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'The tiny outback town of Nannine lies in the harsh red interior of Australia. Once a thriving center of stockyards and sheep stations, years of punishing drought have petrified the land and Nannine has been whittled down to no more than a stoplight, a couple bars, and a police station. And it has another, more sinister claim to fame: the still-unsolved disappearance of young Evelyn McCreery nineteen years ago. Mina McCreery's life has been defined by the intense public interest in her sister's case--which is still a hot topic in true-crime chat rooms and on social media. Now an anxious and reclusive adult, Mina lives alone on her family's sunbaked destocked sheep farm. Enter Lane Holland, a young private investigator who dropped out of the police academy to earn a living cracking cold cases. Before she died, Mina's mother funded a million-dollar reward for anyone who could explain how Evelyn vanished from her bed in the family's farmhouse. The lure of cash has only increased public obsession with Evelyn and Mina--but yielded no answers. Lane wins Mina's trust when some of his more unconventional methods show promise. But Lane also has darker motivations, and his obsession with the search will ultimately risk both their lives--and yield shocking results. Compulsively readable, with an unforgettable setting and cast of characters, Wake is a powerful, unsparing story of how trauma ripples outward when people's private tragedies become public property, and how it's never too late for the truth to come out.'
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2022
394 people are currently reading
19154 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Burr
4 books425 followersShelley Burr works at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment in Canberra, Australia. She grew up splitting her time between Newcastle and Glenrowan, where her father's family are all sheep farmers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,131 reviews
December 24, 2021
Best book I've ever written
May 25, 2023
*WINNER 2023 ABIA - The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year*
“The early hours of grief made it difficult to figure out what was important and what wasn’t. Coming to terms with the way the plans for the day had changed could loom as large as the questions of how the rest of your life would work, all jumbled in with the primal roar of “No!”
Evelyn simply vanished.
The small town of Nannine lies in the harsh red interior of New South Wales. Once a thriving outback centre, years of punishing drought have whittled it down to no more than a couple of pubs and a police station. And its one sinister claim to fame: the still-unsolved disappearance of Evelyn McCreery nineteen years ago from the bedroom she shared with her twin sister.
Mina McCreery's life has been defined by the intense and ongoing public interest in her sister's case. Now an anxious and reclusive adult, Mina lives alone on her family's sunbaked destocked sheep farm. The million-dollar reward her mother established to solve the disappearance has never been paid out. But, that might be about to change…
Wake by Shelley Burr is a haunting and suspenseful mystery that will keep you gripped to your seat and turning the pages! The outback Australian setting is incredibly atmospheric and added a lot of richness to the story. Lots of red dirt and open spaces, it has all the elements of a great thriller. Fascinating characters, buried secrets and chilling crimes. Full of suspense, this is something you could devour very quickly.
I also liked the weaving of blog posts at the beginning of each chapter, it conveyed the role of media and the intrusion of the public in a private tragedy.
Wake is compelling Aussie crime noir fiction, it's superbly written and surprisingly, it's a debut! Right up there with Harper and Hammer!
Highly Recommend
“The early hours of grief made it difficult to figure out what was important and what wasn’t. Coming to terms with the way the plans for the day had changed could loom as large as the questions of how the rest of your life would work, all jumbled in with the primal roar of “No!”
Evelyn simply vanished.
The small town of Nannine lies in the harsh red interior of New South Wales. Once a thriving outback centre, years of punishing drought have whittled it down to no more than a couple of pubs and a police station. And its one sinister claim to fame: the still-unsolved disappearance of Evelyn McCreery nineteen years ago from the bedroom she shared with her twin sister.
Mina McCreery's life has been defined by the intense and ongoing public interest in her sister's case. Now an anxious and reclusive adult, Mina lives alone on her family's sunbaked destocked sheep farm. The million-dollar reward her mother established to solve the disappearance has never been paid out. But, that might be about to change…
Wake by Shelley Burr is a haunting and suspenseful mystery that will keep you gripped to your seat and turning the pages! The outback Australian setting is incredibly atmospheric and added a lot of richness to the story. Lots of red dirt and open spaces, it has all the elements of a great thriller. Fascinating characters, buried secrets and chilling crimes. Full of suspense, this is something you could devour very quickly.
I also liked the weaving of blog posts at the beginning of each chapter, it conveyed the role of media and the intrusion of the public in a private tragedy.
Wake is compelling Aussie crime noir fiction, it's superbly written and surprisingly, it's a debut! Right up there with Harper and Hammer!
Highly Recommend
May 17, 2022
This is outstanding Aussie Noir by Shelley Burr, set in New South Wales and the small town of Nannine. Almost 2 decades ago, Wilhelmina 'Mina' McCreery's 9 year old twin sister, Evelyn, disappeared from their remote farm, the damage and trauma, and the repercussions going on to shape the life she now lives. Mina has become a recluse, living on her own, rarely venturing out, going out to collect groceries, occasionally making a 3 hour drive to the library to see her only friend, Alanna Rennold, who she inherited from her mother, Beverly. Alanna lost her sister, Christa, and is resentful that her disappearance barely got any coverage in comparison to Evelyn. Interest in Evelyn's case has not died out through the years, there is an online site MyMurder, with a active subforum dedicated to Evelyn, helping to turn the McCreery family tragedy into public property, making it impossible for the community and Mina to move on.
The cold case has a huge reward attached to it for information that leads to finding Evelyn, this attracts Private Investigator, Lane Holland, a damaged man with his own secrets, he has had some success in finding missing people, but is currently in dire financial straits, wanting to provide for his sister who has just started university. His father is in prison, and the imminent possibility of him gaining parole has upset him and increased his sister's anxieties. When he first expresses an interest in solving the case to Mina, she is not interested, particularly as there have been no developments through the years. Matters are exacerbated for Lane as the local community are determined to protect their own and lock him out, refusing to engage with his inquiries. However, as Lane demonstrates his abilities, Mina softens, letting him into her life in the hope of finally finding answers but will he be able to succeed where everyone else has failed?
This is a wonderfully atmospheric crime novel with a great sense of location, the sweltering and inescapable heat, the dense scrubland, the isolation and its dangers, including the presence of deadly brown snakes. This is a character driven story, of people, the buried secrets, the lies and deceptions, of family, life in remote small town communities, the despairing economic pressures, and crimes that shatter families apart. If you are a fan of Aussie Outback Crime, then this is a must read, it's a brilliant addition to the genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
The cold case has a huge reward attached to it for information that leads to finding Evelyn, this attracts Private Investigator, Lane Holland, a damaged man with his own secrets, he has had some success in finding missing people, but is currently in dire financial straits, wanting to provide for his sister who has just started university. His father is in prison, and the imminent possibility of him gaining parole has upset him and increased his sister's anxieties. When he first expresses an interest in solving the case to Mina, she is not interested, particularly as there have been no developments through the years. Matters are exacerbated for Lane as the local community are determined to protect their own and lock him out, refusing to engage with his inquiries. However, as Lane demonstrates his abilities, Mina softens, letting him into her life in the hope of finally finding answers but will he be able to succeed where everyone else has failed?
This is a wonderfully atmospheric crime novel with a great sense of location, the sweltering and inescapable heat, the dense scrubland, the isolation and its dangers, including the presence of deadly brown snakes. This is a character driven story, of people, the buried secrets, the lies and deceptions, of family, life in remote small town communities, the despairing economic pressures, and crimes that shatter families apart. If you are a fan of Aussie Outback Crime, then this is a must read, it's a brilliant addition to the genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
July 30, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Wake by Shelley is a very clever noir set in Nanninne is an outback town of NSW Australia . It was a very slow burn 🔥 that had me intrigued from start to finish I was engaged with the plot line but not the characters hence the 4.5 rating.
Mina McCreery & her sister Evelyn (aka Evie} are twins but one day Evie just disappeared from her foster home., Lane Holland from Byron Bay takes on cases that others have failed to find , he helps Mina find out the truth about her disappearance.
The Town wants the secrets hidden never to be revealed but as both Lane a PI yes I hate pi,s but he was quite good& entertaining . Mina runs the farm & is some what a recluse but is determined to find out what happened to her sibling.
This was a slow burn twisty read that I couldn’t put down I enjoyed this one except the characters I didn’t warm to a solid 4.5 stars ⭐️
Wake by Shelley is a very clever noir set in Nanninne is an outback town of NSW Australia . It was a very slow burn 🔥 that had me intrigued from start to finish I was engaged with the plot line but not the characters hence the 4.5 rating.
Mina McCreery & her sister Evelyn (aka Evie} are twins but one day Evie just disappeared from her foster home., Lane Holland from Byron Bay takes on cases that others have failed to find , he helps Mina find out the truth about her disappearance.
The Town wants the secrets hidden never to be revealed but as both Lane a PI yes I hate pi,s but he was quite good& entertaining . Mina runs the farm & is some what a recluse but is determined to find out what happened to her sibling.
