Title: The Lost Man
Author: Jane Harper
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: Feb. 5, 2019 (USA)
Purchase Link: Amazon
My Rating: 4 Atmospheric Hearts
*Many thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book.
Synopsis:
Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland, in this stunning new standalone novel from New York Times bestseller Jane Harper
They are at the stockman’s grave, a landmark so old, no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family’s quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn’t, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects…
Review:
The Lost Man is a highly atmospheric mystery/suspense story featuring the beautiful yet deadly Australian landscape. Harper's descriptive writing style sets a grim, yet hauntingly beautiful scene as readers find themselves stranded in the remoteness of the Outback - a region where the people survive or perish from the elements based solely on their level of preparedness. So the big question is - why would a man born and raised in the Outback, fully aware of the danger posed by the brutal land and relentless sun, wander nine miles from his vehicle leaving his supplies and all means of survival behind? Why is cattleman Cam Bright lying dead in the shadow of the Stockman's Grave in the middle of nowhere? Did the well-liked middle Bright brother succumb to the elements in order to commit suicide? Or did someone leave him there knowing he would die? Why was he at the legendary Stockman's Grave?
The mystery of what happened to Cam and "who-done-it?" may be at the center of this story, but it's the many characters and relationships - people hoarding their own secrets and agendas - that fuel it. The Lost Man is very much a character-driven, suspenseful journey. The utter isolation of these families and their lack of quick help from authorities becomes apparent as the story progresses, as does the role played by the deadly, desolate landscape. Harper excels at drawing readers into the scene, allowing them to see, breathe, and smell the ominous threat bestowed on man and beast by the treacherous, unforgiving land. While the story unfolds slowly, by the halfway point I felt the pace and tension rising to another level, along with the increasing list of possible answers to the mystery. I'll admit to changing my mind about what had transpired and who was responsible several times as I filtered through the clues and examined each player more closely. I began to suspect the truth of it all near the end as various layers are peeled back and blanks are filled in. I'm still not completely sure how I feel about the ultimate resolution, but it in no way lessened my intense satisfaction in the delivery of this story. The Lost Man is truly a study of "nature" - both human and the land. And it's most certainly a story of survival - in more ways than one. Another stunning Must Read by Jane Harper! I'm already looking forward to her next book.
My Rating: 4 Atmospheric Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
The Lost Man is a highly atmospheric mystery/suspense story featuring the beautiful yet deadly Australian landscape. Harper's descriptive writing style sets a grim, yet hauntingly beautiful scene as readers find themselves stranded in the remoteness of the Outback - a region where the people survive or perish from the elements based solely on their level of preparedness. So the big question is - why would a man born and raised in the Outback, fully aware of the danger posed by the brutal land and relentless sun, wander nine miles from his vehicle leaving his supplies and all means of survival behind? Why is cattleman Cam Bright lying dead in the shadow of the Stockman's Grave in the middle of nowhere? Did the well-liked middle Bright brother succumb to the elements in order to commit suicide? Or did someone leave him there knowing he would die? Why was he at the legendary Stockman's Grave?
The mystery of what happened to Cam and "who-done-it?" may be at the center of this story, but it's the many characters and relationships - people hoarding their own secrets and agendas - that fuel it. The Lost Man is very much a character-driven, suspenseful journey. The utter isolation of these families and their lack of quick help from authorities becomes apparent as the story progresses, as does the role played by the deadly, desolate landscape. Harper excels at drawing readers into the scene, allowing them to see, breathe, and smell the ominous threat bestowed on man and beast by the treacherous, unforgiving land. While the story unfolds slowly, by the halfway point I felt the pace and tension rising to another level, along with the increasing list of possible answers to the mystery. I'll admit to changing my mind about what had transpired and who was responsible several times as I filtered through the clues and examined each player more closely. I began to suspect the truth of it all near the end as various layers are peeled back and blanks are filled in. I'm still not completely sure how I feel about the ultimate resolution, but it in no way lessened my intense satisfaction in the delivery of this story. The Lost Man is truly a study of "nature" - both human and the land. And it's most certainly a story of survival - in more ways than one. Another stunning Must Read by Jane Harper! I'm already looking forward to her next book.
My Rating: 4 Atmospheric Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
Cross My
Heart . . . xxx
Sandra
This is a fantastic review!I can’t wait to dig into this one. It’s my first from Harper, and I love an atmospheric read!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Tar Heel Reader