Federal Investigator Aaron Falk is back, though this time it is personal. Asked to be the godfather for his old friend's young son, Aaron travels to their small town deep in Southern Australian wine country for the christening. While there however, Aaron cannot help but to become involved in the year old disappearance of a woman, who seemingly left her young child in a stroller at the local wine festival. What makes a woman leave her child?

Exiles was not as strong in plot and character development as the previous Aaron Falk novels. Though the story of Kim Gillespie's disappearance was interesting, especially her connection to the friends that Aaron is visiting, the plot was just too drawn out and fragmented by the different perspectives. The side plots were too overdone, taking away from the focus of the main story. Overall, I was not a fan of this novel, which was disappointing. For this reason, I would be hesitant to recommend Exiles to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Exiles by NetGalley and the publisher, Flatiron Books. The decision to read and review this novel entirely rests with me.

4.5 stars!

This is my third Jane Harper book so I knew a little bit about what to expect as far as her writing - which is incredible.

This is Aaron Falk book #3 (I somehow missed the second book, Force of Nature) but they do not need to be read in order and can all be stand-alone books.

Talk about slow burn!! This book felt kind of slow but also fast moving with everything that you’re learning. It’s 95% all from Falk’s perspective, which I very much liked. The second half of the book was so good.

There are kind of two mysteries to be solved throughout this book and I really love the way Falk makes his discoveries.

Jane is an incredible author, she makes the settings in her stories seem so real and vivid. I felt like I could picture this festival, the reservoir and the bushlands. I felt super invested in many of the characters storylines as well!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Exiles, is another winner for Jane Harper. It kept me wondering until the very end. I loved the family dynamics in this book as well as in all of her other novels.

I was so excited to get an ARC of this as I am a big fan of The Dry and The Survivors. I read this but I feel like this one (and all of her books) would be a fun audio book. She is a great story teller and writer of suspense and this one doesn't disappoint. This book is the third of a series featuring Aaron Falk, but to me, they can be read as stand alone novels as well.

thank you Netgalley for the oppurtunity to read this one early. These opinions are all my own.

Jane Harper is a master at telling a story. I was so drawn in, listening to each clue, not wanting to miss a thing. Aaron Falk almost feels real to me at this point. I look forward to any more Aaron stories you have. Thank you for this amazing book!

Another great thriller featuring Aaron Falk! the suspense keeps you guessing and the characters are great. I enjoyed the first 2 in the series and this one might be my favorite so far. Looking forward to more in the series!

The third in the series Aaron Falk series and my favorite so far. Enjoyed multiply mysteries in one book and the budding romance(s).

From page one, Exiles is full of speculation and suspicion. Where is Kim, the mother of a six week old baby who is found in his stroller at a southern Australia wine festival at the end of the evening? Kim's teenage daughter is off with friends and her husband is dining at a local restaurant when she disappears or, possible walks away. The plot centers on the one year anniversary of Kim's disappearance, with an appeal presented to the attendees to help locate Kim whose history of depression and her relationships with high school friends are brought into the investigation. Recommended for readers who like detailed suspense novels where many characters may have an hand in the possible crime.

This is my first Jane Harper read, and now I'm hooked!

I love a great suspense novel, and this one did NOT disappoint!

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 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.

I went into this one not realizing that it was part of a series. I’ve seen wonderful reviews for the previous two books in the series, and had no trouble following along with this one.

I found this one to be slow paced. I was expecting more of a dark thriller, but it never really picked up for me. It was an interesting mystery and had almost a story within the story with the missing woman and an unsolved murder. I think what got to me what the relationship Kim had with her “friends”. Without giving anything away, that just frustrated me.

I’ve read great reviews for books one and two and hopefully will get the chance to pick those up in the future!

Jane Harper fans have always been able to count on the author to deliver mysteries that will keep them anxious to turn the page like The Dry, Force of Nature and now, Exiles.

Jane Harper is a master of suspense and had me gasping out loud and jumping at the sounds of my own house . Without a doubt, Exiles, has easily become my favorite book by Harper .

You don’t want to miss this one

Teaser :

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.

This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of Kim Gillespie's disappearance. One year ago, at a busy town festival on a warm spring night, Kim 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.

As Falk soaks up life in the lush valley, he is welcomed into the tight-knit circle of Kim’s friends and loved ones. But the group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk’s closest friend, the missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge. What would make a mother abandon her child? What happened to Kim Gillespie?