This was a slow burn twisty read that I couldn’t put down I enjoyed this one except the characters I didn’t warm to a solid 4.5 stars ⭐️
September 1, 2022
3.5 Stars. Well-written, character-driven twisty Australian mystery. Lots of secrets are kept by unreliable people. It is told with shocking turns and a startling conclusion. I regret I never entirely engaged with the characters nor was feeling the location. Slow-paced until the final reveals. Wake is in the Aussie noir category and its author, Shelley Burr is a promising new author in this category. Looking forward to her next mystery.
January 4, 2023
EXCERPT: Echo planted his butt on the ground, tipped his head back and howled. That sound Mina wasn't imagining. Echo had alerted. He'd found something dead.
Mina was the closest you could get to an expert on identifying the signs of a clandestine burial without having actual certificates to put on the wall. She'd considered a double degree so that she could study forensic science in addition to agriculture, but her dad had quietly steered her away, fearful of how that would play in the press. If the sister of a famous abduction victim decided to go into law enforcement, that was a story everyone could understand. If that same sister decided to become a farmer, but studied criminology and crime scene investigation and the science of body decomposition as a hobby, well that was creepy.
Her father was very concerned about her being perceived as creepy. His concern did little to prevent it.
Instead, she'd looked up the book lists for the courses she wasn't supposed to take, and sat in quiet corners of the library and devoured them.
ABOUT 'WAKE': The tiny outback town of Nannine lies in the harsh red interior of Australia. Once a thriving center of stockyards and sheep stations, years of punishing drought have petrified the land and Nannine has been whittled down to no more than a stoplight, a couple bars, and a police station.
And it has another, more sinister claim to fame: the still-unsolved disappearance of young Evelyn McCreery nineteen years ago.
Mina McCreery's life has been defined by the intense public interest in her sister's case--which is still a hot topic in true-crime chat rooms and on social media. Now an anxious and reclusive adult, Mina lives alone on her family's sunbaked destocked sheep farm.
Enter Lane Holland, a young private investigator who dropped out of the police academy to earn a living cracking cold cases. Before she died, Mina's mother funded a million-dollar reward for anyone who could explain how Evelyn vanished from her bed in the family's farmhouse. The lure of cash has only increased public obsession with Evelyn and Mina--but yielded no answers.
Lane wins Mina's trust when some of his more unconventional methods show promise. But Lane also has darker motivations, and his obsession with the search will ultimately risk both their lives--and yield shocking results.
MY THOUGHTS: WAKE is very much a character driven mystery. Mina is pretty much a hermit, still living in the homestead from which her twin sister was abducted nineteen years previously. Evelyn's body has never been found, nor has she ever turned up alive. She simply vanished.
The townspeople are very protective of Mina's privacy, as are the elderly couple who still manage the farm. So when Lane Holland turns up - yet another person wanting to solve the mystery of Evelyn's disappearance - he doesn't exactly get a warm welcome.
Lane has secrets of his own, and an agenda he's not about to reveal. He also desperately needs the reward money.
WAKE (if you read the book you will understand the acronym) is an incredibly atmospheric mystery set in outback New South Wales. The internet has turned this family tragedy into a public debate attracting all the wacko people and theories that can be dreamed up. The storyline is interspersed with posts from people still actively following the case.
Although the main characters are hard to warm to, I recognised several of the supporting characters from time spent in towns like Nannine. And the fact that I found it hard to warm to the main characters didn't impact on my love for this book at all. I could understand why they were the way they are. No one is going to come out of experiences like they have had with no scars.
The landscape is bleak. Dry. Unproductive. Soul destroying. It is harsh and dangerous. And yet it has a beauty all of its own. Shelley Burr has captured it all.
This is a compelling outback mystery. I was completely consumed by my need to know what had happened to Evelyn. There are red herrings and some very clever and unexpected twists which kept me on the edge of my seat.
I loved this debut - yes, debut - novel and I can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#WAKE
I: @shelleyburrwrites @hachetteaus
T: @ByssheShelley @HachetteAus
#fivestarread #australiancrimefiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Shelley Burr works at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment in Canberra, Australia. She grew up splitting her time between Newcastle and Glenrowan, where her father's family are all sheep farmers.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Waitomo District Library for providing a paperback copy of WAKE by Shelley Burr for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage. https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm-xkPRLF...
Mina was the closest you could get to an expert on identifying the signs of a clandestine burial without having actual certificates to put on the wall. She'd considered a double degree so that she could study forensic science in addition to agriculture, but her dad had quietly steered her away, fearful of how that would play in the press. If the sister of a famous abduction victim decided to go into law enforcement, that was a story everyone could understand. If that same sister decided to become a farmer, but studied criminology and crime scene investigation and the science of body decomposition as a hobby, well that was creepy.
Her father was very concerned about her being perceived as creepy. His concern did little to prevent it.
Instead, she'd looked up the book lists for the courses she wasn't supposed to take, and sat in quiet corners of the library and devoured them.
ABOUT 'WAKE': The tiny outback town of Nannine lies in the harsh red interior of Australia. Once a thriving center of stockyards and sheep stations, years of punishing drought have petrified the land and Nannine has been whittled down to no more than a stoplight, a couple bars, and a police station.
And it has another, more sinister claim to fame: the still-unsolved disappearance of young Evelyn McCreery nineteen years ago.
Mina McCreery's life has been defined by the intense public interest in her sister's case--which is still a hot topic in true-crime chat rooms and on social media. Now an anxious and reclusive adult, Mina lives alone on her family's sunbaked destocked sheep farm.
Enter Lane Holland, a young private investigator who dropped out of the police academy to earn a living cracking cold cases. Before she died, Mina's mother funded a million-dollar reward for anyone who could explain how Evelyn vanished from her bed in the family's farmhouse. The lure of cash has only increased public obsession with Evelyn and Mina--but yielded no answers.
Lane wins Mina's trust when some of his more unconventional methods show promise. But Lane also has darker motivations, and his obsession with the search will ultimately risk both their lives--and yield shocking results.
MY THOUGHTS: WAKE is very much a character driven mystery. Mina is pretty much a hermit, still living in the homestead from which her twin sister was abducted nineteen years previously. Evelyn's body has never been found, nor has she ever turned up alive. She simply vanished.
The townspeople are very protective of Mina's privacy, as are the elderly couple who still manage the farm. So when Lane Holland turns up - yet another person wanting to solve the mystery of Evelyn's disappearance - he doesn't exactly get a warm welcome.
Lane has secrets of his own, and an agenda he's not about to reveal. He also desperately needs the reward money.
WAKE (if you read the book you will understand the acronym) is an incredibly atmospheric mystery set in outback New South Wales. The internet has turned this family tragedy into a public debate attracting all the wacko people and theories that can be dreamed up. The storyline is interspersed with posts from people still actively following the case.
Although the main characters are hard to warm to, I recognised several of the supporting characters from time spent in towns like Nannine. And the fact that I found it hard to warm to the main characters didn't impact on my love for this book at all. I could understand why they were the way they are. No one is going to come out of experiences like they have had with no scars.
The landscape is bleak. Dry. Unproductive. Soul destroying. It is harsh and dangerous. And yet it has a beauty all of its own. Shelley Burr has captured it all.
This is a compelling outback mystery. I was completely consumed by my need to know what had happened to Evelyn. There are red herrings and some very clever and unexpected twists which kept me on the edge of my seat.
I loved this debut - yes, debut - novel and I can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#WAKE
I: @shelleyburrwrites @hachetteaus
T: @ByssheShelley @HachetteAus
#fivestarread #australiancrimefiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Shelley Burr works at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment in Canberra, Australia. She grew up splitting her time between Newcastle and Glenrowan, where her father's family are all sheep farmers.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Waitomo District Library for providing a paperback copy of WAKE by Shelley Burr for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage. https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm-xkPRLF...
August 13, 2023
What an incredible debut novel from Shelley Burr. Aussie crime fiction is one of my favourite genre's to read and I was absolutely thrilled to be selected to get a copy through @betterreadingau
There is something about a crime thriller set in a small, remote Aussie town. The town of Nannie in NSW is where we find ourselves. Everybody knows everyone's business - or so they think. When PI Lane Holland comes to town to investigate the case of missing girl Evelyn McCreery, nobody wants to talk to him. Eventually, Evelyn's twin sister Mina starts to open up to him and the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place. But is Lane there for the huge reward, or does he have an ulterior motive?
I read Wake in 2 sittings and I can absolutely see why there is so much hype for this book. The atmosphere of the small outback town where the Royal Flying Doctors are the best solution for a snake bite, and the vast distance they must travel just to shop. I just loved every minute of it.
Published in Australia yesterday, it is going to be a massive hit. Thanks to @hachetteaus for my advanced copy to read. So very highly recommended.
There is something about a crime thriller set in a small, remote Aussie town. The town of Nannie in NSW is where we find ourselves. Everybody knows everyone's business - or so they think. When PI Lane Holland comes to town to investigate the case of missing girl Evelyn McCreery, nobody wants to talk to him. Eventually, Evelyn's twin sister Mina starts to open up to him and the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place. But is Lane there for the huge reward, or does he have an ulterior motive?
