Dirt Town: If You Read One Crime Novel this Year, Make it This One
This is not your usual detective story
After a shower of shortlists and a plethora of praise, Haley Scrivenor’s acclaimed novel Dirt Town (2022) is now available in paperback in the UK.
So, no more excuses not to give it a go.
Whether you are a thriller and crime aficionado or an infrequent reader of the genre, this book will keep you up at night turning page after page.
The story of 9-year-old Esther gone missing slowly but fiercely sets in motion a chain of events that uncover the dirt on the small community of Durton. From middle class Melbournites whose move to the outback changes their lives forever, to hard-working locals who have strayed to the wrong side of the law, the missing person case and the police investigation bring chaos and clarity into an otherwise sleepy town.
“Ripe with elegiac descriptions of crimson sunsets and dirt in continental Australia, this charming outback noir challenges the convention of its genre and, at the same time, excels within it.”
The novelty of Scrivenor’s story lies in part on the eclectic way it is narrated. The point of view switches from one character to the other, creating a dynamic yet cohesive flow.
The events are described in the third person for most characters save for Ronnie, the missing child’s best friend whose voice we hear directly and whose fear of losing a friend becomes a strong point of empathy for the reader.
Switching from one person to the other, we learn how each turn of events affects the lives of every character, and can even have a crack at becoming the detective ourselves.
When hovering above the protagonists’ heads, we are let in on secrets and fears, and while we may feel closer to their human faults as we see them play out, we are also doomed to condemn their mistakes.
If there is one element that brings it home, it is the perfect limbo of ambiguity achieved toward the end. Without making spoilers, ultimately the book’s strongest suit is the way it resolves its mystery with an earnest rendition of human mistakes and reactions akin to what happens in similar tragedies in real life. Scrivenor achieves this perfect picture of real-life drama skillfully and beautifully.
This is not your usual detective story, so it’s no surprise that it’s not your usual detective who leads the case. The sharp Detective Sargeant Sarah Michaels is a mastermind when it comes to solving a mystery, but her personal struggles get in the way as she puts the puzzle together.
Waiting for her back home is an uncomfortable confrontation with the loss of Amira, the love of her life, and as the book progresses we learn more about the lives of these two women clashing.
Ripe with elegiac descriptions of crimson sunsets and dirt in continental Australia, this charming outback noir challenges the convention of its genre and, at the same time, excels within it.
If you are longing to read a crime novel that stands out from the rest, Dirt Town should be on your TBR list.
