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Exile, Texas
New York Times–Bestselling Author: A woman long suspected of murder returns to her hometown as a PI—and soon finds her own life at risk . . .
Most folks in Exile, Texas, think Megan Leary got away with murder. Megan was acquitted of her mother’s vicious killing after someone else confessed—but suspicion still shadows her fifteen years later. Now a private investigator, she’s come back to help a friend look for her missing teenage daughter—and it’s not just gossip that’s being stirred up.
Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Fox wasn’t sure what to think of Megan or her mysterious past when he pulled her over for speeding. But suddenly, people are dying—and Dan may have to decide whether he can put his trust in Megan to ensure both of them survive . . .
Most folks in Exile, Texas, think Megan Leary got away with murder. Megan was acquitted of her mother’s vicious killing after someone else confessed—but suspicion still shadows her fifteen years later. Now a private investigator, she’s come back to help a friend look for her missing teenage daughter—and it’s not just gossip that’s being stirred up.
Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Fox wasn’t sure what to think of Megan or her mysterious past when he pulled her over for speeding. But suddenly, people are dying—and Dan may have to decide whether he can put his trust in Megan to ensure both of them survive . . .
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2003
264 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Caine
217 books19.3k followersRachel Caine was a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.
She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell
Her Facebook page:
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She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell
Her Facebook page:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 19, 2022
I liked this author's Stillhouse stories, and had high hopes for this one as well. On one level this was a complicated and intricate thriller where no one could be trusted. But underneath I felt it was more confused than complicated. What should have been red herrings were actually people doing completely unexpected things unsupported by their character or motivations. The good guys are bad, the bad guys are worse, and the third man - why was he there?
I enjoyed reading this page by page, hoping that things would eventually make sense, but in the end I found it unsatisfying.
I enjoyed reading this page by page, hoping that things would eventually make sense, but in the end I found it unsatisfying.
February 28, 2019
This is what I call a page turner - I couldn't put this book down and totally got lost in it. It was intriguing to follow Deputy Dan Fox around town and witness his growingly frustrated and hindered efforts to not only solve the current case(s), but also find out about the truth in Meg's past and whether he could trust her or not. The plot held several clever surprises and kept me guessing. There was just the right amount of romance and wit to make the story more colorful without being in danger of crossing the line from suspenseful thriller to cozy mystery. I liked that it was not all gritty and dark around the edges, but also had its lighter moments. Highest recommendation.
October 22, 2021
One of my favorite authors has always been Rachel Caine. She has brought me many hours of reading joy with her series The Morganville Vampires and Stillhouse Lake. I was so saddened to find out that she passed away last year but overjoyed that I had an opportunity to read "Exile, Texas" another book written by this creative author.
Deputy Dan is just 3 months on the job in Exile, Texas when a Lexus flies right passed him on the highway. When he runs her license plate, he is told to stand down and allow another office to handle the situation but when he sees that the officer is about to sexually assault the woman, he steps in.
When Dan has an opportunity to meet the speeder it turns out her name is Meg and she used to live in Exile. Apparently, years prior Meg was arrested for killing her mother. However, while in jail she was raped by several officers and won a multi million dollar settlement that almost broke the town. A Mexican girl is missing and her mother wants Meg to help her find her daughter because she knows that the Anglos are never going to truly investigate the case. Needless to say, the townspeople are not happy to have Meg around and when dead bodies start popping up everywhere
it will be clear that if Meg and Dan are going to survive they will have to work together.
One thing for sure about this little gem people are not who you think they are and nothing is ever what it seems. There is plenty of action, subterfuge and just plain intrigue. I enjoyed this read immensely and wish it could have been a series. Once again, thank you Rachel Caine for the literary gifts you left for the world.
Deputy Dan is just 3 months on the job in Exile, Texas when a Lexus flies right passed him on the highway. When he runs her license plate, he is told to stand down and allow another office to handle the situation but when he sees that the officer is about to sexually assault the woman, he steps in.
