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The Bluffs
At the bottom of the world, there is an island. It is a land of rugged wilderness, of ice and snow and blistering heat … They say extinct tigers still roam there. They say other things roam, too.
When a school group of teenage girls go missing in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers, the people of Limestone Creek are immediately on alert. Not long ago, six young girls went missing in the area of those dangerous bluffs, and the legends of ‘the Hungry Man’ still haunt locals to this day.
Now, authorities can determine that the teacher, Eliza Ellis, was knocked unconscious, so someone on the mountain was up to foul play. Jordan Murphy, father of missing student Jasmine and the town’s local dealer, instantly becomes prime suspect, but Detective Con Badenhorst knows that in a town this size – with corrupt cops, small-town politics, and a teenage YouTube sensation – anyone could be hiding something, and bluffing comes second nature.
When a body is found, mauled, at the bottom of a cliff, suspicion turns to a wild animal – but that can’t explain why she, like all victims past and present, was discovered barefoot, with her shoes found nearby, laces neatly tied.
What happened up there on the bluffs? Somebody knows… unless the local legends are true…
When a school group of teenage girls go missing in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers, the people of Limestone Creek are immediately on alert. Not long ago, six young girls went missing in the area of those dangerous bluffs, and the legends of ‘the Hungry Man’ still haunt locals to this day.
Now, authorities can determine that the teacher, Eliza Ellis, was knocked unconscious, so someone on the mountain was up to foul play. Jordan Murphy, father of missing student Jasmine and the town’s local dealer, instantly becomes prime suspect, but Detective Con Badenhorst knows that in a town this size – with corrupt cops, small-town politics, and a teenage YouTube sensation – anyone could be hiding something, and bluffing comes second nature.
When a body is found, mauled, at the bottom of a cliff, suspicion turns to a wild animal – but that can’t explain why she, like all victims past and present, was discovered barefoot, with her shoes found nearby, laces neatly tied.
What happened up there on the bluffs? Somebody knows… unless the local legends are true…
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2020
156 people are currently reading
3166 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Perry
2 books272 followersKyle Perry is a counsellor who has worked extensively in high schools, youth shelters and drug rehabs. In his work he encounters stories and journeys that would fill a hundred books. Kyle’s mother grew up in the foothills of the Great Western Tiers, in Tasmania’s heartland, where his grandfather was called on for search and rescues in the mountains. Kyle himself has been lost in Tasmanian mountains twice, and once used ripped pages of a journal stuck on branches to find his way back out. He has also seen strange things in the bush that defy explanation and are best not spoken about. Kyle divides his time between his small country hometown in Tasmania’s North West and Hobart. The Bluffs is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 637 reviews
August 25, 2021
"The icy mountain rain grew heavy, slapping against the gum leaves with the wind. A yellow wattlebird called off in the bush: the sound like a cork pulled from a bottle."
The prologue of The Bluffs immediately grabbed my attention - Kyle Perry had captured both the mysterious beauty of the Tasmanian bush and the tension of the character's situation in five beautifully crafted pages of sparse dialogue and taut but evocative prose.
Four teenage girls disappear from a school group taking part in a camping activity in Tasmania's ruggedly beautiful but treacherous Great Western Tiers. Their teacher, Eliza Ellis, is found hiding in the bush, injured and confused, but there is no trace of the girls. Locals fear that the disappearances may herald the return of the fabled "Hungry Man", a spectre who inhabits the bush and is supposed responsible for the unsolved disappearance of a group of girls thirty years ago.
The book is told predominantly from three perspectives, and briefly from a fourth. While this is a well-used structure in the genre, it works here to maintain a level of uncertainty for the reader as regards the reliability of each of the featured characters' narratives. It also enables the introduction of an "incomer", in the person of DI Con Badenhorst, which provides a mechanism for the revelation of relevant background information about the setting and characters.
Sadly, I felt that the book as a whole didn't maintain the standard of the opening pages. To me, there were just too many sub-plots, too many characters with shady backstories acting in an inexplicable manner, too much melodrama. For me, The Bluffs would have been a more successful excursion into Tasmanian gothic had the plot been simplified and the emphasis moved more towards robust character development. Given the basic plot similarities, it was perhaps inevitible that mention would be made in marketing and reviews of Joan Lindsay's classic of Australian literature, Picnic at Hanging Rock. While Kyle Perry has certainly achieved some of the menace-beauty dichotomy that Lindsay mastered in using the Australian bush as a setting, to my mind this book lacks the subtlety of her work, particularly as regards the interweaving of supernatural and mythical elements.
That said, the author's use of both misdirection and foreshadowing were well-conceived and the final confrontation came as a surprise to me. I was also intrigued and impressed by the indigenous cultural perspective that Perry brought to the narrative, and his acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the Western Tiers region, the Palliatore and the indigenous community of Lutruwita (Tasmania) collectively.
An action-packed read with a distinctly Tasmanian flavour. Recommended for those readers of crime/mystery/thriller fiction who are content to suspend disbelief a little when it comes to the behaviour of characters and police procedure.
The prologue of The Bluffs immediately grabbed my attention - Kyle Perry had captured both the mysterious beauty of the Tasmanian bush and the tension of the character's situation in five beautifully crafted pages of sparse dialogue and taut but evocative prose.
Four teenage girls disappear from a school group taking part in a camping activity in Tasmania's ruggedly beautiful but treacherous Great Western Tiers. Their teacher, Eliza Ellis, is found hiding in the bush, injured and confused, but there is no trace of the girls. Locals fear that the disappearances may herald the return of the fabled "Hungry Man", a spectre who inhabits the bush and is supposed responsible for the unsolved disappearance of a group of girls thirty years ago.
The book is told predominantly from three perspectives, and briefly from a fourth. While this is a well-used structure in the genre, it works here to maintain a level of uncertainty for the reader as regards the reliability of each of the featured characters' narratives. It also enables the introduction of an "incomer", in the person of DI Con Badenhorst, which provides a mechanism for the revelation of relevant background information about the setting and characters.
Sadly, I felt that the book as a whole didn't maintain the standard of the opening pages. To me, there were just too many sub-plots, too many characters with shady backstories acting in an inexplicable manner, too much melodrama. For me, The Bluffs would have been a more successful excursion into Tasmanian gothic had the plot been simplified and the emphasis moved more towards robust character development. Given the basic plot similarities, it was perhaps inevitible that mention would be made in marketing and reviews of Joan Lindsay's classic of Australian literature, Picnic at Hanging Rock. While Kyle Perry has certainly achieved some of the menace-beauty dichotomy that Lindsay mastered in using the Australian bush as a setting, to my mind this book lacks the subtlety of her work, particularly as regards the interweaving of supernatural and mythical elements.
