REVIEW: Force of Nature

Force of Nature
Author: Jane Harper

Five women go into the Australian wilderness on a corporate team-building excursion. Only four come out. Alice Russell is secretly working with federal authorities investigating her employer. Did she disappear because of that investigation? Is she simply lost? Or something much worse? Federal Agent Aaron Falk and his partner Carmen hope to find their informant alive. The story switches back and forth between the search for Alice, and flashbacks to the hike that led up to her disappearance.

Force of Nature is the second book in the Aaron Falk series. I loved the first book, The Dry. And this second book is just as good! I don't usually like a lot of flashbacks, but in this case, it works. Jumping back in time to the women's hike in the woods together added to the suspense. The plot moves at perfect speed, building tension the whole way. I didn't quite know how things would end until the last few pages. Perfect!

Falk is an interesting main character. He carries a lot of emotional baggage, but is an excellent investigator. He works well with his partner, Carmen. I can't quite figure out his personal life and hang-ups, but neither can he...so it's all good.

Harper really drives home the fact that we never really know casual friends, co-workers or employers very well. Some people hold grudges, harbor secrets, and others are just completely toxic. And nobody can really be sure what someone will do when they are pushed too far.

I can't wait for the next book in this series! Outstanding writing, interesting characters, and killer plots! I definitely recommend both books in this series to anyone who enjoys suspense stories!