The Torrent Paperback – February 2, 2022

Review:I really loved that this was a then and now story it isnt my usual Point of view but it worked for this story due to the mystery and intrigue within the plot.Two stories living within the same time line with an ambitious detective that is willing to risk it all I found it very empowering.Pregnancy gives us women superpowers.Well rounded, not my usual read but highly recommend and the cover art is awesome.Blurb:What deadly secrets have been swept away by the flood?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 tense and atmospheric Australian crime at its best. Perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer.

I was hooked from the first page: possibly because I've lived through a few northern NSW floods but more likely because of the calibre of the writing, and then, reading on, to see Yamba mentioned (where I spent formative years) - and I kept reading, quite late into the night/early morning.I was pleasantly surprised to see the lead character, DI Kate Miles was happily married, with a toddler and a baby about to arrive and good at her job. A few of the other officers did the 'flawed' character thing, and for me, that worked well.The several threads that developed quickly gradually came together, all strengthened by the great characters - good and bad. A great read, and I look forward to the next Kate Miles outing.

I’m so glad I took a chance and bought this book! I love the characters and the setting and hope this is the first in a long series. Thank you Dinuka for great entertainment.

Tl;Dr: I loved this mystery!Detective Kate Miles is days away from starting her maternity leave (and none too soon, she's super pregnant) when she lands one final case to close. She's also quietly asked to review an accidental death case that occurred during some flooding a few months earlier. As Kate begins to investigate, she discovers that there may be more to the accident than was first suspected.There was so much to enjoy about this one--first off, Kate was a really likeable character. Smart and thoughtful, navigating workplace politics and dynamics as a woman of color in a masculine field. I also really appreciated that while this was a mystery, there was time for character building and bits of humor. I'm still laughing at Kate's father talking her police partner into washing chicken poop off his deck.The main mystery is told in the present, but sprinkled throughout the book are THEN chapters that build up to the accident on the day of the flood. I really liked getting the flashbacks and slowly piecing together the truth. All in all it was a well-crafted mystery with some nice surprises. I think there will be more mysteries to solve with Kate Miles and I'm definitely looking forward to reading them!

This was a fast-paced, quick read that offered several twists and left me feeling uncertain right up until the last minute. Even in the end, I wasn’t totally sure we knew all the answers, and considering that’s how life is sometimes, I was okay with it.This was one of those super messy thrillers with false leads and surprise turns that made for a super interesting and fast read. I read it in a single day and enjoyed every second. As a queer neurodivergent mom of an autistic daughter, I was incredibly excited to see the multiple levels of representation in this book!I really like the characters in this book – both main and supporting. The main detectives Miles and Josh were a great pair. The book, and the pairing, reminded me a lot of another book I read recently with a pregnant detective super close to popping and solving a cold case that happens to line up with a current case. That is where the similarities end, though. But it was so intersting to see two such books so close together. I really enjoy the powerful career woman, having families and getting work done. But both books also showed how it affects their family and relationships. And I appreciate that. Because the reality is that perpetuating this myth of superwomen is harmful to us! It gets messy y’all! Thanks for acknowledging it!Even as short and quick as the book is it is well developed, the character arcs are solid, and the descriptions are wonderful. This is a wonderful first book in a series, and definitely makes me want to read more. The first book in a series always needs to set up strong main characters that make me want to follow them, and this has done that. I want to see these detectives solve more cases, and I want to know more about this Australian town they’re living in – as well as continue learning how it is similar and different from my own. That’s one thing I love about reading about foreign places.I very much appreciated the author’s ability to write morally questionable characters, leaving us questioning their motives. In the end, reasons for many of their actions are unclear – and there is a level of discomfort around judging their “bad” behavior. Some actions might be the same as those we would take in the same situation. I really enjoyed reading this and will definitely check out the next book in the series.Who’s It ForIf you enjoy morally questionable characters, atmospheric mysteries, and twisty, fast-paced thrillers, you will love this book. The main character is heavily pregnant the entire time though, so if that is something that is triggering for you, you may need to skip this one.Content Warnings: Drowning death, flooding, murder, pregnancy, pregnancy complications, violence, adult situations, adult language, hospital, missing child, and more

Y'all this book was amazing!! I can't get over that this was the author's debut novel for me it didn't seem like it was with how well written the story was and wow was this a great read!!! I seriously couldn't put this down. Kate is amazing as a main character I loved rooting for her. I loved everything about this book!!!

Decent read, good story and will read more or her stuff

I’ve only recently started reading Australian crime/detective stories, and been pleasantly surprised by how good they are. This story has an interesting plot. Though it could have moved faster. The protagonist is solid and interesting, some of the supporting characters could be a little more ‘fleshed out’. This is a book certainly worth reading.

A well paced read with plenty of sub plots to keep the reader guessing about the motives of the characters. Astoundingly good read from a debut novel. Highly recommended.

The adventures of. Quite a good read. Stretched emancipation and what a female in stages of advanced pregnancy, ot popping should be.

(3.5 stars)"It didn’t matter that it had been raining for weeks or that the entire Northern Rivers region of the state was the subject of rising creeks and flood warnings. People still took no heed, risking their lives in floodwaters for all sorts of inadequate reasons, like being in a hurry." While not quite a page-turner, The Torrent is a fast and enjoyable read that explores the crime opportunities presented by large-scale flooding. It's set in Esserton, a fictitious town in Bundjalung Country, the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, an area beset with numerous flooding events.Author Dinuka McKenzie weaves in the racism prevalent in Australia through her lead character, Detective Kate Miles, referring to her as a "diversity hire" and explaining: "It wasn’t the first time her mixed heritage, that distinctive shading she had inherited from her South Asian mother, had been used by Skinner for optics and internal politics." The book also has a rural focus: "At its heart, Esserton remained an overgrown regional town" and is sensitive to the small-minded differences you can find in such locations, like everyone being in your business.The crimes in the book felt plausible, and the people's actions were reasonable and proportionate, including "the overwhelming desire to protect a child – your flesh and blood – from the dangers of the world". While not earth-shattering, The Torrent bubbled along well enough for me to pick up the next book in this series.