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When She Fell
Alex Fokas, a young and ambitious journalist, is surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. Falling by Avery Lewis is a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff.
Along with the book Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and her body still hasn't been found.
Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article. She stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
One question keeps playing on Alex's mind - did Avery fall or was she pushed?
Along with the book Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and her body still hasn't been found.
Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article. She stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
One question keeps playing on Alex's mind - did Avery fall or was she pushed?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2022
About the author
Karen Cole
17 books82 followersKaren Cole grew up in the Cotswolds and got a degree in psychology at Newcastle University. She spent several years teaching English around the world before settling in Cyprus with her husband and two sons, where she works at a British army base as a primary school teacher. She recently completed the Curtis Brown writing course where she found her love of writing psychological thrillers.
Deliver Me is her debut novel.
~ from Quercus
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Deliver Me is her debut novel.
~ from Quercus
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 28, 2022
Alex finds a book waiting for her on the front doormat! Who doesn't love bookmail, right?
She wonders if it is "another run-of-the-mill thriller."
Let's just say it is not!
She soon realizes that her life will change forever.
She is a journalist and this gifted book titled, Falling, will send her to Cornwall, chasing answers. You see, the author was murdered, just like the character in the book. Alex has a sense that something isn't right.
I was wrapped up in the mystery as well as the book within the book. A fascinating premise, with a quick pace and eerie setting. The ending went in a different direction than I thought it was heading. A bit too far from the cliff (no I didn't like it), but still a compelling read! I've read my share of "cliff" books this year and this one kept me reading.
Narrated by: Daphne Kouma / Enjoyed the narration Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Also had the kindle copy for 1.99 👏👏👏
She wonders if it is "another run-of-the-mill thriller."
Let's just say it is not!
She soon realizes that her life will change forever.
She is a journalist and this gifted book titled, Falling, will send her to Cornwall, chasing answers. You see, the author was murdered, just like the character in the book. Alex has a sense that something isn't right.
I was wrapped up in the mystery as well as the book within the book. A fascinating premise, with a quick pace and eerie setting. The ending went in a different direction than I thought it was heading. A bit too far from the cliff (no I didn't like it), but still a compelling read! I've read my share of "cliff" books this year and this one kept me reading.
Narrated by: Daphne Kouma / Enjoyed the narration Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Also had the kindle copy for 1.99 👏👏👏
December 4, 2022
I instantly fell for "When She Fell".
It's an intriguing and compelling "Who Dunnit?" about the investigation of the death of a deceased author.
Throughout its entirety, the book was fast-paced, twisty, and did not miss a beat.
One criticism: I felt that the author added one too many twists to the book's finale. To avoid spoilers, I will refrain from mentioning the specific twist that was objectionable.
I listened to the audiobook read by Daphne Kouma, who did a superb job with the narration.
This was my first book by author Karen Cole and I look forward to listening to future books by this talented author.
4.5 stars.
It's an intriguing and compelling "Who Dunnit?" about the investigation of the death of a deceased author.
Throughout its entirety, the book was fast-paced, twisty, and did not miss a beat.
One criticism: I felt that the author added one too many twists to the book's finale. To avoid spoilers, I will refrain from mentioning the specific twist that was objectionable.
I listened to the audiobook read by Daphne Kouma, who did a superb job with the narration.
This was my first book by author Karen Cole and I look forward to listening to future books by this talented author.
4.5 stars.
November 7, 2022
Alex Fokas, a young and ambitious journalist, is surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. Falling by Avery Lewis is a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff. Along with the book, Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and body still hasn't been found. Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article and stays in the cottage where Avery lived.
This is quite a predictable read but it didn't spoil my enjoyment. It's well written, easy to follow, with a great plotline. I liked the authors writing style. The characters were well developed and likeable. The pace is steady throughout this twist filled read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #KarenCole for my ARC of #WhenSheFell in exchange for an honest review.
This is quite a predictable read but it didn't spoil my enjoyment. It's well written, easy to follow, with a great plotline. I liked the authors writing style. The characters were well developed and likeable. The pace is steady throughout this twist filled read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #KarenCole for my ARC of #WhenSheFell in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, Quercus Books and Karen Cole for letting me read “When She Fell” in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this one is a winner! Bam! What a brilliant read. Run, get your copy now!
I adore the cover. A furious see, you only see the red shoes of someone standing on top of a cliff. It goes hand in hand with the title.
When She Fell…
Alex works as a journalist in London. Her job situation is not ideal, she fears getting the boot anytime, due to cuts. Finances are tight anyways. She lives with her younger sister Athena, who goes to uni.
A publisher send Alex a novel in the hope that she reviews it for the magazine. “Falling” is the title. A young woman loves to the countryside with her husband, who is at least verbally abusive. Things don’t go well and one day the heroine, Rebecca, ends up death, fallen from a cliff on Cornwall.
Funny thing is, the author died recently as well. Fell from a cliff, in yep, Cornwall. Alex is getting curious and drives there to write an article. She stays at the same farm that inspired the author, Avery. She discovers many similarities. How can that be? Did Avery have a hunch of what would happen to her? Was her death really just an accident?
