The Shark Net: Memories and Murder Audiobook (Unabridged)

" I read this book while living in Perth for just over a year. I loved how it captured the essence of the place, even though it was set many decades in the past. All of the place names were very familiar to me, and much of the story takes place right in the neighborhood that we lived in. Having said that, I do not think this book would have resonated as strongly with me had I not had this personal connection to the setting. The story itself held my interest well enough, but the narrative wasn't really gripping, and the prose was more like reporting. "

" Really captures the isolated, hot, insular world of Perth. I grew up in Perth during the Claremone serial killer days, which cast a huge shadow of creepiness over the whole city, so really interesting to see a similar story of the 1950s. Amazing how little Perth had changed... "

" This is one of the most boring books I have ever read. He has more of a journalistic style that doesn't transfer to novels very well. "

" I saw Robert Drewe speak at a literature conference of a number of authors back in school, and it spurred me on to read this book. Captivating and wonderful-should be considered an Aussie classic. "

" Incredibly evocative. This book had a fantastic atmosphere and I could almost taste the Perth sand even though I've never been. "

" I found this a bit hard to read, mainly because of its 'rough' pacing and whiteout bleakness, which both surprised me some when i found the writer spent time as a journalist. But i gave it my usual 50-60 pages and a little more and by then it seemed to smooth out. There is a hovering menace and an underlying threat throughout the story and at 350 some pages long it's enough to keep you close, but sadly considerably detached. I have a feeling i may revisit this one sometime in the distant future. "

" Utterley painful to read. The novel is nowhere near as interesting as the blurb. "

" Unashamedly parochial fondness for this Perth suburban story "

" The humour in this book was quite odd, but this is precisely why I liked it. That being said, it was not a book I would rush to read again. "

" An autobiographical work, this still reads like fiction, though it's plainly not. Drewe's look back at a murder he was associated with (in the way of small towns) evokes a strong sense of place, and of outsiders. "

" A cleverly constructed portrait of the human psyche. Captivating. "

" A thoroughly engaging read; a crime novel that isn't actually about the crime. While the writing wasn't spectacular, it hooked you in and the fact that it was a true story, almost a memoir, made it even more fascinating. I enjoyed it. "

" This is an interesting and engaging memoir. Considering its dark material that runs throughout, this book made me consistently laugh, with Drewe's humorous anecdotes about growing up. He is a witty man. My only criticism is it seemed to be a bit dragged out. But other than that, a top read!! "

" i had to read this book for english, this is the worst book i have ever been forced to read, espcially the chapters devoted to dunlop!!! WTF!! Terribee book, my entire year level hated this book and complained about it that much, they removed the book from the next years curriculum. "

" good book, but the blurb set had the murder being the focus of the book. this led to it being a bit if a leftdown as I was expecting a thriller/crime drama but it was.more a journey into the writers past. "

" Enjoyed this book - read it in 4 days! This book is what made me go on to read about the crimes that feature in it. "

" My dear friend Kerry gave this book to me and it gave me a great sense of what Perth was like when she was growing up. I could actually feel the heat as I read! It ends up being a bit spooky! I really enjoyed the read. "

" Loved this book! Wonderful descriptions of my home town which took me back to my own childhood. Juxtaposing this innocent life against the dark story of a serial killer makes it a great read. "

" Was recommended to me as the RD book to read. Semi-autobiographical story about growing up in Perth in the 60s. Great read. "

" Gripping true murder tale set in Perth. "

" Enjoyable in passages but I often found it quite difficult to follow. The events on the blurb didn't really happen until right at the end, and the title had only a tenuous link to the story. Sidelines perhaps, but made it difficult for me! "

" loved it because it was local - our Feb book club choice "

" awesomeness. now i really want to move to WA. "

" I thought Robert did a great job of telling his/the story from an insiders point of view, that is a Perth local, yet still keeping his distance and looking at it from the outside. I liked his portrayal of being a Dunlop family and keeping the 'faith'. "

" Great slice of West Australian history. "

" I read this while I was spending a month in Western Australia; Very good, and a real page-turner. I haven't read anything else by Drewe but was turned onto this by Bill Bryson, who said it captured the frozen in time nature of W.Au. "

" Captures the essence of Perth so well that it would have to make the most jaded of Perth leavers feeling uncomfortably homesick "

" Enjoyable in passages but I often found it quite difficult to follow. The events on the blurb didn't really happen until right at the end, and the title had only a tenuous link to the story. Sidelines perhaps, but made it difficult for me! "

" Really captures the isolated, hot, insular world of Perth. I grew up in Perth during the Claremone serial killer days, which cast a huge shadow of creepiness over the whole city, so really interesting to see a similar story of the 1950s. Amazing how little Perth had changed... "

" i had to read this book for english, this is the worst book i have ever been forced to read, espcially the chapters devoted to dunlop!!! WTF!! Terribee book, my entire year level hated this book and complained about it that much, they removed the book from the next years curriculum. "

" Loved this book! Wonderful descriptions of my home town which took me back to my own childhood. Juxtaposing this innocent life against the dark story of a serial killer makes it a great read. "

" Utterley painful to read. The novel is nowhere near as interesting as the blurb. "

" A thoroughly engaging read; a crime novel that isn't actually about the crime. While the writing wasn't spectacular, it hooked you in and the fact that it was a true story, almost a memoir, made it even more fascinating. I enjoyed it. "

" I saw Robert Drewe speak at a literature conference of a number of authors back in school, and it spurred me on to read this book. Captivating and wonderful-should be considered an Aussie classic. "

" awesomeness. now i really want to move to WA. "

" Great slice of West Australian history. "

" loved it because it was local - our Feb book club choice "

" a bit self-indulgent. Either tell their story or yours. I thought the father was very interesting, though so I did enjoy that part of it. A bit disappointed overall though. "

" This is one of the most boring books I have ever read. He has more of a journalistic style that doesn't transfer to novels very well. "

" Watch the ABC mini-series...its better than the book! "

" An autobiographical work, this still reads like fiction, though it's plainly not. Drewe's look back at a murder he was associated with (in the way of small towns) evokes a strong sense of place, and of outsiders. "

" My dear friend Kerry gave this book to me and it gave me a great sense of what Perth was like when she was growing up. I could actually feel the heat as I read! It ends up being a bit spooky! I really enjoyed the read. "

" Really good book. It was especially interesting knowing some of the locations. The characters are interesting and likeable. "

" Incredibly evocative. This book had a fantastic atmosphere and I could almost taste the Perth sand even though I've never been. "

" I read this while I was spending a month in Western Australia; Very good, and a real page-turner. I haven't read anything else by Drewe but was turned onto this by Bill Bryson, who said it captured the frozen in time nature of W.Au. "