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Running Against the Tide
Brimming with malice and threat, Running Against the Tide is about long-held prejudices and fractured relationships, and cements Amanda Ortlepp as one of Australia's most compelling storytellers.
Erin Travers is running away from her life and taking her two sons with her to a small town on the ruggedly beautiful Eyre Peninsula. The close-knit township is full of happy childhood memories for Erin, but she is bringing a whole lot of baggage with her.
When the peaceful community is disrupted by theft and arson, everyone has different ideas about who is responsible. In a small town where lives are tangled too closely together, old grudges flare, fingers are pointed and secrets are unmasked.
Erin Travers is running away from her life and taking her two sons with her to a small town on the ruggedly beautiful Eyre Peninsula. The close-knit township is full of happy childhood memories for Erin, but she is bringing a whole lot of baggage with her.
When the peaceful community is disrupted by theft and arson, everyone has different ideas about who is responsible. In a small town where lives are tangled too closely together, old grudges flare, fingers are pointed and secrets are unmasked.
344 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Ortlepp
2 books53 followersAmanda Ortlepp's debut novel, Claiming Noah, was published in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. Its ethical dilemmas and emotionally-charged themes struck a chord with mothers and book clubs in particular and it became a bestseller. Claiming Noah was published in the US and Canada in 2016. Amanda's second novel, Running Against the Tide, is set on the remote Eyre Peninsula in South Australia where her father grew up. It was published in Australia and New Zealand in 2016. Amanda lives in Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 20, 2016
Running against the Tide was a gripping story set in the fictitious town of Mallee bay on the Eyre Peninsula with its close knit community of oyster farmers.
Ortlepp is adept at keeping the reader in suspense, dropping small hints and a few red herrings throughout that keep you guessing on the truth right until the very end.
Right from the start I didn’t like Erin. The decisions she made and the actions she took made it hard for me to connect and empathise with her. She didn’t redeem herself throughout the story and even at the end I found her shallow and selfish.
Fifteen year old Ryan was one of my favourite characters. He was struggling with who he is and where he fits in the world. This is typical with many teenagers but the heartbreaking thing with Ryan was he had no-one to talk to and no support. In contrast his brother Mike, in his late teens, is confident and outgoing and he can’t relate to or understand his younger brother. The contrast between the brothers was well done showing how different personalities cope with the same scenario.
Jono is the curmudgeonly old neighbour who is quick to unfairly judge people and seems to think the worst of everyone. It was nice to see him move forward and learn that jumping to conclusions is never a good thing. Ortlepp highlights the value of older people in Jono and Ryan’s relationship and even though it was a brief part of the story it had a major impact on Ryan.
I enjoyed the suspense and the build up of the side stories and mysteries. The complex plot with multiple story lines was well executed and adeptly wrapped up with a satisfying ending.
With my thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Ortlepp is adept at keeping the reader in suspense, dropping small hints and a few red herrings throughout that keep you guessing on the truth right until the very end.
Right from the start I didn’t like Erin. The decisions she made and the actions she took made it hard for me to connect and empathise with her. She didn’t redeem herself throughout the story and even at the end I found her shallow and selfish.
Fifteen year old Ryan was one of my favourite characters. He was struggling with who he is and where he fits in the world. This is typical with many teenagers but the heartbreaking thing with Ryan was he had no-one to talk to and no support. In contrast his brother Mike, in his late teens, is confident and outgoing and he can’t relate to or understand his younger brother. The contrast between the brothers was well done showing how different personalities cope with the same scenario.
Jono is the curmudgeonly old neighbour who is quick to unfairly judge people and seems to think the worst of everyone. It was nice to see him move forward and learn that jumping to conclusions is never a good thing. Ortlepp highlights the value of older people in Jono and Ryan’s relationship and even though it was a brief part of the story it had a major impact on Ryan.
I enjoyed the suspense and the build up of the side stories and mysteries. The complex plot with multiple story lines was well executed and adeptly wrapped up with a satisfying ending.
With my thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
February 15, 2016
After fleeing a broken marriage and looking to make a new start, Erin Travers has spent almost two days and a night on the road.
With her two teenaged sons and a car loaded with their few remaining belongings, they arrive at the address given to them by the real estate agent.
When they pull into the driveway of the small weatherboard cottage, which has clearly seen better days, they sit for some moments and stare, wondering what they are doing here.
Remaining hopeful as this is the place where she grew up, Erin rallies the boys and tries to put a brave face on it, though they are all quietly wondering what they are going to do in this remote place...for work and play.
Set in a small fictitious oyster farming town called Mallee Bay in the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia, the story begins with this small family of three trying to settle into their new surroundings as well as a whole new way of life.
The eldest boy Mike, tries to stay positive for his mother and is optimistic of finding work in the mines.
Not so for young Ryan though, who never wanted to leave his home and is resentful at not being given any choices, he wants to live with his father.
As a teenager, and still at school, Ryan was not very popular anyway and has always struggled to make friends because of his seemingly dark outlook.
Because of this, and his angst about leaving home and having to start at a new school, he has developed quite a belligerent attitude towards people in general, as well as his mother and elder brother.
Being a small friendly community where everyone knows and trusts each other, it is quite alarming for them to find that things suddenly start going wrong, and theft becomes an issue in the oyster community.
Naturally suspicion at first falls on the newcomers and Erin herself begins to have her doubts when she also falls victim to some strange occurrences.
Young Ryan's attitude appears to be darkening all the more as his general popularity wanes along with his demeanor as people look for blame everywhere.
Lots of action going on as we follow the people of this small community through their work and daily activities in search of a culprit, or culprits. There are quite a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing and pointing the finger at this one or that one.
This was an enjoyable read with lots of twists to keep you guessing.
4★s
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to read and review.
February 23, 2016
4.5★s
Erin Travers was accompanied by her two sons, nineteen year old Mike and fifteen year old Ryan, as they made their way to Mallee Bay on the beautiful Eyre Peninsula north of Adelaide. They had left Sydney and Marcus; her husband and the boys’ father – and Erin had no intention of returning. Mallee Bay was where Erin had grown up – she had many happy memories of the small town, and hoped her boys would come to like the lifestyle as well. But the sight of the rental in the late evening was depressing, even though Erin tried to keep their spirits up…
It smelled of heat, and dirt, and open spaces. It smelled of salt Eyre.
Ryan was surly and untalkative – he hadn’t wanted to leave Sydney and his father but his mother hadn’t consulted him or explained what had happened. But Mike was supportive and Erin was trying to do her best. Their elderly neighbours, Jono who was an oyster farmer, and his wife Helen were friendly and welcoming, with Jono giving Mike a job a few days a week.
With unexpected suddenness, the locals discovered thefts of their property – and when a fire erupted in the middle of the night, it was too close for comfort for Erin. What on earth was happening in Malley Bay? Was there someone out to get her? Had she brought danger to her boys; to the town, by arriving in the secluded place which she’d thought would be a haven?
Running Against the Tide by Aussie author Amanda Ortlepp is my first by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Filled with menace and danger, the twists were gripping. I had no idea who the culprit was and when the secrets were unravelled I was blown away! Running Against the Tide is a fast flowing, suspense ridden story and one I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
Erin Travers was accompanied by her two sons, nineteen year old Mike and fifteen year old Ryan, as they made their way to Mallee Bay on the beautiful Eyre Peninsula north of Adelaide. They had left Sydney and Marcus; her husband and the boys’ father – and Erin had no intention of returning. Mallee Bay was where Erin had grown up – she had many happy memories of the small town, and hoped her boys would come to like the lifestyle as well. But the sight of the rental in the late evening was depressing, even though Erin tried to keep their spirits up…
It smelled of heat, and dirt, and open spaces. It smelled of salt Eyre.
Ryan was surly and untalkative – he hadn’t wanted to leave Sydney and his father but his mother hadn’t consulted him or explained what had happened. But Mike was supportive and Erin was trying to do her best. Their elderly neighbours, Jono who was an oyster farmer, and his wife Helen were friendly and welcoming, with Jono giving Mike a job a few days a week.
