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The River Mouth
Fifteen-year-old Darren Davies is found facedown in the Weymouth River with a gunshot wound to his chest. The killer is never found. Ten years later, his mother receives a visit from the local police. Sandra’s best friend has been found dead on a remote Pilbara road, and Barbara’s DNA matches the DNA found under Darren’s fingernails. When the investigation into her son’s murder is reopened, Sandra begins to question what she knew about her best friend. As she digs, she discovers that there are many secrets in her small town, and that her murdered son had secrets too.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 29, 2022
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Small town secrets, old wounds and the ripple effects of a murder defines West Australian author Karen Herbert’s 2021 crime fiction release. The River Mouth was published by Fremantle Press last year and it follows a Pilbara based investigation spanning a decade, linking new events to old. This slow burn style mystery novel marks author Karen Herbert’s entry into the Australian crime fiction field.
Following the case of a fifteen-year-old boy who was discovered with a gunshot wound in a river in the north west region of Western Australia, the culprit of this heinous crime was never apprehended. As a decade rolls by with no answers to this case, the boy’s mother gives up hope of ever finding out who was responsible for killing her son. Then in a shocking turn of events, the police issue the boy’s mother Sandra with the shocking news that her best friend has also been killed. The resulting investigation into the crime scene and body reveals a remarkable clue, DNA found under the fingernails of Sandra’s son is also a match to her recently deceased friend. What secrets lay beneath the murky waters of a WA river?
Perth based resident Karen Herbert spent her childhood in the Geraldton region. Drawing on her early memories of living in the mid-west coast of WA, Herbert has vividly conjured up the fictional town of Weymouth and the Wey River. The River Mouth is a novel that is defined by a strong sense of place, it is the very axis point of this story, directing all streams of this novel.
The River Mouth is a slow burn style crime fiction novel. It has a rural base, which places it in the same category of popular crime novels from Jane Harper and Chris Hammer. I am really liking the expansion of this genre and it was great to see a West Australian author offer her own contribution to this growing field of fiction. Herbert’s approach to the crime element in The River Mouth isn’t violent and it does not issue a strong shock to the system to the audience. Rather, Hebert’s crime relies heavily on investigative efforts, speculation, innuendo and local secrets. The story does include a number of twists, turns and deflections. With questions of trust, withheld truths, rumour, suspicion, pointed fingers and insinuation taking place, The River Mouth is a constraining crime novel. Shifting perspectives, a countdown to the unsolved old crime and a variant timeline compounds the mystery. There is heartbreak, devastation, loss, bewilderment, despair, grief, violence, substance abuse issues and racism underlying this messy crime. With a hint of unreliability thanks to the narration, this had me baffled.
A fragmented crime novel, The River Mouth is a great local yarn from an author who has made a solid entry into the Australian mystery genre.
Small town secrets, old wounds and the ripple effects of a murder defines West Australian author Karen Herbert’s 2021 crime fiction release. The River Mouth was published by Fremantle Press last year and it follows a Pilbara based investigation spanning a decade, linking new events to old. This slow burn style mystery novel marks author Karen Herbert’s entry into the Australian crime fiction field.
Following the case of a fifteen-year-old boy who was discovered with a gunshot wound in a river in the north west region of Western Australia, the culprit of this heinous crime was never apprehended. As a decade rolls by with no answers to this case, the boy’s mother gives up hope of ever finding out who was responsible for killing her son. Then in a shocking turn of events, the police issue the boy’s mother Sandra with the shocking news that her best friend has also been killed. The resulting investigation into the crime scene and body reveals a remarkable clue, DNA found under the fingernails of Sandra’s son is also a match to her recently deceased friend. What secrets lay beneath the murky waters of a WA river?
Perth based resident Karen Herbert spent her childhood in the Geraldton region. Drawing on her early memories of living in the mid-west coast of WA, Herbert has vividly conjured up the fictional town of Weymouth and the Wey River. The River Mouth is a novel that is defined by a strong sense of place, it is the very axis point of this story, directing all streams of this novel.
The River Mouth is a slow burn style crime fiction novel. It has a rural base, which places it in the same category of popular crime novels from Jane Harper and Chris Hammer. I am really liking the expansion of this genre and it was great to see a West Australian author offer her own contribution to this growing field of fiction. Herbert’s approach to the crime element in The River Mouth isn’t violent and it does not issue a strong shock to the system to the audience. Rather, Hebert’s crime relies heavily on investigative efforts, speculation, innuendo and local secrets. The story does include a number of twists, turns and deflections. With questions of trust, withheld truths, rumour, suspicion, pointed fingers and insinuation taking place, The River Mouth is a constraining crime novel. Shifting perspectives, a countdown to the unsolved old crime and a variant timeline compounds the mystery. There is heartbreak, devastation, loss, bewilderment, despair, grief, violence, substance abuse issues and racism underlying this messy crime. With a hint of unreliability thanks to the narration, this had me baffled.
A fragmented crime novel, The River Mouth is a great local yarn from an author who has made a solid entry into the Australian mystery genre.
October 13, 2021
In Karen Herbert’s accomplished crime fiction debut, The River Mouth, a mother resumes her search for answers to the unsolved murder of her teenage son when the decade old case is reopened in the wake of the death of her best friend.
Sandra Davies is stunned when the police advise her that not only has the body of her best friend, Barbara Russell, been found in the Pilbara desert, but that routine tests discovered Barbara’s DNA matched a sample taken from the under the fingernails of her late son. Darren was shot dead by an unknown assailant while swimming in the river with friends ten years earlier, but what possible motive could explain Barbara killing a fifteen year old boy?