I read Wake in 2 sittings and I can absolutely see why there is so much hype for this book. The atmosphere of the small outback town where the Royal Flying Doctors are the best solution for a snake bite, and the vast distance they must travel just to shop. I just loved every minute of it.
Published in Australia yesterday, it is going to be a massive hit. Thanks to @hachetteaus for my advanced copy to read. So very highly recommended.
November 23, 2024
There’s something about mystery novels set in Australia. In part it’s the size of the place, with its cities dotted around the perimeter of this vast island and then not much other than a seemingly endless expanse of intimidating and largely uninhabitable land once you venture into its interior. Then there’s the fact that just about any creature that can do you serious harm seems to thrive here. And I haven’t even mentioned the people who live here yet. Yes, on the face of it they’re just like us – and yet in these novels, they seem different: hardier, more outdoorsy, tough talking in a take no prisoners kind of way. I think this is why I gravitate to these books; they seem to offer escapism in a way that those set in either Europe or America just can’t match.
In this standalone tale, we are introduced to a man, Lane Holland, who arrives in a small outback town in New South Wales intent on solving a mystery surrounding the disappearance of a girl who once lived in this remote place, nineteen years ago. We don’t initially understand (or at least not fully) his motivation, and it’s fair to say that his presence is not exactly met with open arms. And yet he’s dogged and even somewhat desperate to pursue his investigation. There’s not a lot to go on, and with the locals reluctant to give up what little relevant information they might hold, it really looks like he’s embarking on what promises to be a fruitless enterprise.
What follows is a story that really couldn’t be told in a place lacking the physical elements present in a country such as this. As the few available facts start to become made known, a number of possible scenarios are presented, each equally plausible and yet none offering up hard evidence to fully justify further pursuit. The atmosphere is broody throughout, the characters prickly and the cause seemingly hopeless. But then the author stealthily lands a series of shocks and surprises that caused me to question many of the assumptions I’d mentally filed away. It’s a complex tale that unfolds slowly, and as I approached the story’s end, I genuinely had no idea how it would finally play out. I’m already manically attempting to track down my next Aussie fix, I really loved this one.
In this standalone tale, we are introduced to a man, Lane Holland, who arrives in a small outback town in New South Wales intent on solving a mystery surrounding the disappearance of a girl who once lived in this remote place, nineteen years ago. We don’t initially understand (or at least not fully) his motivation, and it’s fair to say that his presence is not exactly met with open arms. And yet he’s dogged and even somewhat desperate to pursue his investigation. There’s not a lot to go on, and with the locals reluctant to give up what little relevant information they might hold, it really looks like he’s embarking on what promises to be a fruitless enterprise.
What follows is a story that really couldn’t be told in a place lacking the physical elements present in a country such as this. As the few available facts start to become made known, a number of possible scenarios are presented, each equally plausible and yet none offering up hard evidence to fully justify further pursuit. The atmosphere is broody throughout, the characters prickly and the cause seemingly hopeless. But then the author stealthily lands a series of shocks and surprises that caused me to question many of the assumptions I’d mentally filed away. It’s a complex tale that unfolds slowly, and as I approached the story’s end, I genuinely had no idea how it would finally play out. I’m already manically attempting to track down my next Aussie fix, I really loved this one.
September 20, 2022
Almost twenty years after her disappearance, the mystery of what happened to nine year old Evelyn McCreery remains unsolved and the topic of speculation in a small dying town in Australia. Evelyn retired for the night with her twin sister Mina in the bedroom they shared on their parent's expansive farm, but come morning she was gone. There were no signs of forced entry, no strange tire tracks in or out of the secluded, gated property, no fingerprints, no evidence to indicate what happened to the happy youngster. Over the years, theories ranged from an unknown stranger abduction to an inside cover up by family to the young girl wandering lost over the deadly Australian outback.
All these years later, Mina McCreery continues to be haunted by her sister's disappearance as well as hounded by the media and the notorious, accusatory internet chat rooms. While locals have become protective of her privacy, she can't ignore the way they avert their eyes and whisper on the rare occasion she ventures into town for supplies. The perpetual aftermath of her twin sister's disappearance shaped Mina's life into adulthood as the incessant influx of reporters and bounty seekers refused to grant her the opportunity to bury the past and live her life in peace. As a result, Mina's become a recluse, existing alone on the now barren and destocked family farm - one that's almost as dead as she feels inside. Her daily routine includes walking sections of the massive family acreage in search of any tiny thread of evidence that might point her in the direction taken by her sister and abductor. It's at this point that Private Investigator Lane Holland intrudes upon her solitude with a request for an interview. Lane's life is shadowy at best, but he's had success in solving other cold cases especially abductions of young girls. Mina reputes his offer of assistance and writes him off as another bounty seeker, but when he proves his skills by helping another local family she relents and begins cooperating with him. However, readers soon learn that Lane is driven by more than the lure of reward money. He, too, is haunted by nightmares of a dark past that could entail imminent danger to his younger sister if he doesn't find a resolution. The story that ensues is dark, complex and twisted.
Set in New South Wales, the harsh reality of the landscape and climate play a prominent role in Wake. After years of drought, the small farmers in the community of Nannine are desperately struggling to hold on to property that's been in their families for years, but is no longer profitable. A sense of loss is prevalent throughout - both of the people and the land. Burr expertly exploits the desolate setting, triggering an overwhelming sense of pure isolation that sets a dire tone and propels the pace and ever increasing tension forward. The story is rendered through two points of view, Mina and Lane, allowing readers firsthand knowledge of what each are thinking, plotting and hiding - while sowing seeds of doubt as to the validity of each one's version of events. There's a growing sense of doom and death permeating the hot, deadly space that is engulfed in this story that becomes more inauspicious as the story unfolds.
Wake is the story of a splintered family - one torn apart by guilt, grief, and the after effects of trauma suffered in the public eye. There's an alternate plot line weaving in and out of the main story line, teasing readers with hints of a sinister connection, but it remains just out of grasp until the final revelation. Some may lament the ending as things are not necessarily wrapped up in a big, neat, happy-ever-after bow the way some prefer, but the ending provides much needed answers and in my opinion is simply stunning . . . a brilliant move by author Shelley Burr. I'm amazed this is Burr's debut novel because this story is precise and well-crafted in the manner one comes to expect of more widely published authors. Burr finesses characters, plot lines and setting with apparent ease, affording readers a taut, highly addictive story that this reader couldn't put down. Highly recommended to fans of mystery and suspense. This is Aussie Noir at its finest. I'm a fan!
Many thanks to Publisher William Morrow for a copy of this book. My review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and on my blog, Cross My Heart Reviews.
All these years later, Mina McCreery continues to be haunted by her sister's disappearance as well as hounded by the media and the notorious, accusatory internet chat rooms. While locals have become protective of her privacy, she can't ignore the way they avert their eyes and whisper on the rare occasion she ventures into town for supplies. The perpetual aftermath of her twin sister's disappearance shaped Mina's life into adulthood as the incessant influx of reporters and bounty seekers refused to grant her the opportunity to bury the past and live her life in peace. As a result, Mina's become a recluse, existing alone on the now barren and destocked family farm - one that's almost as dead as she feels inside. Her daily routine includes walking sections of the massive family acreage in search of any tiny thread of evidence that might point her in the direction taken by her sister and abductor. It's at this point that Private Investigator Lane Holland intrudes upon her solitude with a request for an interview. Lane's life is shadowy at best, but he's had success in solving other cold cases especially abductions of young girls. Mina reputes his offer of assistance and writes him off as another bounty seeker, but when he proves his skills by helping another local family she relents and begins cooperating with him. However, readers soon learn that Lane is driven by more than the lure of reward money. He, too, is haunted by nightmares of a dark past that could entail imminent danger to his younger sister if he doesn't find a resolution. The story that ensues is dark, complex and twisted.
Set in New South Wales, the harsh reality of the landscape and climate play a prominent role in Wake. After years of drought, the small farmers in the community of Nannine are desperately struggling to hold on to property that's been in their families for years, but is no longer profitable. A sense of loss is prevalent throughout - both of the people and the land. Burr expertly exploits the desolate setting, triggering an overwhelming sense of pure isolation that sets a dire tone and propels the pace and ever increasing tension forward. The story is rendered through two points of view, Mina and Lane, allowing readers firsthand knowledge of what each are thinking, plotting and hiding - while sowing seeds of doubt as to the validity of each one's version of events. There's a growing sense of doom and death permeating the hot, deadly space that is engulfed in this story that becomes more inauspicious as the story unfolds.