With unexpected suddenness, the locals discovered thefts of their property – and when a fire erupted in the middle of the night, it was too close for comfort for Erin. What on earth was happening in Malley Bay? Was there someone out to get her? Had she brought danger to her boys; to the town, by arriving in the secluded place which she’d thought would be a haven?
Running Against the Tide by Aussie author Amanda Ortlepp is my first by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Filled with menace and danger, the twists were gripping. I had no idea who the culprit was and when the secrets were unravelled I was blown away! Running Against the Tide is a fast flowing, suspense ridden story and one I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
March 25, 2016
Really enjoyed this suspenseful tale set near Adelaide. Amanda Ortlepp is certainly yet another talented Australian author to look out for!
With her two teenage sons, Erin moves away from her life in Sydney, to down to her childhood home near the Eyre Peninsula not far from Adelaide. Mallee Bay is an oyster town, many of the locals making a living from hard work at the oyster farms. But did Erin really leave her past behind her? Strange things begin to happen and Erin feel she is in danger. But from who? And what can she do about it?
I thought this book was great. I really enjoyed all the characters, especially the ones who live in the town. Jono and his wife Helen, and Puff were fabulous characters. I didn’t warm to Erin as much as I was expecting to. I thought some of her decisions were a bit silly and I really didn’t like how she dealt with her difficult son Ryan at times. But I enjoyed her character a lot more by the end.
I really appreciated that the main characters were older. I enjoy reading about characters with a bit of life experience behind them. It seems a lot of novels I have read lately have been filled with young characters so it was refreshing to read about older people for a change. Having said that, Mike and Ryan were the youngest characters in the novel yet they still had quite a depth to them, especially Ryan.
Loved the twists and turns throughout the book. However I figured out the main twist well before it happened so that was slightly disappointing. However it didn’t stop me turning the pages.
Would I recommend Running Against The Tide?
Yes, it was a good story, had some suspenseful moments and I ate it up! Womens fiction fans as well as romantic suspense fans will appreciate this one. As well as fans of books in Aussie settings by talented Aussie writers!
Many thanks to the author Amada Ortlepp and publisher Simon and Schuster Australia via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
Twitter
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
With her two teenage sons, Erin moves away from her life in Sydney, to down to her childhood home near the Eyre Peninsula not far from Adelaide. Mallee Bay is an oyster town, many of the locals making a living from hard work at the oyster farms. But did Erin really leave her past behind her? Strange things begin to happen and Erin feel she is in danger. But from who? And what can she do about it?
I thought this book was great. I really enjoyed all the characters, especially the ones who live in the town. Jono and his wife Helen, and Puff were fabulous characters. I didn’t warm to Erin as much as I was expecting to. I thought some of her decisions were a bit silly and I really didn’t like how she dealt with her difficult son Ryan at times. But I enjoyed her character a lot more by the end.
I really appreciated that the main characters were older. I enjoy reading about characters with a bit of life experience behind them. It seems a lot of novels I have read lately have been filled with young characters so it was refreshing to read about older people for a change. Having said that, Mike and Ryan were the youngest characters in the novel yet they still had quite a depth to them, especially Ryan.
Loved the twists and turns throughout the book. However I figured out the main twist well before it happened so that was slightly disappointing. However it didn’t stop me turning the pages.
Would I recommend Running Against The Tide?
Yes, it was a good story, had some suspenseful moments and I ate it up! Womens fiction fans as well as romantic suspense fans will appreciate this one. As well as fans of books in Aussie settings by talented Aussie writers!
Many thanks to the author Amada Ortlepp and publisher Simon and Schuster Australia via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
June 28, 2016
3.5★
Amanda Ortlepp is a good Aussie writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work. I think many readers will enjoy this, especially if they love the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia and oyster farming.
Erin is a mum with 2 teenaged boys, a 14-year-old and one just out of school. They leave Dad in Sydney and move back to the South Australian fishing village where Erin spent much of her childhood. Like a lot of people, when things go wrong in the family, they either want to go home or want to go to the last place they were happy, which is often a holiday locale. In this case, it’s a bit of both.
Mallee Bay is an oyster farming community and a tourist destination. But when Erin and her boys finally arrive, it’s all looking pretty uninviting. Ryan, the young son, is a bit of an emo, dark, secretive, unhappy. Mike, the older boy, is tall, handsome, and feeling his oats, ready to make an effort now that he’s out of school.
“She had moved her family halfway across Australia to live in a small, dingy house, in a town where they would immediately be classified as outsiders. ‘It’s a fresh star,’ Mike said, coming to her defence. ‘And that’s exactly what we need right now. I think we’re going to like it here.’ "**
Ryan, on the other hand, is sure how bad life is likely to be. He was okay in primary school, when the kids pretty much managed to bump along comfortably together.
“But high school had separated them like a colour sorting game. Orange to the left, purple to the right, red in the top corner, blue in the bottom corner. Each group had split and then split again until the schoolyard was filled with tenuously-linked pairs and trios and quartets. Only a few were left alone like him, disparate colours without a match, and so they’d grouped together even though they had no reason to, like a collection of miscellaneous items in a lost and found box.”**
A local discovers Erin’s painting hobby, and a local art show proves it could actually be turned into a career. Meanwhile, Mike discovers he enjoys both earning and learning about oyster farming from the old codger next door runs a business. Ryan remains unhappy, of course.
There are some odd occurrences which aren’t completely resolved, and there is a rather sudden change about three-quarters of the way through, where this family’s story becomes a mystery/thriller. I found the change awkward and peculiar.
It ended kind of abruptly with some questions unanswered. Maybe I missed something? Always possible. But that's the reason I docked it half a star. Good writing, though.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster (Australia) for allowing me to review a copy.
**The quotations are from an advanced review copy so possibly subject to change.
Amanda Ortlepp is a good Aussie writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work. I think many readers will enjoy this, especially if they love the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia and oyster farming.
Erin is a mum with 2 teenaged boys, a 14-year-old and one just out of school. They leave Dad in Sydney and move back to the South Australian fishing village where Erin spent much of her childhood. Like a lot of people, when things go wrong in the family, they either want to go home or want to go to the last place they were happy, which is often a holiday locale. In this case, it’s a bit of both.
Mallee Bay is an oyster farming community and a tourist destination. But when Erin and her boys finally arrive, it’s all looking pretty uninviting. Ryan, the young son, is a bit of an emo, dark, secretive, unhappy. Mike, the older boy, is tall, handsome, and feeling his oats, ready to make an effort now that he’s out of school.
“She had moved her family halfway across Australia to live in a small, dingy house, in a town where they would immediately be classified as outsiders. ‘It’s a fresh star,’ Mike said, coming to her defence. ‘And that’s exactly what we need right now. I think we’re going to like it here.’ "**
Ryan, on the other hand, is sure how bad life is likely to be. He was okay in primary school, when the kids pretty much managed to bump along comfortably together.
“But high school had separated them like a colour sorting game. Orange to the left, purple to the right, red in the top corner, blue in the bottom corner. Each group had split and then split again until the schoolyard was filled with tenuously-linked pairs and trios and quartets. Only a few were left alone like him, disparate colours without a match, and so they’d grouped together even though they had no reason to, like a collection of miscellaneous items in a lost and found box.”**
A local discovers Erin’s painting hobby, and a local art show proves it could actually be turned into a career. Meanwhile, Mike discovers he enjoys both earning and learning about oyster farming from the old codger next door runs a business. Ryan remains unhappy, of course.
There are some odd occurrences which aren’t completely resolved, and there is a rather sudden change about three-quarters of the way through, where this family’s story becomes a mystery/thriller. I found the change awkward and peculiar.
It ended kind of abruptly with some questions unanswered. Maybe I missed something? Always possible. But that's the reason I docked it half a star. Good writing, though.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster (Australia) for allowing me to review a copy.
