The Lost Man

Nathan is the protagonist of the novel. He plays the role of sleuth, as the police are far away and otherwise occupied. As he lives alone on a ranch and works the property by himself, he is accustomed to taking initiative and acting independently. He is prompted to solve the mystery of Cam’s death by his role as the eldest brother and his need for answers. Cam’s death raises uncomfortable questions about Nathan’s mental health, and as he solves the mystery, he comes to acknowledge his need for help.

Nathan displays valuable character traits for an investigator—he is observant, quiet, and has a keen intuition, which he trusts. He feels that something is wrong about Cam’s death, although he has nothing specific to point to, just “an unpleasant, cool prickle at the base of his neck. Nothing was wrong, and that in itself felt very wrong indeed” (17). This sense pushes him to investigate even though it means considering family and friends as suspects.

Although a competent rancher, Nathan is eccentric, as is common of amateur sleuths in mystery fiction. He lives in nearly complete isolation. Years before, he drove by his father-in-law whose car was broken down on the side of the road and did not stop to help him—an unthinkable transgression in their

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