As Sandra tries to make sense of this unexpected development, convinced Barbara is blameless, Herbert unravels the past from the perspective of Barbara’s son, and Darren’s best friend, Colin. Darren is a high-spirited teenager, full of teenage bravado, with a sharp tongue, while Colin is more reserved and thoughtful. When Darren is not helping out his dad, a successful cray fisherman, the boys spend much of their time together, at school and on weekends, often joined by Tim, and occasionally Amy. While they occasionally cause mischief, and push against their parents’ rules, the group are fairly typical teenagers. I thought Herberts characterisation of the teens was realistic, and felt that she deftly captured their dialogue, attitudes and behaviours.
It becomes clear as the story unfolds that the insular Western Australian costal community in which Sandra lives harbours more than one secret that could have led to Darren’s murder, and Herbert uses these red herrings to good effect. The novel is well paced, with the suspense managed effectively across both timelines. Though the ambiguous circumstances of Barbara’s passing remains an irritant to me, I think the mystery of Darren’s death is satisfactorily resolved, even if the aftermath is somewhat non-traditional.
The River Mouth is an impressive debut, and a fine addition to the growing oeuvre of rural Australian crime fiction.
Sandra Davies is stunned when the police advise her that not only has the body of her best friend, Barbara Russell, been found in the Pilbara desert, but that routine tests discovered Barbara’s DNA matched a sample taken from the under the fingernails of her late son. Darren was shot dead by an unknown assailant while swimming in the river with friends ten years earlier, but what possible motive could explain Barbara killing a fifteen year old boy?
As Sandra tries to make sense of this unexpected development, convinced Barbara is blameless, Herbert unravels the past from the perspective of Barbara’s son, and Darren’s best friend, Colin. Darren is a high-spirited teenager, full of teenage bravado, with a sharp tongue, while Colin is more reserved and thoughtful. When Darren is not helping out his dad, a successful cray fisherman, the boys spend much of their time together, at school and on weekends, often joined by Tim, and occasionally Amy. While they occasionally cause mischief, and push against their parents’ rules, the group are fairly typical teenagers. I thought Herberts characterisation of the teens was realistic, and felt that she deftly captured their dialogue, attitudes and behaviours.
It becomes clear as the story unfolds that the insular Western Australian costal community in which Sandra lives harbours more than one secret that could have led to Darren’s murder, and Herbert uses these red herrings to good effect. The novel is well paced, with the suspense managed effectively across both timelines. Though the ambiguous circumstances of Barbara’s passing remains an irritant to me, I think the mystery of Darren’s death is satisfactorily resolved, even if the aftermath is somewhat non-traditional.
The River Mouth is an impressive debut, and a fine addition to the growing oeuvre of rural Australian crime fiction.
November 29, 2021
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**3.5 stars**
The River Mouth by Karen Herbert. (2021).
15 year old Darren is killed by a gunshot wound to the chest in the Weymouth River. The killer is never found. 10 years later, his mother Sandra's best friend Barbara is found in a dry riverbed near a remote Pilbara road. Barbara's DNA matches the DNA found under Darren's fingernails. When the investigation into Darren's death is reopened, Sandra questions what she knew about Barbara. She discovers there are secrets in her small community, and that her murdered son had secrets too.
This is the author's debut novel, and I think it's a pretty good first novel. Moving between two timelines, the death of young 15 year old Darren is the core of the novel. Sandra is put in an extremely difficult position when it looks like her best friend, who has just passed away, might have had something to do with her son's death ten years ago; quite horrifying to even imagine. It turns out there's a lot going on in this little town and the book explores some serious topics such as grief, murder, infertility, sexual abuse, domestic violence, drug use and abuse, divorce and racism. This all makes for a dark and intense story and at just over 250 pages readers will find themselves flying through the book.
Overall: I recommend this novel for any readers that enjoy Australian mystery novels and I look forward to future novels from this author.
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**3.5 stars**
The River Mouth by Karen Herbert. (2021).
15 year old Darren is killed by a gunshot wound to the chest in the Weymouth River. The killer is never found. 10 years later, his mother Sandra's best friend Barbara is found in a dry riverbed near a remote Pilbara road. Barbara's DNA matches the DNA found under Darren's fingernails. When the investigation into Darren's death is reopened, Sandra questions what she knew about Barbara. She discovers there are secrets in her small community, and that her murdered son had secrets too.
This is the author's debut novel, and I think it's a pretty good first novel. Moving between two timelines, the death of young 15 year old Darren is the core of the novel. Sandra is put in an extremely difficult position when it looks like her best friend, who has just passed away, might have had something to do with her son's death ten years ago; quite horrifying to even imagine. It turns out there's a lot going on in this little town and the book explores some serious topics such as grief, murder, infertility, sexual abuse, domestic violence, drug use and abuse, divorce and racism. This all makes for a dark and intense story and at just over 250 pages readers will find themselves flying through the book.
Overall: I recommend this novel for any readers that enjoy Australian mystery novels and I look forward to future novels from this author.
April 27, 2024
2.5★
There's a good story in here, with some truly unexpected twists, but it's bogged down by continual detailed description of the (fictional) location.
There's a good story in here, with some truly unexpected twists, but it's bogged down by continual detailed description of the (fictional) location.
January 11, 2022
The setting of this novel is a small coastal town on the West Australian coast at the mouth of the Weymouth River some days south of the Pilbara. There are two major timelines. The novel has several narrators including Darren, his friends Colin and Tim, and Darren's mother Sandra. The combination of the timelines and the various narrative voices give the story considerable complexity.
