In Exiles, Jane Harper takes us to Australian wine country.

"At a busy festival, a young mother disappears into the night leaving her baby behind in the stroller.

A year later there are still no answers. Aaron Falk is in town to celebrate the christening of his god-daughter and gets involved in the mystery of what happened to this woman. Falk also reconnects with a woman he'd met years before. He wonders if the hit-and-run death of her husband is connected to the disappearance of the young mother. Can Falk discover old secrets and find out what really happened?"

This is a slow burn mystery with Aaron Falk. It's mostly him having conversations and making connections. There are not really any twists or big reveals. (There are some small ones)
The book is full of Harper's atmospheric writing and fans of her other books should enjoy this one.

It's always nice when the narrator matches the setting. Stephen Shananhan gives a great audio performance and helps the reader feel like you're in Australia. One thing that's different in this audiobook is that Shananhan doesn't change voices for the characters like many narrators. He does change the tone, so you get some idea of the different characters.

More good fiction from Jane Harper.

I am a huge Jane Harper fan and first discovered her when The Dry was released. Since then she is on my automatic buy list. I was so excited when Netgalley blessed me with an audio version.

I wasn't sure about the audio version of the book at first. I wasn't excited about the narrator but as the story built I began to enjoy the nuances of the narrator. I definitely did not see the final twist in the plot. I gave this book 4 instead of five stars only because it was good but not something I kept thinking about afterwards.

This is the story of the disappearance of a mother, friend and wife. A year later there are still no answers as to what happened to Kim. Her disappearance has left a void in this community and one outsider will solve it. In the process of solving one crime Aaron Falk will solve an older case. The results shocking this small quiet community's core.

I learned to love the narrator but it took me some time.

I hadn’t read the first 2 books in this series, but I feel this story is able to stand on its own. The audiobook was easy to follow, although I do think I would have been more invested in the story by reading it vs. listening to it.

Aaron Falk is the main character in this story. He's our detective. While traveling to attend his godson's baptism, a person in his extended friends group disappears and is presumed dead. Returning to the same place a year later, Aaron picks up on the threads of the mystery of this woman whose body has never been found.

As he pulls on those threads, little details start to rack up that don't quite fit. And being who he is, he can't let go of them until things make sense.

What he uncovers is a sad and harrowing tale that reaches all the way back to the victim's teenage years, only to resurface and spell her demise.

This story explores the effects of mental health and psychological abuse and raises the question of how well we know our friends.

There was a secondary mystery that Aaron uncovered as he worked on the primary one that was wholely unsatisfying in its conclusion. It had to do with flecks of paint in a jar. The reader is only ever told of one color in those flecks of paint. But the explanation ultimately had to do with that color being painted over another one. However, that would have been noticeable in the flecks, which were carefully handled and examined by Aaron. As well done as the rest of the book was, I found that part to be unsatisfying in the way it was handled.

Overall, though, the book was a good one. Thank you to Jane Harper, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This was a wonderful installment (end?) to the Aaron Falk series. There were two mysteries and plenty of interesting characters, some from the first novel. I was very satisfied with the ending. Plus the narrator was fantastic.

I hadn’t read the two books prior to this one and that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this one at all. The audible narration was wonderful. I loved getting to know the characters (there were many to keep track of) and I also loved that I really couldn’t guess where the story would go. I enjoyed reading Aaron Falk’s perspective throughout the book. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the two chapters from two other perspectives added to give answers to the mysteries and they did feel a bit rushed in the ending. Other than that, the entire book was a nice, slow unraveling. Not your typical quick paced type of mystery/thriller and that was a nice change! I can’t wait to read more Jane Harper books & go back to read the two before Exiles.

This was an easy burn and I am glad I took the time to read it slowly.

I loved the twists. I loved that all the resolutions were included. I loved that there were little pieces of a romance tale.

Faulk visits town for his godsons christening a year after his friends wife disappeared while visiting the towns fair. This book is a classic whodunnit that develops numerous suspects and lays out the scene of the crime for you to pick up clues along the way as Faulk tries to solve the crime.

This ending was truly make it or break it because it was hitting a classic 3 ⭐️ could break 4 or 2 depending on the ending throughout. Now I guessed the perp very early on BUT didn’t guess the way the perp committed the crime which I actually quite enjoyed 📦

The only thing I really needed more of from this book was more clues or more substance along the way or something. For some reason the book felt like it told you want the crime was and then not particularly much happened in between except this guy mildly getting to know his friends family and attending a fair and then at the end we found out how the crime at the start resolved.

This is another excellent addition to Harper’s Australian detective Aaron Falk series. As always, the descriptions of Australia paint a vivid picture of what it looks like and what it is like to live there. The narrator conveys the mystery and plot very well, although I had to re-listen to the beginning a few times until I really got into the audio version. There is a foreboding mystery of a woman’s disappearance years earlier which serves as a black cloud on the residents and propels the plot forward. Harper is a magnificent writer in both setting and character development. This third in the series will not disappoint and leave readers wanting more.