When Dan has an opportunity to meet the speeder it turns out her name is Meg and she used to live in Exile. Apparently, years prior Meg was arrested for killing her mother. However, while in jail she was raped by several officers and won a multi million dollar settlement that almost broke the town. A Mexican girl is missing and her mother wants Meg to help her find her daughter because she knows that the Anglos are never going to truly investigate the case. Needless to say, the townspeople are not happy to have Meg around and when dead bodies start popping up everywhere
it will be clear that if Meg and Dan are going to survive they will have to work together.
One thing for sure about this little gem people are not who you think they are and nothing is ever what it seems. There is plenty of action, subterfuge and just plain intrigue. I enjoyed this read immensely and wish it could have been a series. Once again, thank you Rachel Caine for the literary gifts you left for the world.
May 3, 2023
Wow, just wow!
This was a barn burner of a mystery in a small town in Texas.
A bit of sex and a whole bunch of criminals that kept me from putting it down today. I do enjoy this author’s voice and her writing just draws me in. Highly recommend you dive into this book and try to figure out who did, not just the murders in the past, but the present, too. Enjoy!
This was a barn burner of a mystery in a small town in Texas.
A bit of sex and a whole bunch of criminals that kept me from putting it down today. I do enjoy this author’s voice and her writing just draws me in. Highly recommend you dive into this book and try to figure out who did, not just the murders in the past, but the present, too. Enjoy!
December 3, 2023
Exile, Texas
I Picked Up This Book Because: I’m a fan of the author's work.
Media Type: eBook
Source: Everand/Scribd
Dates Read: 10/20/23 - 11/30/23
Stars: 2.5
The Characters:
Megan Leary: Town reprobate returns to help a friend.
Dan Fox: New deputy, starting over in a small town.
So many small-town characters
The Story:
This one was a lot more than I was expecting when I started it.
Writing: Mostly good. The story rambled a bit at times but was also enrapturing at times.
Overall Interest: As I shared before it was up and down. The level of WTF is going on absolutely cranked up towards the end and the anticipation was delicious.
Length of Reading Time: It took me over a month. I can’t blame that all on the book though because I’m rarely able to sit down and focus on reading.
Re-read-ability: Yeah, no.
The ending got a bit random and messy and I’m not sure I truly understood all of it.
The Random Thoughts:
I Picked Up This Book Because: I’m a fan of the author's work.
Media Type: eBook
Source: Everand/Scribd
Dates Read: 10/20/23 - 11/30/23
Stars: 2.5
The Characters:
Megan Leary: Town reprobate returns to help a friend.
Dan Fox: New deputy, starting over in a small town.
So many small-town characters
The Story:
This one was a lot more than I was expecting when I started it.
Writing: Mostly good. The story rambled a bit at times but was also enrapturing at times.
Overall Interest: As I shared before it was up and down. The level of WTF is going on absolutely cranked up towards the end and the anticipation was delicious.
Length of Reading Time: It took me over a month. I can’t blame that all on the book though because I’m rarely able to sit down and focus on reading.
Re-read-ability: Yeah, no.
The ending got a bit random and messy and I’m not sure I truly understood all of it.
The Random Thoughts:
October 25, 2021
Sadly this author passed away last year and recently I saw they are re-releasing some of her older books that were written under different names. This one is 18 years old but other than a few little references it relevant today. I miss this authors voice so I thought I'd give this a try.
The biggest surprise was that the whole book is done from Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Fox POV. From the blurb mentioning "a woman long suspected of murder returns to her hometown as a PI" I was expecting be from Megan Leary POV. Surprisingly it worked having it be in Dan's POV. We as the reader still got the full impact of Megan's story even with Dan being the narrator.
Book takes place in a small Texas town called Exile, Texas, and boy there are not many good people in this town. The twist and turns and body count just increased as the story went along. Its a page turner for sure.
