.
I couldn’t get on board with the writing style whatsoever.
The writing was very descriptive, and I personally prefer books that dive into the action quickly.
I think some people will love this, but it wasn’t for me!
I couldn’t get on board with the writing style whatsoever.
The writing was very descriptive, and I personally prefer books that dive into the action quickly.
I think some people will love this, but it wasn’t for me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shark is a tension filled read from start to finish with a prologue that certainly got my attention.
Set in the Cottesloe area of Perth, a number of women have gone missing, with their bodies washing up on local beaches.
Raych's friend Piper disappeared in an instant one night never to be seen again. Carmen, who found the body of the first victim, feels drawn to the killer. When these two girls pair up to do what they feel the police aren't doing, the tension really starts.
With a slightly disjointed feel to it, this story was sometimes hard to follow, and with Carmen in particular not trusting her own recollections I found that I was not sure if I was understanding all that was happening.
The last quarter ramped up and it was very nail-biting indeed. An interesting story and a different take on the different aspects of a crime and the people involved.
Set in the Cottesloe area of Perth, a number of women have gone missing, with their bodies washing up on local beaches.
Raych's friend Piper disappeared in an instant one night never to be seen again. Carmen, who found the body of the first victim, feels drawn to the killer. When these two girls pair up to do what they feel the police aren't doing, the tension really starts.
With a slightly disjointed feel to it, this story was sometimes hard to follow, and with Carmen in particular not trusting her own recollections I found that I was not sure if I was understanding all that was happening.
The last quarter ramped up and it was very nail-biting indeed. An interesting story and a different take on the different aspects of a crime and the people involved.
April 6, 2026
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
A serial killer is terrorising Cottesloe, a coastal suburb in Western Australia. Young women are disappearing, only to be found dead a few days later. The press has dubbed the killer ‘The Shark’. Raych firmly believes her best friend, Piper, was a victim of The Shark, despite there being no body. Piper has been missing for nearly one year, having vanished without a trace on a night out. Raych is furious, heartbroken and absolutely fed up with the local police for taking no real action. They have a suspect who they’re monitoring, but without solid evidence, they can’t arrest him. So girls keep vanishing. Carmen, who unbeknownst to anyone, found the first victim on the beach, feels she has her own dark connection to The Shark. When a new victim is taken by the killer, Carmen and Raych join unlikely forces. Taking matters into their own hands, they kidnap the prime suspect. Playing with fire, and in well over their heads, how far will they go to catch a serial murderer….
The Shark is a tense, dark, taut thriller full of furious female rage, which I was 100% there for. Raych has always loved her best friend, Piper. She just didn’t know how deeply Piper’s feelings ran until the night she disappeared. Now, Raych would do anything to find her. Including putting herself up as bait, hoping the killer will choose her next. Raych is a strong, determined young woman seeking answers, full of anger towards the local authorities and the killer himself. Prepared to pay the ultimate price and sacrifice herself in order to know the truth. She’s not very likeable, but I found myself very much on her side. I wanted her to discover the truth, no matter how difficult it was to hear. More importantly though, I wanted her to survive the ordeal. Even if that wasn’t what she wanted for herself. Carmen is a very different character to Raych. There’s a darkness there which I found highly intriguing. I couldn’t work her out, but that only drew me in all the more.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Shark is a compelling, intricate, character-driven thriller with two utterly fascinating, strong female leads. They’re damaged and unstoppable in their mission. I thoroughly enjoyed every dark second of this book. It’s multi-layered and beautifully paced. The characters are glorious (in a flawed, edgy way) and blur the lines between victim and monster. Do you have to become a monster to trap a monster? The ending convinced me this book should be made into a movie. Thrilling, full of menace and with bucketloads of fear. The danger and the peril are written so well. I was there in the moment with the characters, holding my breath. Just fabulous. All in all, The Shark is a compulsive, character-driven thriller. Something a bit different to everything else out there, and I loved it. Recommended.
A serial killer is terrorising Cottesloe, a coastal suburb in Western Australia. Young women are disappearing, only to be found dead a few days later. The press has dubbed the killer ‘The Shark’. Raych firmly believes her best friend, Piper, was a victim of The Shark, despite there being no body. Piper has been missing for nearly one year, having vanished without a trace on a night out. Raych is furious, heartbroken and absolutely fed up with the local police for taking no real action. They have a suspect who they’re monitoring, but without solid evidence, they can’t arrest him. So girls keep vanishing. Carmen, who unbeknownst to anyone, found the first victim on the beach, feels she has her own dark connection to The Shark. When a new victim is taken by the killer, Carmen and Raych join unlikely forces. Taking matters into their own hands, they kidnap the prime suspect. Playing with fire, and in well over their heads, how far will they go to catch a serial murderer….
The Shark is a tense, dark, taut thriller full of furious female rage, which I was 100% there for. Raych has always loved her best friend, Piper. She just didn’t know how deeply Piper’s feelings ran until the night she disappeared. Now, Raych would do anything to find her. Including putting herself up as bait, hoping the killer will choose her next. Raych is a strong, determined young woman seeking answers, full of anger towards the local authorities and the killer himself. Prepared to pay the ultimate price and sacrifice herself in order to know the truth. She’s not very likeable, but I found myself very much on her side. I wanted her to discover the truth, no matter how difficult it was to hear. More importantly though, I wanted her to survive the ordeal. Even if that wasn’t what she wanted for herself. Carmen is a very different character to Raych. There’s a darkness there which I found highly intriguing. I couldn’t work her out, but that only drew me in all the more.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Shark is a compelling, intricate, character-driven thriller with two utterly fascinating, strong female leads. They’re damaged and unstoppable in their mission. I thoroughly enjoyed every dark second of this book. It’s multi-layered and beautifully paced. The characters are glorious (in a flawed, edgy way) and blur the lines between victim and monster. Do you have to become a monster to trap a monster? The ending convinced me this book should be made into a movie. Thrilling, full of menace and with bucketloads of fear. The danger and the peril are written so well. I was there in the moment with the characters, holding my breath. Just fabulous. All in all, The Shark is a compulsive, character-driven thriller. Something a bit different to everything else out there, and I loved it. Recommended.
