This is a good read but is a bit of a slow burner.
A year ago, Kim went missing, leaving her baby in her pram at a festival. Her family have never got closure so a year later, the family does an appeal at the festival asking for information.
Aaron Falk is in town for a family gathering and it's clear he has questions about the missing woman.
Falk hasn't been asked to investigate the disappearance, but is keen to know what happened in this small community.
There was also a hit and run five years before the disappearance which resulted in a death and has also got Falk's attention.
There are lots of characters in this book and at times it's a bit tricky to keep track of who is who.
This is a slow burner but definitely picks up at the end.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Another superb novel from the consistently excellent Jane Harper. Aaron Falk is familiar to us from The Dry onwards and here he is helping to solve crimes while he is on leave. It is the anniversary of the disappearance of a woman whose baby was found abandoned at a country fair while the father was having dinner with his parents. There are many fascinating revelations in the course of the story, the characters are beautifully portrayed and the Australian countryside is lovingly depicted. Great stuff.

Sadly, Exiles again has the same issues. If you don't know who Falk is before reading this book, you'll be wondering what the hype is with him and what you've missed out on, as his character is given absolutely no detail to help you understand who he is and why he's here. The end does wrap his story up nicely and gives a conclusion that will satisfy fans of the rest of the series. But if you haven't read book one, I'm not sure you'll care.

There are a lot of other characters in this instalment, too, which does make it a little confusing at first, especially when some of the names sound so similar. But while you do eventually get to know these characters quite strongly by the end, there wasn't enough detail at the start to make you understand the impact of this past event or the nature of everyone's involvement in it to compel you to want to find out more.

And yet again, I didn't understand Falk's involvement in it all. Here, he is visiting friends for a Christening. A "rare break" from work. His friends complain that he works too hard, but they all drag him into this investigation anyway. And yes, he is an investigator, but he works in finance. Just like with Force Of Nature, he's again an outsider doing all the work on a murder investigation. I don't know why his character couldn't have just been a detective so that his involvement seemed justified, then it would make sense for him to be at the centre of it all.

Exiles also lacks the beautifully described atmosphere that I'm used to with Harper's books. Even though there are some memorable settings here with a clifftop lookout, a vineyard and a fairground, I got no sense of the small-town Australian setting, which is what I wanted to be consumed by. The locations and climate normally add so much to Harper's stories, but nothing stood out for me this time.

I want to be more positive as Harper is one of my favourite authors. But as a fan of the series, this instalment just didn't deliver anything that I, personally, needed from it. I did really enjoy the final few chapters where the case is resolved nicely, the conclusions are fulfilling, and Falk's character gets a worthwhile ending. But it's very easy to lose interest in the first 70% and I'm not sure it will appeal to new readers of Harper's books.

Jane Harper is not only a great plotter, she writes so evocatively of life in a small Australian town that you feel you are there. Kept me guessing right until the end, which made perfect sense when I got there.

Kim Gillespie’s absence is still very keenly felt by her friends and family, a year after she disappeared from a festival. While disappearances may not that all that unusual, the fact that Kim left her baby daughter alone is. Still, the family has reason to celebrate, despite their history, but one member of the party realises that not everything is what it seems (and we love a story like that). Federal investigator Aaron Falk begins to look into Kim’s case, asking questions and stirring up past resentments and secrets that some that long hoped would remain undisturbed. But maybe it takes someone who doesn’t have a link to an investigation to truly get under its skin. If you’re a fan of Jane’s The Dry and The Lost Man, you won’t be surprised to hear this is another must-read, one that you’ll reluctantly leave to do life things like eating and tidying.

I requested Jane Harper’s new novel, “Exiles” and thought that there was no way the publisher would agree to give me an ARC. But I realized something: I’m a pretty darn good candidate to receive this book! Firstly, I’ve read all of Jane Harper’s publications and secondly, I’ve been very honest in my reviews, and what I can say is that I have enjoyed some more than others. But overall? I always enjoy the journey!