Once again Jane Harper has stolen my life! Yes, I went to work but beyond that I moved to South Australia and spent hours with Aaron Falk, my favorite Federal Investigator and his circle of friends and colleagues. Not sharing any details - you will just have to read it for yourself and you will not regret those stolen moments, One of her best.

I thought this book was a bit slow to start, but I don't always mind that if what I'm reading positively gives to the book and story line. I do like a good slow burn book every now and again but something I would want to know about beforehand.

This is the third and last book in the Aaron Falk series. I really enjoy his character and wouldn't have minded reading more books featuring him, but at the same time, I respect that the author kept this at just three books. As much as I enjoy the characters in some of the long series I've read, I do sometimes wish the series weren't seemingly endless. This trilogy ended in a really nice way, and I'm happy that Falk gets to be where he is in the end.

As for the mystery, I enjoyed the slow pace of the story. Slow paced mysteries don't always work for me, but for some reason they do with this author. There end up being two mysteries in this book, and for a good portion of the story I was wondering if they were somehow connected. I had a pretty good idea who was involved in one of the mysteries (the hit and run one), but not why. The disappearance kept me guessing a lot more. Although I did suspect the person that did it, that wasn't the only person I suspected. Once the mystery was unraveled and the culprit was revealed, I couldn't help but wonder if I know anyone just like these people, and I just don't see it. I really hope not. I wish I could say more on that subject, but it would be a major spoiler for me to elaborate.

Overall, I like this author a lot. I like the writing style, and that, although things can get a bit dark, it's never too dark. At least not for me. I think I'm going to try reading one of her standalones.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I really enjoy Jane Harper's writing style. She is not a quick read but her stories are so well written. She paints vivid descriptions of Australia and the settings of her books. Her Aaron Falk trilogy has been a joy and this third installment is a grand mystery. I almost don't want to finish her books because I don't want to be done! Read this now! Thanks to NetGalley, Jane Harper and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jane Harper should get funding from the Australian tourism board for her novels. It doesn't matter what she writes about, I still want to go there, even when the environment is trying to kill us (The Dry).

Even though this is the third in the Aaron Falk series, this can be read as a stand-alone, slow burn detective mystery. A large cast of characters makes this novel a little hard to follow while listening to the audiobook, although the narrator is excellent. Fans of Harper will not be disappointed.

I won this ARC and was so excited, until realized it was book 3 of Arron Falk. He first made his appearance in The Dry and I loved it so I was so happy to see him back. Unfortunately I kept pushing this book trying to make time to read book 2. I finally jumped in and am so upset at the time I waisted to read this book. Will I go back and read book 2, absolutely! This Detective is like no other, I really enjoy how he processes things and the author continues to touch on things lightly that bother him and keeps refreshing the ideas until he figures it out, I love that it helps you uncover the true story all on your own.

I have read all of Jane Harper’s books since her very first novel introduced us to Aaron Falk. In The Dry. All of them have been superb. I admit I will miss Falk since I believe this is his swan song, but I’m sure I won’t be disappointed in anything Harper has to offer. And who knows, he could be back somewhere in the future.
Set in Australia like all of her books, The Exiles is as atmospheric as her other novels. You can feel the sense of remoteness in landscape and characters in Harper’s writing. I have never been to Australia, but I can enjoy experiencing it second hand.. She paints the picture of the land and it’s people with such. a fine brush that you can believe you are present in their world.
The novel brings Falk to the wine country for the christening of his friend’s child which had been postponed as the result of a previous tragedy. Not specifically tasked with solving an unsolved murder, Falk get tangled up with the lives and secrets of the locals. This plot has many layers and the denouement was not an obvious one.. But in retrospect you could ask yourself, huh. How did I miss that?
This is exactly the kind of mystery I like to read, character driven, no evil geniuses, lots of intriguing layers. It was a truly satisfying read and I will wait for the next of Harper’s book.

This is the third book in the Aaron Falk series. This time he in looking into the case of a missing mother whose young baby was left at a festival in stroller parking. The baby’s mother never returned and now the mystery of her disappearance is afoot. This book was slower paced in the first half and felt more character driven than plot driven but it really picks up towards the last half of the book. I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous works as well. Thank you to @NetGalley and @Flatiron_books for the advanced copy. Exiles is available now.

3.5 stars
This was a good conclusion to the Aaron Falk series. I have enjoyed all of the books but The Dry was my favorite. This book seemed to struggle with pacing, the beginning was extremely slow and then the conclusion almost seemed rushed.