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King Tide
A storm batters the seaside town of Lagunes Bay, unleashing a king tide across the wintry beach. As the water recedes, it reveals a long-buried a body, framed and exposed in the sand.
When the body is identified as a young woman who vanished years ago - with little effort ever made to find her - the entire community comes under suspicion. How did she meet such a gruesome end? What did those closest to her know? Was Tate, the town's golden boy, her final boyfriend? And why has the return of an Anglican priest and his daughter left everyone so tense?
This isn't the first disappearance to rock this small town, but the local families aren't giving much away. As Detective Harper Lewis investigates this insular world, the mystery deepens with every uncovered clue. In Lagunes Bay, everyone has something to hide and every shadow tells a story.
King Tide is a stunning, exhilarating a beautifully crafted, intricately plotted tale that is as emotionally raw as it is gripping.
When the body is identified as a young woman who vanished years ago - with little effort ever made to find her - the entire community comes under suspicion. How did she meet such a gruesome end? What did those closest to her know? Was Tate, the town's golden boy, her final boyfriend? And why has the return of an Anglican priest and his daughter left everyone so tense?
This isn't the first disappearance to rock this small town, but the local families aren't giving much away. As Detective Harper Lewis investigates this insular world, the mystery deepens with every uncovered clue. In Lagunes Bay, everyone has something to hide and every shadow tells a story.
King Tide is a stunning, exhilarating a beautifully crafted, intricately plotted tale that is as emotionally raw as it is gripping.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
34 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Luke Johnson
1 book12 followersLuke is a writer from Ocean Grove, on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. He is married with two daughters. He is a physiotherapist by trade, combining this with his love of reading and writing. A fan of literary fiction, crime fiction, and strong Australian-facing narratives and overtones, his debut, King Tide, is due out on July 29 2025 through Affirm Press / Simon & Schuster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 4, 2025
‘Big secrets never die. But those who hold them can.’
There’s something about coastal towns in crime fiction, the salt in the air, the silence after the tide pulls out, the sense that the sea remembers everything, even when the townspeople pretend to forget. King Tide captures all of that and more. It’s a quiet, layered, and emotionally haunting debut that completely took me by surprise.
Set in the fictional Lagunes Bay, this story begins with a storm, and with it, the return of something buried, literally. A body is uncovered, washed free by the king tide. It’s a young woman who vanished years earlier, and suddenly, this close knit town has to confront all the things they chose not to talk about. That’s what this book does so well, it explores the silences between people. The things left unsaid. The loyalties that blur right and wrong.
Detective Harper Lewis is a standout, not flashy, not trying to be clever, just thoughtful, persistent, and carrying her own grief. Her personal ties to the town make everything more tangled. Her ex-boyfriend Tate is involved, of course. And when the local priest and his teenage daughter come back into the picture, old secrets begin to stir.
Luke Johnson writes with a kind of quiet confidence. His prose isn’t showy, but it has weight. The town, the people, the atmosphere, it all feels real, like you’ve driven down the Great Ocean Road and accidentally stumbled into a place you were never meant to find.
King Tide isn’t just about a mystery, it’s about memory, grief, and the way pain doesn’t always leave a mark on the surface. Sometimes it hides beneath, waiting for the tide to shift.
I finished this in two sittings and felt oddly breathless at the end. It’s that kind of book, not twisty for the sake of it, but genuinely moving, with a lingering melancholy. I’ll be watching Luke Johnson closely. If this is his debut, I can only imagine what’s coming next.
I Highly Recommend.
Available Now!
Thank you Affirm Press for my early readers copy.
There’s something about coastal towns in crime fiction, the salt in the air, the silence after the tide pulls out, the sense that the sea remembers everything, even when the townspeople pretend to forget. King Tide captures all of that and more. It’s a quiet, layered, and emotionally haunting debut that completely took me by surprise.
Set in the fictional Lagunes Bay, this story begins with a storm, and with it, the return of something buried, literally. A body is uncovered, washed free by the king tide. It’s a young woman who vanished years earlier, and suddenly, this close knit town has to confront all the things they chose not to talk about. That’s what this book does so well, it explores the silences between people. The things left unsaid. The loyalties that blur right and wrong.
Detective Harper Lewis is a standout, not flashy, not trying to be clever, just thoughtful, persistent, and carrying her own grief. Her personal ties to the town make everything more tangled. Her ex-boyfriend Tate is involved, of course. And when the local priest and his teenage daughter come back into the picture, old secrets begin to stir.
Luke Johnson writes with a kind of quiet confidence. His prose isn’t showy, but it has weight. The town, the people, the atmosphere, it all feels real, like you’ve driven down the Great Ocean Road and accidentally stumbled into a place you were never meant to find.
King Tide isn’t just about a mystery, it’s about memory, grief, and the way pain doesn’t always leave a mark on the surface. Sometimes it hides beneath, waiting for the tide to shift.
I finished this in two sittings and felt oddly breathless at the end. It’s that kind of book, not twisty for the sake of it, but genuinely moving, with a lingering melancholy. I’ll be watching Luke Johnson closely. If this is his debut, I can only imagine what’s coming next.
I Highly Recommend.
Available Now!
Thank you Affirm Press for my early readers copy.
September 11, 2025
Certain aspects of novels grab me, it’s often the character aspects that I love. In this well written and compelling novel, the teenagers' dialogue is what stood out for me. Raw, edgy and completely believable, I found myself in the sweary surfy vibe that was these kids' lives - way back when.
Fast forward to the present, one of these girls appears dead after being missing for years, washed up in the king tide. As all excellent Aussie crime reads are known for, the troubling facts of the present bring forth all types of drama from the past. As a debut the author this has flawlessly been laid out with ease the distrust, the quiet and the way in which the silences say more than the spoken word. They are tight lipped and marked in their unfaltering secrecy.
