Force of Nature (Aaron Falk, #2) in Around the Year in 52 Books

Sep 12, 2018 Krissy rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, cover-color-blue, cover-color-green, pgs-300-399

3.5 stars

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Apr 20, 2018 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: detective-mystery, mystery, r2018-in-2018

This was compelling, engaging, riveting, and I stayed up too late to finish it, but it was ultimately unsatisfying. Harper knows how to tell a story and set a scene, and she set a nicely creepy scene with this one, it got into my dreams. But there was none of the nuance and complex layering that I appreciated so much in her first book. Red herrings were flopping about everywhere (and I did not guess the solution), but the mystery was fairly straight forward once revealed. I was a little disappoi This was compelling, engaging, riveting, and I stayed up too late to finish it, but it was ultimately unsatisfying. Harper knows how to tell a story and set a scene, and she set a nicely creepy scene with this one, it got into my dreams. But there was none of the nuance and complex layering that I appreciated so much in her first book. Red herrings were flopping about everywhere (and I did not guess the solution), but the mystery was fairly straight forward once revealed. I was a little disappointed in the ending.

I got the sense that Harper has no idea exactly what the "BaileyTennants" company does, nor what their employees would be like. The women in this story did not seem like actual professional women with successful careers. They were all catty and superficial and obsessed with appearances. I pretty much hated all of them.

This was a "good" mystery, I enjoyed reading it, I never wanted to put it down (and the short chapters really feed into the "just one more chapter" syndrome). But that's all it was, "good."

A few particular things about Harper's writing buggged me, things I didnt notice in The Dry.
1. Her descriptions of fat people. We are constantly told how Jill lumbers down the stairs, the fallen log creaks under Beth's weight, Jill has heavy legs, Beth has thick thighs, Jill is out of breath. I'm pretty fat, and out of shape, too, but I'd like to think I don't lumber along, I can make my way ok on a trail. These descriptions happen often enough that I started to get offended. Okay already! Jill and Beth are fat! We get it. ((view spoiler)2. Harper has an annoying habit of referring to men by last name and women by first name. The police partners Aaron Falk and Carmen Cooper are always "Falk" and "Carmen," and the brother and sister, Daniel and Jill Bailey, are sometimes "Bailey" and "Jill." If Agent Falk is "Falk" then Agent Cooper had damn well better be "Cooper." And when two people have the same last name, such as siblings, it's best to use their first names, much as sisters Beth and Bree McKenzie were always "Beth" and "Bree." Admittedly, sometimes Daniel Bailey was "Daniel," but Aaron Falk was always "Falk." ...more

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Dec 07, 2020 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries, international, 2020-reading-challenges

Force of Nature by Jane Harper is a smart, solid mystery. I can see why Harper's books have been such a success. The mystery was so cleverly written that I was kept guessing about the solution to Alice's disappearance until the author finally revealed it. Lots of red herrings and interesting revelations. Lots of interesting and complex, if not particularly likeable, characters. The two lead detectives were pleasant and competent, although I wasn't particularly engaged by their side stories and b ...more

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Nov 17, 2019 Lucinda rated it liked it · review of another edition

I didn't enjoy it as much as 'The Dry' as I thought it dragged in places. ...more

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Feb 26, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this second book in the Aaron Falk series. Falk continues to be a sympathetic, likable hero who is understated but also admirable. His new partner is equally so. The plot of FORCE OF NATURE is tense and twisty; it kept me guessing. This novel isn't quite as atmospheric and affecting as the first book in the series -- THE DRY -- but I still found it intriguing and overall enjoyable, albeit sad and depressing. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series. ...more

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Nov 10, 2020 Ryan Mac rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook

This is the second mystery featuring Australian Federal Police officer Aaron Falk. In this book, the story is told from the point of view of Aaron and his partner investigating and back in time with the women on an company hiking retreat where things go wrong. Five women started out and only four came out. I found this to be a good comfy read--nothing that is going to tax your brain but well written. I'll pick up more books from this author. ...more

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