Title: The Strip
Author: Iain Ryan
Series: N/A
Dates Read: 15 – 18/09/2024
Published Date: 13 December 2023
Genre: Crime
Pages: 329
Pace: Slow
Content Warnings (May contain spoilers)
Addiction, Alcohol/Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Stalking, Violence.
Who is this for? Young Adults, Adults.
This book covers:
- A deep dive into the corrupted policeforce of Queensland in the 1980s.
- Police trying to do the right thing being pulled into the politics.
- Trying to solve 7 murders that may or may not be by the same person.
Format/Disclosure: Library, paperback.
Rating: 4.25⭐
Review:
The Strip follows the point of view of 2 police in Australia, 1980s, while interspered with journal entries of discredited former lead investigator of the case Emmett Hades, currently on leave due to a mental breakdown. Lana Cohen, normally based in NSW, and Henry Loch, a local Queensland cop. Both are trying to prove themselves, while just trying to keep their jobs, amidst a culture of corruption and murders failing to be solved. The belief is that the 7 murders are linked, although the latter murders don’t follow the same pattern, and Henry has his doubts.
The author describes this book as noir, and this was my first time reading a book of this style, so it took a bit to adjust to. The entire book is very slow, so if you’re typically the type to read a more fast-paced book, this one won’t be for you. There’s no real thrills or suspense, just slowly uncovering various truths – the history of the cases/Emmett, the corruption of the policeforce, and the truth of the murders.
Due to the style of this book, I can’t see myself rushing to pick up any books of a similar style. I enjoyed this particular book, but I’d say that’s mostly because it was based in Australia and it was nice to read familiar slang/terms used here. I’ll be the first to admit that I have to be in the right mood for a slow-burn thriller, and it’s not too often that happens (So far, the only ones I’ve truly enjoyed have both been based in Australia, which I’m not sure what to think of).
My main criticism of the book would be that the characters aren’t fleshed out much – We barely see who they actually are, what they enjoy, if they have family or partners, what they do in their spare time. & when we see Henry & Lana from the others point of view, it feels quite different than how they view themselves (Or each other – they have a lot of assumptions about how the other person feels, but going back to that persons POV and they don’t feel that way, at all). Although I don’t think it would’ve added to the story dramatically to have more backstory, it did feel very surface level to not find out much about them.