The Lost Man

Jane Harper has a honed talent for absorbing her readers in a setting and immersing them into the lives and minds of her characters. In her latest book, The Lost Man, Harper maroons her audience in a desolate landscape in Western Australia. Her protagonist is a deeply saddened cattle rancher who has been ostracized for a former transgression by the small community that populates the lonely expanse. Nathan Bright is first introduced at the site of his brother’s recent death near an isolated gravestone. Given the area’s harsh climate, he died excruciatingly of exposure without benefit of shade and supplies. Accompanied by his other brother and visiting son, Nathan is left to wonder why his brother would have fallen victim to those elements that they were acutely aware of and had adapted to throughout their lives. As the novel progresses, it is revealed that Nathan is somewhat estranged from his family, divorced and teetering on the edge of a deep depression. When he reluctantly gathers with his family during their mourning, he recalls missed opportunities for a different life. He regrets having squandered a chance to win over the woman who became his deceased brother’s wife. There are flashbacks to his childhood with an abusive father and the resulting necessity for the three brothers to choose between self-preservation and protecting each other. Unconvinced that his brother had committed suicide, Nathan begins digging into his past and discovers layers of secrets and lies that permeate the entire family. The Lost Man presents an intriguing mystery and character study with a tone that expertly evokes the dread and unease of its unforgiving setting. Fans of The Dry and Force of Nature will be delighted with Harper’s new standalone novel that further proves her prowess as an innovative and versatile author.

I purchased this book as soon as I was able because I adore Jane Harper's work. And The Lost man lives up to the hype - I was caught by the fifth page and was buried in the Outback for a couple of very cold days here in the U. S. desert. No Better way to spend your downtime than lost in a good book. This is a family tale. The men are strong and made hard by the work and the environment. Life is hard and must be played by rote - if you break the pattern of existence you will die in a couple of hours. And the women are harder - are tasked with raising kids in this environment as well as making the world habitable for all and assisting as needed on the farm. City people have no idea and most can't understand the pull of this kind of existence, and those of us affected by it can't explain it. Jane Harper does a great job of laying it all out for us, though. This is a world you can feel all around you as you grab a cup of coffee between chapters. Visit this world, please. You won't be sorry.

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.