There is also charming Joe, the husband and many more characters that inspired the novel.
I found this book intriguing from start to finish. Alex was a brilliant character, very likeable and relatable. All of Karen Cole’s characters are written very well, they seem real and relatable. We also get glimpses/chapters of the book, Fallen, which was a nice touch.
The ending was perfectly done, even if I imagined something different.
Wow, this one is a winner! Bam! What a brilliant read. Run, get your copy now!
I adore the cover. A furious see, you only see the red shoes of someone standing on top of a cliff. It goes hand in hand with the title.
When She Fell…
Alex works as a journalist in London. Her job situation is not ideal, she fears getting the boot anytime, due to cuts. Finances are tight anyways. She lives with her younger sister Athena, who goes to uni.
A publisher send Alex a novel in the hope that she reviews it for the magazine. “Falling” is the title. A young woman loves to the countryside with her husband, who is at least verbally abusive. Things don’t go well and one day the heroine, Rebecca, ends up death, fallen from a cliff on Cornwall.
Funny thing is, the author died recently as well. Fell from a cliff, in yep, Cornwall. Alex is getting curious and drives there to write an article. She stays at the same farm that inspired the author, Avery. She discovers many similarities. How can that be? Did Avery have a hunch of what would happen to her? Was her death really just an accident?
There is also charming Joe, the husband and many more characters that inspired the novel.
I found this book intriguing from start to finish. Alex was a brilliant character, very likeable and relatable. All of Karen Cole’s characters are written very well, they seem real and relatable. We also get glimpses/chapters of the book, Fallen, which was a nice touch.
The ending was perfectly done, even if I imagined something different.
June 14, 2023
This was a decent read, but definitely a slow burn. It centers on Alex, who receives a copy of a book to review and realizes that the author died in the same way as her main character. Alex is a journalist and immediately wants to dig in more, which takes her to a small town hours outside of London where she ends up getting embedded in the author’s life.
The mystery and the premise of the book were pretty cool but Alex seemed like a naive and gullible character. Also, both the writing from the book she read and her own article didn’t seem to be writing that would draw anyone in. Despite this, I did like the fact that you know something weird is going on but you can’t figure out exactly what it is. The end of the book is pretty well done and the ends are tied up nicely.
Overall, ok read for me but was a little drawn out and I had trouble believing that a reasonable person would make some of the decisions Alex made. Cool concept though, and I’m not sorry I read it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery and the premise of the book were pretty cool but Alex seemed like a naive and gullible character. Also, both the writing from the book she read and her own article didn’t seem to be writing that would draw anyone in. Despite this, I did like the fact that you know something weird is going on but you can’t figure out exactly what it is. The end of the book is pretty well done and the ends are tied up nicely.
Overall, ok read for me but was a little drawn out and I had trouble believing that a reasonable person would make some of the decisions Alex made. Cool concept though, and I’m not sorry I read it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2023
I give this rating as an average: based on liking the main character and Cornwall setting and being engaged by the plot, it would rate four stars. But for the probability of the characters' behaviour or the likelihood of the convoluted story, scarcely two. I'll hide my comments on the villain for the spoiler discussion in the Kindle British Mystery Group.
Alex, journalist with a tenuous connexion to a provincial, paper receives a review copy of a mystery story in which the victim was pushed off a Cornish cliff, discovers that the author, Avery, apparently went on the suffer a similar fate. The body was not recovered, but the police put her death down to suicide. Intrigued, and desperate for a story, she persuades her editor to let her go to Cornwall to investigate this strange coincidence, and then finds herself having an affair with the author's bereaved spouse Joe whilst dealing with a very hostile stepdaughter Lily. And odd events make us start wondering if Avery might possibly have faked the drowning and still be alive. But once we find out, with the now almost inevitable violent thriller confrontation, I was both disappointed and incredulous.
Alex, journalist with a tenuous connexion to a provincial, paper receives a review copy of a mystery story in which the victim was pushed off a Cornish cliff, discovers that the author, Avery, apparently went on the suffer a similar fate. The body was not recovered, but the police put her death down to suicide. Intrigued, and desperate for a story, she persuades her editor to let her go to Cornwall to investigate this strange coincidence, and then finds herself having an affair with the author's bereaved spouse Joe whilst dealing with a very hostile stepdaughter Lily. And odd events make us start wondering if Avery might possibly have faked the drowning and still be alive. But once we find out, with the now almost inevitable violent thriller confrontation, I was both disappointed and incredulous.
October 28, 2022
When She Fell tells the story of journalist Alex who, on a hunch, investigated some alarming parallels between the recently deceased author, Avery Lewis, and her most recent book.
Sometimes you know there is something suspicious behind events. You don’t always find the evidence to back it up. For journalist Alex, the similarities between the writer’s death and the events of her most recent book were too much to be ignored.
We follow her down to Cornwall as she turns her life upside down trying to establish exactly what happened.
There’s twists and turns aplenty as we’re thrown off course. Eventually we get answers, which are rather incredible, but this was a great read. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication.
Sometimes you know there is something suspicious behind events. You don’t always find the evidence to back it up. For journalist Alex, the similarities between the writer’s death and the events of her most recent book were too much to be ignored.
