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The Lost Man
The gripping new novel from the author of the Sunday Times top ten bestsellers, The Dry and Force of Nature.
He had started to remove his clothes as logic had deserted him and his skin was cracked. Whatever had been going through Cameron's mind when he was alive, he didn't look peaceful in death.
Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle farms under the relenting sun of the remote outback. In an isolated part of Western Australia, they are each other's nearest neighbour, their homes three hours' drive apart.
They are at the stockman's grave, a landmark so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron, who lies dead at their feet.
Something had been on Cam's mind. Did he choose to walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects...
The Lost Man is the highly anticipated new book from the bestselling and award-winning Jane Harper, author of The Dry and Force of Nature.
352 pages, ebook
First published October 23, 2018
8796 people are currently reading
109775 people want to read
About the author
Jane Harper
25 books14.6k followersJane Harper is the international bestselling author of The Dry, Force of Nature and The Lost Man.
Jane is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, and has won numerous top awards including the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, the Australian Indie Awards Book of the Year, the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, and the British Book Awards Crime and Thriller Book of the Year.
Her books are published in more than 36 territories worldwide, with The Dry in production as a major motion picture starring Eric Bana.
Jane worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK, and now lives in Melbourne.
Jane is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, and has won numerous top awards including the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, the Australian Indie Awards Book of the Year, the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, and the British Book Awards Crime and Thriller Book of the Year.
Her books are published in more than 36 territories worldwide, with The Dry in production as a major motion picture starring Eric Bana.
Jane worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK, and now lives in Melbourne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,394 reviews
November 10, 2023
The Lost Man was so entirely my jam I could spread it on toast and eat it. In one word: it was brilliant. I’m not a big reader of the thriller/mystery genre, but with its tenderly realized characters, profound thematic exploration, well-earned suspense, and beautiful romance, The Lost Man convinced me that I should be.
Set in the remote Australian outback, where strangers are vanishingly rare and every soul is known to everyone, The Lost Man follows the story of Nathan Bright, who discovers his middle brother Cameron dead by the gravestone of an unknown stockman. Nothing about this scene makes sense for Nathan: why would Cameron stray away from his fully packed Land Cruise under the pitiless sun? What was he doing by the stockman’s grave? The local policeman suggests suicide, but when his brother’s secrets come tumbling out of the closet, Nathan’s vision soon takes on a black-and-white clarity, grim and shocking: Cameron is not at all the man everyone thought he was. Dogged by a mistake that cost him his son’s custody and left him abandoned not only by his community but by himself, Nathan sets out to find answers to his brother’s death.
It is against the grim backdrop of this reality that this novel shines so dazzlingly.The Lost Man is a slow-paced and immaculately plotted mystery that reels you in from the first page, and keeps you invested for hundreds of pages through its variously tragic turns and twists. But even more than the creeping tendrils of the thriller's action plot—the novel's strength, for me, lies in how it deftly develops place, character, and themes in perfect proportion. What begins as the story of a brother looking for answers winds up morphing into a deeply moving portrait of loss and discovery that accumulates in a satisfying crescendo of guilt and redemption. Jane Harper intricately weaves together the scattered threads of the slowly evolving mystery while exploring the lives on its peripheries: the tangled and complicated character histories are what really orbits this novel, and it's the slow, patient unraveling of the novel’s most tortured and complex protagonist that constitutes the most powerfully rewarding experience of the book.
Harper writes about Nathan’s aloneness, his all-devouring guilt and ostracism with a soul-baring poignancy. Throughout the book, I kept wondering how such extraordinary hatred and resentment could be visited upon a man who seemed to be an uncomplicated study in kindness and selflessness. When the truth is finally revealed—ugly and honest and bloody and a more than a little bit terrifying—I was floored with the feeling of disbelief crashing against evidence. Harper doesn't provide a satisfying simple answer. Instead, she gives you enough to let you decide for yourself if the past sets in stone the present, or if we are defined by more than just the sum of all the scraps of the mistakes we made.
At its heart, The Lost Man is about the prides and perils of family, about the joys and aches of parenthood, about redemption and the price forgiveness demands of us, and I'm certain that's what I'll always remember about it.
Set in the remote Australian outback, where strangers are vanishingly rare and every soul is known to everyone, The Lost Man follows the story of Nathan Bright, who discovers his middle brother Cameron dead by the gravestone of an unknown stockman. Nothing about this scene makes sense for Nathan: why would Cameron stray away from his fully packed Land Cruise under the pitiless sun? What was he doing by the stockman’s grave? The local policeman suggests suicide, but when his brother’s secrets come tumbling out of the closet, Nathan’s vision soon takes on a black-and-white clarity, grim and shocking: Cameron is not at all the man everyone thought he was. Dogged by a mistake that cost him his son’s custody and left him abandoned not only by his community but by himself, Nathan sets out to find answers to his brother’s death.
It is against the grim backdrop of this reality that this novel shines so dazzlingly.The Lost Man is a slow-paced and immaculately plotted mystery that reels you in from the first page, and keeps you invested for hundreds of pages through its variously tragic turns and twists. But even more than the creeping tendrils of the thriller's action plot—the novel's strength, for me, lies in how it deftly develops place, character, and themes in perfect proportion. What begins as the story of a brother looking for answers winds up morphing into a deeply moving portrait of loss and discovery that accumulates in a satisfying crescendo of guilt and redemption. Jane Harper intricately weaves together the scattered threads of the slowly evolving mystery while exploring the lives on its peripheries: the tangled and complicated character histories are what really orbits this novel, and it's the slow, patient unraveling of the novel’s most tortured and complex protagonist that constitutes the most powerfully rewarding experience of the book.
Harper writes about Nathan’s aloneness, his all-devouring guilt and ostracism with a soul-baring poignancy. Throughout the book, I kept wondering how such extraordinary hatred and resentment could be visited upon a man who seemed to be an uncomplicated study in kindness and selflessness. When the truth is finally revealed—ugly and honest and bloody and a more than a little bit terrifying—I was floored with the feeling of disbelief crashing against evidence. Harper doesn't provide a satisfying simple answer. Instead, she gives you enough to let you decide for yourself if the past sets in stone the present, or if we are defined by more than just the sum of all the scraps of the mistakes we made.
At its heart, The Lost Man is about the prides and perils of family, about the joys and aches of parenthood, about redemption and the price forgiveness demands of us, and I'm certain that's what I'll always remember about it.
‘Do you think that’s true?’
‘That this place has ghosts?’
‘That the mothers would hear their lost children in the wind.’
‘Oh.’ He reached out and took his mum’s hand again. ‘No.’ He really didn’t. If that were true, the outback air would howl so loud the dust would never settle.
February 5, 2019
At night, when the sky felt even bigger, he could almost imagine it was a million years ago and he was walking on the bottom of the sea. A million years ago when a million natural events still needed to occur, one after the other, to form this land as it lay in front of him now. A place where rivers flooded without rain and seashells fossilised a thousand miles from water and men who left their cars found themselves walking to their deaths.
4½ stars.
I think at this point I can definitely say that Harper is one of my favourite thriller writers. The Lost Man is a standalone, which, like her two previous novels - The Dry and Force of Nature - really takes advantage of its setting to create a deeply atmospheric and evocative story.
This book is set in the dry heat and isolation of the Australian outback. When local good guy Cameron Bright is found dead in the dirt, having dehydrated nine miles away from his parked car, it looks like it could be a bizarre suicide. Men have done stranger things out there in that desert. But his older brother, Nathan, remains unconvinced. Too many things don't add up, and it even looks like a long-buried part of Cameron's past might have come back to haunt him.
What follows is an emotional and character-driven tale about families and abuse. Nathan will need to return to memories of his own troubled childhood, growing up with an abusive father, in order to figure out what happened to Cameron.
Personally, I think many readers will guess at the direction the story is headed, but that did not make it any less satisfying. I like Harper's novels so much because she focuses on the characters and relationships, making the read about more than solving the mystery. This is the most effective and rewarding mystery/thriller writing, in my experience, because you don't feel like you've been short-changed if you guess the answers.
I also appreciate how well the author handled a mystery/thriller where the protagonist was not a detective. Many authors struggle to make this convincing (amateur investigations often seem daft) but she didn't have Nathan grabbing a Sherlock hat and magnifying glass. His uncovering of the secrets was much more natural and realistic than that.
At its heart, The Lost Man is more than a murder mystery-- it is a tale of families, loneliness, second chances and forgiveness. A complicated web of loyalties and conflicts exist between the members of the Bright family, and it is extremely compelling to read about. Write more, please.
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October 5, 2022
"He used to say the ones who wandered off called the loudest. For the rest of their lives, their mums would hear them crying out in the wind. Do you think that's true? That this place has ghosts? That the mothers would hear their lost children in the wind."
Guys, I'm blown away. I've been a colossal fan of Jane Harper since her debut novel The Dry was published, and more specifically a massive fan of her series protagonist Aaron Falk. Her lush, atmospheric way of writing makes me feel the heat of the Australian outback, and her character driven plots are more engaging than any high octane thriller, placing Harper squarely in the ring as one of the finest writers today. When I found out that The Lost Man would be a stand-alone novel, set apart from her police procedural series, I was a bit anxious due to the fact that I love those novels so much. Clearly, I had nothing to be concerned over, as I'm tempted to go so far as confirming that this is Harper's best work of fiction to date.
"Dead men didn't talk. Nathan must have thought that a hundred times over the years, but as he drove past the grave, the idea slipped slightly, taking on a strange and unfamiliar form. It was uncomfortable as it lodged itself in the darkest corner of his mind."
One of the most appealing aspects of The Lost Man is how it takes a traditional genre and puts the author's unique flair on the subject. If you've spent any time in the world of crime fiction, then you have likely read your fair share of police procedurals and may have even grown weary of their repetitive, familiar behavior. Here, Harper has inserted an amateur detective, the murder victim's brother, and made it read in a believable manner that feels neither contrived nor overdone. As we follow Nathan's journey in determining if his brother Cam was murdered or committed suicide, there are no fancy tricks or improbable action sequences where we shake our heads thinking, "No amateur would be able to pull that off!"
"Sometimes, the space almost seemed to call to Nathan. Like a faint heartbeat, insistent and persuasive... Life out here is hard. We all try to get through the best way we can. But trust me, there's not a single person here who isn't lying to themselves about something."
Is this a book that will shock you with unexpected twists and floor you with its unpredictable plot? Probably not. As someone who has read more "twisty" psychological thrillers than I can count, I'm finding it beyond difficult to pick up one of those that actually surprises me, or entertains me anymore. The Lost Man isn't that type of read though; this is a timeless tale of family dynamics, all-too familiar abuse, and perhaps a small enough cast that you will possibly guess the final outcome before the reveal. Let it be known, however, that I did NOT have it all nailed down before then.