Wake is the story of a splintered family - one torn apart by guilt, grief, and the after effects of trauma suffered in the public eye. There's an alternate plot line weaving in and out of the main story line, teasing readers with hints of a sinister connection, but it remains just out of grasp until the final revelation. Some may lament the ending as things are not necessarily wrapped up in a big, neat, happy-ever-after bow the way some prefer, but the ending provides much needed answers and in my opinion is simply stunning . . . a brilliant move by author Shelley Burr. I'm amazed this is Burr's debut novel because this story is precise and well-crafted in the manner one comes to expect of more widely published authors. Burr finesses characters, plot lines and setting with apparent ease, affording readers a taut, highly addictive story that this reader couldn't put down. Highly recommended to fans of mystery and suspense. This is Aussie Noir at its finest. I'm a fan!
Many thanks to Publisher William Morrow for a copy of this book. My review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and on my blog, Cross My Heart Reviews.
July 10, 2022
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Wake by Shelley Burr is compelling Aussie crime fiction, it’s superbly written and surprisingly it’s a debut! This haunting and suspenseful mystery will keep you gripped to your seat and turning the pages!
The setting is a fictional Australian remote farming community town in NSW, it’s the perfect location for this story.
Almost twenty years ago nine year old twin, Evelyn McCreery disappeared from her bedroom during the night. Her twin sister Mina sleeping in the same room is left behind. The missing persons case became a true crime media sensation and is still talked about almost two decades later on social media and true-crime chat rooms.
Lane Holland is a Private Investigater, he’s a police academy dropout and sole guardian of his younger sister Lynnie. Lane specialises in missing children and cold cases and he’s determined to solve this cold case….he has his personal reasons for doing so.
Mina has lived in the public eye since her sisters disappearance and has become somewhat of a recluse that struggles with anxiety. She still lives on the same property with her father. The huge two million dollar reward to find Evelyn has never been claimed. What really happened to Evelyn McCreery?
I’ll sum this book up in one word ‘brilliant’! I can’t wait to see what this talented new author brings us next!
Publication Date 27 April 2022
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for my gifted copy.
Wake by Shelley Burr is compelling Aussie crime fiction, it’s superbly written and surprisingly it’s a debut! This haunting and suspenseful mystery will keep you gripped to your seat and turning the pages!
The setting is a fictional Australian remote farming community town in NSW, it’s the perfect location for this story.
Almost twenty years ago nine year old twin, Evelyn McCreery disappeared from her bedroom during the night. Her twin sister Mina sleeping in the same room is left behind. The missing persons case became a true crime media sensation and is still talked about almost two decades later on social media and true-crime chat rooms.
Lane Holland is a Private Investigater, he’s a police academy dropout and sole guardian of his younger sister Lynnie. Lane specialises in missing children and cold cases and he’s determined to solve this cold case….he has his personal reasons for doing so.
Mina has lived in the public eye since her sisters disappearance and has become somewhat of a recluse that struggles with anxiety. She still lives on the same property with her father. The huge two million dollar reward to find Evelyn has never been claimed. What really happened to Evelyn McCreery?
I’ll sum this book up in one word ‘brilliant’! I can’t wait to see what this talented new author brings us next!
Publication Date 27 April 2022
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for my gifted copy.
September 10, 2023
4.25 ⭐️ — Another excellent, gripping and bloody entertaining Outback-Noir thriller, WAKE centres around the mystery of the disappearance of Evelyn McReery, from a fictional remote town of NSW, Nannine. I just am LOVING this uniquely Aussie sub-genre right now and — for me anyways — the genre itself is adding to the overall scope of modern thriller fiction in ways that don’t get enough chops in the wider literary world, Nordic-Noir certainly does, and this eats that for breakfast — for me — in every single manner from setting to tension, to fun, to poignancy and nuance. Anyways I digress…
Burr, With masterful storytelling and an intricate web of secrets, Burr manages to largely keep readers on the edge of their seats as they accompany the lead characters — Lane, a private investigator with a storied past & link to the town, and Evie’s twin, Mina. The narrative takes us on a journey through loss, determination, and the fallout that comes with a tainted pursuit of truth. The authors also dwells on the fallout that much of todays ‘True Crime’ culture and hype can have on those at the centre of it, as well as perhaps being a cautionary tale into the affect of the often seedy underbelly of online murder forums, sleuths & the general public scrutiny that comes with a high-profile mystery.
Burr brings all central characters to life well, but keeps the remainder brief & on the fringes, which is fine — Background & motivation are fairly simplistic but it keeps things moving and despite in some moments being a little too obvious or using some slightly tired tropes, all said this is an excellently crafted novel that whilst lacking in massive twists (which is no issue) does tie together nicely in its conclusion.
The novel also explores the theme of repeated generational violence and the impact domestic violence has on those whom are raised in such an environment. The characters are also quite likeable & we get enough of them to feel invested by the final third.
Rather than be high tension throughout, this one is more deliberate and brings slowly, a welcome deviation from other similar novels. Well worth the read, I recommend for any outback-noir fans or any crime thriller fans alike, this is a quality read that stays with you.
Aussie Aussie Aussie, OI! OI!! OI!!! (IF YKYK 😊)
*BUMP* Cus I’m excited to get into Shelley’s latest thriller, ‘Ripper’ — what a — ripper — title, can’t WAIT for another Outback-Noir gem. PS: Shoutout to Narrator of both Jacquie Brennan, whom does the writer justice in every way and definitely added tension upon listening post finishing reading the novel, a rare achievement and one that’s full of merit in my book 😇😇😇
Burr, With masterful storytelling and an intricate web of secrets, Burr manages to largely keep readers on the edge of their seats as they accompany the lead characters — Lane, a private investigator with a storied past & link to the town, and Evie’s twin, Mina. The narrative takes us on a journey through loss, determination, and the fallout that comes with a tainted pursuit of truth. The authors also dwells on the fallout that much of todays ‘True Crime’ culture and hype can have on those at the centre of it, as well as perhaps being a cautionary tale into the affect of the often seedy underbelly of online murder forums, sleuths & the general public scrutiny that comes with a high-profile mystery.
Burr brings all central characters to life well, but keeps the remainder brief & on the fringes, which is fine — Background & motivation are fairly simplistic but it keeps things moving and despite in some moments being a little too obvious or using some slightly tired tropes, all said this is an excellently crafted novel that whilst lacking in massive twists (which is no issue) does tie together nicely in its conclusion.
The novel also explores the theme of repeated generational violence and the impact domestic violence has on those whom are raised in such an environment. The characters are also quite likeable & we get enough of them to feel invested by the final third.
Rather than be high tension throughout, this one is more deliberate and brings slowly, a welcome deviation from other similar novels. Well worth the read, I recommend for any outback-noir fans or any crime thriller fans alike, this is a quality read that stays with you.
Aussie Aussie Aussie, OI! OI!! OI!!! (IF YKYK 😊)
*BUMP* Cus I’m excited to get into Shelley’s latest thriller, ‘Ripper’ — what a — ripper — title, can’t WAIT for another Outback-Noir gem. PS: Shoutout to Narrator of both Jacquie Brennan, whom does the writer justice in every way and definitely added tension upon listening post finishing reading the novel, a rare achievement and one that’s full of merit in my book 😇😇😇
April 29, 2022
Thank you Hatchette for sending me this book to review.
This book moves at a meduim pace and moves fast towards the end as the hunt goes on for the killer.
This book is told by two main characters one being Mina whose twin Evelyn went missing and Private Investigator Lane Holland who wants to help solve the crime.
The plot is about a young girl Evelyn McCreery who goes missing 19 years ago and her case has never been solved. Here enters Private Investigator Lane Holland who wants to help solve the cold case . Does he have an ulterior motive ?
Lots of twists and turns in this one. You are taken on a journey where you think several people may have had a hand in the murder.
This is a cracker of a debut. Ticks all my boxes.
1/ Rural Australian setting
2/ Crime
3/ Cold cases
4/ Suspense
I really enjoyed the writing style of Shelley Burr , never once did it falter and kept my attention the whole way through.
The timeline is centred on 19 years ago to the present day.
This book had me flipping through the pages. I couldnt stop thinking about it.
The ending was gripping and had you gasping when the final outcome was revealed.
This book is set in the fictional town of Nannine, NSW Australia.
This book moves at a meduim pace and moves fast towards the end as the hunt goes on for the killer.
This book is told by two main characters one being Mina whose twin Evelyn went missing and Private Investigator Lane Holland who wants to help solve the crime.
The plot is about a young girl Evelyn McCreery who goes missing 19 years ago and her case has never been solved. Here enters Private Investigator Lane Holland who wants to help solve the cold case . Does he have an ulterior motive ?
Lots of twists and turns in this one. You are taken on a journey where you think several people may have had a hand in the murder.
This is a cracker of a debut. Ticks all my boxes.
1/ Rural Australian setting
2/ Crime
3/ Cold cases
4/ Suspense
I really enjoyed the writing style of Shelley Burr , never once did it falter and kept my attention the whole way through.
The timeline is centred on 19 years ago to the present day.
This book had me flipping through the pages. I couldnt stop thinking about it.
The ending was gripping and had you gasping when the final outcome was revealed.
This book is set in the fictional town of Nannine, NSW Australia.
