The Reunion

by Bronwyn Rivers

Genres: Crime Fiction; Suspense

Synopsis

'Full of atmosphere and shocks' THE TIMES

'One of the best Aussie thriller debuts since Chris Hammer's Scrublands' PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH

'The pace spirals and the twists multiply' S. R. WHITE , author of international bestseller Hermit

------------

Ten years ago, six teenagers hiked into the Blue Mountains wilderness - and only five came out alive.

The survivors have barely seen each other since the tragic bushwalk. Yet when an invitation arrives to attend a 10-year memorial of their friend's death, Hugh, Charlotte, Alex, Laura and Jack find themselves travelling back into the rugged landscape where it all began.

The weekend at an isolated homestead in the bush - no phone signal, no distractions - should be a chance to reflect and reconnect.

But each of the friends has been carrying secrets from the fateful hike. And someone will stop at nothing to get the truth.

The Dry meets The Hunting Party in this gripping thriller set in the isolated Australian bush, where five friends will wish they never returned . . .

------------

'An unputdownable debut that kept me guessing until the final page' EMMA STYLES

'A real page-turner that keeps you engrossed from the beginning to the final surprising twist' CANBERRA WEEKLY

'A gripping, twisty read . . . I raced through it in one sitting!' LIZA NORTH

'Tense and twisty' HUNTER VALLEY NEWS

Release date: February 13, 2026

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Print pages: 333

Sample

They were just having a weekend away to catch up with some old friends – at least that’s what they had each told colleagues and families. None of the five former schoolmates had admitted their reluctance as they discussed the trip. But they all eagerly agreed to meet at the old cafe before making the last leg of the journey down into the valley, and it wasn’t for the view, spectacular though that was. No one put it into words, but they wanted to check each other out, take their last chance to prepare, before arriving at the Fletcher house.

Their everyday tension had clung to them as they stuffed last-minute items into bags and checked with neighbours about cats and keys. Then they reached the motorway, their cars sped up and they leaned back a little in their seats. The wide road curved out into the countryside, freeing itself from the tendrils of the city, and their moods lifted a little with a sense of escape, despite themselves. Perhaps the weekend would be okay. Perhaps they were worrying about nothing.

Each car in turn left the main road, then took another turn-off and another. They passed through towns, then villages, then hamlets. The cars grew dustier, and the potholes became deeper. Clusters of gum trees in paddocks started to reach over the narrow road and became a forest that grew thicker and thicker and pressed in against the bitumen in hypnotic patterns of green, until the fields disappeared and all they could see was a tunnel of leaves.

And the whiff of escape evaporated, as images of the weekend ahead formed and reformed in their minds.

‘I remember now,’ said Hugh, who was travelling with his wife, Charlotte. ‘This forest goes on for ever. The road always felt like it was never going to end.’

Charlotte glanced at the clock. ‘And then, all of a sudden, it would appear.’

They rounded a corner and indeed, there it was. A small weatherboard cafe with faded green paint, set back a little from the road, surrounded by an orchard.

The car crunched to a halt on the gravel forecourt. Hugh got out immediately and stretched his cramped muscles, then rested his fists on his hips. The place seemed deserted, but between the lace curtains a sign in one of the windows was turned to ‘open’. Someone should be able to get them a coffee at least.

He watched as Charlotte lifted herself carefully from the car. She flicked her hair over her shoulder, smoothed her shirt over a curving hip and glanced around.

‘I wonder when the others will arrive,’ she said.

‘You think I’m clairvoyant?’ The words just slipped out of his mouth.

Charlotte pressed her lips together and looked away.

That familiar stab of guilt. He sighed. Enough. He charged inside the cafe to grab a menu, clattering the plastic strips of the fly screen.

It was annoying that he even had to be here. Charlotte had eventually convinced him that they did have to accept the invitation but, really, they could all have met up in the city. It would have been more convenient for most of them – and he could have made it to the footy on Sunday morning and then to the pub with his mates.

And there would have been less danger of the past escaping from where it had been safely stowed.

When he re-emerged from the cafe, Charlotte had chosen a table in the orchard at the side and another car was pulling up. The driver got out and waved, and Hugh immediately recognised Alex, with his pale skin and floppy hair. From the passenger side of the car, a larger man with dark hair clambered out more slowly.

‘Oh my god,’ said Charlotte under her breath. ‘Is that . . . Jack?’

