Goodreads Choice Award Finalist (Mystery & Thriller, 2018) BookBrowse Best Books of 2018 Winner of the Prix Polar Award for Best International Novel BookRiot’s 25 Best Suspense Books from 2018 Davitt Awards shortlist for Adult Crime Novel 2018 Dead Good Reads shortlist for Best Small Town Mystery 2018 Five women go on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling … on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, asks: How well do you really know the people you work with?
When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path.
But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.
Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?
“Force of Nature bristles with wit; it crackles with suspense; it radiates atmosphere. An astonishing book from an astonishing writer.”
–A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window
Select praise for The Dry:
“One of the most stunning debuts I’ve ever read. Every word is near perfect. Read it!”
–David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A breathless page-turner … Ms. Harper has made her own major mark.”
–The New York Times
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This is the second book to feature Aron Falk, the first being The Dry.
Harper is a fabulous writer and this story was very entertaining.
A group of women on a corporate hiking/camping retreat, become lost in a national park. When the group finally make their way out, one woman is missing.
A great read.
I loved The Dry and thought this one was just as good if not a tiny bit better. I liked the creepiness factor of this mystery. Being out in the woods gave it that extra bit of creepy. Again I loved Faulk’s character in this one as much as in The Dry. I listened to this one and love the narrator.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Little, Brown Book Group for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
I had not read Harper’s first acclaimed novel The Dry when I read her second novel (although I had acquired it after reading many good reviews of it) and although it seems that most people who have reviewed it so far have read the first, I can confirm that it can be read independently and you will not feel that you are missing a fundamental part of the story. Yes, there are brief allusions to events that you suspect might refer to the first novel, but the case itself is self-contained. I must confess I felt curious about the first novel after reading this one, in part because of the main character, but also in part because of the comments by the reviewers.
If you have read the first novel, you will know that the setting is Australia. This time, rather than a draught and dry landscape, the case Aaron Falk gets involved in takes place in a wet and cold area at that time of the year, the Giralong Ranges. Two teams from the same legal firm (one male and one female) have gone for a weekend hiking, as part of a teambuilding exercise. The two teams take different routes and on Sunday, when they are all supposed to meet, one of the women does not turn up. Aaron Falk, who is a federal investigator dealing with financial crimes, and his partner, Carmen Cooper, knew the woman who had gone missing, Alice Russell, because she was helping them (not without a certain degree of pressure/coercion) investigate the firm. At first, they wonder if her disappearance might have something to do with her undercover activities, but there are many mysteries, lies, and intrigues at play, the red herrings abound, and emotions run high.
The story is told in the third person, but each chapter is divided into two time frames, one following the actual investigation of Alice’s disappearance, from Falk’s point of view, and the other following, in chronological order, the events during the hiking trip, from the alternate points of view of the women who accompanied Alice (and, very briefly, of Alice herself). It is an interesting technique, as it makes us compare the conjectures of the investigating team, with the reality, and it provides us an opportunity to learn more about the characters from their own perspective. The author excels at her descriptions of the landscape, the weather, and the psychological state of the women (and of the male investigator). Although the story develops slowly and I would not call it fast-paced, it has twists and turns, and enough clues to keep us hooked and intrigued. Also, although understated and not emotionally open, we are also intrigued by how personally challenging this case is for Falk, who carries his father’s rucksack and his legacy with him and learns a lot more than the expected about family relationships throughout the book.
None of the characters (except, perhaps Falk and Cooper, and maybe the girls) are particularly lovable or even likable but we get to understand their motivations and why they do what they do. I know there are readers who prefer books where there are characters we should clearly like or dislike, but life is a bit more complex than that, and this novel abounds in morally ambiguous characters that are not intentionally all good or bad. (Personally, I have a soft spot for Beth, one of the twin sisters). Alice is perhaps one of the least likable of all the characters, although she, like the rest, has redeeming qualities. It is also true that she is a character we don’t get much of an insight into, as she does not get a voice, and we mostly reconstruct her personality and character based on other people’s judgements and takes on her. I noticed that the characters seem to be paired-up (there are two twin sisters, that at first seem to be complete opposites but we learn there are more similarities in their life-experiences than they realise; there are two childhood friends whose lives and even daughters seem to follow parallel paths; the CEO of the company has difficulties with his son, and there are other father-son relationships highlighted throughout the novel, including that of Falk with his father, and also that of a serial killer who was infamous for his murders in the area and his son) and family relations are at the heart of the story.