July 1, 2022
Aussie crime fiction at its finest is debut author, Shelley Burr’s Wake, a most welcome addition to rural noir. Nineteen years ago, Evelyn McCreery disappeared and despite an offer of a million-dollar reward, the mystery remains unsolved. Her sister Mina still lives a reclusive existence on the barren family farm and is still the focus of much speculation. Lane Holland is a private investigator, who has solved other missing person’s cases and the claim of the reward is not his only motivation. What makes for a riveting read is the rising slow burn of tension, people keeping secrets and an investigator with his own family problems. Amidst all the trauma and people’s tragedies, which become public speculation, can the real truth be unearthed? This unfolding gem of a tale with its heartfelt story and twists, has a four and a half star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
June 7, 2023
The disappearance of young Evelyn McCreery from a family property outside the tiny central New South Wales town of Nannine was shocking for a tiny community and, some 20 years later, still hangs heavily over the town. For her twin sister, Mina, it’s been a long and difficult time and she still lives as a virtual recluse on the same family property.
When Lane Holland hits town he’s treated with suspicion and hostility. The man is a private investigator who specialises in cold cases, relying on the reward money linked to such cases. To everyone in town, Mina included, he’s just another opportunist come for the chance to make a name for himself and take the offered reward money.
What gradually becomes apparent is that, while he’s had past success in tracking down missing people, he also has a hidden agenda, something that’s personal and part of a closely guarded secret. The first hints of intrigue are sparked.
After some early moments of utter resistance Lane manages to establish his abilities in getting results when he helps another family in the area to track down another missing girl. It’s through these results that he begins to win Mina’s trust and is allowed onto her property where he can begin the process of gathering the information he needs to try to work out what really happened to Evelyn.
There is an uneasy chemistry built between Mina and Lane on the basis of trust and understanding. She wants to be able to trust that Lane’s motives for being there is to help her. It’s a shaky foundation that gets tested on numerous occasions. Mina has been burned in the past, ever hopeful that somehow, someone will help her find the truth about what really happened when Evelyn went missing.
The isolation and the feeling of vulnerability this creates adds greatly to the mood of the novel. The desolate landscape, the oppressive heat and the hidden dangers in the land surrounding Mina’s homestead provide a constant reminder of just how easily a small child might disappear.
There is no doubt that Wake is predominantly a character driven story that spotlights the emotional impact on those left behind after a tragedy strikes. Lives are altered, relationships are challenged and whole communities are affected. All of this plays out vividly through a series of apparent breakthroughs that come to nought before it builds to a dramatic conclusion.
This is a story that requires a little bit of patience as it slowly unfolds, but the slow burn reaches a jolting, jarring conclusion. Although it’s not exactly set in the outback, we’ll call Wake a fine example of outback noir that resonates with the pain of heartbreaking loss. This is a strong debut by Shelley Burr and leaves me eager to see what is coming from her in the future.
When Lane Holland hits town he’s treated with suspicion and hostility. The man is a private investigator who specialises in cold cases, relying on the reward money linked to such cases. To everyone in town, Mina included, he’s just another opportunist come for the chance to make a name for himself and take the offered reward money.
What gradually becomes apparent is that, while he’s had past success in tracking down missing people, he also has a hidden agenda, something that’s personal and part of a closely guarded secret. The first hints of intrigue are sparked.
After some early moments of utter resistance Lane manages to establish his abilities in getting results when he helps another family in the area to track down another missing girl. It’s through these results that he begins to win Mina’s trust and is allowed onto her property where he can begin the process of gathering the information he needs to try to work out what really happened to Evelyn.
There is an uneasy chemistry built between Mina and Lane on the basis of trust and understanding. She wants to be able to trust that Lane’s motives for being there is to help her. It’s a shaky foundation that gets tested on numerous occasions. Mina has been burned in the past, ever hopeful that somehow, someone will help her find the truth about what really happened when Evelyn went missing.
The isolation and the feeling of vulnerability this creates adds greatly to the mood of the novel. The desolate landscape, the oppressive heat and the hidden dangers in the land surrounding Mina’s homestead provide a constant reminder of just how easily a small child might disappear.
There is no doubt that Wake is predominantly a character driven story that spotlights the emotional impact on those left behind after a tragedy strikes. Lives are altered, relationships are challenged and whole communities are affected. All of this plays out vividly through a series of apparent breakthroughs that come to nought before it builds to a dramatic conclusion.
This is a story that requires a little bit of patience as it slowly unfolds, but the slow burn reaches a jolting, jarring conclusion. Although it’s not exactly set in the outback, we’ll call Wake a fine example of outback noir that resonates with the pain of heartbreaking loss. This is a strong debut by Shelley Burr and leaves me eager to see what is coming from her in the future.
May 20, 2022
Lane Holland is a private investigator with a complicated history of his own.
A police dropout with a need to make money a lot faster than he does, he often struggles to make ends meet.
Lane has been the sole guardian of his young sister Lynnie since their mother died some years earlier, leaving Lynnie exposed to the only other option, which was foster care. This however, was not an option Lane was willing to allow, and so he changed all of his plans, dropped out and moved interstate to take up the role of sole parent/guardian of his little sister.
He needed to be present and pay for upkeep and schooling, as well as rent and other costs.
Not too big on social skills himself, he found that the skills he learned during his police training had set him up to become a fairly decent private investigator, specializing in solving cold cases for missing persons where a reward was sometimes a substantial boost to his meagre savings.
This new occupation had the added benefit of helping him follow up on long standing personal matters which he was keen to find answers to.
With these things in mind Lane took a particular interest in a cold case involving the disappearance of a little girl some twenty years previous in a remote country town called Nannine.
There still remained a lot of public interest in this cold case and a hefty reward had been offered by the parents for information leading to the whereabouts of their daughter…who’s twin sister Mina still lives in the house set far back on the remote farming property in Nannine…the same house where her twin sister disappeared from all those years ago, seemingly vanished without a trace.
The girls were just 9 years old at the time.
A reward like this could solve a lot of his immediate problems and still leave enough to manage comfortably whilst investigating his other matters.
After safely ensconcing his sister into her new student accommodations in Canberra, Lane sets off to the small town of Naninne to start his investigations and is quickly met with a frosty reception from a community of over protective residents who clam up when asked anything about that case. Even Mina herself is not helpful, although a reward is still in place.
Lane quickly discovers that he is going to have to earn the trust of Mina before the townspeople will even help him. He rents a room in town and sets up a base of sorts to work from as Mina’s house is an hours drive away and he is, as yet uninvited and, it would seem, unwelcome there.
If he is to investigate this case then he needs to visit that property.
The story gradually uncovers more and more little hints and clues that tell the reader that all is not as it seems, and a lot of secrets and withheld information from too many sources…some surprising…begin to show just how complicated things can get when seemingly inconsequential pieces of information are not shared.
The story is thrillingly complex and has many exciting twists and turns…but I felt it could have been made exceptionally more so…I’m not exactly sure how…it’s something I couldn’t quite put my finger on but I think it’s about the suspense factor, it didn’t build in the way I wanted it to. Even though it is so good and kept me wanting to turn pages, I believe there was room for more edge-of-your-seat anticipation build up… because it is that good!
Don’t get me wrong, this is an outstanding story, I just felt it kind of played itself down if that makes sense?
*This is no biggie but…
I noted a few “Americanisms” throughout the book which kind of interrupted the flow a bit for me because I knew I was reading about a rural Australian demographic, wasn’t sure why an Aussie would say “yes Ma’am” for eg. Though these were small details in what I can only describe as a well set out and intriguingly complex story.
All in all though, I loved it and have already started telling everyone to read it.
If this is a taste of things to come from this author then we have much to look forward to in the future.
*Possible spoiler:
Then there’s that ending…I needed more, I wanted more. Could this be the beginning of a series? I hope so, I can certainly see where it could go further, in other directions.
I will certainly be watching out for more from this author.
Congratulations to Shelley Burr on an excellent debut!
5⭐️s
A police dropout with a need to make money a lot faster than he does, he often struggles to make ends meet.
Lane has been the sole guardian of his young sister Lynnie since their mother died some years earlier, leaving Lynnie exposed to the only other option, which was foster care. This however, was not an option Lane was willing to allow, and so he changed all of his plans, dropped out and moved interstate to take up the role of sole parent/guardian of his little sister.
He needed to be present and pay for upkeep and schooling, as well as rent and other costs.
Not too big on social skills himself, he found that the skills he learned during his police training had set him up to become a fairly decent private investigator, specializing in solving cold cases for missing persons where a reward was sometimes a substantial boost to his meagre savings.
This new occupation had the added benefit of helping him follow up on long standing personal matters which he was keen to find answers to.
With these things in mind Lane took a particular interest in a cold case involving the disappearance of a little girl some twenty years previous in a remote country town called Nannine.
There still remained a lot of public interest in this cold case and a hefty reward had been offered by the parents for information leading to the whereabouts of their daughter…who’s twin sister Mina still lives in the house set far back on the remote farming property in Nannine…the same house where her twin sister disappeared from all those years ago, seemingly vanished without a trace.