**The quotations are from an advanced review copy so possibly subject to change.
February 24, 2016
Erin Travers left Sydney with her two teenage sons Mike and Ryan after the breakdown of her marriage and moved to Mallee Bay, a small seaside town on Eyre Peninsula where she had happy memories of childhood holidays. With no money due to her husband's addictive gambling habit, Erin can only afford to rent the cheapest of ramshackle houses and her youngest son Ryan is not impressed. In fact he is not pleased with the move at all, hating his new school and everything about the town. Older brother Mike has settled in better, making friends and finding work with their neighbour Jono helping with his oyster farm. Not long after the family arrives, the oyster farmings start experiencing thefts of their oysters. Strange things also start happening to Erin; theft and damage to her property and a series of threatening notes.
I enjoyed the story of this family trying to restart their lives together after the upheaval of their lives in Sydney. The characters are interesting with Erin friendly but somewhat tentative about forming new relationships after her marriage breakup. Mike at 19, seems to be a happy go lucky young man who seems to have no plans and falls easily into the world of oyster fishing. Ryan at 15 is a broody teenager, resentful that he has been taken away from his father, friends and home and makes life hard for Erin and himself. Setting this novel in an oyster farming community gave it a good Australian flavour and added interest with descriptions of the process and hazards of farming the oysters woven into the story. Although there are hints earlier in the book that someone has been watching Erin, I wasn't prepared for the later events in the story and was quite blown away by the direction it took from a slowly developing story into a dark and threatening one. There are several false leads and twists along the way that seem to be leading in a different direction to the suspenseful and dramatic ending.
With thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an ecopy of the book to read and review
January 27, 2016
I went into this novel with my eyes closed, not having a clue what it was about.
Running Against the Tide is a women's fiction novel with some suspense/thriller thrown in. The last part was unexpected.
The main character of the novel is Erin Travers who's moved to Eyre Peninsula, South Australia to start a new life with her two sons: Ryan, a sulky, quiet fifteen-year-old, and Mike, a handsome and confident nineteen-year-old.
They can only afford to rent a run-down, mouldy house in an oyster farming community. While Mike deals with the changes in a seamless manner, his brother Ryan doesn't have it that easy, having to attend a new high school, where nobody likes him. Their mum has to adapt to a new life as well, which she doesn't find particularly easy.
Little by little things start falling into place. But a few things are unsettling Erin. She's being followed. Her art shed is burned down.
Then, at the end, an unexpected call makes Erin drive to Adelaide to see her very sick mum. Things unravel. Finally, Erin knows who was following her. But it could be a little too late. I'll leave it at that, as I don't want to give away too much.
I quite liked the description of the Eyre Peninsula, and I feel like I learnt a lot about oyster farming. The characters were well flushed out and credible.
I wasn't that keen on the mystery/suspense part, although it wasn't terrible. In my view, it was a bit rushed and dealt with too quickly, but it doesn't matter that much, as it was my least favourite thing about this novel.
Ultimately Running Against The Tide was a novel about starting over, about family, small communities and about belonging.
3.5 stars
Cover: 4.5. stars
Running Against the Tide is a women's fiction novel with some suspense/thriller thrown in. The last part was unexpected.
The main character of the novel is Erin Travers who's moved to Eyre Peninsula, South Australia to start a new life with her two sons: Ryan, a sulky, quiet fifteen-year-old, and Mike, a handsome and confident nineteen-year-old.
They can only afford to rent a run-down, mouldy house in an oyster farming community. While Mike deals with the changes in a seamless manner, his brother Ryan doesn't have it that easy, having to attend a new high school, where nobody likes him. Their mum has to adapt to a new life as well, which she doesn't find particularly easy.
Little by little things start falling into place. But a few things are unsettling Erin. She's being followed. Her art shed is burned down.
Then, at the end, an unexpected call makes Erin drive to Adelaide to see her very sick mum. Things unravel. Finally, Erin knows who was following her. But it could be a little too late. I'll leave it at that, as I don't want to give away too much.
I quite liked the description of the Eyre Peninsula, and I feel like I learnt a lot about oyster farming. The characters were well flushed out and credible.
I wasn't that keen on the mystery/suspense part, although it wasn't terrible. In my view, it was a bit rushed and dealt with too quickly, but it doesn't matter that much, as it was my least favourite thing about this novel.
Ultimately Running Against The Tide was a novel about starting over, about family, small communities and about belonging.
3.5 stars
Cover: 4.5. stars
October 16, 2017
This is an easy to read semi-thriller with two storylines. Who is stealing the oysters and who is making Erin's new life in the Eyre Peninsular freaky?
Erin seems to make poor choices and did not endear herself with me; she does not share her problems with her 15 and 19 year sons, hasn't visited her dementia suffering mother for over a year, gives her new beau a real hard time and is pretty rude to her sister who has been caring for her mother. Her sons are Mike, too good to be true, and Ryan, a hulking emo. The best character is good old Jono their neighbour and oyster farmer.
And if you want to learn about oyster farming then this is the book for you.
Erin seems to make poor choices and did not endear herself with me; she does not share her problems with her 15 and 19 year sons, hasn't visited her dementia suffering mother for over a year, gives her new beau a real hard time and is pretty rude to her sister who has been caring for her mother. Her sons are Mike, too good to be true, and Ryan, a hulking emo. The best character is good old Jono their neighbour and oyster farmer.
And if you want to learn about oyster farming then this is the book for you.
May 22, 2019
Running Against the Tides is a story of suspense in which Amana Ortlepp explores themes such as displacement, addiction, bias, obsession, and betrayal.
Needing to make a fresh start after the breakdown of her marriage, Erin Travers is drawn to Mallee Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. She has fond childhood memories of the small coastal town, and hopes it will be a place that she and her two teenage sons, Mike and Ryan, can make a home.
It’s not the most auspicious of starts, their rental home is poky and unloved, but while Erin and nineteen year old Mike are determined to make the best of the situation, and soon begin to find their feet, fifteen year old Ryan refuses to make any effort, becoming increasingly antisocial.
Told from the perspectives of Erin, Ryan and Jono, the family’s new neighbour, Ortlepp builds the tension as things at home, and in the town begin to go awry. Erin is annoyed when a cheque goes missing, disturbed when her home is vandalised, and increasingly frightened as she receives a series of anonymous threatening notes. Meanwhile, a spate of thefts from the local oyster farms, including that which belongs to neighbour, and Mike’s new employer, has the locals frustrated and on edge.
Though I found the pace a little slow, I did appreciate the way in which Ortlepp crafted the story to build suspicion around several characters, and eventually both situations come to head with a dramatic, and somewhat surprising, conclusion.
Needing to make a fresh start after the breakdown of her marriage, Erin Travers is drawn to Mallee Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. She has fond childhood memories of the small coastal town, and hopes it will be a place that she and her two teenage sons, Mike and Ryan, can make a home.
It’s not the most auspicious of starts, their rental home is poky and unloved, but while Erin and nineteen year old Mike are determined to make the best of the situation, and soon begin to find their feet, fifteen year old Ryan refuses to make any effort, becoming increasingly antisocial.
Told from the perspectives of Erin, Ryan and Jono, the family’s new neighbour, Ortlepp builds the tension as things at home, and in the town begin to go awry. Erin is annoyed when a cheque goes missing, disturbed when her home is vandalised, and increasingly frightened as she receives a series of anonymous threatening notes. Meanwhile, a spate of thefts from the local oyster farms, including that which belongs to neighbour, and Mike’s new employer, has the locals frustrated and on edge.
Though I found the pace a little slow, I did appreciate the way in which Ortlepp crafted the story to build suspicion around several characters, and eventually both situations come to head with a dramatic, and somewhat surprising, conclusion.
February 18, 2016
Erin Travers has uprooted her two sons from Sydney to move to a small oyster farming town on the Eyre Peninsular in South Australia, where she had happy holiday memories from childhood.
