I have enjoyed Jane Harper's previous books, and have found them incredibly atmospheric.

Unfortunately this book did not grip me in the same way that the other books have.
I found the plot to be very simple, and therefore the pacing was very slow to fill out a 300+ page book.
I got frustrated with the book as we had the night of the crime replayed time and time again but each time there wasn't new revelations so it felt very repetitive.

I didn't enjoy this book. I wanted to know what happened, but it became a frustration rather than a gripping page turner.

I have read all Jane Harper books
So was excited to be able to read exiles, and be reacquainted with Aaron Falk
As always there are plenty of twists, turns and secrets
Making it completely and absorbing, with a captivating storyline

Thank you netgalley, Jane Harper and Pan MacMillan

I've been a fan of Jane Harper for a while now and have loved everything I've read until now. So I naturally went into this with high expectations and she delivered!!

Another slow burn mystery with Aaron Falk at the center of things (please make sure you've read the previous two books especially "The Dry"), this one was definitely a win in my book. This is both a continuation of Falk's story and a mystery of Kim Gillespie's sudden disappearance,

I love how wonderfully the characters are fleshed out, the story slowly making its way into your heart and suddenly without even realizing it you're on the edge of your seat dying to find out what happens,

I cannot wait for more by Jane Harper. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for my advance readers copy! :)

Rating: 2.0/5

I should make clear at the start that I have not read the first two books in this series. If I had, then perhaps I may have enjoyed this more if I'd had the benefit of being familiar with the backstories and had had the opportunity to relate to the lead character from the outset. I was attracted by the appealing premise, but as it was I found this very slow and hard going. I had been anticipating an enthralling mystery, but that element of the plot took an age to develop and, for the most part, there was far greater emphasis on the feelings and relationships of the characters. By the time I was a quarter of the way through I was already becoming bored ... and that developed into feeling very, very bored. Not badly written, but the style and content never managed to engage me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I am a fan of Jane Harper’s novels. I greatly enjoyed ‘The Dry’, ‘The Survivors’, and ‘Force of Nature.

In ‘The Exiles’, Falk, overwhelmed by the pressures of his job, visits long time friends to undertake his role as god father at his god child’s christening. The christening had been postponed for a year, due to the families childhood friend Kim having gone missing (presumed to have committed suicide) whilst the towns annual wine festival took place. At the year anniversary, Zara, her teenage daughter, launches an appeal at the Festival hoping that memories will be triggered. Josh her friend, also has a vested interest, due to wondering if Kim’s case is linked to the death of his father several years earlier to a hit and run accident. Whilst Falk is just there as a visitor, he can’t help get drawn into the case.

This is a story of small town relationships, and hidden dynamics. Harper captures really well the changes that relationships can take over time and the stories that can become fixed in groups, that might not be the truth. I also really loved the way she captured the location of her novel, recreating Australia for me, even though I was reading it in the cold UK. My only criticism was that for me, this novel was a little bit slow/lacking in drama, until the end. However it is worth sticking with for a very satisfying conclusion.

I thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review.
This is the fifth of Jane Harper’s novels I read, and it is the third one whose protagonist is Federal Investigator (AFP Officer) Aaron Falk. This time, the story is set in Southern Australia, in the fictional Marralee Valley, a wine-producing region. The author’s stories —mysterious crimes set in Australia— have gained the accolade of “outback noir”, and it feels right, although they share much in common with domestic noir, even when the setting tends to rely heavily on the landscapes and peculiarities of Australian towns, especially small towns, and nature. The action builds up slowly; there is a lot of attention paid to family and close relationships, to the psychology of the characters, and to the way the crime (or crimes) interact with the setting; and rather than being heavy on the procedural part of the investigation, the stories tend to focus on uncovering the truth by unveiling the personal stories of those involved and testing the different versions of what happened. For those who worry about explicit violence and gore, you can rest assured. There are some creepy and tense moments, and we come to the realisation that not all the characters are as benign as they seem to be, but that is all. And the story is complete in itself and it is not necessary to have read the two previous novels starring Falk to follow it, although those who have will be able to better appreciate the full arc of his story and how he has evolved.
I hadn’t read much about the story beforehand, but it still felt like a final adventure for Falk from early on, and not only because he is joined by some of the characters he met in The Dry, which were favourites of mine. There is a beautiful symmetry in the way the story works out. In The Dry, the first of the three stories Harper has published about Falk, he goes back to the little town where he grew up, to attend the funeral of a friend. In this one, he goes to a small town to not only attend the christening but also become godfather to Greg Raco’s son, a recent friend he met in the first novel and with whom he investigated that case. He is welcomed into Raco’s family and the town, and although he had never visited before, it feels like a homecoming for him.
There are two crimes in this novel, both old (and more or less cold) cases. One is the case of Kim, a woman who went missing the previous year at the local wine fair, and whose disappearance resulted in the cancellation of the christening of Raco’s boy (because this is a book about second chances as well). Even though he didn’t know the woman, Falk became a witness in the case, because Kim happened to be the long-term on-and-off partner of Raco’s brother, Charlie, with whom she shared an adolescent daughter, Zara, who lived with her father in the vineyard. Kim had moved away, married again, and was now also the mother of a little girl. Although most people suspected she had committed suicide, all her friends were surprised that she would have abandoned her daughter, leaving her alone and unattended in her pram at the fair.
The other case was a hit-and-run incident that had taken place in the same area six years previously, in which a man who worked in the office next door to the missing woman, had been killed. Are the two cases related? Zara and the missing man’s son, Joel, think so and are determined to find the truth out. Falk finds himself involved in both cases, in the lives of his friends and the people of the town, and starts questioning many things about his work, his priorities, and his own future.
Among the themes, I have mentioned families, difficult and even abusive relationships, childhood and long-term friendships and how they evolve through the years, small-town life, professional and personal choices, what would we do to uncover the truth and to protect our children, and there is a romance as well, one that I enjoyed precisely because it was a bit unusual but I felt it suited the characters involved perfectly well.
The story is slow and reposed, and it meanders through the events that are happening while the christening and the fair are being organised, as we follow Falk’s thoughts, reflections, and his nagging sensation that he is missing something. There is something quite bucolic about the rhythm and the development of the story, although I didn’t feel the setting was as well achieved and as realistically rendered as in the two other stories (The Dry and Force of Nature), perhaps because Falk is seeing things from a different perspective and he is not the same person and is not in the same place as he was before. There is also something idealised about the way the place is depicted, and although there are some disturbing elements and characters, “noir” is a bit of a stretch for the way the story develops.
The story is narrated in the third person, mostly from Falk’s point of view. There is a change in point of view towards the end of the story that turns things on their head, but I don’t want to reveal too much or spoil the story for those reading it, so I’ll leave you to check it out. It is an interesting choice on the part of the author, and I suspect some readers won’t like it. It adds some depth to the story, although it might be frustrating for those looking for a standard mystery. I personally enjoyed the ending (endings, as Falk, eventually solves both cases), even though I agree with comments that say it seems to come on quite suddenly compared to the rhythm of the rest of the novel.
I am happy to recommend all the novels Harper has published to date. They are beautifully written, and she creates intriguing plots and credible characters (some we love, and some we don’t). Despite the mystery elements, these books are not high-octane, fast-paced, action-packed, and anxiety-inducing thrillers. They are reflective and take their time to set the story and introduce the characters and their conflicts. Although this is not my favourite, I feel it works well as the last call for Falk; it provides a suitable and happy closure for the character, and I strongly recommend it to those who have read the two previous novels. Oh, and I learned that the second Falk novel has also been adapted to the big screen. I look forward to it, as I enjoyed the excellent adaptation of The Dry, and Eric Bana is an actor I’m always happy to watch.

Love this author…..,. Harper spins a delicious tale that sneaks up on readers. For much of the novel it’s a rich family and small-town drama; she doesn’t rely on constant twists and turns and ongoing murderous events to power the mystery narrative, instead drawing us in exquisitely, making later revelations even more powerful. Terrific. Top marks!

Yet another excellent read by Jane Harper. Beautifully written intriguing and absorbing from beginning to end.

The characters are, as always, interesting yet perfectly normal individuals who go about their lives in a small town in Australian. It was totally absorbing. There were a few hints of romance from early on but the main story is about disappearance of two of the people from the area. Kept you interested all the way through.

