Exiles: A Novel centers around Aaron Falk, a federal investigator for the government of Australia, who is invited by a friend to attend his child’s christening. To get to the christening, however, Aaron must travel to a small town in Southern Australia’s wine country.
After he arrives in the small town, Falk discovers that the christening coincides with the anniversary of the disappearance of a woman named Kim Gillespie, who disappeared without a trace at a local festival, leaving her baby behind. Initially, Falk doesn’t want to take another case on, especially while he is supposed to be relaxing, but he eventually agrees to take it on and figure out what happened to Kim Gillespie.
As Falk dives deeper into the case, secrets and buried truths from people all across the town begin to surface, and he finds himself more personally invested in the investigation. Despite the chaos, Falk becomes attracted to a woman in Kim’s circle of friends, which complicates his investigation. Eventually, Falk uncovers the truth of what happened to Kim. And the truth is closer to him than he thought: his friend who had invited him to his baby’s christening was involved in Kim’s death.
Throughout the novel, author Jane Harper explores the themes of trust, betrayal, and the consequences of past actions, mystery, social identity, fate, and surviving despite going through difficult circumstances. Through these themes, the small town in Australia and those who live in are brought to life, and the reader is enraptured with community's complex web of relationships and secrets. The town feels real and alive, which is largely due to Harper’s lively writing.
Exiles: A Novel also keeps the reader engaged through the use of suspense and mystery, with the revelation of new information and twists in the plot. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the reader becomes invested in their lives and the outcome of the investigation. These feel like real people and the mystery takes ques from real life.