Older son Mike 19 yrs, understands the reasons and tries to help his Mum as much as possible. Ryan, her youngest at 15 yrs old, has been sheltered from the real reason and he is extremely resentful that he can't live with his Dad in Sydney and he doesn't make things easy for Erin or himself.
I really loved this book from Amanda Ortlepp, which brought a few characters in a small country town to life. There are neighbours Jono who is a local oyster farmer and quick to make judgements and is wife Helen, both with hearts of gold (even if Jono's is a bit of a dicky ticker). The story centres around these characters and Erin's family, there are lots of threads running through which touch on a lot of issues. But I really felt for teenager Ryan, who finds it hard to be accepted anywhere (even in his old life in Sydney). His answer is to rebel and act like he doesn't care but it's Jono that first cuts through his defences.
Then there are unexplained incidences occurring in and around Erin's house that create suspense and unease that lead up to a unexpected dramatic end. This had me unable to put the book down till I finished.
It really was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read and review.
Older son Mike 19 yrs, understands the reasons and tries to help his Mum as much as possible. Ryan, her youngest at 15 yrs old, has been sheltered from the real reason and he is extremely resentful that he can't live with his Dad in Sydney and he doesn't make things easy for Erin or himself.
I really loved this book from Amanda Ortlepp, which brought a few characters in a small country town to life. There are neighbours Jono who is a local oyster farmer and quick to make judgements and is wife Helen, both with hearts of gold (even if Jono's is a bit of a dicky ticker). The story centres around these characters and Erin's family, there are lots of threads running through which touch on a lot of issues. But I really felt for teenager Ryan, who finds it hard to be accepted anywhere (even in his old life in Sydney). His answer is to rebel and act like he doesn't care but it's Jono that first cuts through his defences.
Then there are unexplained incidences occurring in and around Erin's house that create suspense and unease that lead up to a unexpected dramatic end. This had me unable to put the book down till I finished.
It really was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read and review.
June 28, 2021
I wanted to love this because it was set in South Australia. I am not sure if the author has made up Mallee Bay. This was one of those relentlessly pushing heteronormative gender roles books and I found it hard to read any parts with Puff since his kinda offensive and cliche pick-up-line and how hyper-masculine he was initially portrayed. There was also the elder sons sex/love life and aspects of Jono that were somewhere between irritating and boring.
I loved Jono and Helen some of the time (apart from the 2-D gender roles) because they were open-minded and tender people. Nevertheless even that was a bit stereotypical, most of the book read like a soap-opera which I can't blame the author for writing but is really not my thing. There was more than one bad-guy in the story, which added to the soapie feel.
One of those feel-good, heteronormative, meant to be less predictable than it is ones. Probably someone's cup of green tea with a tea-cosy.
I loved Jono and Helen some of the time (apart from the 2-D gender roles) because they were open-minded and tender people. Nevertheless even that was a bit stereotypical, most of the book read like a soap-opera which I can't blame the author for writing but is really not my thing. There was more than one bad-guy in the story, which added to the soapie feel.
One of those feel-good, heteronormative, meant to be less predictable than it is ones. Probably someone's cup of green tea with a tea-cosy.
April 2, 2016
Erin Travers is trying to start a new life with her two teenage sons in the tiny fictional town of Mallee Bay, situated in a rugged and isolated coastal region of the Eyre Peninsula, Australia’s “seafood frontier” - but things don’t seem to get off to a good start.
To begin with, the house she’s rented (sight unseen) turns out to be a dilapidated weatherboard cottage that needs more than a bit of TLC and Ryan, her fifteen year old son, is not saying much.
When Erin enters a painting competition and wins first prize, she feels as though things are beginning to look up for the three of them and hopes that Ryan will begin to settle just as his brother, Mike, has done and begin communicating more meaningfully with her.
Their friendly neighbours, Jono and Helen are lovely, if somewhat curious about the newcomers, which doesn’t do much to put Erin at ease but it’s when strange things begin to happen such as her competition prize cheque being stolen; the roses that someone planted in her garden suddenly being uprooted and left in her bedroom; threatening notes are pushed under her door; and her lovingly restored shed is set alight, that her discomfort levels really begin to rise.
And then there’s the fact that Jono is having trouble with thefts from his oyster farming lease, Ryan isn’t exactly being a model child and the whole town has become unsettled.
With my hectic work/life/reviewing schedule these days, it’s been a while since I finished a book so quickly. It took me only two days of snatched time here and there to read this but that’s also due, in part, to Amanda Ortlepp’s relaxed writing style and the manner in which she keeps the pace going by frequently shifting perspectives between her characters.
Told from the perspectives of Erin, Jono and Ryan, Amanda swiftly gets us to the core of all the issues they are faced with, using her secondary characters to add depth and tension to these narratives.
Admittedly, I thought I knew exactly the path that this book was going to take but Amanda really surprised me and, while I’m not going to go into too much detail about the characters for fear of giving anything away, believe me when I say that they are complex, unpredictable and interesting and should definitely not be taken at face value.
As in real life, appearances can be deceiving so, whilst reading this novel, be careful where your loyalties lie because Amanda blurs the focus so well that by the time the story climaxes and goes into denouement, every belief you once held about every character will be shattered. Whether, on one level or another, you connect with them sympathetically or unsympathetically, the big question that will remain right to the end is, who is behind it all?
Touching on the differences between the younger and older generations, gambling addiction and the destruction it can wreak on a family unit, domestic violence and bullying, Amanda leads the reader down many false trails, bringing us a provocative tale laced with deception, displacement, obsession and resentment in a tone that consistently leaves the reader with an intense sense of dread and underlying malevolence which, for some, might just mean there will be no happy ending!
Thrilling and engrossing, Amanda has done an impressive job in writing this novel. Weaving the strands together in such a manner that we feel the same sense of urgency, disbelief and hurt as her characters, her second novel is well-paced and gripping with a profound almost claustrophobic sense of place, a deep sense of character and enough red herrings to keep you guessing.
In my view Amanda has reinforced herself as an author to watch and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.
To begin with, the house she’s rented (sight unseen) turns out to be a dilapidated weatherboard cottage that needs more than a bit of TLC and Ryan, her fifteen year old son, is not saying much.
When Erin enters a painting competition and wins first prize, she feels as though things are beginning to look up for the three of them and hopes that Ryan will begin to settle just as his brother, Mike, has done and begin communicating more meaningfully with her.
Their friendly neighbours, Jono and Helen are lovely, if somewhat curious about the newcomers, which doesn’t do much to put Erin at ease but it’s when strange things begin to happen such as her competition prize cheque being stolen; the roses that someone planted in her garden suddenly being uprooted and left in her bedroom; threatening notes are pushed under her door; and her lovingly restored shed is set alight, that her discomfort levels really begin to rise.
And then there’s the fact that Jono is having trouble with thefts from his oyster farming lease, Ryan isn’t exactly being a model child and the whole town has become unsettled.
With my hectic work/life/reviewing schedule these days, it’s been a while since I finished a book so quickly. It took me only two days of snatched time here and there to read this but that’s also due, in part, to Amanda Ortlepp’s relaxed writing style and the manner in which she keeps the pace going by frequently shifting perspectives between her characters.
Told from the perspectives of Erin, Jono and Ryan, Amanda swiftly gets us to the core of all the issues they are faced with, using her secondary characters to add depth and tension to these narratives.
Admittedly, I thought I knew exactly the path that this book was going to take but Amanda really surprised me and, while I’m not going to go into too much detail about the characters for fear of giving anything away, believe me when I say that they are complex, unpredictable and interesting and should definitely not be taken at face value.
As in real life, appearances can be deceiving so, whilst reading this novel, be careful where your loyalties lie because Amanda blurs the focus so well that by the time the story climaxes and goes into denouement, every belief you once held about every character will be shattered. Whether, on one level or another, you connect with them sympathetically or unsympathetically, the big question that will remain right to the end is, who is behind it all?
