The Rip
From the award-winning author of Wimmera
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4.0 • 103 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
'It's funny how quick it happens and without you really noticing. Anton said once that it's like walking out into the sea, and you think everything's fine and the water's warm, but when you turn back you're suddenly miles from shore. I've never been much of a swimmer, but I get what he means. Like, being caught in a current or something. A rip.'
A young woman, living on the street has to keep her wits about her.
Or her friends. But when the drugs kick in that can be hard.
Anton has been looking out for her. She was safe with him. But then Steve came along.
He had something over Anton. Must have. But he had a flat they could crash in. And gear in his pocket. And she can't stop thinking about it. A good hit makes everything all right.
But the flat smells weird.
There's a lock on Steve's bedroom door.
And the guy is intense.
The problem is, sometimes you just don't know you are in too deep, until you are drowning.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Mark Brandi stormed on to the Australian literary crime scene with his award-winning debut Wimmera, which drew favourable comparisons to Jane Harper’s hugely successful The Dry. His gripping sophomore novel cements his reputation as a masterful crime writer. The story follows a young, homeless drug addict as she endures the hardships and danger of living on the streets of Melbourne. This eye-opening novel tells a beautiful story of strength and resilience. Brandi excels at keeping the tension high while bringing the characters to life with understanding and compassion. Told from such a vulnerable, powerful viewpoint, The Rip is a haunting read that will stay with us for a long time.
Customer Reviews
Incredible Page Turner
I felt every feeling reading this book, such a beautiful sad but wonderful read. Be prepared for a good cry at the end.
The Rip
Sophomore novel by Melbourne author whose debut, Wimmera (2017), won the UK Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger award, and the 2018 Indie Book Award for Best Debut Fiction.
As the title suggests, that is a mystery set in rural Australia: the archetypal outback of this wide brown land much venerated in domestic fiction.
Trouble is, the vast majority of Australians—archetypal or otherwise—live in cities.
The Rip is a compelling first person narrative by a young woman who grew up in a series of foster homes and now lives on the streets, and in the parks, of the world’s most liveable city, where she deals daily with hunger, shelter, substance abuse, and violence.
Somehow, she holds it together with support from a bull terrier called Sunny and an ex-con named Anton. Then the amigos move in with Steve, despite the terrible smell in his house. The mystery unfolds from there.
Too many contemporary mystery writers over-explain. Brandi trusts readers to put two and two together themselves, which greatly enhances the dynamic of the plot.
The voice and language of the narrator are pitch perfect.
Wimmera was good. I gave it four stars. This gets five. A gem.