The girls were just 9 years old at the time.
A reward like this could solve a lot of his immediate problems and still leave enough to manage comfortably whilst investigating his other matters.
After safely ensconcing his sister into her new student accommodations in Canberra, Lane sets off to the small town of Naninne to start his investigations and is quickly met with a frosty reception from a community of over protective residents who clam up when asked anything about that case. Even Mina herself is not helpful, although a reward is still in place.
Lane quickly discovers that he is going to have to earn the trust of Mina before the townspeople will even help him. He rents a room in town and sets up a base of sorts to work from as Mina’s house is an hours drive away and he is, as yet uninvited and, it would seem, unwelcome there.
If he is to investigate this case then he needs to visit that property.
The story gradually uncovers more and more little hints and clues that tell the reader that all is not as it seems, and a lot of secrets and withheld information from too many sources…some surprising…begin to show just how complicated things can get when seemingly inconsequential pieces of information are not shared.
The story is thrillingly complex and has many exciting twists and turns…but I felt it could have been made exceptionally more so…I’m not exactly sure how…it’s something I couldn’t quite put my finger on but I think it’s about the suspense factor, it didn’t build in the way I wanted it to. Even though it is so good and kept me wanting to turn pages, I believe there was room for more edge-of-your-seat anticipation build up… because it is that good!
Don’t get me wrong, this is an outstanding story, I just felt it kind of played itself down if that makes sense?
*This is no biggie but…
I noted a few “Americanisms” throughout the book which kind of interrupted the flow a bit for me because I knew I was reading about a rural Australian demographic, wasn’t sure why an Aussie would say “yes Ma’am” for eg. Though these were small details in what I can only describe as a well set out and intriguingly complex story.
All in all though, I loved it and have already started telling everyone to read it.
If this is a taste of things to come from this author then we have much to look forward to in the future.
*Possible spoiler:
Then there’s that ending…I needed more, I wanted more. Could this be the beginning of a series? I hope so, I can certainly see where it could go further, in other directions.
I will certainly be watching out for more from this author.
Congratulations to Shelley Burr on an excellent debut!
5⭐️s
June 24, 2022
This is an excellent debut, filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages, strong characters and a mystery that had my mind thinking and jumping from one thought to another and a setting that added to the mystery, come along for the ride I am sure you will love it.
It is nineteen years since nine year old Evelyn McCreery vanished without a trace from her bedroom that she shared with her twin sister Mina, many have tried to solve the case and there have been so many accusations about who did it and is she still alive or dead. Mina is still living on the vast property that has been in the family for many years but she is a bit of a recluse and does not go out much she prefers her own company and only really has one friend Alanna.
Lane Holland is a private investigator and has had some success with cold cases of missing young girls, there is a big reward for the discovery of what happened to Evelyn and Lane decides that he wants to reinvestigate the case, is it just the reward he is after or is there more to his wanting the answers, that is very personal.
It takes a bit for Lane to win Mina’s trust, but he does and soon Lane is uncovering clues that will blow the original investigation out of the water, but there is a lot more to this case for Lane I think, but will the truth change lives? And the ending was riveting as the truth unfolded.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it, I am really looking forward to more from this author I am sure she is going become a must read author for me and for many readers.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
It is nineteen years since nine year old Evelyn McCreery vanished without a trace from her bedroom that she shared with her twin sister Mina, many have tried to solve the case and there have been so many accusations about who did it and is she still alive or dead. Mina is still living on the vast property that has been in the family for many years but she is a bit of a recluse and does not go out much she prefers her own company and only really has one friend Alanna.
Lane Holland is a private investigator and has had some success with cold cases of missing young girls, there is a big reward for the discovery of what happened to Evelyn and Lane decides that he wants to reinvestigate the case, is it just the reward he is after or is there more to his wanting the answers, that is very personal.
It takes a bit for Lane to win Mina’s trust, but he does and soon Lane is uncovering clues that will blow the original investigation out of the water, but there is a lot more to this case for Lane I think, but will the truth change lives? And the ending was riveting as the truth unfolded.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it, I am really looking forward to more from this author I am sure she is going become a must read author for me and for many readers.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
September 26, 2022
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**4.5 stars**
Wake by Shelley Burr. (2022).
The small town of Nannine is in the harsh red interior of New South Wales. After years of drought its a tiny town and its sinister claim to fame is the still-unsolved disappearance of Evelyn McCreery 19 years ago from the bedroom she shared with her twin sister, with a million-dollar reward still on offer. Mina's life has been defined by the intense and ongoing interest in her sister's case which has resulted in an anxious and reclusive adult. Enter Lane, a private investigator who makes a living cracking cold cases. Lane has his eye on the unclaimed money but he also has darker motivations for wanting to solve the case...
After seeing this book rated quite highly, I was happy to discover that all of the positive reviews are not exaggerated - this is an excellent debut for the author. The narrative is told primarily alternating between the two lead characters of Mina and Lane. After having the public eye on her and her family for years, Mina is justifiably weary of Lane being interested in the unsolved case of her missing twin sister. Lane has his own motivations which are gradually revealed as the book goes on. With plenty of twists, this story is a gripping read as Lane tries to get to the truth of what happened to the missing girl.
Overall: Any reader of Australian crime will find this a real treat, and I look forward to future novels from this author.
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**4.5 stars**
Wake by Shelley Burr. (2022).
The small town of Nannine is in the harsh red interior of New South Wales. After years of drought its a tiny town and its sinister claim to fame is the still-unsolved disappearance of Evelyn McCreery 19 years ago from the bedroom she shared with her twin sister, with a million-dollar reward still on offer. Mina's life has been defined by the intense and ongoing interest in her sister's case which has resulted in an anxious and reclusive adult. Enter Lane, a private investigator who makes a living cracking cold cases. Lane has his eye on the unclaimed money but he also has darker motivations for wanting to solve the case...
After seeing this book rated quite highly, I was happy to discover that all of the positive reviews are not exaggerated - this is an excellent debut for the author. The narrative is told primarily alternating between the two lead characters of Mina and Lane. After having the public eye on her and her family for years, Mina is justifiably weary of Lane being interested in the unsolved case of her missing twin sister. Lane has his own motivations which are gradually revealed as the book goes on. With plenty of twists, this story is a gripping read as Lane tries to get to the truth of what happened to the missing girl.
Overall: Any reader of Australian crime will find this a real treat, and I look forward to future novels from this author.
February 14, 2022
I tried my hardest to get into this book but after giving it a few chances to pull me in and engage my brain, I had to give up and DNF!! I felt as though I’d been reading it for an age, but really, it was at 14% that I decided that I couldn’t go on. I found the story too slow for what I’m used to, which is a shame because I’m not usually one to give up on a book, but this wasn’t for me......thanks to Netgalley for sending me the ARC!
September 19, 2022
A decent, slow burning Aussie crime novel with a great sense of place, I loved the heat and the isolated feeling of being miles from anywhere. A little too many convenient happenings, and a rushed feel to the ending let it down a bit for me, though I would definitely read more from this author, a solid 3 stars.
February 22, 2023
WAKE takes place in Nannine, a tiny fictional town in the interior of Australia. Mina McCreary's twin sister disappeared 19 years ago when they were 9 years old and Mina has never quit looking for her. Private Investigator Lane Holland appears on the scene hoping to solve this cold case and collect the million dollar reward.
This is a character-driven slow-burn mystery from the viewpoints of Mina and Lane and includes snippets of conversations taking place on the internet in a true crime chat room. I didn't find the characters all that relatable but the book is well written and very descriptive of the area. Check out that gorgeous cover! There are a couple of threads to follow and information is slowly fed to us. It's amazing how everything comes together at the end. I'll definitely be watching for any future novels from this author.
Thanks to the London Public Library again for the loan of this book.
This is a character-driven slow-burn mystery from the viewpoints of Mina and Lane and includes snippets of conversations taking place on the internet in a true crime chat room. I didn't find the characters all that relatable but the book is well written and very descriptive of the area. Check out that gorgeous cover! There are a couple of threads to follow and information is slowly fed to us. It's amazing how everything comes together at the end. I'll definitely be watching for any future novels from this author.
Thanks to the London Public Library again for the loan of this book.
April 13, 2022
Evie McCreery disappeared 19 years ago, leaving no trace. The question of what happened to her has rarely left the news and certainly never the online forums, where faceless commentators scrutinise the case, arguing over, among other things, which family member was most likely to have killed her. The winner? Evie's twin sister, Mina. Is she a woman traumatised by the loss of her sister, or is there something more sinister to her strange behaviour?
