Force of Nature by Jane Harper, a review

Force of Nature is the follow up to Jane Harper’s stunning debut novel The Dry and it does not disappoint.  A group of office colleagues on a team building camping trip set out into the Australian wilderness but one does not come back.  Federal agent Aaron Falk is sent to investigate and liaise with the local police but knew the missing woman as she was a whistle blower and held secrets about her employers and colleagues.

  Jane Harper skilfully weaves several elements together; the relationship between parent and child, sibling rivalry and workplace politics.  The landscape as in The previous novel is a character, sinister, mysterious and threatening.  The scenes in the bush are reminiscent of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.  A superb, well written novel and a sequel that is better than the original.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy and Little Brown publisher.

#ForceofNature;@janeharperauthor;@Little Brown UK; @Beyond That

My Top Ten Books 2017

A year of exciting books, debut authors and a return of old favourites.  These are my top ten.

1.  Noah Hawley – After The Fall, a subtle narrative of what happened before and after a horrific plane crash.  A new favourite author.

2.  Lottie Moggach – Under the Sun, a literary thriller set in Spain.  Glorious.

3.  Colton Whitehead – The Underground Railroad.  A worthy Pulitzer prize winning novel.

4.  Tracey Chevalier – At the Edge of the Orchard.

5.  Anita Shreve – After the Fire.

6.  Jon McGregor – Reservoir 13.

7.  Elizabeth Strout – My Name is Lucy Barton.

8.  Lisa Lutz – The Passenger.

9.  Erin Kelly –  He Said/She Said.

10. Peter Swanson – Her Every Fear.