March 13, 2026
I was immediately drawn into the world of Carmen and Raych and this dark and disturbing story. Told in the first person by these two young women. Both had tough upbringings and both not massively likeable. They met briefly in a psychiatric ward, and somehow come together trying to trap 'The Shark' a brutal serial killer preying on the young women of Cottesloe near Perth in Australia.
Their methods are questionable at best, but the story is utterly gripping. I found I couldnt turn the pages fast enough, especially when it came to the last quarter.
Im not sure ive read anything quite like this before, this tense and dark, but i loved it.
Their methods are questionable at best, but the story is utterly gripping. I found I couldnt turn the pages fast enough, especially when it came to the last quarter.
Im not sure ive read anything quite like this before, this tense and dark, but i loved it.
March 20, 2026
The Shark follows Raych and Carmen, who form an uneasy alliance when the police fail to protect them from a serial killer known as The Shark. So when another girl vanishes, Raych and Carmen take matters into their own hands - by kidnapping the prime suspect. But as their interrogation spirals, horrifying truths surface on both sides of the table. The clock is ticking to save the missing girl. And in their quest for justice, they must face the darkest question of all: have they caught a monster - or become one?
The Shark is an incredibly written serial killer thriller that had me completely hooked. The premise alone was enough to grab my attention, and the prologue immediately set the tone for a tense, dark, and gripping story.
The narrative is told through the dual perspectives of Raych and Carmen, two complex and often unreliable characters. Neither of them are particularly loveable, yet their motives and questionable decisions did make them feel human and is a testament to how well they were written.
I loved the Australian setting, especially the clever, chilling play on sharks. This element heightened the sense of danger and amplified the fear surrounding ‘The Shark’, creating a visceral and psychologically tormenting atmosphere.
The plot is unsettling, revenge-driven, and packed with suspense from start to finish. It’s morally complex, constantly challenging you to decipher who the true monster is, yet that keeps the tension sharp throughout. This unease brought depth to an already intricate, twisty story, leaving me second-guessing the characters, the narrative, and myself. Then, everything builds to a dark, harrowing ending that I personally loved.
Thank you so much to Hannah and The Crime Vault for sending me this copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
The Shark is an incredibly written serial killer thriller that had me completely hooked. The premise alone was enough to grab my attention, and the prologue immediately set the tone for a tense, dark, and gripping story.
The narrative is told through the dual perspectives of Raych and Carmen, two complex and often unreliable characters. Neither of them are particularly loveable, yet their motives and questionable decisions did make them feel human and is a testament to how well they were written.
I loved the Australian setting, especially the clever, chilling play on sharks. This element heightened the sense of danger and amplified the fear surrounding ‘The Shark’, creating a visceral and psychologically tormenting atmosphere.
The plot is unsettling, revenge-driven, and packed with suspense from start to finish. It’s morally complex, constantly challenging you to decipher who the true monster is, yet that keeps the tension sharp throughout. This unease brought depth to an already intricate, twisty story, leaving me second-guessing the characters, the narrative, and myself. Then, everything builds to a dark, harrowing ending that I personally loved.
Thank you so much to Hannah and The Crime Vault for sending me this copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
March 26, 2026
(3.5 stars)
I picked up The Shark because I enjoyed No Country for Girls. Like that book, The Shark, has a pair of female protagonists: Carmen and Raych. I found it a bit hard to distinguish between for the first half of the book, though by the end the author had built up their distinct characters: "Carmen's not like me. She's cautious, not impulsive. So I turned myself way down, like a Bunsen burner on the lowest flame before it snuffs itself out."
The premise of the book relies upon you believing the young women’s actions relating to a serial killer operating in the Cottesloe Beach area of Western Australia. While I liked Nao’s and Charlie’s fierce characters in the first book, I wasn’t as convinced by Carmen and Raych stalking and torturing a man they identified as a serial killer. Even Raych seemed aware their actions were way beyond what a normal person would do: "But events were overtaking me so fast I had whiplash, and normal was back down the road someplace."
What I did like was the way the book centralised an event that changed the people close to it. In this case it was "the bull shark attack on Roman Smith at North Fremantle". I also like the way it worked with the problematic nature of memory with a person who has complex trauma: "Carmen has felt connected to the murders. Some days she's even thought she must be doing them and not remembering it. Because her brain doesn't remember things in a joined up way like a story".
I picked up The Shark because I enjoyed No Country for Girls. Like that book, The Shark, has a pair of female protagonists: Carmen and Raych. I found it a bit hard to distinguish between for the first half of the book, though by the end the author had built up their distinct characters: "Carmen's not like me. She's cautious, not impulsive. So I turned myself way down, like a Bunsen burner on the lowest flame before it snuffs itself out."
The premise of the book relies upon you believing the young women’s actions relating to a serial killer operating in the Cottesloe Beach area of Western Australia. While I liked Nao’s and Charlie’s fierce characters in the first book, I wasn’t as convinced by Carmen and Raych stalking and torturing a man they identified as a serial killer. Even Raych seemed aware their actions were way beyond what a normal person would do: "But events were overtaking me so fast I had whiplash, and normal was back down the road someplace."
What I did like was the way the book centralised an event that changed the people close to it. In this case it was "the bull shark attack on Roman Smith at North Fremantle". I also like the way it worked with the problematic nature of memory with a person who has complex trauma: "Carmen has felt connected to the murders. Some days she's even thought she must be doing them and not remembering it. Because her brain doesn't remember things in a joined up way like a story".
