This is an excellent debut for Australian writer Bronwyn Rivers. Set in the beautiful but rugged Blue Mountains of New South Wales, it is both atmospheric and suspenseful.

Ten years before six school friends, Ed, Hugh, Alex, Jack, Laura and Charlotte planned to celebrate the end of high school by spending time together at the rural property belonging to Ed’s parents. Ed had planned an overnight hike out into the rugged national park where he knew the countryside well and where they could refill their water bottles. However, although six of them set out only five returned.

Now, the five remaining friends have been invited by back to the property by Ed’s mother Mary for Ed’s ten year memorial. However, Mary has an ulterior motive in bringing them all back together and they are about to find themselves in a desperate situation.

Told over two time-lines, the story of what actually happened that fateful day on the hike is slowly revealed. All five friend are forced to reveal long held secrets as the situation they find themselves in deteriorates. The pace of the writing is a little uneven, but the suspense is well done, building inexorably, as themes of friendship, trust and guilt are played out and twists are revealed. The characters are all well drawn, as are the effects of Ed’s death on them all, including Mary who has become quite unhinged by his death. An impressive addition to the burgeoning genre of Aussie Noir.

*4.5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

A very interesting read. The tragedy and secrets that this group had gone through for many years. You had to feel for Martha and how things had affected her. The ending was interesting and took my by surprise. Would recommend.

EXCERPT: Martha picked up her napkin and twisted it, as though wringing out water. She put it in her napkin ring, then began to twist the ring.
'I know you were young. You were all affected.'
Hugh felt the room go still.
'But now. The years have passed. You're older. You've had all this time to think.' Her eyes darted this way and that.
All eye in the room were glued on hers.
The room was absolutely silent. Hugh took a breath. The air seemed thicker, harder to breathe.
'Perhaps you've remembered something. You know, you can just tell me, if you have.'
For a moment, Hugh felt himself back in a clearing in the bush, with Alex, Jack, Charlotte and Laura. Standing in a ring, near a giant turpentine tree.
The same kind of silence, back then, had slowly reached into their throats and stopped up their voices. The same creeping horror as now, curling at their skin.
Now, in the dining room, Martha's words were slow, emphatic. 'On the walk with Ed. What really happened?'

ABOUT 'THE REUNION': When old friends Hugh, Charlotte, Alex, Laura and Jack reunite to attend their friend Ed's 10-year memorial, they are less than enthused. Not least because it will be hosted by Ed's mother, Mary, at her isolated farm in the bush. They've barely seen each other since they were teenagers, but perhaps reconnecting is what they all need - an opportunity to move on from Ed's death.

But Mary has other plans for them. Convinced that something sinister happened on that fateful hike ten years ago, she is looking to dredge up the past and get some answers.

It soon becomes clear to the five friends that Mary will do almost anything to uncover the truth . . . and as temperatures and tensions rise, they realise the danger they're in. With their survival at stake, the group must decide whether they're willing to confront the past and the secrets they swore to keep.

MY THOUGHTS: Told over two timelines, now ten years after then, The Reunion is a story of friendship, secrets, grief and guilt.

The setting is remote and atmospheric - only one way in and out and cell phones rely on the internet. There is a rambling old home falling into disrepair in which lives the grief-stricken mother of the deceased lad, an only child, determined to know the truth about how he died. She knows they have lied, but does she know who told the biggest lie of all?

Martha is quite inventive in her manipulation of her son's friends. She is very resourceful. She may also be a tad mad - as in both meanings of the word.

Bronwyn Rivers has done an excellent job of demonstrating the changes in the friends over the years, showing how the stress of keeping secrets and the guilt of hiding the true circumstances surrounding Ed's death has eaten away at them, fracturing relationships. She has also believably depicted the unravelling of Martha's life, her anger, her determination, her plotting to find the truth. She puts her characters in some very tight spots, both emotionally and physically.

This is an outstanding debut novel in the Australian Rural Noir genre, and I cannot wait to read whatever Ms Rivers has in store for us next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#TheReunion #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Bronwyn Rivers grew up in Newcastle, Australia with the mystery-novel gateway drugs of The Famous Five and Trixie Belden, before developing a solid addiction to Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and PD James. She moved to the UK to take a doctorate at the University of Oxford on nineteenth-century women’s novels, and was an academic researcher and book reviewer in England and Australia.

Bronwyn now lives in Sydney with her husband and two children.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette, Australia & New Zealand for providing an e-ARC of The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I really enjoyed Bronwyn Rivers thrilling debut, a ‘locked room’ mystery set deep in the Australian bush.

Told in alternating timelines, Rivers captures the desperation of two situations which quickly turn life threatening for this gathering of friends. The isolation of the bush and exposure to the elements create a sinister and oppressive tone, and the old farmhouse setting adds a creepy gothic touch to this gripping story. The twists and turns, and the engaging and fast paced narrative kept me glued to the page to the very end.

