Love her books this one wasn’t quite her best, but I will stick with her as an author can’t wait to see what they do with the television drama of this

4-1/2 stars. This was a compelling mystery that kept me in suspense until very near to the end. Although I did have my suspicions about the killer from the beginning, I couldn't figure out a motive that made any sense to me. The fact that the author had to tell the last part of the story from a different perspective in order to make the big reveal rather than having it emerge naturally felt a little off to me, and is the reason this novel didn't merit a full five stars. Despite that -- and perhaps it was the only feasible way to come to resolution -- I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters, and following the bittersweet story of their coming of age, coming together, and in some cases, coming apart. It's sad that this is the end of Aaron Falk's story, but he's going out with the best story yet, having helped to solve two mysteries in this story.

Aaron Falk has returned to the Marralee Valey in Australia’s wine country to be godfather to his friend Greg Raco’s young son. The christening coincides with the one year anniversary of the disappearance of Kim Gillespie, Greg’s ex-wife and mother of his teenage daughter. Falk quickly becomes involved with Greg’s closeknit circle of friends in the small town and, although his police expertise is as a member of the Financial Intelligence Unit in Melbourne, is drawn into trying to understand why Kim would leave her husband Rohan and abandon her new baby at the local wine festival. Falk is attracted to Gemma, the festival director, and befriends her son Joel. Both are still grieving the hit and run death of her husband Dean. These two unsolved mysteries drive the plot of Exiles, the superlative thriller by Jane Harper.

As in her previous novels, Australia is the main character here. The wild wine country is lyrically described and makes the perfect backdrop for this story of small town secrets, loyalties and suspicion. Stephen Shanahan, with his heavy Australian accent, is the perfect reader to draw you deeper into the evocative Exiles. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Jane Harper for this audiobook.

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away ~ Elvis Presley

Book Information

Exiles was written by Jane Harper. The book was released on January 31, 2023 and is 368 pages. The audio version is 12 hours and 29 minutes and is narrated by Stephen Shanahan. Harper has penned several bestsellers and won numerous awards including the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel, the British Book Awards Crime and Thriller Book of the Year, the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, and the Australian Indie Awards Book of the Year. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy for review prior to publishing.

Summary

A year ago, as the Marralee town festival is closing for the night, a baby sleeping in a stroller is discovered abandoned. The baby’s mother, Kim Gillespie, is nowhere to be found.

Fast forward to current day, Aaron Falk, a federal investigator, is headed back to Marralee for a christening. Kim is still missing, and Falk is drawn into the mystery of what happened to her.

Can Falk trust his own memories? His friend? Kim’s daughter? Kim’s husband? Her old boyfriend? Why would Kim abandon her child?

Even on vacation—Falk can’t ignore the questions and the hidden truths all around him.

What happened to Kim?

My Thoughts

Exiles was an intriguing book. Layered. It was my favorite kind of mystery---one where you actually have all the information necessary to solve it, but you very likely won’t until the main character pulls it all together for you.

The book is very heavy on dialogue and mostly told from the perspective of Aaron Falk. We see the things that he sees. Hear his thoughts. All of this helps us to understand his conclusions and, at least in my case, wonder why I didn’t get there sooner. While heavy on dialogue, Harper still does an excellent job vividly describing the settings—bringing the reader into the rural Australian town, vineyard, and town fair.

Exiles is layered. Stories build upon stories. Things that we think we understand may not be as clear-cut as we thought. Falk thinks over and over “We see what we expect to see” – and that is very true. The reality is we really only ever know our own reality. We can never know someone else full experience or life—only do our best to understand. Falk does exactly that. He is determined to get to the truth.

It's a great mystery, heavy on suspense with brilliant characters, a stunning setting, and engaging dialogue. If you like romance—there is even a bit of that. If you don’t—it's ok, it’s not too much.

I listened to the audiobook and Stephen Shanahan did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. I have to say that it was the first time I have listened to an audiobook narrated by an Australian. I serve on an international board at talk to several Australian friends monthly—but given my limited interactions, it was almost like listening to one of my friends read to me. It was somewhat fascinating to hear such similar mannerisms and colloquialisms in an audiobook. Something we obviously take for granted when we read or listen to books that are from our own culture or country. At any rate, it was a very well-done production.

