Exiles by Jane Harper

This is book #2 of the 18 I've planned through the end of the school year.  I just added it to our collection.

Amazon recommends a lot of varied genres, authors, styles, and topics to me; and I suppose rightfully so.  I read a LOT of different stuff.  Lately though, its AI has decided to list murder mysteries, and that is what this novel is.  In addition, it's another story set in Australia.  I'm going to need to check that before I purchase any more.  Nothing against Australia, but it's really not an interest for me in terms of setting.  Being such a unique place, there are colloquialisms and cultural nuances that I find difficult and often need to supplement my own Googling to understand fully. 

I will say the story held my interest, but I had correct suspicions early on as to whodunit.  Kim Gillespie is happily married to Rohan with an infant, Zoe.  She's stayed on friendly terms with her ex-husband Charlie, who has custody of their teen, Zara.  On the opening night of the local carnival, Kim parks Zoe's stroller at the ferris wheel, escapes out the back exit, and either jumps or falls into the adjacent lake.  Her body isn't recovered, but a shoe with a specific marking is found.  A year later, Zara has not given up the search for her mother.  She insists there is no way Kim would've left her baby sister nor her to kill herself and foul play must be involved.  She claims Sheriff Dwyer is incompetent, using his failure to solve a hit and run that killed a local accountant on a jog the previous year as well as an example.  Zara's uncle Raco and his friend Falk, an Australian equivalent of FBI agent in town for Raco's baby's christening, try to shed new light on Kim's case.

Like I said, I had it figured out pretty early.  I also think this will likely be book #1 in a series with Falk as the lead investigator on other crimes.  But, a good story.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.