PublicationDateApril 24, 2026

Several years ago, I read Jane Harper’s The Dry – and I was hooked. Could not WAIT for her next book! The Dry, Force of Nature, and The Lost Man (all of which featured Federal Investigator Aaron Falk) were all five-star reads…and while I admit to being “an easy grader,” they all really were terrific. Then 2021’s The Survivors featured a different protagonist, and it was full of the same beautiful writing, stunning depiction of setting so vivid it became a character on its own, and plot surprises featuring interesting characters. In 2022, we had the return of protagonist Aaron Falk in The Exiles, and now we have Last One Out. 

This is another atmospheric, slow-burning mystery set in Australia, specifically in Carralon Ridge, which was once  a thriving rural Australian town, recently brought down by a nearby mining company. As the story opens, we learn that a woman named Ro, whose 16-year-old son Sam vanished five years earlier. Along with the rest of her family, Ro has returned to the town and begins to suspect that his disappearance was never fully understood. This is reinforced by the way it becomes clear that someone wants the town’s buried secrets to stay buried. 

Again, Ms.Harper’s strength is place: as noted in an earlier review, “the grit, dust, and industrial menace seep into every scene, and the tight-knit community dynamics make the grief and suspicion feel intensely personal.” It’s not a fast-paced action thriller by any means, but  the tension rachets up steadily as Ro’s return forces the town to confront “what it remembers, what it denies, and what it’s willing to sacrifice to survive.” Highly recommended for those who like mysteries with strong setting, combined with small-town secrets. Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio version of this book. Note: I’m not very successful with audio books (I fall asleep or lose my sense of direction on a walk) so I transferred to the written version. In any case, five stars. I love Jane Harper!