Jane Harper, dubbed “Queen of outback noir” celebrates the launch of her 5th novel, Exiles.
International best-selling author, Jane Harper has been on an upward trajectory since she jumped into the deep end and submitted a short story for the Big Issue’s annual Fiction Edition in 2014. In an inspired move, she pursued her love for creative writing and broke through the proverbial ceiling with her debut, The Dry at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2015.
The Dry was immediately snapped up by Reese Witherspoon (Hello Sunshine) and Bruna Papandrea (Made Up Stories) before the book even went to print no less, and the film adaptation has gone on to become the 14th-highest-grossing Australian film of all time, joining the ranks of The Great Gatsby and Crocodile Dundee.
Both the novel and the film have been met with phenomenal success, which sees the team behind The Dry return with Eric Bana, who is reprising his role as Aaron Falk for the sequel Force of Nature.
Happy’s founder, Radi Safi caught up with Jane on her release day for a chat about Exiles, turning books into movies and whether or not she has Eric Bana’s phone number.
Exiles (Pan Macmillan) is Jane’s 5th novel and the 3rd featuring the now legendary detective Aaron Falk. The story captivatingly unfolds at a busy festival site on a warm spring night, where a baby lies alone in her pram, and her mother vanishes into the crowds.
A year on, Kim Gillespie’s disappearance can still be felt, as her friends and loved ones gather in the heart of South Australian wine country to welcome new addition to the family.
Joining the celebrations is Federal Investigator Aaron Falk. But as he soaks up life in the heart of the wine country, he begins to see that this tight-knit group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk’s closest friend, a missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as old truths begin to emerge.
Exiles holds everything and more fans of the Investigator want in a Falk novel. A generous, elegant, and atmospheric read, that brings to the foreground a different kind of hero. Knowing it’s Falk’s last foray with her captivating Investigator, it wouldn’t go astray to say that Jane feels to have written this one for the fans.
Quintessentially Aussie yet universally themed, mystery thriller ‘Exiles’ which is… read it and weep… to be her last ‘Falk’ adventure is out today.
To celebrate the release of Exiles, Jane popped into Happy Studios to have a chat with Radi about her favourite leading man and her incredible trajectory which allows her to live her dream job, as a writer.
Jane is touring the country as we speak. You can catch her in-person discussing her latest novel, Exiles below:
NEW SOUTH WALES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
6:30pm: Better Read Than Dead
Factory Theatre
105 Victoria Road, Marrickville
Bookings
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
6:30pm: Dymocks at Hayden Orpheum
380 Military Road, Cremorne
Bookings
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
6pm (for 6:30pm start): Parramatta City
Libraries with QBD Books
PHIVE Parramatta
5 Parramatta Square
Bookings
VICTORIA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
6:30pm: The Wheeler Centre with Readings
The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne
Bookings
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
6:00pm: Corrie Perkins with Avenue Bookstore
Toorak Uniting Church,
603 Toorak Road, Toorak
Bookings
QUEENSLAND
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
6:30pm: Riverbend Books
Lourdes Hill College
86 Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne
Bookings
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
6:30pm: Gold Coast Libraries with QBD Books
Robina Auditorium
196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
Bookings
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
6:30pm: Avid Reader
The Old Museum
480 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills
Bookings
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
6:30pm: Marion Cultural Centre with Dymocks Glenelg
Marion Cultural Centre
287 Diagonal Road, Oaklands Park
Bookings
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
6:30pm: Dillon’s Bookshop with Payneham Library
Norwood Concert Hall
175 The Parade, Norwood
Bookings
New Zealand
AUCKLAND
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11
6pm: Takapuna Library
9 The Strand, Takapuna
Bookings
Exiles is out now via Pan Macmillan.
Interview by Radi Safi
Images by Happy Media.