The biggest surprise was that the whole book is done from Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Fox POV. From the blurb mentioning "a woman long suspected of murder returns to her hometown as a PI" I was expecting be from Megan Leary POV. Surprisingly it worked having it be in Dan's POV. We as the reader still got the full impact of Megan's story even with Dan being the narrator.
Book takes place in a small Texas town called Exile, Texas, and boy there are not many good people in this town. The twist and turns and body count just increased as the story went along. Its a page turner for sure.
April 7, 2022
Rachel Caine at her best
Having read many books by Ms. Caine, I was surprised to find one I hadn’t read yet. Really good author who had a good way of telling a story about murder mystery and a bit of romance. She’s missed!
Having read many books by Ms. Caine, I was surprised to find one I hadn’t read yet. Really good author who had a good way of telling a story about murder mystery and a bit of romance. She’s missed!
January 8, 2023
This romantic suspense title is a little unusual because it is told by the male lead. Dan Fox has left his career as a homicide detective in Houston and called on the current sheriff of Exile, Texas - an old college friend - for a job. We begin the story getting hints of the reason why he changed jobs and the guilt he feels.
The story begins with him stopping a woman for speeding. Megan Leary hasn't been back to Exile since she left it at 15. She was accused and acquitted of murdering her mother with a shotgun. While she was in jail, she was raped by four of the deputies. That rape led to her suing the town and winning $3 million, It seems that no one in town wants her back and everyone blames her for the hard times the town is going through. Especially bitter is Deputy Lew Peyser who is the son of the lead rapist and blames Megan for his father's imprisonment and suicide.
Megan's reason for returning to Exile has to do with the disappearance of teenaged Aurelia who is the daughter of one of Megan's childhood friends. With Dan commanded by his friend the sheriff to stay close to Megan, the two begin an investigation which uncovers a number of the town's dirtiest secrets.
Dan believes that the girl ran away as she had said she was going to do, Megan thinks the boyfriend - Javier Nieves - likely has something to do with her disappearance. Nieves is a member of one of the most violent gangs in the area.
But Megan wants to take a look at her mother's death while she's in town since she never believed that her father, who confessed to the crime, had anything to do with it. Dan has questions too, and the case files add more questions than they answer.
When the house Megan inherited from her mother is set on fire with Megan inside, it becomes clear that someone really doesn't want Megan and Dan to dig into the past.
The story is filled with all sorts of twists and turns and more than enough sketchy characters. I liked the way Megan and Dan manage to work together to solve the case. I also liked learning more about Dan's backstory and the reasons he found himself in Exile, Texas.
The story begins with him stopping a woman for speeding. Megan Leary hasn't been back to Exile since she left it at 15. She was accused and acquitted of murdering her mother with a shotgun. While she was in jail, she was raped by four of the deputies. That rape led to her suing the town and winning $3 million, It seems that no one in town wants her back and everyone blames her for the hard times the town is going through. Especially bitter is Deputy Lew Peyser who is the son of the lead rapist and blames Megan for his father's imprisonment and suicide.
Megan's reason for returning to Exile has to do with the disappearance of teenaged Aurelia who is the daughter of one of Megan's childhood friends. With Dan commanded by his friend the sheriff to stay close to Megan, the two begin an investigation which uncovers a number of the town's dirtiest secrets.
Dan believes that the girl ran away as she had said she was going to do, Megan thinks the boyfriend - Javier Nieves - likely has something to do with her disappearance. Nieves is a member of one of the most violent gangs in the area.
But Megan wants to take a look at her mother's death while she's in town since she never believed that her father, who confessed to the crime, had anything to do with it. Dan has questions too, and the case files add more questions than they answer.
When the house Megan inherited from her mother is set on fire with Megan inside, it becomes clear that someone really doesn't want Megan and Dan to dig into the past.
The story is filled with all sorts of twists and turns and more than enough sketchy characters. I liked the way Megan and Dan manage to work together to solve the case. I also liked learning more about Dan's backstory and the reasons he found himself in Exile, Texas.