This is the beauty of the book though; it's a small enough cast that your suspicion is cast upon everyone, and as the story progresses between past and present, the reader is brought to an emotional climax after a tense journey alongside of Nathan and his family. The excellence is in Harper's style of writing, her ability to captivate the reader, and talented way of transporting us to a place we may never have a chance to visit in person in our lifetime. If you enjoy emotionally charged, character driven stories, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up the second it lands in your hands. I feel privileged to have found one of my Top Ten reads of 2019 in the first month of the year, but I'll be thinking about this gem of a novel for a considerable amount of time.
*I received a review copy via the publisher.
Guys, I'm blown away. I've been a colossal fan of Jane Harper since her debut novel The Dry was published, and more specifically a massive fan of her series protagonist Aaron Falk. Her lush, atmospheric way of writing makes me feel the heat of the Australian outback, and her character driven plots are more engaging than any high octane thriller, placing Harper squarely in the ring as one of the finest writers today. When I found out that The Lost Man would be a stand-alone novel, set apart from her police procedural series, I was a bit anxious due to the fact that I love those novels so much. Clearly, I had nothing to be concerned over, as I'm tempted to go so far as confirming that this is Harper's best work of fiction to date.
"Dead men didn't talk. Nathan must have thought that a hundred times over the years, but as he drove past the grave, the idea slipped slightly, taking on a strange and unfamiliar form. It was uncomfortable as it lodged itself in the darkest corner of his mind."
One of the most appealing aspects of The Lost Man is how it takes a traditional genre and puts the author's unique flair on the subject. If you've spent any time in the world of crime fiction, then you have likely read your fair share of police procedurals and may have even grown weary of their repetitive, familiar behavior. Here, Harper has inserted an amateur detective, the murder victim's brother, and made it read in a believable manner that feels neither contrived nor overdone. As we follow Nathan's journey in determining if his brother Cam was murdered or committed suicide, there are no fancy tricks or improbable action sequences where we shake our heads thinking, "No amateur would be able to pull that off!"
"Sometimes, the space almost seemed to call to Nathan. Like a faint heartbeat, insistent and persuasive... Life out here is hard. We all try to get through the best way we can. But trust me, there's not a single person here who isn't lying to themselves about something."
Is this a book that will shock you with unexpected twists and floor you with its unpredictable plot? Probably not. As someone who has read more "twisty" psychological thrillers than I can count, I'm finding it beyond difficult to pick up one of those that actually surprises me, or entertains me anymore. The Lost Man isn't that type of read though; this is a timeless tale of family dynamics, all-too familiar abuse, and perhaps a small enough cast that you will possibly guess the final outcome before the reveal. Let it be known, however, that I did NOT have it all nailed down before then.
This is the beauty of the book though; it's a small enough cast that your suspicion is cast upon everyone, and as the story progresses between past and present, the reader is brought to an emotional climax after a tense journey alongside of Nathan and his family. The excellence is in Harper's style of writing, her ability to captivate the reader, and talented way of transporting us to a place we may never have a chance to visit in person in our lifetime. If you enjoy emotionally charged, character driven stories, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up the second it lands in your hands. I feel privileged to have found one of my Top Ten reads of 2019 in the first month of the year, but I'll be thinking about this gem of a novel for a considerable amount of time.
*I received a review copy via the publisher.
March 27, 2025
Jane Harper is the queen of character-driven mysteries, and The Lost Man adds yet another feather to her cap.
Three brothers meet under the unrelenting sun of the outback. Older brother Nathan and younger brother Bub stare down at the dead figure of their middle brother Cameron, who died of dehydration and exposure to the elements after leaving his fully stocked car and wandering nine miles away. The family gathers at the homestead to mourn Cameron's passing, and what follows is the slow surfacing of emotions and secrets that have entangled them for years.
While the mystery of how Cameron died helps to propel the plot along, that isn't the heart of this book. Instead, this is really a shrewd family drama with complex characters. Each person comes with their own expectations and experiences, bringing with them sadness and fear, but also hope for the future. Harper is able to sketch each of them into sharp relief, and I found the quiet and insightful study of the different characters to be a real highlight.
The mystery itself is interesting, starting off immediately with the kind of conundrum I love in a murder mystery: why did Cameron leave his fully stocked car to venture out into the unforgiving elements to begin with? As the mystery unfolds, there were plenty of twists and turns, making you question everyone and everything. And the ending is satisfying and thorough.
I admit this isn't the sort of book I would have normally picked up, being set in the outback with lots of dirt and sun and dreary, monochromatic landscapes. Just thinking about reading those sorts of passages makes me feel tired. And I did find the initial pages like that, slow and dull. But as I kept on reading, the story grabbed ahold of me and before I realized it, I couldn't put it down anymore.
I can't think of another author who so deftly marries character studies and mysteries the way Jane Harper does. Her books are something to be savored, which is a must while I wait impatiently for her to write more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Survivors
Aaron Falk:
#1. The Dry
#2. Force of Nature
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Three brothers meet under the unrelenting sun of the outback. Older brother Nathan and younger brother Bub stare down at the dead figure of their middle brother Cameron, who died of dehydration and exposure to the elements after leaving his fully stocked car and wandering nine miles away. The family gathers at the homestead to mourn Cameron's passing, and what follows is the slow surfacing of emotions and secrets that have entangled them for years.
While the mystery of how Cameron died helps to propel the plot along, that isn't the heart of this book. Instead, this is really a shrewd family drama with complex characters. Each person comes with their own expectations and experiences, bringing with them sadness and fear, but also hope for the future. Harper is able to sketch each of them into sharp relief, and I found the quiet and insightful study of the different characters to be a real highlight.
The mystery itself is interesting, starting off immediately with the kind of conundrum I love in a murder mystery: why did Cameron leave his fully stocked car to venture out into the unforgiving elements to begin with? As the mystery unfolds, there were plenty of twists and turns, making you question everyone and everything. And the ending is satisfying and thorough.
I admit this isn't the sort of book I would have normally picked up, being set in the outback with lots of dirt and sun and dreary, monochromatic landscapes. Just thinking about reading those sorts of passages makes me feel tired. And I did find the initial pages like that, slow and dull. But as I kept on reading, the story grabbed ahold of me and before I realized it, I couldn't put it down anymore.
I can't think of another author who so deftly marries character studies and mysteries the way Jane Harper does. Her books are something to be savored, which is a must while I wait impatiently for her to write more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Survivors
Aaron Falk:
#1. The Dry
#2. Force of Nature
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
June 5, 2022
The Lost Man is my first book by Jane Harper and now I am going to read her other books because The Lost Man rates up there with my all time favorite books. The atmosphere and characters rang true for me in this slow moving mystery of the death of Cameron, the middle of three rancher brothers. Cameron's body is found in the middle of nowhere, with no one knowing why he would be there, without his vehicle or his supplies. The oldest brother, Nathan, has been estranged from most of his family and the town for something he did long ago and Bub, the younger brother, seems to be drifting and unreliable. Now the family has to come together, with town officials, to figure out what happened to Cameron and if he was murdered
Nathan has been living a lonely, isolated life for so many years now and he's not sure who to trust and why someone would want his brother dead. The isolation of the Australian outback might be too much for them all despite the fact that the family is attached to the property in a way that would make it impossible to leave. Nathan loves his son, who lives with his ex-wife, a son he doesn't get to see often and will see even less, as the demands of his son's schooling will keep him away. But during this sad time of Cameron's death, Nathan's son is with him and their relationship is explored along with that of the rest of the family.
I cared so much about Nathan and what had happened to him in the past and what was going to happen to him in the future. The book is about more than the mysterious death of Cameron, it's about what could have led up to that death, starting decades ago. And throughout the book, the Australian outback is as much a character in this story as the humans. This book was a five star read for me from beginning to end.
Pub February 5, 2019
Nathan has been living a lonely, isolated life for so many years now and he's not sure who to trust and why someone would want his brother dead. The isolation of the Australian outback might be too much for them all despite the fact that the family is attached to the property in a way that would make it impossible to leave. Nathan loves his son, who lives with his ex-wife, a son he doesn't get to see often and will see even less, as the demands of his son's schooling will keep him away. But during this sad time of Cameron's death, Nathan's son is with him and their relationship is explored along with that of the rest of the family.
I cared so much about Nathan and what had happened to him in the past and what was going to happen to him in the future. The book is about more than the mysterious death of Cameron, it's about what could have led up to that death, starting decades ago. And throughout the book, the Australian outback is as much a character in this story as the humans. This book was a five star read for me from beginning to end.
Pub February 5, 2019
October 18, 2020
***THIS AUTHOR HAS A NEW BOOK COMING OUT ON 2/2/21, THE SURVIVORS! READ THIS ONE NOW, IT'S GREAT!!!***
I had read Ms. Harper’s previous two books and loved them. They were mysteries, and part of the Aaron Falk series. This is a stand alone novel and quite different.
What I loved about this book was Ms. Harper’s descriptive writing. Here is a sampling of her exquisite descriptions of the Australian outback, telling about how it "floods" without raining : "It was a strange sight, even after forty-two years, to watch the water rise, silent and stealthy, under a cloudless blue sky. The river would lap at its banks, swollen with rain that had fallen days before and a thousand kilometers north . . . When it floods, most of this is under water. You can't get over without a boat. The houses and the town are all built on high ground, but the road disappears. . . a lot of properties become islands". This would, indeed, be a strange phenomenon to behold. There are so many beautiful descriptions of what can only be called a brutal place to live, and yet there is beauty there as Ms. Harper’s words convey.
There is a legend about “the stockman’s grave” and headstone, supposedly out in the middle of nowhere. Not close to a town or anyone’s home. This is where Cameron’s body is found and that is another puzzle to solve. Why did Cameron choose to come to this site without any supplies?
This book was very much about family. The Bright family with Liz and her sons, Nathan, Cameron and Bub. It is the middle son, Cameron, who is found dead at the beginning of the novel. It is a mystery as to why he was found dead apparently from lack of water and food in the unforgiving heat of the outback. His car was found miles away fully stocked with supplies. Cameron had lived here all of his life, why would he leave his car with all of the supplies and set out on his own, with nothing???? On questioning the family it becomes apparent that something has been off about Cameron’s recent actions and we are left to puzzle out why.
There is mention of a young woman named Jenna, who had gone to the police when Cameron was only 17, charging him with raping her. With the intervention of Cameron’s powerful father, the charges were dismissed and the woman and her boyfriend left town. Yet she had recently reached out for Cameron’s phone number and address, why??
There are many family secrets which come to light throughout the novel. Things went on in Cameron and Ilse’s life with their two daughters which were only talked about in hushed tones. What indeed had been going on???
I loved the interaction of Nathan with his son Xander, home for a school holiday. Nathan and Xander’s relationship grows quite a lot in the novel and it’s great to read about their increased understanding of each other.
This is still very much a mystery but with lots of familial relationships. The only thing a bit different from this book is that I didn’t feel the tension of solving the mystery that was present in her first two books. This is more of a slow burn but a great read!
