A really good read with well written characters and twists to the plot. The Australian landscape is vivid throughout.

I'm a Jane Harper fan, but was seriously disappointed by this book which felt like an overblown soap opera in a poorly drawn outback setting.

Having come late to the party with Jane Harper’s debut novel The Dry, I was determined not to be left behind by her latest novel, The Lost Man, a standalone read set in the outback of Australia.

The Lost Man had me swept along into an entirely different place, a different lifestyle and that daunting and dangerous landscape. This a book that will evoke a whole range of feelings in its readers and because of that it is not for the faint-hearted.

We start with a description of a headstone, the marker for a legend that has been mutated during the years since it was placed there to mark the place where The Stockman died and on the day in question there is another body close to the headstone, another casualty to a lifestyle which is beyond ordinary comprehension. Cameron Bright was the middle sibling of three brothers and his elder brother Nathan, and the younger, Bub, gather at the site where he perished through lack of shelter from the overbearing sun, or was the story of his death quite that simple?

Jane Harper is a master at showing (and definitely not telling) and she takes us on a tour, into the house where Cameron ran his to the family he has left behind, two small girls whose daddy went out shortly before Christmas to fix something on his land and never returned. Cameron was man who knew the land, it was where he was born after all and now his wife Ilse is left to cope without him. Fortunately Uncle Harry is around as is the boy’s mother although as is only to be expected the house almost hums with confusion and grief.
What Jane Harper does that is even more explosive though is to start peeling back the layers of this family. Nathan pretty much takes centre stage as we journey with him back in time and slowly, oh so slowly but perfectly so, we learn the truth about an event many years ago that is still making its mark today.

I really couldn’t tell you what I enjoyed most about this book – was it the brilliant descriptions of a place? It really is testament to the author’s prowess that she managed to conjure up the heat and power of an open landscape of the outback in Queensland, when her reader was sat with the wind and rain howling across a small island on the other side of the world. I haven’t ever been to Australia and if I did the outback would probably not be my chosen destination, and yet for the duration of this book, I was very much there in the house with Isle and her girls Sophie and Lo. I watched Cameron’s mother Liz weep in the deepest of darkness when the generator was switched off by Harry at night-time. Perhaps the legend of the Stockman had something to do with the appeal, or equally the unravelling of a mystery that is dark, don’t for one moment imagine that the grim scenes at the beginning of the book mean you’ve passed the worst, there are shocks still to be revealed.

In conclusion I loved this book because it covers a great deal of ground, there are deeply upsetting moments but perhaps in keeping with the characters that inhabit the real-life place, there is something very measured about the delivery. No over-hyped action scenes here, just the truth which is sometimes a whole lot worse.

I’d like to thank the publishers Little Brown for allowing me to read a copy of The Lost Man, and to Jane Harper for moving me with this incredible novel. This unbiased review is my thanks to them.

When the body of a man is discovered on a remote cattle farm, his death appears initially to have been accidental but his brother is not so sure.
The very nature of this unforgiving and alien landscape and its careworn characters made this a difficult book for me to get into, but once I did, I was captivated.
The atmospheric writing is stunning. You can feel the relentless heat, the red dust, the endless skyline and even hear the clunk as the generator turn-off plunges the station into total blackness.
This third of Jane Harper is a thoroughly enjoyable experience, gripping until the end.

This is another book by Jane Harper set in The Australian outback.
A body is found, by a stockman’s grave, he has died from dehydration and heat, but his car is parked nearby, with aircon and water.
The police become involved, as do his two brothers, and at this point I was expecting Aaron Falk to appear. It took me a while to realise that he wasn’t going to, and then I nearly missed a sneaky reference to him, which connects this book with The Dry.
The man who dies was Cameron Bright, who lives in a large farm, with his family, mother, brother Bub, and Uncle Harry.
His other brother Nathan owns the adjoining land, and it is Nathan who wants to find the truth about his brother’s death.
We follow Nathan’s investigation, and he discovers secrets from the past that very much influence the present, and finds out how his brother died.
The stifling heat and danger of the outback in high summer (and Christmas) is beautifully evoked, and the resolution is very satisfying.
I look forward to her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read this book.