That said, the author's use of both misdirection and foreshadowing were well-conceived and the final confrontation came as a surprise to me. I was also intrigued and impressed by the indigenous cultural perspective that Perry brought to the narrative, and his acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the Western Tiers region, the Palliatore and the indigenous community of Lutruwita (Tasmania) collectively.
An action-packed read with a distinctly Tasmanian flavour. Recommended for those readers of crime/mystery/thriller fiction who are content to suspend disbelief a little when it comes to the behaviour of characters and police procedure.
October 11, 2020
This was a welcome addition to the growing list of Australian thrillers. It was an unsettling, creepy story set in a small town in Tasmania. Most of the story takes place in the wilderness of the Great Western Tiers. The vibrant, atmospheric writing transports the reader to its forests, waterways, cliffs, with its vivid description of the changeable weather conditions, its birds and mammals, trees, shrubs and flowering plants.
However, the town of Limestone Creek is less appealing. The characters are flawed and many are unpleasant. Included in the sizeable cast are the emotionally unstable, mentally deranged, the corrupt or criminal in their behaviour. Most have secrets. There are drugs, rivalries, murder, suicides, bullying, blackmail, inappropriate sexual relationships, many lies and deceptions and fearsome legends. With its unreliable characters, the mysteries verge on the melodramatic with many twists and unexpected revelations. A sense of dread held me in suspense throughout this eerie and disturbing story. The action scenes were well-written and exciting.
The story revolves around a group of four teenage girls who disappear during a camping trip in the treacherous wilderness. A female teacher is found injured, bleeding and with a blow to the head. She has a concussion and is unwilling or unable to describe what happened to herself and the four missing girls that were hiking near her. Thirty years earlier six girls vanished in these woodlands and gave rise to the legend of the Hungry Man who roams the area abducting young girls.
There is a publicity-seeking girl who is a social media sensation with millions of followers. She has gained much attention for her stories of spectres, apparitions, portals to a haunted region, and the Hungry Man. Did he capture the girls? Her influence is widespread in a malign way.
Detective Con Badenhorst is a newcomer from Sydney. He was regarded as a hero there due to solving the case of young women murdered by a serial killer. He lacks confidence in himself and suffers from PTSD. Although he brought the murderer to justice, he blames himself for not saving the women in time. His partner is an abrasive, ambitious policewoman intent on solving this case and receiving a promotion.
Probably my favourite character was the local drug dealer, Murphy, the angry and combative father of one of the missing girls, Jasmine. Unless the phantom Hungry Man took them, he is the main suspect by police and is the subject of threats and attacks by the townspeople.
What happened to the missing girls? Will all four be found alive? As time passes this seems unlikely. The story had a satisfactory ending with death for some of the main characters and redemption for a few. I will be looking forward to author Kyle Perry's next book.
However, the town of Limestone Creek is less appealing. The characters are flawed and many are unpleasant. Included in the sizeable cast are the emotionally unstable, mentally deranged, the corrupt or criminal in their behaviour. Most have secrets. There are drugs, rivalries, murder, suicides, bullying, blackmail, inappropriate sexual relationships, many lies and deceptions and fearsome legends. With its unreliable characters, the mysteries verge on the melodramatic with many twists and unexpected revelations. A sense of dread held me in suspense throughout this eerie and disturbing story. The action scenes were well-written and exciting.
The story revolves around a group of four teenage girls who disappear during a camping trip in the treacherous wilderness. A female teacher is found injured, bleeding and with a blow to the head. She has a concussion and is unwilling or unable to describe what happened to herself and the four missing girls that were hiking near her. Thirty years earlier six girls vanished in these woodlands and gave rise to the legend of the Hungry Man who roams the area abducting young girls.
There is a publicity-seeking girl who is a social media sensation with millions of followers. She has gained much attention for her stories of spectres, apparitions, portals to a haunted region, and the Hungry Man. Did he capture the girls? Her influence is widespread in a malign way.
Detective Con Badenhorst is a newcomer from Sydney. He was regarded as a hero there due to solving the case of young women murdered by a serial killer. He lacks confidence in himself and suffers from PTSD. Although he brought the murderer to justice, he blames himself for not saving the women in time. His partner is an abrasive, ambitious policewoman intent on solving this case and receiving a promotion.
Probably my favourite character was the local drug dealer, Murphy, the angry and combative father of one of the missing girls, Jasmine. Unless the phantom Hungry Man took them, he is the main suspect by police and is the subject of threats and attacks by the townspeople.
What happened to the missing girls? Will all four be found alive? As time passes this seems unlikely. The story had a satisfactory ending with death for some of the main characters and redemption for a few. I will be looking forward to author Kyle Perry's next book.
July 3, 2020
The Bluffs is a heady mix of mystery and intrigue fueled by speculative crime fiction amid a back drop of adolescent female noir; think Megan Abbott (Dare Me), Jonathan Janz (The Siren and the Spectre), and Jane Harper (Force of Nature).
The complexities and cleverly plotted criminal components ensure the reader can never get complacent; just when I thought I'd figured it out, the script was flipped upside down with all blood soaked paths leading down a dark and dangerous new direction.
Despite the constant element of surprise and never ending twists, not once did the plot loose plausibility; every single piece of the puzzle fit perfectly; a testament to a well written story.
I can't recommend The Bluffs enough. 5/5 stars.
The complexities and cleverly plotted criminal components ensure the reader can never get complacent; just when I thought I'd figured it out, the script was flipped upside down with all blood soaked paths leading down a dark and dangerous new direction.
Despite the constant element of surprise and never ending twists, not once did the plot loose plausibility; every single piece of the puzzle fit perfectly; a testament to a well written story.
I can't recommend The Bluffs enough. 5/5 stars.
October 20, 2020
This took me forever to finish, because it was just so. Bloody. Stupid. Obviously, the author has never talked to law enforcement about procedure etc., or they do things really, really, really differently in Tasmania. Everything was just *that* bit over the top, that *tad* too unlikely, that *idea* too disjointed. After a certain point it felt like even the author didn't know anymore what he was actually writing about; things went from the Hungry Man to 1985 to holy cliffs to portals to spirit guides to the Almighty Power of YouTube (I mean, seriously?!) to kundela bones to just plain craziness and finally ended up exactly... nowhere. As you would expect from that list. Reader beware: The whole Hungry Man angle just fell under the table fairly quickly, so if the urban legend thing is what intrigues you about this story, go look elsewhere. At the start a whole lot is made out of the fact that girls were disappearing from this hellhole in 1985 and/or ended up murdered, but guess what, this turns into another thing left by the roadside, never to be mentioned again.
