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"New York Times bestselling author Jane Harper is back with a new mystery featuring Aaron Falk, the detective from the bestseller and major motion picture The Dry. At a busy festival site on a warm spring night, a baby lies alone in her stroller, her mother vanishing into the crowds. A year on, Kim Gillespie's absence casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather deep in the heart of South Australian wine country to welcome a new addition to the family. Joining the celebrations is federal investigator Aaron Falk. But as he soaks up life in the lush valley, he begins to suspect this tight-knit group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk's closest friend, a missing mother, and a woman he's drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge"--… (more)
User reviews
As usual, Jane Harper weaves a dense story rich in character development. relying on interpersonal relationships and small-town intrigue to carry the plot rather than dramatic action. I found the first chapters confusing as they introduced a number of characters and switched between the events of the previous year and the current situation, but once I sorted out who was who and what happened when it was smooth sailing, though frankly rather slow, at least in the first half of the book. The trick with Harper is to relax, slow down, and let the story surround you.
Those looking for a thriller should look elsewhere, but if character development is your thing, this slow burn of a mystery, one that introduces the armchair traveler to yet another side of Australia's geography, will fit the bill.
There has been some talk of whether Kim committed suicide, jumping into a local dam, an
Pamphlets are distributed at the wine festival asking people to think about when they last saw Kim on the night that she disappeared.
A second element is the death of a popular local accountant in a hit and run case six years earlier. Aaron Falk finds himself drawn into both cases.
This novel has a surprisingly gentle feel to it, and events seem to move very slowly, yet we know we will have the answer at the end. The setting is "South Australian wine country" and that has caused discussion in our group about exactly where.
A good one for "overseas" readers. It has a truly Australian flavour about it.
The woman disappeared from a festival over a year ago and the investigation hit a dead end. While in the area, Falk (a
I'm glad that voice actor Stephen Shanahan was chosen as narrator because his speech is clear, and he works hard to differentiate the multiplicity of characters
I requested and received a free temporary audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!
This book is the third featuring the handsome investigator, but it could easily be a standalone. It was slow burn, for sure, but the wonderful narration by Stephen Shanahan held my interest right up to the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.
Everyone has a story. Everyone has an opinion of both Kim herself and what would make her simply disappear into thin air. Kim's teenage daughter Zara's battle to learn what happened to her mother is poignant, laced as it is with both a child's heartbreak and teenage obstinate prickliness. Moreover, Falk learns that Zara's friend Joel has also lost a parent under rather mysterious circumstances. And while Falk searches for answers, he's also finding good reason to re-evaluate his own life, both personally and professionally.
Exiles is just the sort of mystery character-driven readers are going to love. Personal histories. Emotions. Motivations. Evasions. Harper's red herrings are superb. Not only was I led down the wrong garden path, but I also discovered that I wasn't even in the right garden.
For those of you who haven't read one of Jane Harper's books, I urge you to rectify your oversight. Exiles may be the third book featuring Aaron Falk, but it does well as a standalone. Get yourself a copy and dive right into a marvelous tale.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
Exiles by Jane Harper is a solid mystery featuring Aaron Falk, a character the reader might recognize from two previous books. This thriller involves a woman who has mysteriously disappeared at a busy festival. Falk and friends dig into this mystery a year later at
The small town setting in Australia is essential as it allows for close friendships among the townspeople. The family Falk visits is warm and close knit. Falk fits in as his character develops. Jane Harper weaves a suspenseful plot in straight-forward language. I did have a problem with her many transitions from past to present events. They often seemed a bit clumsy and confusing. All in all, Exiles is a great read if you enjoy well developed mysteries with with fully drawn characters - I do.
Exiles is Ms. Harper’s 5th book and is the 3rd title featuring Federal Investigator Aaron Falk.
Other titles include The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and Survivors.
Federal Investigator, Aaron Falk, is on his way to a small town deep in
Ms. Harper’s books are very character-driven and have an extremely strong ‘sense of place’. Australia comes alive in her writing.
Exiles is tense, suspenseful and atmospheric. It is a ‘crime’ story; a mystery; a very emotional, ‘human’ drama.