ADDENDUM: Quote changed on December 5 when I found that I had unknowingly quoted the same passage as another reviewer.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. The book will be published in February of 2019.
I had read Ms. Harper’s previous two books and loved them. They were mysteries, and part of the Aaron Falk series. This is a stand alone novel and quite different.
What I loved about this book was Ms. Harper’s descriptive writing. Here is a sampling of her exquisite descriptions of the Australian outback, telling about how it "floods" without raining : "It was a strange sight, even after forty-two years, to watch the water rise, silent and stealthy, under a cloudless blue sky. The river would lap at its banks, swollen with rain that had fallen days before and a thousand kilometers north . . . When it floods, most of this is under water. You can't get over without a boat. The houses and the town are all built on high ground, but the road disappears. . . a lot of properties become islands". This would, indeed, be a strange phenomenon to behold. There are so many beautiful descriptions of what can only be called a brutal place to live, and yet there is beauty there as Ms. Harper’s words convey.
There is a legend about “the stockman’s grave” and headstone, supposedly out in the middle of nowhere. Not close to a town or anyone’s home. This is where Cameron’s body is found and that is another puzzle to solve. Why did Cameron choose to come to this site without any supplies?
This book was very much about family. The Bright family with Liz and her sons, Nathan, Cameron and Bub. It is the middle son, Cameron, who is found dead at the beginning of the novel. It is a mystery as to why he was found dead apparently from lack of water and food in the unforgiving heat of the outback. His car was found miles away fully stocked with supplies. Cameron had lived here all of his life, why would he leave his car with all of the supplies and set out on his own, with nothing???? On questioning the family it becomes apparent that something has been off about Cameron’s recent actions and we are left to puzzle out why.
There is mention of a young woman named Jenna, who had gone to the police when Cameron was only 17, charging him with raping her. With the intervention of Cameron’s powerful father, the charges were dismissed and the woman and her boyfriend left town. Yet she had recently reached out for Cameron’s phone number and address, why??
There are many family secrets which come to light throughout the novel. Things went on in Cameron and Ilse’s life with their two daughters which were only talked about in hushed tones. What indeed had been going on???
I loved the interaction of Nathan with his son Xander, home for a school holiday. Nathan and Xander’s relationship grows quite a lot in the novel and it’s great to read about their increased understanding of each other.
This is still very much a mystery but with lots of familial relationships. The only thing a bit different from this book is that I didn’t feel the tension of solving the mystery that was present in her first two books. This is more of a slow burn but a great read!
ADDENDUM: Quote changed on December 5 when I found that I had unknowingly quoted the same passage as another reviewer.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. The book will be published in February of 2019.
January 29, 2019
Slow, but worthwhile!
The Lost Man is a character study about the Bright brothers: Nathan, Cameron, and Bub who live in the Australian outback. When Cameron, whom the family considered to be “the golden child,” is found dead by the legendary stockman’s grave, everyone’s at a loss in the small outback community in which they live. Cameron was loved by all and seemed to have the perfect life and family. His death doesn’t make sense. His older brother Nathan tries to figure out what led to his brother’s death. Was it suicide? Murder?
Nathan is the narrator. He is the oldest child and also the black sheep of the family. Having lived in near exile from the last 10 years, Nathan's relationship with Cam was on shaky ground towards the end. With his son Xander in tow, he begins to look for clues around the family farm trying to uncover the secrets behind the brother he barely knew. The Bright family is good at keeping secrets and pretending not to see what’s really going on. The three boys grew up in a tumultuous household and have been deeply impacted by the events of their childhood.
Even though The Lost Man is primarily about the Bright brothers, female characters play a pivotal role. While they might be dutifully standing by in the background, their power lies in observation and quiet intelligence.
The Lost Man is extremely slow-paced. I started it twice before and wound up pushing it to the side for other books. This time, I picked it up and once again I struggled with the pacing. However, I forced myself to keep on reading and I am so thankful that I did! If you are not a fan of books that move at an extremely slow pace, then this book will probably not work for you. The pace does pick up as the novel progresses and more and tidbits are revealed about the fascinating Bright family.
Harper’s writing makes this a worthwhile read. She transported me to the brutal conditions of the outback--I could feel the heat emanating from the pages. The characters are complex and compelling. The mystery behind Cam’s death is interesting, but the development of Nathan’s character takes center stage and held my interest. Overall, The Lost Man is a subtle, multilayered read filled with nuance and secrets that slowly unfold, leading to a startling conclusion.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Flatiron Books in exchange for an honest review.
The Lost Man is a character study about the Bright brothers: Nathan, Cameron, and Bub who live in the Australian outback. When Cameron, whom the family considered to be “the golden child,” is found dead by the legendary stockman’s grave, everyone’s at a loss in the small outback community in which they live. Cameron was loved by all and seemed to have the perfect life and family. His death doesn’t make sense. His older brother Nathan tries to figure out what led to his brother’s death. Was it suicide? Murder?
Nathan is the narrator. He is the oldest child and also the black sheep of the family. Having lived in near exile from the last 10 years, Nathan's relationship with Cam was on shaky ground towards the end. With his son Xander in tow, he begins to look for clues around the family farm trying to uncover the secrets behind the brother he barely knew. The Bright family is good at keeping secrets and pretending not to see what’s really going on. The three boys grew up in a tumultuous household and have been deeply impacted by the events of their childhood.
Even though The Lost Man is primarily about the Bright brothers, female characters play a pivotal role. While they might be dutifully standing by in the background, their power lies in observation and quiet intelligence.
The Lost Man is extremely slow-paced. I started it twice before and wound up pushing it to the side for other books. This time, I picked it up and once again I struggled with the pacing. However, I forced myself to keep on reading and I am so thankful that I did! If you are not a fan of books that move at an extremely slow pace, then this book will probably not work for you. The pace does pick up as the novel progresses and more and tidbits are revealed about the fascinating Bright family.
Harper’s writing makes this a worthwhile read. She transported me to the brutal conditions of the outback--I could feel the heat emanating from the pages. The characters are complex and compelling. The mystery behind Cam’s death is interesting, but the development of Nathan’s character takes center stage and held my interest. Overall, The Lost Man is a subtle, multilayered read filled with nuance and secrets that slowly unfold, leading to a startling conclusion.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Flatiron Books in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2019
Jane Harper shifts direction with her third novel, less crime novel, more a character driven mystery and family drama. What has not changed is her ability to write an utterly gripping story set in the intensely searing heat of the Australian outback, and the depiction of small town life with its claustrophobia, marked with its unforgiving and judgmental attitudes. Two brothers, Nathan and Bub meet at the legendary stockman's headstone, in the middle of nowhere where the body of their brother, Cameron is found. Why is his vehicle with its necessary supplies found parked amidst rocks some distance away? Nathan is with his son, Xander, who normally lives in Brisbane with his ex-wife, Jacqui, now remarried.
Nathan has missed most of his son's growing up years after bitter and acrimonious custody battles. He runs his own farm, but his status as town pariah for many years has resulted in him living alone, barely seeing anyone, struggling and drowning in a quagmire of financial debt. He has hardly been in touch with his family, whose family farm was run by Cameron. Christmas is coming, Cameron's funeral has to be planned as the police have decided his death merits no investigation, given that Cameron had been troubled for a while, likely committing suicide. Nathan and Xander stay at the family home, with his grieving mother, Uncle Harry, Bub, and Ilse, Cameron's wife, and their two daughters, Lo and Sophie. Nathan, helped by Xander, wants to get to the bottom of Cameron's death, and finds there are secrets and so much he was unaware of. He finds himself sifting through the past, dysfunctional family history, mental health issues and abuse in its many varied forms.
I loved this novel from Harper even more than her others, I think she is developing into an even better writer. She is an expert when it comes to conveying the outback, the deadly scorching heat, the dust storms, the remoteness, how the heat and isolation takes it toll on its inhabitants and its unspoken rules such as you must help anyone in trouble. It has a beauty and a hold on those who know no other home as we can see with Nathan's inner connection with it that outsiders just do not get. Harper's characterisation has you investing in her compelling storytelling and her coverage of the dynamics of family life. Nathan understands the principles underlying the Bright family, don't tell anyone, not even each other and the single ingrained truth, he was on his own. The vastness of the outback and lack of close neighbours means family issues fail to be addressed from external agencies. This is a brilliantly entertaining read revolving around a family drama. I cannot wait to see where Jane Harper goes next as I eagerly anticipate her next book. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Nathan has missed most of his son's growing up years after bitter and acrimonious custody battles. He runs his own farm, but his status as town pariah for many years has resulted in him living alone, barely seeing anyone, struggling and drowning in a quagmire of financial debt. He has hardly been in touch with his family, whose family farm was run by Cameron. Christmas is coming, Cameron's funeral has to be planned as the police have decided his death merits no investigation, given that Cameron had been troubled for a while, likely committing suicide. Nathan and Xander stay at the family home, with his grieving mother, Uncle Harry, Bub, and Ilse, Cameron's wife, and their two daughters, Lo and Sophie. Nathan, helped by Xander, wants to get to the bottom of Cameron's death, and finds there are secrets and so much he was unaware of. He finds himself sifting through the past, dysfunctional family history, mental health issues and abuse in its many varied forms.
I loved this novel from Harper even more than her others, I think she is developing into an even better writer. She is an expert when it comes to conveying the outback, the deadly scorching heat, the dust storms, the remoteness, how the heat and isolation takes it toll on its inhabitants and its unspoken rules such as you must help anyone in trouble. It has a beauty and a hold on those who know no other home as we can see with Nathan's inner connection with it that outsiders just do not get. Harper's characterisation has you investing in her compelling storytelling and her coverage of the dynamics of family life. Nathan understands the principles underlying the Bright family, don't tell anyone, not even each other and the single ingrained truth, he was on his own. The vastness of the outback and lack of close neighbours means family issues fail to be addressed from external agencies. This is a brilliantly entertaining read revolving around a family drama. I cannot wait to see where Jane Harper goes next as I eagerly anticipate her next book. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
February 13, 2019
****CRACK****
That is the sound of Jane Harper hitting it out of the ball park yet again!! I swear she keeps getting better and better! This is my favorite of her books to date.
The outback in Queensland. The sun is hot and unrelenting. It's a harsh climate which makes it hard to earn a living. Nathan, Cameron and Bub are three brothers trying to make a living in the Outback. Nathan is a divorced lonely man who lives by himself and rarely gets to see his teenage son, Xander. He has been shunned by the town for an incident which happened years ago. He is trying to survive on land which makes it hard to make a living. Cameron is the middle brother, the popular one. He is a married man with two daughters. He is liked and respected in the community. Bub is the youngest and keeps to himself. He feels like the outsider in the family. Not really fitting in, always in his older brothers’ shadows. He has plans for his life and wants to do his own thing.
When Cameron's body has been found at the infamous Stockman's grave everyone is shocked. Cameron has been acting as if something has been bothering him lately. What was troubling him? Why would he have been at Stockman's grave? He was supposed to be meeting his brother, Bub. Did he take his own life? Why? Why leave a fully stocked car and walk away?