There wasn't a single character that felt relatable, they were all one-dimensional idiots, or puppets serving a purpose. I'm still scratching my head about the motivations that drove all these separate people to do what they did; none of them make sense, IMO. Detectives behave like kids. (The MC's constant realisation that "Oh, I totally forgot about him/her/this/that" becomes some sort of unintended running gag; also, he uses the character alignment system from Dungeons & Dragons to get a grip on possible suspects. No, for real.) Kids behave like James Bond villains. Mothers are terrible, all of them, if not absent completely. Of course the MC is traumatised, which I actually *get* for a change, since it's because of his incompetence as a detective. This is a world where a teen's half-baked ideas for a local heritage museum are considered a realistically possible motive for her murder, but teachers (yes, plural) having sex with their 16-year-old pupils is not seen as all that big a deal. What really killed me was the author's matter-of-fact/utterly clueless-bordering-on-callous way of dealing with teen suicide, so if that's an issue for you, STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK. Also, he has some weird notions on how teenage girls tick, and I mean truly, truly weird.
I liked the descriptions of wallabies and wombats and Tassie devils, but as for the rest? No. Just no.
There wasn't a single character that felt relatable, they were all one-dimensional idiots, or puppets serving a purpose. I'm still scratching my head about the motivations that drove all these separate people to do what they did; none of them make sense, IMO. Detectives behave like kids. (The MC's constant realisation that "Oh, I totally forgot about him/her/this/that" becomes some sort of unintended running gag; also, he uses the character alignment system from Dungeons & Dragons to get a grip on possible suspects. No, for real.) Kids behave like James Bond villains. Mothers are terrible, all of them, if not absent completely. Of course the MC is traumatised, which I actually *get* for a change, since it's because of his incompetence as a detective. This is a world where a teen's half-baked ideas for a local heritage museum are considered a realistically possible motive for her murder, but teachers (yes, plural) having sex with their 16-year-old pupils is not seen as all that big a deal. What really killed me was the author's matter-of-fact/utterly clueless-bordering-on-callous way of dealing with teen suicide, so if that's an issue for you, STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK. Also, he has some weird notions on how teenage girls tick, and I mean truly, truly weird.
I liked the descriptions of wallabies and wombats and Tassie devils, but as for the rest? No. Just no.
September 10, 2020
Wow Kyle Perry, just wow 😮. That is your debut novel? Seriously impressed. You would have to have been living under a rock, in Australia anyway, to have not heard about The Bluffs. Creepy, atmospheric and scary, this book blew me away as it has done so many Aussie readers. After seeing it everywhere I was having major FOMO and had to read it. I jumped between the audio and the physical book and both were fantastic. Crime and thriller readers, you need to get this one onto your TBR ASAP. Trust me.
I am not going to go into too much detail about the plot. There is missing teenagers, drug dealers, love affairs, social media, bullying, corrupt police and the Hungry Man legend. It is set in Tasmania, in the Great Western Tiers. The small town of Limestone Creek becomes the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. The weather is bad, making it eerie and even darker.
You need to read this book... simple as that.
I am not going to go into too much detail about the plot. There is missing teenagers, drug dealers, love affairs, social media, bullying, corrupt police and the Hungry Man legend. It is set in Tasmania, in the Great Western Tiers. The small town of Limestone Creek becomes the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. The weather is bad, making it eerie and even darker.
You need to read this book... simple as that.
August 4, 2020
The Bluffs had me on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book.
A group of teenage girls go missing on a school camp in the Great Western Tiers, Tasmania. Also known as “Kooparoona Niara, the local mob call it. Mountain of Spirits”. The place the Great War began between the Aboriginal people and European invaders. Stories about evil spirits in the mountains are believed by the locals. Detective Con Badenhorst is sent to the small town of Limestone Creek to investigate and find the missing girls.
This book contains drug use, violence, self-harm, suicide, mental illness and sexual intercourse with a minor.
A group of teenage girls go missing on a school camp in the Great Western Tiers, Tasmania. Also known as “Kooparoona Niara, the local mob call it. Mountain of Spirits”. The place the Great War began between the Aboriginal people and European invaders. Stories about evil spirits in the mountains are believed by the locals. Detective Con Badenhorst is sent to the small town of Limestone Creek to investigate and find the missing girls.
"Up in the hills, he hides and kills.From the first chapter I became captivated by the story and I was disappointed when I had to pause reading. My thoughts constantly deliberating who may be responsible. I am Tasmanian and the Great Western Tiers were the backdrop to my childhood, so my expectations for this were high.
Down in the caves, he hides and waits.
The Hungry Man, who likes little girls."
"What a world we live in now, that a child with a camera can cause all this carnage."The story is told from the perspective of three characters. Detective Con, who successfully solved another missing persons case, Murphy, the father of one of the missing girls and Eliza, a teacher who was with the girls on the school camp. The story seamlessly flows from each character to provide more details about the case. Perry has created some great characters; some you will love and others you will love to hate. This is a Kyle Perry’s debut novel; I cannot wait to see what else he comes up with.
This book contains drug use, violence, self-harm, suicide, mental illness and sexual intercourse with a minor.
June 20, 2022
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Bluffs is an atmospheric and unnerving mystery set in Tasmania. I love that you have the supernatural elements in this story that will keep you guessing.
The story centres around a group of four teenage school girls who go missing in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers during a school camp. Similarly three decades ago five young girls also disappeared in the same area.
This is the same place the Black War began between the Aboriginal people and European invaders in the past so stories of evil spirits in these mountains are believed by the locals, especially the haunting Legend of 'The Hungry Man' and some believe he has taken the girls.
Jordan Murphy, local drug dealer and the father of one of the girls missing becomes the prime suspect and Detective Con Badenhorst has his work cut out for him dealing with the towns corrupt cops, small town politics, disruptive teenage girls, the media and his own emotional issues.
Woven into the plot is blackmail, murder, revenge, bullying, teenage social media influencers and inappropriate relationships.
A wonderfully written and intriguing read with twists aplenty.
The Bluffs is an atmospheric and unnerving mystery set in Tasmania. I love that you have the supernatural elements in this story that will keep you guessing.
The story centres around a group of four teenage school girls who go missing in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers during a school camp. Similarly three decades ago five young girls also disappeared in the same area.
This is the same place the Black War began between the Aboriginal people and European invaders in the past so stories of evil spirits in these mountains are believed by the locals, especially the haunting Legend of 'The Hungry Man' and some believe he has taken the girls.
Jordan Murphy, local drug dealer and the father of one of the girls missing becomes the prime suspect and Detective Con Badenhorst has his work cut out for him dealing with the towns corrupt cops, small town politics, disruptive teenage girls, the media and his own emotional issues.
Woven into the plot is blackmail, murder, revenge, bullying, teenage social media influencers and inappropriate relationships.
A wonderfully written and intriguing read with twists aplenty.
