Name: The Lost Man
Rating: 4.166666666666667 (78 reviews)
ISBN: 9781250755872

Jane Harper

A Novel

The Lost Man

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Two brothers meet in the remote Australian outback when the third brother is found dead, in this stunning new standalone novel from Jane Harper Brothers Nathan and Bub Bright meet for the first time in months at the remote fence line separating their cattle ranches in the lonely outback. Their third brother, Cameron, lies dead at their feet. In an isolated belt of Australia, their homes a three-hour drive apart, the brothers were one another’s nearest neighbors. Cameron was the middle child, the one who ran the family homestead. But something made him head out alone under the unrelenting sun. Nathan, Bub and Nathan’s son return to Cameron’s ranch and to those left behind by his passing: his wife, his daughters, and his mother, as well as their long-time employee and two recently hired seasonal workers. While they grieve Cameron’s loss, suspicion starts to take hold, and Nathan is forced to examine secrets the family would rather leave in the past. Because if someone forced Cameron to his death, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects. A powerful and brutal story of suspense set against a formidable landscape, The Lost Man confirms Jane Harper, author of The Dry and Force of Nature, is one of the best new voices in writing today.

Caroline

This book distracted me from a million tv shows on a plane. I felt the searing heat and pretty sure I got a sweaty back just thinking about it. To be fair a bit contrite in the end but I enjoyed the depth of each character and a glimpse into a life so remote from my own.

Cheri McElroy

⭐️⭐️⭐️

 This was my first Jane Harper book, but it won’t be my last. I loved the exploration of the family dynamics, the atmosphere, and the story. Interestingly, in a setting as large as the outback, this still had a bit of a closed-circle feel. It did drag a bit in the middle, but it was a good story.

Zoey Mikalatos

Another excellent mystery from Jane Harper, but my favorite is still The Dry.

Jessica Guht

A nice mystery, took a bit to get into but it was satisfying to see how all the unknowns played out.

Natalie Stenson

Jane Harper is definitely one of my favourite writers and this didn’t disappoint. So much more than a murder mystery, this was tale of family, abuse, regrets and forgiveness. Set in one of the harshest, loneliest environments on earth. I can’t wait to read her next book.

Tanja Hoffmann

Lost Man

Jessica Williamson

4 Stars

Ok. That's it. Jane Harper is an auto-buy author for me from here on in. 

One of my favorite things about Jane's writing is how she makes the setting of the book one of her main characters. This novel was no exception. This family lives in a very remote desert where your closest neighbor is a three-hour drive away. It's hot, isolating, and just a few minutes outside can kill you. That kind of a setting makes everything these characters do, so much more work than a character in a regular urban setting and I just love the way it all comes across on the page.

The character work was well done. They're fleshed out, thought out, and just so interesting to read. The thing about her characters is that they all have some gray area to them, so when it comes to a mystery and trying to figure out who the killer is, it makes it that much harder for me to figure it out. And honestly, I love that. Gray morality for everyone! 

The mystery in this one was a two-fold mystery. Because not only was it a "who killed them" but also a "did someone actually kill them or was it the setting?" and I loved that. It made everything so much more interesting. 

Things you should know before going in: this book does deal with the abuse cycle and how those who are hurt, tend to hurt others. There is talk of both spousal and child abuse though nothing is expressly described on the page. Rape is mentioned a few times, the act is not written on the page, but it is brought up. There's also a pretty horrible death for a dog, again not graphically described but mentioned a few times. Also, talking of killing kangaroos and dingos is pretty prevalent throughout. 

Overall, I thought this was another great book. Highly recommend for anyone who is able to handle the above topics. 

Cover 4; Characters 5; Plot 4; Pace 3; Writing 4; Enjoyment 4.

B. K.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 because a couple days later I'm still thinking about this book. Vivid setting, good pacing, solid plot. I really like Jane Harper's writing style. The prologue was so hauntingly bleak that I was immediately intrigued, and I liked following Nathan's perspective as things unfolded. The conclusion wrapped things up neatly, but not in a way that felt unearned. I seldom read mysteries or psychological thrillers, so I'm not sure how this story holds up for those more familiar with the genre, but I thought it was great.

Stephen Shanahan's narration added an engaging element to the story for me, and the Australian accent helped bring the setting to life. I plan to check out the audiobook for The Survivors as well at some point.

The Lost Man A Novel

Reviews

Highlights