Force of Nature, a suspense-filled novel by international best-selling Australian author Jane Harper, kept me in its grip from start to finish.The author skilfully maintains high levels of conflict, tension and fear through the story. Force of Nature by Jane Harper follows The Dry in the Aaron Falk series. Learn more about the book here.

Force of Nature is published by Abacus, price £7.99. To order a copy for the special price of £6.39 until 12 August, call 0844 571 0640 or; free p&p on orders over £15.THE STORYIf there’s one thing worse than being forced to go on a corporate team-building exercise in the great outdoors, it’s not coming back from one. That’s what happens to Alice Russell, who fails to return from the Australian bush after a planned three-day hike. Her four female colleagues stumble back to base, bloodied and traumatised, hoping to discover that Alice has got there before them after striking out on her own when things go wrong.As the story of what happened unfolds, it emerges that the reason for her disappearance may be more sinister than first thought. Alice is revealed to be self-centred and controlling, becoming more objectionable as the group loses its way and begins arguing. Furthermore, it turns out that she is secretly providing information to police who are investigating fraud at the firm where they work.

Is she still alive? This irresistible thriller is a perfect summer read – and a warning against bonding weekends with colleagues you don’t like, trying to decipher maps you can’t read in conditions you can’t bear.THE TASTER. THE QUESTIONS1. What do you think of Alice’s character?2. Is the group adequately prepared and equipped for the trip?3. How would you react in a similar situation?4. How is the dynamic of the group affected by the fact they are all women?5.

Are you surprised by their behaviour?6. What does the novel say about the fragility of civilisation?7.

Can you see the point of corporate team-building exercises?8. What do you think of the resolution to the mystery of Alice’s disappearance?9. Boeing manufacturing engineer salary.

Lauren ends up blaming herself for what has become of her daughter Rebecca. Is she right?10. What do the women learn from their experience? Are their lives changed forever?THE AUTHOR. Author Jane HarperJane Harper, hailed as the ‘new Queen of Crime’ after just two novels, was born in Manchester, but spent part of her childhood in Australia after her family moved there in 1988 when she was eight. They spent six years in Melbourne, during which time Jane gained Australian citizenship, before returning to the UK.After studying English and history at the University of Kent in Canterbury, Jane gained a journalism entry qualification and got her first reporting job as a trainee on the Darlington & Stockton Times in County Durham. She worked for several years as a senior news journalist for the Hull Daily Mail, before moving back to Australia in 2008.

She worked first on the Geelong Advertiser, and in 2011 took up a role with the Herald Sun in Melbourne.In 2014, Jane submitted a short story which was one of 12 chosen for The Big Issue's annual fiction edition. That inspired her to pursue creative writing more seriously, and that year she applied for an online 12-week novel writing course. She was accepted with a submission for the book that would become her first novel, The Dry. Initially, Jane thought it was a good first attempt and didn’t expect it to make it to publication. But it was named Book of the Year at the 2017 Australian Book Awards, it has become an international bestseller, and the film rights were bought by Reece Witherspoon.Jane, who lives in the St Kilda neighbourhood of Melbourne with her husband and baby daughter, says the past couple of years have been incredible, adding: ‘I’ve been really lucky.’.

As a writer, I’ve always been drawn to the same things that attract me as a reader.

From the author of the Sunday Times top ten bestseller, Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year and CWA Gold Dagger Winner, The Dry. Jane Harper's new novel, The Lost Man, is out now. FIVE WENT OUT. FOUR CAME BACK. Is Alice here? Did she make it? In the chaos, in the night, it was impossible to say which of the four had asked after Alice's welfare.

Later, when everything got worse, each would insist it had been them. Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along the muddy track. Only four come out the other side. The hike through the rugged landscape is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and teach resilience and team building. At least that is what the corporate retreat website advertises.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a particularly keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing bushwalker. Alice Russell is the whistleblower in his latest case - and Alice knew secrets. About the company she worked for and the people she worked with. Far from the hike encouraging teamwork, the women tell Falk a tale of suspicion, violence and disintegrating trust.

And as he delves into the disappearance, it seems some dangers may run far deeper than anyone knew.Genre.