The Lost Man follows this family as the cope with Cameron's loss and prepare for his funeral. I found the title to be very apt as it could apply to each brother in some way. Of course, there is the mystery about Cameron and his death, but this book is also about family, healing, loneliness, relationships, choices, missed opportunities, and starting over.
Harper had me from page one and I was thoroughly captivated by this stand-alone novel. The writing is descriptive and vivid. Who couldn't visual that dusty red clay, the scorching son, or feel the heat while reading this book? Fabulous storytelling. Highly recommend!
That is the sound of Jane Harper hitting it out of the ball park yet again!! I swear she keeps getting better and better! This is my favorite of her books to date.
The outback in Queensland. The sun is hot and unrelenting. It's a harsh climate which makes it hard to earn a living. Nathan, Cameron and Bub are three brothers trying to make a living in the Outback. Nathan is a divorced lonely man who lives by himself and rarely gets to see his teenage son, Xander. He has been shunned by the town for an incident which happened years ago. He is trying to survive on land which makes it hard to make a living. Cameron is the middle brother, the popular one. He is a married man with two daughters. He is liked and respected in the community. Bub is the youngest and keeps to himself. He feels like the outsider in the family. Not really fitting in, always in his older brothers’ shadows. He has plans for his life and wants to do his own thing.
When Cameron's body has been found at the infamous Stockman's grave everyone is shocked. Cameron has been acting as if something has been bothering him lately. What was troubling him? Why would he have been at Stockman's grave? He was supposed to be meeting his brother, Bub. Did he take his own life? Why? Why leave a fully stocked car and walk away?
The Lost Man follows this family as the cope with Cameron's loss and prepare for his funeral. I found the title to be very apt as it could apply to each brother in some way. Of course, there is the mystery about Cameron and his death, but this book is also about family, healing, loneliness, relationships, choices, missed opportunities, and starting over.
Harper had me from page one and I was thoroughly captivated by this stand-alone novel. The writing is descriptive and vivid. Who couldn't visual that dusty red clay, the scorching son, or feel the heat while reading this book? Fabulous storytelling. Highly recommend!
December 28, 2018
4.5 Stars* (rounded up)
A Character Driven Novel to be Cherished! Extremely Thought-Provoking.
Living is hard in Queensland. The dry, the heat, the financial hardship and the inability to make a living. Families attempt to live off the land, raising cattle, red dust swirling all around them. Most eventually leave and truthfully, few survive.
The Bright brothers grew up in a time of struggle. Nathan, a divorced dad to Xander, is the eldest son, who was shunned from town when he was young; Cameron, the middle son, is married with two children, and is also a very successful rancher and businessman; and Bub the youngest, has always felt like an outsider.
When Cameron’s body is found at the Stockman’s Grave, it seems unfathomable. Did Cam take his own life or did someone end it? If so, was it stranger or someone close to him?
For me, “The Lost Man” isn’t a suspense or a mystery novel, even though it begins with the death of Cameron Bright. It is a slow moving yet fascinating character study of a family in turmoil. My favorite characters are Nathan and his son, Xander. Every thought and action they take in this book are sheer perfection. Xander is extremely observant and is also wise beyond his years and as for Nathan, he just about broke my heart.
There are many questions that swirl around in “The Lost Man” by Jane Harper. What is survival about? In addition, what makes a life? Thinking about these answers, my heart is heavy. “The Lost Man” is such a thought provoking book. This was my first read by Jane Harper. Going into it, I was expecting it to be completely different - I was therefore pleasantly surprised as I love character driven novels and the character of Nathan made a huge impression. This is a book to savor, to think about for hours and days after and just revel in the beauty of.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey - it garnered much discussion. I think this would be a fantastic book for a book club discussion and I highly recommend this novel.
A huge thank you to Cathleen Kenney, Flatiron Books, NetGalley and Jane Harper for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 12.28.18.
*Will be published on Amazon and Twitter on release date of 2.5.18.
A Character Driven Novel to be Cherished! Extremely Thought-Provoking.
Living is hard in Queensland. The dry, the heat, the financial hardship and the inability to make a living. Families attempt to live off the land, raising cattle, red dust swirling all around them. Most eventually leave and truthfully, few survive.
The Bright brothers grew up in a time of struggle. Nathan, a divorced dad to Xander, is the eldest son, who was shunned from town when he was young; Cameron, the middle son, is married with two children, and is also a very successful rancher and businessman; and Bub the youngest, has always felt like an outsider.
When Cameron’s body is found at the Stockman’s Grave, it seems unfathomable. Did Cam take his own life or did someone end it? If so, was it stranger or someone close to him?
For me, “The Lost Man” isn’t a suspense or a mystery novel, even though it begins with the death of Cameron Bright. It is a slow moving yet fascinating character study of a family in turmoil. My favorite characters are Nathan and his son, Xander. Every thought and action they take in this book are sheer perfection. Xander is extremely observant and is also wise beyond his years and as for Nathan, he just about broke my heart.
There are many questions that swirl around in “The Lost Man” by Jane Harper. What is survival about? In addition, what makes a life? Thinking about these answers, my heart is heavy. “The Lost Man” is such a thought provoking book. This was my first read by Jane Harper. Going into it, I was expecting it to be completely different - I was therefore pleasantly surprised as I love character driven novels and the character of Nathan made a huge impression. This is a book to savor, to think about for hours and days after and just revel in the beauty of.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey - it garnered much discussion. I think this would be a fantastic book for a book club discussion and I highly recommend this novel.
A huge thank you to Cathleen Kenney, Flatiron Books, NetGalley and Jane Harper for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 12.28.18.
*Will be published on Amazon and Twitter on release date of 2.5.18.
April 14, 2023
“Someone can decide it’s in their best interests to agree to something, but a choice is only really a choice if there’s a genuine alternative. Otherwise it’s manipulation and it’s taking advantage.”
Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland, at a landmark known as the stockman's grave. The landmark is so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects..
Set in the remote Australian outback, Jane Harper makes full use of her settings. All of your senses are engaged, you can feel the suffocating heat, hear the circling birds of prey above, and feel the roughness of the dry sand on your hands as you easily picture her characters and feel the tensions that begin to surface at the stockman's grave.
Highly character driven, this story looks at how well we know the ones closest to us. Long buried truths start to unravel. I was desperate for the characters to find the answers and consolation that they each sought. With lots of surprises, layers of emotion, and an atmosphere described in such detail, really driving home the notion of how vulnerable people are in the Australian outback.
The Lost Man is a brilliantly written thriller story that you'll be thinking about long after putting it down.
I highly recommend!
“His edges had been gently rounded by nuanced debate and foreign coffee and morning news.”
Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland, at a landmark known as the stockman's grave. The landmark is so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects..
Set in the remote Australian outback, Jane Harper makes full use of her settings. All of your senses are engaged, you can feel the suffocating heat, hear the circling birds of prey above, and feel the roughness of the dry sand on your hands as you easily picture her characters and feel the tensions that begin to surface at the stockman's grave.
Highly character driven, this story looks at how well we know the ones closest to us. Long buried truths start to unravel. I was desperate for the characters to find the answers and consolation that they each sought. With lots of surprises, layers of emotion, and an atmosphere described in such detail, really driving home the notion of how vulnerable people are in the Australian outback.
The Lost Man is a brilliantly written thriller story that you'll be thinking about long after putting it down.
I highly recommend!
“His edges had been gently rounded by nuanced debate and foreign coffee and morning news.”
February 20, 2020
The Lost Man by Jane Harper is a 2019 Flatiron publication.
Riveting!
Jane Harper’s descriptive depictions of the Queensland scenery, places the reader smack dab into its harsh atmosphere, helping to create a dark and moody mystery, crackling with unbearable suspense.
The Stockman grave, a landmark with a storied legend behind it is the scene of the shocking death of Cameron, the middle son of the Bright family. The rumor is that Cameron, who had been behaving strangely, as of late, may have deliberately caused his own death.
Cameron's family, which includes his two brothers, Nathan and Bub, his widow, and their two young daughters, must decide what the future holds for each of them, now that Cameron is gone.
Nathan is grappling with a terrible deed from his past, which resulted in his becoming an outcast in the community, exiling him to a lonely existence, except for the occasional visit from his teenage son, Xander.
Bub is the youngest brother, struggling to find his own niche, and resentful of his brothers, wishing he could break free and live his own life away from the family business.
But, as the story deepens, questions continue to linger regarding Cameron’s death. What had been troubling him lately? Why had he been so on edge? Did he really commit suicide?
As the secrets slowly reveal themselves, a portrait of a family steeped in regrets, longing and misunderstanding, begins to emerge- one that is packed with horrible, stunning, and heartbreaking revelations.
While this is a very deep mystery, it is also a complex family drama so compelling and achingly painful, the book is almost impossible to put down!!
Harper outdid herself with this one! Highly recommend!
All the stars!!
Riveting!
Jane Harper’s descriptive depictions of the Queensland scenery, places the reader smack dab into its harsh atmosphere, helping to create a dark and moody mystery, crackling with unbearable suspense.
The Stockman grave, a landmark with a storied legend behind it is the scene of the shocking death of Cameron, the middle son of the Bright family. The rumor is that Cameron, who had been behaving strangely, as of late, may have deliberately caused his own death.
Cameron's family, which includes his two brothers, Nathan and Bub, his widow, and their two young daughters, must decide what the future holds for each of them, now that Cameron is gone.
Nathan is grappling with a terrible deed from his past, which resulted in his becoming an outcast in the community, exiling him to a lonely existence, except for the occasional visit from his teenage son, Xander.
Bub is the youngest brother, struggling to find his own niche, and resentful of his brothers, wishing he could break free and live his own life away from the family business.
But, as the story deepens, questions continue to linger regarding Cameron’s death. What had been troubling him lately? Why had he been so on edge? Did he really commit suicide?
As the secrets slowly reveal themselves, a portrait of a family steeped in regrets, longing and misunderstanding, begins to emerge- one that is packed with horrible, stunning, and heartbreaking revelations.
While this is a very deep mystery, it is also a complex family drama so compelling and achingly painful, the book is almost impossible to put down!!
Harper outdid herself with this one! Highly recommend!
All the stars!!
October 16, 2018
"He couldn't simply leave, for a lot of reasons. Financial. Practical. And not least because sometimes, quite a lot of the time, he felt connected to the outback in a way that he loved. There was something about the brutal heat, when the sun was high in the sky and he was watching the slow meandering movement of the herds. Looking out over the wide-open plains and seeing the changing colors. It was the only time he felt something close to happiness."
