Wednesday, February 21, 2018

I Have Jane Harper Covered!


This is going to be a rather difficult post to write because as I sit here trying to compose it in my head, I'm still buzzing from my latest trip to The Poisoned Pen-- and that was almost three days ago. If you want to know what happened, you'll have to wait until next Monday when I'll be telling you all about it. Right now, I'm still trying to put the right words in an order that will make sense.

Last time, I think I mentioned something about having a contest to see which of you could guess the cover I would prefer. See? I haven't forgotten about it! In many ways, this week's cover-off would be perfect for the proposed contest. There are no obvious Cathy Triggers for you to spot immediately. (Did you think I was going to make it easy for you?)

Let's take a look at this week's cover comparison, shall we?




This week, it's Jane Harper's second mystery featuring Australian Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk. (I bought my copy at The Poisoned Pen Saturday.) Although the covers are very different, they both take heed of the book's title and feature Mother Nature.


The UK Cover...

I'm not quite sure what's up with the UK cover. According to the synopsis, Falk winds up in a mountainous, isolated forest, and the UK cover makes me think I'm in a wheat field with a thunderstorm headed my way. The publisher uses a little badge to tell us that Force of Nature is another book by the author of The Dry, which is good. Even if I didn't know that this book (at least partly) takes place in a forest, the cover art doesn't grab me. The only thing I like about it is the tagline at the bottom: "Five Went Out. Four Came Back..." Now that gets my imagination going!


The US Cover...

On the other hand, the US cover does grab me. From the angle of the graphic, I feel as though I'm about to be dropped into an impenetrable forest or jungle, and I'm going to have a heck of a time fighting my way back out. This may be due to the fact that one of my all-time favorite books deals with just that subject, but I like the colors and the way the title and author's name stands out against them, too. And at least this particular blurb is useful, since it mentions The Dry-- although I think they should have dispensed with the blurb and done something similar to the UK's badge.


The Verdict...

It should come as no surprise. I like the US cover, hands down. The graphic, the colors, the font... they all combine in a cover that makes me want to pick the book up and start reading. (And I hope I can do that very soon!)


What say all of you? Which cover do you prefer? UK? US? Neither one? Too close to call? Inquiring minds would love to know!



8 comments:

  1. I see what you mean about the US cover, Cathy. It does invite you to pick up the book and leaf through it.

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    1. Oh my. A pun this early in the morning. At least it's a good'un! LOL

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  2. So, this isn't the contest??? LOL

    I've read Force of Nature and The Dry. My thoughts on the former will show up tomorrow. Yes, the US cover because the book is set in a place that matches up better. The UK book looks like it's set in Nebraska or somewhere with Colorado in the distance. I liked the book by the way. And what in the world happened at the PP 3 days ago!! Bet I can guess...but maybe not. I'll wait patiently.

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    1. I'll have flashing lights or summat for the contest. ;-)

      You'd have an excellent idea of what happened at The PP if we were friends on Facebook. Sometimes I let the cat out of the bag there. Now you've got me buzzing again-- and I'd finally calmed down! LOL

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  3. OK. I don't love either cover. I would like a cover with a photo of an Australian forest with the title and author and the blurb: "Five went out, four came back ..." as that is what grabbed me.

    Don't think that quote at the top of the U.S. cover is needed, but I think it could say, "By the author of the Sunday Times best-seller, The Dry."

    I read the U.S. version, thought it was OK, not as good as The Dry. Also, I liked the scenes with Falk and Carmen better than those with the women lost in the forest.

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    1. Having already read the book is a great help in knowing whether or not the cover works, isn't it?

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  4. What color is the U.S. cover? It looks like the top part is dark blue and then the bottom is green showing the grass.

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    1. Yes, the US cover is dark blue at the top, transitioning to green at the bottom when it reaches the treetops.

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