This novel started off a little bit slower for my liking but picked up quickly. The characters were very convincing and it was easy to fit into their way of life and to pick up on their lifestyle.

I love reading other stories based in other parts of the world. It puts a new perspective into thinking. At least for me it does. I love all of Jane Harper's novels being based in Australia. It truly is another way of life there and I definitely take life for granted here in the US.

The only struggle I had with this book is that I kept expecting Aaron Falk to arrive. He is the main character in Jane Harper's other two novel's The Dry and Force of Nature. For some reason I could not get it through my head that this book had nothing to do with him. Ugh. So If you do read this, Aaron Falk will not make an appearance!

I loved the blurb of this book and was really excited to read it. Unfortunately, it archived before I could read it.

Fans of The Dry will love Harper's newest book - it contains many of the same themes (rural Australia, old family sins, abusive relationships) and delivers fast paced suspense and a satisfying conclusion.

This book was really solid, but unfortunately six weeks after reading it I can't remember why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4. It was incredibly atmospheric and completely transported me to the Outback. The intricacies of the family relationships were almost as suspenseful as the fate of dead brother. The parallels with the historic deceased stockman were also an interesting touch. It's a slow building tale to be sure, but once things start unraveling, it is a satisfying shocker!

This is my first Jane Harper book and I can't wait to read her backlist. Loved the setting , it was so atmospheric. I was riveted from the beginning and didn't stop the book until I was finished. This was so good.

I will feature this book in my Summer Reading Guide at What to Read Next Blog.

The premise of The Lost Man seems at first to be suspense/mystery. The story plays out quite differently. This stand alone from Jane Harper features the things readers have found compelling in previous books, including spectacularly drawn settings. It is mostly the unraveling of a very dysfunctional family, with really unlikeable characters. I appreciated that Ms Harper was able to show some character growth and redemption through the story. The plotline was a bit too predictable, and the conclusion left me a little bored. I think because I was expecting a mystery, The Lost Man left me a little disappointed.

A new standalone from Jane Harper! The setting in the blazing hot Outback is a huge part of the story. I absolutely loved this slow burn mystery novel. If you enjoy stories about characters confronting their pasts, evocative settings, and family dramas you will love this book.

The Australian outback takes center stage in this novel of both mental & physical survival. Harper’s descriptions of this landscape are so vivid that you can almost feel the heat and dust as you read. As if survival in one of the most treturous places on earth isn’t hard enough throw in a disfunctional family dynamic and you have got yourself a very entertaining story. Though I enjoyed this I’m not sure that I liked it as much as Harpers Aaron Falk series. Still recommend.

Side note: I think ‘The Stockman’s Grave’ would’ve made a better title...

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the free review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Five thrilling stars for this amazing mystery from acclaimed Australian author Jane Harper! I loved The Dry, but this one....this blew me away! The characters, the setting, the mystery. Absolutely phenomenal. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, but of course I didn't want it to end!

Brothers Nathan and Bub Bright discover the body of their brother Cameron in a remote part of their family's vast estate in the Australian outback - a brutal, unforgiving and dangerous land. Did Cameron take himself there to die, or was he the victim of foul play? The story unfolds from there, with any number of suspects coming to light. We learn about Nathan's complicated past, the truth about Cameron's marriage, and the many frustrations and old enmities simmering beneath the surface of this family.

WOW. Truly, this is one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. Jane Harper knows how to create suspense, and complicated (and disturbing) family dynamics, and a deeply atmospheric setting that becomes its own character. She has more than proven her staying power in this genre and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Atmospheric, felt immersed in the landscape and in the family at the center of the story. Well drawn characters and interesting family dynamics. Look forward to more from this author.

A slow burn of a mystery that takes its time to build the family drama into the story of the death of a brother through the eyes of the other brother. The reader can feel the heat of the Australian outback through the novel and the setting becomes a strong character itself. I'm looking forward to reading other novels by Jane Harper.