The narration starts with Sandra, and what she knows, ten years after her son was killed and few days after her best friend's body has been found in the Pilbara. Chapter 2 is narrated by Colin and begins a count down 25 days before Darren died. From there we flit backwards and forwards from the past to the present. The reader is often left to deduce which timeline we are on, and I did find that confusing at times, although we do know who the narrator is. There is a lot for the reader to unravel, but that is part of the pleasure of the book, so I am not going to explain everything here. At times the author attempts to see things through the eyes of the three boys, and at times reflects their lack of understanding of what is happening in the adult world around them.
Sandra thinks she has moved on since Darren's death, but there are questions she has never asked and answers she has never sought.
I thought there were hints that various of the characters may have indigenous background but perhaps I missed out on picking up on when that was more clearly stated.
The final resolution to who killed Darren, and why, seems to come out of left field, but there were hints among all the red herrings.
So here is another new author to watch!
The narration starts with Sandra, and what she knows, ten years after her son was killed and few days after her best friend's body has been found in the Pilbara. Chapter 2 is narrated by Colin and begins a count down 25 days before Darren died. From there we flit backwards and forwards from the past to the present. The reader is often left to deduce which timeline we are on, and I did find that confusing at times, although we do know who the narrator is. There is a lot for the reader to unravel, but that is part of the pleasure of the book, so I am not going to explain everything here. At times the author attempts to see things through the eyes of the three boys, and at times reflects their lack of understanding of what is happening in the adult world around them.
Sandra thinks she has moved on since Darren's death, but there are questions she has never asked and answers she has never sought.
I thought there were hints that various of the characters may have indigenous background but perhaps I missed out on picking up on when that was more clearly stated.
The final resolution to who killed Darren, and why, seems to come out of left field, but there were hints among all the red herrings.
So here is another new author to watch!
December 22, 2022
Reading the early bits in this book gave me the same feeling I got when I read the first draft of my first novel. It's a good book, but it needs a LOT of work. Except instead of being a first draft, this one got published that way.
I see that many folks mention it was a chore keeping track of all the characters, and I feel that way too. Too many names that are just... plain. Nobody's name stood out. Hardly any physical descriptions so I didn't know who was who.
Plus, in the early parts, there was WAY too many words devoted to the three teenage boys just hanging out. And I don't know Any Teenage Boys EVER that act the way these three do. Some of the odd behaviour gets explained WAY too late in the book.
Actually, a whole bunch of things get explained way too late. Too many details given to things that meant nothing to the story, not enough details given to things that would have built mystery, suspense, they would have made me wonder who actually DID shoot the kid.
Instead, it was all just kind of a mish-mash of characters and plot points, some of which that were kind of thrown out at the end with one sentence explanations.
Again, it's NOT a bad book. It just could have used some work to be GOOD.
I see that many folks mention it was a chore keeping track of all the characters, and I feel that way too. Too many names that are just... plain. Nobody's name stood out. Hardly any physical descriptions so I didn't know who was who.
Plus, in the early parts, there was WAY too many words devoted to the three teenage boys just hanging out. And I don't know Any Teenage Boys EVER that act the way these three do. Some of the odd behaviour gets explained WAY too late in the book.
Actually, a whole bunch of things get explained way too late. Too many details given to things that meant nothing to the story, not enough details given to things that would have built mystery, suspense, they would have made me wonder who actually DID shoot the kid.
Instead, it was all just kind of a mish-mash of characters and plot points, some of which that were kind of thrown out at the end with one sentence explanations.
Again, it's NOT a bad book. It just could have used some work to be GOOD.
September 1, 2021
Ten years ago, Darren Davies’ body was found in the river with a single gunshot to the chest. Today, his mother’s best friend, Barbara, is found dead. Darren’s DNA is under Barbara’s fingernails. Everyone knows everyone but only a few know the truth.
Written in third person, the novel counts down to the day of Darren’s death, and Barbara’s recent death. Antipathy and anger waft in and out, like toxic smoke permeating every corner of this community. The reader feels like a voyeur in a police procedural as the writer takes you back and forth between the deaths.
I was more interested in Darren and Barbara, than any other character and would have preferred the novel to concentrate on them and their back stories. How did Darren come to be with Sandra and Geoff? Where did Darren and Barbara originally come from? For me, the myriad characters only confused/thinned out the plot.
For me, the shifting timeframes fragmented the story and detracted from any tension . The claustrophobic atmosphere of a close-knit community in a small town of Western Australia was well captured and conveyed.
Thank you to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the ARC and my honest review.
Written in third person, the novel counts down to the day of Darren’s death, and Barbara’s recent death. Antipathy and anger waft in and out, like toxic smoke permeating every corner of this community. The reader feels like a voyeur in a police procedural as the writer takes you back and forth between the deaths.
I was more interested in Darren and Barbara, than any other character and would have preferred the novel to concentrate on them and their back stories. How did Darren come to be with Sandra and Geoff? Where did Darren and Barbara originally come from? For me, the myriad characters only confused/thinned out the plot.
For me, the shifting timeframes fragmented the story and detracted from any tension . The claustrophobic atmosphere of a close-knit community in a small town of Western Australia was well captured and conveyed.
Thank you to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the ARC and my honest review.