For some reason this novel made me think of the label “domestic noir”, because although most of the story develops outdoors, it is also about families, strange relationships, and twists and turns. It also reminded me of Liane Moriarty’s Truly, Madly, Guilty that I reviewed a long while back (you can check my review here), not only because the author is also Australian, but because the mystery at the heart of the book (that in that case, we don’t discover until quite late) shakes and transforms deeply the lives of people who seemed to be getting on perfectly well, undisturbed in their domestic lives until they realise it was all a very thin veneer of normality. (After writing the review I noticed that one of the editorial reviews pointed at that too. Great minds…) Although it is true that the women get into survival mode when things get difficult, the comparison to Lord of the Flies is too extreme, in my opinion, as the characters’ motivations go beyond pure survival and are more complex and nuanced even when things get extremely ugly.
I enjoyed the book. Harper writes very well and can truly flesh out situations and landscapes, making us feel as if we were there with the protagonists. I agree with the reviewers who query some of the details of the story (yes, the organisation of the adventure does not seem to be very well-planned, for example), and I felt that some of the red-herrings and clues suggested more interesting directions than those finally explored (the previous murders committed there keep being hinted at but are not fully explained), and some I feel are possibly left open. The ending… Well, let’s say the resolution of the case itself is not a huge surprise, but I enjoyed the overall ending.
And after reading some of the reviews and the comments about Harper’s first novel, I have started reading it, so I’ll let you know what I think.
An author who’s made a deserved great impression and a mystery for those who prefer a slower pace and great writing, rather than a thrill a minute. Definitely recommended.
A Force of Nature is the second in Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk series but rest-assured this book reads perfectly as a standalone. Starting with a comfortable pace that gradually quickens, Harper had no issues keeping me fully engaged while reading this unsettling tale. Alternating between the present-day investigation with Aaron and the hikers from the missing women’s group, Harper creates a subtle sinister atmosphere that continues to thicken as tensions rise between the hikers. Each of the women had a chapter, continuing the story from their perspective. This kept the women largely in the same moment with the exception of some flashbacks that truly rounded out their characters. Typically, I don’t care for multiple POVs but A Force of Nature is a perfect example of the style.
Anyone who has grown up or spent significant amounts of time in a rural, wooded area will have no problem imagining the rising tension and desperation felt by the hikers even on the first night. I’ve never spent any time in the Australian bush country but I guarantee after this read I probably won’t! I highly recommend this thrilling, intense book. Additionally, if you enjoy listening to audiobooks, the narrator Stephen Shanahan is absolutely fabulous! All of the audio versions of Harper’s books were recorded with him!
I so enjoy Jane Harper’s books. Her descriptions are vivid, the settings haunting, and the characters beautifully drawn. By the end of the book, I know them. Such a good writer.
Jane Harper did it again. She kept me guessing until the end. The setting and characters were masterfully drawn. When I read her books, I feel like I’m a fly on the wall who’s always there for the interesting bits! Cannot wait to read her third book The Lost Man.
I liked this story, not as much as the last one and if I could have given 3.5stars, I would have but it’s definitely closer to a 4 than a 3. I’m kind of bummed though because it looks like this is it for the series. I hope Harper isn’t giving up on Aaron Falk, especially now. It seems like things are taking a turn for the better for him. I’d love to read more Aaron Falk.
Loved this book by Jane Harper–my first of her novels. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
The setting was the bush in Australia. A group of employees from a corporation go on a retreat. They split into two groups (men/women) but when they arrive back at the lodge days later, one employee is missing.
The book flips between the present day investigation and the story as it unfolded in the woods
Really liked the book
Listened to the audio book and waiting for the next Jane Harper book! Very engaging book and loved the main character.
Federal Agent Aaron Falk is back, this time with a new partner, Carmen Cooper, and a new case taking them deep into the bush of the Giralang Ranges in Australia. Five women went into those ranges as part of a corporate retreat but only four emerged. As the search for missing Alice Russell intensifies, each of the other women come under scrutiny as Falk and Cooper try to determine what happened out there.
The story transitions from the present moment investigation and search to the narratives of each woman (except Alice) from the moment they arrived for the retreat. It was an interesting and effective way to learn about them and their histories as we keep pace with the search and findings. Aaron also has an opportunity to explore his own complicated relationship with his late father through conversations with his partner during downtime. It was an interesting contrast, following the case and experiencing his slow transformation out of the constraints created from his past. It added so much texture to the story, a nice and slow awakening.
