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Calico Mountain #3
Deadman's Track
Alone in the wilderness, they are picked off one by one ... Gripping, standalone romantic thriller from an author at the top of her game, for readers of The Dark Lake and The Dry.
A tragic accident, a terrible crime, an unknown threat ...
Scarred by a recent tragedy on Federation Peak, Tess Atherton is reluctant to guide a group of young hikers in the wild Tasmanian winter, but it seems safer than remaining amid the violence that threatens them in Hobart. Little does she know that she has brought the danger with her ...
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham is closing in on a serial killer, but someone doesn't want him getting to the truth and the case is becoming personal. He already owes Tess his life, and wants to return the favour - but when it comes to enemies, Jared may be looking in the wrong direction.
Time is running out, and death is stalking them both ...
"Deadman's Track is a dark, compelling thriller, filled with vivid imagery and heart-stopping suspense. Sarah Barrie has made me desperate to visit Tasmania and simultaneously terrified of ever stepping foot there. I loved every moment." -Nicola Moriarty, author of The Ex
A tragic accident, a terrible crime, an unknown threat ...
Scarred by a recent tragedy on Federation Peak, Tess Atherton is reluctant to guide a group of young hikers in the wild Tasmanian winter, but it seems safer than remaining amid the violence that threatens them in Hobart. Little does she know that she has brought the danger with her ...
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham is closing in on a serial killer, but someone doesn't want him getting to the truth and the case is becoming personal. He already owes Tess his life, and wants to return the favour - but when it comes to enemies, Jared may be looking in the wrong direction.
Time is running out, and death is stalking them both ...
"Deadman's Track is a dark, compelling thriller, filled with vivid imagery and heart-stopping suspense. Sarah Barrie has made me desperate to visit Tasmania and simultaneously terrified of ever stepping foot there. I loved every moment." -Nicola Moriarty, author of The Ex
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2020
35 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
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July 25, 2020
EXCERPT: 'I'm sorry I got you into this!' Charlie Reynolds shouted over the gusts of wind blasting them with icy sleet. 'It's the stupid weather! I don't know where it came from. I can't see how to get down.'
Neither could Tess. She held on to a shelf of slippery rock on a narrow ledge high on a cliff face with frozen, aching fingers. Beneath them was absolutely nothing. She tried for a smile, for encouragement, because the cute but stupid twenty-three year old was close to panic, but in her head she was swearing: at him, the mountain, the weather, the whole messed-up situation. He had no right to be here. He'd been warned. No - he'd been told. Repeatedly. The Federation Peak climb belonged only to those with the experience to tackle it and enough respect for the extreme Tasmanian conditions to know when not to. And he'd climbed up anyway.
And now this.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: tragic accident, a terrible crime, an unknown threat ...
Scarred by a recent tragedy on Federation Peak, Tess Atherton is reluctant to guide a group of young hikers in the wild Tasmanian winter, but it seems safer than remaining amid the violence that threatens them in Hobart. Little does she know that she has brought the danger with her ...
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham is closing in on a serial killer, but someone doesn't want him getting to the truth and the case is becoming personal. He already owes Tess his life, and wants to return the favour - but when it comes to enemies, Jared may be looking in the wrong direction.
Time is running out, and death is stalking them both ...
MY THOUGHTS: Straight up, I'm going to say that I hate both heights and cold. Deadman's Track has both and I felt the fear as Tess hung suspended over cliff edges, and felt every chilling sting of the icy sleet. I swear that my next read has to be set on a tropical island so that I can thaw out!
I have recently read some absolutely brilliant and gripping Australian fiction, and I was looking forward to more of the same. But I am leaving this book feeling a little disappointed. Despite Sarah Barrie's great descriptive writing, I found the plot lacking. I was dragging my heels by the halfway point and found myself slogging through the remainder of the read. And despite the ending being quite suspenseful and exciting, it wasn't enough to earn Deadman's Track more than an extra half a star.
I really wanted to like Tess, the main character, but for someone who leads trail hikes and volunteers for Search and Rescue, she is easily led into dangerous situations. Twice she counsels against doing hikes because of the time of the year and the unpredictable winter weather conditions, and twice she goes ahead with them. I just didn't find her particularly credible.
Aaron, the controlling ex-boyfriend who won't accept that Tess no longer wants to be with him, is really well depicted and more development of this storyline would have kept me more interested. I am not so keen on the criminal elements in this book, but that is purely my personal preference.
Deadman's Track was only an okay read for me, and I am sorry that I didn't like it more. Many other people have absolutely loved this book, so if you are looking at reading Deadman's Track, check out some of the more positive reviews.
I loved that Sarah Barrie dedicated Deadman's Track 'to the extraordinary men and women who risk their lives every day to save others.'
🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
#DeadmansTrack #NetGalley
'So many big strong heroes, so little time...'
'I want to twist his balls until they snap off and shove them so far up his butt they work as breast enhancements!'
THE AUTHOR: Sarah Barrie lives with her husband and children in a rural area on the Central Coast of NSW. She divides her time between writing, being a mum and her position as editor of two equestrian magazines. When she finds a spare moment or two, she enjoys spending time with her Arabian horses and the various other animals that call the farm home. Though her writing career has traditionally revolved around producing articles for various publications, her true passion lies in fiction and she enjoys writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Neither could Tess. She held on to a shelf of slippery rock on a narrow ledge high on a cliff face with frozen, aching fingers. Beneath them was absolutely nothing. She tried for a smile, for encouragement, because the cute but stupid twenty-three year old was close to panic, but in her head she was swearing: at him, the mountain, the weather, the whole messed-up situation. He had no right to be here. He'd been warned. No - he'd been told. Repeatedly. The Federation Peak climb belonged only to those with the experience to tackle it and enough respect for the extreme Tasmanian conditions to know when not to. And he'd climbed up anyway.
And now this.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: tragic accident, a terrible crime, an unknown threat ...
Scarred by a recent tragedy on Federation Peak, Tess Atherton is reluctant to guide a group of young hikers in the wild Tasmanian winter, but it seems safer than remaining amid the violence that threatens them in Hobart. Little does she know that she has brought the danger with her ...
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham is closing in on a serial killer, but someone doesn't want him getting to the truth and the case is becoming personal. He already owes Tess his life, and wants to return the favour - but when it comes to enemies, Jared may be looking in the wrong direction.
Time is running out, and death is stalking them both ...
MY THOUGHTS: Straight up, I'm going to say that I hate both heights and cold. Deadman's Track has both and I felt the fear as Tess hung suspended over cliff edges, and felt every chilling sting of the icy sleet. I swear that my next read has to be set on a tropical island so that I can thaw out!
I have recently read some absolutely brilliant and gripping Australian fiction, and I was looking forward to more of the same. But I am leaving this book feeling a little disappointed. Despite Sarah Barrie's great descriptive writing, I found the plot lacking. I was dragging my heels by the halfway point and found myself slogging through the remainder of the read. And despite the ending being quite suspenseful and exciting, it wasn't enough to earn Deadman's Track more than an extra half a star.
I really wanted to like Tess, the main character, but for someone who leads trail hikes and volunteers for Search and Rescue, she is easily led into dangerous situations. Twice she counsels against doing hikes because of the time of the year and the unpredictable winter weather conditions, and twice she goes ahead with them. I just didn't find her particularly credible.
Aaron, the controlling ex-boyfriend who won't accept that Tess no longer wants to be with him, is really well depicted and more development of this storyline would have kept me more interested. I am not so keen on the criminal elements in this book, but that is purely my personal preference.
Deadman's Track was only an okay read for me, and I am sorry that I didn't like it more. Many other people have absolutely loved this book, so if you are looking at reading Deadman's Track, check out some of the more positive reviews.
I loved that Sarah Barrie dedicated Deadman's Track 'to the extraordinary men and women who risk their lives every day to save others.'
🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
#DeadmansTrack #NetGalley
'So many big strong heroes, so little time...'
'I want to twist his balls until they snap off and shove them so far up his butt they work as breast enhancements!'
THE AUTHOR: Sarah Barrie lives with her husband and children in a rural area on the Central Coast of NSW. She divides her time between writing, being a mum and her position as editor of two equestrian magazines. When she finds a spare moment or two, she enjoys spending time with her Arabian horses and the various other animals that call the farm home. Though her writing career has traditionally revolved around producing articles for various publications, her true passion lies in fiction and she enjoys writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 23, 2020
Following on from 'Bloodtree River' and 'Devil's Lair', this new book from Sarah Barrie revisits the Atherton family of Calico Lodge, a farm and tourist resort in the lower Central Highlands of Tasmania, not far from Hobart. Along with her older brothers Connor and Logan and their partners, Tess Atherton helps run the resort, helping with the horses and cattle and taking tourists out trekking, abseiling and skiing. She thrives on the outdoor life, also hiring herself out as a guide for longer treks in Tasmania and volunteering with the local Search and Rescue. The only worry in her life is her boyfriend and fellow Search and Rescue member Aaron who is becoming increasingly possessive and controlling towards her.
In nearby Hobart, Jai Wharton, a young man working in a pawn shop is finding it difficult to avoid the demands of his bullying coworker, Pax and is getting himself deeper and deeper into hot water. He's looking forward to taking a break and trekking the famous Tasmanian wilderness South Coast Track with his girlfriend and a group of friends. Although Tess warns Jai and his friends that the rugged 85 km South Coast Track can be very wet, muddy and windy in the current wintery conditions, she is unable to talk from out of going and reluctantly agreed to escort them.
