The Lost Man is the story of three brothers, Nathan, Cameron and Bub Bright, and their fractured, difficult family. Once again, Harper has set her novel in an isolated part of the Australian outback, where life is tough, memories are long and the heat is so intense that it’s impossible to withstand for more than a few hours. I read it in one sitting, marvelling at Harper’s ability to create characters you really care about while at the same time building the sense of tension and mystery so skillfully that you have no idea quite how the novel is going to end. Well, I’m pleased to report that The Lost Man, out this month, is her best yet. As I wrote at the time: “Jane Harper’s debut had everything I want in a novel – a gripping plot, strong characterisation and a real sense of place.” Her second, Force of Nature, was equally compelling, so not surprisingly I’ve been on tenterhooks waiting for her third. Her first novel, The Dry, was one of my favourite books of 2017 and I recommended it to everyone I know. Why? Because I can’t wait a single second longer to read them. There are some authors whose books go straight to the top of the heap. But even though I valiantly try to work my way through them in the order they arrive I just can’t. Like most book reviewers I know, I have a towering pile of novels to read.
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