Excellent *****
At a busy festival site on a warm spring night, a baby lies alone in her pram, her mother vanishing into the crowds. A year on, Kim Gillespies' absence casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather deep in the heart of South Australian wine country to
This is an easy going mystery...more family saga than mystery. It's an easy read and a good plot so it kept my interest. Is it Jane Harper's best? I don't think so, but still worth the read.
This is a light, enjoyable mystery.
The Rest of It:
Federal Investigator Aaron Falk is on his way to a small town deep in Southern Australian wine country for the christening of an old friend’s baby. But mystery follows him, even on vacation. ~ Indiebound
In this mystery, the baby
As the family gathers for the child’s christening, they decide to use the time together to try to re-enact what happened that night. They are all desperate for answers and something feels off to Falk. The memories from a year ago are vague but as they all talk through that night, new details come to light.
This is a sleepy little mystery. It’s not fast paced but the characters are likable and the setting of a wine festival was rather enjoyable. I’ve read one other book where Investigator Falk was featured and it was quite enjoyable as well. I’d say that there aren’t any big revelations in this one, but somehow it all comes together nicely. I liked it.
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Jane Harper's carefully and cleverly plotted mystery is peppered with subtle red herrings that make it even more intriguing. One part of the story, while certainly believable, is revealed so suddenly that it doesn't ring as true as the rest but, overall, The Exiles is a compelling and smart mystery. Aaron is a calm and likable protagonist and, though it's gratifying to see his character fleshed out over several novels, this book is satisfying as a standalone.
Aaron Falk is again the main character when he visits his friends the Racos to be their son’s godfather. While he spends a week in this small
Kim, the ex-wife of one of the Raco brothers, since remarried, has been missing for a year. Most presume that she is dead. Falk looks into this case at the insistence of his friend’s niece.
Another case, now six years old, involves the dead husband of a woman he meets there. Her stepson still wants to find the hit-and-run driver who killed him.
I’ve read all of Harper’s books and anxiously await her next one. But I heard her say that she is dropping Aaron Falk as a recurring character. I hope she changes her mind, and I think she might. She seems to have made an opening so she can bring him back if she wants to.
Perhaps because I was listening to the audiobook and couldn't go at my own speed, I found this extremely slow. The prologue was fantastic and really drew me in, but then nothing happened for two thirds of the book. The romance
What would compel a new mother to leave her new baby at a festival in her hometown and then disappear?
This book has it all. Intricate childhood friendships. Not one but two mysteries. And a story so we’ll told you don’t want the book to end.
If you
Another nice thing about this authors books is that while they take place in Australia you don’t need a deep understanding of Australian slang or geography to know what is being described.
This is an excellent book!
Exiles was slow and dull. It's longer than it needs to be because of the sloppy writing.
Falk returns to Marralee at the invitation of Greg Raco, a close friend of his. Maralee is the site of a popular food and wine festival. Falk is to be the godfather to Raco's child.
Falk agrees to look into Kim's case at the urging of her teenage daughter, Zara, who hopes to use the festival to turn up new clues to her mother's disappearance. Falk learns that the festival and reservoir site is also the location of an unsolved hit-and-run six years earlier that resulted in the death of Dean Tozer.
Falk's investigation reveals the relationships between Kim and her friends who grew up in Maralee, as well as some things that have bubbled beneath the surface for a long time. Falk also reconnects with a woman from Maralee whom he met and shared a strong attraction with when she visited Melbourne. Falk's methodical examination takes him deeper into these people's lives. His investigation will open old wounds as well as create new ones if the truth about what happened to Kim is to be discovered.
Harper excels at evoking a strong sense of place that makes you feel not only that you've seen this part of Australia, but that you know it. She creates a sense of foreboding as characters you grow to like are living with grief and guilt. As the truth is slowly uncovered you experience the tragedy and its inevitability. Nobody evokes pathos better than her.
Jane Harper is Australia's version of Cormac McCarthy. Her novels greatly evoke time and place and her characters are so real that you ache with them. If this is truly where we leave Aaron Falk, then I am filled with both melancholy and happiness for him. Exiles is one of the best books of the year and another in a string of great books from Harper.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
This is not a blood and guts kind of book, no roller coaster suspense and threat, nor is it a cozy. I found it to be well written and enjoyed the characters and setting.