This stand-alone novel by the author of The Dry and Force of Nature is just as atmospheric and character driven as her first two novels. This one is less a mystery than a study of human nature driven to survive.

This is another terrific book by Australian author Jane Harper. Having read her previous two mysteries, I was looking forward to another stellar read. This did not disappoint. The Lost Man is a stand alone tale, set in the Australian outback. Stations,the Aussie equivalent of a cattle ranch, comprise hundreds of thousands of acres; the nearest neighbors are three hours away. Temperatures range in the low 100 degrees day after day and shade is virtually non existent. So, how did this murder occur and by whom? Or if it was suicide, why? These are the questions the reader is confronted with. Harper's description of the outback are so evocatively written that the reader can feel the heat and the dust. The tension builds to the very surprising ending. This is a book not to be missed.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper is a quiet powerhouse of a novel. Set in the Australian outback, this character-driven story centers on the three Bright brother, Nathan, Cameron and Bub, who own adjacent properties in this unforgiving, harsh setting, and who are at odds with each other for various reasons.

Harper immediately shows her proficiency as a writer by making the harshness of the outback, and the lives of those who live there, seem utterly real to the reader; so much so, that you can feel the unrelenting heat, and taste the dust blown by the wind swirling around you. Everyone knows you don’t go anywhere out here without letting someone know your plans, without a radio for contact, without plenty of supplies in case you break down. A person could die within hours in this heat, waiting for help to come along these seldom travelled roads, and many have. With the nearest town hours away, and with only sixty-five residents in the area, every trip must be carefully planned and accounted for. Danger is a constant companion.

The story begins with the body of Cameron Bright, husband to Ilse, father to two young daughters, found lying dead at the gravestone of the stockman, buried in the middle of nowhere. Cameron’s car is quite a hike away, fully stocked, running fine. So why did Cameron leave it and head off away from everything that could have saved him? Many say Cameron was acting strangely before his fateful trip. What was on his mind? Was his death intentional rather than accidental?

Layer by layer, we come to know the members of the Bright family, their history, their relationships, and their flaws. Nothing stays hidden forever in this hot, dusty, windy environment. With full, rich characters, reading this novel is pure delight. I love the way Harper writes - she knows there’s no need to be loud or in your face, to end each chapter with a cliff hanger. A good story flows on its own pace, drawing the reader with it, surrounding them with the atmosphere intended by its author.

This is a great read. Quiet, powerful, complex, it captures the full range of human emotions, strengths and frailties. Not to be missed!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an unbiased review. Published on 2/5/19, It is now available to the public. All opinions stated here are strictly my own.

Very good story about family life with brothers, wives, and parents. I really enjoyed this as it also was involving a murder investigation, you will never guess who it is until the last chapter and what a surprise! the setting is the outback and it's super sized with nothing in between houses but land. Don't get stuck out on it! Recommend this highly as I also did her last book! Awesome and hope she keeps them coming! Thank you so much!

I loved Jane Harper's two previous novels, so I was excited for this one but I was also a little nervous, because it's a standalone and I like her detective, Aaron Falk. (I also love that he solves financial crimes, I find that angle super interesting.) Anyway, I had nothing to worry about - I think this is her best book yet. Harper's books are always described as atmospheric, and in this one the landscape is practically a main character. Nathan Bright lives in the Australian Outback struggling to get by on his cattle ranch. Though he lives "next door" (the properties are so big that translates to 3 hours away) to his family, he is very isolated, going for weeks at a time without seeing anyone. He is thrust back into family life, though, after his brother is found dead. Harper excels at describing small town life in rugged, inhospitable places. She writes brainy, character driven mysteries that are so tightly plotted that every small thing is in important. This book started slow, but once it picked up I could not put it down. I can't wait for her next book!

Fans of the previous two novels will also notice two cameos from her previous books. (Apparently the Outback is a small world.)

This is the third book by Jane Harper, who is quickly becoming my favorite mystery author! I love her tightly woven plots and the atmospheric setting in her books. If you haven't read any of her books, you definitely should!

This book was set in a remote area in Australia on a vast cattle ranch where the brutal heat can kill a person in a short time and neighbors truly need one another to survive. The mystery begins at the ranch where brothers Nathan & Bub have been summoned to the scene of their brother Cameron's death. It appears Cam has died of exposure, but how did this happen when his fully stocked truck is just nearby? Nathan wants to believe his brother wouldn't do such a thing on purpose, with two young daughters and a wife depending on him, but if he didn't do this to himself, then who did? And why would anyone do this to the well-liked affable cattle rancher?

I think if you liked either of her books, The Dry or Force of Nature, you'll love this one too. If you like mysteries and interesting settings & atmospheric writing, this is for you.

I have already convinced many of my fellow book livers to read this book. Jane Harper is an excellent novelist who drew me in on Page 1 and never let me go. I savored every page, didn’t want to finish the book, but raced to the end.

I can’t wait for more from a new favorite author.