Hugh whistled quietly. ‘He’s really stacked on the kilos.’

As the two men approached, Hugh stood to greet them. Charlotte smiled and smoothed her hair.

Alex looked at Charlotte’s rounded stomach. ‘How is it going? You feeling well?’

Hugh heard Charlotte murmur her usual response. The idea of having a kid was great, and of course Hugh was proud. It was maybe a bit scary too, but he was sure there would be nothing he couldn’t handle. He’d be fine. They’d be fine.

They took their seats under trees that glowed in the late-afternoon sun. It was a hot day and they were glad of the shade.

Alex looked around the orchard. ‘This is a nice place.’

The others nodded. The silence was filled with the hum of insects.

At the sound of another car arriving, Hugh looked towards the car park. A lean woman with fair hair emerged from the hatchback. She held one arm a little stiffly. She raised a hand when she saw them and picked her way across the grass.

‘Laura.’ Hugh stood to kiss her.

She hadn’t changed too much. Perhaps she was a bit thinner than she used to be.

Alex murmured his hello. Hugh noticed that Jack knocked against the table slightly as he also rose to greet her.

After Laura had ordered inside the cafe, she took her seat and looked around at the group. ‘God, when was the last time we all saw each other? Feels like for ever.’

‘You all came to the wedding.’ Charlotte was speaking carefully. ‘Surely you haven’t forgotten already?’

‘Of course not,’ said Alex quickly. ‘It was beautiful.’

Hugh suppressed an urge to roll his eyes. Did Alex never get sick of saying the right thing all the time?

But Charlotte looked pleased by Alex’s comment. ‘I wanted it to be special. We wanted it to be special.’ She turned to Hugh.

‘Yep.’ Hugh gave a quick nod, then looked away. That damn wedding. It had been so much trouble.

‘Hel-lo-ha!’ cried a grey-haired man, who approached with a tray and clanked it down on their table. He handed out their drinks then stood back and put his hands behind his back, stretching a little.

‘So, you folks going on to Nanganook then?’

After a moment Alex said, ‘Lost Valley.’

‘Oh.’ The man paused. ‘The Fletcher place, eh? Sad business, with Robert.’

‘You know the Fletchers?’ asked Alex.

‘Everyone around here knows everyone else. But the Fletchers always kept to themselves – even before Robert passed away.’ The man stepped a little closer. ‘Word is, things are going downhill a bit, on the farm, with Martha Fletcher there by herself.’

Hugh looked at the waiter. ‘Thanks. I think that’s all.’

‘Righty-oh.’ The man gave a nod. ‘Well, sing out if you need anything.’

They all watched him walk back to the cafe.

When he had disappeared, Jack cleared his throat. ‘That doesn’t sound great.’ He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked around at everyone. His voice was slow; slower than Hugh remembered. As though talking was an effort. ‘Honestly, I was wondering if we would all show up for this trip.’

Hugh couldn’t help stiffening. He stole a glance at the others.

‘I mean, was anyone else a little surprised to be invited out here, to the house, for the weekend?’ Jack went on. ‘No one would ever say we’re Martha’s favourite people.’ Jack looked from face to face.

Hugh followed Jack’s gaze. He saw Laura examining the surrounding bush.

‘Martha was the one who suggested the five-year memorial,’ said Charlotte.

‘Yeah, but that was just a few hours. In the city. Neutral ground,’ said Jack. ‘And I thought she seemed pretty tense then.’

Hugh thought back to the previous meeting, five years ago. Jack was right; it had hardly been a relaxing afternoon. They had gathered at a cafe near Sydney harbour. The conversation had been hard work. At the end, Martha had stood and made some speech about how much Ed had appreciated all of them as friends. What she said was nice enough but the whole occasion had felt pretty stressful.

Charlotte said, ‘It’s hard to say no to Martha. After . . . what happened, with Ed. And now there’s Robert’s death.’

Hugh remembered Ed’s father Robert from their school days, but he’d been a bit of a distant figure. Charlotte was right. It was hard not to do what the grieving wife and mother asked.

Alex chewed his lip. ‘Perhaps she’s using the anniversary to smooth things over? I mean, it’s been ten years.’

‘What do you all think is going to happen?’ Hugh forced a grin. It was annoying that they had to come, but they were here now, and there was no need to stress about it. ‘It’ll be fine. We’ll get through this commemoration thing for Ed that she has planned for Sunday. Then we can all go back to our lives.’

