Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

The Riders is a superbly written and a darkly haunting story of a lovesick man in a vain search for a vanished woman. It is a powerfully accurate account of marriage today, of the demons that trouble relationships, of resurrection found in the will to keep going, in the refusal to hold on, to stand still. The Riders is also a moving story about the relationship between a loving man and his tough, bright daughter.

Average Customer Rating:

Riveting but an enormous letdown.

Customer Rating:

The first time I read this I was angry with Winton for leaving us up in the air: the book was un-put-downable but too much is left unexplained and unresolved. The second time round I was angry with Scully for his dogged stupidity in failing to accept that his wife has left him and their daughter. Thirdly, who on earth are the riders and what on earth do they signify? I usually enjoy Winton but this really is too much. I would like him to stand up and explain himself.

Some Times There are No Answers

Customer Rating:

In reading some of the first reviews I feel many persons may have missed what I believe is the heart of this story. This books enters the depth of total disillusionment. Scully's search to find answers drives him to the point of insanity and is a tale of deep betrayal and the search for answers that will never come, leaving the choice to continue the search (the Riders or Pete's brother Conor) unending. It is as Pete put it: "There are things that have no finish, Scully, no endin to speak of. There's no justice to it, but that's the God's truth. The only end some things have is the end you give em".

Enjoyed the ride ....

Customer Rating:

I listened to the audio book of this particular story, and I found it to be entertaining, descriptive and extremely well read. I'll be reading Tim Winton's other books, purely because of the way the man writes. He is so articulate and smooth in his delivery of this tale, that I became just as interested in his words, as what I was in the story itself. Yes, Winton throws you a few melons to tries and distract you. But on the whole, it's a goldmine of conflict and action - something is always happening, there's always a trail to follow.

engaging	Customer Rating:
This book is one that just rattles around in your mind when you are not reading it and for days after you finish it. It was wonderfully written, an engaging story, and had real characters.

Tim Winton shines bright

Customer Rating:

Tim Winton is one of the most talented writers I have ever encountered. In The Riders, Winton takes you on a journey that will leave you frustrated, concerned, edgy, stricken and totally enthralled. The story lies in everything that Winton leaves out. So many questions unanswered yet to answer them would change the whole flavor of the Book. The beginning of the book starts off simply enough. The uncomplicated, down to earth Scully is preparing his newly acquired Irish cottage for the arrival of his wife and child, both of whom he adores unconditionally. The Ireland that Winton brings to us is so real you can see the green grass, feel the breezes, tension, history and passion of the Irish. Although I dread any concept of roughing it, Scully's cottage with no electricity and outside toilet sounds so appealing I want to get on the next plane. Therein lies the problem, his daughter arrives at the airport minus her mother, Scully's wife. Thus begins his incredible journey to find his wife and discover why she would leave him. His wife Jennifer is featured only from Scully's point of view, at first the perfect wife and mother, one part of his three part world, his family. Then as Scully travels around Europe with his depressing, crazy obsession to find her, we discover, as he does that all was not ever what it seemed. This story belongs to Scully and his daughter Billie. The daughter he loves to distraction who adores him back. The daughter who instinctively understands him and wants to be his world. Throughout this tale we discover parts of Europe as a desperate man might see them rather than a tourist with rose colored glasses. We see the best and the worst of people and most of all we see growth and love bloom out of a tragedy almost too difficult to comprehend. I give Winton 5 stars easily as this book still lingers in my mind and soul weeks after I put it down for the last time. Winton's use of language and metaphor crosses boundaries so that he can be see as a brilliant writer on an international scale rather than just as one of Australia's exports. I will continue to read other works by Winton and I am certain I will be impressed.