The Lost Man
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4.3 • 566 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"I love Jane Harper's Australia-based mysteries." —Stephen King
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Australia's outback, with its brutal climate and equally bruising isolation, looms as large as any character in this stark standalone from bestseller Harper (Force of Nature). For years, the three Bright brothers divorced dad Nathan, the eldest; family man and everybody's favorite, middle child Cameron; and the mentally challenged youngest, Bub have maintained an uneasy equilibrium on adjacent cattle ranches. That flies out the window the week before Christmas when Cameron goes missing; his desiccated corpse is subsequently discovered a few miles from his perfectly operational truck in the shadow of the eerie headstone known as the stockman's grave. Absent any clear indications of foul play, the local authorities undertake a perfunctory investigation, leaving a troubled Nathan to start asking questions that no one wants to answer. In the grim journey that follows, the surviving members of the Bright family must confront some devastating secrets. Harper's sinewy prose and flinty characters compel, but the dreary story line may cause some readers to give up before the jaw-dropping denouement. Author tour.)
Customer Reviews
Loved it
Great story, characters and learned a lot about the Australian outback. The complications and challenges between family is highlighted extremely well.
Never saw that coming
This book tackles the difficult reality of domestic abuse and the influence of those in power in remote communities. While the story is set in the Australian Outback, the issues it explores are universal—these same struggles can be found in rural Alabama, Costa Rica, Spain, and countless places around the world. Domestic abuse knows no borders.
Jane handles the subject with remarkable care, bringing awareness to it without overwhelming the reader, while still conveying the seriousness and impact of the issue. The beauty of the Outback, paired with its harsh and sometimes deadly realities, creates the perfect backdrop for the story.
Having traveled through Australia and experienced both the stark landscapes and eerie beauty of places like Alice Springs and the regions beyond Brisbane, I felt Jane captured the authenticity of the scenery beautifully. The setting comes alive on the page and becomes a character in its own right.
This is a powerful and memorable read, and I couldn’t help thinking how well it would translate to a television series or film.
Jane Harper is the best at..
Everything. Can you feel the outback like it’s just out your front door? Check yes.
Can you make flawed, amoral characters likeable and endearing? Check.
Drama and tension? Check.
Ending out of nowhere? Check.
I’ve never given anything but 5 stars for her. One of 10 best authors we have today.