August 22, 2021
The River Mouth was such an engaging debut novel. It is set in a seaside small town and follows the story of Sandra, whose son Darren was murdered 10 years earlier. This book moves between Sandra's story in present time and the events leading up to Darren's death 10 years earlier. I thought this concept worked really well in this book, as the 2 different years meant that you could engage with the characters and gradually learn about who the killer was. This was a real page turner and I could not put the book down until I found out who the killer was. The build up to the ending was well done with the level of suspense and I did not guess who the killer was until just before we found out. I can't wait to see what else Karen Herbert writes next. Thank you to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the advanced copy.
December 26, 2021
I am impatient with books structures over two (or more) time frames and usually avoid them This was a Bookclub choice so I persevered. I took several days to read the first few chapters before the author’s skill got under my defences and sucked me in badly so thatI read for six hours to finish in a sitting.
I love the way the motivations, secrets, fears and ambitions of characters are progressively revealed - a kaleidoscopic view of community, shifting at each turn, not, in the manner of many village-based mysteries, as a puzzle, but as an organism, growing, evolving and maturing.
It took me by surprise and leaves me with a strong sense of place, community and satisfaction. Even though there are clearly ends that could be tied up, and more stories to tell, I am left with an odd sense of completion.
I’m very impressed. There is significant skill and talent at work here. I’m a convert and fan, looking forward to further work.
Bravissima.
I love the way the motivations, secrets, fears and ambitions of characters are progressively revealed - a kaleidoscopic view of community, shifting at each turn, not, in the manner of many village-based mysteries, as a puzzle, but as an organism, growing, evolving and maturing.
It took me by surprise and leaves me with a strong sense of place, community and satisfaction. Even though there are clearly ends that could be tied up, and more stories to tell, I am left with an odd sense of completion.
I’m very impressed. There is significant skill and talent at work here. I’m a convert and fan, looking forward to further work.
Bravissima.
December 5, 2021
Review to follow.
October 28, 2024
a good slow burn, character driven mystery
August 12, 2021
The River Mouth is a roller coaster of a who done it! Sandra Davies’ son, Darren, was murdered ten years ago and the person responsible was never brought to justice. Fast forward to the present and Sandra’s best friend, Barbara, is found dead out in the Pilbara. Barbara’s DNA matches the DNA found under Darren’s fingernails. The book starts with that shocking revelation and doesn’t let up! The book follows two different timelines: the days leading up to Darren’s death and the days following Barbara’s death. Both timelines were equally compelling and came together nicely at the end. I loved the depiction of the unique relationships between the different mothers and sons but all may not be what it seems. The town has a few secrets of its own that come to light. The book also looks at racism, the plight of the homeless and elderly parents. This is a great thriller with a difference - it’s all about the how and why. The author does an excellent job in keeping you guessing up until the very end.
Thanks to Better Reading @betterreadingau for the advance copy!
Thanks to Better Reading @betterreadingau for the advance copy!
August 11, 2021
This book starts with one of the best opening chapters I have read.
'This is what Sandra knows. She is forty-nine years old and she can see the river mouth from her kitchen. When the sandbar is open, the river stains the sea brown for as far as she can see. Ten years ago, her son was killed below the limestone cliffs at the riverbank. Last week her best friend's body was found off a remote road in the Pilbara. Her friend's DNA matches the DNA scraped from under her son's fingernails'
The story that follows is told from Sandra's perspective after Barbara's death, and the perspective of Colin Russell, one of her son's mates and Barbara's son, in the lead up to Darren's death.
With the investigation into the unsolved murder of her son now reopened, Sandra has to deal with all the details of Darren's death again. Barbara is now the main suspect, a fact Sandra refuses to believe.
This is a moving story of friendship and undying loyalty. There are secrets and lies, between husbands and wives, mothers and sons, and friends. Some secrets it seems can be kept and some lies will remain undiscovered.
This is a great first novel by Karen Herbert and I will look forward to her next novel also.
'This is what Sandra knows. She is forty-nine years old and she can see the river mouth from her kitchen. When the sandbar is open, the river stains the sea brown for as far as she can see. Ten years ago, her son was killed below the limestone cliffs at the riverbank. Last week her best friend's body was found off a remote road in the Pilbara. Her friend's DNA matches the DNA scraped from under her son's fingernails'
The story that follows is told from Sandra's perspective after Barbara's death, and the perspective of Colin Russell, one of her son's mates and Barbara's son, in the lead up to Darren's death.
With the investigation into the unsolved murder of her son now reopened, Sandra has to deal with all the details of Darren's death again. Barbara is now the main suspect, a fact Sandra refuses to believe.
This is a moving story of friendship and undying loyalty. There are secrets and lies, between husbands and wives, mothers and sons, and friends. Some secrets it seems can be kept and some lies will remain undiscovered.
This is a great first novel by Karen Herbert and I will look forward to her next novel also.
August 8, 2021
This book is set in two time frames. Ten years ago, Darren was shot. When Barbara dies, her DNA matches the DNA found under Darrens finger nails. So what happened? You need to keep your wits about you as you read the events leading up to Darren's murder. But there is also, the present day as new information comes to light. The setting of the small country town, drugs, racism and crime all creates an evocative atmosphere. The unintended consequences of people’s actions and the secrets make for great reading. My only wish was that there was more about Barbara's death, there are hints that there was more to it, unless I have missed something!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2021
I was initially attracted to " The River Mouth" by the title ( my Mob being Freshwater People from the Murray Darling Basin ) Despite being set in a coastal town ( and bringing back fond memories of going out on my friend's dads cray boat ) the river plays a crucial role in the story, most importantly as the scene of the death of Sandras son, Darren. There are parts of the book which are upsetting and could be triggering for Indigenous Australians ( just a warning to other Mob out there ) but nothing is explored very deeply. I enjoyed the book but would have preferred a different resolution. Not to give anything away, but Sandra's right to trust her intuition...
