2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Force of Nature by Jane Harper, the second book of the Aaron Falk series.


Pages: 326 pages


Length: 1 Month (August)


Participants: Shreya, Lynn.


Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Dang! Forgot about this one for August! I'll dig it out and get started!

Will get started this week!

About 10% in to the book.

(view spoiler)[
- Quite happy to be re-acquainted with F.A Aaron Falk
- Small complaint- but how convenient that the missing lady was Aaron's client- maybe the author will tie it all up nicely , let' see
- Hoping I enjoy this book as much as I did, 'The Dry'
(hide spoiler)]

Shreya wrote: "About 10% in to the book."

I'll plan to read this over the coming weekend. This week is just too busy with work! I'll read the spoiler once I've gotten a decent start on it!

Okay. I started this yesterday. (I've been home ill since my second COVID vaccine shot.) Finished it this morning. I read really fast for me! I preferred this one over The Dry simply due to the plot.

I really appreciate Harper's characterization. I loved the partnership of Aaron and Carmen. Would like to see that continue!

I especially liked the way Harper tied in so many of the characters' conflicts with the actual (view spoiler)[demise of Alice. It also seemed very believable to me, not at all far-fetched! (hide spoiler)]

Hi Lynn,

Hope you're feeling all better now.

I finished the book in record time as well- for my reading speed. And when I wasn't reading the book I couldn't wait to get back to it - I love that feeling!

I preferred this book to The Dry as well, I think this would make a great series and hope there are more coming up. Side note, I watched the dry movie adaptation this weekend- was so satisfying!

On to Force of Nature:-
- I loved the writing, Jane Harper has such a way with words - I could feel every tense moment, hear every leaf crackle, and almost see the deep forest acting as the center stage for this story
- I enjoyed how everything came together neatly in the end , but having said that some of it felt contrived as it did in The Dry as well
(view spoiler)[
- So many convenient co-incidences - like Aaron & Carmen reaching at the Russel's the very moment Bailey was heading out ; or the very fact that Alice was Aaron's client - I feel this sub plot was so unnecessary as it didn't add anything to the overall story; also, another unnecessary coincidence was Aaron solving the whole mystery because he happened to walk by the exact spot which gave him a phone signal beep- so overall some minor and major plot points felt like they were very conveniently placed there
- I also found Alice very unlikeable - she really went out of her way to be an unlikeable character with no justification whatsoever- the prom queen in her 40s energy; and I felt there was no redemption at all for the character - but such is life , and real life characters I guess?
(hide spoiler)]
- Overall, I quite enjoyed the second in the series, will definitely pick up the next one. Have added The Survivors and The Lost Man onto my TBR