Deserted

Jane Harper is known for writing gripping crime novels in which information is drip-fed to the reader. Her novels portray different aspects of the Australian landscape - outback towns, sleepy coastal hamlets, dense forests. Best known for her debut, The Dry (2016), the first in a trilogy featuring Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk, her books have been adapted in to feature films and a Netflix series. 

Harper's latest novel is Last One Out (2025) is set in the fictional town of Carralon Ridge, a small town in rural New South Wales that has been hollowed out over time by the Lentzer mining company which has bought up properties to expand operations. The buy outs have caused tension within the town between those who will fight to remain in their homes and those who have 'sold out' and sought to leave the town behind. The dusty main street is full of boarded up buildings and the pub opens infrequently. Those who stayed live with the distant thrum of the mine and the occasional heavy vehicle rattling past their doors. 

Rowena Crowley moved to the Ridge over twenty years ago, married a local man Griff, and raised two children - Sam and Della. Ro worked in the small medical practice and enjoyed her life. Five years ago, on her son's 21st birthday, he disappeared. Sam's rental car was found near some abandoned buildings along with his footprints. His absence caused the family to disintegrate with Ro and Della moving to Sydney and Griff staying behind, working for the mining company. 

It has been five years since Sam disappeared. Ro has returned to Carralon Ridge for her son's annual memorial service. She also wants answers about what happened to her child. With only a few families remaining, she starts to unravel the events of what happened to her son that day.

Unlike other crime novels, there is no gruesome murder, no police procedural. Last One Out is a novel about loss. The loss of a child, of a home. of a community, of a way of life. The impact of the large mining company looms large over this town, with those who remain in this dusty place grieving for the loss of their friends, family and heritage. 

Last One Out is a slowly paced novel which takes a while to get moving. In parts it felt a bit repetitive, as Ro tried to grab on to her memories of Sam's last day, but I understand what Harper was trying to achieve. I liked the depiction of Ro and her relationship with Griff, irrevocably altered by the loss of their son and her moving away. The only thing I struggled with was trying to get my head around the landscape of the town. I have grown used to the maps Chris Hammer includes in his novels and I wish there had been one here. 

The Last One Out is rather sombre but well worth a read. 

My reviews of other Jane Harper novels are also available on this blog:

• The Dry (2016)
• Force of Nature (2017)
• The Lost Man (2018)
• The Survivors (2020)
• Exiles (2022)