I rarely start my reviews with a quote, but I wanted to share this description. It is descriptions like that one that pulled me into the story, let me feel as if I were truly there instead of simply reading and observing. This takes true talent, a talent that based on the three novels of hers I have read, this author has in spades. A stand alone, a story of a family who own a large cattle ststion in the outback. Three grown sons and various other family members as well as workers. When the middle brother is found dead by the stockman's grave, a suicide is suspected as he week knew never to go far away from his supplies, the heat a definite killer. The stockman's grave out in the middle of nowhere, a grave that has many urban legends attached. So we enter the life of this family, their secrets, past acts and grievances, things seen but not apparent nor questionable at the time. There is much tension simmering under the surface, and this death will bring all to the surface.
The death is only the background, the family and their relationships, past misdeeds and abuses, at the forefront. A story that even those who do not read mysteries will enjoy. A setting that is beautifully described and prose where not a word is wasted. A family that has suffered much but still remain together. Although different from her previous two novels, I think this one is my favorite, it is so realistically portrayed. Now I have to wait impatiently for her next.
ARC from Netgalley.
I rarely start my reviews with a quote, but I wanted to share this description. It is descriptions like that one that pulled me into the story, let me feel as if I were truly there instead of simply reading and observing. This takes true talent, a talent that based on the three novels of hers I have read, this author has in spades. A stand alone, a story of a family who own a large cattle ststion in the outback. Three grown sons and various other family members as well as workers. When the middle brother is found dead by the stockman's grave, a suicide is suspected as he week knew never to go far away from his supplies, the heat a definite killer. The stockman's grave out in the middle of nowhere, a grave that has many urban legends attached. So we enter the life of this family, their secrets, past acts and grievances, things seen but not apparent nor questionable at the time. There is much tension simmering under the surface, and this death will bring all to the surface.
The death is only the background, the family and their relationships, past misdeeds and abuses, at the forefront. A story that even those who do not read mysteries will enjoy. A setting that is beautifully described and prose where not a word is wasted. A family that has suffered much but still remain together. Although different from her previous two novels, I think this one is my favorite, it is so realistically portrayed. Now I have to wait impatiently for her next.
ARC from Netgalley.
March 13, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up
I am in the minority on this one. I think I am the only one that gave this 3 stars. I loved The Dry. That one was my favorite and I even loved the second book. This one was just so slow and boring. I wish I could of loved this one like everyone else. I loved the writing and that's the reason why I finished it. I was expecting a good ending and it wasn't the best for me. I got this on Overdrive so I am not going to write a full review.
I am in the minority on this one. I think I am the only one that gave this 3 stars. I loved The Dry. That one was my favorite and I even loved the second book. This one was just so slow and boring. I wish I could of loved this one like everyone else. I loved the writing and that's the reason why I finished it. I was expecting a good ending and it wasn't the best for me. I got this on Overdrive so I am not going to write a full review.
April 24, 2021
the setting is what made me really enjoy this. the unforgiving, harsh environment of the australian outback allows for quite an eerie story. as someone who grew up in the middle of a desert, i know just how crazy the heat can make people, so i could really understand the whole desperateness of this story.
i think JH does a great job with how this mystery unfolds. its unhurried, with a certain laid-back quality that i associate with aussies, but i think thats what hooked me. i eagerly awaited for when the next little piece of information would be revealed.
i also enjoyed how this is a look at domestic family life in the outback. all of the characters are compelling and the different dynamics between each member of the family, the townspeople, and even outsiders, make for a very complex story.
i think its safe to say this is probably my favourite JH book so far!
↠ 4.5 stars
i think JH does a great job with how this mystery unfolds. its unhurried, with a certain laid-back quality that i associate with aussies, but i think thats what hooked me. i eagerly awaited for when the next little piece of information would be revealed.
i also enjoyed how this is a look at domestic family life in the outback. all of the characters are compelling and the different dynamics between each member of the family, the townspeople, and even outsiders, make for a very complex story.
i think its safe to say this is probably my favourite JH book so far!
↠ 4.5 stars
January 19, 2021
As soon as I read Jane Harper’s “Dry”, I found myself on the couch jumping up and down and immaturely making some nonsense leg and hand moves some people may call dancing or a crazy redhead’s painful moves,suffering from constipation and she’s too lazy to run to the bathroom.
So I celebrated to find a new Aussie thriller author and I couldn’t wait to get this book into my hands. It’s gripping, exciting, fast paced family drama, crime and mystery story. A dysfunctional family and its members already drifted apart to live their own lives with limited connections with each other till one of them gets murdered and there is a possibility that one of them could be killer.
Welcome to the outback in Queensland. It’s hot as hell and this harsh, compelling climate creates a real challenge for people to find better ways to make their ends meet and proper way of earning their livings. We’re introduced to three brothers:
Nathan, living by himself, divorced and estranged with his son Xander, unhappy, resentful and tired.
Middle brother Cameron seems like having all, good looks, popularity, beautiful wife, two lovely kids.
And Bub, youngest, silent, feeling like outcast of his own family, trying to build something concrete in his life but he never gets a chance and have a say about things. His brothers always know the best and he has to learn living in their shadows.
And yes, middle and popular brother was found death at Stockman’s grave. Why did he go there anyways? There are so many missing pieces and unanswered questions about his murder. All the family members keep secrets and they have to come clean to find out who killed Cameron but this means there is no turning back as soon as they start to talk about hidden truths and bring out the skeletons they piled in their closets.
Ending was remarkable and mystery of this story keeps your attention intact, you wanna find out whodunit. But you also think Cameron is complete Ahole and you don’t feel so sorry about his death.
Thankfully Jane Harper didn’t disappoint me again with her crafted story telling skills and well-rounded characterization. It’s quick, exhilarating, thrilling page turner that I highly recommend.
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So I celebrated to find a new Aussie thriller author and I couldn’t wait to get this book into my hands. It’s gripping, exciting, fast paced family drama, crime and mystery story. A dysfunctional family and its members already drifted apart to live their own lives with limited connections with each other till one of them gets murdered and there is a possibility that one of them could be killer.
Welcome to the outback in Queensland. It’s hot as hell and this harsh, compelling climate creates a real challenge for people to find better ways to make their ends meet and proper way of earning their livings. We’re introduced to three brothers:
Nathan, living by himself, divorced and estranged with his son Xander, unhappy, resentful and tired.
Middle brother Cameron seems like having all, good looks, popularity, beautiful wife, two lovely kids.
And Bub, youngest, silent, feeling like outcast of his own family, trying to build something concrete in his life but he never gets a chance and have a say about things. His brothers always know the best and he has to learn living in their shadows.
And yes, middle and popular brother was found death at Stockman’s grave. Why did he go there anyways? There are so many missing pieces and unanswered questions about his murder. All the family members keep secrets and they have to come clean to find out who killed Cameron but this means there is no turning back as soon as they start to talk about hidden truths and bring out the skeletons they piled in their closets.
Ending was remarkable and mystery of this story keeps your attention intact, you wanna find out whodunit. But you also think Cameron is complete Ahole and you don’t feel so sorry about his death.
Thankfully Jane Harper didn’t disappoint me again with her crafted story telling skills and well-rounded characterization. It’s quick, exhilarating, thrilling page turner that I highly recommend.
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June 28, 2020
I liked this book a great deal. I marveled at the layer upon layer of detail that all coalesce to a dynamic conclusion. I'm envious and wish I could do the same in my novels. In this story the setting has equal weight with a main character one of my favorite types of books. I also enjoyed visiting a place I've never been. I liked how the author created this harsh world and even though its untamed, man continues to occupy it and eke out a living. I worked as a cop in the deserts of San Bernardino and know first hand how deadly the summers can be. Tourists who drive through sometimes stop and wander a short distance from their car. When the ambient temperature is 120 degrees, 150 off the rock and asphalt they can be overcome quickly and perish. Ironically, my first day working in the desert I was shown the equipment in the back of the patrol car which included a 100 feet of nylon climbing rope and was told it was for fast-water rescues. In desert that kills in the summer if you step too far from your car there are also monsoons. The first monsoon I experienced cars were floating down the roads with people on the roofs. Death by 150 degree heat or by drowning. In Harper's Last Man she talks about "The Flood." I would have liked to read more about that juxtaposition.
I don't like to write a review about the plot as it spoils it for others. This book is well worth the read. Its slow to start out and has the structure of a mystery not a thriller. Harper captured my interest with the multilayered plot and depth of character. Though, I almost put it down at the beginning with the slow start. In this story there are plenty of suspects in a death that might not have even been a murder, as well as plenty of red herrings. I thought I knew who did it and how. I had the how right but not the who. The ending is not unlike Defending Jacob (if you haven't read Defending Jacob, I consider that one a must-read). Sorry, that could also be a round about spoiler.
I will be recommending this book to my friends.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
I don't like to write a review about the plot as it spoils it for others. This book is well worth the read. Its slow to start out and has the structure of a mystery not a thriller. Harper captured my interest with the multilayered plot and depth of character. Though, I almost put it down at the beginning with the slow start. In this story there are plenty of suspects in a death that might not have even been a murder, as well as plenty of red herrings. I thought I knew who did it and how. I had the how right but not the who. The ending is not unlike Defending Jacob (if you haven't read Defending Jacob, I consider that one a must-read). Sorry, that could also be a round about spoiler.
I will be recommending this book to my friends.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
December 31, 2018
The Lost Man is a stand alone mystery from Jane Harper. It’s a slow burn of a book. A man is found dead of dehydration out in the middle of his Australian cattle station. There’s no rhyme or reason for him to have been there, kilometers away from his well provisioned, working car. His other two brothers try to sort through the why of his demise.
Harper parcels out clues and backstories in small bites. We slowly get to see further into each of the brothers, not to mention the father that shaped them. Her descriptions of the outback make it seem like character in its own right. It’s so desolate and so removed from “civilization”.
This book grabbed me and I had to force myself to put it down and get on with life. It’s a very quick read because it is so compelling. Harper does a great job getting a family where everyone has secrets just right. I loved the dynamics, that whole hate/love thing. A great ending, Very Satisfying. Highly recommend this one!
August 2, 2019
This was amazing! Incredible!
Absolutely loved it!
"Life out here is hard. We all try to get through the best way we can. But trust me, there's not a single person here who isn't lying to themselves about something."
I have enjoyed both The Dry and Force of Nature by Jane Harper, but The Lost Man is definitely my favourite so far!
Cameron Bright is found dead in the roughest part of the Australian outback, where temperatures reach 40 degrees and a few hours exposure is all it takes for someone to lose their life.
His brothers Nathan and Bub are left behind to work out what happened - most people assume suicide, as his car is found fully operational and filled with emergency supplies. But Nathan isn't sure. Cam had a wife, two daughters and a fully functioning business with running the family property - why would he have felt the need to take his own life.
The best part about Jane Harper's books are the ways she sets the scenery, the stifling temperatures, where the closest neighbours are 3 hours apart, where locals have radio's in order to keep in touch. It is life at its most extreme. Nathan in particular - after a messy divorce, lives alone on his land - sometimes going for weeks at a time without human contact. He lives for the visits from his son Xander.
"People pretend to themselves that they are fine all the time. Everyday day, and for years on end."
