Description
For fans of Jack Reacher, Tanya Scott's debut thriller introduces readers to Luke Harris, a man trying to move beyond his criminal past but finds himself forced back into his old life and a deadly battle to survive.
When Jack Quinlan's mother dies of a drug overdose, it's not his father that raises him, but Gus--a ruthless crime boss who sees Jack for what he is: a whip-smart kid with untapped potential. It doesn't take long for Gus to forge Jack into a weapon.
But Jack was also self-aware enough to know where this sort of life was going to lead him. When the time was right, he got out. Or so he thought.
Seven years later, Jack is now Luke Harris, a regular guy putting himself through college and aiming for a real job and a real future. Falling in love. But Jack's past isn't so easily forgotten, and the bodies in his closet won't forgive him.
When Luke's newfound life collides with Gus's underworld, survival becomes a deadly game. Luke must resurrect his dormant skills and confront the demons that threaten to consume him.
Product Details
| Publisher | Atlantic Monthly Press |
| Publish Date | August 12, 2025 |
| Pages | 288 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9780802164605 |
| Dimensions | 8.8 X 6.2 X 1.4 inches | 1.2 pounds |
About the Author
Tanya Scott is a writer, doctor and medical educator based on the Victorian Surf Coast. She has been writing for many years, including using narrative therapy as a tool to make sense of the world, both personally and with her patients. Many of the ideas for Stillwater stem from her work helping patients with childhood trauma - acknowledging that in reality, recovery is a long and incomplete path.
Reviews
Praise for Stillwater:
"Intense . . . Luke is an immensely appealing protagonist whose intelligence and hard-won code of honor keep readers grounded in Scott's assured, page-turning debut. Recommended for those who love Jack Reacher and King Oliver."--Jane Jorgenson, Library Journal (starred review)
"Readers will get caught up with this tough but scrupulously ethical antihero as he plots his escape from the criminal world and dispenses some satisfying justice along the way. Recommend this Australia-based debut thriller to fans of gritty, action-filled suspense stories like Lee Child's Jack Reacher series."--Jane Harper, Booklist
"Impressive . . . Scott makes the life-or-death stakes of Jack's dilemma palpable, and the novel's terse prose and three-dimensional characters add depth. This gritty coming-of-age tale grabs readers' attention and doesn't let go."--Publishers Weekly
"Scott invites us deep into the tangles of a coming-of-age story that's fraught with complicated loyalties, love, and desperation. A great read for those who enjoyed T. Jefferson Parker's A Thousand Steps."--Henrietta Thornton, firstCLUE
"Original, deftly crafted, riveting . . . a masterpiece of gripping suspense from first page to last . . . An unreservedly recommended pick."--James Cox, Midwest Book Review
"What an excellent Aussie debut novel this is! Dark and gritty, Stillwater is a gripping tale of greed, trauma, and survival . . . Stillwater would make a terrific TV drama, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a gritty, character-driven thriller."--Carolyn Scott, Mystery & Suspense
"This character-driven first novel has a lot going for it and is my vote for the best first mystery/thriller of 2025. Jack/Luke is a strong character for whom the reader develops great sympathy . . . We are experiencing a Golden Age of Australian crime writing . . . A great big recommendation. Rating: A."--George Easter, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
"There have been some outstanding Australian crime fiction debuts in recent years, and Tanya Scott's Stillwater is up there with the best of them. Nicely eschewing the current fashion for Australian rural murder mysteries, it is a tough, gritty story with a strong urban feel . . . Skillfully utilising a dual timeline, Stillwater moves along at a good pace with a real depth to its storytelling."--Jeff Popple, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
--Ted Hertel, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
"Stillwater is quite a remarkable debut. The characters are so well depicted. They are the strength of the story . . . It is a high testosterone book and the fact that Tanya Scott could pull it off so well proves she is a very talented author and this book is highly recommended. (This is a rare, total agreement with George). Rating: A"--Larry Gandle, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
"Tanya Scott's impressive debut is a splendid piece of work, bursting at the seams with terrific action set pieces, memorable characters, and most importantly, intriguing ideas and notions . . . Stillwater feels like a thesis on the ancient 'nature vs. nurture' argument, flavored by a discourse on self-healing . . . Proof that thrillers are not only about subterfuge and mayhem (although that exists here in spades), Stillwater is a truly memorable read. Rating: A"--Hank Wagner, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine
"Tanya Scott explodes onto the crime scene with this rip-roaring debut that I read in a single sitting. Stillwater is an instant classic of the genre."--Hayley Scrivenor, author of Girl, Falling
"Packed with tension, twists, and heart, Stillwater is a thrilling read in every sense of the word. Tanya Scott expertly balances a page-turning, explosive plot with an intimate exploration of trauma and healing, while showing us just how fine the line between saint and sinner can be. What a remarkable debut!"--Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Leave the Girls Behind
'Strap in for a high-octane ride through the seedy underbelly of Aussie crime led by a character with a huge heart. Stillwater is packed full of action and empathy. It's hard to read at anything less than a cracking pace."--Sarah Bailey, author of Body of Lies
"A propulsive, gritty thriller with compelling characters and edge of your seat action from a stunning new voice in Australian crime."--Mark Smith, author of Three Boys Gone
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