Review: Exiles by Jane Harper
Exiles is set a year after the disappearance of Kim Gillespie at a busy festival. She grew up in the town and moved away. But many of her old school friends remain and some of the long-standing traditions, such as a drink-fuelled teenage party during the festival also endure
Investigator Aaron Falk suits the atmosphere of the story-telling well. He’s a good listener more than a heavy interrogator. He is motivated as much by trying to help the community achieve answers and closure over what happened to Kim and shows much empathy in recognising how not knowing the fate of a loved one leaves cracks in a close circle. He begins to slowly unearth the hidden fractures and secrets of the community which seems almost too-perfect.
Jane Harper is outstanding at prodding long-standing relationships and how people not only change, but can cover their true selves even from the people closest to them. Jane Harper is an outstanding name in Australian crime fiction, and winner of numerous awards, with her depiction of small-town Australia and how crimes resonate within close-knit communities. Anyone who is looking for an immersive, slow-burn, character-led mystery as a change from a heart-pounding thriller should take the time to discover the satisfying mysteries of Jane Harper.