Exiles by Jane Harper: A review


 Exiles is an atmospheric mystery set in the wine country in the south of Australia. We find investigator Aaron Falk there as he attends the christening of the son of his friend, Greg Raco. Aaron has been asked to be his godfather, so he is there in a completely civilian and social capacity, not as a financial federal investigator.

However, there is a mystery here to be investigated. A year previously, a young mother had gone missing from the area, leaving her baby in a stroller in the parking lot at the annual wine festival. She has not been seen since and the mystery of her disappearance still troubles the community.

The mother had been married to Greg Raco's brother Charlie and voluntarily leaving her baby behind would have been completely anomalous behavior for her. The family asks their friend Aaron to look into the case further for them and try to find out what has happened to the missing mother.

This is a complicated mystery with multiple layers and it develops slowly, flowing between past and present timelines. Jane Harper takes great care in describing the personalities of the characters and the geography of the area in which the action takes place. Her descriptions of the vineyards and of the sunrises and sunsets there are quite vivid and memorable. I imagine it as a really beautiful place. 

Aaron Falk is an interesting character and in Exiles we see him torn between different possible career paths. Is there a career change in the offing for him? Guess we'll have to read the next installment to find out.

Comments

  1. Lark February 19, 2023 at 1:54 PM

    Harper is another one of those authors that I keep meaning to read. I just can't seem to fit in all the books that I want to read. Sigh. Maybe someday. ;D

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 21, 2023 at 9:03 AM

      I know just what you mean. I have such a long "read list" that I'm sure I'll never get to them all. And I keep adding to it!

      Delete
  2. CathyFebruary 21, 2023 at 3:04 AM

    I watched a virtual event with Harper courtesy of The Poisoned Pen, and she said this is the last we shall see of Aaron Falk. She much prefers writing standalones because she has much more freedom in telling her stories (it doesn't matter who dies).

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 21, 2023 at 9:05 AM

      I had never really thought about how writing a series constricts a writer but now that I have, I guess I can understand that. Nevertheless, it makes me sad to say goodbye to Falk.

      Delete
  3. thecuecardFebruary 26, 2023 at 9:47 AM

    Somewhere I read that this is her last book featuring Aaron Falk. Is that possible? I really hope not. I tend to like her Falk books more than her non-ones. And I imagine Falk as attractive -- maybe it's because Eric Bana starred as him in the movie of The Dry, which certainly made the experience enjoyable, LOL. Do you think this mystery was too slow? cheers.

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 26, 2023 at 10:43 AM

      I didn't find it too slow. I appreciate a writer of mysteries who takes the time to fully develop the plot. And I agree - it would be a shame if this were the last entry in the Falk series.

      Delete

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