Audiobook Review – Exiles by Jane Harper, 4 Stars

Federal Investigator Aaron Falk is on his way to a small town deep in Southern Australian wine country for the christening of an old friend’s baby. But mystery follows him, even on vacation. 

This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of Kim Gillespie’s disappearance. One year ago, at a busy town festival on a warm spring night, Kim safely tucked her sleeping baby into her stroller, then vanished into the crowd. No one has seen her since. When Kim’s older daughter makes a plea for anyone with information about her missing mom to come forward, Falk and his old buddy Raco can’t leave the case alone. 

As Falk soaks up life in the lush valley, he is welcomed into the tight-knit circle of Kim’s friends and loved ones. But the group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk’s closest friend, the missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge. What would make a mother abandon her child? What happened to Kim Gillespie?

My Review:

Kim Gillespie has gone missing. And even more mysterious? She’s left her baby in her pram right in the middle of a carnival. I’m not sure I could imagine any mother I know willingly walking away from her baby in that setting, so suffice to say, those closest to her expect the worst. But there are those who think maybe having another baby after so many years was just too much. So which was it?

The story opens on the first anniversary of Kim’s disappearance. Our key characters are her teen daughter, ex husband, new husband, and her tight-knit circle of friend, many of whom Kim has known since her school days. Learning their stories was really one of the richest parts of the book. And the backdrop of the mystery definitely added a level of intrigue.

I’ve long been a Jane Harper fan and was so excited when Netgalley granted me a advanced audio book galley to review. In fact, Exiles marks my very first audiobook review for Netgalley! I’ve listened to audiobooks pretty religiously for the past couple years and I really enjoy this alternate way of experiencing a book.

I enjoyed the narration. I thought the narrator did an excellent job, but it the story itself did drag a bit for me throughout the middle part. Once we got closer the end, I was totally enthralled and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I did have to go back at the end, because I felt I had missed something. But I think the main issue is that some of the ending is more subtle than relates well to an audio version.

Special thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook of this title. This one is available now.