When a priest is involved things will always become twisted, and certain characters will become those we love to hate. With much lack of action and eerie tension, this book will suit the taste of all those that love Aussie crime, stories that simmer and townsfolk that are surely hiding deadly secrets.
Led by a feisty and strong female detective (I love these protags) debut author Luke Johnson has provided a cracking shiner of a read.
Fast forward to the present, one of these girls appears dead after being missing for years, washed up in the king tide. As all excellent Aussie crime reads are known for, the troubling facts of the present bring forth all types of drama from the past. As a debut the author this has flawlessly been laid out with ease the distrust, the quiet and the way in which the silences say more than the spoken word. They are tight lipped and marked in their unfaltering secrecy.
When a priest is involved things will always become twisted, and certain characters will become those we love to hate. With much lack of action and eerie tension, this book will suit the taste of all those that love Aussie crime, stories that simmer and townsfolk that are surely hiding deadly secrets.
Led by a feisty and strong female detective (I love these protags) debut author Luke Johnson has provided a cracking shiner of a read.
August 16, 2025
It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Australian crime fiction. I love discovering new voices in my favourite genre and Luke Johnson has a big hit on his hands with King Tide. I am so impressed and will definitely be reading anything that this man writes in the future
This book had everything that I enjoy in crime fiction. There is a small town, full of secrets and lies. There is a police investigation, in a town where everyone knows everyone that is not an easy thing to do. We have dual timelines of the present day when the recent King Tide reveals the body of a young woman on the beach, a woman who went missing a few years earlier. Then there is the past, where we find out who this woman was and what lead to her murder and disappearance.
What I really loved about this book were the authentic characters and voices. The characters spoke as we really do speak in Australia. It is not polished up, yes there is a lot of swearing but that was makes it great. You could picture yourself in this town, drinking at the pub with these characters.
Fabulous Luke Johnson, so good! King Tide is on shelves now and is a must read. Thanks so much to Affirm Press for sending me a copy of this book to read.
This book had everything that I enjoy in crime fiction. There is a small town, full of secrets and lies. There is a police investigation, in a town where everyone knows everyone that is not an easy thing to do. We have dual timelines of the present day when the recent King Tide reveals the body of a young woman on the beach, a woman who went missing a few years earlier. Then there is the past, where we find out who this woman was and what lead to her murder and disappearance.
What I really loved about this book were the authentic characters and voices. The characters spoke as we really do speak in Australia. It is not polished up, yes there is a lot of swearing but that was makes it great. You could picture yourself in this town, drinking at the pub with these characters.
Fabulous Luke Johnson, so good! King Tide is on shelves now and is a must read. Thanks so much to Affirm Press for sending me a copy of this book to read.
August 1, 2025
Aussie crime debut novel? Yes please
We have a small town Australian setting, murder mystery as we switch between the past and present timelines... full of suspense, dark and gritty characters and a police investigation duo that will keep you on your toes until the very end.
It's strong on the aussie banter, a little OTT bogan at times which may confuse some international readers. Very enjoyable read for fans of crime fiction and love to support debut writers. Im keen to see what Luke will deliver next. Thanks so much to my friends at Affirm press for my copy of this gem.
We have a small town Australian setting, murder mystery as we switch between the past and present timelines... full of suspense, dark and gritty characters and a police investigation duo that will keep you on your toes until the very end.
It's strong on the aussie banter, a little OTT bogan at times which may confuse some international readers. Very enjoyable read for fans of crime fiction and love to support debut writers. Im keen to see what Luke will deliver next. Thanks so much to my friends at Affirm press for my copy of this gem.
August 9, 2025
Let's talk about #aussieauthors and #debutnovels 💖
Are you even kidding me that this is a debut novel?! 😳 Look out.. because here comes @luke_johnson_author and if this debut is anything to go by, I'm in anticipation already at what this aussie author has in store for us next!
I was gripped by the storyline and the characters! The story alternated dual timelines between then and now with short snappy chapters that you know we all love and I was obsessed with both timelines ... wanting to know what happened then and how it was all going to end now!
When a body washes up on the beach in the seaside town of Lagunes Bay, the past soon becomes accentuated in the present as Detective Harper Lewis investigates the mystery of a young woman, Hayley who vanished years before and how she came to meet such a shocking end.
Crime Fiction lovers, you need to pick this up! Also, if you are a fan of the 80s movie Stand By Me like I am, I feel like it gives that kind of vibes! I can see this one making a hit on the big screen too! Let's hope!! 🤞
Congratulations Luke, a brilliant debut! 👌
Are you even kidding me that this is a debut novel?! 😳 Look out.. because here comes @luke_johnson_author and if this debut is anything to go by, I'm in anticipation already at what this aussie author has in store for us next!
I was gripped by the storyline and the characters! The story alternated dual timelines between then and now with short snappy chapters that you know we all love and I was obsessed with both timelines ... wanting to know what happened then and how it was all going to end now!
When a body washes up on the beach in the seaside town of Lagunes Bay, the past soon becomes accentuated in the present as Detective Harper Lewis investigates the mystery of a young woman, Hayley who vanished years before and how she came to meet such a shocking end.
Crime Fiction lovers, you need to pick this up! Also, if you are a fan of the 80s movie Stand By Me like I am, I feel like it gives that kind of vibes! I can see this one making a hit on the big screen too! Let's hope!! 🤞
Congratulations Luke, a brilliant debut! 👌
September 2, 2025
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
King Tide by Luke Johnson is a strong crime fiction debut and I really enjoyed the suspense. The storyline is gripping and I loved the atmospheric setting of sea, salt and sand in a small coastal Australian town.
