The Dry: A Novel Summary
Jane Harper

The Dry: A Novel Overview

The Dry is a mystery novel by Jane Harper set in Kiewarra, a fictional farming town in the Australian state of Victoria. The protagonist is Aaron Falk, who moved away from Kiewarra years ago and eventually became employed as a financial investigator in Melbourne. Falk returns to Kiewarra to attend the funeral of his old friend, Luke Hadler. Luke appears to have killed his wife, his son, and himself, but the truth is not completely clear. With the help of local police officer Greg Raco, Falk investigates into the three deaths and eventually into the long-ago death of another old friend, Ellie Deacon. Ellie Deacon died mysteriously at the age of 16, and people wrongly suspected Falk of being involved in her death. Now, as Falk investigates the deaths of the Hadlers, he must also once again face Ellie’s death and finally uncover the truth behind this older mystery as well. The novel deals with themes of justice, evil, community, friendship, and personal roots.