Welcome to my review of Force of Nature by Jane Harper!
Summary
Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along a muddy track. Only four come out on the other side. The hike through the rugged Giralang Ranges is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and encourage teamwork and resilience. At least, that’s what the corporate retreat website advertises.
Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker, Alice Russell. Because Alice knew secrets, about the company she worked for and the people she worked with. The four returning women tell Falk a tale of fear, violence and fractured trust during their days in the remote Australian bushland. And as Falk delves into the disappearance of Alice, he begins to suspect some dangers ran far deeper than anyone knew. (This review is from Goodreads.)
Review
If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, yes, I would definitely recommend this book!
I read this book soon after I found Jane Harper’s The Dry, which was amazing! Force of Nature might be labeled as the sequel to The Dry, but it’s a standalone novel. I think the reason it’s described as a sequel is that it has the same detective, Aaron Falk. Much like Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries (Murder on the Orient Express is actually the 10th book in that series). So you could read either one first and get away with it.
That being said, I still think The Dry is better. Overall, I think it was just a tighter story with fewer characters and therefore, fewer things to keep track of throughout the mystery. It was less confusing. But it was still fun trying to figure out what happened in Force of Nature. And trying to picture myself in the same situation. What would I do if a co-worker went missing on a retreat? Overall, I would recommend this book to a busy mom. It’s a quick, easy read that’s sure to keep you guessing until the last page.
Rating
Five out of five stars
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If you enjoyed my review of Force of Nature by Jane Harper, you might also like The Dry also by Jane Harper. Check out my review!
If you’re interested in purchasing Force of Nature, here are some quick links to buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And, if you’re interested to see what others think, here’s the link to the book on Goodreads.