The Lost Man is a contemporary standalone set in rural Australia. I'd read Ms. Harper's previous two books, and liked them, but I loved this! It's set in rural Australia, and the town, with its residents who have loooong memories (and grudges) reminded me so much of the isolated area I grew up in. The Lost Man is thoughtful and wonderfully written, and I totally loved it.

While this book was a little slower than Harper's previous two books (which I loved), it did kick into high gear around the two-thirds mark. I'm glad I stuck it out, but I'm giving this three stars because it really did plod along at the beginning.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this work by Jane Harper. My only other experience with this author was an earlier work (The Dry) that I very much enjoyed. The Lost Man is equally well written and entertaining. Will recommend this book to my friends who enjoy the genre.

Absolutely amazing. Look, if you're looking for a trashy thriller that makes your jaw drop, Jane Harper is not for you. If you want to practically taste the red dirt of the Australian outback, and feel real emotions for characters, then you're in the right place. Yes, it's a mystery, but it's not brash or over the top. This book is beautifully written, full of heart, with a literary feel. While I wasn't a huge fan of Force of Nature, this one takes us back to the heart-achingly beautiful prose that made me love The Dry. Highly recommended.

At first I was disappointed that this book didn't feature Aaron Falk, I was curious about what he's been up to. However, this book does not falter because it is not part of Jane Harper's previous series.

Nathan Bright lives on a plot of land 3 hours from his nearest neighbors, who happen to be his family. When Nathan's brother Cam is discovered dead on a remote part of the property, the entire family must confront the secrets of the past.

It is hard to imagine why someone would choose to live in the harsh Australian Outback, but Harper does a great job of describing the day to day issues and dangers of such a life. Getting lost in the desert for a few hours can mean death. Due to a moment of anger, Nathan lives a life of almost total isolation. The descriptions of his life are very well done, I really felt for him and his situation. Details of the past and life on the Bright property before Cam's death are dealt out slowly and deliberately. While I guessed certain details of the end, I was satisfied with the conclusion.

This is a part of the world I have never given much thought to, and reading about it was very interesting.

A mystery that centers on complicated family relationships and unfolds slowly and deliberately. I never would have guessed the ending, which is genius! It is fascinating to read a story that takes place in the Australian outback. Great book!

Set in the sweltering Outback of an Australian summer, Jane Harper's third novel The Lost Man (Flatiron, digital galley) is a stunner from its first atmospheric pages. Queensland rancher Cameron Bright's body is spotted from a helicopter near an isolated marker known as the Stockman's Grave. His older brother Nathan, who owns an adjoining ranch hours away, and younger brother Bub, who works the family land with Cameron and their widowed mother Liz, can't figure out how Cameron was separated from his fully outfitted Land Cruiser found a few miles away, the keys in the seat. No water, no shade, he wouldn't have lasted a day. The odd circumstances surrounding the death of the popular rancher, who left behind a wife and two young daughters, leads loner Nathan to the mystery of family present and past.  He discovers secrets that wound, secrets that break hearts, secrets to die for.

from On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever

A strong follow up to The Dry, The Lost Man is a compelling story of one family's struggle to connect with each
other and the land in the Australian outback.

THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper is the latest mystery from the award-winning Australian author. I was really looking forward to this novel because I truly enjoyed her previous works, particularly Force of Nature and its exploration of relationships between female colleagues while also puzzling out a murder. In THE LOST MAN, Harper turns to sibling rivalry and the death of a middle brother, Cameron. The other brothers, Nathan and Bub, are ranchers in Australia's Queensland where Cameron's body was found and there is certainly tension over land ownership and family history. The area is remote and there are few suspects in what appears to be a very puzzling death. Sadly, I simply was not drawn into this story which is a huge contrast from the way I almost devoured Harper's earlier work. However, I hope to give it another try because Goodreads readers were overwhelmingly positive, it was a LibraryReads selection, and Kirkus gave this title a starred review. Booklist called THE LOST MAN a "dark and intense narrative;" if that appeals – go for it since Harper is a truly talented author.