quirkyaquarian's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kgraham10's review against another edition
3.0
I like the detective. Would like more character development and more police work. Both books have leaned too heavily on writing crutches.
relisedreads's review against another edition
5.0
5⭐️
“It’s the panic that gets you. Makes it hard to trust what you’re seeing.”
Alice Russell, a corporate woman who is also working as an informant for the Federal Police, entered the wilderness with a group of coworkers as a bonding experience. Several hours late after getting lost, the group returns.
Without Alice.
The last phone call she made was to Agent Aaron Falk, but the only thing he can make out in the voicemail was “hurt her.” What happened to Alice on the hiking trip? Did she wonder off on her own and fall victim to the elements? Or did someone find out about her working with the Federal Police and decide to put an end to it?
I loved this. The stark contrast between the imagery in the Dry (drought lands, burning landscapes) and this book (beautiful green forests, overgrown paths) is beautiful.
Team building experiences are already a nightmare, but getting lost on said team building hike and having to rely on the multiple different personalities and strengths/weaknesses of your team makes it even worse. On top of that, there are many different relationships that are being tested through the trip (estranged twins, old friends, school bullies, boss/subordinates).
I enjoyed seeing Falk work on a case that did not involve his own past as well as the guilt he feels that he and his partner may have put Alice in danger. I also enjoyed that Falk is still trying to understand his relationship with his father and that his father never stopped trying in his own way.
“It’s the panic that gets you. Makes it hard to trust what you’re seeing.”
Alice Russell, a corporate woman who is also working as an informant for the Federal Police, entered the wilderness with a group of coworkers as a bonding experience. Several hours late after getting lost, the group returns.
Without Alice.
The last phone call she made was to Agent Aaron Falk, but the only thing he can make out in the voicemail was “hurt her.” What happened to Alice on the hiking trip? Did she wonder off on her own and fall victim to the elements? Or did someone find out about her working with the Federal Police and decide to put an end to it?
I loved this. The stark contrast between the imagery in the Dry (drought lands, burning landscapes) and this book (beautiful green forests, overgrown paths) is beautiful.
Team building experiences are already a nightmare, but getting lost on said team building hike and having to rely on the multiple different personalities and strengths/weaknesses of your team makes it even worse. On top of that, there are many different relationships that are being tested through the trip (estranged twins, old friends, school bullies, boss/subordinates).
I enjoyed seeing Falk work on a case that did not involve his own past as well as the guilt he feels that he and his partner may have put Alice in danger. I also enjoyed that Falk is still trying to understand his relationship with his father and that his father never stopped trying in his own way.
shalulah's review against another edition
3.0
Great reading by Stephen Shanahan. Too bad about the plot failure.
jaraka's review against another edition
3.0
I think I should like this one more than I did. Likely, the narrator of the audio was the main negative. A mysterious disappearance of a woman, in the woods. A bit of a thriller. Mostly a plodding mystery.
Decent. I’m going to try others by the same author to see if I like them more.
Decent. I’m going to try others by the same author to see if I like them more.
pbanditp's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Five women go on a corporate retreat for a bonding experience in the Australian back woods. Four stagger out. Alice doesn’t come back and all the other women have reason to have killed her, but this is Australia, and that itself can kill you. What happened to Alice? Did she get lost? Or did she get murdered?
mxsinisters's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kenta's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kristyleighs's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5
I listened to the audiobook of [b:The Dry|27824826|The Dry (Aaron Falk, #1)|Jane Harper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456113132s/27824826.jpg|47804789] earlier this year and absolutely devoured it, and so I was expecting to love [b:Force of Nature|34275222|Force of Nature (Aaron Falk, #2)|Jane Harper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501790749s/34275222.jpg|55334611] just as much. Sadly, this wasn't the case.
I think that with The Dry having been so different to what I normally read, it set the bar a little too high because despite the interesting story and excellent narration by Steve Shanahan, this one felt a little bit lacking, and just didn't manage to grab me in the same way that The Dry did.
I think I'll definitely read any future novels the author releases in this series because they certainly make for some interesting easy listening!
I listened to the audiobook of [b:The Dry|27824826|The Dry (Aaron Falk, #1)|Jane Harper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456113132s/27824826.jpg|47804789] earlier this year and absolutely devoured it, and so I was expecting to love [b:Force of Nature|34275222|Force of Nature (Aaron Falk, #2)|Jane Harper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501790749s/34275222.jpg|55334611] just as much. Sadly, this wasn't the case.
I think that with The Dry having been so different to what I normally read, it set the bar a little too high because despite the interesting story and excellent narration by Steve Shanahan, this one felt a little bit lacking, and just didn't manage to grab me in the same way that The Dry did.
I think I'll definitely read any future novels the author releases in this series because they certainly make for some interesting easy listening!