Touching on the differences between the younger and older generations, gambling addiction and the destruction it can wreak on a family unit, domestic violence and bullying, Amanda leads the reader down many false trails, bringing us a provocative tale laced with deception, displacement, obsession and resentment in a tone that consistently leaves the reader with an intense sense of dread and underlying malevolence which, for some, might just mean there will be no happy ending!
Thrilling and engrossing, Amanda has done an impressive job in writing this novel. Weaving the strands together in such a manner that we feel the same sense of urgency, disbelief and hurt as her characters, her second novel is well-paced and gripping with a profound almost claustrophobic sense of place, a deep sense of character and enough red herrings to keep you guessing.
In my view Amanda has reinforced herself as an author to watch and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.
March 3, 2016
‘… you don’t realise the effect you have on people. You don’t understand that your actions have consequences.’
Erin Travers and her sons Mike and Ryan have left Sydney, hoping to start a new life in the small town of Mallee Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. Erin spent some happy times in Mallee Bay as a child, and hopes to find refuge and start a new life away from her gambling addict husband Marcus.
Mallee Bay is a small, close-knit community, where everyone knows almost everything about everyone else, and where newcomers are obvious. It can be difficult establishing yourself in such a small town, especially for Erin’s son Ryan who really doesn’t want to be there. And it doesn’t take long before Erin’s move becomes complicated. Mallee Bay is no utopia, and thefts from the oyster leases have people suspicious. As does a fire. While Erin and her son Mike are settling in to life at Mallee Bay, Ryan is finding it far more difficult. And he really doesn’t want to be there anyway.
This is one of those wonderfully written, multi-layered novels peopled with interesting and at times complicated characters. Two of my favourite characters would have to be Erin’s next door neighbours, Jono (an oyster farmer) and Helen.
I really enjoyed this novel, and while I worked out certain aspects before the end, there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. And the ending? You’ll need to read it for yourself to find out.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Erin Travers and her sons Mike and Ryan have left Sydney, hoping to start a new life in the small town of Mallee Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. Erin spent some happy times in Mallee Bay as a child, and hopes to find refuge and start a new life away from her gambling addict husband Marcus.
Mallee Bay is a small, close-knit community, where everyone knows almost everything about everyone else, and where newcomers are obvious. It can be difficult establishing yourself in such a small town, especially for Erin’s son Ryan who really doesn’t want to be there. And it doesn’t take long before Erin’s move becomes complicated. Mallee Bay is no utopia, and thefts from the oyster leases have people suspicious. As does a fire. While Erin and her son Mike are settling in to life at Mallee Bay, Ryan is finding it far more difficult. And he really doesn’t want to be there anyway.
This is one of those wonderfully written, multi-layered novels peopled with interesting and at times complicated characters. Two of my favourite characters would have to be Erin’s next door neighbours, Jono (an oyster farmer) and Helen.
I really enjoyed this novel, and while I worked out certain aspects before the end, there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. And the ending? You’ll need to read it for yourself to find out.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
September 4, 2016
I read this back to back with the author's debut novel, and I have to say this wasn't as good. Fair enough the subject matter of the first novel packed one hell of an original punch, but this follow up was just never going to cut the mustard and that was a shame.
Although I could appreciate the writing skill and the storyline was good, it just wasn't as unique and "Claiming Noah" so I guess it suffered somewhat from a case of sibling overshadow!
This one did make me cry though, so extra points there!
Would defiantly look to read more from this author in the future, but I would definitely space them out a bit more!
Although I could appreciate the writing skill and the storyline was good, it just wasn't as unique and "Claiming Noah" so I guess it suffered somewhat from a case of sibling overshadow!
This one did make me cry though, so extra points there!
Would defiantly look to read more from this author in the future, but I would definitely space them out a bit more!
June 9, 2017
'Running Against the Tide' by Amanda Ortlepp was disappointing. The plot sounded promising: a mother flees a disastrous marriage, taking her two teenage sons to settle in an isolated community on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia where she had grown up. There are quite a few sub-plots. One of the sons finds it hard to settle into his new school, an old boyfriend of Erin's turns up, a new one starts to court her, someone is stealing the oysters in the local oyster farms, mysterious and dangerous events occur that seem to point to a stalker.....The trouble for me was that there was no tension as it was so easy to pick the culprits for the various crimes that occurred, while Erin waffled around blaming everyone else, not seeing what was so obvious to the reader. But we did learn a lot about oyster farming.
dnf
June 2, 2019 Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I got this ages ago on NG, and hadn't had a chance to get to it until now. Given that its been along time, this is not the sort of book I am currently interested in reading. It sounds good, and the writing style seems good, for the part that I did start to read. Just not for me right now.
I got this ages ago on NG, and hadn't had a chance to get to it until now. Given that its been along time, this is not the sort of book I am currently interested in reading. It sounds good, and the writing style seems good, for the part that I did start to read. Just not for me right now.
March 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book, lots of little twists and turns to keep me guessing. I really didn’t like Erin though, she made some poor choices in her lifel
February 23, 2016
Amanda Ortlepp returns after the success of her debut, Claiming Noah, which we read for book club and I loved.
Running Against The Tide sees Erin pack up her sons and leave Sydney for the small town of Mallee Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, she remembered holidaying nearby as a child and the place holds happy memories – and it’s far from the mess that is her marriage.
The house is a little rundown, the town is a little small and Erin begins to wonder what she has gotten herself in for. Her teenaged sons are not thrilled with the move, Mike is happy to make the best of the situation but Ryan is not so accommodating.
Erin arrives in Mallee Bay with more emotional baggage than actual baggage and it is only slowly that events are revealed to explain her move to South Australia.
Her arrival also coincides with a run of oyster thefts and an arson that have fingers pointing in all directions but no real evidence backing up suspicions. The storytelling is compelling with some unexpected twists and enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the end.
The small town characters are engaging and I loved getting to know them. Erin’s neighbours are Jono and Helen, the elderly couple are friendly enough and have always lived in Mallee Bay; Jono is an oyster farmer who inherited the farm from his father. The couple are childless and getting to know them and their story is heartwarming and restores faith in love that lasts forever.
I feel like there are many different character types in the story and it was interesting to see the way they interacted, the way that different people brought out completely different sides to illustrate how multi-faceted most people are and how important it is not to judge on one persons opinion because you may bring out a different side to them.
Fifteen year old Ryan is quite a complicated character and the glimpse we get past his exterior completely changes the perception of him; and he was not the only character I came to question my perceptions of through the storytelling of the talented Ortlepp.
I was captured by the scenery and the characters of Mallee Bay; I wanted to keep reading to find out where we would be taken next. Some of the behaviour of characters didn’t sit right with me but it wasn’t enough to affect my enjoyment of the story.
Read more: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
Running Against The Tide sees Erin pack up her sons and leave Sydney for the small town of Mallee Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, she remembered holidaying nearby as a child and the place holds happy memories – and it’s far from the mess that is her marriage.
The house is a little rundown, the town is a little small and Erin begins to wonder what she has gotten herself in for. Her teenaged sons are not thrilled with the move, Mike is happy to make the best of the situation but Ryan is not so accommodating.
Erin arrives in Mallee Bay with more emotional baggage than actual baggage and it is only slowly that events are revealed to explain her move to South Australia.
Her arrival also coincides with a run of oyster thefts and an arson that have fingers pointing in all directions but no real evidence backing up suspicions. The storytelling is compelling with some unexpected twists and enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the end.
The small town characters are engaging and I loved getting to know them. Erin’s neighbours are Jono and Helen, the elderly couple are friendly enough and have always lived in Mallee Bay; Jono is an oyster farmer who inherited the farm from his father. The couple are childless and getting to know them and their story is heartwarming and restores faith in love that lasts forever.
I feel like there are many different character types in the story and it was interesting to see the way they interacted, the way that different people brought out completely different sides to illustrate how multi-faceted most people are and how important it is not to judge on one persons opinion because you may bring out a different side to them.