August 23, 2021
Gotta love a slow burner...
This tale of small town secrets kept me guessing.
Told between timelines ten years apart, Karen Herbert does a fine job of placing the reader in a small West Australian town with vivid descriptions of people and place.
The Pilbara comes alive under her masterful telling.
Her characters are so believable and exquisitely drawn that you can picture those teenagers like they are your next door neighbours.
It evoked the grief of parents, the closeness of friendships and the lies that families will tell to protect their own, and their own backs.
Ideal for readers who enjoy a mystery or crime narrative I highly recommend this one.
This tale of small town secrets kept me guessing.
Told between timelines ten years apart, Karen Herbert does a fine job of placing the reader in a small West Australian town with vivid descriptions of people and place.
The Pilbara comes alive under her masterful telling.
Her characters are so believable and exquisitely drawn that you can picture those teenagers like they are your next door neighbours.
It evoked the grief of parents, the closeness of friendships and the lies that families will tell to protect their own, and their own backs.
Ideal for readers who enjoy a mystery or crime narrative I highly recommend this one.
August 15, 2021
I recently received a copy of The river mouth by Karen Herbert thanks to #BRpreview, @better reading and @Fremantle press. It's a coming of age tale of growing up in a small outback community, and the tight bonds and friendships formed and the loyalty code that goes with that friendship sometimes for a lifetime. It contains an unsolved murder mystery which extends over a decade. There are lots of plot twists which keep you guessing till the final pages. It was a thoroughly engaging story which will become an epic anthem for readers young and older in years to come about loyalty, trust, friendship and the truth and integration of diverse cultures in our remote communities. Loved it
January 4, 2022
I found this a compelling read. I thought the technique of the two time frames worked exceptionally well. In the present is Sandra whose son Darren was shot and killed ten years ago. Now the death of her friend Barbara in the Pilbara has thrown a new light on the case. Police investigations have resumed. In the past, Herbert writes from the point of view of Darren’s closest friend (and Barbara’s son), Colin. Each of these chapters moves inexorably towards Darren’s death. I felt trapped between the two unfolding stories - like a pincer movement. It created an intensity that had me reading the novel into the wee hours. My speculations about who and why were constantly changing, the sign of a good crime story. Herbert managed the plot and her characters (especially the teenagers) with great skill. The river and beachside setting were also important. I look forward to more from this new Australian talent.
August 29, 2021
A beautifully woven story showing the heartbreak of grief, the value of true friendship and the corruption which can hide beneath the surface of any small town. The River Mouth follows two timelines and perspectives; Sandra in the present day dealing with the idea that her best friend may have had something to do with her son's death a decade before and Colin in the past, showing the events that took place leading up to the death of his best friend, Darren. Having the story unfold this way was extremely engaging making this whodunnit a page turner that was difficult to put down.
Karen Herbert is an incredibly talented writer and it is hard to believe this is her debut. Her writing of the setting was particularly vivid, to the point that the landscape was its own vital character. Unlike other mystery books there were the perfect amount of potential suspects in the murder, with no characters there solely to pad out guesses for the reader. I look forward to picking up anything Karen Herbert writes in the future. Her character development is impeccable.
Thank you Fremantle Press and Better Reading Australia for the opportunity to read a review copy.
Karen Herbert is an incredibly talented writer and it is hard to believe this is her debut. Her writing of the setting was particularly vivid, to the point that the landscape was its own vital character. Unlike other mystery books there were the perfect amount of potential suspects in the murder, with no characters there solely to pad out guesses for the reader. I look forward to picking up anything Karen Herbert writes in the future. Her character development is impeccable.
Thank you Fremantle Press and Better Reading Australia for the opportunity to read a review copy.
August 9, 2022
Terrific read dissecting the dynamics of small town coastal Australia. High on character with an engaging mystery. I look forward to more books from Karen herbert.
February 4, 2022
10 years after her 15 year old son was shot to death, Sandra gets a visit from local police telling her that her best friend has been found dead and her DNA matches the DNA found under her son Darren’s fingernails.
The investigation of Darren’s murder is reopened and along with it secrets of their small community are forced out into the open including Darren’s own secrets.
A good debut novel from Karen Herbert @herbert_whittle
I thought it was good but not a standout for me. I was really intrigued in the first half of the book but I found the ending a bit predictable and it didn’t shock me at all.
I liked the alternating perspectives of time as well as characters through each chapter. It was a really good way to keep you interested and the story flowing.
It touches on a lot of different issues we have in Australian society today which I thought was a good touch.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Karen does in her next book
The investigation of Darren’s murder is reopened and along with it secrets of their small community are forced out into the open including Darren’s own secrets.
A good debut novel from Karen Herbert @herbert_whittle
I thought it was good but not a standout for me. I was really intrigued in the first half of the book but I found the ending a bit predictable and it didn’t shock me at all.
I liked the alternating perspectives of time as well as characters through each chapter. It was a really good way to keep you interested and the story flowing.
It touches on a lot of different issues we have in Australian society today which I thought was a good touch.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Karen does in her next book
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December 11, 2021This review was first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...
TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault
Over the past few months, I’ve been on a crime/thriller binge, and The River Mouth by Karen Herbert hit my sweet spot: a mystery with a female protagonist set in Western Australia. It is a two-fold mystery that is well paced and gripping from start to finish. After Sandra’s best friend Barbara is found dead near a remote Pilbara Road, Sandra’s shocked to discover that her friend’s DNA is a match to that found on her son’s murdered body 10 years ago…did her best friend kill her son? I couldn’t put the book down as the investigation into her son’s (Darren) murder is reopened and the unsolved mysteries in Sandra’s small town are slowly unravelled.
One of the primary reasons the double mystery worked so well was the continuous time jumps from the past (leading up to her son’s murder) and the present (after her best friend’s death). While the differing timelines and perspectives (one being Sandra’s in the present and the other perspective her son’s best friend and Barbara’s son, Colin in the past leading up to Darren’s death) was at first jarring, I quickly fell into the story. Alongside the mysterious circumstances of Darren and Barbara’s demise, the town’s crimes and gossip lead the story in an unexpected and often unreliable direction.
Herbert perfectly captured the small-town life with characters knowing each other from birth till death and noting any and all changes that occur in their small community; however, what stood out to me the most was how much Sandra knew about the individuals. Since Sandra works at the hospital caring for community members who wander in with small injuries and administering rape kits to teenage girls, she has an inside to the darker side of the community. This darkness in the community connects to another mystery that lingers over the town: the unknown rapist that broke into homes and sexually assaulted girls over several months leading up to Darren’s death. One theory is that Darren saw the rapist and was killed to hide the identity. Herbert does not divulge graphic details about the assault but focuses on the immediate aftermath in the hospital with Sandra. While this storyline is not as prominent as Darren or Barbara’s deaths, it was one that stood out to me. One of the reasons was because Sandra noted that most of the girls who she’s administered rape kits to over the years were assaulted by a family member. While this storyline does not divulge much detail and nor is it resolved, it emphasises the idea that Sandra does not know the members of her community as well as she thought.
Herbert’s novel had several captivating storylines that seamlessly weaved together as you read along, but what stood out to me the most was how disturbing the past is to both those who acted wrongly and those who are seemingly innocent. This is a novel that will keep you guessing and encourage you to check the locks on your door… As the weather turns and the sun dries up the Australian rivers once more, grab yourself a copy of The River Mouth and lounge in the heat while devouring this gripping novel.
TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault
Over the past few months, I’ve been on a crime/thriller binge, and The River Mouth by Karen Herbert hit my sweet spot: a mystery with a female protagonist set in Western Australia. It is a two-fold mystery that is well paced and gripping from start to finish. After Sandra’s best friend Barbara is found dead near a remote Pilbara Road, Sandra’s shocked to discover that her friend’s DNA is a match to that found on her son’s murdered body 10 years ago…did her best friend kill her son? I couldn’t put the book down as the investigation into her son’s (Darren) murder is reopened and the unsolved mysteries in Sandra’s small town are slowly unravelled.
One of the primary reasons the double mystery worked so well was the continuous time jumps from the past (leading up to her son’s murder) and the present (after her best friend’s death). While the differing timelines and perspectives (one being Sandra’s in the present and the other perspective her son’s best friend and Barbara’s son, Colin in the past leading up to Darren’s death) was at first jarring, I quickly fell into the story. Alongside the mysterious circumstances of Darren and Barbara’s demise, the town’s crimes and gossip lead the story in an unexpected and often unreliable direction.
Herbert perfectly captured the small-town life with characters knowing each other from birth till death and noting any and all changes that occur in their small community; however, what stood out to me the most was how much Sandra knew about the individuals. Since Sandra works at the hospital caring for community members who wander in with small injuries and administering rape kits to teenage girls, she has an inside to the darker side of the community. This darkness in the community connects to another mystery that lingers over the town: the unknown rapist that broke into homes and sexually assaulted girls over several months leading up to Darren’s death. One theory is that Darren saw the rapist and was killed to hide the identity. Herbert does not divulge graphic details about the assault but focuses on the immediate aftermath in the hospital with Sandra. While this storyline is not as prominent as Darren or Barbara’s deaths, it was one that stood out to me. One of the reasons was because Sandra noted that most of the girls who she’s administered rape kits to over the years were assaulted by a family member. While this storyline does not divulge much detail and nor is it resolved, it emphasises the idea that Sandra does not know the members of her community as well as she thought.
Herbert’s novel had several captivating storylines that seamlessly weaved together as you read along, but what stood out to me the most was how disturbing the past is to both those who acted wrongly and those who are seemingly innocent. This is a novel that will keep you guessing and encourage you to check the locks on your door… As the weather turns and the sun dries up the Australian rivers once more, grab yourself a copy of The River Mouth and lounge in the heat while devouring this gripping novel.
October 26, 2021
An interesting premise at the start of this story really drew me in. I especially enjoyed the Australian setting, and the very real feel of the place and characters.
The switching viewpoints of what happened on the novel's pivotal day detracted from the story for me, and the ending felt a bit wandering and unsatisfying.
The switching viewpoints of what happened on the novel's pivotal day detracted from the story for me, and the ending felt a bit wandering and unsatisfying.
January 1, 2022
Continuing the strong (newish) tradition of Australian rural noir, this debut stands up well. Freemantle Press has been doing a fantastic job of publishing new Aussie crime writers in the last few years - I haven't read one of their books and been disappointed yet!
The book jumps between the present and the days leading up to the unsolved murder of teenager Darren (I promise that's not a spoiler). The structure works really well for building tension and providing circumstantial red herrings.