July 24, 2020
I feel like I read a different book to everyone else as I was excited to read this debut novel, but was left disappointed. Specifically, the police investigation (a major part of the story) led by a supposed top ranking detective was such a comedy of errors it lost all credibility for me (not questioning suspects, cars/handcuffs stolen, shooting with no consequences, hand gun not seized). People who under normal circumstances would have been held for questioning or even arrested suddenly became part of the investigation/interviews and even friends with the investigators and were able to interfere as much as they liked. The potential was there for a solid mystery, but I feel this fell short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2020
This book sounded like it had so much potential and I wanted to love it, but unfortunately it fell short for me. There were a number of elements in the story that I found either unrealistic or distasteful, but I won't go into details as they would be spoilers for other readers. I wonder if I could have given an extra star if I'd read a text copy? The audiobook had 3 different narrators, as the story is told from 3 different perspectives, and I disliked 2 of them! I'll never know the answer to that question, as I didn't like the story enough to give it a second read. Oh well. Most reviewers seem to be digging it, so give it a try and see for yourself.
August 9, 2021
"Ik was teleurgesteld en ook het einde (het motief) kon me niet echt bekoren. Te vergezocht allemaal vond ik en ook niet echt bevredigend."
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https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2021...
February 23, 2021
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The Bluffs by Kyle Perry. (2020).
**3.5 out of 5 stars**
When a school group of teenage girls goes missing in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers, the people of Limestone Creek are immediately on alert. 30 years ago, 5 young girls disappeared in the same area and the legend of ‘the Hungry Man’ still haunts locals to this day. Now, authorities can determine the teacher, Eliza, was knocked unconscious. Jordan Murphy, the local drug dealer and father of missing Jasmine, is instantly a suspect. But Detective Con knows that in a town this size – with corrupt cops, small-town politics, and a teenage YouTube sensation – everyone is hiding something, and bluffing is second nature. More questions arise when a body is found mauled at the bottom of a cliff with the girl’s shoes at the top of the cliff, laces neatly tied…
This is the debut novel from the author, and I think it’s a pretty decent first novel. The storyline is all thriller with just a hint of supernatural – is ‘The Hungry Man’ real, and if he is then is he a supernatural entity? The character perspectives primarily alternate between Eliza the teacher, Con the ‘incomer’ detective, and Murphy the local drug dealer and father of one of the missing girls: all have their own dramas going on aside from the current missing girls. Madison the teenage YouTube sensation features a lot in everyone’s chapters: what an extraordinarily unlikable teenage girl she was, that held an unbelievable amount of power and control over other characters.
I felt by the end some things weren’t fully addressed, and the ending itself is one that you’ll either love and consider it clever or you’ll be frustrated from it.
Overall: I enjoyed the premise of this one although there were a few little things I didn’t like. I look forward to seeing what the author’s next book is like.
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The Bluffs by Kyle Perry. (2020).
**3.5 out of 5 stars**
When a school group of teenage girls goes missing in the remote wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers, the people of Limestone Creek are immediately on alert. 30 years ago, 5 young girls disappeared in the same area and the legend of ‘the Hungry Man’ still haunts locals to this day. Now, authorities can determine the teacher, Eliza, was knocked unconscious. Jordan Murphy, the local drug dealer and father of missing Jasmine, is instantly a suspect. But Detective Con knows that in a town this size – with corrupt cops, small-town politics, and a teenage YouTube sensation – everyone is hiding something, and bluffing is second nature. More questions arise when a body is found mauled at the bottom of a cliff with the girl’s shoes at the top of the cliff, laces neatly tied…
This is the debut novel from the author, and I think it’s a pretty decent first novel. The storyline is all thriller with just a hint of supernatural – is ‘The Hungry Man’ real, and if he is then is he a supernatural entity? The character perspectives primarily alternate between Eliza the teacher, Con the ‘incomer’ detective, and Murphy the local drug dealer and father of one of the missing girls: all have their own dramas going on aside from the current missing girls. Madison the teenage YouTube sensation features a lot in everyone’s chapters: what an extraordinarily unlikable teenage girl she was, that held an unbelievable amount of power and control over other characters.
I felt by the end some things weren’t fully addressed, and the ending itself is one that you’ll either love and consider it clever or you’ll be frustrated from it.
Overall: I enjoyed the premise of this one although there were a few little things I didn’t like. I look forward to seeing what the author’s next book is like.
November 16, 2020
1.5 ..... I was really surprised by the rave reviews so I’m aware I am in the majority.. but I found it read like a book written for 16 year olds but there was no indication it was a Y. A read
August 6, 2020
One word: disappointing.
August 31, 2021
Solider Thriller mit unvorhergesehenen Wendungen und einem für mich spannenden Showdown. Ich mag Thriller die nicht immens blutig sind und dieser hier passt hervorragend in diese Kategorie. Dazu ein unheimlich interessantes Setting in Tasmanien. Flora und Fauna kommen sehr authentisch rüber. Wer also gern im australischen Busch Miträtseln möchte sollte hier ruhig zugreifen.
January 23, 2021
This started out as a three star read for me, quickly dropped to three stars, and ended as two stars. There is a certain part in the book that the ridiculous factor is two much for me to suspend belief for. If it had not been a book club book mpi would have stopped there and then. There is not one redeemable character in the whole book and they are also some of the stupidest characters I have ever read.
This book was simply not my cup of tea.
This book was simply not my cup of tea.
July 17, 2020
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The wind; the bluffs; the laugh of the kookaburra.
Gunfire in the distance.’
With a wet and icy feel cover, The Bluffs is the perfect cold weather chiller. Set in the highly atmospheric Great Western Tiers region in Tasmania, Kyle Perry’s debut sends shivers down your spine and plenty of thrills.
The Bluffs is the story of a group of teenage girls who vanish in the area of Limestone Creek, a remote location in the Tasmanian wilderness. This is a renowned spot, a site for long standing folklore and a killer’s stomping ground. The area is ripe for danger and peril, which has previously seen the loss of a group of girls, decades before. When a local teacher is found unconscious in the mountains, suspicion is immediately cast. With a suspect soon to blame, in the form of a local drug dealer, relations reach boiling point in Limestone Creek. It is up to Detective Badenhorst to negotiate the maze of corruption, community perception, social media issues and teenage politics in bringing about order to the town and to settle the malevolence that has haunted the region for decades. Unexplained deaths, local legends, secrets, suspicions and unexplained events all culminate in this enthralling tale from debut novelist Kyle Perry.
I make no secret of my fascination for Tasmania, therefore I was immediately drawn to The Bluffs, a Tasmanian set novel penned by a new writer from the state. The Bluffs is Kyle Perry’s debut novel, but years of experience trekking the Tasmanian wilderness has put Perry in an excellent position to compose his first novel and it is an absolute cracker!