My other favourite thing with Jane Harper's books is how there isn't a need for some massive twist at the end. There is a small enough pool of suspects, and we know it has to be one of them. The real question is which one? When everyone seems to have a motive. There is Nathan who was in love with Cameron's wife Ilse, there's Bub who stands to gain a slice of the family property after Cam's death, Harry who has worked for the family on the land for years, but has recently fallen out with Cam, what about these two mysterious looking backpackers who have begun working on the land but no one knows anything about them?
There are so many secrets and lies, and hidden agendas with all of these characters, I was completely gripped from start to finish. The reveal at the end surprised me, but it was still believable. Overall this was a fantastically written crime novel and Jane Harper is one to watch!
"Someone can decide it's in their best interests to agree to something, but a choice is only really a choice if there's a genuine alternative."
Absolutely loved it!
"Life out here is hard. We all try to get through the best way we can. But trust me, there's not a single person here who isn't lying to themselves about something."
I have enjoyed both The Dry and Force of Nature by Jane Harper, but The Lost Man is definitely my favourite so far!
Cameron Bright is found dead in the roughest part of the Australian outback, where temperatures reach 40 degrees and a few hours exposure is all it takes for someone to lose their life.
His brothers Nathan and Bub are left behind to work out what happened - most people assume suicide, as his car is found fully operational and filled with emergency supplies. But Nathan isn't sure. Cam had a wife, two daughters and a fully functioning business with running the family property - why would he have felt the need to take his own life.
The best part about Jane Harper's books are the ways she sets the scenery, the stifling temperatures, where the closest neighbours are 3 hours apart, where locals have radio's in order to keep in touch. It is life at its most extreme. Nathan in particular - after a messy divorce, lives alone on his land - sometimes going for weeks at a time without human contact. He lives for the visits from his son Xander.
"People pretend to themselves that they are fine all the time. Everyday day, and for years on end."
My other favourite thing with Jane Harper's books is how there isn't a need for some massive twist at the end. There is a small enough pool of suspects, and we know it has to be one of them. The real question is which one? When everyone seems to have a motive. There is Nathan who was in love with Cameron's wife Ilse, there's Bub who stands to gain a slice of the family property after Cam's death, Harry who has worked for the family on the land for years, but has recently fallen out with Cam, what about these two mysterious looking backpackers who have begun working on the land but no one knows anything about them?
There are so many secrets and lies, and hidden agendas with all of these characters, I was completely gripped from start to finish. The reveal at the end surprised me, but it was still believable. Overall this was a fantastically written crime novel and Jane Harper is one to watch!
"Someone can decide it's in their best interests to agree to something, but a choice is only really a choice if there's a genuine alternative."
October 27, 2018
Jane Harper is an author with real talent and a genuine knowledge of Australia and its landscape. In this, her third book, she takes us into outback Queensland with its unimaginably huge cattle stations and its devastating dryness and heat.
One major aspect of living in such a place is that the people must be independent as services we take for granted living in a city are not as available. In this story, after Nathan and Bub find their brother dead there are no forensic specialists, no pathologists, just one lone policeman who covers a huge area. He spends most of the book hundreds of kilometres away dealing with a bus crash and it is up to the family to find their own solutions to the unexpected death.
I enjoyed the characters especially Nathan and Xander. The two little girls, Sophie and Lo, are fun too and we see some of the ways children live their outback lives with School of the Air and ponies to ride every day. All very interesting!
I enjoyed it all and read it in a day. Now I wait with anticipation to see what the author does next!
One major aspect of living in such a place is that the people must be independent as services we take for granted living in a city are not as available. In this story, after Nathan and Bub find their brother dead there are no forensic specialists, no pathologists, just one lone policeman who covers a huge area. He spends most of the book hundreds of kilometres away dealing with a bus crash and it is up to the family to find their own solutions to the unexpected death.
I enjoyed the characters especially Nathan and Xander. The two little girls, Sophie and Lo, are fun too and we see some of the ways children live their outback lives with School of the Air and ponies to ride every day. All very interesting!
I enjoyed it all and read it in a day. Now I wait with anticipation to see what the author does next!
December 30, 2018
Once upon a time there were 3 brothers. They all lived on the expansive outback of Australia.
Now two of the brothers find themselves standing over the body of the third, wondering… what happened?
Nathan - the oldest, struggling after being shunned by his community. Divorced, in debt and painfully alone.
Cameron - the middle child. The favorite. He learned early on that a charming smile will win over anyone he comes in contact with.
Bub - the youngest. Fumbling about in the shadows of his two brothers. Never able to successfully strike out on his own.
Jane Harper writes a highly descriptive tale of life in the outback. The harshness of the terrain, the determination of those who choose to live there and work an unforgiving land. A daily struggle in the searing, relentless heat.
A slow, deliberate read that will draw you in, giving you a deep look inside the complexities of a family. Their struggles for success, love and ultimately acceptance.
This was my first read by Jane Harper, though I’ve got her two previous books in my TBR shelf that will be moving rapidly up my list!
A buddy read with Susanne! So glad we got to read this one together!!☃️
Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Jane Harper for an ARC to read and review.
Now two of the brothers find themselves standing over the body of the third, wondering… what happened?
Nathan - the oldest, struggling after being shunned by his community. Divorced, in debt and painfully alone.
Cameron - the middle child. The favorite. He learned early on that a charming smile will win over anyone he comes in contact with.
Bub - the youngest. Fumbling about in the shadows of his two brothers. Never able to successfully strike out on his own.
Jane Harper writes a highly descriptive tale of life in the outback. The harshness of the terrain, the determination of those who choose to live there and work an unforgiving land. A daily struggle in the searing, relentless heat.
A slow, deliberate read that will draw you in, giving you a deep look inside the complexities of a family. Their struggles for success, love and ultimately acceptance.
This was my first read by Jane Harper, though I’ve got her two previous books in my TBR shelf that will be moving rapidly up my list!
A buddy read with Susanne! So glad we got to read this one together!!☃️
Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Jane Harper for an ARC to read and review.
March 2, 2021
The best book by Ms Harper!
The Lost Man is a book that offers a lot to a hungry reader but it definitely makes the thirst stronger with the terrific and atmospheric portrayal of the Australian outback. I considered myself lucky to be reading this book in winter since the descriptions make you feel the heat and want for water.
The plot is built around a middle brother's death. But this is not the main theme and the book is not a typical thriller. In my opinion, the book focuses on how the place where we are brought up influences our deeds and personality, and the story told proves that not just family shapes us. On the other hand, the better we get to know the characters, the more we learn of the tragic choices they make, right up to the grand finale.
One of the images that will stay with me is the stockman's grave, symbolic for the novel and for the outback. A lonely grave symbolizes the unforgiveness of the place where he found himself, and different versions of the man's death are given throughout the novel but the real circumstances simply break your heart.
For a European dreaming of travelling to Down-Under, the descriptions of lifestyle are fascinating and terrifying at the same time. The remoteness and the cruelty of the place rule the life, the way you arrange daily duties, plan your shopping or prepare for even a short trip. The slightest mistake may cost life. Such dependency on one another is hardly known in Europe.
I recommend this gem among Ms Harper's novels. It IS unputdowable. Just make sure to have a bottle of mineral water at hand.
The Lost Man is a book that offers a lot to a hungry reader but it definitely makes the thirst stronger with the terrific and atmospheric portrayal of the Australian outback. I considered myself lucky to be reading this book in winter since the descriptions make you feel the heat and want for water.
The plot is built around a middle brother's death. But this is not the main theme and the book is not a typical thriller. In my opinion, the book focuses on how the place where we are brought up influences our deeds and personality, and the story told proves that not just family shapes us. On the other hand, the better we get to know the characters, the more we learn of the tragic choices they make, right up to the grand finale.
One of the images that will stay with me is the stockman's grave, symbolic for the novel and for the outback. A lonely grave symbolizes the unforgiveness of the place where he found himself, and different versions of the man's death are given throughout the novel but the real circumstances simply break your heart.
For a European dreaming of travelling to Down-Under, the descriptions of lifestyle are fascinating and terrifying at the same time. The remoteness and the cruelty of the place rule the life, the way you arrange daily duties, plan your shopping or prepare for even a short trip. The slightest mistake may cost life. Such dependency on one another is hardly known in Europe.
I recommend this gem among Ms Harper's novels. It IS unputdowable. Just make sure to have a bottle of mineral water at hand.
December 22, 2018
Having thoroughly enjoyed Jane Harper’s first two novels, I was eager to try this, a standalone, to see how connected I felt. While the story was definitely different, it grew on me and helped cement the sentiment that Harper is one of those authors sure to be recommended by those who read her work. When the body of Cameron Bright is found in the middle of an open parcel of land in Western Australia, questions abound. Discovered on the property of one of his brothers, a vast expanse of over 700 square kilometres, no one can be quite sure what happened or if there was foul play. As temperatures rise above 45 degrees Celsius, he could have perished from dehydration, particularly because he was found well away from his vehicle. The flat plains and no one having seen anything also limits the possibility that a stranger completed a nefarious act. As Nathan and Bub try to work through what happened to their brother, news comes from others within the clan, stories that have been kept under wraps until Cameron’s passing. Could some of the middle brother’s antics be coming to haunt him? With a large group of potential suspects and a fairly new member of the police force supervising this vast region, it’s anybody’s guess as to what happened and who might be involved, not to mention what motive might be at play. But, with Christmas approaching, answers will need to be found, if only to put the entire matter to rest. Harper keeps the reader guessing until the final pages, in this wonderfully unique Australian mystery. Recommended for those who have enjoyed the Aaron Falk series and all those who like something a little different.
I have long had a fascination with Australia and novels set on that side of the world. I cannot put my finger on it, but I’ve been lucky to have had some wonderful authors depict the area effectively, including Jane Harper. While the terrain differs greatly from my Canadian homeland, the people seem relatively similar, allowing me to have a strong connection and affinity for those who live in and around Australia and New Zealand. Harper introduces the reader to both Bub and Nathan Bright in the early stages of this novel, brothers who have spent much of their lives in a farming family in Western Australia. Their coming upon the third brother in the family, Cameron, takes its toll on them differently, as can be seen in the way Harper depicts them. Not only that, but their abilities to process the news and develop a plan to get to the bottom of what happens seems also to contrast. Nathan struggles with his teenage son, Xander, as well, which only adds to some of the backstory and development that Harper heaps upon the man. Adding a large cast of secondary characters, including multiple generations of Brights and some who married into the family, permits Harper to explore the family dynamic in even more ways, as secrets are revealed and news is shared between the branches. While somewhat a murder mystery, I would also classify this as a novel of familial discovery, as the ‘onion’ is peeled back and those closest to others discover just how little they know. Harper weaves this storyline through the curiosities of rural Australia and how isolation can also flavour this mystery. The end result is a captivating piece that will keep the reader guessing as the react to the news that comes from a variety of sources. Harper has does well, even if fans of the Aaron Falk series are begging for more. Sure to whet the appetite and bring new fans into the fold!