November 20, 2022
Wow! I stayed up to the wee hours of the night to finish this book, and it was fantastic! Rachel Caine weaved a phenomenal tale that left me reeling, and I want more from this storyline (and I won't get more). I absolutely fell in love with the two main characters.
March 6, 2016
Loved this book. You never knew what was going to happen next. Fast paced and non-stop action getting the grey matter working as you try to solve the crimes yourself.
I've heard that is has been optioned for a movie, so fingers crossed it gets picked up. Would be great to see this story on the big screen!
I've heard that is has been optioned for a movie, so fingers crossed it gets picked up. Would be great to see this story on the big screen!
January 4, 2022
It may have not been my favorite book by Rachel Caine but it's still a good one. Just sad it's my last read by her. RIP.
January 6, 2023
On the good side, this was very well written. Suspenseful; it kept my interest.
On the not so good side, at the end of the book I was left going: wait a minute! Who did what to whom and when? What?
There is a rape of a young girl that occurs before the book starts that provides much of the motivation for the characters in the book. While not being overly graphic, there were some scenes of people being injured.
There used to be a convention in early detective shows where the sidekick had three functions: eye candy, provide the main character with the clue that helped him/her solve the case, and get beaten up. Since this is a book, I can't speak to the first. I leave the second to the reader. It's the third one that troubles me. Did the sidekick really need to get beaten up, or was that just a way to add suspense (the sidekick had some physical issues after getting beaten up that may or may not have just been a plot device to add suspense). Again, I leave the decision to the reader.
I was introduced to Rachel Caine via the Honors series. I have looked at the reviews for Rachel Caine's other books (let me just take this opportunity to thank everyone who has ever taken the time and effort to leave a review). I will not be reading any more of her books. This is much more a comment on where I am in my life and the type of books that I prefer to read now and should not influence your decision.
On the not so good side, at the end of the book I was left going: wait a minute! Who did what to whom and when? What?
There is a rape of a young girl that occurs before the book starts that provides much of the motivation for the characters in the book. While not being overly graphic, there were some scenes of people being injured.
There used to be a convention in early detective shows where the sidekick had three functions: eye candy, provide the main character with the clue that helped him/her solve the case, and get beaten up. Since this is a book, I can't speak to the first. I leave the second to the reader. It's the third one that troubles me. Did the sidekick really need to get beaten up, or was that just a way to add suspense (the sidekick had some physical issues after getting beaten up that may or may not have just been a plot device to add suspense). Again, I leave the decision to the reader.
I was introduced to Rachel Caine via the Honors series. I have looked at the reviews for Rachel Caine's other books (let me just take this opportunity to thank everyone who has ever taken the time and effort to leave a review). I will not be reading any more of her books. This is much more a comment on where I am in my life and the type of books that I prefer to read now and should not influence your decision.
March 22, 2022
"Exile, Texas" is an old-fashioned detective story in the best sense - there's no gimmicks, a little humour, and a genuinely interesting story which combines a deadly mix of small town politics and historic events.
Meg Leary is back in town after 15 years and very few people are happy to see her. In their eyes she beat a murder charge (her mother) and then successfully sued the town for just about every cent it had. It's not that simple in a small town that's rotten to the core.
Meg is now a P.I. and she's come home to find a missing Mexican girl, Aurelia Galvan.
Her only possible helper is new deputy sheriff Dan Fox. He's got problems of his own and one of them is that he doesn't know the story of Meg Leary - it isn't long before he does, just as it isn't long before the body count starts to rise.
It's got a lot of twists and a seriously unexpected ending (well, some of the ending is unexpected) and I enjoyed it tremendously.
It's a fine book in the traditional mould and I was surprised to find that it is a standalone novel - but, after having a look at her biography it appears that her Morganville Vampires series took centre stage around this time.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.
Meg Leary is back in town after 15 years and very few people are happy to see her. In their eyes she beat a murder charge (her mother) and then successfully sued the town for just about every cent it had. It's not that simple in a small town that's rotten to the core.