There's a lot going on in this book with a splash of romance and an accompanying slow and steady build of suspense that explodes towards the end of the book, as the plot threads all come together in a creepy and terrifying conclusion. Sarah Barrie's love of the outdoors and the Tasmanian wilderness shines through in her evocative writing, and the reader can feel the wild beauty of the places she visits in her books. The novel could be read as a stand alone but will be enhanced by reading the earlier Calico Lodge novels (Bloodtree River, Devil's Lair) to enjoy the ongoing development of the characters and their backstories.
With thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for a digital ARC to read
In nearby Hobart, Jai Wharton, a young man working in a pawn shop is finding it difficult to avoid the demands of his bullying coworker, Pax and is getting himself deeper and deeper into hot water. He's looking forward to taking a break and trekking the famous Tasmanian wilderness South Coast Track with his girlfriend and a group of friends. Although Tess warns Jai and his friends that the rugged 85 km South Coast Track can be very wet, muddy and windy in the current wintery conditions, she is unable to talk from out of going and reluctantly agreed to escort them.
There's a lot going on in this book with a splash of romance and an accompanying slow and steady build of suspense that explodes towards the end of the book, as the plot threads all come together in a creepy and terrifying conclusion. Sarah Barrie's love of the outdoors and the Tasmanian wilderness shines through in her evocative writing, and the reader can feel the wild beauty of the places she visits in her books. The novel could be read as a stand alone but will be enhanced by reading the earlier Calico Lodge novels (Bloodtree River, Devil's Lair) to enjoy the ongoing development of the characters and their backstories.
With thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for a digital ARC to read
July 17, 2020
Tess Atherton was a tour guide in the wilderness of Tasmania as well as part of the local Search & Rescue team; she loved the outdoor life and lived at Calico Lodge, her family’s tourist resort and farm not far from Hobert in the Central Highlands. She’d recently had a bad experience at Federation Peak which had shattered her confidence, also not being helped by the obsessive and over-protective manner of her boyfriend, Aaron, fellow member of the Search & Rescue team.
DSS Jared Denham along with Tess’ sister-in-law Inspector Indiana Atherton, were involved in a series of burglary cases, but when murder was suddenly involved, Jared and Indy knew there was more to what was happening in their area. Was it a serial killer they were chasing?
Jai Wharton worked at a pawn shop while trying to care for his Pa who had dementia. Jai was always short of money and when opportunity came knocking, he swallowed his misgivings and acquiesced, albeit reluctantly. Jai and his girlfriend Riley along with a few other friends had a trek planned in the wilderness – long, dangerous (especially in winter as it was) and not for the faint hearted – and when their tour guide pulled out, Tess grudgingly agreed to guide them through the eighty odd kilometre track. Tess didn’t expect anything more than bitter cold, mud and exhaustion…
Wow!!! Deadman’s Track by Aussie author Sarah Barrie – what can I say? This author is killing the romantic suspense/thriller genre! While we catch up with characters from previous books – Bloodtree River and Devil's Lair – Deadman’s Track is a standalone, filled with incredible twists, intense moments of pure thrill, heartstopping and breathtaking events. I had trouble putting it down and couldn’t believe the electrifying pace toward the end. Very highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
DSS Jared Denham along with Tess’ sister-in-law Inspector Indiana Atherton, were involved in a series of burglary cases, but when murder was suddenly involved, Jared and Indy knew there was more to what was happening in their area. Was it a serial killer they were chasing?
Jai Wharton worked at a pawn shop while trying to care for his Pa who had dementia. Jai was always short of money and when opportunity came knocking, he swallowed his misgivings and acquiesced, albeit reluctantly. Jai and his girlfriend Riley along with a few other friends had a trek planned in the wilderness – long, dangerous (especially in winter as it was) and not for the faint hearted – and when their tour guide pulled out, Tess grudgingly agreed to guide them through the eighty odd kilometre track. Tess didn’t expect anything more than bitter cold, mud and exhaustion…
Wow!!! Deadman’s Track by Aussie author Sarah Barrie – what can I say? This author is killing the romantic suspense/thriller genre! While we catch up with characters from previous books – Bloodtree River and Devil's Lair – Deadman’s Track is a standalone, filled with incredible twists, intense moments of pure thrill, heartstopping and breathtaking events. I had trouble putting it down and couldn’t believe the electrifying pace toward the end. Very highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
I looked forward to this book which combined wilderness adventure, a police procedural, and romance. The setting was Tasmania but might have taken place on any spectacular trail elsewhere. I regret I am in the minority in finding the story slow-moving and tedious in parts. Prospective readers should not be deterred by my review as many readers rated this book highly.
Tess works on the family ranch not far from Hobart. The home is a B&B and guest house, and she leads guests on short hikes and helps with the horses. Her main job is leading groups on longer, more remote wilderness trails and she also volunteers with the Search and Rescue.
There are two main storylines involving danger. Tess has lost her self-confidence after failing to save a man who fell off a cliff. Next, she was coerced into guiding a group of inexperienced young people on a long winter hike under bad weather conditions of rain, cold, and difficult muddy tracks. Members of the hiking group disappear or are killed under the cover of darkness. An interesting part of Tess’s story is her relationship with her boyfriend, a scary, possessive, over-controlling man. He refused to accept her breakup with him and resorts to stalking and insults that have further undermined her confidence.
A parallel story is one where police are hunting a brutal thief and killer with a puzzling motive. He has no hesitation in entangling an innocent person in his web of criminal activity. A young man is entrapped through deceit, treachery and blackmail to take the blame and serve as a fall guy. Jared is the leading police officer in the criminal investigation. He and Tess are developing a romantic relationship.
The ending is suspenseful and exciting. Tess is tricked into going on a venture to rescue an elderly couple who are lost and to lead them to safety. Unfortunately, the ending was quite predictable but was thrilling.
Tess works on the family ranch not far from Hobart. The home is a B&B and guest house, and she leads guests on short hikes and helps with the horses. Her main job is leading groups on longer, more remote wilderness trails and she also volunteers with the Search and Rescue.
There are two main storylines involving danger. Tess has lost her self-confidence after failing to save a man who fell off a cliff. Next, she was coerced into guiding a group of inexperienced young people on a long winter hike under bad weather conditions of rain, cold, and difficult muddy tracks. Members of the hiking group disappear or are killed under the cover of darkness. An interesting part of Tess’s story is her relationship with her boyfriend, a scary, possessive, over-controlling man. He refused to accept her breakup with him and resorts to stalking and insults that have further undermined her confidence.
A parallel story is one where police are hunting a brutal thief and killer with a puzzling motive. He has no hesitation in entangling an innocent person in his web of criminal activity. A young man is entrapped through deceit, treachery and blackmail to take the blame and serve as a fall guy. Jared is the leading police officer in the criminal investigation. He and Tess are developing a romantic relationship.
The ending is suspenseful and exciting. Tess is tricked into going on a venture to rescue an elderly couple who are lost and to lead them to safety. Unfortunately, the ending was quite predictable but was thrilling.
October 7, 2024
In the past, I've been a little underwhelmed by the attempts of rural romance authors/publishers to break into the lucrative and popular Aussie Noir/Thriller genre. But I am happy to report that, with Deadman's Track, Sarah Barrie has successfully made the leap - this is a bona fide thriller, albeit with a background romance subplot.
Over the course of the novel, three narratives are drawn together, each engrossing and intriguing in its own right.
The book opens with Tasmanian walking guide Tess Atherton (who readers of Barrie's Bloodtree River and Devil's Lair will remember as a supporting character in those books) attempting to rescue a client who has foolishly set off alone on Tasmania's notorious Federation Peak in bad weather. [The photo below was taken on a perfect weather day]
The aftermath of the incident begins to expose cracks in Tess's relationship with her fellow SES Rescue volunteer boyfriend, Aaron - he's becoming increasingly possessive and emotionally abusive, especially when Detective Senior Sargeant Jared Denham - colleague of Tess's sister-in-law, Inspector Indiana Atherton - arrives on the scene.
Meanwhile, Indiana, Jared and their unit are investigating a series of increasingly brazen burglaries around Hobart, culminating in the murder of a well-heeled heiress and her partner on a luxury yacht berthed in a nearby marina. Investigations uncover a link to the Australian criminal underworld.
Working in Hobart's most profitable pawnshop, 22-year-old Jai Wharton struggles to balance caring for his increasingly senile grandfather with earning enough for them to survive. He's also in a relationship with Riley, the daughter of his boss, reformed gangster Vince "The Tank" Finlay. Both Jai and Tank are troubled by the provocative behaviour of their newly-materialised colleague, Pax - Tank has been pressured to take him on as a favour and he's clearly up to no good.
As the drama escalates, the three stories come together as Tess reluctantly agrees to step in at the last minute to guide Riley, Jai and several of their friends for a mid-winter walk of Tasmania's iconic South Coast Track. The walk is 85km (53 miles) one-way and can take up to a fortnight to complete in challenging seasonal conditions.
Photo credit: Jacob Robinson
What follows is a genuinely nail-biting pursuit, as Tess and the walkers are stalked by an unseen enemy, and one-by-one the walkers disappear or meet grisly deaths. Who is out there in the wilderness? Can Tess, Jai and Riley win a psychological battle of wits against a vicious foe and reach the relative safety of Melaleuca and their plane home? Can either Jared or Aaron swing in and save the day? The exciting narrative takes us to not one, but two thrilling crescendi.
The remote, wild and beautiful south coast of Tasmania provides a fascinating backdrop to the action in the second half of the book. I have walked part of the track, in summer, and it is stunning, but have to admit that the full distance in the unpredictable winter weather is not enticing, even in the absence of a homicidal psychopath!