March 24, 2026
‘The Shark’ is utterly superb!!! Emma Styles has written an electrifying story that rips right through the ‘serial killer’ genre and makes it into something breathtakingly new and original. Gripping, immersive, unflinching, heart-pumping. From chapter to chapter, through the alternating voices of Raych and Carmen, we follow their mission to ensnare the killer targeting their neighbourhood. But both characters are keeping secrets from each other, and as my allegiances switched back and forth, I found myself cheering on Raych or Carmen, or quaking at their actions, Everything that happens in the book, each truth or lie, each revelation, is rooted in the characters and their world, their families, their past histories. I really enjoyed piecing together the layers, and the thrill of those sudden moments of acceleration where the story took a new turn. The writing is glorious, from the razor-sharp dialogue, to the emotionally charged moments of introspection, to the vividly evocative setting on the coast of Western Australia. The author calibrates each story beat with such precision, and I was kept in suspense right through to the very end. I had to actively stop myself inhaling the book in one sitting, as I wanted to relish every word, and I was totally enthralled by Raych and Carmen, and intoxicated by their sass, their hellbent convictions, their full-throttle courage. Wow. I loved every page. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!
April 5, 2026
Time taken to read - 3 days
Pages - 311
Publisher - Sphere
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects her own disturbing connection to the killer.
Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych abduct and imprison the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day, or are there intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, what stops them from going to the police?
A dark and voice-led serial killer thriller that subverts the tropes of crime fiction at every turn, The Shark is an unforgettably propulsive novel about victimhood, power and autonomy from Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize-winner Emma Styles.
My Review
I loved the idea of this one, anything with sharks for me is a win let alone flinging a serial killer into the mix. The book chapters, so the first and opening is a male kidnapped by two females and then the chapters are split and alternate between Raych and Carmen. Raych talks about how it starts with her and Carmen and how they "met" not counting the three days they spent together in a mental health facility. They have both been stalking the same guy, the killer, Raych lost someone she loved, her bestie and the police have let them down, all of the victims. Carmen has her own reasons for wanting him and together they both fall together and end up unlikely allies.
So the book really took me a bit to settle to, both the girls have their own issues, mental health, home life but they have the same goal. Finding the person responsible for the deaths of local girls who are star swimmers, the girls have the same goal.
It is chaotic, choppy, disorganised and I think it adds weight to how troubled both girls are for different reasons but it did make things a struggle for me. There is a lot of ground covered in the book, we flip flop about to what they girls experienced, their time together in a mental health care facility, their issues. For Raych her sexuality and her encounter with her bestie right before she disappeared so there is a lot of emotion and unresolved questions let alone what actually happened to her. Is the killer stashing her somewhere. The plan is simple, kidnap the bad guy and do what is needed to get the answers they seek whilst avoiding the cops and if able, find and save Raych's best friend Piper.
The first three quarters was a bit of a rough ride for me. I did want to know more about the girls, why is Carmen's sister such a horror. What did happen to Piper, will Raych find her friend, will the killer admit to everything? I also was expecting there to be more sharks but I always want more when it comes to sharks lol. It was just a bit all over the place for me until the last quarter and then I really felt it came into itself, evened out and got a grip on what was happening. This was my first time reading this author, I would read her again but hoping the narrators are a wee bit more reliable, 3/5 for me.
Pages - 311
Publisher - Sphere
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects her own disturbing connection to the killer.
Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych abduct and imprison the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day, or are there intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, what stops them from going to the police?
A dark and voice-led serial killer thriller that subverts the tropes of crime fiction at every turn, The Shark is an unforgettably propulsive novel about victimhood, power and autonomy from Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize-winner Emma Styles.
My Review
I loved the idea of this one, anything with sharks for me is a win let alone flinging a serial killer into the mix. The book chapters, so the first and opening is a male kidnapped by two females and then the chapters are split and alternate between Raych and Carmen. Raych talks about how it starts with her and Carmen and how they "met" not counting the three days they spent together in a mental health facility. They have both been stalking the same guy, the killer, Raych lost someone she loved, her bestie and the police have let them down, all of the victims. Carmen has her own reasons for wanting him and together they both fall together and end up unlikely allies.
So the book really took me a bit to settle to, both the girls have their own issues, mental health, home life but they have the same goal. Finding the person responsible for the deaths of local girls who are star swimmers, the girls have the same goal.
It is chaotic, choppy, disorganised and I think it adds weight to how troubled both girls are for different reasons but it did make things a struggle for me. There is a lot of ground covered in the book, we flip flop about to what they girls experienced, their time together in a mental health care facility, their issues. For Raych her sexuality and her encounter with her bestie right before she disappeared so there is a lot of emotion and unresolved questions let alone what actually happened to her. Is the killer stashing her somewhere. The plan is simple, kidnap the bad guy and do what is needed to get the answers they seek whilst avoiding the cops and if able, find and save Raych's best friend Piper.
The first three quarters was a bit of a rough ride for me. I did want to know more about the girls, why is Carmen's sister such a horror. What did happen to Piper, will Raych find her friend, will the killer admit to everything? I also was expecting there to be more sharks but I always want more when it comes to sharks lol. It was just a bit all over the place for me until the last quarter and then I really felt it came into itself, evened out and got a grip on what was happening. This was my first time reading this author, I would read her again but hoping the narrators are a wee bit more reliable, 3/5 for me.
April 13, 2026
A very skilfully rendered mixing of Things That Happened (a serial killer, shark attacks, swimming to Rottnest) in Perth, WA in the late 1900s, early 2000s, with a lot of fiction and imagination thrown in. Having spent a lot of time in and around the areas the book is centred, I did find that added to the enjoyment, but the descriptions will put you there in any case - the overly hot summer days, the storm threatening but not delivering, the endless blue skies.
Carmen’s, adopted into a family she doesn’t quite fit, and Rachel’s, on the verge of having to leave all she knows to follow her dad’s work in the Pilbara (far, far north) worlds collide when they believe they know the serial killer stalking the affluent western suburbs of Perth. Events unfold, and he is their captive, but what happens with their prisoner, and the events with the police investigation, and family intervention, means they’re in much more danger than they’d have anticipated, and now have to fight for their actual lives, and the lives of loved ones, against a force they hadn’t reckoned with.
