Stillwater by Tanya Scott

Tanya Scott’s debut crime thriller, Stillwater, introduces us to Luke, a man desperate to escape his violent past. 

After years away, Luke returns to Melbourne, intent on building a simple, honest life with a steady job, a place of his own and a dog. He’s a survivor who knows how to blend in and how to cleverly avoid questions about his past. But his peace is shattered when he crosses paths with Gus, the brutal criminal he once worked for as a teenager. Forced back into the criminal world he hoped to leave behind, the stakes are raised when Luke’s father vanishes, along with a significant stash of Gus’s money. With danger closing in from all sides, including suspicions about his new girlfriend’s father, Luke must rely on his street smarts to survive. 

From the opening pages, the tension builds between Luke’s desire for normalcy and the threats of his past. What sets this thriller apart is its balance of grit and emotion. Tanya expertly explores themes of redemption and loyalty, allowing Luke to emerge as a complex character. Tough, but vulnerable, Luke is ultimately driven by the desire to do right by those he loves.

“I’ve always been interested in the complexity of human motivation – what makes us do the things we do? It’s much more complicated than we usually think. I liked the idea of exploring the moral ambiguity of a reluctant criminal. Luke is influenced by mentors from opposite ends of the moral spectrum. He’s needed to develop his own sense of right and wrong, which is why he has a tendency to overthink the ethical implications of his actions,” says Tanya.

As a doctor working in mental health care, Tanya brings authenticity to her portrayal of trauma and healing. She says the idea for Stillwater began with a story a patient told her. 

“After I was finished being gobsmacked and ghoulishly fascinated, it got me thinking: you never know what people are hiding. We all have a past. We’ve all made mistakes, and we all have secrets, regrets, healed and unhealed wounds; we guard the parts of ourselves that feel shameful or vulnerable to show an ‘acceptable’ face to the world.”

“I wanted to show that there is hope and a chance for healing after these experiences. I’ve always been fascinated by people who’ve faced remarkable challenges in their lives and come through, not necessarily unscathed, but stronger. I’ve asked patients what helped them most to start recovering, rather than being ‘stuck’, and the common theme was that it’s often small things that make a difference. One person to listen without judgement, a particular book or movie that resonates, a pet, a garden, a creative outlet – these connections and anchors help people find meaning and purpose to life,” she says.

If you enjoy gritty, character-driven, fast-paced crime fiction, Stillwater should be on your TBR list! Tanya Scott is a writer, doctor and medical educator, based in Australia.

Follow Tanya Scott online.

Reviewer: Andrea Molloy

Allen & Unwin