I'm always a fan of using the landscape as a character, and in this book the river mouth, beach and small town depictions add so much depth. It really made me want to visit! Herbert also makes liberal use of our cliches about small communities - rumours, the good and bad sides of town, teens house-hopping, everyone knowing everyone else, and decades long friendships (and secrets).
The main characters are all believable, and the book strikes a good balance between intrigue and the banality of day-to-day life. One aspect the small-town setting really helped was the familiarity everyone has with everyone else - Sandra's hairdresser's daughter works at the bank where Sandra has her account, Stuart's mother is in a rest home where the staff know his wife because she works at the hospital etc etc. The interconnectedness of the characters makes everyone somehow suspicious, but Herbert never takes the red herrings too far.
As a crime novel it's fairly light and is pretty much violence free (there are violent acts discussed but it's not depicted in much detail). It's well-paced and highly readable. I'm looking forward to Herbert's next book now!
Check out my book reviews at www.instagram.com/avrbookstuff.
Please shop at your local independent bookstore.
The book jumps between the present and the days leading up to the unsolved murder of teenager Darren (I promise that's not a spoiler). The structure works really well for building tension and providing circumstantial red herrings.
I'm always a fan of using the landscape as a character, and in this book the river mouth, beach and small town depictions add so much depth. It really made me want to visit! Herbert also makes liberal use of our cliches about small communities - rumours, the good and bad sides of town, teens house-hopping, everyone knowing everyone else, and decades long friendships (and secrets).
The main characters are all believable, and the book strikes a good balance between intrigue and the banality of day-to-day life. One aspect the small-town setting really helped was the familiarity everyone has with everyone else - Sandra's hairdresser's daughter works at the bank where Sandra has her account, Stuart's mother is in a rest home where the staff know his wife because she works at the hospital etc etc. The interconnectedness of the characters makes everyone somehow suspicious, but Herbert never takes the red herrings too far.
As a crime novel it's fairly light and is pretty much violence free (there are violent acts discussed but it's not depicted in much detail). It's well-paced and highly readable. I'm looking forward to Herbert's next book now!
Check out my book reviews at www.instagram.com/avrbookstuff.
Please shop at your local independent bookstore.
January 1, 2022
Karen Herbert’s debut novel The River Mouth is an engaging and impressive read.
Imagine still grieving the death of your 15-year-old son when you are told by Police that the 10-year cold case is being reopened. Why do you ask? Your best friend, Barbara’s body is discovered in the Pilbara on a remote road and her DNA matches the DNA found under your son Darren’s fingernails.
So many questions to be answered and this sets the tone for the book. You want answers!
The story is told in both Sandra’s current day perspective and Colin Russell’s perspective from 10 years ago. He was Darren’s best mate and also Barbara’s son. The chapters alternate on the different perspectives with Colin’s starting 25 days before Darren dies, and Sandra just being told about Barbara’s death. I found this countdown kept me reading as I wanted to know what happened to Darren and was Barbara involved. I was constantly on the lookout for clues for who may have killed Darren whilst I was reading his chapters..
This story will appeal to lovers of the crime/mystery genre but I feel it also covered topics such as remote communities, family secrets, and grief. Karen Herbert also vividly described the landscape therefore it became an additional character during the storytelling.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace, Fremantle Press, and Karen Herbert for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous debut novel.
Imagine still grieving the death of your 15-year-old son when you are told by Police that the 10-year cold case is being reopened. Why do you ask? Your best friend, Barbara’s body is discovered in the Pilbara on a remote road and her DNA matches the DNA found under your son Darren’s fingernails.
So many questions to be answered and this sets the tone for the book. You want answers!
The story is told in both Sandra’s current day perspective and Colin Russell’s perspective from 10 years ago. He was Darren’s best mate and also Barbara’s son. The chapters alternate on the different perspectives with Colin’s starting 25 days before Darren dies, and Sandra just being told about Barbara’s death. I found this countdown kept me reading as I wanted to know what happened to Darren and was Barbara involved. I was constantly on the lookout for clues for who may have killed Darren whilst I was reading his chapters..
This story will appeal to lovers of the crime/mystery genre but I feel it also covered topics such as remote communities, family secrets, and grief. Karen Herbert also vividly described the landscape therefore it became an additional character during the storytelling.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace, Fremantle Press, and Karen Herbert for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous debut novel.
February 18, 2022
The death of a child is always hard to read about and sometimes the repercussions can only be imagined. This wonderful debut brings life to imagination in surprising but authentic ways.
Sandra’s son Darren is shot dead. No one is arrested. The breakdown of Sandra’s marriage is understandably inevitable but years later, the sudden involvement of Sandra’s best friend is confronting for her. Further investigation and revelation make a small town and its secrets disturbing and sinister. And it turns out everyone has secrets, even her son.
The time slip sequences, and Darren and his two young friends’ experiences bring an immediacy to the events of ten years ago. Rather than just names, the author has fleshed out those teenage boys, so they are complete characters.
There are loads of things that were not told when Darren died and ten years later, they trickle out, judiciously rationed to keep the pace up and providing satisfying twists and turns. I was aware of secrets but couldn’t begin to guess the nature of some of them.
The end is a gentle coda to the novel, but there is a foreshadowed but unresolved end which really made an impact.
I loved reading this book and hope for more from the author.
Sandra’s son Darren is shot dead. No one is arrested. The breakdown of Sandra’s marriage is understandably inevitable but years later, the sudden involvement of Sandra’s best friend is confronting for her. Further investigation and revelation make a small town and its secrets disturbing and sinister. And it turns out everyone has secrets, even her son.
