The Lost Man is Jane Harper’s third book. It was published in 2018 and won the Martin Beck Award, Sweden’s prestigious crime-novel honor. Although Harper was born in the United Kingdom, she moved to Australia as a child, and that country has remained the setting for her novels. Reviews praise Harper’s evocative portrayal of the isolated Australian outback, her tense and twisting plots, and her development of characters and their complex relationships.

This study guide refers to the e-book version published in 2019 by Flatiron Books.

Content Warning: The source material features depictions of sexual assault, physical and psychological abuse, death by suicide, and abortion.

Plot Summary

Nathan Bright and his family operate a large cattle ranch in the desolate outback of western Queensland, Australia. When Nathan’s brother Cam is found dead, Nathan undertakes solving the crime while knowing that, given the isolation of the farms, Cam’s killer may be a member of his family.

Nathan lives alone after his ex-wife, Jacqui, moved to Brisbane with their son, Xander. After an incident where he drove past Jacqui’s father, who was stranded on a remote road, his town, Balamara, turned its back on him, even refusing him basic services. Nathan is now alone on his farm, but he gradually reconnects with his family and community as he solves Cam’s murder.

Cam died of exposure and dehydration near a landmark called the stockman’s grave. His vehicle is found several kilometers away, too far for him to have walked in the heat. It is fully operational and well stocked with fuel, food, and water. His death mystifies the authorities, who know that Cam would have obeyed the first rule of survival in the outback, which is to never leave your car. Cam’s body shows no sign of struggle, and authorities estimate that he survived at the grave for nearly 24 hours, circling it to stay in its shadow. With family members saying Cam was stressed and distracted in the previous weeks, the police wonder if he died by suicide. Nathan finds this theory unsatisfactory, as there were simpler ways for him to take his own life if he wanted to. Nathan’s son, Xander, visiting from Brisbane, helps with the investigation, wanting to understand his uncle’s death.

While Cam was well liked and respected, Nathan knows he had a dark side. Whenever Nathan found himself in trouble, Cam refused to help. Cam’s wife, Ilse, dated Nathan before Cam without knowing they were brothers, and Cam pursued her only after learning of Nathan’s interest. As the investigation unfolds, Nathan uncovers a pattern of abuse and assault that reminds him of their father, Carl. He discovers that Cam pressured one of their employees, Katy, into sex that resulted in pregnancy. This reminds him of a rape accusation from Cam’s youth that went unanswered, and Nathan is forced to admit he always doubted Cam’s innocence.

Nathan learns Cam also abused his daughters and wife. With this discovery, he gets to the heart of the murder. Their mother, Liz, discovered that Ilse planned to escape with their daughters. Liz was frightened that when Cam found out, he would assault them as Carl did to her. She rode on horseback to meet him at the stockman’s grave, then drove his car away with her horse galloping after her. She left him stranded, knowing he would die of exposure. Nathan decides not to tell the police, and the family moves into the future out from under Cam’s control. Through working together, Nathan and Xander reconnect, and Nathan plans to visit him in Brisbane.