There is a strong sense of action and urgency that pervades The Bluffs from the get-go. If this book was a character, I would best describe it as highly strung. There is tension around every corner in The Bluffs. The sense of imminent danger that follows this book never releases. It takes a skilled writer to maintain such a consistent level of biting atmosphere for the entire length of the novel, so I am very impressed by this debut author’s skill in this area.
Perry has the capacity as a writer to easily transport his audience deep into the Tasmanian Wilderness. I could feel the remoteness of the locale, along with the strong sense of isolation. The pristine air seemed to emanate from the pages of The Bluffs, it was cold, crisp and alpine scented. The flora and fauna of the region is relayed with clarity. I really appreciated Perry’s vivid descriptions of the setting, which further increased my connection to this novel.
In terms of the mystery at hand, The Bluffs will keep the reader actively engaged. With an age old mystery haunting this novel, along with a compelling local legend, this sacred folklore had me shaking in my boots a few times. I almost fell under the spell of the ‘Hungry Man’. Tales of murder, suicide, disappearance, drug deals, blackmail, inappropriate relationships, revenge, deception and small town politics pervade every corner of this novel. Adding in teenage dynamics and social media influencers adds further speculative layers to this set piece.
I found the investigations directed by Detective Badenhorst to be authentic, eye opening and detailed. The police groundwork, the forensics and the profiles that are built in this novel piqued my interest level. There were some complex, formidable, but doubtful forces in this novel and it was hard to trust anyone in the book. The structure applied by Kyle Perry in alternating three main character viewpoints shifts the psychology of this novel from pillar to post, luring the reader in to this deceptive tale. What an unsettling but engrossing story!
In The Bluffs Kyle Perry exposes the dark recesses of a remote Tasmanian wilderness region, an area ripe for the picking in terms of intrigue, murder, evil, deception and more. The Bluffs is a solid debut novel and I am definitely keen to explore further writing from this fresh voice in Australian fiction.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The wind; the bluffs; the laugh of the kookaburra.
Gunfire in the distance.’
With a wet and icy feel cover, The Bluffs is the perfect cold weather chiller. Set in the highly atmospheric Great Western Tiers region in Tasmania, Kyle Perry’s debut sends shivers down your spine and plenty of thrills.
The Bluffs is the story of a group of teenage girls who vanish in the area of Limestone Creek, a remote location in the Tasmanian wilderness. This is a renowned spot, a site for long standing folklore and a killer’s stomping ground. The area is ripe for danger and peril, which has previously seen the loss of a group of girls, decades before. When a local teacher is found unconscious in the mountains, suspicion is immediately cast. With a suspect soon to blame, in the form of a local drug dealer, relations reach boiling point in Limestone Creek. It is up to Detective Badenhorst to negotiate the maze of corruption, community perception, social media issues and teenage politics in bringing about order to the town and to settle the malevolence that has haunted the region for decades. Unexplained deaths, local legends, secrets, suspicions and unexplained events all culminate in this enthralling tale from debut novelist Kyle Perry.
I make no secret of my fascination for Tasmania, therefore I was immediately drawn to The Bluffs, a Tasmanian set novel penned by a new writer from the state. The Bluffs is Kyle Perry’s debut novel, but years of experience trekking the Tasmanian wilderness has put Perry in an excellent position to compose his first novel and it is an absolute cracker!
There is a strong sense of action and urgency that pervades The Bluffs from the get-go. If this book was a character, I would best describe it as highly strung. There is tension around every corner in The Bluffs. The sense of imminent danger that follows this book never releases. It takes a skilled writer to maintain such a consistent level of biting atmosphere for the entire length of the novel, so I am very impressed by this debut author’s skill in this area.
Perry has the capacity as a writer to easily transport his audience deep into the Tasmanian Wilderness. I could feel the remoteness of the locale, along with the strong sense of isolation. The pristine air seemed to emanate from the pages of The Bluffs, it was cold, crisp and alpine scented. The flora and fauna of the region is relayed with clarity. I really appreciated Perry’s vivid descriptions of the setting, which further increased my connection to this novel.
In terms of the mystery at hand, The Bluffs will keep the reader actively engaged. With an age old mystery haunting this novel, along with a compelling local legend, this sacred folklore had me shaking in my boots a few times. I almost fell under the spell of the ‘Hungry Man’. Tales of murder, suicide, disappearance, drug deals, blackmail, inappropriate relationships, revenge, deception and small town politics pervade every corner of this novel. Adding in teenage dynamics and social media influencers adds further speculative layers to this set piece.
I found the investigations directed by Detective Badenhorst to be authentic, eye opening and detailed. The police groundwork, the forensics and the profiles that are built in this novel piqued my interest level. There were some complex, formidable, but doubtful forces in this novel and it was hard to trust anyone in the book. The structure applied by Kyle Perry in alternating three main character viewpoints shifts the psychology of this novel from pillar to post, luring the reader in to this deceptive tale. What an unsettling but engrossing story!
In The Bluffs Kyle Perry exposes the dark recesses of a remote Tasmanian wilderness region, an area ripe for the picking in terms of intrigue, murder, evil, deception and more. The Bluffs is a solid debut novel and I am definitely keen to explore further writing from this fresh voice in Australian fiction.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
September 23, 2020
Fascinating premise: 4 teenage girls go missing on a school camp in the eerie mountains of central Tasmania. The area is the location of an urban legend involving a wild man and there were a series of disappearances a generation earlier.
An expert cop joins a local one to investigate the disappearances. They buddy up with the two most likely suspects, treating them as assistants and filling them in on most things including bringing them to witness interviews. Wait what? This is a debut novel so I will hold my tongue suffice to say the investigation aspect of the mystery was highly implausible. The writing itself was good.
I was hoping some fairly terrible things would happen to the annoying character...
This story is a modern version of Picnic at Hanging Rock.
An expert cop joins a local one to investigate the disappearances. They buddy up with the two most likely suspects, treating them as assistants and filling them in on most things including bringing them to witness interviews. Wait what? This is a debut novel so I will hold my tongue suffice to say the investigation aspect of the mystery was highly implausible. The writing itself was good.
I was hoping some fairly terrible things would happen to the annoying character...
This story is a modern version of Picnic at Hanging Rock.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2020
There's a good book in there somewhere.Unfortunately,most of this one is ridiculous.
November 19, 2020
I really wanted to love this book and in the beginning I did. Perry described the Tasmanian bush in a beautiful and haunting light that really set the scene for the whole book. I can see that Perry obviously tried to incorporate Aboriginal history and perspective however I feel that truly fell short for me which is one of the reasons I disliked the book in the end. Another reason is the depth of the characters, other than Con and Murphy I really felt the other characters were flat and one-dimensional, especially Jasmine who I thought I would really like and someone we would follow the journey of.
