FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

THE COMPELLING FOLLOW-UP TO ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE THRILLERS IS OUR BOOK OF THE MONTH

Jane Harper’s first novel The Dry was a can’t-put-down thriller that shot to the top of bestseller lists – in fact, it was such a hit that Reese Witherspoon’s production company has now acquired the film rights – and the Melbourne-based author’s second, equally gripping novel is set to be just as popular. Force Of Nature sees the return of detective Aaron Falk, this time investigating the disappearance of a whistleblower involved in his latest case while on a corporate retreat that turns out to be anything but straitlaced. What begins as a bushwalk meant to bond five female colleagues quickly takes a dark turn, and only four emerge at the other end. It’s more of a slow burner than her debut (in which a family of three is killed within the first pages), but Harper’s mastery of pace makes Force Of Nature one of 2017’s best thrillers – and the perfect case against obligatory team-building exercises if ever we’ve read one. Force Of Nature ($32.99, Pan Macmillan Australia) is out September 26