Fifteen year old Ryan is quite a complicated character and the glimpse we get past his exterior completely changes the perception of him; and he was not the only character I came to question my perceptions of through the storytelling of the talented Ortlepp.
I was captured by the scenery and the characters of Mallee Bay; I wanted to keep reading to find out where we would be taken next. Some of the behaviour of characters didn’t sit right with me but it wasn’t enough to affect my enjoyment of the story.
Read more: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
March 5, 2016
I've read a lot of novels recently about people on the run, so was relieved when it turned out that Erin wasn't really in hiding... just moving on from her past. And again (happily) that past is shared pretty quickly so there's no big reveal on that front. It meant the book was more about Erin and her boys (Mike and Ryan) and their family dynamic.
In fact, Running Against the Tide touches on many important issues such as family violence, relationships, and addiction; all set amidst the Eyre Peninsula and an oyster farming community.
Ortlepp does a wonderful job with the characters. We got to know (the kinda-ineffectual) Erin pretty quickly; and I loved the elderly neighbour and oyster farmer Jono as well as Erin's eldest, Mike. And then there's Ryan: a loner at his old school, little seems to have changed.
The book's well written and paced, but there were a couple of threads that didn't quite come together for me – around Erin’s admirer and the oyster thefts.
On the latter I was kinda expecting another twist at the end - which would have turned the rest of the novel on its head. (See below!)
This was a solid read and it's great to see Ortlepp deliver on her early promise.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Spoiler – I had actually thought we were going to learn that Mike had been guilty of the thefts. Ortlepp worded the tussle in the boat in such a way that I thought she was going to make Mike the culprit – which could have made him the ‘baddie’ disguised as the goodie all along. He told Jono lots of stories about Ryan but we didn’t hear another side, so they could have been fictional to present himself as ‘the good son’ when he was really a psychopath who missed his father!
Also wasn’t sure of the whole need to bruise a wrist given that it really didn’t engender that much sympathy from those who mattered.
In fact, Running Against the Tide touches on many important issues such as family violence, relationships, and addiction; all set amidst the Eyre Peninsula and an oyster farming community.
Ortlepp does a wonderful job with the characters. We got to know (the kinda-ineffectual) Erin pretty quickly; and I loved the elderly neighbour and oyster farmer Jono as well as Erin's eldest, Mike. And then there's Ryan: a loner at his old school, little seems to have changed.
The book's well written and paced, but there were a couple of threads that didn't quite come together for me – around Erin’s admirer and the oyster thefts.
On the latter I was kinda expecting another twist at the end - which would have turned the rest of the novel on its head. (See below!)
This was a solid read and it's great to see Ortlepp deliver on her early promise.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Spoiler – I had actually thought we were going to learn that Mike had been guilty of the thefts. Ortlepp worded the tussle in the boat in such a way that I thought she was going to make Mike the culprit – which could have made him the ‘baddie’ disguised as the goodie all along. He told Jono lots of stories about Ryan but we didn’t hear another side, so they could have been fictional to present himself as ‘the good son’ when he was really a psychopath who missed his father!
Also wasn’t sure of the whole need to bruise a wrist given that it really didn’t engender that much sympathy from those who mattered.
December 26, 2015
I'm in heaven. Another crime fiction title set in authentically in South Australia.
For most of this story you might think this book is on the very outer edge of the crime fiction genre, but its place is firmly established by the end.
Erin Travers takes her two sons away from Sydney and her abusive gambling addict husband to the fictitious town on Mallee Bay on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Her older son needs to find a job and teenaged Ryan will go to school. Ryan in particular finds the move away from his father hard and turns in on himself.
They move into a rented dilapidated weather board house next door to elderly oyster fisherman Jono and his wife Helen. Their friendship makes life bearable for Erin and through Helen she enters a painting in the local art competition, and Jono gives Mick some part time work on the oyster farm.
Then someone plants some iceberg roses in Erin's back yard and things take a slightly sinister turn. Oysters go missing from the oyster farm and Ryan has a tough time settling in at school.
Another very readable story, and South Australian readers will love the setting.
For most of this story you might think this book is on the very outer edge of the crime fiction genre, but its place is firmly established by the end.
Erin Travers takes her two sons away from Sydney and her abusive gambling addict husband to the fictitious town on Mallee Bay on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Her older son needs to find a job and teenaged Ryan will go to school. Ryan in particular finds the move away from his father hard and turns in on himself.
They move into a rented dilapidated weather board house next door to elderly oyster fisherman Jono and his wife Helen. Their friendship makes life bearable for Erin and through Helen she enters a painting in the local art competition, and Jono gives Mick some part time work on the oyster farm.
Then someone plants some iceberg roses in Erin's back yard and things take a slightly sinister turn. Oysters go missing from the oyster farm and Ryan has a tough time settling in at school.
Another very readable story, and South Australian readers will love the setting.
October 25, 2017
Another nice Aussie yarn, set in an oyster farming village in South Australia. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story as well as the local characters. I found it a little hard to accept that Ryan had gone from a loving son who followed his mum everywhere, to the sullen rude teenager he became. Also that she never put the weird ex-boyfriend in her list of suspects. However it was an enjoyable read, in a fascinating setting.
January 30, 2018
Another great book by Amanda Ortlepp. The story had me turning the page quicker then I could read it. I was left with wanting more, but having questions answered and the closure needed. I only wanted to read more because I could have kept reading and reading about this story and the many characters involved. This is an intense drama filled story which had me trying to guess what was going on, yet when finding out been in surprise.
February 13, 2019
This book was very slow to get started and I felt the loose ends which hanging around through the book were tied up too quickly, as if the author didn’t quite know what to do with them and wanted the story over.
I didn’t warm to Erin who was so self absorbed she couldn’t see what was going on in her own family.
That said, I enjoyed the book. The setting was interesting and I’d read more books by this author.
I didn’t warm to Erin who was so self absorbed she couldn’t see what was going on in her own family.
That said, I enjoyed the book. The setting was interesting and I’d read more books by this author.
May 4, 2019
Loved this second novel by Ortlepp. It starts out slow, but that is really allowing the reader to get to know the characters on a deeper level. Ortlepp does a great job creating deep characters and intertwining them throughout the story. The ending is fabulous for almost all of the characters.
December 30, 2022
3.5⭐️ A good Australian mystery. I enjoyed this story.
(Op shop find).
(Op shop find).
February 24, 2016
Expect to suspect everyone in Running Against the Tide, the latest novel from Amanda Ortlepp (Claiming Noah). An undercurrent of malice swims through the novel, luring readers into its depths, and tossing up red herrings that promote suspicion and tension.
When Erin Travers moves to the rugged Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, she’s leaving a life of uncertainty and mis-trust and hoping for a fresh start with her two teenage sons. Her oldest son, Mike, seems to settle in quickly, but her younger son, Ryan, is less than happy about the move. He misses his father, feels like he doesn’t fit in anywhere, and is angry at the world and his mother. Erin’s concerns for him niggle at her, even while she catches the eye of a local, nicknamed Puff, and makes friends with her next-door neighbours.
However, re-entering the dating world, albeit warily, leads to trouble for Erin: rose bushes mysteriously appear in her garden and are then found uprooted in her garden; money goes missing; someone starts sending warning letters; and Erin’s new art studio/shed is burnt down. Fingers are pointed, suspicions are raised, and trust is eroded. Erin’s not the only one having a bad time: someone is stealing oysters from the local oyster farms and everyone has an opinion about who’s behind the thefts. As Erin discovers, wherever you go, your baggage comes along for the ride, and the past usually catches up.
Ortlepp cleverly draws together themes including belonging, relationship breakdown, parent-child relationships, gambling, sibling discord, addiction, crime and guilt in Running Against the Tide. At nearly turn of the page there is a threat. Why is Erin a target? Why is Mike so quick to judge his younger brother? Why is Ryan’s behaviour so challenging? What’s keeping Erin and Ryan from connecting? Is it a normal part of teenage life, especially when some trauma has been involved? Or is there something wrong with Ryan? These questions, and more, will keep readers turning pages, guessing all the way.
