I really enjoyed The Dry by Jane Harper and was looking forward to this standalone, although I do like Aaron Falk. This story takes place in Australia again and Harper takes us there with her extremely atmospheric writing, so much so that I could literally picture everything she described and imagine the heat. This is the strongest part of the book In my opinion. Others have mentioned the very slow pace and I agree, this is a slow burn for sure. It was actually too slow for me as I found my interest waning the further into the story I got. I'm not sure it it was just too much side details, setting details, rambling dialogue but I really felt disinterested by the middle of the book. The focus was on the Bright family and their dynamics for much of the book and I expected the focus to be more on a mystery. Maybe this was a case of misplaced expectations for me, but I didn't connect with the characters and didn't care about the mystery by the end.

There is no author out there who writes a slow burn as well as Jane Harper. While some may have thought deviating from beloved character, Aaron Falk, protagonist of her prior novels, was risky, I personally think it paid off spectacularly. Once again in the Australian outback, we find ourselves with brothers Nathan and Bub Bright as they come across their dead brother, Cameron. Harper offers us a lot of family history (and as a result, suspects) culminating in Cam’s death. When it seems everyone had motive and tensions run high, what they begin to uncover will change the life the Bright family has come to know.

Thank you to Flatiron books for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jane Harper's two prior mysteries, so I was really excited to see this forthcoming publication listed at NetGalley. I was surprised when I discovered that it was a stand-alone, although I believe the characters in this book are tangentially connected to the characters involved in the plot of her first book, The Dry. Although I missed Police Investigator Aaron Falk for a little while, it did not take me long to get completely wrapped up in the difficulties faced by this new set of characters and appreciate how deftly Ms. Harper tells a story.

Just as in Ms. Harper's prior books, the setting is integral to this story. The Bright family works a huge cattle station in an area that I understood to be rather remote. Hours of driving separate the residences, and the town is similarly far away. This novel is a mystery, in that the action revolves around an unexplained death, but it also seems to be a study of human interaction in families and communities in an environment of isolation. Reading this, I could almost feel the heat and the aridity and the loneliness that these characters experience. As the book begins, we learn that the body of Cameron, golden middle brother of the Bright family, has been found out on the outback. He seems to have walked away from his vehicle and died of dehydration. His body is found near the grave of an anonymous stockman of local legend, which gives Cameron's death an extra level of mystery and just plain creepiness. Did he do it intentionally? If so, why? Oldest brother Nathan is trying to find out the answer, but at the same time, we get the feeling that he is almost afraid to find out. At the same time, we learn how things have gotten to this point in this family. It's fascinating, and completely believable. These characters are so well-conceived--there is not a single flat one-dimensional one here.

I heartily recommend this book. It may be my favorite of Ms,. Harper's books to date.

I’m a big fan of author Jane Harper’s previous two books and eagerly sought out this third, stand alone book. THE LOST MAN shares features with the previous two, the setting in Australia’s remote hinterlands where long periods pass with few visitors and the locals are adept at causing all manner of pain and suffering on their own. This book moves slowly, as though suffering from shock or trauma, the narrator just seems unable to pull things together enough to share what is happening around him. It’s not clear that anyone, frankly, is any better suited to tell the tale of a man found dead in the middle of nowhere. A nowhere he seemed well-prepared to have survived and one he had no business in, on that particular day. Slowly, this book seems to follow a suicide mystery that morphs into a character study. By the end of the book, the author has told a very different tale and readers will be quite surprised at how they arrived at that ending. I know I was; I have been thinking about the book for days now and admiring the skill of the author and her ability to craft such an exquisite novel. This is a great book. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This didn't lag for me for a second. The sense of place and characters are strong, the plot moves along great, the mystery is compelling and keeps you guessing throughout. I'm thoroughly impressed with this third novel from Jane Harper, and can't wait for more.
Deep in the desert of the Australian outback, Cameron Bright is found dead at an old grave, 8 kilometers from his working car, which is also full of water and food. He owns and works a large cattle ranch, which requires him to stay overnight and camp often in his vehicle, so what happened?
Cameron's family is compelling and complex. Thought this was a great mystery.

4 stars Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for a chance to read and review this Kindle ARC. Kindle publishes on Feb 5, 2019, previously published October 23, 2018.