We follow her down to Cornwall as she turns her life upside down trying to establish exactly what happened.
There’s twists and turns aplenty as we’re thrown off course. Eventually we get answers, which are rather incredible, but this was a great read. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication.
February 4, 2023
3.5 stars!
Interesting story line and I love the concept of a story within a story. The beginning starts off slow but then it pick ups very fast towards the middle and end.
Some parts were spooky and eerie but then it veers off in a complete different direction towards the end. A compelling read if you like a quick thriller!
Interesting story line and I love the concept of a story within a story. The beginning starts off slow but then it pick ups very fast towards the middle and end.
Some parts were spooky and eerie but then it veers off in a complete different direction towards the end. A compelling read if you like a quick thriller!
February 12, 2023
★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Did she jump? Or was she pushed?
Alex Georgiou is a young and ambitious journalist who fears her job is on the line. But when she comes up with an idea for an article with a sort of "life imitating art" concept, she has no idea just what a can of worms she is opening.
As a blogger in her spare time, publishers often send Alex books to review for publicity purposes. So when she finds a copy of "Falling" by author Avery Lewis on her doormat one morning, Alex is intrigued by this latest offering which she assumes to be "another run of the mill thriller". As soon as she begins the book she finds herself drawn into the story of a woman found dead at the bottom of a Cornish cliff and the mystery surrounding her demise. But when the story takes a dip into the past introducing a couple who have made the journey from London to Cornwall to begin a new chapter of their lives, it isn't long before all isn't as it seems and Alex finds herself all the more intrigued.
Arriving late to work and thus late for the morning briefing, Alex finds herself in the crosshairs under the watchful eye of her boss. There was an interview and article she was meant to have already handed in but she has been unable to garner the interview, hashing out a lame article in its place. She's no sooner sent it off to her boss when she decides to look into who this Avery Lewis author is and she uncovers a startling piece of information. Ten months ago, Avery fell to her death from the very same cliffs as her character in her latest thriller and her body has yet to be found. Alex is speechless. Coincidence, surely? Or surely not?
After pitching an idea to her boss, who reluctantly agrees it may be a good story, Alex packs herself and her sister Athena off to Cornwall for a week chasing answers which will hopefully see her write the article that will be the making of her career. The sisters stay at the farm on which Avery and her husband Joe lived that seemingly inspired the author.
Throughout the book, Alex finds many similarities between the character Rebecca and Avery's situations...right down to the move from London to Cornwall, the farm and guesthouse and the cliff from which both women fell. Both women had attentive husbands but Rebecca's became abusive when the money began to run out. Avery's husband Joe is nothing like that and appears to be heartbroken at the disappearance and possible death of his wife. But the more she reads of "Falling" and learns about Avery, the more Alex begins to think that this is more than a coincidence. Did Avery have a premonition of her own death and use it as a basis for a story? Or did someone take her story and make it reality?
What an interesting concept for a thriller! A story within a story. I found the premise fascinating and the story fast paced and atmospheric. Admittedly, Cornwall is always a drawcard for me in thrillers. There is something so atmospheric about it that if I see a book is set there I'm drawn to it.
This is the third Karen Cole thriller I've read and I always enjoy them, each of them including that Cypriot touch. WHEN SHE FELL wasn't really what I had expected but it was still a compelling and intriguing quick read that I read in one sitting. I liked Alex and adored Athena, but I really had to question some of Alex's choices and decisions. I mean, one of the key paths she took in the story screamed warnings at me - even Athena tried reasoning with her but Alex's mind was made up. However, had the story not taken that turn then it wouldn't have ended up the way it did I guess. There was a method to Cole's madness in the plot...
Overall, WHEN SHE FELL is an intriguing tale of two stories that are inadvertently entangled together and would appeal to psychological thriller fans. Certainly a compelling read if you like a quick thriller!
I would like to thank #KarenCole, #Netgalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #WhenSheFell in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Did she jump? Or was she pushed?
Alex Georgiou is a young and ambitious journalist who fears her job is on the line. But when she comes up with an idea for an article with a sort of "life imitating art" concept, she has no idea just what a can of worms she is opening.
As a blogger in her spare time, publishers often send Alex books to review for publicity purposes. So when she finds a copy of "Falling" by author Avery Lewis on her doormat one morning, Alex is intrigued by this latest offering which she assumes to be "another run of the mill thriller". As soon as she begins the book she finds herself drawn into the story of a woman found dead at the bottom of a Cornish cliff and the mystery surrounding her demise. But when the story takes a dip into the past introducing a couple who have made the journey from London to Cornwall to begin a new chapter of their lives, it isn't long before all isn't as it seems and Alex finds herself all the more intrigued.
Arriving late to work and thus late for the morning briefing, Alex finds herself in the crosshairs under the watchful eye of her boss. There was an interview and article she was meant to have already handed in but she has been unable to garner the interview, hashing out a lame article in its place. She's no sooner sent it off to her boss when she decides to look into who this Avery Lewis author is and she uncovers a startling piece of information. Ten months ago, Avery fell to her death from the very same cliffs as her character in her latest thriller and her body has yet to be found. Alex is speechless. Coincidence, surely? Or surely not?