The character I most resonated with, interestingly, was Ryan. It’s probably because some of his “attitude”, actions and reactions to emotional trauma and life upheaval reminded me of one of my sons. I felt for this boy and hoped that someone would be able to reach him – that is, if he was reachable and teachable. I also understood Erin’s sense of hopelessness – I have been there. Am still there at times. I wanted to tell her to keep her faith (just as sometimes I need someone to tell me that). A minor character, Helen, provides a lovely lesson towards the end of the novel. So, as to the characterisation in this novel, good work was done.
The tension also built up well, though a couple of things jarred. The ending seemed rushed, with the climax not quite reaching the heights I expected. For example, the explanation of Erin’s wrist injury (which happens before the novel starts and is another source of suspicion and questioning) felt like it was thrown in there to tie up loose ends. I wasn’t surprised by the reveal, because I’d suspected this person all along, despite the red herrings. And when one character died, I didn’t feel that emotional impact that I would have expected, mainly because it again, seemed glossed over.
Overall, a tense and twisty page-turner, with an interesting and new setting, that kept me hooked until the end.
When Erin Travers moves to the rugged Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, she’s leaving a life of uncertainty and mis-trust and hoping for a fresh start with her two teenage sons. Her oldest son, Mike, seems to settle in quickly, but her younger son, Ryan, is less than happy about the move. He misses his father, feels like he doesn’t fit in anywhere, and is angry at the world and his mother. Erin’s concerns for him niggle at her, even while she catches the eye of a local, nicknamed Puff, and makes friends with her next-door neighbours.
However, re-entering the dating world, albeit warily, leads to trouble for Erin: rose bushes mysteriously appear in her garden and are then found uprooted in her garden; money goes missing; someone starts sending warning letters; and Erin’s new art studio/shed is burnt down. Fingers are pointed, suspicions are raised, and trust is eroded. Erin’s not the only one having a bad time: someone is stealing oysters from the local oyster farms and everyone has an opinion about who’s behind the thefts. As Erin discovers, wherever you go, your baggage comes along for the ride, and the past usually catches up.
Ortlepp cleverly draws together themes including belonging, relationship breakdown, parent-child relationships, gambling, sibling discord, addiction, crime and guilt in Running Against the Tide. At nearly turn of the page there is a threat. Why is Erin a target? Why is Mike so quick to judge his younger brother? Why is Ryan’s behaviour so challenging? What’s keeping Erin and Ryan from connecting? Is it a normal part of teenage life, especially when some trauma has been involved? Or is there something wrong with Ryan? These questions, and more, will keep readers turning pages, guessing all the way.
The character I most resonated with, interestingly, was Ryan. It’s probably because some of his “attitude”, actions and reactions to emotional trauma and life upheaval reminded me of one of my sons. I felt for this boy and hoped that someone would be able to reach him – that is, if he was reachable and teachable. I also understood Erin’s sense of hopelessness – I have been there. Am still there at times. I wanted to tell her to keep her faith (just as sometimes I need someone to tell me that). A minor character, Helen, provides a lovely lesson towards the end of the novel. So, as to the characterisation in this novel, good work was done.
The tension also built up well, though a couple of things jarred. The ending seemed rushed, with the climax not quite reaching the heights I expected. For example, the explanation of Erin’s wrist injury (which happens before the novel starts and is another source of suspicion and questioning) felt like it was thrown in there to tie up loose ends. I wasn’t surprised by the reveal, because I’d suspected this person all along, despite the red herrings. And when one character died, I didn’t feel that emotional impact that I would have expected, mainly because it again, seemed glossed over.
Overall, a tense and twisty page-turner, with an interesting and new setting, that kept me hooked until the end.
March 10, 2016
I would like to thank Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an open and honest review.
This book was a little different for me. It was general fiction that almost had the feeling of literary fiction to me as well as having that taste of intrigue and mystery I do so enjoy. Add to that the, for me, almost local feel and imagery that brought to life memories of my own and… wow, what a great read.
And I really must thank Simon & Schuster (Australia) again as they are one of the first major Australian publishers to take me on as a reviewer and boy was I not disappointed by the quality of read I was given! Don’t get me wrong Indie publishers I review for all the time! I love a lot of the stuff you let me read too… but to get my hands on something so well-written, Australian, set in the same state I live in and all in all just so engrossing – I really felt special getting to read this. Like someone had slipped the blue ribbon ice cream in the home brand labelled container again! ;-)
‘Running against the tide’ started out like a bit of a home coming/ coming of age story and I did wonder what I was doing reading it – as it seemed so unlike my usual genre. And then the little tendrils of mystery started to unfurl and grab my attention. By the end of the book – and that fantastic red herring in the basket – wow! It literally was a page turner I could not, and would, not put down. I was reading it at the same time as I am meant to be reading one of my favourite authors… and HER book was put to one side so I could race to the finish to see what happened with ‘Running against the tide’.
And I was not disappointed. The story run its course, wrapped itself up nicely and ended well. None of that ‘I’ve reached my word limit so can just stop’ sorts of endings… no, ‘Running against the tide’ was indeed a quality read from start to finish and smoothly glided through, tidying up as it went and then ending with a smile and a wave goodbye to the reader. Loved it.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. I can’t really express why, but this was just a great read. The South Australian link, the ocean living, the compelling characters and the mystery, thrill and even slight supernatural touch – It might not be my usual read, but it was amazing and seriously, if you like a good Australian based tale, you will love it too.
Would I buy this book for myself? I would, despite it not being my usual sort of read. It was just… GOOD. And good enough I’d be proud to own a paper copy to show off to people and rave about if given the chance. It is just a compelling, addictive and well written story, what more can I say?
In summary: This book is great. Perfect pace, believable characters, fantastic setting and a good mix of finding oneself, mystery and just… life. Highly recommend it.
This book was a little different for me. It was general fiction that almost had the feeling of literary fiction to me as well as having that taste of intrigue and mystery I do so enjoy. Add to that the, for me, almost local feel and imagery that brought to life memories of my own and… wow, what a great read.
And I really must thank Simon & Schuster (Australia) again as they are one of the first major Australian publishers to take me on as a reviewer and boy was I not disappointed by the quality of read I was given! Don’t get me wrong Indie publishers I review for all the time! I love a lot of the stuff you let me read too… but to get my hands on something so well-written, Australian, set in the same state I live in and all in all just so engrossing – I really felt special getting to read this. Like someone had slipped the blue ribbon ice cream in the home brand labelled container again! ;-)
‘Running against the tide’ started out like a bit of a home coming/ coming of age story and I did wonder what I was doing reading it – as it seemed so unlike my usual genre. And then the little tendrils of mystery started to unfurl and grab my attention. By the end of the book – and that fantastic red herring in the basket – wow! It literally was a page turner I could not, and would, not put down. I was reading it at the same time as I am meant to be reading one of my favourite authors… and HER book was put to one side so I could race to the finish to see what happened with ‘Running against the tide’.
And I was not disappointed. The story run its course, wrapped itself up nicely and ended well. None of that ‘I’ve reached my word limit so can just stop’ sorts of endings… no, ‘Running against the tide’ was indeed a quality read from start to finish and smoothly glided through, tidying up as it went and then ending with a smile and a wave goodbye to the reader. Loved it.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. I can’t really express why, but this was just a great read. The South Australian link, the ocean living, the compelling characters and the mystery, thrill and even slight supernatural touch – It might not be my usual read, but it was amazing and seriously, if you like a good Australian based tale, you will love it too.
Would I buy this book for myself? I would, despite it not being my usual sort of read. It was just… GOOD. And good enough I’d be proud to own a paper copy to show off to people and rave about if given the chance. It is just a compelling, addictive and well written story, what more can I say?
