The Exiled Lives of Matthew Bailey: A Middle Falls Universe Novel

by Shawn Inmon, Anthony Slater

Matthew Bailey has it all. At least, he appears to, if you don't look too close.
Fast cars. Faster women. Thousands of online followers hanging on his every word.

So what if the cars are rented?
So what if the women don’t stay?
So what if he’s drowning in debt and one step ahead of disaster?

Fake it till you make it, right?

He’s so close.

Until one little fall changes everything.

Matt dies—but he doesn’t move on.

Instead, he wakes up in 1993… back in his fifteen-year-old body… and back in Wirin
Vale, the small Australian town he spent his whole life trying to escape.

This time, he knows what’s coming.

The mistakes. The heartbreak. The choices that led him to the life—and death—he
thought he wanted.

He’s been given a second chance to change everything.

But going home again means facing the people he hurt, the dreams he abandoned, and
the boy he used to be.

And this time, he has to decide what really matters.

Genres: Time Travel

447 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2026

Reviews

[David L Doiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle Falls transplanted in Australia Still Works!

If I could give this 4¾ stars I would. I’ve always been a voracious reader, and now that I’m retired and I’ve taken advantaged of Kindle books, I read 2 or 3 novels a week. I’ve read and love all the Middle Falls books. I’m totally unfamiliar with the Australian language, so it would’ve been helpful to have a brief glossary at the front of the book. Having said that, I was caught up enough in the plot that I wasn’t about to take the time to Google terms I came across. Spoiler Alert.

I was taken by surprise in the last 3 or 4 paragraphs of the book.

[Laura Ann Gennaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I have been a fun of Shawn's for a while and I absolutely love reading the Middle Falls stories! I feel like they are my family!

[david starkweather · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better ones 😎

Definitely one of the better Middle Falls series. I learned a lot of Aussie slang I never knew existed. I like learning. This was a very good read. From beginning to end. Keep um coming sir🫡🚀

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow at first, but then…

I went into this expecting to be familiar with the writing style because it is a “middle Falls“ story. But I became quickly aware that there was a second author involved. It was slow to get started, and I was concerned I wouldn’t like it. But once I got past chapter 3, I was completely sucked in like I am with all of these books. Loved the way this one ended! Perfection! Can’t wait for the next one.

[Kirsten McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Middle Falls book set in Australia? Yes please!
I did cry reading this one. There are some wonderful character arcs for what any normal book would deem minor characters, not to mention for Matthew Bailey himself.
I started the book thinking, 'I have definitely met some Matthews in my life', and ended the book with tears in my eyes, happy tears.
I'm reminded that most governments (the world over) never seem to direct the money to where it needs to be, and that riled me up. You'll understand my statement once you read the book!!!
Very vivid imagery around the natural environment, although part of me expected more snakes and spiders!
I'm looking forward to the next Wirin Vale instalment!

[Rachel Hazlewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the Australian branch of middle falls

I have read and re-read the middle falls series multiple times and and was really excited to read an Australian version and it did not disappoint! The main characters growth was fantastic and I loved the Australian culture. When I come back in my next life,I'm definitely spending time there! It also closely mirrored my own timeline so some great nostalgia too.

[Amy Hertz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shawn and Co can do no wrong and I will always read every new book in this series!

[Kay Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely to see the Middle Falls universe in Australia! Lucky for me I worked in Australia for a year in the mid-90s. Not in WA, but still brought back so many memories with Matthew relearning the lingo and the way things are done. I think the story itself would still be delightful if you've never been to Oz due to the way it's presented.

[Elaine Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Middle Falls Tyler!

So cool to learn interesting bits about Australia, I am from Midwest USA. Different words used...I still don't know their breakfast (smile). I have learned what full English is, and I seriously can't imagine eating bean on toast for breakfast. Loved the book!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard Shawn Inmon speak at a conference about how many books he turns out in a year, I thought they can’t be any good. But I was curious enough to read one. Soon, I was hooked. In this time-travel novel, part of a series, 48-year-old Matthew Bailey, an Internet influencer in Melbourne, Australia who lives like he’s rich but isn’t, falls off a cruise ship and drowns. He wakes up in his teenage home in the small town of Wirin Vale where he has to relieve his high school years. He develops a relationship with his tomgirl neighbor Jessie, fights with the school bullies, and makes lots of bad choices, only to die again and be sent back to redo high school AGAIN. And so it goes in Groundhog’s Day style until he gets it right. This is a long book. By the last trip through his teen years, I was tired of reading about it, but things turned out well. I wish I hadn’t read the authors’ notes. It turns out Aston did most of the writing for this book, and Inmon has writers all over the world doing different variations of his time-travel stories. That took some of the shine off this one. But it was entertaining, and it was fun learning about Australia and trying out the language.

[Debra Chiaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

FANtastic

Mr Aston has come up with a great story that was long enough to explain relationships and acquaintances that mattered in Mathews stories as he comes and goes through his lives. It was wonderful to see him learn enough each time. However, I believe there was more than one way to stop what happened to these victims. I gave only 4 stars because of typoes and missing words. But all in all a really good book. Many Thanks to Shawn and Tyler.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific addition to the Middle Falls Universe

I've always enjoyed books and stories based in Australia. So I had a positive feeling getting into this one. I was certain it would be well written with Shawn involved. Well, it exceeded my expectations. Matt's change from a selfish loser to a caring, involved young man was delightful. Loved this book. I became so engaged with the characters I hated to let them go. I will truly miss following their livves.

