Tag: #janeharper

Book Review: The Lost Man by Jane Harper

RATING; 5 out of 5 Stars

THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper is a slow burn, atmospheric murder mystery set in the unforgiving and remote Australian Outback.

The apparent suicide of Cameron Bright seems to be just another tragedy in this family’s story. A well liked family man, no one can understand why he would leave his well-stocked vehicle and walk to the Stockman’s Grave in the deadly heat of the Outback summer to die.

When Nathan Bright meets his youngest brother Bub at the fence-line between his and the family’s properties at the Stockman’s Grave to recover his brother’s body, Nathan has more questions than answers. The local police believe it is a suicide, but Nathan has trouble believing. He returns to the family homestead to help, but the past returns to haunt him as well as the secrets his brother was hiding.

As the family grieves, Nathan’s suspicion grows that there may be a murderer among them.

This is one of those books you start and just fall into the intrigue of the location and mystery. Ms. Harper’s description of the heat and dry in the Outback in the summer pulls you in and makes you believe you can feel the isolation and danger of the location for the families that live there. My opinion of the point-of-view main character, Nathan changes continually with each new family revelation Ms. Harper weaves into the story. The secondary characters are all hiding their own secrets and add to the feeling of surprise and dread with each revelation. The resolution of the mystery was a surprise I did not see coming which makes this a truly memorable read.

I highly recommend this book and author!

Book Review: The Dry by Jane Harper

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

A present day family tragedy, a twenty-year-old unsolved death and an environment that can go up in flames with one spark all ramp up the tension, anger, suspicion, danger and suspense in Jane Harper’s debut novel THE DRY.

Twenty years ago Aaron Falk and his father were run out of their home and off their farm in Kiewarra, a small farming community in Australia. Ellie Deacon was found drowned and even though it was ruled a suicide, Aaron was rumored to be involved in her death. His best friend Luke Hadler gave him an alibi, but his name was found on a note in the dead girl’s room. Aaron never wants to return to the community.

A call from Luke’s father brings Aaron, who is now a Federal Police investigator in Melbourne, back to Kiewarra for the funeral of Luke, his wife and small son. Everyone believes the pressures of the drought made Luke snap and kill his family before killing himself, but Luke’s parents just can’t believe it and ask Aaron to look into it for them. The local policeman, Sergeant Raco is new to the area and he is having some doubts with the ruling of murder-suicide himself. Aaron and Raco start to look more closely at the case and start to uncover buried secrets and lies.

Many in the community still believe Aaron lied about his alibi and the same forces that chased him before are back to pressure him into leaving again. He is harassed constantly again, which leaves him looking at the same foes as before and it could be clouding his judgement and perspective on the current case. Are the two, past and present cases connected or is it just coincidence? Aaron and Raco work together to find the truth before the town ignites.

This book was so well written, I find it extremely hard to believe it is a debut book. Ms. Harper gives the reader not one, but two intriguing mysteries that intertwine throughout the book with well-placed flashbacks that never interrupt the story’s narrative. All of the characters are complex and fully fleshed. The pressures of a farming community on the edge due to an extended drought makes the environment as important as any character. This book is a must read for lovers of mystery/suspense books!