Recommendation

If you like layered stories, mysteries, suspense, or books that will keep you guessing until the end—Exiles is a solid pick. Recommended.

Highly recommended.

Rating

4 Australian Vineyard Stars

“Exiles” by Jane Harper was recently released, and it is a great addition to the Aaron Falk series. I had previously read “The Dry” (and was able to catch the motion picture as well), and police officer Falk is a down-to-earth but smart character to follow as he digs into the evidence of the crimes he finds himself immersed. “Exiles” is even better. One year ago, at the annual town festival on a warm spring night, Kim Gillespie safely tucked her sleeping baby into her stroller, then vanished into the crowd. No one has seen her since. When Kim’s older daughter makes a plea for anyone with information about her missing mom to come forward, Falk and his old buddy Raco can’t leave the case alone. The town is rich with interesting characters, and each one leaves the reader guessing as to what really happened that night a year ago. I encourage you to visit this small town in south Australia and go along for the ride. Harper keeps the action and twists moving along, and this is a solid mystery novel. “Exiles” (not the greatest title for the book) is a hard-to-put down read, and will leave you wanting more of Aaron Falk.

Harper delivers a slow burn mystery that involves interconnected relationships. Listening to this as an audiobook made the many relationships and their connections somewhat difficult to follow. However, Harper's descriptions are realistic and inviting. Listening to Stephen Shanahan narrate the audiobook presented a challenge for me as his thick accent was difficult to understand at times. In this case, a print copy may have been easier to follow. Overall, the story was intriguing. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to Jane Harper's Exiles.

A solid 3 star book. It was a little slower than my taste and felt like it was dragging during some places in the book which caused me to struggle to read it at times. I love a good character driven story, but this one just didn't work that much for me. There was too much focus on the characters rather than the actual crime in my opinion.

I loved the other Aaron Falk stories and was looking forward to this one, but it was definitely my least favorite. It just wasn't the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Harper’s Exiles is the final in the Aaron Falk trilogy, but the second I have read. Harper succeeds in writing with wonderful character development and sense of place while slowly ratcheting up interest in the mystery. Could feel a little slow going for those used to more thrill, but I enjoy the pace.
Thank you to NetGalley and McMillian audio for this copy.

Aaron Falk, a financial crimes detective, visits his friend Greg Raco’s family at festival time in Australia’s wine country. Raco’s baby boy will be christened with Falk serving as godfather. The event, originally scheduled for the prior year, was postponed when Kim, a friend of the family, disappeared on the festival’s opening day. Her infant was left behind, unattended in a stroller. Was it suicide? Murder? Or did she runaway? A year later, Kim’s body still has not been found. This current tragedy brings to mind an unsolved hit-and-run five years earlier also during festival.

I listened to the audiobook version of “Exiles.” Who doesn’t like an Australian accent, mate! Stephen Shanahan’s narration was excellent. Well-paced and engaging. Harper’s novels have a strong sense of place, which is only enhanced by the audio version.

This is slow burning detective fiction, where the clues come not just from crime scene evidence, but also from decades old relationships. You do not need to have read the two earlier Aaron Falk books to enjoy this one. However, those who have will see some familiar names.

Harper is back! I was lucky enough to get a chance to listen to an advanced copy of Exiles narrated by Stephen Shanahan and I'm so glad I stuck with audio for my read. This is the third in the series and while you don't have to read them in order, I recommend starting with The Dry for the best experience with Falk. Harper has expertly layered Aaron Falk's character from the start and this book it really shines.

Exiles is an atmospheric, slow burn character-driven mystery. Jane Harper kept me hooked through rich descriptions of rural Australian wine country and the small communities that live and thrive in the landscape. I've never been to Australia, but Jane Harper's writing make me feel like I have been there. While I haven't had the urge to jet off to down under with her previous books, Exiles was something special.

Unlike the intense tension readers experienced with Force of Nature, Exiles teases mystery and a low thrum of tension from the community of through relationships and connections are teased out of the fabric of the community of Marralee. Falk isn't there in a professional capacity but his keen sense of observation is always on. His time off eventually leads to unofficial investigations into the two mysteries that Harper presents to readers; Kim's missing persons case and the hit and run death of a resident a few years earlier.