(Hard to write a review without sounding clunky, but there were so many twists and back stories, anything more would have me click the ‘spoilers’ tab)
Carmen’s, adopted into a family she doesn’t quite fit, and Rachel’s, on the verge of having to leave all she knows to follow her dad’s work in the Pilbara (far, far north) worlds collide when they believe they know the serial killer stalking the affluent western suburbs of Perth. Events unfold, and he is their captive, but what happens with their prisoner, and the events with the police investigation, and family intervention, means they’re in much more danger than they’d have anticipated, and now have to fight for their actual lives, and the lives of loved ones, against a force they hadn’t reckoned with.
(Hard to write a review without sounding clunky, but there were so many twists and back stories, anything more would have me click the ‘spoilers’ tab)
March 22, 2026
★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
The Shark by Emma Styles had a genuinely compelling premise—an Australian thriller centred around a serial killer staging shark attacks—which immediately drew me in. It’s a unique and interesting concept, and there were definitely moments where that originality came through.
However, I found the execution quite uneven. The novel felt disjointed, particularly in the beginning, with a slow and often confusing start that made it feel like a bit of a slog to get through. The chapters are quite long, which didn’t help the pacing, and the use of two unreliable narrators added to the confusion rather than building tension. Instead of feeling intrigued, I often felt like I was trying to piece together what was going on.
One of my biggest issues was with the characters. I struggled to connect with any of them, and many of their actions and behaviours didn’t feel believable for their age or circumstances. The idea that two 18-year-olds could operate with so much independence—while dealing with such serious situations—without raising more concern from the adults around them felt unrealistic. The absentee parenting, particularly with Rachel’s father working FIFO, also didn’t ring true for me. There’s very little exploration of how that arrangement actually functions—no clear sense of timing, no support systems in place, and no mention of supervision, extended family, or even basic logistics like transport. As someone who has worked in schools for years, I found this difficult to believe, especially given the level of risk the girls were exposed to.
Similarly, the dynamic with Carmen’s adoptive parents felt underdeveloped. There’s a sense of neglect or disinterest, but not enough explanation or backstory to make that feel grounded. The same can be said for Carmen’s relationship with Alexis—while there are hints of jealousy and tension, some of Alexis’s behaviour feels extreme without enough buildup to support it.
There were also several character and plot elements that didn’t feel fully thought through. The inclusion of the ex-police officer, for example, raised more questions than it answered. The hinted backstory (including possible PTSD) didn’t add much to the narrative, and the relationship between her and Rachel wasn’t clearly established. It left me wondering why this character was there at all beyond providing a convenient connection.
On a smaller scale, there were moments that pulled me out of the story entirely—whether it was dialogue that didn’t feel authentic, or procedural details that didn’t quite add up. Even things like bringing in a team from Sydney, or certain language choices, felt off and disrupted my immersion.
Thematically, the novel sets itself up as a story about young women taking on the patriarchy, but this didn’t really come through in a meaningful way. Instead, much of the behaviour came across as chaotic and impulsive rather than empowering, which made the theme feel underdeveloped and, at times, a bit misplaced.
That said, the pacing did improve significantly towards the end. The final section was much more action-packed and engaging, and I found myself more interested in how things would play out. There were some strong ideas here—particularly the central concept of using shark attacks as a cover for something more sinister—but I don’t think they were fully realised.
Overall, The Shark had a lot of potential and an original premise, but for me it was let down by uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of narrative cohesion.
Thank you to Emma Styles, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The Shark by Emma Styles had a genuinely compelling premise—an Australian thriller centred around a serial killer staging shark attacks—which immediately drew me in. It’s a unique and interesting concept, and there were definitely moments where that originality came through.
However, I found the execution quite uneven. The novel felt disjointed, particularly in the beginning, with a slow and often confusing start that made it feel like a bit of a slog to get through. The chapters are quite long, which didn’t help the pacing, and the use of two unreliable narrators added to the confusion rather than building tension. Instead of feeling intrigued, I often felt like I was trying to piece together what was going on.
One of my biggest issues was with the characters. I struggled to connect with any of them, and many of their actions and behaviours didn’t feel believable for their age or circumstances. The idea that two 18-year-olds could operate with so much independence—while dealing with such serious situations—without raising more concern from the adults around them felt unrealistic. The absentee parenting, particularly with Rachel’s father working FIFO, also didn’t ring true for me. There’s very little exploration of how that arrangement actually functions—no clear sense of timing, no support systems in place, and no mention of supervision, extended family, or even basic logistics like transport. As someone who has worked in schools for years, I found this difficult to believe, especially given the level of risk the girls were exposed to.
Similarly, the dynamic with Carmen’s adoptive parents felt underdeveloped. There’s a sense of neglect or disinterest, but not enough explanation or backstory to make that feel grounded. The same can be said for Carmen’s relationship with Alexis—while there are hints of jealousy and tension, some of Alexis’s behaviour feels extreme without enough buildup to support it.
There were also several character and plot elements that didn’t feel fully thought through. The inclusion of the ex-police officer, for example, raised more questions than it answered. The hinted backstory (including possible PTSD) didn’t add much to the narrative, and the relationship between her and Rachel wasn’t clearly established. It left me wondering why this character was there at all beyond providing a convenient connection.
On a smaller scale, there were moments that pulled me out of the story entirely—whether it was dialogue that didn’t feel authentic, or procedural details that didn’t quite add up. Even things like bringing in a team from Sydney, or certain language choices, felt off and disrupted my immersion.
Thematically, the novel sets itself up as a story about young women taking on the patriarchy, but this didn’t really come through in a meaningful way. Instead, much of the behaviour came across as chaotic and impulsive rather than empowering, which made the theme feel underdeveloped and, at times, a bit misplaced.
