At the bottom of the world, there is an island. It is a land of rugged wilderness, of ice and snow and blistering heat … They say extinct tigers still roam there. They say other things roam there, too.
When a group of five teenage schoolgirls go missing in the remote bushlands of Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers, the small town of Limestone Creek falls into disarray. Years ago, five young girls were lost to those dangerous bluffs, and the local legend of ‘the Hungry Man’ still haunts the townsfolk to this day.
Today however, authorities discover that the girl’s teacher, Eliza Ellis, was knocked unconscious, so someone on the mountain had something planned from the start. Jordan Murphy, local drug dealer and father of Jasmine, one of the missing students, instantly becomes suspect for the disappearances. Leading detective Con Badenhurst quickly learns that in a small town like this – with corrupt police, local gossip, and a teenage YouTube star – everyone is hiding something, and bluffing comes second nature.
When a body is found, mauled, at the bottom of a cliff, suspicion turns to a wild animal – but that can’t explain why she was discovered barefoot, her shoes at the top of the cliff, laces neatly tied.
Told from three perspectives, The Bluffs manages to tell a riveting story that will give even a seasoned thriller reader goosebumps. Getting lost in the Tasmanian mountains twice himself, Perry’s eerily immersive depictions of the landscape highlights not only his own, but his family’s experiences in the mountains. Kyle’s mother grew up in the foothills of the Great Western Tiers, while his grandfather went on search and rescue missions for lost travellers. If there’s one thing you can count on this book to do, it’s to truly immerse you into the enchanting landscape of Tasmania’s heartland.
Perry manages to create some exceptionally compelling characters, while capturing the teenage experience in a really authentic way. The atmosphere of the Great Western Tiers haunted me for days after I put the book down and kept me guessing throughout every chapter.
The Bluffs is a perfect winter read that will pull you in and won’t let go. Perry has managed to exceed expectations for his debut novel. Full of mystery, crime, and a certain hair raising charm, you won’t be disappointed. We cant wait to read more from Kyle Perry in the future!
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