BLOG TOUR: The Lost Man - Jane Harper

Synopsis:

Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelendting sun of the outback Queensland, in this stunning standalone novel from New York Times bestseller Jane Harper.

They are at the stockmans grave, a landmark so old, no can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family's quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did her lose hope and walk to his death? Becuase if he didnt, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects.

Reivew:

I dont think its any news that I'm a huge fan of Jane Harper and her work, The Lost Man doesnt change that fact either. This is a stand alone compared to her other two books which are a part of a series. I first heard of this book way before it got its name, before it was even written, back when Jane was off on a journey to research which already had be hooked with her tales and photos of her journey.

Her fantastic atmospheric way of writing pulls you in to the setting, holding you there, making you feel the blaring heat of the outback heat, the isolation and her character driven plots are incredibly engaging. Jane is for sure one of the finest writers.  Although I fell in love with Janes books that are part of a series, hearing this was going to be a stand alone book gave me hope to see  what Jane could come up with and how it would effect its readers. 

The book follows Nathan, one of Camerons brothers and he searches for an answer, was Cameron murdered or was it suicide? Well throughout the book there is nothing that points to the deininte answer, not until the very end, nothing comes across as something that an ammetur couldnt do, it was al so realistic.

There is no chance for you to not be shocked by this book, its unepected twists will floor you. Although i have read psychological thrilllers that i have beena ble to solve and ride out the twisty plots, Harper managed to yet again create another book with an journey and ending i couldnt see coming. The Lost Man is a tale of family dynamics, all too familiar abuse and a minimal list of people for you to choose from to guess the final outcome before the reveal. It's nothing new for me to aboslutely suck at guessing before the reveal. 

Theres so many things to this book that make it amazing, at some point you suspect everyone, and the passing between past and present brings the reader to an emotional climax after a tense journey alongside Nathan and his family. Jane hasnt dissapointed in transporting me as a reader to places I could only dream of visiting. If you enjoy emotionally charged, character driven stories do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of The Lost Man. Its only the begining of February but this book will remain int he top 10 best books ir ead in 2019 without a doubt. It's a 5/5 from me.

Blog Tour: The Dry by Jane Harper

THE DRY

JANE HARPER

Published in hardback by Little, Brown on 12 January 2017, £12.99

‘One of the most stunning debuts I’ve ever read . . . Every word is near perfect. The story builds like a wave seeking the purchase of earth before it crashes down and wipes out everything you might have thought about this enthralling tale’ David Baldacci

‘Terrific characters, unique and evocative setting, knockout plot construction. This book has it all’ John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of The Fall

‘You will feel the heat, taste the dust and bling into the glare. The Dry is a wonderful crime novel that shines a light into the darkest corner of a sunburnt country’ Michael Robotham, CWA Gold Dagger Winner, bestselling author of Life or Death

‘Every so often a debut novel arrives that is so tightly woven and compelling it seems the work of a novelist in her prime. That’s what Jane Harper has given us with The Dry, a story so true to setting and tone it seemed I fell asleep in Virginia only to wake in the Australian heat. It’s rare, that sense of transportation, and I loved every minute of it’ John Hart, New York Times bestselling author of Redemption Road

‘It’s extremely rare and exciting to read a debut that enthrals from the very first page and then absolutely sticks the landing. Told with heart and guts and an authentic sense of place that simply cannot be faked, The Dry is the debut of the year’ C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Off the Grid

I just can’t understand how someone like him could do something like that.

Amid the worst drought to ravage Australia in a century, it hasn’t rained in small country

town Kiewarra for two years. Tensions in the community become unbearable when three

members of the Hadler family are brutally murdered. Everyone things Luke Hadler, who

committed suicide after slaughtering his wife and six-year-old son, is guilty.

Policeman Aaron Falk returns to the town of his youth for the funeral of his childhood

best friend, and is unwillingly drawn into the investigation. As questions mount and

suspicion spreads through the town, Falk is forced to confront the community that

rejected him twenty years earlier. Because Falk and Luke Hadler shared a secret, one

which Luke’s death threatens to unearth. And as Falk probes deeper into the killings,

secrets from his past and why he left home bubble to the surface as he questions the truth

of his friend’s crime.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Harper has worked as a print journalist for thirteen years both in Australia and the UK.

She lives in Melbourne and currently writes for the Herald Sun. Jane is originally from the

UK and moved to Australia in 2008. The Dry is her first novel.

Janeharper.com.au

FURTHER PRAISE FOR THE DRY

‘Every now and then an Australian crime novel comes along to stop your breath and haunt your dreams…There is about The Dry something mythic and valiant ... This is a story about heroism, the sins of the past, and the struggle to atone.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘A razor-sharp crime yarn dripping in the sights, sounds and smells of the Australian bush…The storytelling is accomplished, with a bald sparseness to the writing that draws you in and characterization that rings resoundingly true…as the action twists and turns, the pace build[s] to a fantastic finale that will leave you breathless.’―Australian Women’s Weekly

‘A tightly plotted page-turner that kept me reading well into the night…Harper shines a light on the highs and lows of rural life – the loyalty born of collective endurance in adversity, as well as the loneliness and isolation, and the havoc wrought by small-town gossip. She also explores the nature of guilt and regret, and the impact of the past on the present. In this cracker of a book Harper maintains the suspense, with the momentum picking up as it draws to its nerve-wracking conclusion.’

