Force of Nature
Five coworkers reluctantly embark on a corporate wilderness trek, but when one woman vanishes without a trace, the remaining four return with contradicting stories. Federal Agent Aaron Falk spearheads the investigation, venturing into the isolated woods to unravel the mystery. Peeling back the layers of their personal and professional dynamics, Falk exposes deep-seated suspicions and betrayals, forcing him to determine if her disappearance was a tragic accident or cold-blooded murder.
- Alice - Missing in the Giralang Ranges
- Margot - Alice’s daughter, 16
- Aaron Falk - Federal Agent
- Carmen Cooper - Federal Agent
- King - Senior Sergeant of the State Police
- Bree (Breanna) - Alice’s assistant
- Beth (Bethany) -Bree’s identical twin
- Lauren - Employee of BaileyTennants
- Jill - Daniel's sister
- Daniel Bailey- Jill’s brother, CEO of BaileyTennants
- Joel - Daniel’s son, Margot’s ex-boyfriend
- Leo - Jill and Daniel’s father
- Martin - Giralang Range serial killer
- Samuel - Martin’s son
- Rebecca - Lauren’s daughter, 16
- Before: The men went to the women’s camp on night one. The women got lost on day two and never made it to the second campsite. They wandered off the trail, spent a night in a cabin they found, and in the morning Alice was gone.
- Falk and Carmen are investigating Daniel and Jill for laundering money at BaileyTennants, and Alice was helping them.
- Beth tells Falk she is on probation for breaking into Bree’s apartment, stealing items, and assaulting her.
- Joel posted explicit photos of Margot online.
- Daniel found out about the photos just before the retreat; that’s what he was talking to Alice about at the first campsite.
- Police locate the cabin where the women had stayed.
- Police find Alice’s body near the cabin.
- Before: Bree found Alice but she was already dead. Bree hid her body because she thought Beth killed her.
- The body of Sam is found by the cabin. A biker in prison said a couple paid them to kill Sam.
- Police assume it was the parents of Martin’s only victim whose body was never found, Sarah.
- Before: Lauren caught Alice trying to leave; they fought, and Alice hit her head on a rock.
- Falk notices a thread from Lauren’s bracelet in Alice’s jacket in the crime scene photos.
- Lauren says killing Alice was an accident.
- Beth sends Falk copies of the documents Alice was collecting for them.
I really loved the vibe of this one, Jane Harper is so good at making the bushland feel absolutely terrifying. The atmosphere is suspenseful, and I was on the edge of my seat as the search for Alice unfolded. The way the story jumps between the present-day search and what actually happened during the corporate hiking retreat kept the pace moving and made it hard to put down.
Getting to see the story through several different POVs added a lot of depth to the mystery. Each of the women had their own secrets and baggage, and seeing how their dynamics fractured under the pressure of being lost was definitely the best part. That said, there were a few plot points that felt a bit disjointed and not really explored enough to make them feel like a natural part of the story. This is the second book in the Aaron Falk series, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone story. This book is great for anyone who loves a good mystery or a book with the lost in the woods trope.
- Beth - Alive - No longer working at BaileyTennants
- Bree - Alive - No longer working at BaileyTennants
- Alice - Dead - Brain bleed after being pushed by Lauren
- Joel - Alive - Expelled from schoolLauren - Alive - Facing charges for Alice’s death
- Abortion
- Miscarriage
- Suicide attempt
- Distribution of sexual images of a minor
- Bullying
- Eating disorder
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250105639
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