The Lost Man is a deeply emotional book that keeps you guessing and its slower pace gives you lots of time to examine and scrutinize what you think is happening. The book explores the lives of the three brothers, Cameron, Nathan and Bub and their relationship with each other and their parents. The police think Cameron’s death is a suicide. As his brother Nathan begins his own investigation, family secrets are exposed. Overall, the Lost Man is an awesome thriller with an amazing ending. I highly recommended this one to all thriller readers. My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

DNF @ 15%

I am so, so very clearly in the minority here, that I am really wondering if it's me. But here I find myself struggling with this book and not connecting with the characters at all. This was my first book by Harper and I was so excited to read this as she has SO MANY fans and there are so many glowing reviews out there for this book, but it was just not for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced reading copy of this book. Since I did not finish this book, I will not post my review to any retail websites.

The Bright brothers - Nathan, Cameron, and Bub - grew up on a cattle ranch in the Australian outback with their father Carl and mother Liz. The ranch, called Burley Downs - which covers 3500 square kilometers (1350 square miles) - was inherited by the siblings when their father died twenty years ago.

Due to subsequent changes, a divorced Nathan now lives on a moderate spread three hours away, while Cameron and Bub continue to live at Burley Downs with their mother Liz; Cameron's wife Ilse and daughters Sophie (8) and Lo (5); and ranch hand Harry - who's almost a member of the family.

Life in the outback is hard, with temperatures regularly topping 40°C (104°F), so that even brief exposure is deadly. No one in their right mind leaves home without an ample supply of water, rations, and a radio to call for assistance - since a broken down vehicle could leave a person stranded far from home with no one living closer than tens of miles and no other vehicles on the road.

Thus it's a shock to everyone when Cameron's body is found beside 'Stockman's Grave', the resting place of a man who died on Burley Downs over a century ago. Cameron had neither water nor a radio with him, and his Land Cruiser was 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) away. The local nurse and visiting policeman find no signs of violence, and no one can explain why Cameron died alone and dehydrated. Suicide seems to be the only explanation, but a gun would have been much easier.

Given Cameron's mysterious demise Nathan and his sixteen-year-old son Xander, who's visiting from Brisbane, go to stay at Burley Downs. It so happens that Christmas is only a few days away and the family prepares for Cameron's funeral and a Christmas celebration (for the kids) at the same time.

As might be expected, the atmosphere at the ranch is tense: Liz is distraught; Ilse is troubled and concerned about her girls; Bub is drinking too much; Harry is uncommunicative; and Nathan is anxious. Nevertheless, Nathan takes the opportunity to ask about Cameron's recent state of mind; phone calls; work schedule; and so on - to look for clues to his death. To add to the stress at the ranch, a couple of British backpackers - Katy and Simon - are working there short term....and seem very unnerved by Cameron's death.

No one in this book seems particularly happy and Nathan is especially depressed. He's kept to himself for years, rarely visiting his family and never going into the nearest town. Moreover, Nathan's dog died not long ago, adding to his isolation. Little by little we find out why Nathan is all alone. We also learn uncomfortable truths about the other characters.....and find out how and why Cameron died. Unfortunately the characters' secrets aren't very shocking, and I was a bit disappointed with the predictability of their behavior.

Nevertheless, the story is well-written, and the author's description of the heat and dust of the outback seems very authentic. I think many mystery fans would enjoy this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Jane Harper), and the publisher (Flatiron Books) for a copy of the book.

The Lost Man is my first read from Jane Harper!

The Bright brothers live on enormous adjacent cattle properties in the Australian outback. The Lost Man opens with two of the brothers, Nathan and Bub, meeting at the stockman’s grave landmark where their brother, Cameron, has passed away. Was there foul play, or did Cameron intentionally allow himself to die from dehydration in the brutal outback desert?

There are several suspects (in my mind) right away even in this sparsely populated area. Was it Nathan or Bub, the competitive brothers who may have wanted Cameron’s property or possibly a need for revenge?

Was it one or both of the drifters living and working on the property?

Or was Cameron’s wife, Ilse, somehow involved? The way things transpire, the spotlight blinks on each person in time, and I never knew who the red herrings were because there were several!

Now I know why Jane Harper’s writing is first described as atmospheric. YES, it absolutely was. Suspenseful? Another big yes. Dark and gritty? Uh huh!

If you enjoy mysteries, stories of family dynamics, easy-to-read, perfectly paced slower burning suspense, this book has your name all over it.

The Lost Man is an epic, deeply emotional story that will keep you on your toes, and its slower momentum will allow you plenty of time to analyze and explore what you think happened; that is what kept me invested all the more.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

The Lost Man is the new excellent standalone thriller by superstar author Jane Harper.

Nathan and Bub find their middle brother, Cameron, dead of dehydration in the middle of the Australian desert. What is puzzling is that Cameron walked away from a perfectly running car filled with food, water and a working radio to wander miles in search of a mythical stockman’s grave stone.

The police suspect suicide. But Cameron was the always smiling middle child. How could this have happened—especially to him? As older brother Nathan begins to investigate, family secrets emerge.