I can't delve into the story much without giving spoilery hints, but just know that I adored this slow burn and the people that Falk surrounds himself with. Exiles was my first 5 star read of 2023 and I'm left with a bittersweet farewell to Aaron Falk and an intense yearning to go experience South Australian wine country for myself! I can't wait to see what Harper comes up with next!

*I voluntarily read/listened and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the mystery and thought the ending was satisfying and well thought out.

Although Exiles is the third book in the Aaron Falk series, you don't need to have read the first two to enjoy or understand this one. However, it is nice to have a background.

I loved being back in Aaron's world. Despite having never been to Australia, I always feel like I am right there as if I grew up in this town and went to school with these characters.

As I've come to expect with Harper, the mystery is multilayered and expertly plotted. At first, I thought Harper made the answers obvious, and maybe she was slipping. Well, call me Jon Snow, because I knew nothing. She got me on all of it.

This time we get a little more personal with Aaron's life and a possible peak at what may be in store if there is a future Falk book. Please let there be a forthcoming Falk book.

Don't expect outrageous twists and turns; this isn't that kind of book. After recently reading The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett and now Exiles, I have come to understand why thrillers and mysteries with flashy, shocking twists don't work for me, despite giving me FOMO. I'm just not that kind of reader. I love the slow burn. I like a deliberate, methodical mystery. I like to work for the answers. I like the patience they require, which is utterly astounding because I've never been patient in my life.

Once again, the narrator is fantastic. When I hear his voice, I hear Falk.

Thank you to @netgalley, @janeharperauthor, and @macmillan.audio for an advanced copy of Exiles in exchange for an honest review.

Not a bad read just more slower paced than I anticipated following in the series after Force of Nature ( a 5 star read for sure). The focus seemed more on the characters rather than the crime although we do get resolution of that at the end, just took a long, slow time getting there.

The audio was nicely done but many characters to keep track of and they weren't especially easy to distinguish in audio format.

Exiles takes place in Australia in a very beautiful. area and in a vineyard. Jane Harper does an excellent job describing the countryside where the book takes place. There were times that I could feel the sun and breeze and see the beautiful views because of the detailed descriptions provided.

The characters are well developed throughout the book. By the end you feel like you know them well. There are two mysteries in the book and both are not easily solved from the information we are given. So you must read the book to figure out what happened.

I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a good job.

One of my favourite mystery writers Jane Harper is back with her long-awaited (at least by me) third and final novel in the Aaron Falk series following the Dry and Force of Nature. Much like her previous novels, this is a character-driven slow-burning mystery that authentically captures small-town life. The deeper Falk investigates, the darker the secrets he exposes.

I have loved reading this series so much I didn’t want it to end. Jane Harper is a master storyteller, and I’m already eagerly awaiting her next novel!

Call it 4.5 stars. I received the audio version of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 3 in the Aaron Falk series sees Aaron in the wine country of southern Australia and presents two mysteries. One is a woman who went missing during the festival the previous year who Aaron briefly saw but never met. The other is a hit-and-run from six years previous that killed the husband of a woman he is now finding himself interested it.

The structure of the book is, by necessity, a little strange. When the missing woman case, which is by far the main storyline, is resolved, there is still a half hour left in the book and it took me a minute to recall there was a second mystery solve. Still, it's impossible for Jane Harper to write a bad book, even if she doesn't always let you know what her protagonist is thinking, so I will forgive her anything. Strongly recommended.

Didn't realize this was part of a series, but didn't feel lost treating this as a standalone. Great character development. And finally, a thriller without wildly unrealistically twists!

From my blog: Always With a Book

This is the third book in Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk series and I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed this series. There is rumor that this is the final book in this series, and while I haven’t seen confirmation of that, I do feel that if that is the case, Jane definitely gave this series a proper send-off so to speak.

This is yet another atmospheric and compelling mystery that totally pulls you in right from the start. While you don’t necessarily have to have read the previous two books in order to enjoy this one, I think you will have a better appreciation for Aaron Falk himself if you do. But that’s just my opinion, plus they are incredibly good books!

As in the previous two books, we have a slow-burn of the mystery that meanders it’s way to the end but I loved it. Falk is down at wine country just visiting friends and it just so happens to be the year anniversary of Kim’s disappearance. He quietly starts asking questions in his own way and of course finds out more than he expected, including the fact that a hit and run accident that happened five years before the disappearance might somehow be connected.