Hugh looked around the table, took in the nods from the others then leaned back in his chair.

The insects continued to whirr.

Charlotte put on a bright smile. Hugh recognised that smile. She thought she could make everything okay by sheer force of will. ‘Perhaps we can even enjoy having a weekend away together,’ she said. ‘I’m looking forward to catching up with you guys.’

Alex nodded. ‘You’re right. Maybe a picnic. Or a drive to one of the lookouts. Hey, there used to be a great view, just through there, right?’ Alex waved at the bushes. ‘How about we take a look?’

That was exactly the sort of thing Alex would suggest. But they might as well. Clearly no one was in a big hurry to get to the house. Hugh peeled himself from the seat and straggled through the low scrub with the others.

After a short walk they mounted a set of steps. Then the sky opened up around them.

On three sides an ocean of forest stretched out to the far horizon, ridge after ridge of eucalyptus interleaved with sudden gullies. Bird calls pierced the sunny afternoon, and the treetops rustled with gentle shifts of warm air.

The only break in the vista was the valley that opened up on the fourth side. It was surrounded by high cliffs, great gashes of orange stone, and at its base far below lay acres of rolling grassland. On the far side, a two-storey homestead, ringed with verandas, perched like a doll’s house. The Fletcher homestead. The only sign of human habitation in the whole vast landscape.

They all fell silent.

Hugh saw Charlotte turn her head and he followed her glance. Laura was standing a few steps from the others. As they watched, she shivered.

Charlotte said, ‘Laura, what is it?’

Laura turned to them. ‘It’s always the same, no matter where I am. I can’t bear the sight of the bush any more. Every time I can’t help but think, if only we hadn’t gone on our walk.’

Ten years previously

‘It’s going to be a hot one.’ Alex stood on the front veranda of the Fletcher homestead and surveyed the valley. It would be a very warm start for their walk.

‘It’s going to be a great one.’ Alex saw Ed Fletcher shoot past and dash down the stairs, his arms full of nylon and the straps from a backpack trailing behind him. Ed was always zipping about. He plonked the load on the lawn.

Another pile of equipment walked past after Ed. Alex saw Hugh’s red hair poking around it as he made his way down the stairs, then placed his pile next to the others.

It was good that they were planning carefully. Of course, they’d been on hiking trips as a group before at school, with teachers, but Alex had never been walking just with other friends and no adults. He reminded himself, again, that Ed and Hugh were very experienced hikers. It would all be okay.

Alex looked past the veranda of the house and the gleaming paint of the ironwork and took in the valley. Brown grasses stretched out beneath the early-morning sun, cliffs looming over them on all sides. The big tractor trundled across a paddock below the house with two farm hands riding on the back. A couple of blokes were carrying building supplies around to the extension work at the back of the house. In the distance three men wrestled with fencing wire.

Martha Fletcher emerged from the house and stood next to Alex. She looked towards the workers. ‘They’ve been out for hours already. They’ll be wanting morning tea soon.’

Alex tried to think of a response. He nodded towards the far side of the garden. ‘The roses are looking nice, Mrs Fletcher.’

He saw Mrs Fletcher smile briefly and he was pleased with himself for coming up with the compliment straight away.

‘Thank you, Alex. It’s been hard keeping them going lately, what with the drought and all this heat. I reuse the washing water.’ She brushed her hands against the apron that spanned her comfortable figure then pushed a strand of dark hair behind her ears. ‘But I can’t stand around here all day; I better get the muffins out.’

She disappeared back into the house, and Alex wandered towards the others. They were sorting their equipment. Alex had already made sure he had everything required for the trip together; his stuff was all neatly gathered in a pile.

The sun caught Laura’s long fair hair as she sat on the grass nearby. She closed her eyes, pressed her fingertips together and took a deep breath. ‘What a gorgeous day.’

It was good the way Laura tried to appreciate the world around her. He should stop and really notice things like she did.

‘You’re not taking that, are you?’ Hugh stood nearby, his fists resting on his hips. He nodded at the small painting set next to Laura’s backpack. ‘Hardly essential equipment.’

‘It’s the most essential thing. There’ll be so many beautiful views. It’s basically why I’m coming.’

Alex was not surprised when Hugh rolled his eyes.

‘So why are you coming then, Hugh?’ asked Laura. ‘Not to get out into nature?’