This is my first DNF of the year. To be clear, it is not because the book or story isn't a good one. I really can't stand an Australian accent. To me, it's like nails on a chalkboard, so I had to give up on this audiobook version due to the narration. I only heard the accent and not a word of what was being said. Once again, that is my issue and is no fault of the author or even the narrator. I somehow missed that this book was based in Australia, which isn't a problem, I need to read it rather than listen to it. I will be attempting this one again in print form instead.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC!

For some reason, I have a huge affinity for, maybe almost an addiction to, Australian fiction. And Jane Harper and Aaron Falk are two of the biggest reasons I can think of. I still have vivid memories of first encountering Falk in The Dry, and how fascinated I was with the setting, the characters, and the entire mystery. For fans of Harper (and Falk), I'm happy to say that Exiles doesn't disappoint. The same attention to detail and character development makes this, if not the best Falk book yet, definitely the most robust. Can't wait to see what's next from Jane Harper.

3.5
My Interest

First, thanks to #NetGalley for a free audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Harper has become a “must-listen” author. I like her books on audio to hear them in an Australian accent appropriate to the story. I have enjoyed each of her books. I have dear friends in Australia, so I love getting my hands on books set anywhere even close to where they live. Silly, when you think how big the country is, but I mean well.

Note: I don’t usually review series books–too hard to avoid spoilers. This one, though, came to me via NetGalley, so I am happy to give my review.
The Story

“You see what you expect to see.”

Federal Police agent Aaron Falk is involved with another suspicious death. A new mother leaves her new baby in the stroller in a stroller corral at a festival ride. Her shoe is found later. Her teenage daughter from her first relationship isn’t satisfied with the police outcome. And, what about the boy whose father died in a mysterious way in the same area?

A small town with a typical high school rite of passage–a big boozy party out in the boondocks–just like those held in my hometown or here in my kids adopted hometown. (They went, I couldn’t be bothered). A group of friends, booze, a girl has too much. Fast forward to today and it’s the teenage daughter of the missing mom who is going to party.

The small town also has an annual festival–a big money-maker for small towns the world over I guess. This town, being near vineyards and wineries, gets tourists from all over the country. Did anyone see that mom park her stroller? Or leave the festival? Or be helped to leave…. “You see what you expect to see” Falk reasons with another cop.

What’s the truth? You know my rule–no spoilers here!

But the ending had an element of surprise in addition to the “who-done-it-reveal.” That intrigues me. I want to know what Harper has in mind for this in the future.
My Thoughts

I liked having Aaron back. This was a good mystery for folks like me who don’t read a lot of them or a lot of police procedurals. I’m never good at guessing the outcome of this type book and did not guess this one’s ending.
My Verdict
3.5

Harper closes her trilogy about financial crimes investigator Aaron Falk with a wonderful character-driven slow-burner. While visiting his old friends the Racos for the christening of their son, Falk is an unwitting witness when a new mom goes missing. Back in town a year later to finally become the Godfather of baby Raco, after everything had to be pushed due to the disappearance, Falk can’t help but try to solve the mystery. Along the way, he finds other puzzles to figure out. As always, the plot is flawless and every little clue ties in with the larger mystery. Normally, I’m more interested in action and delving into the psychology of the characters bores me. Harper is the rare author who can make me care about her characters so much, that I’m willing to wait for the mystery part to provide answers. The slower pace helps show the leisurely rhythm of life in small-town Australia. After three audiobooks performing these characters, Stephen Shanahan really has Falk’s voice down, as well as recurring characters Greg and Rita Raco. The new cast get their own distinctive identities. Harper lets readers know about the fate of Kiewarra and other characters from The Dry who are not in this one. This is such a great final volume to Falk’s story, that I’m firmly satisfied.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Macmillan Audio!

I have read and enjoyed other Jane Harper books, including the first two Aaron Falk stories. This is my least favorite. I do enjoy the setting descriptions and learning about Australia in each of these books in the series, but the main character detective falls flat for me on this 3rd in the series. I lost interest about half-way through. There were good moments, and I did get interested in the mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review Exiles by Jane Harper, eAudio.

I really enjoyed this audio, and was sad to learn it was book three, however, the mysteries begin and end within the novel so I don’t feel that I missed much from the other two novels prior.

Great characters, mystery and plot.

3.5 stars

In this third book in the 'Aaron Falk' series, the Australian detective helps investigate a woman's disappearance. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

Aaron Falk takes a break from his job as a Federal Police Investigator in Melbourne to visit his friends Greg and Rita Raco in the southern Australian town of Marralee Valley. Aaron will attend the christening of the Racos toddler son Henry, for whom Aaron is godfather. While Aaron's in town, he'll also attend Marralee Valley's annual Food and Wine Festival, where a tragedy occurred a year ago.

