The Lost Man

Although Cam is dead, the other character’s perception of him changes as the novel unfolds. How does Harper accomplish this shift, even after his death, and how does it shape the meaning of the narrative?

Analyze Harper’s use of the outback setting in The Lost Man. How does she use it to drive the story, character development, and thematic meaning?

Discuss the title The Lost Man. To whom does it refer?

Discuss Nathan’s character arc—what journeys is he on, and how are his issues resolved or not resolved by the end of the novel?

Discuss the motif of the stockman’s grave. How does Harper use the legends surrounding it to add meaning to the themes of the novel?

One journey Nathan takes concerns his relationship with Xander. Analyze how Harper addresses fatherhood in the novel.

Cam’s painting of the stockman’s grave holds a prominent place in the household. In what sense does the painting represent Cam’s position in the household, and how do perceptions of this position shift throughout the story?

Discuss Nathan and Xander as a detective team in the novel. What makes them successful investigators?