Trying to figure out what might have happened and by whom was fascinating, eclipsed only by the question of whether or not Alice was still alive. There are other factors to complicate the suppositions that I’ll leave for others’ discoveries but they do offer alternate theories. I ended up completely flat footed but very appreciative of the outcome. While this is a very different story from the first in this series, the setting again is an integral and vibrant part of the overall narrative. Stephen Shanahan delivers another authentic performance, capturing the theme of the story and specifically the main character, Aaron Falk. This is still an auto read series for me.
Force of Nature by Jane Harper (the celebrated Australian novelist and author of The Dry) is the second installment in the Aaron Falk crime series. Falk is a Federal Agent who deals mainly with financial crimes, however, despite this, he always seems to be involved in the action. Force of Nature is no different.
When five women go hiking on an office team building trip and only four return, Falk and his new partner, Carmen Cooper, rush to the scene of the disappearance, a rambling, unnavigable and unforgiving area of bushland known as the Giralang Ranges. Why would they bother with a missings persons case, you may ask? Well, because the woman who’s gone missing, Alice Russel, is a Federal informant who was gathering intel on a person of interest in a current case. So now the question is, did Alice uncover something that got her killed? Or is she merely missing, lost in the bushland, abandoned by her fellow hikers?
As the investigation progresses, the story takes us back to the beginning of the hike and we are told what happened through the eyes of the four women, each who have something to hide. It’s a fast-paced plot with lots of tension, not only between the women themselves, but also in the sense of the wider investigation. Added to the mix, is a historic case of a serial killer who murdered women in the very same bushland, and was never fully put to rest.
I enjoyed the book, but not as much as The Dry, which I found to be more atmospheric and emotionally twisted than this one. It was good, however, and I would recommend it. Following on from a bestseller like The Dry must be a tall ask, and I think Jane Harper did reasonably well with Force of Nature, much better than some follow-ups I’ve read.
Aaron Falk doesn’t disappoint. His personal journey continues with his last girlfriend having left and his inability to move on holding him back. His new partner, Carmen, assists in this regard, and by the end of the book, Falk is in a much better place emotionally. We also learn more about his dysfunctional relationship with his father, which was a huge theme in The Dry, the first in the series.
All in all, a satisfying, enjoyable read.
Second in the series. Fun mystery. Look forward to the next in the series
This one shows how ugly people can become when lives are at stake. There were plenty of people to dislike in this psychological fiction.
Another well-plotted mystery by Harper set on a ‘bonding retreat’ so beloved by human resources personnel but in which no one really wants to participate. They endure the outdoor experience out of peer pressure and fear of losing their jobs, while many home truths are exposed in this group of women thrown together from the same work environment. It is an interesting storyline and, I’m sure, one that is very close to the truth for many of these enforced experiences, other than the dead body, of course!
The fascinating and flawed women we so enjoy in fiction might not be much fun to spend time with in real life. Nearly all of the main characters of Jane Harper’s new Australia-set thriller, Force of Nature — a loose follow-up to The Dry — are more unpleasant than pleasant, more misbehaving than misunderstood. And you’ll enjoy the book a lot more because of it. (Full review at Chicago Review of Books.)
Well… Force of Nature is … a force of nature. Great premise for a novel – I’ve never fancied one of those team-building retreats and now I know why. Richly evoked setting of the Australian Bush -snakes, dense undergrowth, cold rain and possibly the odd serial killer lurking. Clever, clever storytelling with two timelines a few days apart revealed in alternate chapters. We see just how a group of office workers can descend into Lord of the Flies territory in a matter of hours and still be affected by the twenty-first century problems they’re supposed to have left behind in the city.
I haven’t read The Dry but will be making it a priority now.
This book is a very well written who dunnit. Her descriptive way of writing places you in the forest. The different personalities of the characters are well done and it keeps you guessing until the end. I loved this book and it kept me wanting more until the conclusion. The only thing I will say is if you are not a fan of switching between the present and the story as it unfolds then you may be frustrated. It goes from one perspective to another throughout the book. Overall I would highly recommend this book.
A mystery of how one person went missing. I enjoyed the dynamics of the group of workers who spent 4 days on a retreat. The writing kept me guessing until revealed at the end.
A good book. Good enough that I am going to read book one. Not the most spellbinding I have read.