That said, the pacing did improve significantly towards the end. The final section was much more action-packed and engaging, and I found myself more interested in how things would play out. There were some strong ideas here—particularly the central concept of using shark attacks as a cover for something more sinister—but I don’t think they were fully realised.
Overall, The Shark had a lot of potential and an original premise, but for me it was let down by uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of narrative cohesion.
Thank you to Emma Styles, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 17, 2026
This book is set in Perth, Australia, and it follows two young women, Raych and Carmen.
The two women couldn’t have been different: Raych is from an affluent background, whereas Carmen was adopted as a baby.
There is a serial killer on the loose, known as The Shark, preying on young female swimmers. The media recently revealed that a man called Neil Fraser Lock has been questioned in relation to the murders.
Both women stalk Neil and they end up kidnapping him.
He claims his innocence but is he telling the truth?
I really enjoyed this tense psychological thriller!
As characters, Raych and Carmen were multilayered; both had reasons to follow Lock, and these layers were slowly revealed as the book progressed.
The women kidnapped Lock by chance, it wasn’t a planned attack. They were out of their depth to start with, but they quickly adapted. The author vividly portrays how quickly the line between a victim and a predator changes.
I wasn’t sure who to trust, and at one point, I couldn’t really trust Carmen anymore.
This is a tale of revenge, which I definitely recommend.
The two women couldn’t have been different: Raych is from an affluent background, whereas Carmen was adopted as a baby.
There is a serial killer on the loose, known as The Shark, preying on young female swimmers. The media recently revealed that a man called Neil Fraser Lock has been questioned in relation to the murders.
Both women stalk Neil and they end up kidnapping him.
He claims his innocence but is he telling the truth?
I really enjoyed this tense psychological thriller!
As characters, Raych and Carmen were multilayered; both had reasons to follow Lock, and these layers were slowly revealed as the book progressed.
The women kidnapped Lock by chance, it wasn’t a planned attack. They were out of their depth to start with, but they quickly adapted. The author vividly portrays how quickly the line between a victim and a predator changes.
I wasn’t sure who to trust, and at one point, I couldn’t really trust Carmen anymore.
This is a tale of revenge, which I definitely recommend.
March 15, 2026
I was drawn to this book by the cover, it looks atmospheric. I’ve never read anything from this author before but the blurb looked right up my street as I enjoy thrillers.
Set in Perth, Australia, there’s a serial killer attacking young female swimmers. Horrifyingly the killings resemble a shark attack and the killer is nicknamed ‘The Shark’. Rachel is determined to find out what happened to her best friend who has been missing. Carmen is fragile and trying to remember what happened ‘that night’. Police have a suspect but Rachel and Carmen take matters into their own hands.
Initially I was curious to find out what was happening. The story felt disjointed and I didn’t like any of the characters. It was boring and hard to follow what was going on. I kept reading in the hopes it would improve but it didn’t. I had expected to enjoy this book but unfortunately it wasn’t for me at all.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for my copy.
Set in Perth, Australia, there’s a serial killer attacking young female swimmers. Horrifyingly the killings resemble a shark attack and the killer is nicknamed ‘The Shark’. Rachel is determined to find out what happened to her best friend who has been missing. Carmen is fragile and trying to remember what happened ‘that night’. Police have a suspect but Rachel and Carmen take matters into their own hands.
Initially I was curious to find out what was happening. The story felt disjointed and I didn’t like any of the characters. It was boring and hard to follow what was going on. I kept reading in the hopes it would improve but it didn’t. I had expected to enjoy this book but unfortunately it wasn’t for me at all.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for my copy.
March 18, 2026
A slow and confusing start to this mystery thriller meant that it felt a slog to get through. The two main characters are both unreliable and it just added to the confusion.
The pacing picked up towards the end, but by then I didn't really care too much about the outcome.
It was one I probably should have DNF.
The pacing picked up towards the end, but by then I didn't really care too much about the outcome.
It was one I probably should have DNF.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This twisty thriller very much calls back to the Claremont Serial Killer, who for those not from Perth Australia, targeted young women between 1996 and 1997 and was only apprehended in 2016.
This novel captures the thoughts and feelings of the community at the time (and since honestly), the way the police investigation appeared to play out and the similarities of the main person of interest both in real life and the character in this book. It is an interesting fictional take on a similar event, though Emma Styles definitely takes it and makes it her own.
If you like a serial killer whodunnit, with twists and turns, unreliable narrators, revenge plots - you'll love this one!
As a side note, while i loved the familiarity of the places mentioned and the similarity of the Claremont case, it certainly didn't take away from this novel in any way.
This novel captures the thoughts and feelings of the community at the time (and since honestly), the way the police investigation appeared to play out and the similarities of the main person of interest both in real life and the character in this book. It is an interesting fictional take on a similar event, though Emma Styles definitely takes it and makes it her own.
If you like a serial killer whodunnit, with twists and turns, unreliable narrators, revenge plots - you'll love this one!
As a side note, while i loved the familiarity of the places mentioned and the similarity of the Claremont case, it certainly didn't take away from this novel in any way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emma Styles’ debut novel No Country for Girls had two very different young women on a violent road trip northward through Western Australia. Her follow up, The Shark, also focusses on two teenage girls but these two are navigating a very different set of issues.
The City of Freemantle, just south of Perth has been rocked by a series of murders that have been made to look like shark attacks. Young women who have disappeared and washed up on the beach days later. The killer took Raych’s best friend and almost a year later she is putting herself out there, as bait, trying to attract the killer. Meanwhile Carmen has her own weird connection to the killer but finds it hard to work through due to the blackouts that she has that leave her with lost time. The two come together in a forced, uneasy alliance that takes them down some very dark and dangerous paths on their hunt.
The Shark is in some ways a tough read. Both of the main characters are traumatised in different ways and their actions and decisions are partially informed by that trauma. Much like Rebecca Hannigan’s recent debut Darkrooms, the revelations of what Raych and Carmen have been through as the story progresses allows readers to understand their motivations and behaviours even while not agreeing with them or being concerned about the consequences.
Styles builds an effective thriller around the two girls which manages to defy expectations and a plot that manages to zig when readers are expecting it to zag. All delivered within an atmospheric rendering of a Freemantle trying be normal while living with the knowledge that a killer stalks the streets. And just a warning for those who are a little squeamish - true to the title there are not just metaphorical sharks (the nickname given to the serial killer) but real ones also.
The City of Freemantle, just south of Perth has been rocked by a series of murders that have been made to look like shark attacks. Young women who have disappeared and washed up on the beach days later. The killer took Raych’s best friend and almost a year later she is putting herself out there, as bait, trying to attract the killer. Meanwhile Carmen has her own weird connection to the killer but finds it hard to work through due to the blackouts that she has that leave her with lost time. The two come together in a forced, uneasy alliance that takes them down some very dark and dangerous paths on their hunt.
The Shark is in some ways a tough read. Both of the main characters are traumatised in different ways and their actions and decisions are partially informed by that trauma. Much like Rebecca Hannigan’s recent debut Darkrooms, the revelations of what Raych and Carmen have been through as the story progresses allows readers to understand their motivations and behaviours even while not agreeing with them or being concerned about the consequences.
Styles builds an effective thriller around the two girls which manages to defy expectations and a plot that manages to zig when readers are expecting it to zag. All delivered within an atmospheric rendering of a Freemantle trying be normal while living with the knowledge that a killer stalks the streets. And just a warning for those who are a little squeamish - true to the title there are not just metaphorical sharks (the nickname given to the serial killer) but real ones also.
March 21, 2026
The Shark by Emma Styles
I requested The Shark for several reasons that are (probably) obvious to anyone who's read more than a couple of my reviews. Australian noir. Tick. Prize-winning female author. Tick. A serial killer prowling a beachside suburb. Tick. Possibility of a lighthouse? Tick. And as a bonus point, it's set in Perth, Western Australia, a place I just happen to have booked a holiday to. I did read that the story is loosely based on the Claremont serial killings, which I'm not particularly familiar with, and, based on a quick Google search, I couldn't identify the link.
The blurb: A serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
The story is told in alternating POVs of Carmen and Raych, who decide the police aren't doing enough and that they'll solve the case themselves, taking some fairly bold steps, including kidnapping the prime suspect. I found the first half of the book a little disjointed; however, when the action shifts to the sea, the tension ramps up, and the conclusion leaves you on the edge of your seat, gripping each page with white knuckles (I wanted to put a boat pun in there, but I just couldn't think of one!)
Thank you to Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.
The Shark by Emma Styles was released on the 10th of March. If you (like me) like Australian noir, Serial Killers, and beachside suburbs, or books like those written by Vikki Petraitis or Matthew Spencer, you might like The Shark.
Thumbs up.
Bodycount = Well. There's a serial killer, so more than 3.
#designnerd #booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #theShark @NetGalley #NetGalley @hachetteaus
I requested The Shark for several reasons that are (probably) obvious to anyone who's read more than a couple of my reviews. Australian noir. Tick. Prize-winning female author. Tick. A serial killer prowling a beachside suburb. Tick. Possibility of a lighthouse? Tick. And as a bonus point, it's set in Perth, Western Australia, a place I just happen to have booked a holiday to. I did read that the story is loosely based on the Claremont serial killings, which I'm not particularly familiar with, and, based on a quick Google search, I couldn't identify the link.
The blurb: A serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.
The story is told in alternating POVs of Carmen and Raych, who decide the police aren't doing enough and that they'll solve the case themselves, taking some fairly bold steps, including kidnapping the prime suspect. I found the first half of the book a little disjointed; however, when the action shifts to the sea, the tension ramps up, and the conclusion leaves you on the edge of your seat, gripping each page with white knuckles (I wanted to put a boat pun in there, but I just couldn't think of one!)
Thank you to Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.
The Shark by Emma Styles was released on the 10th of March. If you (like me) like Australian noir, Serial Killers, and beachside suburbs, or books like those written by Vikki Petraitis or Matthew Spencer, you might like The Shark.
Thumbs up.
Bodycount = Well. There's a serial killer, so more than 3.
#designnerd #booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #theShark @NetGalley #NetGalley @hachetteaus
April 9, 2026
Review by Nan van Dissel for Bluewolf Reviews and Hachette.
True Crime readers will no doubt remember the Claremont Killings of 1996-7, which resulted in a 24-year investigation; the longest and most expensive investigation in Australian history and the ultimate conviction of the murder in 2020. Award winning author Emma Styles, latest crime thriller “The Shark” was inspired by this event.
In the Cottesloe area of Perth, Western Australia a serial killer is targeting young swimmers, who go missing, only to be found horribly mutilated some time later. When Rachel’s close friend, Piper goes missing, she not only suffers from survivor’s guilt but also from a desire to do something to solve the mystery of her friend’s disappearance.
Carmen, having found the first body appears to have a mysterious connection with the murderer. Both are impatient and angry about the lack of progress by the police to solve this case. On the anniversary of Piper’s disappearance and wanting answers to their questions, these vulnerable young women, having met briefly in a psychiatric unit, reluctantly form an uncomfortable alliance and take matters into their own hands. Convinced that Neil Lock, known as ‘The Shark’ is the perpetrator of these horrific crimes, they kidnap him; but is he really the serial killer?
Many readers will find this ‘serial killer’ fiction intriguing despite the unreliability of the unlikeable narrators Rachel and Carmen. The complex storyline is at times a little disjointed and disturbingly graphic. Although not and easy read, it picks up in the last third of the book with its twists and turns; it is an interesting fictional take on a similar event.
True Crime readers will no doubt remember the Claremont Killings of 1996-7, which resulted in a 24-year investigation; the longest and most expensive investigation in Australian history and the ultimate conviction of the murder in 2020. Award winning author Emma Styles, latest crime thriller “The Shark” was inspired by this event.