The characters feel really authentic and Detective Harper Lewis stood out as my favourite character.
We flow between past and present timelines where we have mystery and an emotionally haunting vibe.
When a king tide exposes a young woman’s body in the sand dunes at Lagunes Bay and is identified as a missing local who disappeared years ago, the mystery will need to be uncovered but suddenly this small town has secrets they won’t talk about.
I look forward to reading Luke’s next release!
Publication Date 29 July 2025
Publisher Affirm Press
Thank you so much Affirm Press for sending me a copy of the book.
King Tide by Luke Johnson is a strong crime fiction debut and I really enjoyed the suspense. The storyline is gripping and I loved the atmospheric setting of sea, salt and sand in a small coastal Australian town.
The characters feel really authentic and Detective Harper Lewis stood out as my favourite character.
We flow between past and present timelines where we have mystery and an emotionally haunting vibe.
When a king tide exposes a young woman’s body in the sand dunes at Lagunes Bay and is identified as a missing local who disappeared years ago, the mystery will need to be uncovered but suddenly this small town has secrets they won’t talk about.
I look forward to reading Luke’s next release!
Publication Date 29 July 2025
Publisher Affirm Press
Thank you so much Affirm Press for sending me a copy of the book.
July 2, 2025
I'll admit. When I was given this ARC I thought "not another Australian small country crime novel". But the premise of a king tide revealing a body in a sand dune was a little different so I launched in. And I really enjoyed this novel.
I found the writing accessible, the characters believable (and some too close to home!), and the setting familiar. I came to really feel for Tate, Luther, Brylie and Hayley Rose. They were teens that I knew in a previous life. And they were just doing what they could with the hand they had been dealt.
Great read.
I found the writing accessible, the characters believable (and some too close to home!), and the setting familiar. I came to really feel for Tate, Luther, Brylie and Hayley Rose. They were teens that I knew in a previous life. And they were just doing what they could with the hand they had been dealt.
Great read.
August 26, 2025
This was such an enjoyable debut. Crime fiction/police procedural, secrets uncovered in this small town when a body is uncovered after a king tide. It was suspenseful and dark and gritty in places. I look forward to reading more by this author. 4.5*
September 8, 2025
Clearly an unpopular opinion, but this book was sloooow for me.
80% of it was about a teenage love quadrangle, you should know that YA and romance are two of my least favourite genres.
80% of it was about a teenage love quadrangle, you should know that YA and romance are two of my least favourite genres.
September 19, 2025
King Tide is a dark and propulsive crime thriller that is equally heartbreaking as it is gritty.
There is just so much to unpack. 🤯
The story unfolds across dual timelines, beginning with the gruesome discovery of a young woman’s body whose disappearance years earlier was quietly brushed aside due to her reputation and the town’s silence.
I didn’t expect to be so emotionally and morally challenged by this book, but Luke Johnson’s ability to tackle confronting themes in such a raw, visceral way is deeply impressive. He explores masculinity, grief, memory, and how a tight-knit community can just as easily shield the guilty as it can fail the vulnerable.
The backdrop of a small coastal town, in Victoria, and cult elements made this a 'hell yes' from me 🙌🏼. The Aussie slang and occasional profanity were, dare I say, refreshing 😅 haha.
With a debut this strong, Luke Johnson isn’t just making an entrance, he’s carving out a place as a bold new voice in Australian crime fiction!
Don't sleep on this one. It's sharp, unsettling and guaranteed to leave a mark.
Thank you to the team at @affirmpress for sending me a copy of King Tide for an honest review.
4.5⭐
.
There is just so much to unpack. 🤯
The story unfolds across dual timelines, beginning with the gruesome discovery of a young woman’s body whose disappearance years earlier was quietly brushed aside due to her reputation and the town’s silence.
I didn’t expect to be so emotionally and morally challenged by this book, but Luke Johnson’s ability to tackle confronting themes in such a raw, visceral way is deeply impressive. He explores masculinity, grief, memory, and how a tight-knit community can just as easily shield the guilty as it can fail the vulnerable.
The backdrop of a small coastal town, in Victoria, and cult elements made this a 'hell yes' from me 🙌🏼. The Aussie slang and occasional profanity were, dare I say, refreshing 😅 haha.
With a debut this strong, Luke Johnson isn’t just making an entrance, he’s carving out a place as a bold new voice in Australian crime fiction!
Don't sleep on this one. It's sharp, unsettling and guaranteed to leave a mark.
Thank you to the team at @affirmpress for sending me a copy of King Tide for an honest review.
4.5⭐
.
July 23, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Secrets Washed Up, Aussie Noir
- - -
It honestly feels like Christmas when a debut Aussie crime novel lands in my hot land little hands so the excitement levels were sky high when King Tide washed up at my doorstep from my friends at Affirm Press.
King Tide is a moody, gritty crime drama that weaves together mysteries from the past and present, tangled in small town secrets and dead bodies (just the way I like it). It had all the makings of a juicy, suspense filled read and it delivered.
The tension was dialed up the entire time and I was still second guessing the guilty culprit right through to the final pages.
The cast of characters was strong but the real standout for me was the police investigator duo who were hands down one of the best combos I’ve read. Sharp, funny and full of chemistry, they added so much to the tone and pacing of the book.
This was a brilliant debut with a voice that hooked me from the very start. I flew through it in a day and a half and could not put it down. It also timed perfectly with bingeing some gritty Aussie crime shows at night while reading this and I could absolutely see this being adapted for TV.
Big things coming for Luke Johnson I reckon (and on a random side note, can that be a collab about footy with Helen Garner? What a dream that would be for a mad AFL fan like me!)