During last year's Food and Wine Festival, a woman named Kim Gillespie disappeared, leaving her baby daughter Zoe alone in her stroller. The police found Kim's shoe in a reservoir near the fairgrounds, and concluded the missing woman committed suicide. However Kim's body was never found, and Kim's teenage daughter Zara - from a previous relationship with Charlie Raco (Greg's brother) - refuses to believe Kim killed herself. Thus Zara plans to pass out fliers and stage an appeal at this year's festival, asking for information about her mother. Kim's husband Rohan, who's been raising little Zoe alone, will also be present to aid with the appeal.

Meanwhile, Zara's uncle Greg Raco, who's a police officer, plans to continue investigating Kim's disappearance.... and he asks Aaron Falk to help.

As it happens, Kim's vanishing isn't the only mystery in Marralee Valley. Six years ago a man called Dean Tozer was killed in a hit-and-run incident, but the perpetrator cleaned up the scene and was never identified. Dean's wife Gemma and his son Joel still hope the driver will be found, but this seems less and less likely as time passes. Aaron Falk - who met Gemma previously, when she was visiting Melbourne - decides to look into the tragedy, in part because he'd like to have a relationship with Gemma.

Most of the story, which is told largely from Aaron's point of view, focuses on Kim's disappearance, but we also get evocative sketches of picturesque, wine-producing Marralee Valley; meet some of the town's colorful residents (such as a beautiful flirtatious woman and a former footy star); learn about the seemingly dangerous reservoir; get depictions of the annual teen drinking party, where the kids get blotto; and more.

Aaron is an intuitive detective who susses out clues that other people miss, and he eventually solves all the mysteries. I won't say more because of spoilers. I enjoyed the novel, and recommend it to fans of suspense stories.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Stephen Shanahan, who does a fine job.

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by Jane Harper and I will definitely be going back for more!

Exiles took a little bit for me to get into, there are a lot of characters that are intermingled in this story and in the beginning it’s a bit confusing. At least it was for me. But overall I really ended up enjoying this book and was a bit surprised by the ending. Jane Harper threw in a big wrench towards the end, which was perfect for this story.

I’m really looking forward to reading more books from this author, especially if the same narrator reads them!

***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy in return for an honest review***

Exiles by Jane Harper is another fantastic mystery featuring our favorite Australian federal investigator, Aaron Falk. Like her other mysteries, Exiles is masterfully paced and expertly plotted. This time, Falk travels to southern Australia to attend the christening of his godson. His visit coincides with the one year anniversary of the disappearance of Kim Gillespie, a friend of some of his friends. He and his friend Raco get sucked into the investigation, and dark and unsettling truths gradually come to light.

I loved the audiobook. Stephen Shanahan does an excellent job bringing the story and its characters to life. Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for my advance listening copy.

A few years ago I listened to Force of Nature and quickly got caught up in it. For some reason, Exiles failed to capture my rapt attention. As always, Harper's prose is beautifully constructed, and she is fantastic at immersing the reader into the story's setting--in this case a fairground, a vineyard, barren roadways, etc. But I found myself almost indifferent to the plot. It may be one of those cases where "it's me, not her," and it's very possible that I'll return to a printed copy of Exiles sometime in the future. The mystery is cleverly constructed, and as always, there is layer upon layer of reveal. Aaron Falk remains attentive and sensitive to clues invisible to others; he just failed to hold my attention in this volume.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for sending me an ARC of Exiles in exchange for an honest review.

A year ago, 39-year-old Kim Gillespie disappeared from the Marralee Valley Annual Food and Wine Festival, leaving behind her newborn daughter Zoey safely tucked away in a stroller under the Ferris wheel. Though her body was never found, the general consensus is that she snuck out of the festival and jumped to her death into the nearby reservoir. Now, family and friends, including Australian Federal Police officer Aaron Falk, have returned for the Festival and for the christening of Falk’s soon-to-be godson. Over the course of the week, Aaron meets a wide cast of characters who all had connections to Kim—and to an unsolved, seemingly unrelated hit-and-run years earlier—and Aaron slowly begins to untangle the mysteries.

Exiles works on pretty much every level. The the writing is very good and evocative. Ms. Harper is a very talented writer, able to reveal character and advance the story slowly and steadily through subtle moments. The plot is well-crafted, juggling multiple mysteries in the present and the past, dispensing little clues and a fair amount of misdirection. Aaron Falk is a fully realized character (especially after two earlier books), who ends up playing the role of wise, observant outsider. But there are probably ten other significant characters and each of them is also sharply drawn. Most of the story is told from Aaron’s perspective, but there are occasional chapters from another’s perspective, and each of those is a revelatory gut punch.

Finally, a word about the narrator, Stephen Shanahan. He’s an Earphones Award Winner, and he has narrated several of Ms. Harper’s novels. His reading of each of her books, including this one, is wonderful. He does an excellent job of varying his voice for the different characters, and has a great Australian accent that is just perfect for the material. Honestly, there should be a law that he narrates every novel set in Australia. 😄

Exiles is another excellent mystery by Jane Harper. And if this novel is where we say goodbye to Aaron Falk, at least he’s been left in a good place. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Highly recommended, though you really should read the earlier two books in the series (The Dry and Force of Nature) first.