Jane Harper has really nailed the Aussie noir. This is a slow burn story which revolves around a mother who goes missing at the town fair, leaving her small infant in the pram. A year later, Aaron Falk, a recurring character, returns to the town for the baby’s christening, The mother is still missing and the story revolves around what happened and who has secrets.

The clever thing about these books is that they’re not action packed and filled with violence. But Jane Harper creates characters who feel real and the sense of small town atmosphere is almost palpable. As a listener or reader, I feel I’ve just been transported to a different continent and climate. She creates tension and mystery from the ordinary and the pacing is such that every book is a real page turner. I think this may be her best yet and her writing seems almost effortless. The suspense builds and there are twists that I didn’t see, making this a complex and totally satisfying read. Brilliant.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

The third book from Jane Harper with Aaron Falk as the main character is an absolute cracker. I’ve enjoyed the stand-alones but it’s great to get a sense of closure on Falk’s story!

Great slow-burn mystery with a well-developed set of supporting characters and callbacks to the Dry. The small-town vibe is evoked with a real sense of place, with its interconnections and sense of everyone knowing each others business (or do they‽).

One of my favourites of the year.

3.5 rounded up to 4 as I kept on reading, but it didn’t really match up to the first two Falk instalments in terms of layers, intrigue and plausibility. Still a good book, but not brilliant

I was eagerly loving forward to reading the third book featuring Aaron Falk, and it did not disappoint. I did not find it as impactful as ‘The Dry’ was though.

Aaron Falk is visiting his friend Greg Raco and family in Marrralee Valley for the christening of their son. He is pleasantly surprised at their ask that he be the godfather, but also happy as he has grown close to Greg and Rita, who treat him like family. Greg’s brother is Charlie and his ex-wife Kim has been missing since a year. Charlie and Kim were married for many years and have a daughter Zara. After their separation, Kim is married to Rohan Gillespie and they have a baby daughter Zoe. In the local festival, Zoe is found alone in her pram, and Kim is missing. Rohan was a short distance away and rushes back. It comes out that she had been somewhat reclusive since a few months and had also been taking antidepressants. Her shoe is found near a reservoir leading to the most accepted explanation that she jumped. Her daughter Zara is adamant that her mother would never leave her young daughter Zoe like this and take her own life. The family puts out an appeal asking attendees at the festival – if they were there last year and saw her, to speak up. In town, Falk finds himself drawn to Gemma Tozer. She lost her husband Dean around six years back in a hit and run accident and the pain persists for her and her step son Joel. Considering that this accident was also near the reservoir, Joel and Zara also speculate that there might be a connection. It had taken many months to recover Dean’s body as well.

This is a slow burn crime story. While I am quite comfortable with slow pace, it feels quite different from the earlier two as the pace for nearly 60% of the book is far slower than in the other two books. What I did not much like though is the introduction of character behaviours in the later part of the book, which is now usual in psychological thrillers and is becoming a silly & painful pattern. The plot elements are however, very strong and I liked how the last sections closed on the two mysteries in the book. The descriptions of the locales, as in the previous books is excellent. Aaron Falk’s character, as in the previous books is very well developed, nuanced and a treat to read.

An atmospheric mystery set on the magnificent Australian landscape written by a very talented author, Jane Harper. Although it is slow moving and slow building in the first part, there is a quicker pace in the second part. Beautifully written, you will want to savour it. The ending was very satisfying.

A new Jane Harper is always an exciting event and Exiles definitely lived up to my expectations. This is the third book to feature federal investigator Aaron Falk and I really enjoyed seeing him in totally new surroundings. This story takes place in a small Australian town in wine growing country and as always with Jane Harper, the sense of place is incredible. The landscape is vividly described and although it is very lush and green, we soon see how threats can lie hidden.

A year before the story begins, a young mother, Kim, had gone missing and she has never been traced. As Falk spends time with his friends who include Kim’s ex-partner and daughter, he gets drawn into the investigation of her disappearance and begins to realise that things are not necessarily as they seem.

I loved the gradual untangling of this mystery and the way we were drawn into the life of this small town where everyone knows one another. It’s quite a slow burn read and the sense of urgency in some mysteries is not present here. Instead, the events of the past are slowly revealed through the different character’s viewpoints. The cast of characters were all likeable which made the mystery even more puzzling as it was hard to see how any of them could have been involved. I especially liked the focus on the teenagers, especially Kim’s teenage daughter.