A great read for fans of authors like Lucy Foley, Jane Harper, Liza North - I look forward to Rivers next book.

Thank you Hachette Australia & NZ for complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

An incredibly gripping and suspenseful debut by Bronwyn Rivers that makes you feel like you’re stranded in the middle of the Australian bush. Rivers’ ability to place the reader in one of the harshest natural environments is astounding, leaving you breathless and questioning your ability to trust others.

There is nothing quite like an Australian thriller!

A must-read for lovers of The Ledge by Christian White and Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor.

I was drawn to this book because it's set in the Blue Mountains, where I grew up, which is the perfect location for some mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of Ed after going on a hike through the bush with friends. When the group return to the farm 10 years later and reunite with Ed's mum Mary, she wants answers and is willing to go to extreme lengths to get them. Stranded on the isolated farm with no communication outside, the group are forced to face the past, and each other. This was a great mystery as to what happens and the dual timelines were great to reveal pieces of information as the story progressed. Definitely didn't see that last chapter coming, but love a good twist! I'd definitely recommend reading this if you're into mysteries and thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This is a great debut by this new author and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 'Ten years ago, six teenagers hiked into the Blue Mountains wilderness - and only five came out alive.' And that is just that start of this thrilling ride through what may or may not have happened on that dreadful and tragic bushwalk.

This is a book that had me from the start, I just kept turning the pages and could not put it down. I read it in a day and I am still on the edge of my seat. A dual timeline takes us back to the bushwalk and returns to the here and now. I love that it is Australian and the location of the Blue Mountains made me feel as if I was there.

Thrilling, emotional, tense, gripping and very readable. I was drawn into this book and I highly recommend it. Look forward to seeing what this author does next.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I'm a sucker for a WhoDunIt and Reunions of old friends who are all hiding Secrets! :D
The first half had me so Drawn in and Creeped out i stayed up late reading, not able to put it down! Great mix of characters and atmospheric descriptions. From there it began to get a bit repetitive and the pace slowed down drastically but then picked back up later on. I kept thinking i knew what was going on but then more information would be revealed. That's all i can say without giving spoilers... 4 Stars!

Thank you to Hatchette Australia & New Zealand through NetGalley for this ARC! xox

On a side note: the mother's name was Martha (she's named Mary in the synopsis at GoodReads)

This was a fun take on a dual timeline Aussie whodunit, with a well-drawn cast of old boarding school friends who lost one of their crew, Ed, on a hiking trip 10 years previously. It’s clear from the outset that the gang are keeping a tight lid on what actually happened to Ed many years ago, and it’s taken a toll on them all – but was Ed just a blameless passive participant?
The oppressive and vast expanse of bushland and the remoteness of the farm where the action’s set, helps to create an ominous and page-turning reading experience. Unlike a lot of character driven small-town dramas, this story has the added element of the seemingly unhinged mother cutting off communication and supplies to the homestead to help pull the truth from our secretive schoolies. I’d read more from Rivers, and recommend this book to readers looking for a remote & atmospheric Aussie mystery that’s not centred around a detective.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the advance reader copy in return for an honest review. Review to be posted to FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date.

Five friends unite for a weekend in this ‘locked room’ thriller.
Ten years ago six friends set out on an overnight bush walk to celebrate their end of school life but only five returned.
Ed was the one that didn’t make it and this year they have been invited by Ed’s mother Martha, back to the family farm where the walk started for a commemoration.
But as soon as they get there they realise not all is all as it seems, especially as Martha is convinced that no one has told the truth on how Ed died. The next morning they find out the stakes have been raised.
Told in two times lines of the present and the walk, we find out what really happened all those years ago.
Throughly enjoyed this book, a great debut. Layer by layer the characteristics of the friends are revealed. I alternated by the feeling it was just ambling along, then something would be revealed that I wasn’t expecting. Certainly keep my interest up and certainly the ending was unexpected.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

Thank you Hachette for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A destination thriller whipped up with a locked room mystery.
Six school friends do a hike through the mountain ranges but only five return.
Ten years later a reunion is planned where it all began.
A weekend in an isolated cabin cut off from the world.
The friends all have secrets.
And nothing will stop someone seeking the truth….
A very impressive debut that gives the reader all the fillings for a compelling thriller.
Bronwyn’s plot flair has you wanting to read way into the night.
There’s many disillusioned protagonists, an eerie plot, a complex conundrum, a deserted backdrop all with many moments to unravel.
For a first time writer this is an electrifying read.
What can go wrong in the creepy, secluded bush…… mmmm pick up this book on February 13th and find out.

Another great debut by an Aussie author!