―Australian Financial Review

‘The Dry is a page-turner written with a maturity of style rarely seen in a first-time novelist and it’s here the writer excels. Harper’s exploration of the pressures of a small town where people are not able to escape the past is thoughtful and mature. Her plot twists and layering are intricate and subtle and keep you guessing to the end while the townspeople grow on you despite their dirty secrets. Harper’s well-executed final scenes are both filmic and tense, and sure to spark a few did-you-guess-it discussions.’ ―The West Australian

‘Devastating debut…a suspenseful tale of sound and fury as riveting as it is horrific.’ Publishers

Weekly, starred review

‘A stunner…It’s a small-town, big-secrets page-turner with a shocker of an ending.’ Booklist, starred review

‘You can almost feel the searing heat of the Australian drought in this intense, gripping, atmospheric read.’ Kate Hamer, bestselling author of The Girl in the Red Coat

‘Put up your tray table, buckle your seatbelt, and sit back: you’ve found the right book for this flight. Set in the flash-ready tinder of a town going under, The Dry is a cracking good read that will have you hoping the pilot decides to circle the airport before landing.’ Laura McBride, author of We Are Called to Rise

‘Debut author Harper plots this novel with laser precision, keeping suspects in play while dropping in flashbacks that offer readers a full understanding of what really happened . . . A chilling story set under a blistering sun, this fine debut will keep readers on edge and awake long past bedtime’ Kirkus Reviews

For further information please contact Grace Vincent

For further information please contact Grace Vincent

Grace.Vincent@littlebrown.co.uk / 020 3122 6590

What I have to say

The Dry is one of those books that grips you from the very beginning; throwing you right in at the deep end, the funeral of a young family that was, on the surface, a murder suicide as a result of economic depression within a small town. Returning home for the first time in so many years is Falk, who has hidden secrets about his shared past with the friend everyone assumes killed his wife and eldest child.

I fell in love with the setting of this book, you can really feel the suffocating heat. Falk had gotten out years ago, and is prepare to do it all again but after he's done what he came back to do, he is drawn back in to the low whispers and secrets of his small town home.

The writing is beautiful and really draws you in to this crime mystery, It incorporated small town drama whilst also being sensitive to the tragedy at the very centre of the story. I love crime thrillers so I really did enjoy this.

A full review of this book will feature on this blog this coming Saturday, return then to find out everything I have to say about this masterpiece.

Death at The Seaside - Frances Brody

Synopsis:

Nothing ever happens in august, and tenacious sleuth Kate Shakleton deserves a break. Heading off for a long -overdue holiday to Whitby, she visits her school friend Alma who works as a fortune teller there.

Kate had been looking forward to a relaxing seaside sojourn, but upon arrival discovers that almas' daughter Felcity has disappeared, leaving her mother a note and the pawn ticket for their only asset: a watch-guard. What makes this more intriguing is the jeweller who advanced Felicity the thirty shillings is Jack Philips, Alma's current gentleman friend.

Kate cant help but come involved, and goes on to the jewellers shop to get some answers. When she makes a horrifying discovery in the back room, it soon becomes clear that her services are needed, Met by a wall of silence by the towns officials, keen to maintain Whitby's idyllic façade it is up to Kate - ably assisted by Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden - to discover the truth behind Felicity's disappearance

And they say something happens in August

Review:

I was send a copy of the book in order to participate in the book tour which ended yesterday after visiting this blog as well as many others since the 3rd of October. My copy came around the 8th of September and it sat on my shelf for just over a week before I finally pulled it off and begun reading it.

The blurb was what pulled me in if I have to be honest, I wanted to know the ins and out of all of it and really get to know everyone involved in what seems like the most mysterious disappearance that has ever happened. Unfortunately for me the book just wasn't what I had expected.  It took me far too long to really get into reading the book and even then I could only read 20-30 pages a day before having to force myself to read more.

I didn't feel very connected to any character in the book at all, although Kate is really vivid in my head, I just didn't forge any connection with her, she was just an important role in the book. To find out Kate has a series really makes me wonder if I read more about her will I make connections. It's a really big issues with me, if I can't forge a connection then I really find it hard to read these characters for a long time. Kate is clearly intelligent and resilient and those qualities are great to have I just wished I loved her as a character as much as other have said they do. As for Alma and Felicity, they weren't as vivid as Kate was but they still had the same outcome to me, as did everyone else.

I loved the scenery and its description really does made it sound idyllic and I fell for it as a setting. I find myself loving books set by the seaside with beautiful houses and piers.

The books had its twist and turns for surprises and didn't do bad with the overall plot because that in fact was quite nice and bearable. I could easily see Felicity and Kate in the current times and maybe if I did I could forge some sort of link with them. I'm always willing to give crime novels a shot, they intruege me and I like to see if I can figure it all out before it ends. This time I didn't figure it out at all, I figured it out when the book told me about it, all of the clues as to the events were all kept well hidden so I didn't catch on at all so it did come to me as a surprise when the truth unfolds.

I liked it as a read, it wasn't exactly a short one as all crime/mystery novels have to build up suspense etc., It was nice and refreshing to read a different genre for a change, I just wished I had connected more maybe I would have enjoyed it a lot more. The plot wasn't horrific and the characters were well written. for all of that I give the book a 4.5 out of 5. Maybe ill go off and read more of the Kate Shakleton Mysteries and see where that gets me.