[Gladys Olmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me the book was slow at the beginning. However, Matt's relieving his life kept me wanting to know the outcome. His character was not very likeable at the beginning, but he improved every time he died and started his life as a teenager. Matt's and Jesse's relationship was very interesting and amusing. The happy ending was enjoyable. I like the surprise at the end.

[Mrs Susan Bickerton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't Finnish it

I really struggling with this. Only read 25% then Gave up. Didn't really care about matt, the lead character, I felt like I was reading a junior book. Shame as I love the middle falls series, and the English spin off series, and will continue to read those. Not for me this one.

[Maria Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

At first it seemed off to me that it took so long into the book for another reset but realized the timing was perfect! The amazing changes he made didn’t require an umpteenth reset for him to get it right. I’m so glad he and Jessie ended up together. I cried so much in the end. Thank you for a wonderful journey!!

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, definitely unpredictable. Nice to see something from a different writer, and I appreciated the change of location to Australia along with authentic Aussie dialogue. The first 25% or so was pretty underwhelming, but that seems to be par for the course as stories like this are setting up.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written spin off from the middle falls series. The characters were all relatable and the only bit I didnt understand was why the school nurse was needed to find an AA meeting location (or what Matt could have said or asked her to get that info). Looking forward to where this series goes if it continues.

[Nancy Tool · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best of the Middle Falls novels

Beautifully crafted characters and a strong plot line. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and applaud Tyler Aston for his contribution and Shawn Inmon for his collaboration. Really good read! Thank you, and keep them coming!

[David Beniston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Run of the mill Middle Falls book. Apart from being set in australia it is just like all the others.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome 3rd location for the time travel stories!

I wasn’t crazy about this one at first but I loved it like I always do. Can’t wait for more!

[SamGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowser!

I always love these stories, the endings are always good despite the trauma in between, this one was over the top! Can’t wait for the next one!!!

[William]

Always a good read, but really grabbed me in the last paragraph of the book.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read with a beautiful ending.

[Keith Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I prefer shorter novels; longer ones usually have over 50 pages of dead space. This one kept me reading for more; all 450 pages. The main character, Matt, was a rat. It's hard to read about someone that un-likable. But he had a neighbor, Jessie, who was perhaps the most lovable character in all middle falls books. This book needed a glossary for Australian slang. Usually you can figure things out by the context, but not always.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read.I would recommend it.

[Alex Isle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a tie-in, one might say, to Shawn Inmon’s Middle Falls series, which are stories where a character messes up his/her life in various ways, then gets to go back and relive it after death, hopefully doing better. Repeatedly. For me this one was different, as the author has lived at least some years in my neck of the woods in Western Australia, not far from Perth, the state capital.

The viewpoint character, Matthew Bailey, is in his 40s in the year 2025, and is reborn as a 15-year-old, new immigrant from England in 1993. My impression of the scenario was that it felt further back than the ‘90s, which I have lived through as an adult. It was very heavy on Australian slang and made me wince with secondhand embarrassment at some points. Matthew is a thoroughly unpleasant character and ends up needing quite a few do-overs.

Though the town of Wirin Vale is eventually revealed to be within easy driving distance of Perth [a couple of hours?], it had the feel of a more remote community, especially the way the kids are casually driving cars around at 16, given that 17 is and was the age at which you get your licence here.

There were a couple of other things in the book which struck me as unlikely, and one plot point which I know is inaccurate. There is a family in the town whose surname is Murray and whose son, Paul, plays an important role in Matthew’s re-life. At one point the parents are described as Italian. Once and never again. Italians aren’t surnamed Murray. You could just take that one line out and the rest of it would be fine.

I thought the redemption of Jessie’s father, who was prone to domestic violence, was also unlikely, but am prejudiced by working three decades in the court system. Unless, of course, this guy is also on the rebirth treadmill.

Some of the school-related information doesn’t match my own memories of going through the system. The author states several times that children in Western Australia must stay at school until they are 18, unless they’re going into an apprenticeship.

This is inaccurate. I know that from personal experience, having been 17 when I finished year 12 in 1980. I didn’t turn 18 until late the year after that. Kids turned 17 partway through year 12. Going into apprenticeships was certainly a reason to leave early, but in practice, anyone who could not handle the last two years, or plain didn’t want to, could take off after they turned 15. The age 18 thing is used as a plot point and that just hit me wrong.

The writing is decent, the story entertaining, but it sometimes felt like the author was making fun of the comical locals. It would be different if Matthew had been a local. This part of the world is probably unknown by many readers of the original Middle Falls series, which are American, so it is a good tactic to explain what’s going on. I’m a bit torn on that one, I can see it’s easier to do it this way, but I would have liked to see the story told from within.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the plot.

The book itself was a little slow starting. Maybe a little too much verbiage. Like a Aussie’ wanna be.
Other than that, Shawn again, with Tyler came up with a great plot. So fun to read.