Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Exiles

While this is much more of a slow-burn and less captivating than Harper's other books (or what I remember of them), I eventually accepted the pace and ended up enjoying it, and it doesn't stop the last act from being absolutely chilling.

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rcsreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was more invested in whether or not Falk was going to do kissing than in the actual crime!
There's a missing woman and an unsolved hit and run and Falk is helped out in solving both by some meddling kids! It's a bit Scooby Doo, I really wanted Luna the dog to find an important clue.
The mystery of the missing woman is well done and I didn't even consider the conclusion in my guessing. The answer to the hit and run is kind of rushed and tacked on the end.
As a whole the book is far more focused on Falk and his life choices than on the actual solving of the crime. I preferred this as I'm more a kissing book person than a crime person. If you're here for some crime noir then you'll probably be a bit disappointed.

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charlottereadsbooks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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dana_naylor's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I had trouble getting into the book with the switches between present day and the past. The switches weren’t easy to follow on the ebook and that kept me from enjoying the book as much as when it settled on one time period. Good mystery. You’d probably be fine if you haven’t read the others in the series. Trigger warnings are important on this one imo.

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what_heather_loves's review

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Falk exhaled...He felt like there was - 'What is it?' Zara said. She was watching him closely, Falk realised and he shook his head. 'I don't know,' he said, truthfully. But something did feel a bit - what? Off. Fall frowned. Did it? Or was it just a reaction to seeing footage so confronting? He scrossed back again, uncomfortably aware of the kids' scrutiny as the seconds ticked on. He could sense their hope building and shook his head. He wasn't going to do this to then. 'No. I'm sorry. It' s nothing.'...The boy looked disappointed and Fall hesitated again. Because somewhere, buried deep beneath a dusty pile of long-unused basic police training skills, a faint alarm had been activated. Fall waited. The alarm continued, soft but insistent."

Back visiting a vineyard in Maralee Valley in South Australia, for a rescheduled Christening a year after the disappearance of a women, Kim, whose baby was found, left in her pram at the annual food and wine festival. Financial federal investigator, Aaron Falk is on leave and visiting for the Christening of godson, Henry, son of old friend Greg and his wife Rita Raco, who is the stepcousin of Zara, the older daughter of Kim, who has still not been found. This year's festival includes an appeal for new information about Kim. Of course Kim's mental health is questioned and suicide is considered the most likely explanation, but Zara is convinced her mum wouldn't have done this and Raco and Falk are inclined to agree. Will they find out what happened to Kim and why?

The return of likeable Aaron Falk in the third in this Outback Noir crime fiction series that's so very readable, thanks to the author's skill and experience with her characters (some new and some recurring) and the rural setting. As determined Raco and moral Falk informally investigate and assist local cop, Dwyer, memories are tested and secrets are revealed. It's an immersive experience, the reader being presented with past and present narratives. As it all unravels towards the end and it became clear what had happened, I felt fear for Kim then sadness and anger. Outback Noir at it's best, I looked forward to the fourth book in the series.

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mollyb13's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Really a great end to the Aaron Falk trilogy! Love all of Jane Harper's writing, and this doesn't disappoint! Her writing of place is incredible, and though there were a fair number of characters, I felt that they were all well developed.

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kari_f's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I kind of psych myself up and then end up disappointed when it comes to thrillers and murder mysteries, because I more often than not solve the whodunnit pretty quickly and then feel like it’s a slog to get through the rest of the story. So I love when a book like this either stumps me completely or has enough going on that it keeps me interested all the way through.

This is what I love about Jane Harper’s writing: yes, there is a death and investigation in each book, but that’s not nearly all there is. Her characters have depth and nuance and backstory. There are complex relationships, and the setting is always an important piece of the story and not just a random backdrop that could be interchangeable with any other random place.

I have loved Aaron Falk’s journey, starting with The Dry, continuing in Force of Nature, and bringing us to Exiles. Throughout each investigation we get more of his personal story, and characters from his past continue to play important parts in his present. I love the additions to his backstory we are given in this book, which include some excellent self-reflection about his professional and personal decision making over the course of his adult life.

This feels like a perfect conclusion to the Aaron Falk series, though if there are ever more written I’ll excitedly devour them!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced copy! This has been one of my most anticipated books, and I’m beyond excited to have gotten an early edition!

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