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minapmreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Initially slow to get in to, however by midway the suspense increased. Some annoying page turning tricks. In the end a good read, made feel sad and hopeful. Doesn't make you want to live in outback Australia.taliatalksbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Jane Harper’s The Lost Man was slow from the start, and never really picked up for me. While the concept seemed interesting, I can’t say it panned out the way I was hoping. The characters attempted to be interesting, but the lack of surroundings and repetition of stories prevented them from having any real depth. Also, this story makes it hard, extremely hard, to like or feel bad for any of the characters, including those who have died. Yes, everyone has baggage, but this book focused more on unraveling the images of characters than it really did on solving the mystery surrounding Cam’s death. For me, this book was longer than it needed to be for a place where nothing happens, and the characters weren’t interesting enough to save the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
kirstyreads's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
bookstorian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a keen enthusiast of a mystery read and needed something quick and thrilling to finish off the month - while I didn't find this book entirely thrilling, there were many mysteries that slowly unravelled as I read.
The Bright family have been part of the Balmarra landscape for over a hundred years when one of the three brothers is found laying dead at the infamous Stockman's grave. Although his death if quickly written off as suicide, Nathan, the eldest brother can't seem to shake the feeling that there is more to the story.
There were many classic Jane Harper elements to this story that I loved including the establishment of place - it was so vivid and real, you could sense the isolation and heat of the land as well as the character's relationship with it. The character's were also well fleshed out, most of them had a backstory that not only gave them colour, but also motive. The infusion of outback myth/ghost stories as well as some of the moral decisions made by the characters was awesome as well as the exploration of family and the cyclical nature of abuse.
Whilst the story took a little while to unfurl, I liked that it allowed me to make my own hypothesis about how Cameron died.
I'm glad I can finally tick another Jane Harper novel off my TBR!
Similar to 'The Dry' by Jane Harper and 'The Wrong Woman' by JP Pomare.
The Bright family have been part of the Balmarra landscape for over a hundred years when one of the three brothers is found laying dead at the infamous Stockman's grave. Although his death if quickly written off as suicide, Nathan, the eldest brother can't seem to shake the feeling that there is more to the story.
There were many classic Jane Harper elements to this story that I loved including the establishment of place - it was so vivid and real, you could sense the isolation and heat of the land as well as the character's relationship with it. The character's were also well fleshed out, most of them had a backstory that not only gave them colour, but also motive. The infusion of outback myth/ghost stories as well as some of the moral decisions made by the characters was awesome as well as the exploration of family and the cyclical nature of abuse.
Whilst the story took a little while to unfurl, I liked that it allowed me to make my own hypothesis about how Cameron died.
I'm glad I can finally tick another Jane Harper novel off my TBR!
Similar to 'The Dry' by Jane Harper and 'The Wrong Woman' by JP Pomare.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
jhbandcats's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow, Jane Harper writes Such Great Books! This one brought the Outback to life in all its sere isolation. It’s made abundantly clear from the first page that this is a deadly environment and if you’re not prepared for the harshness of the land, it will kill you. Harper writes so well that I felt enveloped by her story - it was so vivid.
The Lost Man is an in-depth look at a family wracked by violence down through the generations. The three adult sons have each dealt with their childhood in different ways, with alcoholism and mental illness ongoing despite all the years that have passed. The death of the middle son has the eldest, Nathan, examining the past with new insight and empathy.
The redemption at the end felt so good. I really recommend all Harper’s books and am really eager for her next Aaron Falk (The Dry, Force of Nature) book, available in the US in Jan 2023.
The Lost Man is an in-depth look at a family wracked by violence down through the generations. The three adult sons have each dealt with their childhood in different ways, with alcoholism and mental illness ongoing despite all the years that have passed. The death of the middle son has the eldest, Nathan, examining the past with new insight and empathy.
The redemption at the end felt so good. I really recommend all Harper’s books and am really eager for her next Aaron Falk (The Dry, Force of Nature) book, available in the US in Jan 2023.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Car accident, and Murder
kponturo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Murder
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A lot of moral complexity in this one. I don't like morally gray stories, where it's trying to say there is no right and wrong, but I do enjoy a story that makes me really have to stop and think about what IS right and wrong in a specific and difficult situation.
Plus, Jane Harper is just a fabulous writer who draws you into the story and has an amazing sense of place!
Plus, Jane Harper is just a fabulous writer who draws you into the story and has an amazing sense of place!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
olivea21db's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
souppiggy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At first the writing felt a bit flat and unoriginal however as the book progressed Harper’s signature style of mystery and tension really shone through. The harsh aussie landscape plays almost as a character itself and the reader feels they can understand their way of life (even as a city dweller). I really like the character development. Harper has managed to write about the truth of abuse and assault faced by women in a way that shows there is never an easy answer and that even good men do bad things. Very interesting and fast paced read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape
typedtruths's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infidelity