I ploughed through this in 2 days, finishing today after a sweltering bush walk on a hot Melbourne day, so could really empathise with the 6 teenagers!

A dual timeline, twisty thriller which questions the lasting affects of secrets and poor decisions, both on the holder of these and those involved.

The suspense is well built and just when I thought I had it all sussed out, another secret would come to light to throw me off again.

The 6 teenagers, all with different personalities and relationships with each other, also made it an interesting read.


4.2 ⭐️'s

Bronwyn Rivers’ debut crime novel The Reunion draws heavily on the traditions of Australian gothic to great effect. Set in a remote Australian valley it would be tempting to label this as ‘rural crime’ but while the setting is definitely rural, this is more of a twisted revenge thriller with almost a horror-inspired edge to it rather than the exploration of a rural community or rural issues.
When the book opens, five old school friends are driving along a lonely road to the property of their old friend Ed Fletcher who died ten years before while the six were on a hiking trip. Ed went missing on the walk while looking for water and died while the other five managed to find their way back to safety. Now, ten years later the five have been invited back to the property by Ed’s mother Martha to mark the anniversary of his death. But it quickly becomes clear that Martha believes that they are in some way to blame and the five find themselves trapped on the property far from civilisation with no water, having to relive that time and forced to confront their darkest secrets.
Rivers establishes a creepy vibe early on with the old woman living in a once-grand crumbling homestead and a group of reluctant guests. She very quickly turns up the pressure and does not let up. And as the plot progresses The Reunion also has elements of survival horror. And in flashing back to the events of the bushwalk and of a party a few weeks before that, drip feeds reveals that deepen the present day story. The revelations when they come do much to contextualise the situation but do not make it any easier.
Australian gothic is a literary tradition that treats the Australian bush as dark, unknowable and dangerous. It is epitomised by themes of isolation, entrapment and fear. While early examples of this genre were focussed on the colonial experience, contemporary Australian gothic has tapped into more general fears. The Reunion plays itself out across two main time lines. Ten years before the six friends embark on a bushwalk but quickly find themselves out of their depth and as a result turning on each other. And in the present day, the five survivors are hemmed in by the same bushland, and forced by their circumstances to re-evaluate that time and their relationships.
The Reunion is an assured debut. The five main characters start as “types” but are quickly given depth and agency. Once they are introduced, Rivers quickly establishes the gothic tone that both drives the tension but also heightens the mystery. And she effectively deploys her cliffhangers and reveals, to keep readers on edge and unbalanced right up to the last pages.

‘They were just having a weekend away to catch up with some old friends – at least that’s what they had each told colleagues and family.’

Ten years ago, at the end of high school, six friends went on a hike in the Australian bush. Only five returned. And now Mary, the mother of Ed, the boy who died, has invited Hugh, Charlotte, Alex, Laura and Jack to join her on her isolated farm for a memorial.
The five are no longer close friends, and each of them is reluctant to attend, but they each agree. But when they travel to Mary’s farm, they find nothing is as it was ten years earlier. The home is rundown, Mary is now widowed and obsessed in finding out more about what went wrong on the hike. Ed was her only child.

And slowly, things go wrong. Each member of the group must face is or her knowledge of what happened, and every single one of them has a secret.

This is an accomplished debut novel by Ms Rivers. Complex, flawed characters in a haunting Australian bushland setting. Ms Rivers introduces twist after twist, making me question what I thought I had understood. And, for me, each of these twists (bar one) was plausible. Each of the five is in danger. And truth? You will need to read for yourself.

Brava, Ms Rivers. I hope this novel is the first of many.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This was great! A very well paced thriller that kept the suspense simmering the whole way through. Quick chapters made it very hard to put down.
10 years ago, 6 teenagers went out into the bush, only 5 came back. Now, they are back together at their lost friend's isolated house, and his mother is hosting a reunion. Things turn sinister when it becomes clear they aren't telling the whole story about how Ed was lost in the bush.
Bronwyn Rivers is a debut author to look out for. She really captured the sense of isolation and frustration and the beautiful but deadly Australian bush. And the thirst, I got so thirsty reading this! I recommend this novel for all the lovers of Outback Noir.

⭐ 5 Stars ⭐

Bush Noir at its finest! Bronwyn Rivers’ debut is an exceptional psychological thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. The story revolves around five old friends – Hugh, Charlotte, Alex, Laura, and Jack – who reluctantly reunite at an isolated bushland homestead for a 10-year memorial of their friend Ed, who died under mysterious circumstances on a group hike.

The characterisation is brilliant; each character is flawed and complex, carrying the weight of the past and secrets they’ve hidden for years. The Australian bushland setting is hauntingly vivid, adding layers of tension and unease as the story unfolds.

Rivers expertly weaves a narrative filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, she threw in another surprise that left me reeling.