After pitching an idea to her boss, who reluctantly agrees it may be a good story, Alex packs herself and her sister Athena off to Cornwall for a week chasing answers which will hopefully see her write the article that will be the making of her career. The sisters stay at the farm on which Avery and her husband Joe lived that seemingly inspired the author.
Throughout the book, Alex finds many similarities between the character Rebecca and Avery's situations...right down to the move from London to Cornwall, the farm and guesthouse and the cliff from which both women fell. Both women had attentive husbands but Rebecca's became abusive when the money began to run out. Avery's husband Joe is nothing like that and appears to be heartbroken at the disappearance and possible death of his wife. But the more she reads of "Falling" and learns about Avery, the more Alex begins to think that this is more than a coincidence. Did Avery have a premonition of her own death and use it as a basis for a story? Or did someone take her story and make it reality?
What an interesting concept for a thriller! A story within a story. I found the premise fascinating and the story fast paced and atmospheric. Admittedly, Cornwall is always a drawcard for me in thrillers. There is something so atmospheric about it that if I see a book is set there I'm drawn to it.
This is the third Karen Cole thriller I've read and I always enjoy them, each of them including that Cypriot touch. WHEN SHE FELL wasn't really what I had expected but it was still a compelling and intriguing quick read that I read in one sitting. I liked Alex and adored Athena, but I really had to question some of Alex's choices and decisions. I mean, one of the key paths she took in the story screamed warnings at me - even Athena tried reasoning with her but Alex's mind was made up. However, had the story not taken that turn then it wouldn't have ended up the way it did I guess. There was a method to Cole's madness in the plot...
Overall, WHEN SHE FELL is an intriguing tale of two stories that are inadvertently entangled together and would appeal to psychological thriller fans. Certainly a compelling read if you like a quick thriller!
I would like to thank #KarenCole, #Netgalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #WhenSheFell in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 4, 2022
This is the first book i read by Karen Cole and it was quite a ride as it kept me on the edge and I was surprised by the twists.
A well plotted, fast paced and gripping story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
A well plotted, fast paced and gripping story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
July 7, 2023
A very interesting premise. A book lands up on a journalist's doorstep. The author is dead and there are unexplained similarities between her death and her last published book. This just never really took off for me though. Everything seemed rushed and a little too convenient to be believable. All in all, I'm glad I read it. I wuld just liked to have more buildup and things fleshed out a bit more.
September 3, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for graciously allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Alex, a London journalist, mysteriously receives a copy of a new book on her doorstep. She starts reading it, then goes online to learn more about the author - only to find the author died in the exact same way as the protagonist in the book!
This book was a quick, fun read. It was easy to get into, and kept me entertained the whole way through. The ending is not predictable, which keeps the reader guessing throughout.
It's my first book by Karen Cole, and will definitely be reading others.
Alex, a London journalist, mysteriously receives a copy of a new book on her doorstep. She starts reading it, then goes online to learn more about the author - only to find the author died in the exact same way as the protagonist in the book!
This book was a quick, fun read. It was easy to get into, and kept me entertained the whole way through. The ending is not predictable, which keeps the reader guessing throughout.
It's my first book by Karen Cole, and will definitely be reading others.
August 23, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alex is a young journalist who fears she could be on the chopping block at her newspaper, so when she received an copy of a book to review and learns that the author is dead and died in a similar manner as the main character, she thinks it could be her big story, and decides to investigate. She takes her younger sister with her and rents the cottage on the author's property, where her late husband still resides. Not long after she arrives it seems someone doesn't want her there.
This was a good quick read. It was nothing ground breaking or earth shattering, but it was good entertainment for a few hours. I like this author and wish she would go back to the Cyprus setting that I found so interesting in a previous book of hers. I will continue reading her next offerings.
Alex is a young journalist who fears she could be on the chopping block at her newspaper, so when she received an copy of a book to review and learns that the author is dead and died in a similar manner as the main character, she thinks it could be her big story, and decides to investigate. She takes her younger sister with her and rents the cottage on the author's property, where her late husband still resides. Not long after she arrives it seems someone doesn't want her there.
This was a good quick read. It was nothing ground breaking or earth shattering, but it was good entertainment for a few hours. I like this author and wish she would go back to the Cyprus setting that I found so interesting in a previous book of hers. I will continue reading her next offerings.
May 9, 2023
*Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy of When She Fell in exchange for my honest review.
This book started off with a lot of promise. I was instantly drawn to Alex and her sister. As the story progressed I felt like the pace stalled and just dragged on until the end when there was twist after twist, that it just seemed too out there. I get that when reading you have to let go of reality and let the story take you, but this one was a bit too much for my liking.
I loved the book within the book concept and honestly would have loved to read "Falling" as well.
This book started off with a lot of promise. I was instantly drawn to Alex and her sister. As the story progressed I felt like the pace stalled and just dragged on until the end when there was twist after twist, that it just seemed too out there. I get that when reading you have to let go of reality and let the story take you, but this one was a bit too much for my liking.