Kudos, Madam Harper, for another wonderful novel. Unique in its delivery, but surely satisfying and intriguing.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I have long had a fascination with Australia and novels set on that side of the world. I cannot put my finger on it, but I’ve been lucky to have had some wonderful authors depict the area effectively, including Jane Harper. While the terrain differs greatly from my Canadian homeland, the people seem relatively similar, allowing me to have a strong connection and affinity for those who live in and around Australia and New Zealand. Harper introduces the reader to both Bub and Nathan Bright in the early stages of this novel, brothers who have spent much of their lives in a farming family in Western Australia. Their coming upon the third brother in the family, Cameron, takes its toll on them differently, as can be seen in the way Harper depicts them. Not only that, but their abilities to process the news and develop a plan to get to the bottom of what happens seems also to contrast. Nathan struggles with his teenage son, Xander, as well, which only adds to some of the backstory and development that Harper heaps upon the man. Adding a large cast of secondary characters, including multiple generations of Brights and some who married into the family, permits Harper to explore the family dynamic in even more ways, as secrets are revealed and news is shared between the branches. While somewhat a murder mystery, I would also classify this as a novel of familial discovery, as the ‘onion’ is peeled back and those closest to others discover just how little they know. Harper weaves this storyline through the curiosities of rural Australia and how isolation can also flavour this mystery. The end result is a captivating piece that will keep the reader guessing as the react to the news that comes from a variety of sources. Harper has does well, even if fans of the Aaron Falk series are begging for more. Sure to whet the appetite and bring new fans into the fold!
Kudos, Madam Harper, for another wonderful novel. Unique in its delivery, but surely satisfying and intriguing.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
January 18, 2019
4.5
Fantastic new book by Jane Harper set in the vastness of the Australian Outback, so atmospheric... showing the dangers and loneliness that come with a life lived there.
This story is about three brothers who together own quite a spread of land, and one brother is found dead near an old stockman’s grave on their property.
This novel is as much family drama as mystery/thriller and I really enjoyed the characters of the extended family.
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, so, much thanks to them!
Fantastic new book by Jane Harper set in the vastness of the Australian Outback, so atmospheric... showing the dangers and loneliness that come with a life lived there.
This story is about three brothers who together own quite a spread of land, and one brother is found dead near an old stockman’s grave on their property.
This novel is as much family drama as mystery/thriller and I really enjoyed the characters of the extended family.
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, so, much thanks to them!
December 29, 2018
Another marvellous tale from Jane Harper. In this one we find ourselves at the lonely grave of a fallen stockman in the middle of outback Queensland, where another, much more recent, body is lying on the grave. The body turns out to be Cam Bright, a local landowner, but what was he doing in the middle of nowhere? And so far from his car? His older brother Nathan realises that things are not adding up, but Nathan has troubles of his own. As we delve into the families past secrets begin to slowly reveal themselves, both shocking and surprising.
I raced through this book in a day, mesmerised by the narrative and the descriptions of the beauty of the outback. Jane Harper does a wonderful job of transporting the reader into her tale, so much so we can feel the oppressive heat beating down upon us, and we are continually wondering what on earth Cam was doing so far from where he was supposed to be. This book is a must read for all lovers of fiction.
I raced through this book in a day, mesmerised by the narrative and the descriptions of the beauty of the outback. Jane Harper does a wonderful job of transporting the reader into her tale, so much so we can feel the oppressive heat beating down upon us, and we are continually wondering what on earth Cam was doing so far from where he was supposed to be. This book is a must read for all lovers of fiction.
October 26, 2018
Desolate, dangerous, remote and vast; the Australian outback is a place I’d bet I will never see. Those who make it their home live a hard life coping with the savage heat of a vicious and unforgiving climate. One mistake means death and preparation is essential. The inhabitants know this so it makes no sense when two brothers find their middle brother dead in a godforsaken location and it appears he intentionally wandered off to his death. A death caused by the elements of the outback is gruesome. This is an intricately plotted mystery that delves deeply into the inner workings of a family dependent upon each other for survival. This does not disappoint and the writing is superb.
January 25, 2023
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. after listening to (and really liking) The Dry by Jane Harper last year, several GR friends highly recommended that I should also read this particular book; and,
2. since Australia Day is on January 26, I'm dedicating January 2023 as my "Books That Come From a Land Down Under" Month!
Praises:
1. once again, Harper's atmospheric setting acts as a character in itself! This story worked perfectly in the outback of Queensland. Since vacationing in Australia back in 1995, I recognized some of the places mentioned that we actually visited;
2. this realistic character-driven story is so riveting! The relatable family dynamics and clashes reveal flaws in most of the characters;
3. I love trying to figure out "whodunit"! Various characters had opportunity and motive, but clues are eventually revealed to eliminate possible suspects. I had to laugh at myself I was so wrong - again!
4. the Prologue is a great hook! I wanted to hear more;
5. narrator, Stephen Shanahan is extremely authentic with his excellent use of expression and prosody! I had absolutely no difficulties following along with his Aussie accent; and,
6. check out the "Interview With the Author and Narrator" after listening to the audiobook!
Overall Thoughts:
Hurray! What a fantastic read/listen to open up 2023! It really grabbed me! Thank you, thank you, to all my GR friends who told me to read this book!
Recommendation?
Are you a fan of suspense/thrillers? If so, you must add this one to your WTR list - if you haven't already! (If you have, get to it ASAP!)
1. after listening to (and really liking) The Dry by Jane Harper last year, several GR friends highly recommended that I should also read this particular book; and,
2. since Australia Day is on January 26, I'm dedicating January 2023 as my "Books That Come From a Land Down Under" Month!
Praises:
1. once again, Harper's atmospheric setting acts as a character in itself! This story worked perfectly in the outback of Queensland. Since vacationing in Australia back in 1995, I recognized some of the places mentioned that we actually visited;
2. this realistic character-driven story is so riveting! The relatable family dynamics and clashes reveal flaws in most of the characters;
3. I love trying to figure out "whodunit"! Various characters had opportunity and motive, but clues are eventually revealed to eliminate possible suspects. I had to laugh at myself I was so wrong - again!
4. the Prologue is a great hook! I wanted to hear more;
5. narrator, Stephen Shanahan is extremely authentic with his excellent use of expression and prosody! I had absolutely no difficulties following along with his Aussie accent; and,
6. check out the "Interview With the Author and Narrator" after listening to the audiobook!
Overall Thoughts:
Hurray! What a fantastic read/listen to open up 2023! It really grabbed me! Thank you, thank you, to all my GR friends who told me to read this book!
Recommendation?
Are you a fan of suspense/thrillers? If so, you must add this one to your WTR list - if you haven't already! (If you have, get to it ASAP!)
February 19, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up.
I've read all three of Jane Harper's now. In addition to her exceptional storytelling ability, she is tremendously effective with the imagery she evokes. Reading The Lost Man , as well as The Dry and Force of Nature , I could feel the unrelenting heat of the Australian outback and taste the dry dust, right along with the characters.
The Bright family lives in adjoining cattle ranches in the isolated Australian outback, but they're still more than a three-hour drive away from one another. Brothers Nathan and Bub Bright meet for the first time in quite a while when their middle brother, Cameron, is found dead on a remote part of the family cattle ranch. He was a victim of the brutal heat, but no one understands what made him brave the elements with no protection, especially when he had planned to meet up with Bub that day.
When it becomes clear that there was no reason for Cameron to be outside in the heat for so long, especially when his car was running perfectly and was fully stocked with the supplies one would need in an emergency, the realization surfaces that either Cameron took his own life, or someone forced him into a situation that would end it brutally.
"They lived in a land of extremes in more ways than one. People were either completely fine, or very not. There was little middle ground. And Cam wasn't some tourist. He knew how to handle himself, and that meant he could well have been half an hour up the road, slowed down by the dark and out of range, but snug in his swag, with a cool beer from the fridge in his boot. Or he might not."
Nathan and his teenage son return to the family ranch with Bub. Cameron was managing the ranch, on which lived their mother, his wife, their daughters, a longtime family friend who was more than an employee, and two backpackers Cameron hired. Nathan's relationship with his family has always been a bit distant, as he and his family bear the scars of their violent father. His family worries about Nathan's own stability, as his life has been far from easy, and he lives out in the distance on his ranch by himself.
As Nathan and others try to make sense of Cam's last days, to determine if his behavior everyone describes as "on edge" translated into a suicide attempt, or if something more nefarious is at play, old wounds are reopened, old resentments resurface, and worries about the future cause more tension. It seems as if everyone had something to hide, and Cam's death could have had its roots in a decades-old incident that nearly everyone had forgotten about.
"Life out here is hard. We all try to get through the best way we can. But trust me, there's not a single person here who isn't lying to themselves about something."
Was Cam unsettled enough that he took his own life, or did someone kill him? If someone did kill Cam, who was it—Bub? Ilse, Cam's wife? Uncle Harry, the longtime employee? One of the backpackers, whose background isn't quite what they said it was? Or was it a figure from the past, returning to even the score?
Can the family ever regain some sense of emotional equilibrium, or will the old scars and hurts continue to block any meaningful relationships? Can Nathan survive his lonely existence, or is he becoming a threat to himself, as many in his family, including his son, fear? The Lost Man is both mystery and a novel about the bonds of family, and how they can be both comforting and troubling.
I thought this was a fantastic book. There was so much to appreciate here, from Nathan's own issues and his fragile relationship with his son, to the brutal lives the family had under their father's thumb, and how everyone was determined that the sins of the father not repeat themselves. Harper did such a terrific job getting me completely hooked on this story, and I devoured the entire book in a day.
This isn't quite a thriller, but there certainly is suspense, and I was surprised by how Harper tied everything up. I'd actually love to see the Bright family again, that's how immersed I found myself in this story. Harper has had a fantastic run of books so far, and I look forward to what's coming next.
I received an advance copy of the novel courtesy of Flatiron Books. Thanks for making it available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
I've read all three of Jane Harper's now. In addition to her exceptional storytelling ability, she is tremendously effective with the imagery she evokes. Reading The Lost Man , as well as The Dry and Force of Nature , I could feel the unrelenting heat of the Australian outback and taste the dry dust, right along with the characters.
The Bright family lives in adjoining cattle ranches in the isolated Australian outback, but they're still more than a three-hour drive away from one another. Brothers Nathan and Bub Bright meet for the first time in quite a while when their middle brother, Cameron, is found dead on a remote part of the family cattle ranch. He was a victim of the brutal heat, but no one understands what made him brave the elements with no protection, especially when he had planned to meet up with Bub that day.
When it becomes clear that there was no reason for Cameron to be outside in the heat for so long, especially when his car was running perfectly and was fully stocked with the supplies one would need in an emergency, the realization surfaces that either Cameron took his own life, or someone forced him into a situation that would end it brutally.
