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The Torrent cover art

The Torrent

By: Dinuka McKenzie
Narrated by: Elizabeth Brennan
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Publisher's Summary

A loving husband lost to devastating summer floods. A teenage girl injured during a robbery. Two seemingly unconnected cases that will push a detective to the brink.

An atmospheric, compelling new voice in Australian crime fiction.

'Such a good read.' Val McDermid

Winner of the 2020 Banjo Prize. Shortlisted for the 2023 Davitt Awards and 2023 Danger Awards.

In Northern New South Wales, heavily pregnant and a week away from maternity leave, Detective Sergeant Kate Miles is exhausted and counting down the days. But a violent hold-up at a local fast-food restaurant with unsettling connections to her own past, means that her final days will be anything but straightforward.

When a second case is dumped on her lap, the closed case of a man drowned in recent summer floods, what begins as a simple informal review quickly grows into something more complicated. Kate can either write the report that's expected of her or investigate the case the way she wants to.

As secrets and betrayals pile up, and the needs of her own family intervene, how far is Kate prepared to push to discover the truth?

'The Torrent is subtle and clever and Dinuka has talent to burn. It unfolds so beautifully and the writer is in control every step of the way. Highly, highly recommended!' Dervla McTiernan

'The Torrent is vivid, pacy and refreshingly original. A gripping whodunnit with heart.' Emma Viskic

'Gripped me tightly with its twisting narrative threads and its cast of authentic and complex characters until the very last word.' Imbi Neeme

'This gripping debut by Dinuka McKenzie will keep you turning the pages late into the night' Petronella McGovern

'A fast-paced, page-turning crime novel ... Detective Kate Miles is a strong, unforgettable lead, expertly crafted by McKenzie who is an exciting new talent to watch on the Australian literary scene. McKenzie's prose is energetic and bursting with suspense from the first page to the very last.' Holden Sheppard

'A swirl of secrets and lies sweeping through to a deeply satisfying conclusion. McKenzie is an exciting voice - a new contender for Queen of Australian crime.' Katherine Kovacic

'Intense, dangerous and utterly compelling. I'm holding my breath to see what Dinuka McKenzie writes next.' BM Carroll

'A stunning and compelling debut, driven by a cast of engaging characters that came to life on the page. The Torrent is a gripping police procedural with heart that kept me reading into the night!' Rae Cairns

©2022 Dinuka McKenzie (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good storyline Narration annoying at times

interesting plot. Would have preferred a more mature, practised voice for this book. So many phrasing errors were irritating and distracting. Maybe the writing style was not so great for reading aloud in places...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Super read!

Greatly written story and captivating in so many ways! Looking forward to Dinuka’s next book!

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1 person found this helpful

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Captivating & Nuanced

One of the things I liked best about this novel is McKenzie’s detailed & nuanced writing of the internal dialog of protagonist Kate, particularly regarding her police work & the subtle (& not so subtle) racism & sexism she faces everyday. Also reflected in her thoughts about parenting, relationships & interviewing people as part of her police work.

I really enjoyed the plot & found the mystery compelling &, considering the flooding in NSW & Queensland right now, unnervingly timely.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, definitely worth a listen

I enjoyed this and would have liked to give it a five star review but I found the start and middle of the story to be just a little slow moving. I understand the author was wanting to build suspense whilst laying down the background to the plot but somehow it just dragged a little. Don't let my criticism put you off because the ending was good and all loose threads neatly tied up. I will be watching for the next work by this author and look forward to it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

Well crafted story. Full of twists and turns. I eagerly anticipate more from Dinuka McKenzie.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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More twist and turns then Pikes Peak

A brilliant read. Absolutely well done. Once I started , I had to finish it.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Ho hum

Had me hanging on and thinking there was going to be a huge revelation only to leave me disappointed Promised so much but didn’t deliver.

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  • Overall
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What a brilliant story

We listened to The Torrent on a recent road trip in Australia. Suffice to say, we couldn't stop listening and even bypassed some potential stops because we'd rather drive and listen than pull over! Dinuka McKenzie has a gift for writing and her work goes way beyond that of a debut novelist. Each character was so real and tangible, the storyline complex and satisfying, and the case not resolved 'til almost the last page. We can't wait to listen to any future works that McKenzie writes. She has a special talent as an Australian writer.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great debut novel!!!

Well crafted and thought out
Look forward to the next one from this upcoming author!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good Australian Mystery

I love a good local crime procedural
Northern NSW flooding is close to home, this is a good police procedural to follow with so many twists. Excellent narration.

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