Overall, the Lost Man is a brilliant thriller with a surprising, at least to me, conclusion. It is highly recommended to all thriller readers. 5 stars!

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Jane Harper is a force to be reckoned with; each book more impressive than the last. While there is a mystery here, how did the middle son, Cameron, come to die of dehydration in the unrelenting heat of an outback summer; this is as much a story of coming to terms: who we are, and who we were, and do we really knew our loved ones. As usual in Harper's books, the climate is a major character in the story, and I found myself drinking copious amounts of liquid while reading even though we were in the midst of a polar vortex. I can not recommend this book highly enough.

Another fabulous book by Jane Harper.
While a little slow for me in the beginning, it quickly picked up. I love learning about other places in books and you certainly learn whats its like to be in such an isolated area of Australia here. The entire theme of multigenerational secrets was great. I really enjoyed this book.

Utterly fantastic. The isolated setting, the buried family secrets and trauma, and the protagonist's lingering regrets all make for an explosive mystery.

Jane Harper’s descriptions of the Australian outback drew me into the setting to the point where I could feel the heat, the grit and the lonely, heartbreaking solitude. Adding to that a multitude of intergenerational family secrets slowly revealed makes Harper’s latest is a homerun in the suspense genre.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Flatiron Books and Jane Harper for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Lost Man is another book that was on my most anticipated reading list for 2019. This is not a part of the Aaron Falk series. The book opens as Nathan and his brother Bub are standing over their dead brother Cameron. Neither brother understands why Cameron would be out in the outback desert in the intense heat without water. It looks like a suicide. The story is told through Nathan's perspective as he tries to navigate the mystery of what happened to Cameron.

I'll be honest, I had my reservations about the book when I first started it. The story was a little slow in the beginning. But as we learn more and more about the family and their secrets, the book does pick up. It's a slow burn family drama with a mystery. I definitely didn't figure it out in the end. In fact, I was totally floored by the solution. I ended up loving the book.

I enjoyed the characters as well as the family dynamic. Like most families, there are a lot of secrets and regrets buried. I also enjoyed the setting. I've never been to the Australian Outback, but the author did a wonderful job of conveying the intense heat and starkness of the landscape to the reader.

Jane Harper is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. If you haven't tried one of her books yet, I highly recommend any of them. I hope that she isn't done with Aaron Falk. I would love to read another book featuring him.

THE LOST MAN (Novel/Mys-Nathan Bright-Balmara, Australia-Contemp) - VG
Harper, Jane - Standalone
Flatiron Books, Feb 2019
First Sentence: From above, from a distance, the marks in the dust formed a tight circle.
Every family has its secrets. Bub Bright was to have met up with this brother Cam at Lehmann's Hill. When he didn't find Cam the next morning, an alarm when out and a helicopter pilot spotted his body lying at the stockman's grave, having died of heat and dehydration. Nathan Bright and his son Xander join Bub at the sight, eventually finding Cam's car in perfect condition, gas tanks full, and fully stocked with food and water. It's up to Nathan to learn what brought Cam to this deserted and desperate place to die.
What a visual opening Harper has created on which she elaborates to impress upon one the desolation of the location—"The fence stretched a dozen kilometers east to a road and a few hundred west to the desert, where the horizon was so flat it seemed possible to detect the curvature of the earth."
The characters are ones with whom one can identify, two of the best being Cam's daughters. They are real, have problems and conflicts; abeit it a few more than many families, and histories. Harper uses words in a way which can touch one's memories and emotions—"…she reached up and put her arms around Nathan, too. He hugged her back. The movement had the rusty edge of underuse."
Harper does a very good job of weaving together the stories of each character with the others to form a tapestry showing the underlying currents. This isn't an edge-of-the-seat action book, but it is one that is intense and compelling so that, end the end, the cloth can be unwoven to expose the weakness which caused the undoing of the family.
"The Lost Man" is a story of a family, it's secrets and the price which can be exacted. In the end, it's a story of coming to peace.

This was just incredible! It was my first Jane Harper read, and I am now kicking myself for not reading her books sooner!

This thriller is a slow-release and psychological build... impeccably paced, and full of gothic Australian outback imagery. The novel opens with a man found dead at a stockman’s grave in the outback - no signs of foul play so all signs lead to a troubled life taking its ultimate toll on the man. What follows is an introspective and reflective family narrative, with haunting flashbacks to specific incidents in the past that inform the direction that the man’s life took.

I was lucky enough to hear Jane on her US book tour speak about her writing process and inspiration for this book - the amount of research and work behind this meticulously developed thriller are so impressive! She went on a 900km road trip across the outback with a retired policeman, visited iconic Birdsville (land traditionally owned by the Wangkanguru People) and spoke to many residents to get the feel for her narrative just right. Can’t wait to read more from this deservedly celebrated Australian author!

I know many international readers follow my reviews, so if you’re looking for more Australian writers to check out in this genre I’d suggest Emma Viskic (Resurrection Bay), Chris Hammer (Scrublands) and for a nonfiction option definitely Helen Garner (she’s written many, but Joe Cinque’s Consolation is one I personally recommend).