The Bluffs had some good twists and turns through the middle but the final chapter was more disappointing than I was anticipating.
Even with all of that I would read Perry’s next book as he has many amazing elements as a writer. He will hopefully develop as he continues to publish more bookhs.
The Bluffs had some good twists and turns through the middle but the final chapter was more disappointing than I was anticipating.
Even with all of that I would read Perry’s next book as he has many amazing elements as a writer. He will hopefully develop as he continues to publish more bookhs.
April 17, 2021
4.5★s
The Bluffs is the first published novel for Tasmanian author Kyle Perry. It is a mystery/thriller which deals with the disappearance of a group of teenage girls from a school excursion in the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania's northwest. Perry, 29, grew up in this beautiful, rugged area, and the book’s effectiveness is enhanced by his authentic depiction of the landscape. His work as a drug and alcohol counsellor informs the narrative, giving a strong sense of veracity to both the plot and the characters.
The Bluffs is set in the fictitious town of Limestone Creek, an hour’s drive southwest of Launceston. It is a gloomy place which has been devitalised by economic stagnation and social dysfunction. Many residents rely on the town’s drug dealers, brothers Butch and Murphy, to get through the day. Murphy’s 16yo daughter Jasmine is one of four schoolgirls who vanish while on a school camp in the inhospitable Great Western Tiers Conservation Area. Residents are alarmed, as the disappearances recall a true event in Tasmania’s history, a tragedy from thirty-odd years earlier, when five teenage girls were lost in the area. A local legend has evolved, which blames their fate on The Hungry Man, a feral bush dweller who kidnapped and devoured young girls.
Detective Senior Sergeant Con Badenhorst and his colleague Detective Sergeant Gabriella Pakinga arrive from Launceston to investigate the disappearances. Transferred from Sydney to the quiet of rural Tasmania, Badenhorst suffers from PTSD, which he keeps secret from co-workers. Keeping secrets is a key element in this mystery novel, and almost everyone is hiding something, and is not what they seem.
In his professional life, the author has worked with teenagers, particularly those with personality issues and/or dysfunctional family circumstances. For me, this experience informs and enriches the characters in a meaningful way. I don’t doubt that aspects of the key players in this novel are drawn from real life.
Jordan Murphy, father of Jasmine, is devastated by the loss of his daughter, but thanks to his volatile nature he is not a character to whom the reader easily warms. Grief over the death his wife some years previously, combined with his distress over Jasmine’s disappearance lead to outbursts of physical and verbal violence. Murphy’s behaviour is not improved by his excessive use of alcohol and illicit drugs, habits he shares with his brother Butch. Murphy plays a key role in the development of the narrative, but I found him a very unpleasant person, and not deserving of my empathy.
Similarly undeserving of my regard is Madison Mason, the bitchy, manipulative 16 yo girl who is friends with the schoolmates who have vanished. Madison has her own YouTube channel and is constantly using her smartphone to create video stories for her enormous number of online fans. Her interference in the search for the lost girls is despicable and the source of much tension in the novel. Madison has to be one of the most unpleasant characters I’ve encountered in fiction novels, and I have to give credit to the author for his creation of such a memorable personality.
Indeed, nearly all of the protagonists are less than likeable, and almost everyone is hiding a secret or two, including the coppers. It is in the hands of these people, the police and the townsfolk that the fate of the lost girls depends. How could they vanish without a trace, leaving so few clues?
Kyle Perry has created a fast-paced story, with lots of emotional highs and lows. The feel of the narrative is tense, helped along by the volatility of several of the characters. Definitely it is a complex story, with several subplots, and with multiple players contributing their thoughts and actions to the sometimes surprising turn of events.
I found it hard to put down this gripping novel, which is a remarkable effort for a debut novel. I think it serves very well to illustrate Perry’s professional experiences with young people today, particularly the obsession with social media and issues of self-esteem and bullying. The prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in country towns that are in decline is depicted well, and reminds the urban reader of the importance of rural places to the welfare of the nation.
The Bluffs is the first published novel for Tasmanian author Kyle Perry. It is a mystery/thriller which deals with the disappearance of a group of teenage girls from a school excursion in the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania's northwest. Perry, 29, grew up in this beautiful, rugged area, and the book’s effectiveness is enhanced by his authentic depiction of the landscape. His work as a drug and alcohol counsellor informs the narrative, giving a strong sense of veracity to both the plot and the characters.
The Bluffs is set in the fictitious town of Limestone Creek, an hour’s drive southwest of Launceston. It is a gloomy place which has been devitalised by economic stagnation and social dysfunction. Many residents rely on the town’s drug dealers, brothers Butch and Murphy, to get through the day. Murphy’s 16yo daughter Jasmine is one of four schoolgirls who vanish while on a school camp in the inhospitable Great Western Tiers Conservation Area. Residents are alarmed, as the disappearances recall a true event in Tasmania’s history, a tragedy from thirty-odd years earlier, when five teenage girls were lost in the area. A local legend has evolved, which blames their fate on The Hungry Man, a feral bush dweller who kidnapped and devoured young girls.
Detective Senior Sergeant Con Badenhorst and his colleague Detective Sergeant Gabriella Pakinga arrive from Launceston to investigate the disappearances. Transferred from Sydney to the quiet of rural Tasmania, Badenhorst suffers from PTSD, which he keeps secret from co-workers. Keeping secrets is a key element in this mystery novel, and almost everyone is hiding something, and is not what they seem.
In his professional life, the author has worked with teenagers, particularly those with personality issues and/or dysfunctional family circumstances. For me, this experience informs and enriches the characters in a meaningful way. I don’t doubt that aspects of the key players in this novel are drawn from real life.
Jordan Murphy, father of Jasmine, is devastated by the loss of his daughter, but thanks to his volatile nature he is not a character to whom the reader easily warms. Grief over the death his wife some years previously, combined with his distress over Jasmine’s disappearance lead to outbursts of physical and verbal violence. Murphy’s behaviour is not improved by his excessive use of alcohol and illicit drugs, habits he shares with his brother Butch. Murphy plays a key role in the development of the narrative, but I found him a very unpleasant person, and not deserving of my empathy.
Similarly undeserving of my regard is Madison Mason, the bitchy, manipulative 16 yo girl who is friends with the schoolmates who have vanished. Madison has her own YouTube channel and is constantly using her smartphone to create video stories for her enormous number of online fans. Her interference in the search for the lost girls is despicable and the source of much tension in the novel. Madison has to be one of the most unpleasant characters I’ve encountered in fiction novels, and I have to give credit to the author for his creation of such a memorable personality.
Indeed, nearly all of the protagonists are less than likeable, and almost everyone is hiding a secret or two, including the coppers. It is in the hands of these people, the police and the townsfolk that the fate of the lost girls depends. How could they vanish without a trace, leaving so few clues?