Sarah Barrie expertly balances multiple differing perspectives and the reader feels the tension the various protagonists experience as they move towards a conclusion. Her research into the Tasmanian environment and culture is evident - this book has a more distinctly Tasmanian flavour than either of the preceding Calico Mountain novels. She captures the concurrent beauty and danger of the wilderness in an enticing way, while also telling a cautionary tale about hubris in the bush. During the winter of this book's release, walkers are still going out into the wild country of Tasmania woefully under-prepared.
While the book is published under the HQ (Harlequin Enterprises) imprint, this is primarily a thriller to my mind, and would be enjoyed by readers of Sarah Bailey, Ruth Ware and Annie Seaton’s Undara. I'm not sure that the writing reaches the literary standard of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer or Garry Disher, but purely in terms of plotting and characterisations, it is well worth a read - highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non Fiction, YA) & MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC copy of Deadman's Track. #DeadmansTrack #NetGalley
Over the course of the novel, three narratives are drawn together, each engrossing and intriguing in its own right.
The book opens with Tasmanian walking guide Tess Atherton (who readers of Barrie's Bloodtree River and Devil's Lair will remember as a supporting character in those books) attempting to rescue a client who has foolishly set off alone on Tasmania's notorious Federation Peak in bad weather. [The photo below was taken on a perfect weather day]
The aftermath of the incident begins to expose cracks in Tess's relationship with her fellow SES Rescue volunteer boyfriend, Aaron - he's becoming increasingly possessive and emotionally abusive, especially when Detective Senior Sargeant Jared Denham - colleague of Tess's sister-in-law, Inspector Indiana Atherton - arrives on the scene.
Meanwhile, Indiana, Jared and their unit are investigating a series of increasingly brazen burglaries around Hobart, culminating in the murder of a well-heeled heiress and her partner on a luxury yacht berthed in a nearby marina. Investigations uncover a link to the Australian criminal underworld.
Working in Hobart's most profitable pawnshop, 22-year-old Jai Wharton struggles to balance caring for his increasingly senile grandfather with earning enough for them to survive. He's also in a relationship with Riley, the daughter of his boss, reformed gangster Vince "The Tank" Finlay. Both Jai and Tank are troubled by the provocative behaviour of their newly-materialised colleague, Pax - Tank has been pressured to take him on as a favour and he's clearly up to no good.
As the drama escalates, the three stories come together as Tess reluctantly agrees to step in at the last minute to guide Riley, Jai and several of their friends for a mid-winter walk of Tasmania's iconic South Coast Track. The walk is 85km (53 miles) one-way and can take up to a fortnight to complete in challenging seasonal conditions.
Photo credit: Jacob RobinsonWhat follows is a genuinely nail-biting pursuit, as Tess and the walkers are stalked by an unseen enemy, and one-by-one the walkers disappear or meet grisly deaths. Who is out there in the wilderness? Can Tess, Jai and Riley win a psychological battle of wits against a vicious foe and reach the relative safety of Melaleuca and their plane home? Can either Jared or Aaron swing in and save the day? The exciting narrative takes us to not one, but two thrilling crescendi.
The remote, wild and beautiful south coast of Tasmania provides a fascinating backdrop to the action in the second half of the book. I have walked part of the track, in summer, and it is stunning, but have to admit that the full distance in the unpredictable winter weather is not enticing, even in the absence of a homicidal psychopath!
Sarah Barrie expertly balances multiple differing perspectives and the reader feels the tension the various protagonists experience as they move towards a conclusion. Her research into the Tasmanian environment and culture is evident - this book has a more distinctly Tasmanian flavour than either of the preceding Calico Mountain novels. She captures the concurrent beauty and danger of the wilderness in an enticing way, while also telling a cautionary tale about hubris in the bush. During the winter of this book's release, walkers are still going out into the wild country of Tasmania woefully under-prepared.
While the book is published under the HQ (Harlequin Enterprises) imprint, this is primarily a thriller to my mind, and would be enjoyed by readers of Sarah Bailey, Ruth Ware and Annie Seaton’s Undara. I'm not sure that the writing reaches the literary standard of Jane Harper, Chris Hammer or Garry Disher, but purely in terms of plotting and characterisations, it is well worth a read - highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non Fiction, YA) & MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC copy of Deadman's Track. #DeadmansTrack #NetGalley
January 25, 2021
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**4.5 stars**
Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie. (2020).
Scarred by a recent tragedy on Federation Peak, Tess is reluctant to guide a group of young hikers in the wild Tasmanian winter. But it seems safer than remaining amid the violence that threatens them in Hobart. Little does she know that the danger has come with them...
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared is closing in on a serial killer, but someone doesn't want him getting to the truth and the case is becoming personal. He already owes Tess his life, and wants to return the favour - but when it comes to enemies, Jared may be looking in the wrong direction.
This novel follows two previous books featuring the Atherton family, however you can definitely read it as a standalone with no issues (although it's nice to see the previous characters again if you have read the others). I would classify this one as a romantic suspense, with a heavier emphasis on the suspense elements. When the author describes the wilderness, it truly sounds stunning; you know it's fantastic writing if it makes you want to actually see the locations described. I loved both Tess and Jared, they were extremely likeable and clearly perfect for each other despite the fact that when we start the book Tess is in a relationship with someone else... On the suspense side of things, events quickly escalate and include both an abusive ex-boyfriend and a violent serial killer; you'll be hard pressed to choose which of them you dislike more!
Overall: this one is a compelling thriller with a side of romance; I think many readers would really enjoy this novel.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
Deadman's Track by Sarah Barrie. (2020).
Scarred by a recent tragedy on Federation Peak, Tess is reluctant to guide a group of young hikers in the wild Tasmanian winter. But it seems safer than remaining amid the violence that threatens them in Hobart. Little does she know that the danger has come with them...
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared is closing in on a serial killer, but someone doesn't want him getting to the truth and the case is becoming personal. He already owes Tess his life, and wants to return the favour - but when it comes to enemies, Jared may be looking in the wrong direction.
This novel follows two previous books featuring the Atherton family, however you can definitely read it as a standalone with no issues (although it's nice to see the previous characters again if you have read the others). I would classify this one as a romantic suspense, with a heavier emphasis on the suspense elements. When the author describes the wilderness, it truly sounds stunning; you know it's fantastic writing if it makes you want to actually see the locations described. I loved both Tess and Jared, they were extremely likeable and clearly perfect for each other despite the fact that when we start the book Tess is in a relationship with someone else... On the suspense side of things, events quickly escalate and include both an abusive ex-boyfriend and a violent serial killer; you'll be hard pressed to choose which of them you dislike more!
Overall: this one is a compelling thriller with a side of romance; I think many readers would really enjoy this novel.
June 25, 2020
Deadman's Track is a romantic thriller from Australia's Sarah Barrie. Set in Tasmania it is full of action and adventure, and of course some romance. It is the 3rd book with these characters but can be read as a stand alone easily. After reading Devil's Lair last year I was excited to travel back to Tassie.
There is so much happening in this book - there is a serial killer on the loose, and angry ex-boyfriend and a climbing accident. And that is just scraping the surface! As always these stories weave in and out of each other It is atmospheric and I felt the cold and wet backdrop. It is a great read for lover of Aussie writers.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my copy of this book to read.
There is so much happening in this book - there is a serial killer on the loose, and angry ex-boyfriend and a climbing accident. And that is just scraping the surface! As always these stories weave in and out of each other It is atmospheric and I felt the cold and wet backdrop. It is a great read for lover of Aussie writers.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my copy of this book to read.
November 11, 2021
What a ride!
The back of the book does not do justice to this complex and layered story with it's large suite of characters. Yes, there is a group of hikers, alone in the Tassie wilderness, being stalked by a killer but that description which is what drew me in to this book is only a part of the plot and is only entered into later in the book.
The start of the book establishes our main characters and their connections and it starts with a bang. Tess Atherton is a wilderness guide and we meet her as she is taking a small group of young men on a difficult trek on Federation peak. A track that becomes more dangerous when one of them ignores her instructions. This first part is nail biting in itself!
Scarred from her experiences on that peak Tess comes back to civilization and her gaslighting boyfriend from search and rescue, who is clearly several steps past clingy and controlling and way into the crazy side. This is somehow not clear to Tess, even though her extended family do not like him and are pretty upfront about what he is doing.
Tess's sister in law, Indie, is another main character; a senior police detective she is following a sudden spate of break and enters. We as the readers, know way more about them than Indie does, but no spoilers there because I really enjoyed the way in which the different sides of the story evolved. Indie's second in command Jarrad is also a main character, later to become involved with Tess, though I would call the romance element minor to the overall plot, and an enhancement rather than a primary plot element. I found the way the characters and plots slowly intertwine to be excellent, too many characters or plot lines can be overwhelming in some books but I thought they all struck an excellent balance here.
The other thing that worked well for me was the setting. A lot of the book occurs in urban areas and that is fine, but when the characters take us out into the Tassie wilderness the location descriptions become especially vivid. While I have visited Tassie a few times, and done a few small treks there I have not visited the South West where this book is set. Now I really want to! The descriptions of the forests, however freezing cold and muddy, are brilliant and I want to see them for myself.
When we do get to that final trek, the thriller element of the book kicks in hard and fast. While there is a 'thriller' element to it all the way through the book, this last part is intense. The fact that they are being followed and picked off, while the police back in the city work slowly (too slowly) to a realisation of what is happening, this part kept me on the edge of my seat. Some GREAT writing, building up to a final confrontation that is the equal of any thriller I have read for years!
But, even then, the book has a few more adrenaline rushes for us. Far from winding down with a single scene as many thrillers do, the multiple plots and personalities here allow for aftershocks galore. Where no real threads are left untied at the end and every last one of them is a great ending.