How refreshing! Just a really nice novel with a general fiction story line. Set in Australia, in the very outback, with minimal characters and subtle plot surrounding a family. The novel speaks of love, relationships, heredity, loss and endurance. Of how things are handed down in a family, both by nature and by nurture, or the lack thereof. Somewhat of a mystery, somewhat of a love story, but definitely a well written novel.

Well written, as expected from Jane Harper, the author of the Aaron Falk series. Harper takes you right into the story and makes you a character, as she also does the landscape. You may not have a speaking part, but you are there nonetheless. Feeling the pain, the joy and confusion of each of her characters. She writes with a freshness that eludes a lot of authors, and a straightforwardness that gives you that immediate sense of belonging. And not surprising, is that you welcome the opportunity to be swept away in her imagination and brilliant storytelling.

"The Lost Man" by Jane Harper, Flatiron Books, 352 pages, Feb. 5, 2019.

The three Bright brothers, Nathan, Cameron and Bub, own adjoining land in Queensland, Australia.

Cameron and Bub go from their ranches to fix a radio repeater mast. Bub arrives, but Cameron doesn't. After hours go by, a search is launched. A helicopter pilot finally spots Cameron's body. He apparently died of exposure. His four-wheel drive vehicle is found over five miles away, fully stocked with supplies. No one knows why Cameron didn't take water from his vehicle.

He and his wife, Iles, have two daughters, Sophie, 8, and Lo, 5. His mother, Liz, lives with them, along with Harry, a hired hand, who has been there many years. A couple of backpackers are currently working at Cameron's ranch.

Nathan is shunned in town because he didn't help his former father-in-law when he saw him stranded alongside the road. Nathan's teenage son, Xander, is visiting his dad on a break from school. The mystery behind Cameron's death is a dark family drama.

Jane Harper is the author of two other books, "The Dry" and "Force of Nature," which are part of a series. She evokes the landscape of the isolated country so well that you can feel the heat. She writes convincing characters, but the plot behind "The Lost Man" is too easy to figure out.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of three brothers - Nathan, Cameron, and Bub. These brothers are vastly different, but they all know one thing - you must always be prepared for the Australian elements. When Cameron is found dead one day, just a few km from his car (stocked full with water & food, as is the custom), questions are raised as to what actually happened. Was there an accident? Did he do this to himself? Or did the outback claim another victim?

Right off the bat, I knew that I would love this book because I love Jane Harper. Her writing is beautiful, and her descriptions of Australia are like nothing I've ever seen! That writing really drove this book. It made everything feel so lonely & isolated. There were moments where I had chills reading her descriptions, because I didn't really know how this would end - was there something evil out there? Or was the outback taking someone for its own? I really enjoyed this book, and sped through it. It is a stand alone, but it is well worth reading (just like her other books!).

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.

This was my first book from Jane Harper and I am definitely going to pick up her other books as soon as possible! I had major goosebumps when I read that last page. I love it when a book affects me like that!

I really had no idea what I was going into with The Lost Man. I have seen lots of buzz about this author's previous books so when I had the chance to get an early copy of her newest book, I jumped at the chance. I'm so glad I did! Although this isn't my typical genre, it was nice to have a change of pace for once. I loved it!

Nathan and Bub meet out at the Stockman's legendary gravesite where they see the body of their middle brother. The story is told slowly, only giving up small tidbits here and there about Cam, the deceased brother. Actually, it's about the entire family and the hard life of living in the Australian outback. I read the majority of this book in one day because I had to know.

*Thanks so much to NetGalley and FlatIron Books for the advance copy!*

As good as Harper's two Aaron Falk mysteries are-- and they are-- The Lost Man blew me away. There are two main characters in this book: Nathan Bright and the Australian outback, and I don't know which one I enjoyed more. I felt the grit of the red dust between my teeth and the sun leeching all the moisture from my body as I read. Distances are almost at the edge of incredulity in this place. The nearest large city is over 900 miles away. The two brothers, Nathan and Cameron, have adjoining cattle ranches, and it's a three-hour drive between their houses. Schooling is done online via a slow internet connection. Every white person has skin cancer to some degree. Detail by detail woven seamlessly into the narrative, the outback looms large.

