Exiles was not the kind of run-of-the-mill thriller that I had expected going in, with a dead body and a police officer hunting down the killer. Instead we follow the protagonist (or sleuth) through a formative period in his own life, while the mystery almost simmers in the background.

I really enjoyed the slow unraveling of the family structures and layers of this story. Falk never really actively tries to investigate; instead he is chosen as confidant by several if not all the people involved in Kim's disappearance. From that and his own casual observations he begins to piece together what really happened last year at that country fair. I would almost say that the mystery and Falk's story are given equal weight here, as he finds himself in a situation where he has to make some potentially life-altering decisions.

The title, Exiles, is cleverly chosen; underpinning the theme of uprootedness, or disconnection from one's background, friends and family that runs throughout the book. Falk has exiled himself from both his hometown (for reasons that are hinted at but not spelled out - I have not read the first two books in the series, but I expect if you've read them you know what that's all about) and the kind of close relationships he has willingly cut loose for his work, much as Kim had exiled herself from her family before her disappearance. Nearly all of the characters in the story experience either a state of being exiled, or of having returned from - metaphorical - exile recently.

Althought this is a slow story with no exciting chases or shootouts, it was gripping enough for me to read it in two sittings - Harper exerts gentle pressure to keep her readers turning the pages.
I enjoyed this story very much and will definitely be looking up the earlier titles in the series now.

I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy gentler, character-driven mysteries with little to no violence, but still want a page-turner that keeps them glued to the page.

I want to thank NetGalley and PanMacMillan for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here expressed are my own.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I have read all of Jane Harper’s previous books so was really looking forward to this latest one.

Honestly, it took me quite a while to get into this book. It was quite slow and I felt it was more about the characters than an actual crime. It did pick up about half way through and I did get a bit more into it. It just didn’t grip me.

Although this is the third book featuring Aaron Falk, I do think this can be read as standalone.

I didn’t think this was as good as the first couple of books. However, it would not put me off reading any future ones.

This book needs to be added to your TBR! Exiles is the 3rd book in the Aaron Falk installment, I started with this first and I think it works well as a standalone too. Jane Harper creates a beautiful world in her book which is absolutely scenic. I love how she describes the scenery that builds up a visual in your mind with ease. The same stands for her characters.

I loved how well the protagonist and the supporting characters have been created and the focus on both the thriller and the characters. I never felt that I was missing out any clues having missed the first 2 books. That's how well written this is. A story of a mysterious disappearance of a mother with people and family dynamics at the heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC in exchange of my honest review.

3.5 stars

I went into this expecting the usual murder , mystery and crime solved story.
That's not what I got.
It's very much a slow build of a story, setting the scene with location and characters, and family drama.
There's a few mysteries, but they don't take quite as much focus as usual.
This was a book about Falk, and to be honest, it was good to spend so much time getting to know him better.
The last part of the book does kick into action, and provides the usual Harper magic.
I wasn't sure at the start of the book how much I liked it. The answer is, a lot.

Fans of Harper's Aaron Falk will not want to miss this book but it's much lighter than either the two earlier in the series or Harper's standalones. While still a page-turner, it's a slow build in terms of the mystery and is closer to a small town soap opera and is almost cosy in lots of places. I missed the darker edge and that Harper can do that so well can be seen from a couple of late chapters that, oddly, suddenly switch perspective in an extensive flashback before returning to the main story. With more romance than I'd expected, this gives a satisfying personal arc to Falk's story.

Jane Harper has done it again with another wonderful book. The characters are interesting and so easy to get involved with.The storyline keeps you guessing right till the end. This was a great read and I would highly recommend this book.

Jane Harper Exiles
This is my fifth book by Jane Harper an outback noir featuring for the last time (l understand) FI Aaron Falk - set in the heart of South Australian wine country, a summer festival, baby abandoned, missing Mum, what possible new clues could be found a year later and can a hit and run accident years before have any connection- the last piece of the puzzle only fell into place for me quite near the end - l think this is one of her best - thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy - put it on your wish list worth waiting for