I only really have two criticisms for this book. Tess is one, she can be monumentally dense about some things and routinely dumb in her excuses for things. Do real people actually behave with this little survival instinct? I suppose they might, I don't know any who would, but ok, it must be hard to make your lead character do some things that are needed to advance the plot.
The other is in the context that I 'read' this as an ebook and I am still a bit uncertain as to who it was read by. Could it have been the author? They were a good narrator, in any case, except for one quirk which took some getting used to. The speaking parts were fine but, especially early in the book the narration was enunciated so carefully that it almost felt like there was a full stop after each word. So; She got in her car, becomes; She. got. in. her. car. Now I have occasionally heard something similar from narrators. It was not as bad here as in some other books, but it certainly did slow down my reading pace at the beginning because I found it annoying. The story totally made up for it though.
Great build-up, great endings - I hope I can find more from this author.
The back of the book does not do justice to this complex and layered story with it's large suite of characters. Yes, there is a group of hikers, alone in the Tassie wilderness, being stalked by a killer but that description which is what drew me in to this book is only a part of the plot and is only entered into later in the book.
The start of the book establishes our main characters and their connections and it starts with a bang. Tess Atherton is a wilderness guide and we meet her as she is taking a small group of young men on a difficult trek on Federation peak. A track that becomes more dangerous when one of them ignores her instructions. This first part is nail biting in itself!
Scarred from her experiences on that peak Tess comes back to civilization and her gaslighting boyfriend from search and rescue, who is clearly several steps past clingy and controlling and way into the crazy side. This is somehow not clear to Tess, even though her extended family do not like him and are pretty upfront about what he is doing.
Tess's sister in law, Indie, is another main character; a senior police detective she is following a sudden spate of break and enters. We as the readers, know way more about them than Indie does, but no spoilers there because I really enjoyed the way in which the different sides of the story evolved. Indie's second in command Jarrad is also a main character, later to become involved with Tess, though I would call the romance element minor to the overall plot, and an enhancement rather than a primary plot element. I found the way the characters and plots slowly intertwine to be excellent, too many characters or plot lines can be overwhelming in some books but I thought they all struck an excellent balance here.
The other thing that worked well for me was the setting. A lot of the book occurs in urban areas and that is fine, but when the characters take us out into the Tassie wilderness the location descriptions become especially vivid. While I have visited Tassie a few times, and done a few small treks there I have not visited the South West where this book is set. Now I really want to! The descriptions of the forests, however freezing cold and muddy, are brilliant and I want to see them for myself.
When we do get to that final trek, the thriller element of the book kicks in hard and fast. While there is a 'thriller' element to it all the way through the book, this last part is intense. The fact that they are being followed and picked off, while the police back in the city work slowly (too slowly) to a realisation of what is happening, this part kept me on the edge of my seat. Some GREAT writing, building up to a final confrontation that is the equal of any thriller I have read for years!
But, even then, the book has a few more adrenaline rushes for us. Far from winding down with a single scene as many thrillers do, the multiple plots and personalities here allow for aftershocks galore. Where no real threads are left untied at the end and every last one of them is a great ending.
I only really have two criticisms for this book. Tess is one, she can be monumentally dense about some things and routinely dumb in her excuses for things. Do real people actually behave with this little survival instinct? I suppose they might, I don't know any who would, but ok, it must be hard to make your lead character do some things that are needed to advance the plot.
The other is in the context that I 'read' this as an ebook and I am still a bit uncertain as to who it was read by. Could it have been the author? They were a good narrator, in any case, except for one quirk which took some getting used to. The speaking parts were fine but, especially early in the book the narration was enunciated so carefully that it almost felt like there was a full stop after each word. So; She got in her car, becomes; She. got. in. her. car. Now I have occasionally heard something similar from narrators. It was not as bad here as in some other books, but it certainly did slow down my reading pace at the beginning because I found it annoying. The story totally made up for it though.
Great build-up, great endings - I hope I can find more from this author.
July 25, 2020
Evoking both the beauty and danger of Tasmania’s mountains and rugged coastline, with the capricious winter weather often mirroring the tension of the storyline, Deadman’s Track is a riveting romantic thriller from Sarah Barrie.
The story opens with a breathtaking scene as wilderness guide Tess Atherton clings to the side of Tasmania’s Federation Peak attempting to save the life of a careless client, and it’s not the last time in Deadman’s Track that she will find herself trapped in a precarious position. The nail biting plot offers plenty of fast paced, tense action that sees Tess caught in the middle of a violent robbery, stalked by an ex-boyfriend, and targeted by a psychotic killer as she leads five teenagers through the Tasmanian bush.
The youngest of the Atherton siblings who own and run Calico Lodge, (with her brothers, Logan and Connor, featured in Bloodtree River and Devil’s Lair respectively), I thought Tess was an appealing character, who In the face of both physical and emotional challenges, proved to be courageous and resilient. She is confronted with two notable antagonists in Deadman’s Track, Aaron, who doesn’t it take it well when Tess tries to end their relationship, and ex-con Paxton. The behaviour of both men serves to push her closer to Jared, a local police detective with whom Tess has some history. A likeable character, thoughtful and straightforward both personally and professionally, Jared is a good match for Tess, and I enjoyed the development of their relationship, despite the somewhat awkward timing.
It may be considered ambitious of Barrie to include intrigue, action, romance and some thoughtful social commentary in Deadman’s Track, but she does so effortlessly, creating a credible and compelling story. Exciting, atmospheric and gripping, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
The story opens with a breathtaking scene as wilderness guide Tess Atherton clings to the side of Tasmania’s Federation Peak attempting to save the life of a careless client, and it’s not the last time in Deadman’s Track that she will find herself trapped in a precarious position. The nail biting plot offers plenty of fast paced, tense action that sees Tess caught in the middle of a violent robbery, stalked by an ex-boyfriend, and targeted by a psychotic killer as she leads five teenagers through the Tasmanian bush.
The youngest of the Atherton siblings who own and run Calico Lodge, (with her brothers, Logan and Connor, featured in Bloodtree River and Devil’s Lair respectively), I thought Tess was an appealing character, who In the face of both physical and emotional challenges, proved to be courageous and resilient. She is confronted with two notable antagonists in Deadman’s Track, Aaron, who doesn’t it take it well when Tess tries to end their relationship, and ex-con Paxton. The behaviour of both men serves to push her closer to Jared, a local police detective with whom Tess has some history. A likeable character, thoughtful and straightforward both personally and professionally, Jared is a good match for Tess, and I enjoyed the development of their relationship, despite the somewhat awkward timing.
It may be considered ambitious of Barrie to include intrigue, action, romance and some thoughtful social commentary in Deadman’s Track, but she does so effortlessly, creating a credible and compelling story. Exciting, atmospheric and gripping, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
June 7, 2022
Deadman’s Track opens with Search and Rescue volunteer, Tess Atherton’s ill-fated attempt to save a reckless tourist from Tasmania’s Federation Peak, as it would take a rescue team too long to arrive on scene. The rescue ends in tragedy, with Tess almost losing her own life and her confidence shattered, not helped by her possessive boyfriend, Aaron, himself a Search and Rescue volunteer. Meanwhile, in Hobart, D/Snr Sgt Jared Denham grapples with a spate of jewel robberies, which escalate with the murders of a couple on their luxury yacht, the on-board security system breached.
And this is where it gets cosy, Tasmanian-style: there’s a history between Jared and Tess; Jared’s boss DI Indiana Atherton, is married to Tess’s brother, Logan, the other brother Connor is married to Callie, and the three siblings co-own an upmarket lodge/restaurant offering outdoor activities, from skiing to kayaking, abseiling, horse trails to cattle mustering in camp drafts.
On the other side of the tracks, Jai Wharton struggles to make ends meet as he cares for his ailing grandfather, Evan, while besotted with Riley, daughter of his employer, Vince “The Tank” Finlay, a former biker who owns the local pawnbrokers, himself in strife with former associates, forced into taking on a suspicious character Pax, and fencing stolen goods. Conned into helping Pax, Jai is running scared when a simple robbery goes wrong.
For two thirds of the book we follow Jai and his problems, the police investigation and Tess trying to extricate herself from a domineering and increasingly aggressive Aaron, who takes any form of rejection badly. Then in the final part, Tess finds herself leading a 9 day hike across the southern Tasmanian wilderness, taking Riley, Jai, four friends and an older couple, with winter closing in and an unknown killer picking them off.
For me this one ticked all the boxes, the suspense, spectacular scenery, the characters – with several face offs – Jared and Aaron, and a jealous boyfriend/flighty girlfriend on the hiking tour a disaster in the making. As the body count rises, I began to wonder which was worse: a psychopath with no remorse for killing, or a controlling sociopath whose every move seems sinister.
This was the third in a series featuring Tess and Jared, but works as a standalone. I have visited Tasmania several times, with fond memories of Mt Field, but never reached the southern coastal track from Cockle Creek to Melaleuca, and enjoyed following the journey via Google maps. Some suspension of belief is required; how can anyone bashed-up engage in such strenuous feats, or not succumb to hypothermia with drenched clothing in icy temperatures? But a good read and one I recommend, especially for armchair adventurers.
And this is where it gets cosy, Tasmanian-style: there’s a history between Jared and Tess; Jared’s boss DI Indiana Atherton, is married to Tess’s brother, Logan, the other brother Connor is married to Callie, and the three siblings co-own an upmarket lodge/restaurant offering outdoor activities, from skiing to kayaking, abseiling, horse trails to cattle mustering in camp drafts.
On the other side of the tracks, Jai Wharton struggles to make ends meet as he cares for his ailing grandfather, Evan, while besotted with Riley, daughter of his employer, Vince “The Tank” Finlay, a former biker who owns the local pawnbrokers, himself in strife with former associates, forced into taking on a suspicious character Pax, and fencing stolen goods. Conned into helping Pax, Jai is running scared when a simple robbery goes wrong.