If you love psychological thrillers with flawed characters, dark secrets, and a uniquely Australian edge, The Reunion is a must-read. Bronwyn Rivers has firmly established herself as a talented voice in the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing an eARC of The Reunion by Bronwyn Rivers in exchange for my honest review.

📖 Publication Date: 13 February 2025
📚 For more reviews, visit instagram.com/liisalovesreading

#TheReunion #BronwynRivers #Netgalley

Ten years ago six teenagers hiked into the wilderness and five of them came back alive. They were school friends. Ed (whose family farm was their starting off point), Hugh, Charlotte, Laura, Jack and Alex, close, but with the sorts of slightly complicated romantic attachments and fractures that you find in groups of kids of that age. Nobody for a moment thought that this would be a dangerous hike, they were experienced walkers, fit, and Ed knew this area from a childhood growing up here. Only Ed died, and for the ten years since his mother Mary has had plenty of time to think about her beloved only child's death.

Maybe it was triggered by the anniversary, maybe it was too much time on her hands since the inquest into her son's death, then the suicide of her husband, Ed's father, but the house wasn't the same happy place that the five returned to, invited by Mary for an anniversary weekend. The once immaculate place is ramshackle and neglected, and there's something very odd about Mary. The problem is that none of remaining five friends could ever have imagined just how obsessed, how determined to get to the truth she is, until it's almost too late for all of them.

Told in a series of differing POV chapters, the early part of the book will require some concentration on the part of the reader as you're taken back to each person's teenage years, as well as who they are as adults. There's reminiscence and past transgressions to be fleshed out, as well as present life changes including marriages, pregnancy, careers that have taken some in unexpected directions. Importantly, there are the connections between them then and now, events that shaped their interactions and relationships, and the cryptic questions laid out in notes that they start to find around the property, as they search for ways out of the intricate and very specific trap set for them.

Whilst it's a thriller in nature, there's also something surprisingly reflective about THE REUNION. Whether it's the contrasting experiences and pasts of the main characters, including Ed, and the sorts of secrets they have been keeping for a very long time, or their individual responses to pressure, these are adults forced into confronting their pasts and who they were and have become. Making the reader unsure at every step of where this is heading, setting up some really tricky characters as people that you may just end up with some respect for, leading to a resolution that did feel like it might be surprisingly gentle on a lot of very traumatised people. Until a final kick in the tail that readers less rattled may say they could see coming, but put this reader, by then, in the thoroughly rattled camp.

A debut novel, THE REUNION, started out as a bit of a sleeper, ended up as a haunter of nights.

Ten years ago, six teenagers hiked into the Blue Mountains wilderness - and only five came out alive. 10-years later the five survivors attend a memorial of their friend's death back where it all began.

This upcoming release by Bronwyn Rivers was a great way to kick off my 2025 reads. Once I started this book I devoured it in 2 sittings - which is fast for me!

Full of secrets, lies and cover ups this thriller is set on a remote property in the Australian bush and let me tell you - I will never go anywhere without water again. I was stressed for these characters just reading it.

Written with dual timelines with multiple POV’s we get to jump between past and present to watch this story unravel and see the secrets behind revealed all the way to the very end.

After taking a handful of chapters to get my head around who was who - I really enjoyed being able to peek into each characters backstory to see why everyone did what they did (or didn’t) do - it was interesting to have this perspective to then decide if I would have done the same in their situation.

It was one of those books that had me sitting there after it going down rabbit holes thinking about the pressure that might come with being an only child, or attending an expensive private school when you don’t come from wealth. Something I didn’t expect from a thriller.

A great debut and something you’ll enjoy if you’re a fan of The Dry.

The novel starts with friends Huge, Charlotte, Alex, Laura & Jack having a weekend away at their friend’s Mother’s farm for the anniversary of their friend’s death.

Secrets will be forced into the open as the group continue to lie about the events surrounding what happened to their friend.

It was slow for the first half of the book. I wanted more anticipation from the writing.

Overall, I enjoyed the book though. There were a few twists at the end that caught me by surprise

Thank you Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the gifted copy

I do love a good debut, especially when it is by an Aussie author. A new voice in crime fiction to have on the radar is always a good 5pm. I thoroughly enjoyed The Reunion, and devoured it over 2 days.

10 years ago, 6 high school friends went on a camping trip to celebrate the end of school. Only 5 came home. Now they have returned to where it happened for a reunion with their lost friend’s mother. She knows that they are keeping information about what really happened., and wants to know the truth.

This was so wild! A story of friendship, grief, secrets and lies. That day changed them all forever and we see how each of them have been affected. Told in chapters of the past and present, we learn what happened to get to that fateful day.

Thanks so much to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Look out for it on February 13th, 2025.