Meg is now a P.I. and she's come home to find a missing Mexican girl, Aurelia Galvan.
Her only possible helper is new deputy sheriff Dan Fox. He's got problems of his own and one of them is that he doesn't know the story of Meg Leary - it isn't long before he does, just as it isn't long before the body count starts to rise.
It's got a lot of twists and a seriously unexpected ending (well, some of the ending is unexpected) and I enjoyed it tremendously.
It's a fine book in the traditional mould and I was surprised to find that it is a standalone novel - but, after having a look at her biography it appears that her Morganville Vampires series took centre stage around this time.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.
May 16, 2022
This book started as a five. I loved the writing and the two main characters. But after racing through the first half, I started to get bogged down by the plot. Too complicated, too implausible. Too violent and action-packed. I wish the author had done more with the romance, which initially seemed so promising. If you're looking for an action-packed thriller with lots of atmosphere, this might be right up your alley. Perhaps the problem is that the beginning set up my expectations one way, then went in another direction.
Also, I hate it when characters get so badly injured and then, implausibly, just keep going. When I was heavily into John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee mysteries, I used to laugh at the way the guy would always get beaten almost to death without it stopping him. Like the old Timex commercials used to say, "It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'," I guess.
Also, I hate it when characters get so badly injured and then, implausibly, just keep going. When I was heavily into John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee mysteries, I used to laugh at the way the guy would always get beaten almost to death without it stopping him. Like the old Timex commercials used to say, "It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'," I guess.
June 15, 2024
This was a mess. I get it was a small town, but the lack of police procedures was too much, especially for someone who was a former Houston PD detective. The Texas Ranger was also not believable. Deputy Lew would not have a job after Texas Rangers got involved. He sexually assaulted Meg, then physically assaulted her with witnesses. Dan doesn’t tell of the sexual assault that resulted in Lew’s nose being busted, just says he didn’t tell the whole story when talking to the sheriff? Major drug running and DEA or FBI not called and involved? Dan’s ex-wife takes on Meg as a client, then also takes on Lew as a client? Man who has repeatedly assaulted Meg? Is that not a huge conflict? There was no believability to how event transpired. This was a huge miss for Caine.
January 6, 2023
I spent the first half of this book wondering where the story was headed and what kind of book this was going to turn out to be. The second half was a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue, and I was constantly second guessing which characters could be trusted. Truly couldn’t put this down. The light touch of humor was also right up my alley.
“I needed a reliable information source. I went where people go when they need information. I went to the library.”
“Her gaze flicked to the two coffees I held. “One of these for you?” she asked. I nodded. She took one. “Mine now.” Our divorce agreement in a nutshell.”
“I needed a reliable information source. I went where people go when they need information. I went to the library.”
“Her gaze flicked to the two coffees I held. “One of these for you?” she asked. I nodded. She took one. “Mine now.” Our divorce agreement in a nutshell.”
May 18, 2022
I enjoyed reading Exile. The story is about a deputy; Dan Fox who has to live with the memory of leaving his fully loaded gun on the table and his young son who shot himself with it. Meg is a woman who was accused of murdering her mom at age 15; raped by the police and acquitted. Meg returns to her home town to help a friend find her missing daughter. There’s a lot going on trying to find a missing girl, murder and…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2023
Thoroughly Enjoyable
I tend to rate books relative to the intended audience and how well the book performs in its genre. When the author is exceptional within his/her objectives, I rate according to my enjoyment of the particular book. I have found that MS Cane more often than not met her objectives, and earned my praise. Such is the case here. I'm sorry for her early passing, and am pleased to see that some of her earlier works are being re-released.
I tend to rate books relative to the intended audience and how well the book performs in its genre. When the author is exceptional within his/her objectives, I rate according to my enjoyment of the particular book. I have found that MS Cane more often than not met her objectives, and earned my praise. Such is the case here. I'm sorry for her early passing, and am pleased to see that some of her earlier works are being re-released.