Vibes: Secrets Washed Up, Aussie Noir
- - -
It honestly feels like Christmas when a debut Aussie crime novel lands in my hot land little hands so the excitement levels were sky high when King Tide washed up at my doorstep from my friends at Affirm Press.
King Tide is a moody, gritty crime drama that weaves together mysteries from the past and present, tangled in small town secrets and dead bodies (just the way I like it). It had all the makings of a juicy, suspense filled read and it delivered.
The tension was dialed up the entire time and I was still second guessing the guilty culprit right through to the final pages.
The cast of characters was strong but the real standout for me was the police investigator duo who were hands down one of the best combos I’ve read. Sharp, funny and full of chemistry, they added so much to the tone and pacing of the book.
This was a brilliant debut with a voice that hooked me from the very start. I flew through it in a day and a half and could not put it down. It also timed perfectly with bingeing some gritty Aussie crime shows at night while reading this and I could absolutely see this being adapted for TV.
Big things coming for Luke Johnson I reckon (and on a random side note, can that be a collab about footy with Helen Garner? What a dream that would be for a mad AFL fan like me!)
August 10, 2025
4.5 stars
Great debut! King Tide by Luke Johnson is a gritty, gripping small-town mystery packed with secrets, suspicion, and
characters you’re not sure you can trust. Told through multiple POVs and timelines, this debut had me flipping through its short, punchy chapters late into the night.
Set in a coastal town where greed and grudges run deep, the story unfolds like a slow-building storm — full of tension,
buried truths, and damaged people trying to stay afloat. Everyone has something to hide, and the layered narrative kept me guessing the whole way through.
If you’re into moody, character-driven mysteries with a strong sense of place and plenty of moral grey areas, King Tide is well worth adding to your TBR.
A strong debut — and I’ll definitely be watching what Luke Johnson writes next.
Thanks to the team at Affirm Press for this gifted copy.
Great debut! King Tide by Luke Johnson is a gritty, gripping small-town mystery packed with secrets, suspicion, and
characters you’re not sure you can trust. Told through multiple POVs and timelines, this debut had me flipping through its short, punchy chapters late into the night.
Set in a coastal town where greed and grudges run deep, the story unfolds like a slow-building storm — full of tension,
buried truths, and damaged people trying to stay afloat. Everyone has something to hide, and the layered narrative kept me guessing the whole way through.
If you’re into moody, character-driven mysteries with a strong sense of place and plenty of moral grey areas, King Tide is well worth adding to your TBR.
A strong debut — and I’ll definitely be watching what Luke Johnson writes next.
Thanks to the team at Affirm Press for this gifted copy.
August 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars
𝚆𝚘𝚊𝚑𝚑𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚋𝚢 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚜𝚘𝚗! 𝙰 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎-𝚎𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜!
𝚁𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚋𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎! 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝟷𝟶𝟶% 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒-𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚎!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚗𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 - 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐!
𝚂𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝!
𝐀 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 @affirmpress 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 😌
𝚆𝚘𝚊𝚑𝚑𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚋𝚢 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚜𝚘𝚗! 𝙰 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎-𝚎𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜!
𝚁𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚋𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎! 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝟷𝟶𝟶% 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒-𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚎!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚗𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 - 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐!
𝚂𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝!
𝐀 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 @affirmpress 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 😌
August 9, 2025
I read a lot of crime novels and I’m sorry to say this one just doesn’t cut it. I didn’t like the writing style, the characters were underdeveloped, the storyline was simple and easy to work out early on. Things just didn’t make sense and there were lots of holes throughout.
October 12, 2025
I had a craving for a twisty, turny mystery and this got me good. The added element of religion, secrets and storyline were the cherry on top. No one is safe, and no one is truly innocent. We love an Aussie author and this book had me flipping pages right until the very end. King Tide is a haunting and masterfully written debut an evocative mystery that explores guilt, grief, and the dark undercurrents of small town life.
A wild storm lashes the coastal town of Lagunes Bay, bringing with it a fierce king tide that sweeps across the winter shore. When the tide retreats, it leaves behind more than seaweed and driftwood it uncovers a body buried deep beneath the sand.
The remains belong to a young woman who disappeared years ago, a case long forgotten by a town eager to move on. Now, old suspicions resurface. Who was she really? What secrets were kept by those closest to her? Was Tate, the town’s golden boy, the last to see her alive? And why has the return of an Anglican priest and his daughter stirred unease among the locals?
As Detective Harper Lewis delves into the town’s tangled web of loyalties and lies, she finds herself unearthing more than just a single tragedy. In Lagunes Bay, silence runs deep, and every family has something to protect.
A wild storm lashes the coastal town of Lagunes Bay, bringing with it a fierce king tide that sweeps across the winter shore. When the tide retreats, it leaves behind more than seaweed and driftwood it uncovers a body buried deep beneath the sand.
The remains belong to a young woman who disappeared years ago, a case long forgotten by a town eager to move on. Now, old suspicions resurface. Who was she really? What secrets were kept by those closest to her? Was Tate, the town’s golden boy, the last to see her alive? And why has the return of an Anglican priest and his daughter stirred unease among the locals?
As Detective Harper Lewis delves into the town’s tangled web of loyalties and lies, she finds herself unearthing more than just a single tragedy. In Lagunes Bay, silence runs deep, and every family has something to protect.
November 20, 2025
Luke Johnson’s debut novel King Tide was a gripping and mysterious crime read set in the small seaside town of Lagunes Bay. From the fast paced and compelling prologue right through to that final page, I was on edge and desperate for answers.
When the town of Lagunes Bay is lashed by a winter storm, the receding waters uncover the body of a young woman who went missing years ago. At the time, there was little effort to find her and now the whole community is under suspicion. Her disappearance was not the first to rock this small town, but the locals are holding their cards close to their chests. Detective Harper Lewis must step into this closed off community and uncover the secrets they are desperate to hide, but will the outcome destroy this town’s long held beliefs about who it idolises and who it condemns?
I love a small town setting and Lagunes Bay felt so familiar with its beach and local footy team and those families from the wrong side of the tracks. The opening scenes where a young boy is missing were so terrifying to me as a mum and the ripple effect of this event is seen for years afterwards. As with any insular group, there are rumours that circulate and I loved following the police as they tried to piece together what was real and what was neighbourly prejudice.
The young characters in this story, especially Tate and Brylie, were so realistic and I felt incredibly invested in their lives. Visiting their past in the “Then” chapters added so much depth and emotion to the story, as well as deepening my suspicions.
King Tide was a raw and devastating story with a suspenseful crime narrative at its core. It’s a book that will stay with me for a long time to come.
When the town of Lagunes Bay is lashed by a winter storm, the receding waters uncover the body of a young woman who went missing years ago. At the time, there was little effort to find her and now the whole community is under suspicion. Her disappearance was not the first to rock this small town, but the locals are holding their cards close to their chests. Detective Harper Lewis must step into this closed off community and uncover the secrets they are desperate to hide, but will the outcome destroy this town’s long held beliefs about who it idolises and who it condemns?
I love a small town setting and Lagunes Bay felt so familiar with its beach and local footy team and those families from the wrong side of the tracks. The opening scenes where a young boy is missing were so terrifying to me as a mum and the ripple effect of this event is seen for years afterwards. As with any insular group, there are rumours that circulate and I loved following the police as they tried to piece together what was real and what was neighbourly prejudice.
The young characters in this story, especially Tate and Brylie, were so realistic and I felt incredibly invested in their lives. Visiting their past in the “Then” chapters added so much depth and emotion to the story, as well as deepening my suspicions.
King Tide was a raw and devastating story with a suspenseful crime narrative at its core. It’s a book that will stay with me for a long time to come.
August 26, 2025
Big thanks to Affirm Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
A coastal setting and voice that epitomises the Australian vernacular and our unique character is central to this criminal mystery.
Sliding between two timelines with mystery in both.
A stormy night washes up a body that will bring the past and present to head.
The body belonging to a young girl who disappeared some years ago.
Lagunes Bay is no stranger to young people disappearing.
It’s a town where lips are sealed and this silence is an enemy.
Detective Harper Lewis has personal ties to the Bay and is dedicated to finding out the truth as she sorts through the suspects and de tangles the past.
It’s always great to see a new voice enter the Australian crime scene and Luke has made a splash.
Although the mystery side keeps me entertained I am a fan of detail in the wider space.
In this case the grandfather was a standout character for me.
He had a presence when he wasn’t the centre of the scene.
Tides are always shifting and this king tide had maximum impact.
A coastal setting and voice that epitomises the Australian vernacular and our unique character is central to this criminal mystery.
Sliding between two timelines with mystery in both.
A stormy night washes up a body that will bring the past and present to head.
The body belonging to a young girl who disappeared some years ago.
Lagunes Bay is no stranger to young people disappearing.
It’s a town where lips are sealed and this silence is an enemy.
Detective Harper Lewis has personal ties to the Bay and is dedicated to finding out the truth as she sorts through the suspects and de tangles the past.
It’s always great to see a new voice enter the Australian crime scene and Luke has made a splash.
Although the mystery side keeps me entertained I am a fan of detail in the wider space.
In this case the grandfather was a standout character for me.
He had a presence when he wasn’t the centre of the scene.
Tides are always shifting and this king tide had maximum impact.
July 15, 2025
When a king tide exposes a body in the sand dunes in Lagunes Bay, it is not only the body that is uncovered that day. The secrets and lies of a small town also come to the surface.
When the body is found to be missing local girl Hayley Rose, Detectives Harper Lewis and Dean McCoy are determined to find out what happened. With a hunch that the disappearance of a young local boy years earlier is also connected, they need to try and link these two incidents. I loved these detectives and the way they worked together, no ego, just always supporting and backing each other and always with a common goal - find the killer.
This is a story that is nuanced and full of teen angst, broken families, small town gossip, crooked deals and an underlying evil.
The then and now storyline and generally short chapters kept the story flowing and the interest high. With a fascinating array of characters that were fleshed out and believable, I loved my time in Lagunes Bay.
I don't know how this was a debut novel when it was so well written and felt like it was from a seasoned author. King Tide was part Puberty Blues and part The Broken Shore and I am very keen to see what Luke comes out with next.
When the body is found to be missing local girl Hayley Rose, Detectives Harper Lewis and Dean McCoy are determined to find out what happened. With a hunch that the disappearance of a young local boy years earlier is also connected, they need to try and link these two incidents. I loved these detectives and the way they worked together, no ego, just always supporting and backing each other and always with a common goal - find the killer.
This is a story that is nuanced and full of teen angst, broken families, small town gossip, crooked deals and an underlying evil.
The then and now storyline and generally short chapters kept the story flowing and the interest high. With a fascinating array of characters that were fleshed out and believable, I loved my time in Lagunes Bay.
I don't know how this was a debut novel when it was so well written and felt like it was from a seasoned author. King Tide was part Puberty Blues and part The Broken Shore and I am very keen to see what Luke comes out with next.
August 19, 2025
Excuse me, this is a debut novel?!
Here’s the gist: Small Aussie costal town, the town’s golden boy, the bad boy and the pastor’s daughter are besties. A body is discovered on the beach…. Who dunnit? Also add in some timeline drama and multiple pov’s 😮💨
There are many twists and turns in this book and it keeps your guessing til the end. It gave me TV crime drama vibes, and I could definitely see it projected on the screen! If you’re a fan of authors like: Mark Brandi, Mark Smith, Kyle Perry you will enjoy this book.
Well done Luke! What a smashing debut! And a big thank you to Affirm Press for gifting me my copy !
Here’s the gist: Small Aussie costal town, the town’s golden boy, the bad boy and the pastor’s daughter are besties. A body is discovered on the beach…. Who dunnit? Also add in some timeline drama and multiple pov’s 😮💨
There are many twists and turns in this book and it keeps your guessing til the end. It gave me TV crime drama vibes, and I could definitely see it projected on the screen! If you’re a fan of authors like: Mark Brandi, Mark Smith, Kyle Perry you will enjoy this book.
Well done Luke! What a smashing debut! And a big thank you to Affirm Press for gifting me my copy !
November 24, 2025
This is a solid first novel. The story is engaging and just twisty enough to be engaging without being annoying. The only challenge I had with this was the beginning which I found confusing, too many characters and too much back story in the first couple of chapters. Would have been good to keep some of that back. However overall a good read.
November 25, 2025
I was in the mood for some Aussie crime fiction and wow, this debut was a cracker!
This was a great crime novel with loads of secrets uncovered in this small town. They just kept coming! The book flicks from past to present which was done really well. As police begin their investigations, they reveal more about this little town and the people in it. This was very clever!
This book packed a punch. It was unsettling, there’s a lot of grief and guilt and there was so much going on that I wasn’t sure if I was angry, mad or sad!
Well done Luke, I couldn’t put this down! Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thank you so much @affirmpress for sending me this copy.
This was a great crime novel with loads of secrets uncovered in this small town. They just kept coming! The book flicks from past to present which was done really well. As police begin their investigations, they reveal more about this little town and the people in it. This was very clever!
This book packed a punch. It was unsettling, there’s a lot of grief and guilt and there was so much going on that I wasn’t sure if I was angry, mad or sad!
Well done Luke, I couldn’t put this down! Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thank you so much @affirmpress for sending me this copy.
January 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. fantastic debut novel
October 27, 2025
I’ve been meaning to read this for a while but kept getting distracted by other new pretty books. I’m so glad I finally got to it, it’s absolutely worth the investment.
A story about a small town and a couple of close friends Tate, Luther and Bry who are brought together after nearly four years apart. Some of them have secrets they want to keep hidden. Others ARE the secrets and don’t even know it. When a body of a missing girl is found on the beach, someone known to all three of them, the discovery sets in motion a chain of events that will have dire consequences for the trio. Set against the back drop of fractured familial relationships, dishonesty and greed, King Tide is a fantastic debut.
It takes a little to gain momentum but once that happens it’s unputdownable.
Thanks to Affirm Press for sending me a copy to read.
A story about a small town and a couple of close friends Tate, Luther and Bry who are brought together after nearly four years apart. Some of them have secrets they want to keep hidden. Others ARE the secrets and don’t even know it. When a body of a missing girl is found on the beach, someone known to all three of them, the discovery sets in motion a chain of events that will have dire consequences for the trio. Set against the back drop of fractured familial relationships, dishonesty and greed, King Tide is a fantastic debut.
It takes a little to gain momentum but once that happens it’s unputdownable.
Thanks to Affirm Press for sending me a copy to read.
January 18, 2026
.....📚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📚.....
JAN - King Tide is the debut novel by Australian author Luke Johnson. An atmospheric crime novel set on the fictional coastal town of Lagunes Bay, where a body discovered after a storm unearths long-buried small-town secrets in a community. This one covers themes of hidden histories, community tensions, and how secrets can retreat at the soul.
A winter storm slams into the isolated town of Lagunes Bay, driving a king tide up the shoreline. When the waters finally pull back, they leave behind something far more chilling than debris: the long‑hidden body of a young woman.
Her identity shocks the town. She’s the girl who vanished years ago, quietly, and whose disappearance no one seemed eager to solve. Now, with her remains exposed, suspicion spreads like wildfire. What really happened to her? Who failed her? And why does Tate, the town’s beloved golden boy, suddenly look less like a hometown hero and more like a man with something to explain?
Tension spikes further when an Anglican priest returns to Lagunes Bay with his daughter in tow, stirring old memories and older grudges. This isn’t the first time someone has gone missing here, and the families who’ve lived in the bay for generations are practiced at keeping their secrets buried deep.
Detective Harper Lewis steps into this tight‑lipped community determined to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more tangled the mystery becomes. In Lagunes Bay, secrets cling like sea mist, and every revelation casts a darker shadow than the last.
Told across two timelines, then and now, we spend time with the young teens as well as the police that are trying to untangle two cold cases. It’s got a few threads to follow but has a haunting quality that kept me wanting to pull the threads back together. If you love Australian fiction, especially if you’re drawn to stories about family fractures, resilience, and the way the past keeps tugging at our ankles, King Tide is one you’ll want to add to your stack.
JAN - King Tide is the debut novel by Australian author Luke Johnson. An atmospheric crime novel set on the fictional coastal town of Lagunes Bay, where a body discovered after a storm unearths long-buried small-town secrets in a community. This one covers themes of hidden histories, community tensions, and how secrets can retreat at the soul.
A winter storm slams into the isolated town of Lagunes Bay, driving a king tide up the shoreline. When the waters finally pull back, they leave behind something far more chilling than debris: the long‑hidden body of a young woman.