Mina is a fascinating character, with a sharpness bordering on the unlikeable. Her family did everything to find their missing daughter, from media appeals to offering a massive financial reward, and self destructed as a result. As the subject of intense speculation, Mina has developed the hardest of shells. She’s isolated herself from the world, living on the family ranch in the Australian Outback and only venturing out for necessities. If there’s an answer to her sister’s disappearance, she’s not looking for it. Not anymore, in any case. Enter Lane Holland, a private investigator who has had some successes solving cold cases in the past. He’s a good foil for Mina, just as damaged and with secrets of his own. Mina's initial antagonism to his pitch is set up well, developing authentically into an effective partnership, which is in turn undermined by things they both keep hidden. It’s a twisty tale, leaving the reader unsure about who is and is not telling the truth right until the end. The denouement pushes things further than I thought characterisation allowed, but it was certainly memorable, and gave the reader a satisfying explanation.
Wake is a tightly plotted novel, fundamentally character driven, largely relying on the lies people tell each other rather than any real action. The draw is the small town atmosphere, that closeness that makes the interconnections between characters tighter and the potential for misdirection all the more impactful. A clever story, well-told.
ARC via Netgalley
Mina is a fascinating character, with a sharpness bordering on the unlikeable. Her family did everything to find their missing daughter, from media appeals to offering a massive financial reward, and self destructed as a result. As the subject of intense speculation, Mina has developed the hardest of shells. She’s isolated herself from the world, living on the family ranch in the Australian Outback and only venturing out for necessities. If there’s an answer to her sister’s disappearance, she’s not looking for it. Not anymore, in any case. Enter Lane Holland, a private investigator who has had some successes solving cold cases in the past. He’s a good foil for Mina, just as damaged and with secrets of his own. Mina's initial antagonism to his pitch is set up well, developing authentically into an effective partnership, which is in turn undermined by things they both keep hidden. It’s a twisty tale, leaving the reader unsure about who is and is not telling the truth right until the end. The denouement pushes things further than I thought characterisation allowed, but it was certainly memorable, and gave the reader a satisfying explanation.
Wake is a tightly plotted novel, fundamentally character driven, largely relying on the lies people tell each other rather than any real action. The draw is the small town atmosphere, that closeness that makes the interconnections between characters tighter and the potential for misdirection all the more impactful. A clever story, well-told.
ARC via Netgalley
August 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this book!
The characters were complex and multi-dimensional, there were lots of red herrings, all of them equally possible and the resolution did not come easy or without sacrifice.
I loved the desolate location it was set it, a very isolating feeling, together with feeling isolated not only by the internet sleuths and 'close friend'.. just what a claustrophobic atmosphere and tension!
I cannot believe this is a debut book! I cannot wait for the next book by Shelley Burr!
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
The characters were complex and multi-dimensional, there were lots of red herrings, all of them equally possible and the resolution did not come easy or without sacrifice.
I loved the desolate location it was set it, a very isolating feeling, together with feeling isolated not only by the internet sleuths and 'close friend'.. just what a claustrophobic atmosphere and tension!
I cannot believe this is a debut book! I cannot wait for the next book by Shelley Burr!
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
January 16, 2023
WAKE is what a thriller should be. I finished it in a day, stopping only a couple of times to rest my eyes. There is no sudden unexpected twist at the ending; the story didn’t need an unexpected surprise to shock its readers. Instead there is a gradual unfolding of secrets that arise naturally as you discover more and more about the two protagonists.
It is a character-based mystery, my favourite type of novel.
The two main characters are Mina and Lane. Nineteen years earlier, Mina’s nine-year-old twin sister, Evelyn, disappeared from their remote farmhouse, a farmhouse located on a large tract of land in the harsh outback of Australia (near a small fictional town called Nannine). Since then, Mina has lived a solitary life, rarely venturing outside her gated and protected farmland, only going to pick up her groceries and occasionally making a three-hour drive to the library to visit her one close friend, Alanna.
Lane is a private investigator who has had some success at solving cold cases. He stops at Nannine and starts investigating the case of Evelyn’s disappearance. Initially, Mina rebuffs him, but after Lane helps her friend Alanna, Mina and Lane form an alliance to try to solve her sister’s case. Lane says that he is interested in solving Evelyn’s case to obtain the reward money, and it is true that he badly needs that reward money. However, from the beginning, the reader is aware that Lane also has a secret agenda. I don’t believe it is a “spoiler” to mention that Lane’s father is in prison and up for early parole—this information appears early in the book. Lane is very upset at the thought of his father’s early release.
As the story unfolds, we also get snippets of an online conversation in a true-crime chat room. Eventually we learn what WAKE means to those participating in this chat room. (It has a heartbreaking meaning, when we discover this, because by this time we totally empathize with Mina.)
Then there is the locale—desolate wasteland filled with kangaroos and poisonous brown snakes that hide in the tall grass.
Slowly, the secrets are disclosed, and the last 20% of the book is filled with confusion and panic. The truth is not unexpected, but nonetheless is heart-wrenching.
Two wonderful primary characters, interesting secondary characters, hidden secrets, a cold case that needs to be solved, and an awesome description of the soul-destroying outback of rural Australia. What more is needed to provide a top-level reading experience.
*Caveat: There is one disheartening item at the story’s end. Hopefully it might get sorted out in a follow-up sequel to WAKE.
It is a character-based mystery, my favourite type of novel.
The two main characters are Mina and Lane. Nineteen years earlier, Mina’s nine-year-old twin sister, Evelyn, disappeared from their remote farmhouse, a farmhouse located on a large tract of land in the harsh outback of Australia (near a small fictional town called Nannine). Since then, Mina has lived a solitary life, rarely venturing outside her gated and protected farmland, only going to pick up her groceries and occasionally making a three-hour drive to the library to visit her one close friend, Alanna.
Lane is a private investigator who has had some success at solving cold cases. He stops at Nannine and starts investigating the case of Evelyn’s disappearance. Initially, Mina rebuffs him, but after Lane helps her friend Alanna, Mina and Lane form an alliance to try to solve her sister’s case. Lane says that he is interested in solving Evelyn’s case to obtain the reward money, and it is true that he badly needs that reward money. However, from the beginning, the reader is aware that Lane also has a secret agenda. I don’t believe it is a “spoiler” to mention that Lane’s father is in prison and up for early parole—this information appears early in the book. Lane is very upset at the thought of his father’s early release.
As the story unfolds, we also get snippets of an online conversation in a true-crime chat room. Eventually we learn what WAKE means to those participating in this chat room. (It has a heartbreaking meaning, when we discover this, because by this time we totally empathize with Mina.)
Then there is the locale—desolate wasteland filled with kangaroos and poisonous brown snakes that hide in the tall grass.
Slowly, the secrets are disclosed, and the last 20% of the book is filled with confusion and panic. The truth is not unexpected, but nonetheless is heart-wrenching.
Two wonderful primary characters, interesting secondary characters, hidden secrets, a cold case that needs to be solved, and an awesome description of the soul-destroying outback of rural Australia. What more is needed to provide a top-level reading experience.
*Caveat: There is one disheartening item at the story’s end. Hopefully it might get sorted out in a follow-up sequel to WAKE.
August 6, 2022
Out of all the novels in the crime/mystery/thriller genre I have read this year, Shelley Burr’s Wake has been one of utter surprise and by chance.
An unsolicited advanced reader copy was offered and after reading a description of the novel, I accepted the offer and am quite glad I did. Hopefully, Wake ends up on plenty of lists of favorite books of the year by other readers.
Wake takes place during modern times in the dying and hardscrabble rural area of the fictional town of Nannine, Australia, and focuses on a more or less, high-profile cold case of a missing young girl.
Nineteen years ago, young and first-born twin Evelyn McCreery disappeared from her family’s lucrative expansive farm never to be seen or heard from again.
With no evidence of an abduction or any sort of violence ever found, and because of the advent of Internet sleuths and the high profile nature of the incident, over the years all sorts of rumors, conspiracies, and innuendos have haunted not only the region but the McCreery family as well.
Still, with all the attention over the years, even with the rumors of the McCreery family’s possible involvement in the disappearance of Evylyn, the local community has stood by the McCreery family and is even protective of the family when interlopers trickle in nosing around the case.
The notoriety of the missing Evylyn has also led to the establishment of a large reward for the discovery of what happened, which has been doubled by the McCreery family with their only stipulation being either she or her body is located.
Lane Holland, once with hopes to become a police officer, now is a mostly self-taught private investigator with an interest in solving cold cases. With a reputation for solving a number of cold cases, Holland has decided to come to Nannine to solve the case of Evylyn McCreery.
Mina McCreery is the younger twin and still remains on the family farm along with her widowed father. Mina is with a taciturn and defensive personality and when approached by Lane she is immediately skeptical of his motives and quite uncooperative with his investigative overtures.
Even though locals are resistant to fully answer his questions, Lane refuses to be dissuaded and continues his investigation which causes ripples of discomfort to spread throughout the small, dying community in more ways than one.
Shelley Burr’s Wake is quite an impressive debut novel. Like other Australian writers, Burr captures the atmosphere and landscape of the tough rural life of Australia, and in such a way that her words easily create mental imagery that enhances the reading of the book. Another thing Burr does well deals with the way the secrets of multiple characters are revealed. These tidbits are leached out in such a manner they sneak up on the reader like a stealth missile.