For two thirds of the book we follow Jai and his problems, the police investigation and Tess trying to extricate herself from a domineering and increasingly aggressive Aaron, who takes any form of rejection badly. Then in the final part, Tess finds herself leading a 9 day hike across the southern Tasmanian wilderness, taking Riley, Jai, four friends and an older couple, with winter closing in and an unknown killer picking them off.
For me this one ticked all the boxes, the suspense, spectacular scenery, the characters – with several face offs – Jared and Aaron, and a jealous boyfriend/flighty girlfriend on the hiking tour a disaster in the making. As the body count rises, I began to wonder which was worse: a psychopath with no remorse for killing, or a controlling sociopath whose every move seems sinister.
This was the third in a series featuring Tess and Jared, but works as a standalone. I have visited Tasmania several times, with fond memories of Mt Field, but never reached the southern coastal track from Cockle Creek to Melaleuca, and enjoyed following the journey via Google maps. Some suspension of belief is required; how can anyone bashed-up engage in such strenuous feats, or not succumb to hypothermia with drenched clothing in icy temperatures? But a good read and one I recommend, especially for armchair adventurers.
October 1, 2020
Fantastic setting, characters and plot.
Sarah Barrie’s writing is superb. The Tasmanian setting was richly descriptive and complemented the unfolding crimes.
Tess Atherton was a really enjoyable, strong, positive female protagonist. Abusive Aaron was so credibly written I felt his manipulative nature through the pages and wanted to charge him with DV at every encounter. Add the chemistry and challenge of Detective Senior Sargent Jared Denham and I was gripped. I too felt so much for the teenagers caught up in the drama.
Suspense, intrigue and grit all rolled into one brilliant novel.
Sarah Barrie’s writing is superb. The Tasmanian setting was richly descriptive and complemented the unfolding crimes.
Tess Atherton was a really enjoyable, strong, positive female protagonist. Abusive Aaron was so credibly written I felt his manipulative nature through the pages and wanted to charge him with DV at every encounter. Add the chemistry and challenge of Detective Senior Sargent Jared Denham and I was gripped. I too felt so much for the teenagers caught up in the drama.
Suspense, intrigue and grit all rolled into one brilliant novel.
March 25, 2021
Enjoyed the read but found it a bit formula. It is Romance / Crime and I must admit that I lose it a little when the most beautiful girl meets hunkiest man, in a will they / won't they story. That said the crime part was well written and exciting. On the adventure side I would like to have seen more on the beauties and terrors of the Tassie bush. The beaches, crashing surf, blowholes and the tiger snakes, inevitable leeches, cuts by razor grass and dangers of the horizontal scrub.
June 23, 2020
OMG what a roller-coaster of a terrifying ride this novel took me on.
With at least two bad guys on the loose, there was plenty for the characters in this book to be worried about.
Tess was a great character, full of spirit, brave and sure of herself for the most part.
Aaron was a truly horrible character right from the start and any scene that he was in had me wanting to put the book down, sure things were going to turn out badly. His behaviour was classic of an abusive partner and I hated the way he treated Tess.
I loved Jared, the local police officer, he had a big job to do trying to keep up with escalating burglaries.
When Tess lets herself get roped into taking a group of teens out on a trek for a week, I was perplexed at her change in behaviour, because she had been so adamant it wasn't a good idea, and I knew it wasn't going to end well, but even I had no idea just how badly things were going to go.
There are several different threads going on during this novel, all becoming tangled up together by the end and not in a good way.
This was a great read and despite the terrible things that happen throughout this novel, I'd love to go trekking in Tasmania at some point, I just hope the bad guys are busy elsewhere when I do.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review
With at least two bad guys on the loose, there was plenty for the characters in this book to be worried about.
Tess was a great character, full of spirit, brave and sure of herself for the most part.
Aaron was a truly horrible character right from the start and any scene that he was in had me wanting to put the book down, sure things were going to turn out badly. His behaviour was classic of an abusive partner and I hated the way he treated Tess.
I loved Jared, the local police officer, he had a big job to do trying to keep up with escalating burglaries.
When Tess lets herself get roped into taking a group of teens out on a trek for a week, I was perplexed at her change in behaviour, because she had been so adamant it wasn't a good idea, and I knew it wasn't going to end well, but even I had no idea just how badly things were going to go.
There are several different threads going on during this novel, all becoming tangled up together by the end and not in a good way.
This was a great read and despite the terrible things that happen throughout this novel, I'd love to go trekking in Tasmania at some point, I just hope the bad guys are busy elsewhere when I do.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review
March 17, 2021
Sarah Barrie never fails to have me on the edge of my seat with my heart in my stomach when I read one of her awesome romantic suspense stories and this one was a beauty, we return to Calico Lodge in the beautiful highlands of Tasmania, to catch up with the Atherton Family and this time we see Tess finally find the love that she deserves but not without a lot of ups and downs to say the least, with a killer on the loose things are starting to get scary.
Tess is working with search and rescue and when a tragedy has her re-thinking about her certainty on what she can still do and with a very pushy boyfriend, Tess is not feeling like she used to. It is winter and the weather changes at the drop of a hat when Tess takes on a group of young hikers through a tough track something that she had said no too earlier, off they go but it is not long before things go terribly bad in the worst way and Tess shows how strong and courageous she can be.
Detective Senior Jared Denham is working along -side Detective Indy Atherton after a series of break and enters turns to murder and now they seem to be after a serial killer and Jared is getting closer to Tess the woman who saved his life once, but with her ex pushing his weight around things don’t run very smoothly. And when they discover Tess and her hiking party are in serious trouble in the national park Jared is determined to save her.
This is a page-turner at its best the characters good or bad come to life on the pages in this beautiful setting, Tess wow what courage she shows in life and death situations, she is a very strong and independent heroine and Jared sheer determination and love pulled him through some very tough moments in this story and the young hikers have to be mentioned especially Jai and Riley, I loved this story the sensual pull between Tess and Jared with everything going on was so very good and I can’t highly recommend it enough, yes it has been on my TBR pile for too long but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you MS Barrie for another keeper.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Tess is working with search and rescue and when a tragedy has her re-thinking about her certainty on what she can still do and with a very pushy boyfriend, Tess is not feeling like she used to. It is winter and the weather changes at the drop of a hat when Tess takes on a group of young hikers through a tough track something that she had said no too earlier, off they go but it is not long before things go terribly bad in the worst way and Tess shows how strong and courageous she can be.
Detective Senior Jared Denham is working along -side Detective Indy Atherton after a series of break and enters turns to murder and now they seem to be after a serial killer and Jared is getting closer to Tess the woman who saved his life once, but with her ex pushing his weight around things don’t run very smoothly. And when they discover Tess and her hiking party are in serious trouble in the national park Jared is determined to save her.
This is a page-turner at its best the characters good or bad come to life on the pages in this beautiful setting, Tess wow what courage she shows in life and death situations, she is a very strong and independent heroine and Jared sheer determination and love pulled him through some very tough moments in this story and the young hikers have to be mentioned especially Jai and Riley, I loved this story the sensual pull between Tess and Jared with everything going on was so very good and I can’t highly recommend it enough, yes it has been on my TBR pile for too long but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you MS Barrie for another keeper.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
January 13, 2023
4.5 stars
Another winner from Sarah Barrie.
A romance thriller set in the Tasmanian wilderness.
Audiobook read by Wendy Bos
Duration: 12 hours, 21 minutes.
Another winner from Sarah Barrie.
A romance thriller set in the Tasmanian wilderness.
Audiobook read by Wendy Bos
Duration: 12 hours, 21 minutes.
April 7, 2022
Enjoyed the atmosphere and landscapes in this one. Great tribute to the beautiful Tasmanian wilderness. The robbers side of the story line was a bit boring and I didnt really care for the characters, I was more interested in Tess, Indie and Jarod.
September 25, 2020
Deadman's Track follows on from Sarah Barrie’s two previous novels, Bloodtree River and Devil’s Lair. This story takes place again at Calico Lodge, run by the Atherton siblings. Tess Atherton, a wilderness guide in Tasmania, is recovering from a tragic accident. She reluctantly agrees to take a group of young hikers out during the middle of Winter. Nothing prepares the group for what's to come. I really enjoyed this latest suspenseful novel of Sarah's and hope the is more to come from the Athertons! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy.
August 13, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Deadman’s Track offers a fantastic mix of suspense, thrills and chills with a gentle hint of romance. Sarah Barrie’s latest hit all the right notes for this reader.
Tess Atherton leads the way in Deadman’s Track, the latest contemporary suspense novel from Sarah Barrie. Tess is a local tour guide based in Tasmania. Haunted by a past tragedy that unfolded on Federation Peak, Tess is unsure about any future hikes to this dangerous location. But a group of young hikers manage to convince Tess to join them on a trek through the wilds of Tasmania. However, Tess and her crew are faced with plenty of challenges and perilous moments during their expedition. With a dangerous killer on the loose, fear and death surrounds Tess. Can Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham protect Tess and the community from this hunter?
Sarah Barrie is fast becoming Australia’s queen of suspense fiction. With Barrie’s unique Tasmanian spin on the suspense genre, Barrie’s fan base is quickly growing. Deadman’s Track is loosely tied to Blood Tree River and Devil’s Lair, two previous titles based in the same locale as this release. However, there is no essential need to read both these titles to appreciate all Deadman’s Track has to offer, it is an independent release.