But so does Nathan Bright because we see the story through his eyes. Nathan lives "beyond the Pale," having committed an error for which no one living in that harsh environment will forgive him. Divorced, the one good thing in his life is his son, Xander, who lives in Brisbane with his mother. When something doesn't make sense to Nathan, he can't leave it alone. And his brother, dying of exposure when his truck was in perfect working order and filled with water and food, well-- that just doesn't make sense.

We get to know the other members of the Bright family as Nathan works to answer his questions, and we learn that they are all damaged in some way. The power of Harper's storytelling meant that I was pulled along like a leaf caught in the current of a river, enjoying the words and the spell they wove too much to try to do any detective work of my own. Love and hate predominate not only the outback itself but the relationships between the members of this family. A nanosecond before the reveal occurred, everything fell into place for me: each character's behavior, the tiniest of clues planted throughout the narrative, and I was left a bit stunned. And I was also left wondering, out of all the men in this book, which one was truly The Lost Man? It's a question I'm still pondering.

This is powerful storytelling that should not be missed.

This hard to put down book is a powerful story of life in an unforgiving environment. Great character development and intense sense of place.

I’ve read and enjoyed Jane Harpers other books and this one also lived up to the hype. Set in the outback of Australia, this mystery about a brother found dead also has family drama and a lot of heart. I love how Jane Harper made the harsh elements of the outback come to life. I was able to really envision the outback and the challenges that come with living in such a difficult climate. I’m a Jane Harper fan and can’t wait to see what she does next!

A new to me author Jane Harper that I will be sure checking out more books by. This standalone mystery The Lost Man is a plot driven story that had me thinking until end. Enjoyed the setting, characters and dialogue.

I’m officially a Jane Harper fangirl at this point, I loved both of her previous books and was super excited about this one and also curious because it’s not a part of the Aaron Falk series, it’s a stand-alone. Series or stand-alone I’ll read anything she writes, there is something about her style that mesmerizes me and also gets under my skin at the same time.

I have to admit that it did take some time for me to really get into this one, it’s definitely slow to start but when I did get wholly invested I was all in. There was quite a bit of character development and background to start, but it was really well done and pertinent to the plot. The cast of characters is fairly small so you get a strong sense of who they are and what drives them each which only added to my investment in the story as a whole.

To me, what makes Harper stand out from the crowd is her ability to create such a vivid, strong sense of place. All three of her books have such intense, rich atmospheres they become a character all on their own. This takes place in the outback where the weather is brutally unforgiving and the small town where The Bright family lives is completely isolated. I swear she’s so good at bringing a scene to life that I found myself thirsty and parched just reading about this desolate place.

You may have noticed I really didn’t touch on the plot at all and that’s deliberate because you should just read it for yourself. Trust me, whatever I can tell you won’t hold a candle to Harper’s writing. Recommended for fans of character driven family based dramas set in a fantastic place.

The Lost Man in three words: Atmospheric, Mesmerizing and Cunning.

Originally posted on my blog at booksandwine.net/The Lost Man Review

91 out of 100

Jane Harper burst on the scene in 2017 with her excellent debut crime novel The Dry, which focused on Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk returning home to a small town in Australia and getting embroiled in solving a vicious series of slayings. The Dry went on to win several awards including Goodreads, Amazon, and Indie book and/or mystery of the year. Ms. Harper followed it up in 2018 with Force of Nature, another well-received crime novel set in Australia and starring Aaron Falk.

Ms. Harper’s mesmerizing third novel, The Lost Man, due out in the U.S. on February 5, 2019, is a stand-alone tale set in the rugged, isolated Australian outback, which focuses on an unexplained death in the middle of nowhere that tears apart a family of cattle farmers. So, without further adieu, here is my review of The Lost Man by Jane Harper. The wine I paired it with is a tasty and affordable 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon from Barossa Valley in Australia.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper, 345 pages, published by Flatiron Books, February 5, 2019. Review score 91 out of 100. I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Elevator Pitch

An atmospheric mystery involving a seemingly accidental, if unexplainable death, which brings together and tears apart a prominent family of cattle farmers trying to make a living in the harsh, isolated, and unforgiving landscape of the Australian outback.

What Works

Ms. Harper has crafted a beautifully written and mesmerizing novel that places a laser focus on the theme of isolation and the many complications that flow from it.

