A review by kari_f
Exiles by Jane Harper

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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