‘I like getting away with my mates,’ said Hugh. ‘And the countryside around here can be challenging walking. It’s good to test yourself.’

‘Test yourself! It’s the end of school – we made it through a whole six years; we’re free. Some of us want to have fun and enjoy ourselves,’ said Laura.

‘Don’t worry – I’m bringing some “fun”.’ Hugh patted his own backpack. ‘Of the liquid variety.’

Ed passed Hugh and Laura carrying a box. ‘Catch!’ He threw a couple of chocolate bars at them and grinned. Jack was standing to the side, marking a small piece of paper with a pencil. Ed threw a bar at Jack’s head then looked over Jack’s shoulder. ‘Are you seriously checking your possessions off a list?’ Ed laughed. ‘I suppose that’s the sort of care and effort that made Jack Zhang dux of St Stephen’s College.’

Jack pushed his glasses up his nose and eyed the box of chocolates. ‘And that’s the sort of crowd-pleasing shit that made Edward Fletcher the school captain.’

Alex turned away. They seemed so easy with each other. He had never really had that kind of banter with anyone.

He turned to Charlotte and Laura. Laura reached over to her bag and pulled out a floppy hat with a big cloth flower.

Charlotte’s face softened. ‘That’s such a Laura hat.’ Charlotte pressed her own cap against her head, then flicked her golden hair over her shoulders. She glanced around to see who was watching. ‘What do you think, Ed? Like my new top?’ She smoothed it against the curve of her waist.

‘Our gorgeous Charl – as always.’ He gave her a noisy smooch on the cheek.

‘Oh stop!’ She pushed him away, but she was smiling.

Alex noticed Ed wink at Laura. Then Laura rolled her eyes slightly.

Martha emerged from the house with a tray of muffins. ‘You might as well take some of these. They won’t keep, and they’ll do for your morning tea. And don’t forget those.’ She picked up a cardboard box and began to distribute packets of trail mix between the piles of equipment. ‘Oh bother, there aren’t enough.’ She frowned. ‘That’s Rachelle’s fault. I told that girl to order more of them.’

Ed walked past and slung his arm around her shoulders, his dark curls rubbing against her hair. ‘It’s fine, Mum – we’ll cope.’

Ed took a map from his backpack and unfolded it with a flourish. Alex leaned closer. Hopefully the route wouldn’t be too onerous.

‘We’ll walk in along this trail, follow that ridge.’ Ed’s finger traced a line. ‘Then we can either head this way, and camp at Stockman’s Rest tonight. We can refill our water there. Or we could go to Blackett’s Flat; there’s water there too. Then onto the Nanganook valley the next day.

‘I reckon Stockman’s Rest.’ Ed’s voice was decisive.

‘Wanting to take it easy, are you mate?’ Hugh grinned. ‘I reckon we could make it a bit further.’

‘Well obviously. If it was just you and me, I’d have us running the whole route in one day. Half a day. Make it really interesting. But we’ve got to plan for the group.’

‘I think you’re getting soft.’

‘It’s called being responsible.’

Alex knew Hugh was just trying to wind Ed up, but it was a relief that Ed was holding his ground.

Ed looked up at the sound of a raised voice. ‘Oh crap.’

Martha stood in front of the house, berating a young woman wearing an apron.

Ed sighed. ‘Mum always needs someone to blame. She’ll be having a go at Rachelle about the damn trail mix. I’d better go settle them down.’ He hurried over towards Martha.

Hugh turned to Jack who was still checking his itemised list. ‘Tent – tick. Jacket – tick. Girlfriend – tick!’ Hugh nodded at Laura, who was standing a little way off, chatting to Charlotte.

Jack grinned. ‘Frustrated you don’t have a girlfriend to take?’

‘No, mate – being single is a gift. For I am young and free.’

‘Whatever you say.’

Alex thought Hugh probably was jealous. Alex was slightly jealous himself – not of Laura; he wasn’t interested in her. But the fact that Jack was so settled into a relationship. Alex had never had a girlfriend. It wasn’t that there was someone in particular he was longing for, but the idea of having someone who was interested in you and your life; who was in your corner with you against the world – who wanted to help you. That was very attractive.

Then Ed clapped. ‘Okay, guys, time to get everything into those packs. We need to get going soon. Make sure you have everything – especially sleeping bag, waterproof jacket, water bottles.’ He jogged lightly on his feet, as though poised for flight.

‘Yes, Mum!’ called Hugh sarcastically.