I am pretty desperate to get to Tasmania again, having visited this truly magnificent part of our country over a decade ago now. But an interstate trip is not on the cards for me at the moment, so Deadman’s Track managed to fill my travel void. What a heart-pounding and tense journey Sarah Barrie’s 2020 release offered! The scene is immediately established and maintained for the duration of the novel. I could see, hear, breathe and smell the rich Tasmanian surrounds of Deadman’s Track. The raw beauty and danger of this unique locale is fully fleshed out by Sarah Barrie. The tense events of the story are enhanced by the rugged backdrop. The setting is a high point of the novel.
We are closely connected to tour guide Tess Atherton for this latest sojourn with Sarah Barrie. Tess was a character I embraced very quickly and it was a pleasure to follow her exciting journey. There are twists, turns, problems and binds that Tess must endure as the book follows its course. With crime, violence, threats and extreme danger all directed towards Tess, there is a strong feeling of wanting Tess to triumph and overcome these challenges. A little love injected into the story thanks to the presence of Jared, a detective trying to shut down a serial killer in the region adds to this tale. I enjoyed this minimal focus on romance in favour of the thriller elements of Deadman’s Track.
Overall, I really enjoyed Deadman’s Track which marks my third adventure with Sarah Barrie. I’m looking forward to another release from Sarah Barrie.
Deadman’s Track offers a fantastic mix of suspense, thrills and chills with a gentle hint of romance. Sarah Barrie’s latest hit all the right notes for this reader.
Tess Atherton leads the way in Deadman’s Track, the latest contemporary suspense novel from Sarah Barrie. Tess is a local tour guide based in Tasmania. Haunted by a past tragedy that unfolded on Federation Peak, Tess is unsure about any future hikes to this dangerous location. But a group of young hikers manage to convince Tess to join them on a trek through the wilds of Tasmania. However, Tess and her crew are faced with plenty of challenges and perilous moments during their expedition. With a dangerous killer on the loose, fear and death surrounds Tess. Can Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham protect Tess and the community from this hunter?
Sarah Barrie is fast becoming Australia’s queen of suspense fiction. With Barrie’s unique Tasmanian spin on the suspense genre, Barrie’s fan base is quickly growing. Deadman’s Track is loosely tied to Blood Tree River and Devil’s Lair, two previous titles based in the same locale as this release. However, there is no essential need to read both these titles to appreciate all Deadman’s Track has to offer, it is an independent release.
I am pretty desperate to get to Tasmania again, having visited this truly magnificent part of our country over a decade ago now. But an interstate trip is not on the cards for me at the moment, so Deadman’s Track managed to fill my travel void. What a heart-pounding and tense journey Sarah Barrie’s 2020 release offered! The scene is immediately established and maintained for the duration of the novel. I could see, hear, breathe and smell the rich Tasmanian surrounds of Deadman’s Track. The raw beauty and danger of this unique locale is fully fleshed out by Sarah Barrie. The tense events of the story are enhanced by the rugged backdrop. The setting is a high point of the novel.
We are closely connected to tour guide Tess Atherton for this latest sojourn with Sarah Barrie. Tess was a character I embraced very quickly and it was a pleasure to follow her exciting journey. There are twists, turns, problems and binds that Tess must endure as the book follows its course. With crime, violence, threats and extreme danger all directed towards Tess, there is a strong feeling of wanting Tess to triumph and overcome these challenges. A little love injected into the story thanks to the presence of Jared, a detective trying to shut down a serial killer in the region adds to this tale. I enjoyed this minimal focus on romance in favour of the thriller elements of Deadman’s Track.
Overall, I really enjoyed Deadman’s Track which marks my third adventure with Sarah Barrie. I’m looking forward to another release from Sarah Barrie.
January 29, 2022
*4 Stars*
Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. I liked how it was set in Tasmania and talked about the hikes and trek's down there. It actually made me want to discover them for myself. (Minus the atrocities of course).
I found there were some really likeable characters in this and some really despicable ones. There is a lot going on in this one but it does all come together - it just takes a while to get to the advertised moments. It has to be that way, for the story to gain momentum and to understand the little nuances in the story.
I enjoyed jumping into a crime thriller/mystery again, and look forward to reading more from this author.
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Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. I liked how it was set in Tasmania and talked about the hikes and trek's down there. It actually made me want to discover them for myself. (Minus the atrocities of course).
I found there were some really likeable characters in this and some really despicable ones. There is a lot going on in this one but it does all come together - it just takes a while to get to the advertised moments. It has to be that way, for the story to gain momentum and to understand the little nuances in the story.
I enjoyed jumping into a crime thriller/mystery again, and look forward to reading more from this author.
Follow me on:
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June 3, 2020
I found this to be gripping novel, hard to put down, and when I enviably had to, I would find myself thinking about it and trying to work it all out.
There were three subplots, A tragic accident, a terrible crime, an unknown threat... each of which will keep you guessing until the end.
I loved that it was set locally for me in Hobart and surrounding areas, made it all the more real as I could picture all the locations drawing me in to the book even more.
Even though it’s a standalone romantic thriller, it ties in with her previous novels “Bloodtree River” and “Devil’s Lair” with reoccurring characters which I really enjoyed, it was like meeting up again with old friends!
Sarah Barrie hasn’t disappointed at all with this one and totally recommend it as it’s a five star read!
Thank you so much to HQ Fiction for providing me with a copy of Dead Man’s Track, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!
There were three subplots, A tragic accident, a terrible crime, an unknown threat... each of which will keep you guessing until the end.
I loved that it was set locally for me in Hobart and surrounding areas, made it all the more real as I could picture all the locations drawing me in to the book even more.
Even though it’s a standalone romantic thriller, it ties in with her previous novels “Bloodtree River” and “Devil’s Lair” with reoccurring characters which I really enjoyed, it was like meeting up again with old friends!
Sarah Barrie hasn’t disappointed at all with this one and totally recommend it as it’s a five star read!
Thank you so much to HQ Fiction for providing me with a copy of Dead Man’s Track, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!
June 20, 2020
‘I’m sorry I got you into this!’
A tragic accident on Federation Peak has undermined the confidence of Tess Atherton, a Tasmanian wilderness guide and Search and Rescue team member. She’s also becoming increasingly unsettled by the possessive behaviour of her boyfriend Aaron Jackson, also a Search and Rescue volunteer and tour company owner.
In Hobart, Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham and his team are investigating a series of robberies. And then there’s a robbery from a yacht in a marina in which two people are killed.
And twenty-two-year-old Jai Wharton is trying to juggle his responsibilities for caring for his grandfather, suffering from dementia, with his job in ‘Tank’ Finlay’s profitable Hobart pawnshop. Tank’s daughter, Riley, is Jai’s girlfriend. There’s another employee in Tank’s pawnshop: a guy called Pax who ‘… had walked in a month ago, handed Tank a letter and been given a job.’
Tess reluctantly agrees to guide a group of young hikers, including Jai and Riley, in the belief that they’ll be safer out of Hobart while Jared and his team investigate crimes that seem to have some connection to Tank’s shop.
But once out in the wilderness, Tess and her group are in danger. But who from? And why?
To write more about the story might introduce spoilers which could diminish the suspense. Suffice to say, the three different strands of the story are drawn together by the end. There are elements of romance and thriller in this story, and the setting is perfect.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, HQ Fiction for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A tragic accident on Federation Peak has undermined the confidence of Tess Atherton, a Tasmanian wilderness guide and Search and Rescue team member. She’s also becoming increasingly unsettled by the possessive behaviour of her boyfriend Aaron Jackson, also a Search and Rescue volunteer and tour company owner.
In Hobart, Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham and his team are investigating a series of robberies. And then there’s a robbery from a yacht in a marina in which two people are killed.
And twenty-two-year-old Jai Wharton is trying to juggle his responsibilities for caring for his grandfather, suffering from dementia, with his job in ‘Tank’ Finlay’s profitable Hobart pawnshop. Tank’s daughter, Riley, is Jai’s girlfriend. There’s another employee in Tank’s pawnshop: a guy called Pax who ‘… had walked in a month ago, handed Tank a letter and been given a job.’
Tess reluctantly agrees to guide a group of young hikers, including Jai and Riley, in the belief that they’ll be safer out of Hobart while Jared and his team investigate crimes that seem to have some connection to Tank’s shop.
But once out in the wilderness, Tess and her group are in danger. But who from? And why?
To write more about the story might introduce spoilers which could diminish the suspense. Suffice to say, the three different strands of the story are drawn together by the end. There are elements of romance and thriller in this story, and the setting is perfect.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, HQ Fiction for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 19, 2020
Deadman's Track is about love and revenge. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Adam Tess Atherton agrees to take a group of hikers into the Tasmanian wilderness during winter. Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham was investigating a series of murders. However, unbeknown to Tess Atherton she became involved in Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham investigation. The readers of Deadman's Track will continue to follow the twist and turns in Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham investigation to find out what happens.
Wow, Deadman's Track is another fantastic book by Sarah Barrie. I engaged from the beginning of Deadman's Track so much so that I forgot to go to bed. I love Sarah Barrie's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. I like the description of the settings of Deadman's Track allowed me to imagine the Tasmania Wilderness. Deadman's Track is well written and research by Sarah Barrie.
The readers of Deadman's Track will learn about the role of tour guide in the Tasmanian Wilderness. Also, the readers of Deadman's Track will understand the devastation that stalking can have on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
Wow, Deadman's Track is another fantastic book by Sarah Barrie. I engaged from the beginning of Deadman's Track so much so that I forgot to go to bed. I love Sarah Barrie's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. I like the description of the settings of Deadman's Track allowed me to imagine the Tasmania Wilderness. Deadman's Track is well written and research by Sarah Barrie.