In the Cottesloe area of Perth, Western Australia a serial killer is targeting young swimmers, who go missing, only to be found horribly mutilated some time later. When Rachel’s close friend, Piper goes missing, she not only suffers from survivor’s guilt but also from a desire to do something to solve the mystery of her friend’s disappearance.
Carmen, having found the first body appears to have a mysterious connection with the murderer. Both are impatient and angry about the lack of progress by the police to solve this case. On the anniversary of Piper’s disappearance and wanting answers to their questions, these vulnerable young women, having met briefly in a psychiatric unit, reluctantly form an uncomfortable alliance and take matters into their own hands. Convinced that Neil Lock, known as ‘The Shark’ is the perpetrator of these horrific crimes, they kidnap him; but is he really the serial killer?
Many readers will find this ‘serial killer’ fiction intriguing despite the unreliability of the unlikeable narrators Rachel and Carmen. The complex storyline is at times a little disjointed and disturbingly graphic. Although not and easy read, it picks up in the last third of the book with its twists and turns; it is an interesting fictional take on a similar event.
April 18, 2026
Not sure where to go with this book. It wasn’t horrendous but I felt could have been so much better in so many ways. To me it felt more like young adult fiction. It was literal in every sense, one dimensional but an easy read. The build up of tension was successful at times and there were quite a few occasions that the tension was palpable. However, the story line had glitches… a lot of them, and I questioned the characters believability along with their actions and scenarios they found themselves in. Even the conclusion to the novel was hardly satisfying. Almost a fairytale happy ever after ending which was just cringy.
Having lived in Perth all my life and knowing the Claremont Serial killer story well enough, there were certainly similarities within the novels storyline. Aspects of girls being taken from the streets at night. Had this novel been set in a time that was that particular age of innocence, no mobile phones, carefree, trusting and common hitch hiking then I could see that the storyline would be slightly more believable. Given though that it was set in more modern times it just did not make logical sense for a similar scenario.
I also felt the character of Carmen changed way too much it was bizarre to say the least. I understand the authors desire to have these ‘unhinged’ characters but for the most part the character development left a lot to be desired and had me raising my eyebrows as well as confusion on who these people were.
Unfortunately not the book I was hoping for.
Having lived in Perth all my life and knowing the Claremont Serial killer story well enough, there were certainly similarities within the novels storyline. Aspects of girls being taken from the streets at night. Had this novel been set in a time that was that particular age of innocence, no mobile phones, carefree, trusting and common hitch hiking then I could see that the storyline would be slightly more believable. Given though that it was set in more modern times it just did not make logical sense for a similar scenario.
I also felt the character of Carmen changed way too much it was bizarre to say the least. I understand the authors desire to have these ‘unhinged’ characters but for the most part the character development left a lot to be desired and had me raising my eyebrows as well as confusion on who these people were.
Unfortunately not the book I was hoping for.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Shark by @emmastylesauthor
Thanks to Hannah Hargrove and @thecrimevault for my copy of the book.
From the title you might be thinking this is set out at sea but it's actually set in a town in Perth Australia. Now I rarely find books set in Australia for some reason - why aren't there more?
The two main characters of this story have a connection to a serial killer who has been named The Shark. He seems to prey on swimmers 🏊♀️
Raych is struggling with her loss and the world without her person and how things seem to be changing beyond her control whilst Carmen has her own connection to the disturbing events and is reconciling that herself.
The two cross paths and seem to join forces in hunting down The Shark. But with two seemingly unreliable narrators it's hard to know whether they have something else at play.
I liked the switching between the two points of views - they're so different in tone that it becomes easy to distinguish once you're in the book.
I smashed through this in just a day which doesn't happen often - the pages pretty much turn themselves. This was tense and twisty throughout and I just thought I knew what was going on and then it shifted.
A really good read for those who enjoy a serial killer thriller.
#TheShark #EmmaStyles #SerialKillerThriller #NoCountryforGirls
Thanks to Hannah Hargrove and @thecrimevault for my copy of the book.
From the title you might be thinking this is set out at sea but it's actually set in a town in Perth Australia. Now I rarely find books set in Australia for some reason - why aren't there more?
The two main characters of this story have a connection to a serial killer who has been named The Shark. He seems to prey on swimmers 🏊♀️
Raych is struggling with her loss and the world without her person and how things seem to be changing beyond her control whilst Carmen has her own connection to the disturbing events and is reconciling that herself.
The two cross paths and seem to join forces in hunting down The Shark. But with two seemingly unreliable narrators it's hard to know whether they have something else at play.
I liked the switching between the two points of views - they're so different in tone that it becomes easy to distinguish once you're in the book.
I smashed through this in just a day which doesn't happen often - the pages pretty much turn themselves. This was tense and twisty throughout and I just thought I knew what was going on and then it shifted.
A really good read for those who enjoy a serial killer thriller.
#TheShark #EmmaStyles #SerialKillerThriller #NoCountryforGirls
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Raych and Carmen form an uneasy alliance, fighting back against the police’s miscarriage of not protecting women against the serial killer, The Shark. Taking matters into their own hands, they kidnap the prime suspect, but as their interrogation spirals, horrifying truths surface. Soon they must confront if they have caught a monster or become one themselves.
This sounded like it would be a dark, compelling read, so I was interested in giving it a go. After finishing, I would say these words sum it up well, as well as tense and chilling. The author did a great job at developing the dark atmosphere, however I did find some sections quite narrative dense and overly detailed, which made the plot feel slower paced. I also found some parts disjointed and not as easy to follow.
The characters were written well, as was the overall story. There were moral dilemmas explored, raising thought provoking questions and adding an emotional depth. Even though I had a few niggles with the story as a whole, I can appreciate this was a solid read and would pick up more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
This sounded like it would be a dark, compelling read, so I was interested in giving it a go. After finishing, I would say these words sum it up well, as well as tense and chilling. The author did a great job at developing the dark atmosphere, however I did find some sections quite narrative dense and overly detailed, which made the plot feel slower paced. I also found some parts disjointed and not as easy to follow.