Aaron Falk is one of my favourite detectives and I really enjoyed his story arc in this book.
Huge thanks to Net Galley and Pan Macmillan for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed The Dry so was excited to read this latest Aaron Falk story. It certainly didn't disappoint. Falk is on leave and visiting friends for a christening. The family have been in turmoil for a year since Zoe Gillespie disappeared from the local food and drink festival, leaving her young baby alone in her pram. A year on, her family are trying to jog memories to try and find out what happened to her. Falk becomes involved with the case in an unofficial capacity. This is a real page turner which will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Wow what a read!… I was up all night reading this… An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page… Full of mystery and suspense with twists and turns to keep you on your toes, I was completely hooked

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for ARC.

Australian Federal Police detective Aaron Falk investigates financial crime in Melbourne.
He returns to a small South Australian country town a year after his godson's christening had to be postponed due to a tragic local event. Kim Gillespie, close family friend of Falk's best mate Taco, disappeared during the annual food and wine festival. Kim's newborn daughter was found, unharmed, in the festival's pram park. The disappearance remains unsolved, and casts a long shadow over the family gathering for the delayed christening of Raco's son. Spurred by his friend's unease, and Kim's teenage daughter's disbelief that her mum's disappearance could have been voluntary, Falk can't help ask questions and delve into the stories the town told themselves then. There's another mystery too, which Falk feels should be haunting the townspeople just as much.

Harper's writing is amazing, evoking family tensions, small town life, and the Australian landscape skillfully and economically. The plotting is so carefully done you can barely see it unfolding. This is part of a series of a sort (Falk has appeared before in The Dry and Force of Nature, and it would be satisfying to read them in order, but it's not essential.

Although this is part of a series of books about the main character Arran Falk, it works well as a stand alone novel. Set in a small town in the Australian outback, where everyone knows everyone, Falk solves a cold case. It involves the disappearance of a mother from the annual festival. She leaves her daughter behind in a pram in the fairground thus starting rumours and much speculation about her mental state. All the loose ends in this story are tied together nicely at the end with many twists to the tale throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and PanMcMillan for the advance copy of this book.

Exiles by Jane Harper
Publisher - Macmillan
Publication date - 2nd Feb 2023

Thanks to @netgalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This is a welcome return to the character of Aaron Falk and I was very excited when I was approved for this! We are transported to Australia’s wine country, Marralee Valley as Falk is visiting as he is to be godfather to young Henry, his friends Rita and Raco’s child. It has been postponed from last year as a family friend, Kim, had gone missing from the annual wine and food festival, leaving behind her six week old daughter Zoe. Kim was once in a relationship with Raco’s brother Charlie, who runs a local winery, and they share a teenager daughter Zara.

A year has now passed but nothing as been resolved in Kim’s disappearance. It has been assumed that she has committed suicide as they found her shoe in the local reservoir. However, Zara doesn't believe that this is what happened and is determined to work out what took place. She has printed leaflets and arranged to give a speech on the opening night of this year's festival to jog people’s memories. As Falk becomes more involved he is always made aware of the death of another local, Dean Tozier, who was the victim of a hit-and-run six years earlier at the reservoir. Is there a link between these events?

This was a delightful novel which meandered its way through the locations and its characters. Each character was complex and well-defined. Joel was a favourite - a great portrayal of a late teen coping with the death of a parent. I felt heartsick for him at times. The scenes where you find him at the reservoir are poignant and heartbreaking. Falk seeks more human in this setting, more willing to look into himself and a what is lacking in his life. I have seen rumours that this might be the last Falk book and it if is I am very happy with how it has been left. However, I think there would be ALOT more mileage in this character!

‘Exiles’ is a beautiful book, where the plot is built slowly and carefully, adding multiple layers without you realising it. I was instantly hooked and devoured this book over a few days. It was one of those books you don't want to rush over. I wanted to make this experience last, lingering over the chapters and just absorbing its quiet beauty. I didn't want it to end. Harper has a real talent of writing stories that decide to lodge in your mind and still have a place years later. This one is no exception!

Exiles is the third book by Jane Harper featuring Aaron Falk and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Great plot, interesting characters and a satisfying ending - what more could you ask for?
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.