I didn't realise quite how much a fan of Jane Harper's writing I must be until I looked up her past books and discovered I've read all of them, bar one. They've each had a fabulous sense of place in the heat and vast space of Australia, with intriguing characters and claustrophobic communities. This is her sixth novel, published earlier this year and I couldn't put it down! 

Jane Harper is a former journalist who, originally from Manchester, has made Australia her home. Her first book 'The Dry' was released to tremendous acclaim and topped the bestseller charts. 'Force of Nature', 'The Lost Man', 'The Survivors' followed, and I devoured them all! 

In 'Last One Out' we meet Ro, desperate to find our what happened to her son who disappeared on his 21st birthday, five years earlier. As she probes the events of that day and quizzes members of the community, she gradually learns more about the secrets being concealed at the time, the heightened emotions and the mistakes that were made.

It's a gripping read despite being a bleak scenario. Not only has Ro lost her son, but her marriage fell apart and the town itself is diminished through the commercial development nearby. With this setting and the awareness that there can be no happy ending, it could be a grim read, but it's not. It's brilliant. Very clever. Can't wait for her next book!