In summary: This book is great. Perfect pace, believable characters, fantastic setting and a good mix of finding oneself, mystery and just… life. Highly recommend it.
April 12, 2016
Not quite brimming with malice and threat but still an entertaining read.
As a story of a woman trying to make a new start in a country town she used to know well but which is alien to her two sons, one of whom seems to slide into the community easily while the other struggles to overcome resentment of the move and find his place, this is an intriguing read. Sense of place was muted but realistic and I enjoyed reading about a part of the world I know reasonably well. The characters of Jono and Ryan are beautifully done. You really feel Ryan’s frustration and anger. Likewise Jono is a bit of busy-body, quick to judge and interfere, and Ortlepp uses him well to keep you off-kilter.
Is this a story brimming with malice and threat? Not as much as I expected after reading the blurb. The malice doesn’t really happen until half way through the novel, and the threat is low key until it suddenly explodes in the final scenes. The are many red-herrings that aren’t carried for long enough to keep us guessing and some of the clues that all is not well seem to come from nowhere (is it possible that Erin, or her nosey neighbour, wouldn’t notice the garden being made over?).
For me, the first and second halves of the novel didn’t quite gel. By the time Erin is in danger I wasn’t as invested as I might have been. While there are a few hints within the first half that something is not right in Erin’s world, these weren’t developed enough for me to wonder about Erin’s state of mind or if there really was someone out to get her. Perhaps, in seeking to keep us guessing, the characters most likely to be tormenting Erin remain too absent.
Running Against the Tide is a good escapist read and a great way to spend an afternoon. Ortlepp touches on some deeper societal issues and has created some wonderful characters in Jono and Ryan.
My copy thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia
As a story of a woman trying to make a new start in a country town she used to know well but which is alien to her two sons, one of whom seems to slide into the community easily while the other struggles to overcome resentment of the move and find his place, this is an intriguing read. Sense of place was muted but realistic and I enjoyed reading about a part of the world I know reasonably well. The characters of Jono and Ryan are beautifully done. You really feel Ryan’s frustration and anger. Likewise Jono is a bit of busy-body, quick to judge and interfere, and Ortlepp uses him well to keep you off-kilter.
Is this a story brimming with malice and threat? Not as much as I expected after reading the blurb. The malice doesn’t really happen until half way through the novel, and the threat is low key until it suddenly explodes in the final scenes. The are many red-herrings that aren’t carried for long enough to keep us guessing and some of the clues that all is not well seem to come from nowhere (is it possible that Erin, or her nosey neighbour, wouldn’t notice the garden being made over?).
For me, the first and second halves of the novel didn’t quite gel. By the time Erin is in danger I wasn’t as invested as I might have been. While there are a few hints within the first half that something is not right in Erin’s world, these weren’t developed enough for me to wonder about Erin’s state of mind or if there really was someone out to get her. Perhaps, in seeking to keep us guessing, the characters most likely to be tormenting Erin remain too absent.
Running Against the Tide is a good escapist read and a great way to spend an afternoon. Ortlepp touches on some deeper societal issues and has created some wonderful characters in Jono and Ryan.
My copy thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia
March 5, 2016
Book blurb...
Running Against the Tide is a novel about long-held grudges, prejudices and love triangles in a small town where lives are tangled too closely together.
Erin Travers is running away from her life and taking her two sons with her to a small town on the Eyre Peninsula. This small, beautiful township is interwoven with happy childhood memories for Erin. But the past never stays the same and she is bringing a whole lot of baggage with her. When the peaceful community is disrupted by arson and oyster theft, everyone has different ideas about who is responsible. Old grudges are brought up, and fingers are pointed and secrets unmasked.
My thoughts...
I have been reading this book whilst travelling down Australia’s east coast between Woodgate in south-east Queensland and Corindi Beach on the mid-north coast of NSW. I have not had much reading time whilst travelling but that said, I did take every chance possible to finish this story.
This novel is one that will make you feel for all the characters in one way or another, especially towards the later half of the book when all the long-held grudges and prejudices really start to show. Erin never really escapes her past and brings a whole lot of baggage with her when she moves to a peaceful community with her two sons and without her husband.
Running Against the Tide is the perfect name for this story as it is not only a great analogy for the Oyster Farms but works so well for Erin Travers and her life challenges.
The characterisation of Erin’s youngest son was so well done I moved from wanting to tell him to wake up to himself to feeling so sorry for him that I wanted to scream at Erin to take more notice of him and his issues.
I have not read Amanda Ortlepp’s first book ,Claiming Noah, but it will now be on my to be read list. I have heard good things about it.
Running Against the Tide is a novel about long-held grudges, prejudices and love triangles in a small town where lives are tangled too closely together.
Erin Travers is running away from her life and taking her two sons with her to a small town on the Eyre Peninsula. This small, beautiful township is interwoven with happy childhood memories for Erin. But the past never stays the same and she is bringing a whole lot of baggage with her. When the peaceful community is disrupted by arson and oyster theft, everyone has different ideas about who is responsible. Old grudges are brought up, and fingers are pointed and secrets unmasked.
My thoughts...
I have been reading this book whilst travelling down Australia’s east coast between Woodgate in south-east Queensland and Corindi Beach on the mid-north coast of NSW. I have not had much reading time whilst travelling but that said, I did take every chance possible to finish this story.
This novel is one that will make you feel for all the characters in one way or another, especially towards the later half of the book when all the long-held grudges and prejudices really start to show. Erin never really escapes her past and brings a whole lot of baggage with her when she moves to a peaceful community with her two sons and without her husband.
Running Against the Tide is the perfect name for this story as it is not only a great analogy for the Oyster Farms but works so well for Erin Travers and her life challenges.
The characterisation of Erin’s youngest son was so well done I moved from wanting to tell him to wake up to himself to feeling so sorry for him that I wanted to scream at Erin to take more notice of him and his issues.
I have not read Amanda Ortlepp’s first book ,Claiming Noah, but it will now be on my to be read list. I have heard good things about it.
December 19, 2015
This book was a delight to read. Ortlepp has written a book with many layers and developed the characters of this book well. It would also appear that Ortlepp researched the art of Oyster farming as well, I found her descriptions throughout the book very informative and for the uneducated (such as myself), very realistic, adding an interesting backdrop to this novel.
There were twists and turns in this novel that really kept me wanting to read to the end to establish who was causing Erin grief. Erin, the main character of this novel is starting afresh after a messy separation from her husband. With two teenage sons in tow, Erin decides to uproot them to a country town, best known for it's Oysters. Needless to say, a move of this kind for two city teenagers brings with it, many issues. One son flourishes under the circumstances, the other, retreats within and a set of separate issues unfold. I won't give any spoilers in this review, but what I will say, this is a really interesting insight/study of relationships. Relationships between parents, children, neighbours and new romances are under the magnifying glass in this novel, with some mystery thrown in for good measure.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. It would be very suitable for a book club read, given the diverse cross section of characters, making for interesting discussions. I read this on holidays and it would also be a great holiday read! Thank you net galley for the opportunity to read and review this title, it was a privilege.
There were twists and turns in this novel that really kept me wanting to read to the end to establish who was causing Erin grief. Erin, the main character of this novel is starting afresh after a messy separation from her husband. With two teenage sons in tow, Erin decides to uproot them to a country town, best known for it's Oysters. Needless to say, a move of this kind for two city teenagers brings with it, many issues. One son flourishes under the circumstances, the other, retreats within and a set of separate issues unfold. I won't give any spoilers in this review, but what I will say, this is a really interesting insight/study of relationships. Relationships between parents, children, neighbours and new romances are under the magnifying glass in this novel, with some mystery thrown in for good measure.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. It would be very suitable for a book club read, given the diverse cross section of characters, making for interesting discussions. I read this on holidays and it would also be a great holiday read! Thank you net galley for the opportunity to read and review this title, it was a privilege.
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