Book Review: Gone to Ground by Bronwyn Hall

Gone to Ground

by

Bronwyn Hall 

Hunted. Alone. Afraid....

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

 

Imprint: HQ FictionAU

 

Publication date: 3rd August 2022

 

Genre: Thriller / Suspense

 

Pages: 288  

 

RRP: $29.99AUD 

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review of Gone to Ground

 

Set amidst the political unrest of The Democratic Republic of Congo Gone to Ground is an adrenaline fuelled race through the jungle.

 

Australian doctor Rachel Forester has been sent to a remote jungle post on the whim of a scorned ex-boyfriend. As a dedicated surgeon she is happy to be saving lives. When the post is evacuated she puts her patients' lives ahead of hers and stays behind to evacuate on foot with three UN soldiers.

 

Bronwyn Hall brings the jungle to life; the heat, insects, spiders and snakes all had me holding my breath. Throw in some close encounters with rebel militias and there was always this ominous 'what will happen next' feeling keeping me glued to the book.

 

Rachel was tough but believable as a civilian trekking through the jungle and I loved the addition of the romance element, it was a nice aside to the danger.

With themes of forced child labour, violence towards women, rebel militia activity and political unrest the narrative has a foreboding sense of unease that simmers throughout the novel. 

 

The story moves along at a steady pace with the plot keeping me totally intrigued and turning the pages. Gone to Ground is a book I truly didn't want to put down.

 

Bravo, Bronwyn Hall, on this remarkable debut!

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  

About the author

 

Photo credit: Harper Collins

Bronwyn Hall didn't intend on being a writer. Her career has been spent working in health and community services, spanning aged care, disability and mental health. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature (and Psychology - for the day job) and she comes from a family of passionate readers. Born and bred in Australia, Bronwyn has a love for new cultures and environments, having lived for several years in both Papua New Guinea and Brazil. She is deeply intrigued by the extraordinary breadth of qualities that make up the complex creatures called humans - not least, their quiet conquering of adversity. Bronwyn lives and writes on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne, Australia.