Wake is highly recommended to fans of Garry Disher and television programs such as the Mystery Road series.
William Morrow provided a copy of Wake in return for a fair review.
This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com
An unsolicited advanced reader copy was offered and after reading a description of the novel, I accepted the offer and am quite glad I did. Hopefully, Wake ends up on plenty of lists of favorite books of the year by other readers.
Wake takes place during modern times in the dying and hardscrabble rural area of the fictional town of Nannine, Australia, and focuses on a more or less, high-profile cold case of a missing young girl.
Nineteen years ago, young and first-born twin Evelyn McCreery disappeared from her family’s lucrative expansive farm never to be seen or heard from again.
With no evidence of an abduction or any sort of violence ever found, and because of the advent of Internet sleuths and the high profile nature of the incident, over the years all sorts of rumors, conspiracies, and innuendos have haunted not only the region but the McCreery family as well.
Still, with all the attention over the years, even with the rumors of the McCreery family’s possible involvement in the disappearance of Evylyn, the local community has stood by the McCreery family and is even protective of the family when interlopers trickle in nosing around the case.
The notoriety of the missing Evylyn has also led to the establishment of a large reward for the discovery of what happened, which has been doubled by the McCreery family with their only stipulation being either she or her body is located.
Lane Holland, once with hopes to become a police officer, now is a mostly self-taught private investigator with an interest in solving cold cases. With a reputation for solving a number of cold cases, Holland has decided to come to Nannine to solve the case of Evylyn McCreery.
Mina McCreery is the younger twin and still remains on the family farm along with her widowed father. Mina is with a taciturn and defensive personality and when approached by Lane she is immediately skeptical of his motives and quite uncooperative with his investigative overtures.
Even though locals are resistant to fully answer his questions, Lane refuses to be dissuaded and continues his investigation which causes ripples of discomfort to spread throughout the small, dying community in more ways than one.
Shelley Burr’s Wake is quite an impressive debut novel. Like other Australian writers, Burr captures the atmosphere and landscape of the tough rural life of Australia, and in such a way that her words easily create mental imagery that enhances the reading of the book. Another thing Burr does well deals with the way the secrets of multiple characters are revealed. These tidbits are leached out in such a manner they sneak up on the reader like a stealth missile.
Wake is highly recommended to fans of Garry Disher and television programs such as the Mystery Road series.
William Morrow provided a copy of Wake in return for a fair review.
This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com
June 23, 2022
Debut novelist Shelley Burr has written an exceptional story in WAKE, a truly remarkable piece of Aussie Noir. Written with compassion, intrigue and superb atmospheric location, I was blown away by the fact this was a debut novel and devoured every page with fervour. When I started this book, it was with the intention of just reading a few pages but ended up chapters in and still not wanting to put it down.
- Everybody thinks they know Mina McCreery. Everyone has a theory on what happened to her sister. Now it’s time to find out the truth. No forced entry. No fingerprints. No footprints. No tyre tracks. What really happened to Evie McCreery?
I Imagined every scene clearly due to the authors excellently descriptive and taut writing. I was instantly transported to the small town of Nannine in New South Wales and the inhabitants, all slightly flawed with long buried secrets. Cold case investigator, Lane Holland, who specialises in missing children, has his own agenda in visiting the town and it intrigued me as to his relationship with his much younger sister and how his background story was integral to the development of the storyline.
I felt very emotional at the denouement, a solid indication that the writer has achieved what they intended for the reader and I do hope that Shelley Burr writes more along the lines of this powerful and poignant thriller. Highly recommended if you like character driven novels with dark secrets at the heart of it. Set in a small town community with heat oppressed atmospheric landscapes, troubling economic changes and dangerous scrubland, this was the perfect setting for this mystery, which I thoroughly adored.
Shelley Burr is the winner of the CWA Debut Dagger Award. When she’s not writing she works for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. She lives in Canberra, Australia.
‘Wake’ is Shelley’s debut novel.
#WAKE - 5 stars - THE literary thriller of 2022!
Many thanks to Steven Cooper and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
- Everybody thinks they know Mina McCreery. Everyone has a theory on what happened to her sister. Now it’s time to find out the truth. No forced entry. No fingerprints. No footprints. No tyre tracks. What really happened to Evie McCreery?
I Imagined every scene clearly due to the authors excellently descriptive and taut writing. I was instantly transported to the small town of Nannine in New South Wales and the inhabitants, all slightly flawed with long buried secrets. Cold case investigator, Lane Holland, who specialises in missing children, has his own agenda in visiting the town and it intrigued me as to his relationship with his much younger sister and how his background story was integral to the development of the storyline.
I felt very emotional at the denouement, a solid indication that the writer has achieved what they intended for the reader and I do hope that Shelley Burr writes more along the lines of this powerful and poignant thriller. Highly recommended if you like character driven novels with dark secrets at the heart of it. Set in a small town community with heat oppressed atmospheric landscapes, troubling economic changes and dangerous scrubland, this was the perfect setting for this mystery, which I thoroughly adored.
Shelley Burr is the winner of the CWA Debut Dagger Award. When she’s not writing she works for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. She lives in Canberra, Australia.
‘Wake’ is Shelley’s debut novel.
#WAKE - 5 stars - THE literary thriller of 2022!
Many thanks to Steven Cooper and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me on the tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
February 19, 2022
I devoured Wake - the characters, the setting, the mystery, every element of this novel was superb.
Wake drips with atmosphere and strangely interconnected relationships, the remote locations adding to the underlying tension that the author imbues into the narrative. Not easily predictable, beautifully written with multiple emotional layers it is almost impossible to put down.
Fantastic. Another to add to my possible top books of 2022.
Wake drips with atmosphere and strangely interconnected relationships, the remote locations adding to the underlying tension that the author imbues into the narrative. Not easily predictable, beautifully written with multiple emotional layers it is almost impossible to put down.
Fantastic. Another to add to my possible top books of 2022.
June 27, 2022
I really struggled to finish this book and found it painfully slow and overly descriptive. Although the quality of the writing is excellent I found it took far too long to actually get anywhere and there were over simplified coincidences to pad the story out and the ending was a bit too rushed and odd. I read this via The Pigeonhole and many in the group loved this book so don’t take too much notice of what I think - we can’t all like everything after all and this unfortunately was not for me.
June 7, 2022
This is an excellent mystery, which draws you in from the very first line. Mina McCreery lives in the small, outback town of Nannine, in Central New South Wales. It is coming up to the twentieth anniversary of the night that her twin sister, Evelyn (shortened to ‘Evie’ for the cute factor in the press) went missing, the mystery still unsolved. Mina’s mother, Beverley, did everything she could to raise the profile of her daughter’s case and, as she and nine-year-old Mina, were alone in the house that night, much of the internet judged one, or other, of them guilty. Now Beverley is dead, and Mina is left in an isolated farm which is hours from anywhere. She works online, her only real friend Alanna Rennold, whose own sister disappeared and who ran a Missing Persons Support Group with Beverley, before her death.
Evelyn’s unsolved case is very high profile still, with a large award up for grabs for anyone who can discover what happened that night. Enter Luke Holland, a P.I. who specialises in similar cold cases and who is desperate to claim the award in order to provide for his sister. Luke is a damaged character and, as we gradually learn, is enticed by more than the award. Although Mina’s immediate instinct is to pull away from any involvement in opening up the investigation, she becomes intrigued by Luke and begins to share more than she has done previously, opening herself to being hurt.
I thought with an excellent, intelligent, and well-paced novel, which really hooks the reader in. I loved Mina, who is so obviously aware of how she is viewed by the public online, who is so hurt and yet sharply witty. Luke is also a fantastic character, very vulnerable, and you feel deeply for both of them. I absolutely loved this and recommend it highly to any crime fans and I look forward to reading anything else by Shelley Burr. She has immediately jumped to list of authors to pre-order! I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Evelyn’s unsolved case is very high profile still, with a large award up for grabs for anyone who can discover what happened that night. Enter Luke Holland, a P.I. who specialises in similar cold cases and who is desperate to claim the award in order to provide for his sister. Luke is a damaged character and, as we gradually learn, is enticed by more than the award. Although Mina’s immediate instinct is to pull away from any involvement in opening up the investigation, she becomes intrigued by Luke and begins to share more than she has done previously, opening herself to being hurt.
I thought with an excellent, intelligent, and well-paced novel, which really hooks the reader in. I loved Mina, who is so obviously aware of how she is viewed by the public online, who is so hurt and yet sharply witty. Luke is also a fantastic character, very vulnerable, and you feel deeply for both of them. I absolutely loved this and recommend it highly to any crime fans and I look forward to reading anything else by Shelley Burr. She has immediately jumped to list of authors to pre-order! I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 3, 2022
Wake by Aussie author Shelley Burr is a fantastic debut novel. A small outback town, mystery, great characters, twists and turns and an absolute page-turner all make a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. Highly recommended.
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