Her identity shocks the town. She’s the girl who vanished years ago, quietly, and whose disappearance no one seemed eager to solve. Now, with her remains exposed, suspicion spreads like wildfire. What really happened to her? Who failed her? And why does Tate, the town’s beloved golden boy, suddenly look less like a hometown hero and more like a man with something to explain?
Tension spikes further when an Anglican priest returns to Lagunes Bay with his daughter in tow, stirring old memories and older grudges. This isn’t the first time someone has gone missing here, and the families who’ve lived in the bay for generations are practiced at keeping their secrets buried deep.
Detective Harper Lewis steps into this tight‑lipped community determined to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more tangled the mystery becomes. In Lagunes Bay, secrets cling like sea mist, and every revelation casts a darker shadow than the last.
Told across two timelines, then and now, we spend time with the young teens as well as the police that are trying to untangle two cold cases. It’s got a few threads to follow but has a haunting quality that kept me wanting to pull the threads back together. If you love Australian fiction, especially if you’re drawn to stories about family fractures, resilience, and the way the past keeps tugging at our ankles, King Tide is one you’ll want to add to your stack.
August 20, 2025
This book made me need to stop and catch my breath.
Alternating before and after the body of a local girl Hayley Rose is found washed up by the king tide, this story felt very much anchored to its setting. Taking place in the fictional seaside small town of Lagunes Bay (inspired by the Great Ocean Road) the narrative orbits around three friends; Tate Moon, Luther Hillman and Brylie McIntyre who are torn apart and thrown together amidst tragedy, deceit, misplaced loyalty and a buried past -- not to mention time jumps.
Ultimately, 'King Tide' was a well paced debut packed with intrigue, suspicion and investment growing at the turn of every page. Luke Johnson equips the story with a cast of colourful characters, each harbouring their own unique desires and regrets - begging the question of which they allow themselves to be most driven by.
The graphic murder and turmoil of Hayley's character stayed with me in the days after finishing this book, as did the determination and empathy of the detectives who uncovered the truth. Johnson excelled at something only a handful of writers have a knack for -- he gave each character enough airtime to feel fully developed, multi-layered and morally questionable in their own right. He did not favour any dominant protagonist, but instead allows readers to make their own predications and evaluations on the integrity and levels of denial festering within each one.
Alternating before and after the body of a local girl Hayley Rose is found washed up by the king tide, this story felt very much anchored to its setting. Taking place in the fictional seaside small town of Lagunes Bay (inspired by the Great Ocean Road) the narrative orbits around three friends; Tate Moon, Luther Hillman and Brylie McIntyre who are torn apart and thrown together amidst tragedy, deceit, misplaced loyalty and a buried past -- not to mention time jumps.
Ultimately, 'King Tide' was a well paced debut packed with intrigue, suspicion and investment growing at the turn of every page. Luke Johnson equips the story with a cast of colourful characters, each harbouring their own unique desires and regrets - begging the question of which they allow themselves to be most driven by.
The graphic murder and turmoil of Hayley's character stayed with me in the days after finishing this book, as did the determination and empathy of the detectives who uncovered the truth. Johnson excelled at something only a handful of writers have a knack for -- he gave each character enough airtime to feel fully developed, multi-layered and morally questionable in their own right. He did not favour any dominant protagonist, but instead allows readers to make their own predications and evaluations on the integrity and levels of denial festering within each one.
October 9, 2025
This small town murder mystery with long buried secrets and small town attitudes, where some people count and others don't, is also a heartbreaking, tragic story of a vulnerable young woman named Hayley Rose. Her body is uncovered by a king tide after a storm hits a small Australian coastal town. She had been buried in the sand dunes with an enormous cross carved deeply into her chest. She had been a missing person for three years but the police file on her was thin. The town had not thought much about her being gone but the two newcomer detectives to Lagunes Bay Police did not care what this town thought of her and were determined to give her everything they had to find out who had done this to her.
Hayley Rose is an elusive character, not given much life or voice on the page, probably intentional on the author's part, to reinforce how little she was known, seen or protected, and you have to surmise along with the detectives who she was from unreliable descriptions from the people who knew her and piece together her life and what she endured. Hayley Rose never stood a chance and she elicited great empathy from me.
Many other tragic lives are heartbreakingly revealed as the investigation progresses and just like the two characters who were heading out of town for good at the end of the story, I too, as a reader, was glad to join them out on the highway and leave Lagunes Bay behind.
Hayley Rose is an elusive character, not given much life or voice on the page, probably intentional on the author's part, to reinforce how little she was known, seen or protected, and you have to surmise along with the detectives who she was from unreliable descriptions from the people who knew her and piece together her life and what she endured. Hayley Rose never stood a chance and she elicited great empathy from me.
Many other tragic lives are heartbreakingly revealed as the investigation progresses and just like the two characters who were heading out of town for good at the end of the story, I too, as a reader, was glad to join them out on the highway and leave Lagunes Bay behind.
August 14, 2025
I always enjoy a crime fiction novel as I (supposedly) get to use my brain to figure out the who, why, and how of the book.
This book is another great example of Aussie crime fiction done well.
Even though I figured out the culprit quite early, the why had me stumped for a little while.
And to be honest, I forgot all about the why, as I was completely swept away (yes, pun intended 😀) by everything else about this book.
There are elements of this book that really stoked my interest, and the history of the victim and her friends was the reason I forgot about the why.
Books that have historical friendships and mysteries are a great mix that always have me invested.
Feeling everything the friend group feels and hurting when they hurt really creates a special sense within the book.
Dropping little clues here and there, waiting for the reader to pick them up and create a picture.
And sometimes, that picture tells a big story that uncovers the why and how.
There is a feel about this book that engages the reader and delivers a story that is compelling.