I was really looking forward to reading the latest book by Jane Harper as I had thoroughly enjoyed her previous two novels and I wasn't disappointed. A great story of a family man who wasn't quite as he appeared on the surface. I loved the descriptions of the Australian Outback and could almost feel the hot sun on my face! An unexpected ending and a great read.

Like her other two novels I loved The Lost Man. I found it especially evocative of the Australian outback and its vast stretches of wilderness. The characters are believable and I particularly loved the back story of the of the Stockman's Grave.

I really enjoyed this book. As always with Jane Harper, the setting is everything and although I was reading it on a cold November day in the UK I could really feel the heat and dust.
The author manages to deftly balance the claustrophobia of family and a small community with the unforgiving expanse and wilderness of the Australian Outback, and keeps the reader turning the pages knowing they will be well rewarded.

The Lost Man is Jane Harper's third book and in my opinion, her best yet. A standalone novel, the story centres around the death of Cameron Bright. A seasoned cattle farmer, well aware of how to survive in the arid and unforgiving landscape that is the Australian outback. Cameron's body is found far out on his property, kilometres away from his car having seemingly brought no water or provisions to protect him from the scorching sun. His older and younger brothers are at a loss to explain why Cameron, successful and well liked businessman and property owner, husband, father, son and brother would seemingly abandon his car and walk off towards certain death...or did he...
I loved this book. I felt transported to the Australian outback, could nearly feel the heat of the sun, the arid earth and the darkness of the nights. It is a slow burner of a read but the story benefits all the more for it. Jane Harper teases out a superb family story little by little but not so slowly that you lose interest at any point. The Dynamics of the Bright family and back story are revealed to an exciting and surprising climax. I Ioved Nathan as a character. His flaws, humanity, and emotions felt very real and you really get to understand him as a character, and he is very likeable. It is a classic whodunnit where everyone is a suspect. Brilliant.

Nothing feels like a virtual trip to Australia quite like a novel written by the talented Jane Harper. The Lost Man is a terrific standalone novel that brings the outback to hot, dry, sweltering reality. In it we follow the Bright family after they discover the body of Cam, the middle of three adult sons, out in the middle of nowhere, miles from his car. Most believe he intended to do himself harm but Nathan, Cam's older brother, thinks differently. Things just don't fit together like they should. As we spend time with Nathan and his extended family, we see much isn't as it appears and there are more questions than answers.

This was such a satisfying read. The dynamic is complex and there is quite a lot of family history that requires another look when more is discovered. Jane Harper is a master. Her characters are authentic thanks to her intimate knowledge of the hardships Aussies face in such an unforgiving terrain. It's a difficult life and the reader feels fully immersed into it. Brilliant stuff!

Having read and enjoyed Jane Harper's previous two novels I was really excited to read this one and I wasn't disappointed - although I was waiting for Aaron Falk to make an appearance until about a quarter of the way through as I didn't know this was a standalone!!

Set in the isolated Australian outback, The Lost Man opens with the body of a local farmer Cameron Bright being found after he didn't meet up with his brother as previously arranged. His body was not found near his car full of provisions for surviving in the intense heat of the country, but instead near the only patch of ground that has a small amount of shade for miles - the Stockman's grave. The strange circumstance of his death and lack of evidence of foul play is just the beginning of the mysteries and secrets of the Bright family that unravel as the plot unfolds.

As usual Harper plots to perfection, keeping you turning the pages compulsively and guessing until the end. A really enjoyable read that I'll definitely be recommending.

I LOVED this book. I loved how the story slowly emerges, I love the description, I love how you can see the landscape, I love the relationships and I love the family drama. Would 100% recommend and would recommend Jane Harpers previous novel the dry also.

Jane Harper creates the most gripping novels with the minimum of action. This is character-led crime at its best. As with all her books, it opens with the crime having been committed and the scene of crime laid out for us. Very gradually facts are revealed that change our view of the victim, that let us dwell on different scenarios, but all the while the relentless heat and hard life keep us firmly placed in the Australian outback with few places to turn. Absorbing, intriguing, full of tension, this is a great read.

On a wet and windy British autumn day a blast of Australian heat in the form of the latest Jane Harper book is a welcome treat.

Once again Jane Harper conjures up the sweat, dust and tears of the Outback. Families struggling with the elements alongside toxic relationships and hidden secrets. 'The Lost Man' is a great read - I don't want to spoil it by relating the plot; just pick it up and enjoy yourself!

