Jane Harper is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. An Australian writer, Harper, uses the geography and weather of her homeland almost as if it is another character, building suspense and tension from the wild, uncertainty of the Outback. Complicated family and personal relationships, exacerbated by small town dynamics are often at the center of these novels. Exiles, was another great read from this accomplished author!

A year ago, Kim Gillespie disappeared. It was the night of the town’s festival and they found Kim’s baby carefully wrapped up in her stroller not far from the ferris wheel. This year Kim’s older daughter is hoping that those who attended last year’s festival might have some information to help trace Kim’s whereabouts and to solve the mystery of her disappearance.

Aaron Falk, a federal investigator, who is on vacation to attend the christening of his godson, is slowly drawn into the story of Kim’s disappearance. How could a mother abandon her baby? What happened to Kim, and why have they not been able to find any trace of her since she disappeared? As Aaron and his friend Raco begin retracing Kim’s steps on that fateful night, they begin to question their previous assumptions, calling into question everything they thought they knew about Kim and her life.

Exiles is third in the Aaron Falk series –The Dry and Force of Nature are first and second respectively, and I highly recommend all of these novels!

Brenda’s Rating: ****(4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Sharon and Keith

Book Study worthy? Yes

Read in e-book format.