The novel opens with a man in the final moments of dying from dehydration in the middle of the outback next to a singular gravestone which serves as the only landmark for miles around. The man in question, Cameron Bright, is the middle son of three boys in the Bright family, with younger brother Bub and older brother Nathan arriving on the scene shortly thereafter. The family owns large areas of land in the Australian outback and makes a living as cattle farmers with Cameron running the main plot. The novel is told through the eyes of the eldest son, Nathan Bright.

There are no obvious signs of foul-play and very few, if any, clues as to how or why Cameron Bright ended up stranded and alone next to a singular gravestone in the middle of the outback. It takes many hours for a singular policeman and paramedic to arrive on the scene and after a cursory review of the scene and the facts very little is heard from them again. This is a family matter whereby Ms. Harper expertly reveals the layers of each character, as if peeling an onion, revealing secrets, motivations, and transgressions which shed light on how and why the death occurred.

The pacing is particularly good, especially considering this is not a thriller and not a typical crime mystery with the police hunting for clues. That is not to say there are no surprises and revelations – there certainly are – but the book is primarily propelled by the beautiful natural rhythm of the prose and dialog that sweeps the reader along.

Which brings me back to the main theme of isolation. Ms. Harper plumbs the depths of what isolation means and does to people. The Australian outback setting is extremely dangerous to live in and work in for one primary reason – isolation. It is not the extreme heat nor the wildlife nor the lifestyle that makes the outback dangerous, it is the isolation wherein a simple flat tire can spell doom if you are not prepared.

In much the same way, each of the characters in the novel is isolated in their own way. Family members are isolated from each other, workers are isolated from the outside world, and everybody suffers from the strain that puts upon them. The vast isolation does not lead to a sense of freedom, quite the opposite in fact, it leads to a feeling of being trapped in a life with nowhere to turn for help.

As the layers of each member of the family are revealed and exposed the ending seems almost inevitable but is no less impactful. Ms. Harper cleanly resolves the mystery in a satisfying faction and leaves a small crack for hope to seep in.

What Doesn’t Work

I had very few issues with the book but the one thing that stood out to me was that nobody – save for the narrator Nathan Bright and his son – seemed to be trying to solve the mystery of the death. The police presence, in particular, was non-existent, and to an extent it makes sense due to the location and the lack of evidence at the crime scene. However, I feel that the extra level of tension created by having the police snooping around could have enhanced the book.

Favorite Character

My favorite character was the setting, and in particular the singular gravestone of a stockman out in the middle of the vast outback where the death occurred. The imagery of that headstone, and the myths and stories that flowed from it create a perfect backdrop for the struggles of the people who inhabit the land. And Ms. Harper continually brings the story back to the headstone in consistent beats, like a blacksmith wielding a hammer to hone in and sharpen the edge on the theme of the book.

Favorite Quote

And then, at last, the stockman had company, as the earth turned and the shadow moved on alone, and the man lay still in the center of a dusty grave under a monstrous sky.
- JANE HARPER

The Verdict

This is a beautifully written and paced mystery with an engaging cast of characters, a unique setting, and a story that is given room to breathe. 91 out of 100.

Wine Pairing

Australia produces some of the finest wines in the world and, in particular, produces some of the finest value wines in the world. This book, and the characters and setting, definitely called for a nice, workmanlike wine from Australia. The fact that is a crime/mystery novel also plays into the choice as 19 Crimes winery was named based upon the 19 crimes you could commit to get sent to Australia from Britain in the late 1700s.

From the winemaker:

Upon conviction, British rogues, guilty of at least one of the 19 Crimes, were sentenced to live in Australia, rather than death. This punishment by ‘transportation’ began in 1788, and many of the lawless died at sea. For the rough-hewn prisoners who made it to shore, a new world awaited. As pioneers in a frontier penal colony, they forged a new country and new lives, brick by brick. This wine celebrates the rules they broke and they culture they built.
- 19 CRIMES


As for the wine itself, it is a smooth, easy drinking cabernet sauvignon that won’t break the budget and is perfect for a night of isolation on the couch with a good book.

While Harper's "Aaron Falk" series has taken the literary world by storm, THE LOST MAN stands on it's own two feet (outside of an Easter Egg to keep an eye out for) and feels all the more powerful for it. The mystery isn't as much a whodunnit as it is a mystery about family and how well we really know them. The Bright Family has it's share of dysfunction, with our protagonist Nathan having to come to terms with how the abuse in his childhood has affected him and his brothers. The death of his brother Cameron is certainly a mystery, but the bigger mystery is just what kind of person Cameron was, and as more and more pieces come out and start fitting together Harper brings up a lot of questions about family loyalty, memories, and how cycles of abuse can keep on cycling. Because of this, I found THE LOST MAN to be an engrossing and unnerving book that kept me reading to find a solution, even if it wasn't going to be a neat and tidy one.

THE LOST MAN is dark, and it's not set up like what you may be used to from Harper, but I enjoyed it even more because of the bucking of the mystery trend.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper is her follow up novel to Force of Nature, which is a follow up to her smash hit The Dry. If I am being completely honest, I enjoyed The Lost Man, but didn't love it. I just didn't connect with the story as much as her previous two novels.

I found The Lost Man's story very easy to read, which made it quite the page turner. The descriptive language Jane Harper uses to describe the Australian Outback in all three of her novels is extremely detailed. I truly could picture myself out in the stifling heat, amongst the tumbleweeds and cracked, dry Earth. Jane has a way of painting a picture with her words, and this book is no different.

The end of the novel wraps up the story very well. We aren't left with any questions which is something I always appreciate. I am not a huge fan of open-ended novels. So, if I had to guess why I didn't love this book, I think it's because I didn't connect with the characters. I thought they were well written, and had intriguing stories, but there was just something about it that I didn't love.

I realize this review is super vague and isn't really giving a detailed reason why I only rated the book 3 stars. As a reviewer, I can only tell you how I felt reading a book. My thoughts and opinions will likely vary from yours, so give this a shot with or without my recommendation.

Was it murder or suicide?
That is the main question I had while reading this author's latest release (note: this is not connected to the Aaron Falk series).

Cameron Bright's body is found with no signs of a crime. Death by extreme dehydration in the wide plains of Queensland, Australia. His car is found abandoned further away, and again, no signs that would point to the cause of his death. Like his two brothers, Nathan and Bub, I struggled to figure out why he would leave his car, with no water and face the heat, so extreme, death is unavoidable.

This story is slow paced and methodical, but I was intrigued throughout, eager for answers. The story centers on the Bright family, dealing with this unexpected death, and struggling with their family history that might provide answers to the mystery.

Told in the third person, the story focuses on Nathan, who is in the area with his son, Xander, for the Christmas holiday when the death occurs. Nathan's life has been in a downward spiral, ever since his divorce and shunning by the whole town due to a stupid mistake years prior.

What intrigued me the most about this story was learning about the extreme environment this family lived in, where the elements could destroy someone. Despite Nathan's selfish and thoughtless actions years prior that ruined his reputation and the ability to seek help from others, I sympathized with his situation and was hopeful that he wouldn't suffer further with his brother's death.

There are some big surprises in the story. Not really twists, more like revelations, as the truths about this family come to light. I won't give it away, but it highlights the impact of abuse that can span generations.

Given the way Nathan died, that leads to no police investigation, the truths of his death are merely revealed to give the characters closure. The big revelation was shocking, and at the same time, made sense once you understand the full story.

Although this isn't a heart-racing mystery, I was still engaged throughout and enjoyed the overall story.

REVIEW - Set deep in the outback of Australia, the Bright family is devastated when Cameron, one the three brothers, is found dead on their isolated property. Nathan, the oldest son, lives alone on the neighboring property which is still over 3 hours away as he struggles to maintain any amount of happiness or success. Nathan returns to the family land as they mourn Cam and try to find out why he’s dead.

Jane Harper is an author I will always seek out. I love how the main character is usually a little damaged and sad. The characters develop and grow, the story unwinds in a steady pace. A little bit will be revealed as it answers one question while raising another. It wasn’t a fast paced thriller but a steady page turner that developed as you read. I liked how the characters weren’t super naive or gullible.

As usual, the atmosphere and Australia becomes almost a main character and plays a huge part in the story. I’ve heard her writing described as “atmospheric drama” which I will now toss into every conversation to sound wise.

Just a heads up that this is a stand alone book that doesn’t reference Aaron Faulk and is not the third book in that series. However, The Lost Man definitely holds it on and will be available on February 5th. I would highly recommend grabbing this especially if you are a Jane Harper fan.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper. Thank you @netgalley and to @booksparks for selecting me to be a part of The Lost Man Book Tour and the Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.