"They lived in a land of extremes in more ways than one. People were either completely fine, or very not. There was little middle ground. And Cam wasn't some tourist. He knew how to handle himself, and that meant he could well have been half an hour up the road, slowed down by the dark and out of range, but snug in his swag, with a cool beer from the fridge in his boot. Or he might not."
Nathan and his teenage son return to the family ranch with Bub. Cameron was managing the ranch, on which lived their mother, his wife, their daughters, a longtime family friend who was more than an employee, and two backpackers Cameron hired. Nathan's relationship with his family has always been a bit distant, as he and his family bear the scars of their violent father. His family worries about Nathan's own stability, as his life has been far from easy, and he lives out in the distance on his ranch by himself.
As Nathan and others try to make sense of Cam's last days, to determine if his behavior everyone describes as "on edge" translated into a suicide attempt, or if something more nefarious is at play, old wounds are reopened, old resentments resurface, and worries about the future cause more tension. It seems as if everyone had something to hide, and Cam's death could have had its roots in a decades-old incident that nearly everyone had forgotten about.
"Life out here is hard. We all try to get through the best way we can. But trust me, there's not a single person here who isn't lying to themselves about something."
Was Cam unsettled enough that he took his own life, or did someone kill him? If someone did kill Cam, who was it—Bub? Ilse, Cam's wife? Uncle Harry, the longtime employee? One of the backpackers, whose background isn't quite what they said it was? Or was it a figure from the past, returning to even the score?
Can the family ever regain some sense of emotional equilibrium, or will the old scars and hurts continue to block any meaningful relationships? Can Nathan survive his lonely existence, or is he becoming a threat to himself, as many in his family, including his son, fear? The Lost Man is both mystery and a novel about the bonds of family, and how they can be both comforting and troubling.
I thought this was a fantastic book. There was so much to appreciate here, from Nathan's own issues and his fragile relationship with his son, to the brutal lives the family had under their father's thumb, and how everyone was determined that the sins of the father not repeat themselves. Harper did such a terrific job getting me completely hooked on this story, and I devoured the entire book in a day.
This isn't quite a thriller, but there certainly is suspense, and I was surprised by how Harper tied everything up. I'd actually love to see the Bright family again, that's how immersed I found myself in this story. Harper has had a fantastic run of books so far, and I look forward to what's coming next.
I received an advance copy of the novel courtesy of Flatiron Books. Thanks for making it available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
June 17, 2025
LA TOMBA DEL MANDRIANO
Il vicino di casa sta a tre ore di auto. C’è solo una strada per uscire e una per entrare: e la strada muore nel paese prima che cominci il deserto.
In quella parte dell’Australia che si chiama Queensland la corrente elettrica non arriva, le grandi fattorie hanno un generatore, che la notte viene spento e in quel momento il buio è così denso che si taglia col coltello. Passa un’auto a settimana, non di più: e se arriva uno straniero, un turista, tutti se ne accorgono. Non si capisce perché si stendono i panni ad asciugare al sole visto che nel giro di poco la polvere rossa li ricopre e vanno rilavati. La scuola si faceva via radio, adesso su internet: smart studying, ma non c’è niente di smart.
Avventurarsi d’estate a piedi porta a morte certa nel giro di qualche ora per disidratazione: infatti, tutti si spostano in quattroruote motrici cariche di provviste di cibo e acqua, e le si abbandona il meno possibile.
Un giorno Cam, diminutivo di Cameron, viene trovato morto. Il luogo ha una sua storia, è chiamato “la tomba del mandriano”, perché dovrebbe esserci sepolto un mandriano morto in circostanze mai chiarite. Il tutto risale a un secolo fa. Cam è morto disidratato. E se c’era uno che sapeva di non doversi avventurare all’aperto senza scorta idrica era lui.
La sua macchina è rimasta parcheggiata da un’altra parte, con lo sportello aperto, piena di scorte di cibo e d’acqua. Non c’è traccia di violenza. L’autopsia non rivela malattie. Cos’è successo, e perché è successo?
La polizia di zona è costituita da un’unità: un solo poliziotto, che chiude presto il rapporto, non trovando impronte o tracce sospette.
Ad indagare, più per caso che con intenzione, rimane solo Nathan, il fratello maggiore, forse il più strano della famiglia, sicuramente il meno stronzo.
La sensazione costante è che ci sia un personaggio occulto: c’è la perenne percezione della presenza di qualcuno che non s’incontra, magari menzionato ma mai in prima fila. Come se in questo immenso spazio geografico fatto di pianure senza confini e dune di sabbia e deserti di roccia e pascoli infiniti ci fosse qualcuno che da lontano, o abbastanza vicino, osserva e spia.
E se il migliore viene man mano rivelato come il peggiore, se le colpe dei padri ricadono sui figli, nel senso che i figli percorrono le stesse orme lasciandole perfino più marcate – cioè i figli ripetono gli errori dei padri con maggiore intensità – il colpo di coda arriva consolatorio e fa trionfare il Bene sul Male, o almeno un bene su un grande male.
Meno psicologia di quella cui Jane Harper mi ha abituato negli altri quattro romanzi che ho letto.
Fatti minimi, che non sembrano neppure veri accadimenti, molta cura nel descriverli.
La presenza preponderante, inquietante e a suo modo ostile, del paesaggio, vero protagonista (secondo la lezione di Picnic at Hanging Rock)
Una specie di western contemporaneo, animato da gente cresciuta nella durezza, del paesaggio e delle regole, nella voglia d’andarsene. Tempre dure, forgiate dal caldo, la solitudine, la distanza, il silenzio.
Forse il suo migliore romanzo.
Il vicino di casa sta a tre ore di auto. C’è solo una strada per uscire e una per entrare: e la strada muore nel paese prima che cominci il deserto.
In quella parte dell’Australia che si chiama Queensland la corrente elettrica non arriva, le grandi fattorie hanno un generatore, che la notte viene spento e in quel momento il buio è così denso che si taglia col coltello. Passa un’auto a settimana, non di più: e se arriva uno straniero, un turista, tutti se ne accorgono. Non si capisce perché si stendono i panni ad asciugare al sole visto che nel giro di poco la polvere rossa li ricopre e vanno rilavati. La scuola si faceva via radio, adesso su internet: smart studying, ma non c’è niente di smart.
Avventurarsi d’estate a piedi porta a morte certa nel giro di qualche ora per disidratazione: infatti, tutti si spostano in quattroruote motrici cariche di provviste di cibo e acqua, e le si abbandona il meno possibile.
Un giorno Cam, diminutivo di Cameron, viene trovato morto. Il luogo ha una sua storia, è chiamato “la tomba del mandriano”, perché dovrebbe esserci sepolto un mandriano morto in circostanze mai chiarite. Il tutto risale a un secolo fa. Cam è morto disidratato. E se c’era uno che sapeva di non doversi avventurare all’aperto senza scorta idrica era lui.
La sua macchina è rimasta parcheggiata da un’altra parte, con lo sportello aperto, piena di scorte di cibo e d’acqua. Non c’è traccia di violenza. L’autopsia non rivela malattie. Cos’è successo, e perché è successo?
La polizia di zona è costituita da un’unità: un solo poliziotto, che chiude presto il rapporto, non trovando impronte o tracce sospette.
Ad indagare, più per caso che con intenzione, rimane solo Nathan, il fratello maggiore, forse il più strano della famiglia, sicuramente il meno stronzo.
La sensazione costante è che ci sia un personaggio occulto: c’è la perenne percezione della presenza di qualcuno che non s’incontra, magari menzionato ma mai in prima fila. Come se in questo immenso spazio geografico fatto di pianure senza confini e dune di sabbia e deserti di roccia e pascoli infiniti ci fosse qualcuno che da lontano, o abbastanza vicino, osserva e spia.
E se il migliore viene man mano rivelato come il peggiore, se le colpe dei padri ricadono sui figli, nel senso che i figli percorrono le stesse orme lasciandole perfino più marcate – cioè i figli ripetono gli errori dei padri con maggiore intensità – il colpo di coda arriva consolatorio e fa trionfare il Bene sul Male, o almeno un bene su un grande male.
Meno psicologia di quella cui Jane Harper mi ha abituato negli altri quattro romanzi che ho letto.
Fatti minimi, che non sembrano neppure veri accadimenti, molta cura nel descriverli.
La presenza preponderante, inquietante e a suo modo ostile, del paesaggio, vero protagonista (secondo la lezione di Picnic at Hanging Rock)
Una specie di western contemporaneo, animato da gente cresciuta nella durezza, del paesaggio e delle regole, nella voglia d’andarsene. Tempre dure, forgiate dal caldo, la solitudine, la distanza, il silenzio.
Forse il suo migliore romanzo.
July 10, 2020
After reading the first page I knew that I would love this book. Jane Harper’s writing style pulls me in immediately. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be reading every book she publishes going forward. This is her third book and I loved them all. THE LOST MAN is my favorite.
This is a story about three brothers trying to make a living on their cattle ranches in a very remote part of Queensland in the Australian Outback. Harper makes you feel the heat, the dust clinging to your face and in your eyes, the panic of being out in the isolated landscape without water or food. Life is so harsh here. Neighbors and family are hours away. It’s easy to get into trouble...
The novel is narrated by Nathan. The oldest son of the Bright family. A lonely, isolated man who has little contact with his family or town due to a mistake he made years ago. His brother, Cam, has just been found dead in no mans land where an old stockman’s grave is the only thing in sight for hours. Everyone is shocked. Cameron runs the family ranch. He is well liked by the community. Why would he commit suicide by leaving his well stocked car and head out into oblivion?
This is the story of one brother trying to figure out how and why his brother died. It’s dark. Suspicion runs rampant. Present and past is brought together in pieces to get to the answer. There are only a few characters in the book, but that’s what makes it outstanding. As the story progresses we learn more and more about the brothers, Cam’s wife, their mother, the abusive father who is now gone, and the community.
This is a beautifully written mystery / suspense thriller, and one I highly recommend.
5 out of 5 stars
This is a story about three brothers trying to make a living on their cattle ranches in a very remote part of Queensland in the Australian Outback. Harper makes you feel the heat, the dust clinging to your face and in your eyes, the panic of being out in the isolated landscape without water or food. Life is so harsh here. Neighbors and family are hours away. It’s easy to get into trouble...
The novel is narrated by Nathan. The oldest son of the Bright family. A lonely, isolated man who has little contact with his family or town due to a mistake he made years ago. His brother, Cam, has just been found dead in no mans land where an old stockman’s grave is the only thing in sight for hours. Everyone is shocked. Cameron runs the family ranch. He is well liked by the community. Why would he commit suicide by leaving his well stocked car and head out into oblivion?
This is the story of one brother trying to figure out how and why his brother died. It’s dark. Suspicion runs rampant. Present and past is brought together in pieces to get to the answer. There are only a few characters in the book, but that’s what makes it outstanding. As the story progresses we learn more and more about the brothers, Cam’s wife, their mother, the abusive father who is now gone, and the community.
This is a beautifully written mystery / suspense thriller, and one I highly recommend.
5 out of 5 stars
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