When it comes to Harper’s novels, I believe that she has a knack for creating environment and setting in a way that I don’t usually experience while reading other contemporary mystery novels. When I read one of Harper’s novels, I can clearly envision the scene and the characters, I can feel the climate, and I can get lost in the narrative—a rare occurrence for me these days.

If you pick up “Exiles”, you will be in Maralee Valley, a fictious town in South Australian wine country. While you’re there, you’ll feel the density of the forest, similar to the environment in her novel “Force of Nature”. However, this time we’re following the mysterious disappearance of Kim Gillespie (one year earlier) and the hit-and-run murder of Dean Tozer (six years earlier).

Like many of Harper’s novels, there are flashbacks to previous events that highlight explain to the reader how current events came to fruition. This novel has the same structure as Harper’s previous novels, but I couldn’t help feeling like this story is similar in plot and tone to her most recent publication, “The Survivors”, in which a group of old friends come together; face demons and old, fractured memories; and solve an unsolved mystery. While nothing is technically wrong with either story, I just felt that perhaps the plot had, to a certain degree, already been done.

However, I liked this slow burn a lot. I loved where I spent my time while I was reading this ARC. And if you’re a fan of Jane Harper’s writing, love being fully immersed in a novel, or are a fan of Australian fiction, then you won’t be disappointed with this novel!

To NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Macmillan: I’m grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Jane Harper’s newest novel, “Exiles”. I first read Jane Harper while I was working in Shanghai, and my days at work were ridiculously long and stressful. Reading “The Dry” (and then “Force of Nature”) was the highlight of my day!

I’d like to thank Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Exiles’ by Jane Harper in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Whilst visiting friends Greg and Rita Raco for a family event, Aaron Falk becomes involved in the disappearance a year ago of Kim Gillespie who abandoned her new-born baby Zoe in her pram at the Marralee Annual Food and Wine Festival. Her older daughter Zara is determined to find out what happened to her mother who wouldn’t have just vanished with no trace.

This is the first book I’ve read of Aaron Falk and although I may have benefitted from reading the previous two in the trilogy I didn’t feel it was detrimental to my understanding of his character. The setting of the story in South Australia was magical and I was involved from the start but I found myself losing interest mid-way as there was a lot of repetition making the plot slow down although the last few chapters did get me focused again. Despite the story concentrating on the characters rather than the actual crime, it did get more exciting towards the end when the truth of what happened to Kim was finally revealed. I’d like to read more books by this author as I liked her style of writing that was very descriptive and flowed nicely.

Exiles is the third book in Harper's Aaron Falk series, although this can be read as a stand-alone. I love how beautiful and atmospheric Harper's writing is, and this one didn't disappoint with the Australian wine country as our backdrop. However, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the first two books. The mystery was initially very engrossing, and I found myself adding most characters to my 'suspect list,' but then I found myself quickly becoming less and less engaged in the story. I didn't feel invested in Falk's love interest or the lives of the people who call this small town in Southern Australian town home - even though we know that one of them must be the culprit. Thankfully, it did pick up again for the last few chapters, and I like where we left Falk, but it's not my favorite by Harper. I hope we've put this series to bed, and I look forward to her next novel!

Aaron Falk is taking a break from work to attend the christening of his friend Raco's youngest child.. The event was supposed to happen a year before, but a woman formerly from Maralee disappeared on the first night of the Maraless festival and the christening was abandoned. Now one year on there the only clue to Kim's disappearance was one of her trainers being found in the local reservoir. Kim was also the mother of Raco's brother's daughter Zara, and she is holding an appeal for any new information. on the anniversary of her mother's disappearance. Falk can see that Raco is uncomfortable with the previous investigation and agrees to look over his notes.. Over the course of the week he slowly finds out more about Kim and the various people close to her.
There is also the murder of the local accountant several years before where the killer hasn't been found.
This is a slow burner, but I found myself turning the pages faster and faster to find out what happens.

A mother disappears from a festival supposedly leaving her daughter's pram unattended, never to return. But what exactly happens to Kim Gillespie. Her teen daughter Zara and former partner Charlie are keen to find out. Add to the fact that Charlie's brother is a police officer and believes that there is more to this than meets the eye. Of course, we have Aaron Falk, federal investigator who is in town on holiday, but he takes an interest in the case as well.
What can I say, another great story from Jane Harper. Well worth reading.