The readers of Deadman's Track will learn about the role of tour guide in the Tasmanian Wilderness. Also, the readers of Deadman's Track will understand the devastation that stalking can have on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
November 22, 2020
Dead Man’s Track is the latest release from Australian author, Sarah Barrie. It feels like it’s been awhile since I read a book by Barrie so, I was looking forward to it. Setting Dead Man’s Track in the Tasmania allowed me to escape suburban life and immerse myself in nature for a short time. With multiple storylines, the main protagonist was Tess Atherton, the other two being Jared Denham and Jai Whaton. Through these protagonists, Barrie explored some dark themes such as crime, murder, stalking, wealth and on the lighter side, friendship, love, hiking and the wilderness.
Tess was a woman I wish I could be. In her personal life, Tess appeared to have a good relationship with her boyfriend until the cracks started to appear. Tess was a strong woman and knew it was time to call it a day with her partner. Things quickly became dangerous when Tess didn’t recognise the man he was anymore, leaving her in fear for her life. On the work front, Tess was employed at Calico lodge. She was an adrenaline junkie who loved being at one with nature, trying her hand in many areas. As a self-confessed nerd, I could only live through Tess as she experienced many things I never will. Tess was careful and calculated in her choices as she valued life. She was not a risk taker when it came to her own and others safety, the others being Tess’s hiking groups in Tasmania.
Barrie described both the beauty and danger of the wild which will bring back memories for those who have visited Tasmania. The danger was never more obvious when Tess took out hiking groups who did not appreciate how vulnerable they were under the skies of the rough country. It was with one of these groups that Barrie experienced a tragedy that shook her to her very core. No matter how hard Tess worked and the positive energy she radiated, she could not control the actions of others. Against her better judgement, Tess was convinced to take another group hiking in winter, where she found herself and the hikers in unimaginable danger. Will this be Tess’s final hike?
Jared was one of the good guys. He was a hard working cop who had a solid relationship with his colleagues. I really admired Jared as he witnessed so much in his line of work yet still kept his humanity. At the beginning of the story, Jared was working on a case that involved single women’s houses being broken into after a first date. I can only imagine that in this day and age such a crime is sadly not such a stretch of the imagination. When a high profile murder occurred, the stakes changed, the case gaining media attention. At the same time, Jared was fighting his attraction to Tess. I really enjoyed the pairs slow burn relationship as they had a lot of baggage to overcome.
At a mere twenty two years of age, Jai had his own share of baggage to come to terms with. Th sole carer of a grandfather suffering with dementia, every day was a struggle, including financially. Working in a pawn shop, Jai was also dating the boss’s daughter who he had not confided his troubles in. When Jai was offered the chance to make some extra cash illegally, he naively believed it would be a one time only situation. Part of me felt sorry for Jai as he was still innocent and all alone in the world, believing he had no choice. This changed when he became involved in the high profile murder. When Jai joins his girlfriend on Tess’s hiking tour, things will never be the same again.
Part mystery, part crime, part thriller, this is a must read for Sarah Barre fans of old and a great introduction for new fans.
Tess was a woman I wish I could be. In her personal life, Tess appeared to have a good relationship with her boyfriend until the cracks started to appear. Tess was a strong woman and knew it was time to call it a day with her partner. Things quickly became dangerous when Tess didn’t recognise the man he was anymore, leaving her in fear for her life. On the work front, Tess was employed at Calico lodge. She was an adrenaline junkie who loved being at one with nature, trying her hand in many areas. As a self-confessed nerd, I could only live through Tess as she experienced many things I never will. Tess was careful and calculated in her choices as she valued life. She was not a risk taker when it came to her own and others safety, the others being Tess’s hiking groups in Tasmania.
Barrie described both the beauty and danger of the wild which will bring back memories for those who have visited Tasmania. The danger was never more obvious when Tess took out hiking groups who did not appreciate how vulnerable they were under the skies of the rough country. It was with one of these groups that Barrie experienced a tragedy that shook her to her very core. No matter how hard Tess worked and the positive energy she radiated, she could not control the actions of others. Against her better judgement, Tess was convinced to take another group hiking in winter, where she found herself and the hikers in unimaginable danger. Will this be Tess’s final hike?
Jared was one of the good guys. He was a hard working cop who had a solid relationship with his colleagues. I really admired Jared as he witnessed so much in his line of work yet still kept his humanity. At the beginning of the story, Jared was working on a case that involved single women’s houses being broken into after a first date. I can only imagine that in this day and age such a crime is sadly not such a stretch of the imagination. When a high profile murder occurred, the stakes changed, the case gaining media attention. At the same time, Jared was fighting his attraction to Tess. I really enjoyed the pairs slow burn relationship as they had a lot of baggage to overcome.
At a mere twenty two years of age, Jai had his own share of baggage to come to terms with. Th sole carer of a grandfather suffering with dementia, every day was a struggle, including financially. Working in a pawn shop, Jai was also dating the boss’s daughter who he had not confided his troubles in. When Jai was offered the chance to make some extra cash illegally, he naively believed it would be a one time only situation. Part of me felt sorry for Jai as he was still innocent and all alone in the world, believing he had no choice. This changed when he became involved in the high profile murder. When Jai joins his girlfriend on Tess’s hiking tour, things will never be the same again.
Part mystery, part crime, part thriller, this is a must read for Sarah Barre fans of old and a great introduction for new fans.
May 19, 2020
Thank you so much to HQ Fiction for providing me with a copy of Dead Man’s Track, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!
Tess is a guide who takes groups on hikes and treks, but she has lost some of her confidence after an accident with one of her customers. Her over protective boyfriend isn’t helping matters either.
Jai is struggling to make ends meet, caring for his Pop in failing health, working at a pawn shop owned by his girlfriend’s father. He’s ready to do just about anything to ease the financial burden.
Detective Jared has been following up a string of burglaries that may have just graduated to murder.
As their lives start to intertwine, they’re all in more danger than they could have imagined.
This was a brilliant thriller, with at least 3 mysteries going on. The blurb, although not misleading, really doesn’t do justice to the book though – those events only take place in the last 20% of the book. The story is much more involved, with a large focus on Jai and his difficult choices. I have read another of Sarah Barrie’s books before and enjoyed this one just as much. She is a master at crafting characters you want to know more about and managing to give you just enough information to keep you guessing the whole way through!
Tess is a guide who takes groups on hikes and treks, but she has lost some of her confidence after an accident with one of her customers. Her over protective boyfriend isn’t helping matters either.
Jai is struggling to make ends meet, caring for his Pop in failing health, working at a pawn shop owned by his girlfriend’s father. He’s ready to do just about anything to ease the financial burden.
Detective Jared has been following up a string of burglaries that may have just graduated to murder.
As their lives start to intertwine, they’re all in more danger than they could have imagined.
This was a brilliant thriller, with at least 3 mysteries going on. The blurb, although not misleading, really doesn’t do justice to the book though – those events only take place in the last 20% of the book. The story is much more involved, with a large focus on Jai and his difficult choices. I have read another of Sarah Barrie’s books before and enjoyed this one just as much. She is a master at crafting characters you want to know more about and managing to give you just enough information to keep you guessing the whole way through!
August 6, 2020
This book is connected to Sarah Barrie’s two previous novels, Bloodtree River and Devil’s Lair but can really be read stand-alone. Tess, the main character in this one is a sister to two of the previous main male characters and has appeared before but this is the first time she really takes full focus. She works guiding guests from the family eco-lodge and other tourists on guided hikes around Federation Peak and surrounding areas. She also works with search and rescue and at the beginning of this book she experiences a tragedy after someone she is guiding doesn’t listen to her instructions and is determined to do something when the conditions are too dangerous. Her experience has a marked effect on her and she is struggling with some of the aspects of her job, particularly the parts that revolve around heights. All of this is a normal experience but it’s giving her boyfriend Aaron a chance to smother her. Suffering a crisis of confidence, Tess isn’t sure whether or not Aaron is right and maybe she should be just letting him dictate her future.
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham started with a string of burglaries that escalated suddenly when two prominent, wealthy people were murdered on a yacht and a large amount of jewellery stolen. He is under enormous pressure to solve this murder and with it, the burglaries as well, especially as the deeper he goes, the more bodies he finds piling up. He’s getting close to Tess for a couple of reasons, the two of them crossing paths, making Tess realise that maybe she has other options and Aaron and his smothering ways might not be for the best.
This book was such a ride!
And I should be used to that by now, because I know how excellent Sarah Barrie is at crafting a book that takes the reader on a journey of suspense that lays careful groundwork, builds slowly but expertly until all of a sudden you realise that your heart is in your mouth and the atmosphere is frantic and dangerous and incredibly atmospheric as well. She excels at using the wilderness in Tasmania, the remoteness of parts of it as well as a living, breathing character as well that often works both with and against the main characters as they fight to keep themselves out of danger.
There are a couple of stories running parallel through the book for the most part, before they merge towards the end. Tess and her recovery from tragedy is one part of the story as well as her relationship with her boyfriend Aaron and how it’s not going particularly well. She’s been trying to feel things, wanting to feel things but it hasn’t necessarily been working and Aaron has been displaying a red flag or two as well which is concerning some of the people closest to her. Tess is close to both of her sisters-in-law – detective Indy and also Callie as well and they are supportive toward her as she works through the tough situation. Indy working with Jared also means that Tess and he cross paths quite often and they have an interesting rapport.
I enjoyed the story of Jared investigating the burglaries and how that scenario escalated sharply. Barrie constructs a situation where you can see a vulnerable person being taken advantage of, because they’re struggling to make ends meet and they have responsibilities that require money. They’re working what is no doubt a minimum wage job with little in the way of chance for progression but something that pays just enough for them to scrape by and provide the bare bones. It’s easy for many people to spot a weakness there and exploit it and not only that, to craft a situation where suddenly, that roped in person becomes not just an unwilling accomplice, but something much more dangerous. I felt a lot of sympathy for his person even though he was led astray into doing some incredibly terrible things. The situation was really not black and white and I thought this was addressed very well.