I loved the book within the book concept and honestly would have loved to read "Falling" as well.
November 8, 2022
Writer dies in shockingly similar circumstances to a character in her latest novel? It's such a good idea for a book, I was surprised I hadn't read it already.
Karen Cole's latest novel, When She Fell, has everything I like in a thriller. Moody, atmospheric setting? Check. Brooding and handsome male love interest? Check. Too-impossible-to-be-true hook? Double check.
We follow Alex, an ambitious journalist who desperately needs a good scoop if she's to keep her job. It also appears that Alex reviews books in her spare time - and that's where Avery's final novel comes in.
Avery died after walking along cliffs during a storm, in a death that closely mirrors that of her final novel's protagonist. Spurred on by the potential article in the similarities, she travels to Cornwall and stays at the guest house of Avery's widowed husband, Joe.
The longer Alex spends at Avery's home, the more she suspects that not all is as it seems...
Cole quickly establishes the parallels between Avery's life and death, and those of her fictional counterpart. This hook kept me reading, but Cole wisely takes her time getting Alex to Cornwall and into the thick of the plot.
I find sometimes with high-concept thrillers that the protagonist gets swept along all to readily. There is an element of that with Alex, but Cole spends long enough building up our understanding of her, and her current circumstances, that the whole scenario of the novel feels plausible.
It was also really refreshing to read about a character who needs to take time to unwind... by reading. As someone who reads for pleasure and to de-stress all the time, I realised I rarely come across that in novels.
Overall I thought the opening was well paced and did a great job of establishing Alex as our central character.
On the character front, there are surprisingly few players and suspects in the novel. I didn't mind this, but I did find myself wondering, at times, whether Cole was going to pull a deus ex machina and produce a very minor character as key to the twist.
I can't say too much without giving away major spoilers, but the way relationships develop and the tensions between Alex and others feels very natural, if sometimes a little compressed in its timeline.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Alex and her sister, Athena. It gives us a much-needed voice of reason, and their sisterly conversations provide a great deal of insight into Alex, and her past.
Whoever wrote the blurb for When She Fell wasn't lying when they said it was twisty! I did find myself falling foul of a few of Cole's red herrings, and the high-stakes ending did have me up late and rushing to finish.
Again - I can say frustratingly little without giving the game away, but it was a very satisfactory ending. I would also say a lot of the things I found to be very convenient about the book were clearly deliberate by its end - always a strong way to end!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed When She Fell. I thought the setting and the characters were excellent, and it delivered on its high concept art-mirroring-life hook.
I've long been a fan of Quercus - the imprint that bought me Dr Ruth Galloway - and this is another smash hit from them.
I think When She Fell would make an excellent audible listen and I look forward to reading more from Karen Cole in future!
I was given a free advanced-reader copy of this book, in exchange for a review.
Karen Cole's latest novel, When She Fell, has everything I like in a thriller. Moody, atmospheric setting? Check. Brooding and handsome male love interest? Check. Too-impossible-to-be-true hook? Double check.
We follow Alex, an ambitious journalist who desperately needs a good scoop if she's to keep her job. It also appears that Alex reviews books in her spare time - and that's where Avery's final novel comes in.
Avery died after walking along cliffs during a storm, in a death that closely mirrors that of her final novel's protagonist. Spurred on by the potential article in the similarities, she travels to Cornwall and stays at the guest house of Avery's widowed husband, Joe.
The longer Alex spends at Avery's home, the more she suspects that not all is as it seems...
Cole quickly establishes the parallels between Avery's life and death, and those of her fictional counterpart. This hook kept me reading, but Cole wisely takes her time getting Alex to Cornwall and into the thick of the plot.
I find sometimes with high-concept thrillers that the protagonist gets swept along all to readily. There is an element of that with Alex, but Cole spends long enough building up our understanding of her, and her current circumstances, that the whole scenario of the novel feels plausible.
It was also really refreshing to read about a character who needs to take time to unwind... by reading. As someone who reads for pleasure and to de-stress all the time, I realised I rarely come across that in novels.
Overall I thought the opening was well paced and did a great job of establishing Alex as our central character.
On the character front, there are surprisingly few players and suspects in the novel. I didn't mind this, but I did find myself wondering, at times, whether Cole was going to pull a deus ex machina and produce a very minor character as key to the twist.
I can't say too much without giving away major spoilers, but the way relationships develop and the tensions between Alex and others feels very natural, if sometimes a little compressed in its timeline.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Alex and her sister, Athena. It gives us a much-needed voice of reason, and their sisterly conversations provide a great deal of insight into Alex, and her past.
Whoever wrote the blurb for When She Fell wasn't lying when they said it was twisty! I did find myself falling foul of a few of Cole's red herrings, and the high-stakes ending did have me up late and rushing to finish.
Again - I can say frustratingly little without giving the game away, but it was a very satisfactory ending. I would also say a lot of the things I found to be very convenient about the book were clearly deliberate by its end - always a strong way to end!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed When She Fell. I thought the setting and the characters were excellent, and it delivered on its high concept art-mirroring-life hook.
I've long been a fan of Quercus - the imprint that bought me Dr Ruth Galloway - and this is another smash hit from them.