A real return to form for Jane Harper, I absolutely LOVED this! Brilliant characters and the small town, claustrophobic atmosphere that she does so well.

Although this is the third Aaron Falk book by Jane Harper this can easily be read as a standalone.

This novel gave me major small town mystery vibes as we follow Aaron Falk and the members of the Raco family a year after their friend Kim Gillespie disappeared from the yearly festival. No one knows what really happened to Kim. The assumptions that have been made about her disappearance just don’t add up for those who knew Kim.

Although being a slow burner this novel had me wanting to find out what really happened and just keep reading. Not really caring for Aaron Falks private life (which annoyed me a bit in the start) I could see in the end why it was important. The character dynamics are great and Jane Harper knows very well how to not give any hints out to early so I was really not knowing how this was going to end until it ended.

I really enjoyed reading Exiles by Jane Harper and want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Exiles by Jane Harper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔸Small town mystery
🔸slow burn
🔸great character dynamic
🔸pretty unpredictable

I pick Jane Harper’s books up because they are crime fiction but I stay because they are more than that. I think her writing actually takes you past the crime fiction element into literary fiction. This story is very understated in its telling as you become immersed in the stories of a small group of close friends and their families in a small town community. You really get to know them and how they feel connected to the place. This book is so cleverly and brilliantly written because as you’re getting to know the characters you sometimes forget that this is also a crime story but it is most definitely there slowly given you reveals biding its time alongside the story of this small group of friends until it all comes perfectly together right at the end. This is a book to be savoured and enjoyed. Definitely a recommended read.

Aaron Falk visits the small Australian town of Marralee Valley for the christening of his godson. Marralee Valley holds an annual wine festival which he attended last year, where a woman was declared missing after her baby is abandoned in the buggy bay. On the anniversary of the disappearance, the wine festival brings fresh memories to the fore and Falk is drawn into the investigation.

A slow burn mystery, but I didn’t mind as I just enjoy Falk’s POV, whether he is attempting to solve a crime, fostering relationships with friends, or just describing the scenery. I’m looking forward to the fourth book with Aaron Falk as the protagonist.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Harper has again taken us deep into rural Australia for this missing person mystery. The book is also about friendships and the closeness of a small town community. One of the main characters is the landscape itself which dominates the action. A warm and gripping mystery that keeps you reading until the last page

This is one of those books that keeps you guessing right to the end. I did find it a little slow to be honest.but it was an intriguing and enjoyable read. I like this author and look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Adam Falk is back in another great classic mystery in a beautiful setting.
While visiting friends for a family event Adam gets caught up in an unsolved case about a new mum who went missing at a festival a year ago.
This has, not one but two mysterys to solve and a budding romance which I loved! I did not see the ending coming. Another brilliant story from the Queen of Australian crime writing.

Welcome back Aaron Falk!
Another winner from Ms Harper with her usual well thought out plot, that always leave me surprised at how many clues I missed while caught up in the story.
Set in a small town in Australian wine country this time which I found less atmospheric than previous books but that's a minor quibble.
thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Macmillan for my copy of #Exiles by #JaneHarper

BRILLIANT!!! One of the best books I’ve read in ages.
Set in a small Australian town this is the story of a family’s fight for answers when one of their own goes missing.
What would make a woman leave her 6 week old daughter alone and just disappear?
This is definitely an all nighter.
I couldn’t leave it alone, I had to know.
This author just keeps raising the bar.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love these books by Jane Harper, this one transported me right into the Australian wine country with it's beautiful descriptive passages. It's book 3 in the Aaron Falk series, the best yet, and can be read as a stand alone, although I recommend starting with The Dry for background information. Aaron is attending the christening of his godson and finds the small town in the Marralee Valley, and it's people, shrouded in family secrets and mysteries. The pace is steady throughout, there is plenty tension and the plot is quite intricate. Another brilliant read from the author. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.