And now that I have found another Aussie author to follow, I am excited for his next release.
This book is another great example of Aussie crime fiction done well.
Even though I figured out the culprit quite early, the why had me stumped for a little while.
And to be honest, I forgot all about the why, as I was completely swept away (yes, pun intended 😀) by everything else about this book.
There are elements of this book that really stoked my interest, and the history of the victim and her friends was the reason I forgot about the why.
Books that have historical friendships and mysteries are a great mix that always have me invested.
Feeling everything the friend group feels and hurting when they hurt really creates a special sense within the book.
Dropping little clues here and there, waiting for the reader to pick them up and create a picture.
And sometimes, that picture tells a big story that uncovers the why and how.
There is a feel about this book that engages the reader and delivers a story that is compelling.
And now that I have found another Aussie author to follow, I am excited for his next release.
November 2, 2025
I think this book is a 3.8/5
I really enjoyed the book and thought it was all written pretty well but every now and then it veered into “tell not show” and just started talking through motivations and what people meant which I didn’t like. I feel like the ending was a bit quick too. I was hoping that the police would work it out but then it ended up just basically being a confession out of no where. So much ended up being technically resolved but not really, as the main perpetrators were just killed off. And did we ever find out what happened to Haley? I know what they insinuated, and I’m obviously inclined to believe it but they never actually found any evidence that the priest killed her. And carving a cross into a dead girls chest seems like a bit of a step up from rape.
Honestly a lot of questions unanswered, but I don’t think it detracts as much as it normally would. They feel unanswered in a way that almost feels more real than if everything were completely solved and put away.
I really enjoyed the book and thought it was all written pretty well but every now and then it veered into “tell not show” and just started talking through motivations and what people meant which I didn’t like. I feel like the ending was a bit quick too. I was hoping that the police would work it out but then it ended up just basically being a confession out of no where. So much ended up being technically resolved but not really, as the main perpetrators were just killed off. And did we ever find out what happened to Haley? I know what they insinuated, and I’m obviously inclined to believe it but they never actually found any evidence that the priest killed her. And carving a cross into a dead girls chest seems like a bit of a step up from rape.
Honestly a lot of questions unanswered, but I don’t think it detracts as much as it normally would. They feel unanswered in a way that almost feels more real than if everything were completely solved and put away.
September 15, 2025
Our Review...
A king tide uncovers the body of a girl who disappeared years ago. She’s not the first person to go missing from this seaside town, but does that mean the two events are connected? Detective Harper Lewis has recently moved from the big smoke and her job in solving the mystery (or mysteries) is not made easy by the fact that it seems everyone in Lagunes Bay has something to hide.
At first glance Luke Johnson’s debut novel reads like a lot of Aussie crime – tragedy comes to small coastal town full of secrets. But this gripping tale takes you places you don’t expect to go, as it tackles not just the solving of the crime at its core but delves into a world of friendships, relationships, family tragedy, mental health issues, the expectations we place on ourselves and others and the realities of life in a small town. It sounds like a lot – but that just makes this intriguing page-turner all the richer.
Review by Andi @ Great Escape Books
A king tide uncovers the body of a girl who disappeared years ago. She’s not the first person to go missing from this seaside town, but does that mean the two events are connected? Detective Harper Lewis has recently moved from the big smoke and her job in solving the mystery (or mysteries) is not made easy by the fact that it seems everyone in Lagunes Bay has something to hide.
At first glance Luke Johnson’s debut novel reads like a lot of Aussie crime – tragedy comes to small coastal town full of secrets. But this gripping tale takes you places you don’t expect to go, as it tackles not just the solving of the crime at its core but delves into a world of friendships, relationships, family tragedy, mental health issues, the expectations we place on ourselves and others and the realities of life in a small town. It sounds like a lot – but that just makes this intriguing page-turner all the richer.
Review by Andi @ Great Escape Books
July 30, 2025
King Tide is a great addition to the Aussie rural crime genre. I found it gripping and atmospheric, with multiple layers and a clever plot.
The setting is that of the small seaside town of Langunes Bay in Victoria. A violent storm mixed with a king tide reveals a young woman’s body, framed and exposed in the sand.
Detectives Harper Lewis and Dean McCoy are sent to investigate, soon learning that the body is that of a young woman who vanished years ago. Sadly little effort was ever made to find her.
But the more questions the detectives ask the community, the more people come under suspicion. Especially as they soon find that this isn’t the first disappearance to rock the small town.
Their investigation also coincides with the return of an Anglican priest and his daughter, and has the detectives wondering why his return has everyone so tense.
With short chapters told from several view points, I was immersed in a story that was as surprisingly sad and heartbreaking as it was twisty and gripping. There were secrets, lies, betrayal and deception that added great depth and mystery to a cleverly crafted story.
Thank you to Affirm Press for a gifted copy to hones review.
The setting is that of the small seaside town of Langunes Bay in Victoria. A violent storm mixed with a king tide reveals a young woman’s body, framed and exposed in the sand.
Detectives Harper Lewis and Dean McCoy are sent to investigate, soon learning that the body is that of a young woman who vanished years ago. Sadly little effort was ever made to find her.
But the more questions the detectives ask the community, the more people come under suspicion. Especially as they soon find that this isn’t the first disappearance to rock the small town.
Their investigation also coincides with the return of an Anglican priest and his daughter, and has the detectives wondering why his return has everyone so tense.
With short chapters told from several view points, I was immersed in a story that was as surprisingly sad and heartbreaking as it was twisty and gripping. There were secrets, lies, betrayal and deception that added great depth and mystery to a cleverly crafted story.
Thank you to Affirm Press for a gifted copy to hones review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews