Force of Nature

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. What elements of the women’s predicament in the wild provoked a strong emotional response in you? Why?

2. How does the novel’s depiction of financial fraud and corporate greed speak to your own personal and professional ethics? 

3. Examine the novel’s depiction of various parent-child relationships. Which conflicts or dynamics remind you of parent-child relationships that you have encountered in real life? 

4. Do you agree with the state police, who assert that financial crimes are not as severe as violent crimes, or do you agree with Agent Falk, who argues the opposite? Explain your answer.

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What broader critique does the author deliver on the issue of corporate ethics? 

2. How does the novel’s wild, remote setting impact the narrative and the overall tone? Does Harper provide an accurate portrayal of the dangers of the Australian landscape? Why or why not?

3. How does the novel depict the sensationalism that typically surrounds serial killers? How does this trend in the novel reflect societal or media responses to real-life serial killers?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Aaron and Carmen’s friendship help Aaron to open up and heal?

2. Does Alice possess any redeeming qualities? Why or why not?

3. How does Harper utilize strategic descriptions of the setting to deliver elements of foreshadowing?

4. What other themes might be at work in this novel? Can you think of specific moments from the text that help the author explore them?

5. How does the novel’s use of violence as a motif allow Harper to explore the impact of stress on interpersonal relationships?