The latter part of the novel, which involves Tess leading a group on a hike through southern Tasmania and merges the story of Tess with the story of the burglaries, is amazing. Tess is experienced, although she was kind of roped into taking this job at a time of year when she normally would not have and it doesn’t start the best, with several of the young men not really being prepared to listen to her and thinking they know better. That soon becomes the least of her problems though as strange things start to happen, sinister things and it gets more and more terrifying. I spent most of my time reading this section in a high state of anxiety as things escalated and Tess is cut off from being able to communicate their terror and distress to the outside world. There are two potential perpetrators and the stress was real waiting for Jared to figure out who it was and whether or not they’d be able to orchestrate something in time.
This was brilliant. Absolutely loved it, another incredible romantic suspense from Sarah Barrie.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review***
Detective Senior Sergeant Jared Denham started with a string of burglaries that escalated suddenly when two prominent, wealthy people were murdered on a yacht and a large amount of jewellery stolen. He is under enormous pressure to solve this murder and with it, the burglaries as well, especially as the deeper he goes, the more bodies he finds piling up. He’s getting close to Tess for a couple of reasons, the two of them crossing paths, making Tess realise that maybe she has other options and Aaron and his smothering ways might not be for the best.
This book was such a ride!
And I should be used to that by now, because I know how excellent Sarah Barrie is at crafting a book that takes the reader on a journey of suspense that lays careful groundwork, builds slowly but expertly until all of a sudden you realise that your heart is in your mouth and the atmosphere is frantic and dangerous and incredibly atmospheric as well. She excels at using the wilderness in Tasmania, the remoteness of parts of it as well as a living, breathing character as well that often works both with and against the main characters as they fight to keep themselves out of danger.
There are a couple of stories running parallel through the book for the most part, before they merge towards the end. Tess and her recovery from tragedy is one part of the story as well as her relationship with her boyfriend Aaron and how it’s not going particularly well. She’s been trying to feel things, wanting to feel things but it hasn’t necessarily been working and Aaron has been displaying a red flag or two as well which is concerning some of the people closest to her. Tess is close to both of her sisters-in-law – detective Indy and also Callie as well and they are supportive toward her as she works through the tough situation. Indy working with Jared also means that Tess and he cross paths quite often and they have an interesting rapport.
I enjoyed the story of Jared investigating the burglaries and how that scenario escalated sharply. Barrie constructs a situation where you can see a vulnerable person being taken advantage of, because they’re struggling to make ends meet and they have responsibilities that require money. They’re working what is no doubt a minimum wage job with little in the way of chance for progression but something that pays just enough for them to scrape by and provide the bare bones. It’s easy for many people to spot a weakness there and exploit it and not only that, to craft a situation where suddenly, that roped in person becomes not just an unwilling accomplice, but something much more dangerous. I felt a lot of sympathy for his person even though he was led astray into doing some incredibly terrible things. The situation was really not black and white and I thought this was addressed very well.
The latter part of the novel, which involves Tess leading a group on a hike through southern Tasmania and merges the story of Tess with the story of the burglaries, is amazing. Tess is experienced, although she was kind of roped into taking this job at a time of year when she normally would not have and it doesn’t start the best, with several of the young men not really being prepared to listen to her and thinking they know better. That soon becomes the least of her problems though as strange things start to happen, sinister things and it gets more and more terrifying. I spent most of my time reading this section in a high state of anxiety as things escalated and Tess is cut off from being able to communicate their terror and distress to the outside world. There are two potential perpetrators and the stress was real waiting for Jared to figure out who it was and whether or not they’d be able to orchestrate something in time.
This was brilliant. Absolutely loved it, another incredible romantic suspense from Sarah Barrie.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review***
July 13, 2020
Another great entertaining book from Sarah Barrie, who never seems to let me down. This novel can be a complete standalone but it does feature characters from the author’s two previous novels. Planted firmly in the Australian Romantic Suspense genre, this centres on Tess Atherton from Calico Lodge. Tess has recently experienced an horrific mishap within the small group she was guiding up the mountain. As well as loosing her confidence, her new boyfriend and fellow search and rescue team member is starting to become very possessive. It doesn’t help when local detective Jared Denham, colleague to her sister in law Indy appears to be on the scene more.
There are three subplots in this story and while they all worked in well, I sometimes felt there was a bit too much going on. That said, the last quarter of the story was filled with tension and since I love bushwalking and hiking, it could really feel the fear and isolation.
A great entertaining read, especially on a wet and cold weekend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read
There are three subplots in this story and while they all worked in well, I sometimes felt there was a bit too much going on. That said, the last quarter of the story was filled with tension and since I love bushwalking and hiking, it could really feel the fear and isolation.
A great entertaining read, especially on a wet and cold weekend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read
August 18, 2020
The story only ended because it wasn't possible to squeeze in anymore tired cliches. Every "twist" in the plot was sign posted by about 10 pages in.
September 1, 2020
I love Sarah Barrie and her amazing books!
Tess reluctantly guides a group through the Tasmanian wild during winter. Day break one of the climbers has gone missing and Tess knows where he is and she’s just in time. Idiot decided he’d climb a rangers spot in search of the perfect photo only it ends in tragedy when the man falls to his death almost taking Tess with him.
Tess tries to go on with life however this shook her too her core. Her boyfriend Aaron is controlling and narcissistic and starts to show his true colour when he second guesses Tess on a rescue mission. Tess breaks up with him and he doesn’t take no for an answer. He becomes emotionally abusive and tries to continue to insert himself into Tess’s life.
Parallel to this detective Jarrad has some break ins he’s looking into. Same motive behind each attack. He slowly closes in on the perpetrator. Then there is two murders and everything escalates incredibly fast. These two story’s cross paths and not in a happy circumstances.
Tess guides a bunch of kids on a tough walk only to realise one by one they are being picked off. Why is someone looking for them? Are they going to make it back alive?
I throughly enjoyed this amazing novel. So many twists and turns, some romance and a some what happy ending!
Tess reluctantly guides a group through the Tasmanian wild during winter. Day break one of the climbers has gone missing and Tess knows where he is and she’s just in time. Idiot decided he’d climb a rangers spot in search of the perfect photo only it ends in tragedy when the man falls to his death almost taking Tess with him.
Tess tries to go on with life however this shook her too her core. Her boyfriend Aaron is controlling and narcissistic and starts to show his true colour when he second guesses Tess on a rescue mission. Tess breaks up with him and he doesn’t take no for an answer. He becomes emotionally abusive and tries to continue to insert himself into Tess’s life.
Parallel to this detective Jarrad has some break ins he’s looking into. Same motive behind each attack. He slowly closes in on the perpetrator. Then there is two murders and everything escalates incredibly fast. These two story’s cross paths and not in a happy circumstances.
Tess guides a bunch of kids on a tough walk only to realise one by one they are being picked off. Why is someone looking for them? Are they going to make it back alive?
I throughly enjoyed this amazing novel. So many twists and turns, some romance and a some what happy ending!
June 30, 2020
I am a huge Sarah Barrie fan and always eagerly await her new releases and Deadman's Track did not disappoint. I first discovered Sarah Barrie (the Queen of Rural Suspense in my opinion) when I read and reviewed both Blood Tree River and Devil's Lair for Beauty and Lace. These books can be read as stand-alone stories but they revisit the Atherton family of Calico Lodge and contain characters familiar to us from previous books, particularly in this story Indy and Jared.
The story opens with Tess Atherton who works at the lodge out on a guided trek with some guests when one of the hikers attempts Federation Peak in very bad weather solo. This opening had my heart pounding, especially as I googled images of Federation Peak and I was hooked and ready to enjoy this read.
Deadman's Track is a fast-paced read with a few narratives that are weaved together to an exhilarating conclusion. We have the aftermath of the incident at Federation Peak which leaves Tess questioning how she handled it, Indy and Jared investigating burglaries and then murders in and around Hobart and Tess's relationship with her SES Rescue Boyfriend Aaron. Once again the beautiful Tasmanian wilderness is integral to the story and these are books that could easily make the transition to our television screens.
I always find it hard to review Sarah's books as I have so much to say but I love leaving readers to discover her books without giving away much of the storyline. I want you to feel those moments when your heart is beating faster and you are frantically turning the page to find out what happens and Deadman's Track delivers!!!
Deadman's Track is released on July 8th 2020.
Thank you to Harlequin Australia, Sarah Barrie and NetGalley for a digital ARC to read for an honest review.
The story opens with Tess Atherton who works at the lodge out on a guided trek with some guests when one of the hikers attempts Federation Peak in very bad weather solo. This opening had my heart pounding, especially as I googled images of Federation Peak and I was hooked and ready to enjoy this read.
Deadman's Track is a fast-paced read with a few narratives that are weaved together to an exhilarating conclusion. We have the aftermath of the incident at Federation Peak which leaves Tess questioning how she handled it, Indy and Jared investigating burglaries and then murders in and around Hobart and Tess's relationship with her SES Rescue Boyfriend Aaron. Once again the beautiful Tasmanian wilderness is integral to the story and these are books that could easily make the transition to our television screens.
I always find it hard to review Sarah's books as I have so much to say but I love leaving readers to discover her books without giving away much of the storyline. I want you to feel those moments when your heart is beating faster and you are frantically turning the page to find out what happens and Deadman's Track delivers!!!
Deadman's Track is released on July 8th 2020.
Thank you to Harlequin Australia, Sarah Barrie and NetGalley for a digital ARC to read for an honest review.
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