I think When She Fell would make an excellent audible listen and I look forward to reading more from Karen Cole in future!
I was given a free advanced-reader copy of this book, in exchange for a review.
November 8, 2022
Ooo... this was something a little bit different for me to get my teeth into. And I blooming loved it. We start with Alex Fokas, journalist, who is confused when she is sent a copy of a book by an obscure author. It's called Falling and it is by author Avery Lewis and from what she reads on the blurb, is about the murder of a woman who is pushed off a cliff. Her confusion is compounded and her interest is piqued more by what accompanies the book. There is an article about the author. Her death. From drowning. From falling off, yes you guessed it, the same cliff... Dum Dum Daaaa!
So, journalist, interest piqued, she does what everyone else would do... ups sticks and travels to Cornwall for further research... and that's all you're getting from me! No spoilers. But suffice to say that madness and mayhem ensue, as well as a slice or peril. And, interestingly enough, a splodge of romance... Nothing is what it seems, let alone why Alex was sent the book, and by whom...
This hit the ground running for me. held me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end exhausted, but wholly satisfied. I really did get all caught up in the shenanigans and, although on occasion a tad predictable, kept me guessing the majority all the way through.
As you would expect, we have secrets lies and more than a healthy dose of dysfunctional behaviour, all wrapped up in rather interesting and intriguing mystery. With a cast of suspects all well drawn and acting their parts well. Alex herself is easy to connect to and, apart from being a bit naive on occasion, does well in her task. And the ending, when it came... shocking!
All in all, another winner from one of my go to authors. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, journalist, interest piqued, she does what everyone else would do... ups sticks and travels to Cornwall for further research... and that's all you're getting from me! No spoilers. But suffice to say that madness and mayhem ensue, as well as a slice or peril. And, interestingly enough, a splodge of romance... Nothing is what it seems, let alone why Alex was sent the book, and by whom...
This hit the ground running for me. held me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end exhausted, but wholly satisfied. I really did get all caught up in the shenanigans and, although on occasion a tad predictable, kept me guessing the majority all the way through.
As you would expect, we have secrets lies and more than a healthy dose of dysfunctional behaviour, all wrapped up in rather interesting and intriguing mystery. With a cast of suspects all well drawn and acting their parts well. Alex herself is easy to connect to and, apart from being a bit naive on occasion, does well in her task. And the ending, when it came... shocking!
All in all, another winner from one of my go to authors. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
November 9, 2022
This is my first read by Karen Cole and I really enjoyed this novel, full of descriptive and intriguing characters this will keep a reader engrossed.
The blurb reads
"Alex Fokas, a young and ambitious journalist, is surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. Falling by Avery Lewis is a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff.
Along with the book Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and her body still hasn't been found.
Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article. She stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
One question keeps playing on Alex's mind - did Avery fall or was she pushed?"
We meet Alex, a journalist who has been sent a book by an author who writes about person who has been murdered by being pushed off a cliff, intrigued it pulls Alex into this story so she investigates further only to find out that the author has herself been murdered in exactly the same way as her main character in the novel. Alex decides to investigate further and finds herself in Cornwall where the book is set and also where Avery has been killed.
This novel is full of dark and twisty turns and is a good novel to get engrossed in. I enjoyed the writing and reading about the contrasting characters and will look out for further Karen Cole novels.
Thanks to Netgalley, Karen Cole and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The blurb reads
"Alex Fokas, a young and ambitious journalist, is surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. Falling by Avery Lewis is a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff.
Along with the book Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and her body still hasn't been found.
Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article. She stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
One question keeps playing on Alex's mind - did Avery fall or was she pushed?"
We meet Alex, a journalist who has been sent a book by an author who writes about person who has been murdered by being pushed off a cliff, intrigued it pulls Alex into this story so she investigates further only to find out that the author has herself been murdered in exactly the same way as her main character in the novel. Alex decides to investigate further and finds herself in Cornwall where the book is set and also where Avery has been killed.
This novel is full of dark and twisty turns and is a good novel to get engrossed in. I enjoyed the writing and reading about the contrasting characters and will look out for further Karen Cole novels.
Thanks to Netgalley, Karen Cole and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2022
When She Fell is a classic whodunnit thriller, and was a good autumnal read with plenty of clue-solving to keep the reader busy.
Read it if: you like your mysteries in a spooky coastal setting.
Don’t read it if: you’re scared of heights.
The premise of this book is very enticing and has a “life imitating art” theme. A novelist, Avery Lewis, falls from a cliff to her death, piquing a journalist’s interest when she is sent the latest novel from the deceased author. As the journalist explores the book, it becomes apparent that the novel’s protagonist to share some very spooky similarities with Avery’s life. I really enjoyed the unique experience of not only reading “When She Fell” but reading Avery’s novel too, and wondering how far coincidences can go.
The middle to second-half of the book moves very quickly, almost to the point of being unbelievable. Relationships develop at a rapid rate which seemed quite unrealistic and a little rushed. It gave me the same feeling that I get when I watch a horror film and watch the main character make a series of very far-fetched, unbearably bad decisions that you know will end badly.
