Blog Tour: The Lost Man by Jane Harper

So, I'm back again on another blog tour for a Jane Harper book - this time called The Lost Man. As soon as I was asked if I wanted to be a part of the blog tour, I knew I HAD to say yes, as I absolutely adored Jane's last book, Force of Nature.

This book, however, has a totally different narrator and style, being narrated by Nathan, a ranch owner in Western Australia. Here's the book:

He had started to remove his clothes as logic had deserted him and his skin was cracked. Whatever had been going through Cameron's mind when he was alive, he didn't look peaceful in death.

Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle farms under the relenting sun of the remote outback. In an isolated part of Western Australia, they are each other's nearest neighbour, their homes three hours' drive apart.

They are at the stockman's grave, a landmark so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron, who lies dead at their feet.

Something had been on Cam's mind. Did he choose to walk to his death? Because if he didn't, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects...

I will say one thing about this book, it pulled me in straight away. I love my crime TV shows, and this set the scene just like it from the first chapter, setting the scene of the crime, and then pulling you into the main story line. It absolutely captivated me from the first chapter.

I think I loved the book so much because it was a singular POV, unlike Jane's previous book which I had read, so this surprised me a bit, but in a good way. It helped me to connect to the book a lot more, and really get into it, as I follow the MC Nathan.

I loved the way that you were really taken through the whole story slowly, it wasn't an information overload and you slowly got given little tidbits which made you wonder if they would have anything to do with the main story of Cameron's death, or if the points were red herrings  to put you off the track. I'm surprised to say I didn't see where it was going until it got quite close to the end of the book, and so I think I was turned by these little zingers and made to think it was a certain character and then change my mind with the next little twist that was dug up - so I I'll say that it was quite twisty and made me second guess myself, which I love.

I think one of my favourite parts of the book was the writing of the scenery. Jane really brings that little part of Australia to life, and I think that her ability to really describe the landscapes and set the scene is amazing - just like in her last book too.

Overall, this is my favourite of her books, I couldn't find any faults, and I breezed through a lot quicker than I thought I would - I couldn't put it down I wanted to know what was going on such much! Definitely a mystery book I'll read again.

Thank you to Little Brown for gifting me a free e-ARC and letting me be a part of the blog tour! I'll definitely be recommending this to my mystery loving friends and family.

I give this: 5 cats!

The Lost Man is out now, and you should definitely go and buy a copy. Have you read it? What did you think? Comment below!

Blog Tour: The Force of Nature by Jane Harper

Okay so, this is my first blog tour, and I am really excited about it! I was sent this book by Little Brown in exchange for an honest review, which will follow.

As you know, I am mainly a YA blogger, but I had recently decided to branch out, and mystery books were ones that had intrigued me most - because I do love my mystery TV shows, so why wouldn't I like a mystery in book form?

When I was contacted about being part of a blog tour for this book, I jumped right onboard, and I'm glad I did because I absolutely loved it. Here's the book:

 

FIVE WENT OUT. FOUR CAME BACK...

Is Alice here? Did she make it? Is she safe? In the chaos, in the night, it was impossible to say which of the four had asked after Alice's welfare. Later, when everything got worse, each would insist it had been them.

Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along the muddy track. Only four come out the other side.

The hike through the rugged landscape is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and teach resilience and team building. At least that is what the corporate retreat website advertises.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a particularly keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing bushwalker. Alice Russell is the whistleblower in his latest case - and Alice knew secrets. About the company she worked for and the people she worked with.

Far from the hike encouraging teamwork, the women tell Falk a tale of suspicion, violence and disintegrating trust. And as he delves into the disappearance, it seems some dangers may run far deeper than anyone knew.

I admit, I was worried about the fact that I hadn't read the first book of Jane Harper's - The Dry - before reading this book. But I was happy to find out that my worry was for nothing as it could easily be read as a stand-alone book in itself, and you will definitely not have to worry about not understanding things about the characters. However, I warn you - if you read this you will want to buy The Dry - I certain want to!

The thing I liked most about this book was the fact that it alternated from the present day (in the POV of Agent Falk) to the past (and the events of the hike that ended in tragedy). I always love it when books jump between times, and it really helped to pull you into the book and the plot line. 

In this book the chapters that represented the events of the hike alternated between the 5 women's POVs and I felt like this was a great idea - as it really kept you guessing as to who might have been responsible for what happened to Alice, and it also gave you an insight into just what Alice was thinking while on the company retreat - Alice's POV was definitely my favourite of the book.

I guess the question you'll most want answered about my read of this book is did I guess what happened to Alice and who the culprit was? The answer is no.

I didn't guess what happened at all, and I definitely didn't guess who the culprit was - which is always great in a mystery book. I adore it when I can't figure out what happened and why. I definitely think this was down to the switching POVs - it had me switching my guesses every chapter!

Overall - I loved this book, and it had so many twists that I felt like I was on my toes trying to guess just what was happening. Definitely one to read - and I'll definitely be reading The Dry in the future.

I give this book: 4.5 Cats!

Thankyou to Little Brown for asking me to be a part of this Blog Tour, and for sending me a copy of this book to review! If you've read this book feel free to comment below!

ARC Review: The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

I was given an e-ARC of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and here it is!

I was mainly drawn into this book because of the cover, and then later because so many people were talking about it on my Twitter. It had such a small intriguing caption at first that I decided to request it, especially because I'd really been into Historical Fiction books at the time.

It turns out that it was both a Historical Fiction and a Mystery book, and I loved it. Here it is:

The year is 1831

Down the murky alleyways of London, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and no one is willing to speak out on behalf of the city's vulnerable poor as they disappear from the streets.

Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape the slums by any means possible.

When Hester is thrust into the world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life under the tutelage of the fiercely intelligent and mysterious Rebekah Brock. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new life and both she and Rebekah are lured into the most sinister of investigations.

Hester and Rebekah find themselves crossing every boundary they've ever known in pursuit of truth, redemption and passion. But their trust in each other will be tested as a web of deceit begins to unspool, dragging them into the blackest heart of a city where something more depraved than either of them could ever imagine is lurking . . .

Can I just say: my heart, my poor, poor heart.

This book had such a thrilling ending to it, and I was almost ready to leave my heart broken, until the giant twist at the end that left it a little less broken than it was before. (I wont spoil it and say why, but you will know what I'm talking about if you have read this before)

I admit, this was definitely not what I expected from the book when I first requested it - but I was happily surprised by it. The relationship that builds between Hester and Rebekah was something I definitely didn't expect, but it was such a slow build that you were constantly routing for them to get together throughout the story. 

And the fact that this book is based around a female,Victorian detective couple - definitely something I'd not read or heard of before.

If I was asked to describe this book? I'd say it had so many twists and turns that you can never think to keep up with, and a thrilling conclusion that you would never have guessed.

Definitely another great foray into Historical fiction, and a dip into Mystery, I loved it.

I give this book: 5 Cats!

This book comes out on the 1st February. If you fancy a Victorian mystery, with a slow-build relationship, this is the book for you. Have you read it yet? Or are you planning to? Comment below!