I don't read many thrillers, but I was choosing between three books and this one pulled me in from the first chapter. It's fast paced and I loved the setting: the heat and dryness of rural Australia. The characters were very real for me too. Falk has returned home for his old friend, Luke's funeral when he becomes involved in the investigation into whether Luke shot dead his family and then turned the gun on himself or whether someone else was involved. Just before Falk left the town as a teenager one of his and Luke's friends apparently drowned herself in the local river, but Falk has always been suspected of being involved.
I really enjoyed The Dry until the very end, and perhaps this is just why I need to remind myself not to pick up another thriller for a while, because it was all so neat. Far too neat for me.

Spoiler

Even down to Falk finding a rucksack belonging to the dead girl in a cavity in a tree after 20 years, and then inside it, her diary. For me, this wasn't necessary. <\spoiler> Some open ends would have made it a four star. But if you're a thriller reader, I'd recommend it.