April 7, 2023
This is the first book that I have read by this author and will not be the last. I was immediately involved with the story. The author does an interesting job telling the story of a young woman that returns to the town where there is nothing but bad, bad memories. I could easily visualize the sherrif and Megan, the private investigator. Through many twists and turns, the story has a surprising ending.
July 17, 2025
3.5⭐️.. Deputy Dan pulls over Meg for speeding and gets entangled in a chaotic web of murders, corrupt police, kidnapping, assault, and drug trafficking in Exile, Texas. This book maintained a constant level of tension, high stakes, and a touch of light romance. However, at times, the tension became overwhelming, requiring some respite. The climax felt a bit far-fetched and overly convoluted, but it still managed to keep my interest piqued.
September 4, 2022
I brought this cus I love Rachel's books. I couldn't get enough of her writings. I'm glad i brought these 3 books.
Exile, Texas was a very unpleasant in a few spots cus I hate guns & romanatic is spots cus of Meg & Dan's relationship which was rocky but loving. I wonder if there's more about this couple.
I'm going 2 read "Copper Moon" & see where it takes me......
Exile, Texas was a very unpleasant in a few spots cus I hate guns & romanatic is spots cus of Meg & Dan's relationship which was rocky but loving. I wonder if there's more about this couple.
I'm going 2 read "Copper Moon" & see where it takes me......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
I could tell this book was a little dated based on some of the terminology. There were so many characters that it was hard for me to keep everyone straight. It was a very twisted tale, but I could almost see it being made into a made-for-tv movie. Not as good as her Stillhouse Lake Series at all, but good enough for me to read to the end.
April 1, 2022
Who done it?
A series of killings that seemed to revolve around Meg. She'd returned to Exile as a PI to investigate a missing person. Throw in lots of stolen money, heroin and a corrupt small town, and you have a good story.
A series of killings that seemed to revolve around Meg. She'd returned to Exile as a PI to investigate a missing person. Throw in lots of stolen money, heroin and a corrupt small town, and you have a good story.
April 3, 2022
Couldn't put it down!
Great characters, well developed. Intriguing story with lots of unexpected twists.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.
Great characters, well developed. Intriguing story with lots of unexpected twists.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.
April 8, 2022
A real page turner!! It’s about a small town in a desolate area of west Texas that is in the grips of tangled lies and dangerous crimes that dates back years. Unraveling the mystery becomes the job of a sheriff deputy.
May 20, 2022
Another great one
As usual Rachael put out another great read. I am so sorry to hear about her passing. She will be greatly missed. She was an exceptional author. This book proves it.
As usual Rachael put out another great read. I am so sorry to hear about her passing. She will be greatly missed. She was an exceptional author. This book proves it.
June 8, 2022
Awesome
That was a great book! Loved the characters, the storyline and how it was written. I do not much like the "I" tense, but I really enjoyed the book. Racel Caine is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
That was a great book! Loved the characters, the storyline and how it was written. I do not much like the "I" tense, but I really enjoyed the book. Racel Caine is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
July 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this crime novel. The main characters were flawed, but made me root for them. Full of twists and creepy characters, the story kept me guessing. Even when I figured out who was at the helm of the trouble, I enjoyed the unraveling of the story.
June 28, 2023
Kept me guessing till the end
Believable characters and a good twisty plot. This was my first read by this author but I'll definitely read more of her work and I recommend this book.
Believable characters and a good twisty plot. This was my first read by this author but I'll definitely read more of her work and I recommend this book.
August 1, 2024
Twists!
Thoroughly enjoyed this thriller ride! I think it could make a great start to a new series. Meg is my favorite character, and I would like to see how it all turns out for her and Deputy Dan.
Thoroughly enjoyed this thriller ride! I think it could make a great start to a new series. Meg is my favorite character, and I would like to see how it all turns out for her and Deputy Dan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews