A man is found dead in the middle of the Australian Outback – huddled next to a single tombstone, desperate for its shadow to find reprieve from the incandescent sun.
Cameron Bright’s death is peculiar because this man grew up in the bush. His car was found nine kilometers away, and he always took the necessary precautions to survive any unforeseen issues while surveying his land.
Jane Harper depicts The Lost Man as a mysterious thriller. However, this tragedy raises questions that extend beyond the Bright’s grief. Harper’s latest novel is really about rediscovering family, coping with life-defining moments and forgiveness. Cameron’s death is the connective tissue that forces broken brothers to confront the past in order to make sense of the present and enrich the future.
The main character is the eldest Bright brother, Nathan. He is an outcast in the truest form of the word – exiled from town, estranged from his ex-wife and son, living in solitude with no neighbors for hours. His presence is the cornerstone of the Bright family’s revelations, but first he must confront his demons.
The plot moseys along as the reader learns all the intricate dynamics and relationships of those living on the Bright property. After 200 pages, I was worried the climax would not be worth the buildup. However, everything falls into place in the last 100 pages. They were truly some of the most captivating and moving I have recently read.
I am glad Jane Harper pivoted from her Detective Folk series, which honestly felt stale in even the second edition. I recommend picking up The Lost Man, but warn this is a slow and steady read, rather than Harper’s previous fast-paced beach reads.
Verdict: Read it. 3.5/5 Stars
Length: 345 pages
When: You want to read about a complex family who lives in the most unusual of places… secluded in the Australian Outback
Quote: “Sometimes – whether by accident, or whatever- I reckon something things turn out for the best. “
Also Try: Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth (B2C review)
Buy The Lost Man by Jane Harper