Kyle Perry has created a fast-paced story, with lots of emotional highs and lows. The feel of the narrative is tense, helped along by the volatility of several of the characters. Definitely it is a complex story, with several subplots, and with multiple players contributing their thoughts and actions to the sometimes surprising turn of events.
I found it hard to put down this gripping novel, which is a remarkable effort for a debut novel. I think it serves very well to illustrate Perry’s professional experiences with young people today, particularly the obsession with social media and issues of self-esteem and bullying. The prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in country towns that are in decline is depicted well, and reminds the urban reader of the importance of rural places to the welfare of the nation.
July 16, 2020
When a teacher is attacked and four teenage girls go missing in the dense wilderness of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers during a school excursion, the residents of Limestone Creek, angry and frightened, are quick to assign blame. Some suspect a local drug dealer is responsible, others speculate one of the girls has a guilty lover, while it suits the sister of a missing girl to reanimate the legend of ‘The Hungry Man’, a killer said to stalk the Tiers.
Unfolding largely from the perspectives of three characters, teacher Eliza Ellis, the father of a missing girl, Jordan Murphy, and the investigating detective, Con Badenhorst, the fast paced narrative builds tension and intrigue from the very first, hinting at deception, betrayal, corruption, and explosive secrets.
The insinuation of the supernatural plays perfectly against the contemporary elements, with recognisable inspiration drawn from Picnic at Hanging Rock, the legend of Slenderman, and the case of Michelle Carter, tied in with Aboriginal legend.
Perry effortlessly evokes a visceral response to the dense bushland of the bluffs in which the girls go missing, and the small town it shadows. The area’s erratic weather reflects the mood of the insular community, and the development of the investigation.
Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. A stunning debut from Kyle Perry, The Bluffs is an atmospheric, and compelling tale with twists and turns that will keep you wondering about the fate of the girls to the very last pages.
Unfolding largely from the perspectives of three characters, teacher Eliza Ellis, the father of a missing girl, Jordan Murphy, and the investigating detective, Con Badenhorst, the fast paced narrative builds tension and intrigue from the very first, hinting at deception, betrayal, corruption, and explosive secrets.
The insinuation of the supernatural plays perfectly against the contemporary elements, with recognisable inspiration drawn from Picnic at Hanging Rock, the legend of Slenderman, and the case of Michelle Carter, tied in with Aboriginal legend.
Perry effortlessly evokes a visceral response to the dense bushland of the bluffs in which the girls go missing, and the small town it shadows. The area’s erratic weather reflects the mood of the insular community, and the development of the investigation.
Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. A stunning debut from Kyle Perry, The Bluffs is an atmospheric, and compelling tale with twists and turns that will keep you wondering about the fate of the girls to the very last pages.
June 5, 2020
I seriously loved this book!! I love that it's a local Tassie man and I can feel the descriptions of the cool air and mountains so well. I loved the characters, the mystery. I can't believe this is his first book.
September 17, 2020
The Bluffs is the latest trending buzz book in Australia; everyone is talking about it and it’s getting heaps of great reviews. A thriller set in the Tasmanian wilderness, it promised much. But…
The basic plot is that a group of school girls and their teachers go hiking in Tasmania. Four girls get separated, a search party is sent out to look for them, but it is soon assumed they’re kidnapped.
The story is told from three different points of view. There’s Murphy’s, the father of one of the missing girls who just so happens to also be the local drug dealer. There is Con, the lead detective assigned to the case. And the third is Eliza, the teacher who was looking after the girls on the hike the day they went missing.
Con and Murphy are okay characters, I guess, although at times their characteristics and actions felt a little too contrived and convenient. Perry was obviously trying to make Murphy the poor misunderstood bad boy with a heart of gold. However, I found he spent far too much time high and/or yelling and/or being physically violent for me to be totally enchanted. And how he basically became everyone’s prime suspect was really kind of weird and didn’t make much sense.
Con, meanwhile, is suffering from PTSD and using this as his excuse for being the worst police officer evah. Actually, the entire police force were depicted as incompetent (sometimes deliberately, sometimes inadvertently) by Perry. The police determine the case to be a real kidnapping almost immediately (with minimal evidence as to why, mind you) but then proceed to be incapable of any actual detecting. Really, there was so much that seemed ridiculous about the police investigation, from the way they tried to ‘bug’ characters in a hospital ward, to the way they let civilians tag along on the case. I lost count of the number of times my eyes rolled back in my head.
Eliza made me want to slap her for most of the book. Everything about her grated on my nerves. Again though, everything surrounding her and the school teachers seemed unrealistic, not to mention completely inappropriate. If adult teachers carry on like this, the next generation are doomed.
I listened to the audio version. They used three different narrators: Dorje Swallow, who I’d listened to previously doing the Chris Hammer books and thought he did a great job; Rhys Muldoon, who is a pretty well known actor for most Aussies and I also liked; and Jessica Tovey, also an actress most would recognise in Aus, who I didn’t like as much - I admit this could have been because Eliza annoyed me so and not the blame of Tovey, however.
Another thing to annoy me was the school girls themselves. Yes, yes, I know writers have to be up with the latest social media etc for realism but these girls and their blogs and videos and followers. *yawn* I don’t really know any teenagers who really carry on these girls. (Yes, I have two, so I have a bit of experience. Maybe my children are just angels…)
And then, there’s the sexual relationships. Oh dear… Well, there is that Aussie joke that everyone in Tassie is having sex with their relatives…
Maybe if you’re into new/young adult you might like this. It had that vibe really and it could be described as Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Pretty Little Liars. I, however, nearly gave up on it a few times. I’d probably class this as my most disappointing book all year, given the excitement surrounding it. A generous 2 ½ out of 5.
The basic plot is that a group of school girls and their teachers go hiking in Tasmania. Four girls get separated, a search party is sent out to look for them, but it is soon assumed they’re kidnapped.
The story is told from three different points of view. There’s Murphy’s, the father of one of the missing girls who just so happens to also be the local drug dealer. There is Con, the lead detective assigned to the case. And the third is Eliza, the teacher who was looking after the girls on the hike the day they went missing.
Con and Murphy are okay characters, I guess, although at times their characteristics and actions felt a little too contrived and convenient. Perry was obviously trying to make Murphy the poor misunderstood bad boy with a heart of gold. However, I found he spent far too much time high and/or yelling and/or being physically violent for me to be totally enchanted. And how he basically became everyone’s prime suspect was really kind of weird and didn’t make much sense.