This book is plotted so brilliantly, as are all Jane Harper’s books. By carefully delving into all the characters and taking the time to flush out who they are, we find that they are not quite who they initially present as and that just about everyone has secrets of their own. The story effortlessly moves back and forth in time, allowing us to see how all the pieces fit together and even though it is a slow-burn, it becomes an incredibly addictive story, as all her stories usually are. I had no idea where it was headed and that’s what I love about these types of books – they really keep me on my toes.

I have loved this entire series and cannot wait to see what comes next from this talented author. Whatever it is, I know for sure I will be picking it up!



Audio thoughts: As I did with the previous two books, I listened to this one and it was fantastic on audio. I was happy to see that Stephen Shanahan was the narrator, as he did the narration for the other two books, and I am always a fan of consistency with series, if at all possible. He did a great job with the voices and the pacing. His accent – to me what seemed an authentic Australian accent – was just perfect for this book!

Exiles is the third book in the Aaron Falk series. There is some hinting at shared history in the story, but it can easily be read as a standalone. I would recommend the whole series, however, just because it is good.

I enjoyed this third installment as much as the previous two. Harper tends to meander through her stories giving a sense of location and character. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is not it. This is more of a realistic investigation type of story. It moves slowly as you get to know the characters and their relationships. If you like a story that drops tidbits and hints along the way that, then this one is worth the read.

I loved that the book incorporates very real situations. Characters get interrupted before they are able to complete a thought or ask a question, they struggle with accounting, and there are times where there is that niggling almost there thought that they just can't grab on to. I love those aspects of reality that are included. There are also many relationships in this one that are not neat and clean, which makes them interesting and more relatable on some level.

I listened to the audio of this one, which was narrated by Stephen Shanahan. I think the narrator does an excellent job, but I also think the physical copy may be better in some ways. There are a lot of characters to sort out in the beginning and some time jumps in a sort of before and after way. Those were difficult to keep track of initially. Once you have it sorted, the audio is great, but it can be confusing. So if you struggle with keeping characters or timelines straight when they aren't always clearly separated, then go for the physical copy.

Kim was a devoted wife and mother, and mysteriously disappeared at a festival leaving her infant behind. Her disappearance left the small town confounded and beffuddled. Aaron Falk is in town a year later for a Christening, and begins to slowly piece together what happened to her. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly. I forgot just how slow burn Jane Harper's novels are and this one just about did me in. As the last book in the trilogy, it's clear that the author not only wanted to tell a compelling mystery, but also tie up loose ends about the protagonist. Aaron rekindles an old flame, which derailed the already glacial pacing. When Kim's fate is finally revealed, it's to little fanfare in spite of being quite brutal. So much of Harper's appeal is her vivid description of the Australian outback and how its harsh environment shapes behaviors and crimes. Set in Australian wine country, Exiles lacks that gripping backdrop. I'm glad that Aaron finds inner peace and love but I really picked up this book for a clever mystery and was left fairly disappointed.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Whatever happened to Kim? Supposedly she left her child in a stroller, at a festival, and walked away not to be seen again. The story starts a year later as Aaron Falk comes back to the area where Kim had gone missing. Aaron is back for his role as a godfather to Greg and Rita Raco's son, Henry, a job he had to give up last year after the disappearance.

Falk seems to be a workaholic as a financial federal investigator, but now he's back for a happy occasion, Henry's christening. Although sadness is present as Falk witnesses many posters announcing Kim's disappearance. Kim has a teenage daughter who along with many others wants answers.

We are taken back seven years where Kim and her friends have suffered the hit and run accident of their friend, Dean, and after that occurrence Kim seems to seclude herself from her friends.

How does all of this tie together and where is Kim? Even if she is dead, people want to know.

Jane Harper has made a compelling story with friends drifting and lives moving forward from each other. The elements of drinking and its often repercussions is brought forward. We do get to know Falk, a protagonist from Harper's previous books, and his troubled background and he does seem to meet someone he starts to care for. Can Falk find out the mysteries behind the deaths and can he possible finally find a place he can call home?

Thank you to Jane Harper, Macmillan Audio with a fine narration by Stephen Shananhan, and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this story, which published on January 31, 2023.