The time slip sequences, and Darren and his two young friends’ experiences bring an immediacy to the events of ten years ago. Rather than just names, the author has fleshed out those teenage boys, so they are complete characters.
There are loads of things that were not told when Darren died and ten years later, they trickle out, judiciously rationed to keep the pace up and providing satisfying twists and turns. I was aware of secrets but couldn’t begin to guess the nature of some of them.
The end is a gentle coda to the novel, but there is a foreshadowed but unresolved end which really made an impact.
I loved reading this book and hope for more from the author.
February 2, 2023
I love nothing more than a remote Aussie mystery and couldn't wait to read Karen Herbert's debut, set a couple of hours north of where I live in WA.
While the premise instantly drew me in, the writing, unfortunately, did not. The tenses were all over the place but mostly in the present which felt so jarring. I also felt there was a lot of superfluous context that distracted me from the story. While there was quite a lot of filler, none of this felt directed at the characters who never really flourished in my opinion, especially the three boys who I always had trouble trying to differentiate. For such a short book, it took me weeks to read as I just couldn't get into the flow of things. The plotting was tight but it just needed to be executed a little better in my opinion. I think with some heavier editing, this book could be great.
Thank you to Fremantle Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 3.2
Writing style/readability - 3
Characters - 2.8
Diverse themes - 3.5
Ending - 3
Overall - 3
While the premise instantly drew me in, the writing, unfortunately, did not. The tenses were all over the place but mostly in the present which felt so jarring. I also felt there was a lot of superfluous context that distracted me from the story. While there was quite a lot of filler, none of this felt directed at the characters who never really flourished in my opinion, especially the three boys who I always had trouble trying to differentiate. For such a short book, it took me weeks to read as I just couldn't get into the flow of things. The plotting was tight but it just needed to be executed a little better in my opinion. I think with some heavier editing, this book could be great.
Thank you to Fremantle Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 3.2
Writing style/readability - 3
Characters - 2.8
Diverse themes - 3.5
Ending - 3
Overall - 3
September 9, 2023
This is Australian rural noir at its finest. Karen Herbert has used the fictional coastal town of Weymouth (which is so like the real WA town of Geraldton) as the setting where a 15 year old boy (Darren) is shot and killed. The story alternates between the days leading up to Darren's death and 10 years later when a DNA discovery reveals a surprising suspect. The plotting is very clever with a slow buildup, conflicting memories, secrets and different points of view. It's convoluted and Herbert really nails the different relationships - between wives and husbands, between best mates, between siblings, between work colleagues - it's all very authentic.
These are ordinary people leading ordinary lives - but are they? There are illegal activities, elements of racism and misplaced trust. This would make a brilliant TV mini series and is up there with Jane Harper's standard in terms of storyline and quality of writing. Highly recommended and I'm now going to read Karen Herbert's other books.
These are ordinary people leading ordinary lives - but are they? There are illegal activities, elements of racism and misplaced trust. This would make a brilliant TV mini series and is up there with Jane Harper's standard in terms of storyline and quality of writing. Highly recommended and I'm now going to read Karen Herbert's other books.
January 17, 2022
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Fremantle Press for my copy.
This is pretty damn good for a debut novel and I had my theory from the start as to who the killer was and why. That changed a couple of times and it wasn't until later in the book that I worked out who, but not the why. There were a few red herrings, twists and so many secrets. I found the bouncing back and forward between present day and ten years back in time was interesting. Each chapter bought the story closer together, but also gave you different perspectives on people. I found it a little confusing trying to work out all the characters as there were three teenage male friends, their parents, siblings, other friends and relatives. The author gives good character descriptions and also paints a good picture of the river and surrounding bush, sea and caves really well. Overall a great mystery that I enjoyed and are looking forward to the author's next book.
Thank you to Fremantle Press for my copy.
This is pretty damn good for a debut novel and I had my theory from the start as to who the killer was and why. That changed a couple of times and it wasn't until later in the book that I worked out who, but not the why. There were a few red herrings, twists and so many secrets. I found the bouncing back and forward between present day and ten years back in time was interesting. Each chapter bought the story closer together, but also gave you different perspectives on people. I found it a little confusing trying to work out all the characters as there were three teenage male friends, their parents, siblings, other friends and relatives. The author gives good character descriptions and also paints a good picture of the river and surrounding bush, sea and caves really well. Overall a great mystery that I enjoyed and are looking forward to the author's next book.
December 26, 2021
✍️ It has been ten years since teenager Darren Davies was murdered without a conviction. When his mother Sandra discovers that her best friend has been found dead and her DNA matching Darren's fingernails the case reopens.
Directly after commencing this book I perceived from the synopsis and the first page that I was going to love it till the end and I assuredly did. I was RAPTURED! I enjoyed that the narrative was told in past and present tense,as well as various character point of views.
The storyline was fast paced and thrilling and kept me absorbed and agog from start to finish. There were elements of suspense, bewilderment and intrigue which had me guessing till the end. An electrifying story filled with heartbreak, grief, I couldn't put it down. Devoured it in one sitting and highly recommend.
Directly after commencing this book I perceived from the synopsis and the first page that I was going to love it till the end and I assuredly did. I was RAPTURED! I enjoyed that the narrative was told in past and present tense,as well as various character point of views.
The storyline was fast paced and thrilling and kept me absorbed and agog from start to finish. There were elements of suspense, bewilderment and intrigue which had me guessing till the end. An electrifying story filled with heartbreak, grief, I couldn't put it down. Devoured it in one sitting and highly recommend.
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