Con, meanwhile, is suffering from PTSD and using this as his excuse for being the worst police officer evah. Actually, the entire police force were depicted as incompetent (sometimes deliberately, sometimes inadvertently) by Perry. The police determine the case to be a real kidnapping almost immediately (with minimal evidence as to why, mind you) but then proceed to be incapable of any actual detecting. Really, there was so much that seemed ridiculous about the police investigation, from the way they tried to ‘bug’ characters in a hospital ward, to the way they let civilians tag along on the case. I lost count of the number of times my eyes rolled back in my head.
Eliza made me want to slap her for most of the book. Everything about her grated on my nerves. Again though, everything surrounding her and the school teachers seemed unrealistic, not to mention completely inappropriate. If adult teachers carry on like this, the next generation are doomed.
I listened to the audio version. They used three different narrators: Dorje Swallow, who I’d listened to previously doing the Chris Hammer books and thought he did a great job; Rhys Muldoon, who is a pretty well known actor for most Aussies and I also liked; and Jessica Tovey, also an actress most would recognise in Aus, who I didn’t like as much - I admit this could have been because Eliza annoyed me so and not the blame of Tovey, however.
Another thing to annoy me was the school girls themselves. Yes, yes, I know writers have to be up with the latest social media etc for realism but these girls and their blogs and videos and followers. *yawn* I don’t really know any teenagers who really carry on these girls. (Yes, I have two, so I have a bit of experience. Maybe my children are just angels…)
And then, there’s the sexual relationships. Oh dear… Well, there is that Aussie joke that everyone in Tassie is having sex with their relatives…
Maybe if you’re into new/young adult you might like this. It had that vibe really and it could be described as Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Pretty Little Liars. I, however, nearly gave up on it a few times. I’d probably class this as my most disappointing book all year, given the excitement surrounding it. A generous 2 ½ out of 5.
June 30, 2020
I can't express how excited I am for a book set in Tasmania, written by a Tasmanian author. The Bluffs is the book I have been waiting for. It perfectly encapsulates the Tasmanian wilderness, how it feels so empty and isolating yet filled with life.
We are thrown into small town life where each moment is important. All the details are important, but it is so fast paced, blink and you will miss something. The detail that Perry has gone into for this book is immense, as is the research he must have done. The folklore, forensics, police work, physcology. And it all pays off. It gives The Bluffs dimension and depth.
Complex characters overflow from the pages of this book, from your stereotypical small town drug dealers to the generation X, social media influencers and everything in between. The phrase, 'everyone has a story to tell' comes to mind when reading about Limestone Creek.
If you are looking for something eerie and atmospheric with a modern crime-fiction twist, then The Bluffs is for you. So easy to read, with a writing style that makes the pages practically turn themselves. Kyle Perry's debut novel The Bluffs, is the book not to be missed in 2020.
Thank you so much to the team at Penguin for sending me a review copy of this title.
Find my full review here www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
We are thrown into small town life where each moment is important. All the details are important, but it is so fast paced, blink and you will miss something. The detail that Perry has gone into for this book is immense, as is the research he must have done. The folklore, forensics, police work, physcology. And it all pays off. It gives The Bluffs dimension and depth.
Complex characters overflow from the pages of this book, from your stereotypical small town drug dealers to the generation X, social media influencers and everything in between. The phrase, 'everyone has a story to tell' comes to mind when reading about Limestone Creek.
If you are looking for something eerie and atmospheric with a modern crime-fiction twist, then The Bluffs is for you. So easy to read, with a writing style that makes the pages practically turn themselves. Kyle Perry's debut novel The Bluffs, is the book not to be missed in 2020.
Thank you so much to the team at Penguin for sending me a review copy of this title.
Find my full review here www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com
November 5, 2020
A school excursion leads to a group of missing girls and their teacher knocked out with a blow to her head. What exactly happened and will the Tasmanian wilderness claim them? What of the 'Hungry Man' and the five missing girls from three decades ago? A riveting new writer in Aussie crime who has produced a psychological thriller that will keep you enthralled. A body turns up and the tensions mount as the search for the girls continues as the weather turns for the worst. A brilliant read and a 5 star rating.
December 31, 2021
The Bluffs by Aussie author Kyle Perry is an excellent read set in Tasmania. I’ve read quite a few books set in Tasmania now and the descriptions have been wonderful and this book is no exception. After reading a few reviews and seeing recommendations for this book I must say I was curious to know if it would be a book I would enjoy. And I’m pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. This is most definitely an author I will be keeping a close eye on and look forward to seeing what he writes in the future. Highly recommended.
December 11, 2020
After reading the reviews I was hopeful that Kyle Perry might be a new Peter Temple.
"Tense", NO. Ätmospheric", NO. Ünsettling", YES but for all the wrong reasons.
Schoolgirls disappearing in the bush, what does that remind you of?? Did you even read Joan Lindsay and what happened to you, Kyle, at school??
Definitely not one for the mother of an Outdoor Ed Teacher, or possibly the majority of teachers at all.
Convoluted and messy.
"Tense", NO. Ätmospheric", NO. Ünsettling", YES but for all the wrong reasons.
Schoolgirls disappearing in the bush, what does that remind you of?? Did you even read Joan Lindsay and what happened to you, Kyle, at school??
Definitely not one for the mother of an Outdoor Ed Teacher, or possibly the majority of teachers at all.
Convoluted and messy.
November 25, 2020
This man writes women in a way that only a misogynist can.
October 17, 2020
The Bluffs is about love, family and secrets. The local school of Limestone Creek organise a walking trip to the wildness of the Great Western Tiers. However, the journey did not end the way they planned. On the first night, four of the girls went missing. The town of Limestone Creek was worried has the "Hungry Man" returned. The readers of The Bluffs will continue to follow Jordan Murphy and law enforcement officers investigation to find the young girls that are missing in the wildness.
The Bluffs is the debut book of Kyle Perry, and he has a great future ahead of him. I engaged with the plot of The Bluffs from the first page and allowed me to remember my time walking in Tasmania's wildness. I love Kyle Perry portrayal of his characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Bluffs is well written and researched by Kyle Perry. I like the way Kyle Perry describe the settings of Bluffs that complimented the plot of this book.
The readers of The Bluffs will learn about a mountain range in Tasmania called The Great Western Tiers. Also, the readers of The Bluffs will understand the consequences in a small community of law enforcement and government corruption.
I recommend this book.
The Bluffs is the debut book of Kyle Perry, and he has a great future ahead of him. I engaged with the plot of The Bluffs from the first page and allowed me to remember my time walking in Tasmania's wildness. I love Kyle Perry portrayal of his characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The Bluffs is well written and researched by Kyle Perry. I like the way Kyle Perry describe the settings of Bluffs that complimented the plot of this book.
The readers of The Bluffs will learn about a mountain range in Tasmania called The Great Western Tiers. Also, the readers of The Bluffs will understand the consequences in a small community of law enforcement and government corruption.
I recommend this book.
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