Confronting and atmospheric, The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins (out 4 March) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Australian Rural Thrillers, often called Bush Noir, are one of my favourite genres, with the past 5–7 years delivering some truly stellar reads. While The Bluff had strong moments, it left me with mixed feelings.

The story centres on Ruth Dawson, a lawyer stepping into a temporary role in the small town of Myddle. What starts as a quiet stint quickly escalates when she becomes entangled in the disappearance of a teenage girl and a murder that rocks the tight-knit community. Jenkins delivers a vivid and sobering portrayal of rural Australia, capturing the intricacies of loyalties, tensions, and unspoken divides. The themes of racism and sexual assault are powerfully and honestly explored—appropriately confronting, though undeniably difficult to read.

The plot is gripping, with plenty of twists to keep the pages turning, but the characters were harder to connect with. Most were deeply flawed and often unlikeable, which, while realistic, made emotional investment in their outcomes challenging. Ruth stands out as a strong, empathetic protagonist, though the inclusion of WhatsApp messages with her son in London felt unnecessary and didn’t add to the story.

Overall, this is a solid addition to the Bush Noir genre, but it doesn’t quite match the exceptional standard of similar books in recent years.

Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual assault and racism.

Acknowledgement: Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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