The characters were written well, as was the overall story. There were moral dilemmas explored, raising thought provoking questions and adding an emotional depth. Even though I had a few niggles with the story as a whole, I can appreciate this was a solid read and would pick up more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
March 20, 2026
On the western coast of Australia, in the Cottesloe area of Perth, young female swimmers are being targeted by a serial killer who becomes known as The Shark. With the murders made to appear like a shark attack it soon becomes apparent that there is someone out there who is prepared to do harm. Raych is a woman on a mission and is determined to find the perpetrator and seek revenge. In doing so she meets Carmen another damaged young woman who has her own reasons for wanting to catch the killer.
The story is slow in places, especially at the beginning, which I think is quite deliberate, however, because of this it took me a while to gel with the characters especially as both the female leads weren’t always particularly likeable but I sort of understood why this had to be as both are extremely damaged and vulnerable. Their complicated and flawed relationship is explored in detail and as we start to understand them so the story becomes clearer. The author controls the plot with good attention to detail, bringing the place and the people alive in the imagination.
Overall this an interesting crime thriller which looks at revenge and retribution and does so in a complex story which kept my interest until the whole thing came together.
March 24, 2026
The Shark by Emma Styles is a tense, sun-soaked thriller that simmers with anger, grief, and moral ambiguity. Set against the hazy heat of coastal Western Australia, this is as much about atmosphere as it is about crime - and Styles absolutely nails both.
Following Raych and Carmen, two deeply flawed and fascinating young women, the story leans into the uncomfortable space between justice and revenge. Their decision to take matters into their own hands is where the novel truly grips, forcing you to question not only what’s right - but who gets to decide.
I loved the dual narrative style, particularly the shift in perspective between the two protagonists. It subtly shapes how we connect (or don’t) with each of them, adding another layer to an already complex story. The pacing is a slow burn at first, but once it ignites, it’s difficult to put down.
It’s dark, character-driven, and quietly thought-provoking - exploring themes of loss, guilt, misogyny, and the consequences of taking justice too far.
A gripping, uniquely voiced Australian crime thriller that lingers long after the final page.
Following Raych and Carmen, two deeply flawed and fascinating young women, the story leans into the uncomfortable space between justice and revenge. Their decision to take matters into their own hands is where the novel truly grips, forcing you to question not only what’s right - but who gets to decide.
I loved the dual narrative style, particularly the shift in perspective between the two protagonists. It subtly shapes how we connect (or don’t) with each of them, adding another layer to an already complex story. The pacing is a slow burn at first, but once it ignites, it’s difficult to put down.
It’s dark, character-driven, and quietly thought-provoking - exploring themes of loss, guilt, misogyny, and the consequences of taking justice too far.
A gripping, uniquely voiced Australian crime thriller that lingers long after the final page.
November 18, 2025
The Shark is a sun-drenched noir with salt in its lungs and fury in its heart. Set against the scorched coastline of an Australian summer, Emma Styles delivers a thriller that’s as much about power and grief as it is about crime.
When young women begin washing up on the shore, two others—Raych and Carmen—refuse to wait for justice. What follows is a tense, morally tangled descent into obsession, revenge, and uneasy alliance. Styles writes with a lean, propulsive rhythm, but there’s poetry in the heat haze and heartbreak in the silences.
Raych is all raw nerve and grit, while Carmen simmers with secrets. Together, they’re electric—flawed, fierce, and unforgettable. Their choices are messy, their motives murky, and that’s what makes them feel so real.
This isn’t your typical serial killer thriller. It’s a story about what happens when women stop waiting to be saved—and start rewriting the rules. Gritty, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, The Shark leaves bite marks long after the final page.
My thanks to Emma Styles, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
When young women begin washing up on the shore, two others—Raych and Carmen—refuse to wait for justice. What follows is a tense, morally tangled descent into obsession, revenge, and uneasy alliance. Styles writes with a lean, propulsive rhythm, but there’s poetry in the heat haze and heartbreak in the silences.
Raych is all raw nerve and grit, while Carmen simmers with secrets. Together, they’re electric—flawed, fierce, and unforgettable. Their choices are messy, their motives murky, and that’s what makes them feel so real.
This isn’t your typical serial killer thriller. It’s a story about what happens when women stop waiting to be saved—and start rewriting the rules. Gritty, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, The Shark leaves bite marks long after the final page.
My thanks to Emma Styles, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
This is a dark and twisted thriller set in the Cottesloe area of Perth, Australia. A serial killer is targeting female swimmers and the bodies that have been found are horribly mutilated, the first initially being considered a shark attack. Two women, both flawed characters narrate the book as they search for the killer.
Briefly, Rachel ‘Raych’ and Carmen met very briefly when in a psychiatric unit and, reluctantly at first, agree to join forces in the hunt for ‘The Shark’ a killer haunting their town. They will go to any ends to catch the man they believe to be the killer, even putting themselves at risk.
It’s not easy to like the two main protagonists and at times I felt we had at least one unreliable narrator. I can understand their reason for wanting to do what the police seemed unable to achieve but their methods left much to be desired. A very dark and disturbing story of revenge, a complex storyline in this taut and morally ambiguous tale kept me engaged throughout. An entertaining read.
Briefly, Rachel ‘Raych’ and Carmen met very briefly when in a psychiatric unit and, reluctantly at first, agree to join forces in the hunt for ‘The Shark’ a killer haunting their town. They will go to any ends to catch the man they believe to be the killer, even putting themselves at risk.
It’s not easy to like the two main protagonists and at times I felt we had at least one unreliable narrator. I can understand their reason for wanting to do what the police seemed unable to achieve but their methods left much to be desired. A very dark and disturbing story of revenge, a complex storyline in this taut and morally ambiguous tale kept me engaged throughout. An entertaining read.
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