Dirt Town

Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger 2023

'A heart-wrenching mystery' – Jane Harper, author of The Dry

Twelve year-old Esther Bianchi disappears on her way home from school in the small town of Durton – and the truth will not come easily. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric crime novel set in rural Australia.

Dirt town. Dirt and hurt – that’s what others would remember about our town . . .

The Detective

As the community is thrown into a state of grief and suspicion, Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels begins her investigation into the disappearance of Esther Bianchi. She questions those who knew the girl, attempting to unpick the secrets which bind them together.

The Mother

The girl’s mother believes that her daughter going missing is the worst thing that can happen to her. But as the search for Esther develops, she learns that things can always get worse.

The Friends

Ronnie is Esther’s best friend and is determined to bring her home. So when her classmate Lewis tells her that he saw Esther with a strange man at the creek the afternoon she went missing, Ronnie feels she is one step closer to finding her. But why is Lewis refusing to speak to the police?

And who else is keeping quiet about what happened to Esther?

'I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' - Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End

'A stunning debut' - Ann Cleeves

A heart-wrenching mystery, Hayley Scrivenor’s remarkable sense of place brings Dirt Town to life. A stellar debut -- Jane Harper, bestselling author of The Dry
A stunning debut. Achingly atmospheric, thrilling and heartfelt, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough -- Chris Whitaker, internationally bestselling author of We Begin at the End
Beautifully written, compassionate, with an entirely credible but heart-breaking ending. A stunning debut -- Ann Cleeves, The Sunday Times bestselling author
Dirt Town deserves its praise. It is an intelligent novel, one that grapples with complex social and political dynamics, and brings a fresh voice to familiar narratives Guardian
[A] deeply impressive first novel . . . It is a powerful story, shot through with moments of horror and tenderness, and another devastating indictment of the outback mentality The Times
Best crime debut in ages, Hayley Scrivenor is a major new talent. Page-turning, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching stuff. I can’t remember when I enjoyed a book so much -- Erin Kelly, The Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She Said
Masterful. Australian crime has a new star. The characters of Dirt Town are rich, raw and beautifully realized. One of the crime books of the year. Intelligent, nuanced and compassionate -- Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands
A chilling and darkly atmospheric novel. I literally couldn’t put it down. -- Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
Raw and intimate, Hayley Scrivenor unpacks small town life and its tragedies with heart and prowess -- Anna Bailey
Highly doubt I will read a better debut in 2022. Evocative, immersive, heart-breaking and ultimately hopeful. In a word, brilliant -- Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile
A gripping mystery told in authentic and innovative fashion, Dirt Town will keep you engrossed. Hayley Scrivenor is an exciting new voice and an author to watch -- Adam Hamdy, The Sunday Times bestselling author

Dirt Town is a remarkable debut, Hayley Scrivenor is masterful in her deft handling of the tensions underpinning a small, regional town, and the complex characters that populate it. You will not be able to put it down

-- Hannah Kent
I loved it. Brilliantly written, evocative and touching -- Charlotte Levin
Broadchurch but in a scorched, dying town in rural Australia. Immersive, sweeping and superb -- Catherine Ryan Howard
[An] exceptional slice of outback noir i online

Hayley Scrivenor is a former Director of Wollongong Writers Festival. Originally from a small country town, Hayley now lives and writes on Dharawal country and has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales. Dirt Town is her first novel. An earlier version of the book was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize and won the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award.

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