Overall, the storyline is very gripping and the ending is very dramatic and satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read it if: you like your mysteries in a spooky coastal setting.
Don’t read it if: you’re scared of heights.
The premise of this book is very enticing and has a “life imitating art” theme. A novelist, Avery Lewis, falls from a cliff to her death, piquing a journalist’s interest when she is sent the latest novel from the deceased author. As the journalist explores the book, it becomes apparent that the novel’s protagonist to share some very spooky similarities with Avery’s life. I really enjoyed the unique experience of not only reading “When She Fell” but reading Avery’s novel too, and wondering how far coincidences can go.
The middle to second-half of the book moves very quickly, almost to the point of being unbelievable. Relationships develop at a rapid rate which seemed quite unrealistic and a little rushed. It gave me the same feeling that I get when I watch a horror film and watch the main character make a series of very far-fetched, unbearably bad decisions that you know will end badly.
Overall, the storyline is very gripping and the ending is very dramatic and satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2022
When She Fell by Karen Cole was so good I was hooked from the beginning till the last chapter which was a good page turner, I did not want this book to end, I loved it especially the main character Alex Fokas, who is a young and very ambitious journalist. She was surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. The book was Falling by Avery Lewis, it was a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff. The book was also sent with a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning.
She fell from the same cliff as the main character in her latest book and her body still hasn't been found.
Being and very ambitious journalist Alex asks for some time off and travels down to Cornwall to research this story for an article that hopefully make her in the newspaper industry. Alex and her younger sister stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
WoW this book is So good and I highly recommend it. 5 stars from me.
Thank you NetGalley, Quercus Books and Karen Cole for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She fell from the same cliff as the main character in her latest book and her body still hasn't been found.
Being and very ambitious journalist Alex asks for some time off and travels down to Cornwall to research this story for an article that hopefully make her in the newspaper industry. Alex and her younger sister stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
WoW this book is So good and I highly recommend it. 5 stars from me.
Thank you NetGalley, Quercus Books and Karen Cole for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2022
I’m a huge fan of Karen’s books and so was delighted to see she’d written another one. I loved it!
This is a very cleverly written book, with the premise of a young ambitious journalist, Alex, upon receiving a copy of an author’s book, discovers that the author Avery’s recent death is mysteriously similar to the way a character Rebecca died in her latest thriller. Alex cannot help but investigate, leading to dark sinister secrets being uncovered.
I loved how snippets of Avery’s novel were expertly intertwined within the story, revealing more and more similarities between the character in Avery’s book and Avery’s real life. The relationship between Alex and her sister, Athena was realistic and charming. The dramatic Cornish coast with it’s storms and sheer rugged cliffs is beautifully captured and fitted perfectly within the eerie setting.
Just as you think you have this figured out (and I thought I did, multiple times!) the author throws in another curveball!
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the author, Karen Cole, publishers Quercus Books and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2023
This book was a solid three star read for me. I thought the premise of the book was super interesting, and something I hadn't read before, so my hopes were pretty high. Unfortunately, it just didn't meet my expectations. The main character, Alex, was not overly likeable. I thought that she was gullible - especially for a journalist who is doing an investigative piece - and she kind of got on my nerves.
The twist to the book was one I definitely didn't see coming - especially since there was a twist after the twist. Those two twists are the thing that really saved this review from being a one star. Another thing that kept the book from being rated higher is that, in my opinion, the ending went way further than it needed to. It felt like it was dragged out for a reason I am unsure of.
I wish I liked the characters more, but I do appreciate when an author is able to pull off twists - especially when I'm so sure that I know what happened. Overall, there were a bunch of things that made this book just an okay read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mobius Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The twist to the book was one I definitely didn't see coming - especially since there was a twist after the twist. Those two twists are the thing that really saved this review from being a one star. Another thing that kept the book from being rated higher is that, in my opinion, the ending went way further than it needed to. It felt like it was dragged out for a reason I am unsure of.
I wish I liked the characters more, but I do appreciate when an author is able to pull off twists - especially when I'm so sure that I know what happened. Overall, there were a bunch of things that made this book just an okay read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mobius Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2022
Alex Fokas, a young and ambitious journalist, is surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. Falling by Avery Lewis is a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff.
Along with the book Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and her body still hasn't been found.
Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article. She stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
One question keeps playing on Alex's mind did Avery fall or was she pushed?
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Quercus Books
I just reviewed When She Fell by Karen Cole. #WhenSheFell #NetGalley
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Quercus Books
I just reviewed When She Fell by Karen Cole. #WhenSheFell #NetGalley
August 16, 2022
Alex Fokas, a young and ambitious journalist, is surprised when a book by an obscure author is sent to her in the post. Falling by Avery Lewis is a thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff.
Along with the book Alex is sent a newspaper article about Avery's recent death by accidental drowning. She fell from the same cliff as the character in her book and her body still hasn't been found.
Intrigued and disturbed, Alex travels to Cornwall to research the story for an article. She stays in a holiday cottage on the farm where Avery lived. Everything there is eerily similar to the book and Alex begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems.