A dull roar in the driveway signalled another truck arriving. A man in his late forties leapt down. Ed’s dad.

Robert Fletcher walked to Martha and stood near her, watching the activity.

Alex leaned over his bulging backpack then hoisted it onto his back with a wide swing. He turned towards the others.

He saw Jack wander over to Laura and take her hand. Laura gave him a quick smile, then let his hand go and set off towards the others. Alex frowned. It was an odd little moment.

Quite apart from thinking about their safety, Alex was also wondering how they would all get along together, out in the bush with no one else around. They’d known each other for six years, since they had been thrown together as a house group in their first year at high school. Boarding school made for intense relationships quickly formed, and they had gathered, almost for survival, under their unofficial leader Ed.

But as they’d grown older the differences had emerged. Ed and Jack were close friends of course; Ed and Hugh bonded by being competitive about sport and physical prowess; and now Laura and Jack were in a relationship. But objectively they were a bit of an unlikely group. Charlotte had her own gang of similarly pretty, popular girls to whom Alex would never dare speak. Laura was super nice, of course, but Alex privately thought of her as a bit of a hippy and he bet Hugh did too. And Alex couldn’t quite quash the thought that if he hadn’t been put in that house group at the start, the others would never have been friends with him at all. He just wasn’t as confident and sociable as they were.

Still, they had gone on regular hiking trips with their house master over the years, so when the idea of a trip by themselves to mark the end of their school years was raised, it was naturally assumed they would all go as a group. Alex wondered whether this would be their last hurrah, whether they’d stay in touch once they were all off at university.

Alex saw Ed give Martha a hug and then she patted him on the back. ‘Love you, darling.’

‘Love you too, Mum.’

Robert Fletcher had moved to the edge of the garden and was staring out over the paddocks, his back stiff and straight. Alex saw Ed run up to him. Ed went to hug his father, but Robert just nodded stiffly and Ed stopped abruptly.

Then Ed shrugged and dashed back to the others. ‘C’mon – let’s get this show on the road.’

‘Look after yourselves,’ Martha called.

‘Mrs Fletcher, if you could have one of your pies ready when we get back?’ Hugh grinned over his shoulder, and Martha smiled.

They crossed the garden, made their way through a gate, then set off across a paddock that sloped upwards towards the cliffs. Ed was at the front and the group soon stretched out into a line behind him. Alex was happy to bring up the rear. He could adjust his pace to how fast the others walked.

He took a breath and forced himself to relax and take in the valley landscape. It was a lovely day, and they were going to have a great trip.

Back at the farm, Martha and Robert stood together watching.

‘Hope those kids’ll be sensible.’ Robert’s face was stern. ‘Hot few days ahead.’

‘They’ll be right. We’ve spent enough time with Ed, hiking around here. And he’s a good leader.’

The mother and father squinted in the sunlight as the group bobbed against the paddock, shrinking until they were just dots high up near where the bush began. The cliffs around the valley stared down impassively.

Then the dark line of forest swallowed up the six tiny figures.

‘Whoa!’ Jack gripped the armrest in the passenger seat of Alex’s car. ‘Better slow down.’

A moment ago, the road had been a sinuous strip of bitumen overhung with leaves. Now the trees disappeared. One side of the road rose in a high cliff and on the other a vertiginous drop opened up to the valley below.

The road twisted in repeated hairpin bends, the car swaying this way and that and, with it, Jack’s stomach. On they drove, each slope winding around into another, again and again, ever downwards.

This road. Appearing in his dreams all too often, and even popping into his mind unexpectedly during the day sometimes. Over and over, this journey. Going back down the bends, through the forest, back to the Fletcher house. Burrowing down through the thick walls of green.

As the bends finally straightened out and they entered another forest, Jack rubbed his face. He remembered the moment that the email from Martha had arrived, inviting them to come and stay for the weekend. Badly laid out, with random capitals and punctuation, it showed she was clearly not at home with computers.

It had been all too much to deal with; he just put it aside. These days it was hard to face up to any kind of decision. Navigating through a day was like wading through mud. Curled up on the couch at home, ignoring the work he should be doing; that was his favourite pose.

But then the phone calls started. Was he going? After a while Alex said that the others would all be there and he had arranged to give Jack a lift; and it was easier just to give in to that momentum.

Seeing everyone again at the cafe just now after all those years could have been weird. They had mostly gone their separate ways w. . .