This is a must read. I loved Harper's two earlier books, but this one is a step better on every level. Its standalone, with an entirely fresh cast of characters (albeit one very subtle, almost irrelevant crossover with The Dry for sharp eyes fans) although the bleak, impressive landcsape still plays a huge part. I never liked Hardy, with the whole 'the setting is the lead character' pretension, maybe because Wessex never appealed to me, but Harper's use of geography is incredible. Anyway, from a plot POV it's gripping, the characters are better and more nuanced than before, and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Top class whodunnit

The story begins with Nathan driving to a remote area of the outback to find his brother’s body. His brother seems to have left his car and then died in the extreme heat and dryness of the area. No one can understand what has happened. Nathan, his visiting son, his brother Bub and the rest of the family try to work out what must have happened. This is a slow moving book but what makes it so good is the sense of isolation that you feel as Nathan’s life and the outback combine to describe an emptiness and desolation that draws you in. The explanation is slowly reached as revelations about the past unfold and truths become clearer, In my opinion, this is the best book so far by this author.
Thanks to a Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read from this author. Different from the last 2 books , but yet again show casing a different aspect of the country.
Would highly recommend this book 5 stars

Jane Harper’s third book, The Lost Man, is of the same high standard of her first two (The Dry and Force of Nature). She has a wonderful evocative way or writing about the landscape and environment that makes you feel and visualise the surroundings without using excessive descriptive language that some authors rely on.

The Lost Man tells the story of Nathan and his family on their ranch land in a very remote outback area of Australia. Nathan is the eldest of three brothers. The middle one, Cameron, is found dead at the Stockman’s Grave – a local landmark that has given rise to many tall tales over the years. Nathan and Bub, his youngest brother by 12 years, are trying to piece together the last few days of Cameron’s life and determine if his death was suicide, an accident or something more sinister.

In the days following the discovery of Cameron’s dehydrated body we learn of many tensions and secrets in the family. The past of the family is revealed at a good pace and I did not guess where it was all leading to until almost the last page. Jane Harper is an amazing story teller and I look forward to many more of her excellent books in years to come. Her writing makes me wants to go and spend a week or so in the areas that she writes about. The harsh, arid, massive landscape and isolation of characters in The Lost Man fascinates me and I think the author captures the scenes and emotions superbly.

The writing is excellent and wholly believable given the conditions in which all these people are living which are so alien to most of us. I want to read these books in the midst of a British snowstorm as they evoke such a sense of the intense heat and vastness of the Australian outback.

With thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Harper wrote both The Dry and Force Of Nature which were both well written, excellent reads about Detective Aaron Falk.
The Lost Man is an equally great stand alone novel which is also set in the Australian outback, an area so well described it almost becomes another character in the book.
Nathan and his younger brother Bub meet up at the Stockman’s grave near their farms. Their brother Cam lies dead in the heat. Somehow he has become separated from his car and been unable to survive in the harsh outback environment.
However Nathan is suspicious and although the local cop suspects suicide Nathan is not sure. Cam has been brought up in this area and was not the suicidal type. He wouldn’t have left his car and chosen to die in such an awful way.
As Nathan returns to the family farm he starts to investigate although there aren’t many suspects- Cam’s widow Ilse, their mother, Liz, the 3 workers on the estate and Bub himself.
As Nathan looks into the death the claustrophobic atmosphere builds and the reader learns lots of the back history of the characters which leads to some dark revelations.
This is a well written and atmospheric novel with great characterisations and fabulous descriptions of the landscape and way of life in outback areas.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Man and highly recommend it. If you liked Jane Harper’s earlier books you will love this when it’s published in February.
I shall certainly be looking out for Jane’s future novels when they appear as she is an amazing writer.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked The Dry and Force of Nature. This one has a similar atmospheric setting - the Australian outback and its small community of farmers. Cam's body has been found in mysterious circumstances and his wife and brother are questioning why and how this happened. The truth is quite shocking when it comes but also satisfying as it means the family can move on to happier times. There are one or two little tricks the author over-uses to create suspense; Nathan more than once has a passing thought or idea that he can't quite grasp, and there are strange expressions on people's faces that he can't quite read...