One question keeps playing on Alex's mind did Avery fall or was she pushed?
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Quercus Books
I just reviewed When She Fell by Karen Cole. #WhenSheFell #NetGalley
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Quercus Books
I just reviewed When She Fell by Karen Cole. #WhenSheFell #NetGalley
November 14, 2022
When She Fell by Karen Cole is a fast-paced, well-written, immersive thriller. Alex, a journalist, is at odds with her career and relationships and is weary of the mundane. All of this suddenly changes when a book written by Avery appears at her doorstep. With a few clicks, Alex realises that the author has vanished in an identical way highlighted in her book. Talk about fiction meeting reality! One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed was how Karen seamlessly integrated parts of Avery's novel into the plot. While I knew who the culprit was, which reduced the shock factor, the execution was simply brilliant. The connection between the main and supporting characters was well developed and explored. Do not skip this read if you're a fan of domestic thrillers, investigations and suspense. A 4.5-star read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.
March 7, 2023
This book is set in Cornwall and is a gripping psychological thriller. Alex is a struggling journalist who is desperately in need of a scoop to secure her job. She also reviews books and becomes intrigued when she receives a copy of a book by Avery Lewis. It is called Falling in which the main character dies after falling from a cliff. What makes it more mysterious is that is exactly how Avery herself died and her body has never been found. Alex decides to investigate as this may be the story that makes her. She travels to Cornwall with her sister Athena for further research and stays in a holiday cottage on the fam where Avery lived with her husband Joe. Everything seems similar to the book but it soon becomes evident that someone doesn’t want her there. There are plenty of secrets and lies which makes an intriguing mystery. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for giving me the opportunities to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for giving me the opportunities to read and review this book.
October 9, 2023
Karen Cole writes good suspense-domestic noir novels and this one starts really well when a journalist, Alex, receives a book to review written by an author, Avery, whom she is not familiar with. She begins to read the book, googles the author and to her surprise discovers that this author has just died - in exactly the same circumstances in her novel. As I settled in to enjoy this intriguing story, Alex makes a sudden decision to visit Avery’s home in a little coastal village to investigate this rather bizarre coincidence. The first thing, I, or any other intelligent woman would do is to finish the book before rushing off to write the story, right? Not Alex, a smart, well educated, independent woman. Meeting the grieving husband gives her tingles, has she finished the book yet, no. Instead we have a dual story of Alex falling and moving in with this man, This additional narrative spoilt the story which could have been more suspenseful without it.
June 4, 2023
It's never a good sign when, as I'm reading, I keep checking how much is left and am shocked by how far I have left to go. This book felt incredibly slow. Then things picked up, but felt unrealistic. If I love the characters enough, I can suspend belief at least to some degree, but this one just kept throwing things at me that were unbelievable and I didn't live the characters enough. After the twists are finally revealed, it then drags on even more. I feel there are definitely the makings of a decent mystery here, but it just felt like it needed more work to really get there. This was my first book from this author; not sure I'll go back for a second.
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, Mobius Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, Mobius Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 1, 2023
Alex is a journalist and book reviewer in London who lives with her sister. One day, she receives a copy of a book in the mail. The book is a mystery/thriller about a woman who is pushed off a cliff and the investigation into her murder. When Alex researches the author, she finds out that almost a year ago, she fell off the cliff from her book and is presumed dead. Alex decides to go to this sea town to investigate and write the story. However, she soon finds herself drawn to the author’s husband. Alex doesn’t know who to trust though.
I enjoyed this thriller a lot! There were lots of good twists and turns!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this thriller a lot! There were lots of good twists and turns!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Book Group, Mobius Books for the copy of When She Fell by Karen Cole. What an intriguing premise this book had. A thriller about a woman who is murdered by being pushed off a cliff and then the author is killed after falling off the same cliff. Unfortunately, the writing never really drew me in and the characters felt generic. And the adult women all had first names that started with ‘A’ - ugh!
I started to get bored about halfway through and then the book took a really odd and implausible turn. If you love books with an unexpected huge twist, you will love this book. It just wasn’t for me because I didn't enjoy the twist or the lead up to it.
I started to get bored about halfway through and then the book took a really odd and implausible turn. If you love books with an unexpected huge twist, you will love this book. It just wasn’t for me because I didn't enjoy the twist or the lead up to it.
January 29, 2023
Definitely addictive.
I was on the last 5 chapters and chose to forego sleep and read how it ends because I was hooked - I wanted to know how it ends.
I’m slightly disappointed with how Avery Lewis did end up dying - oh well.
Other than that, in the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure if Avery was really dead. I was also trying to guess was it Charlie, Joe or someone else who murdered her.
So definitely a psychological thriller.
There are themes of abuse in this book, which are mentioned, and self-harm.
I was on the last 5 chapters and chose to forego sleep and read how it ends because I was hooked - I wanted to know how it ends.
I’m slightly disappointed with how Avery Lewis did end up dying - oh well.
Other than that, in the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure if Avery was really dead. I was also trying to guess was it Charlie, Joe or someone else who murdered her.
So definitely a psychological thriller.
There are themes of abuse in this book, which are mentioned, and self-harm.
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