*I received a free copy of Just Fall from Ballantine Books via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Just Fall by Nina Sadowsky Published by Ballantine Books on 22 March 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
On the night of her wedding to Rob, Ellie’s perfect world suddenly collapses. Her suave, charming, sophisticated husband is not the man she believed him to be. Could he really be a killer?
Ellie is rapidly swept into a lethal vortex of betrayal, lies, and uncertainty: Who is the man she married, really?
And how far will she go to protect him?
From Manhattan to the Caribbean, Rob and Ellie struggle to escape the grip of Rob’s former life - a life his employers are determined to ensnare him in for good.
When faced with a terrible choice—to become a murderess herself to save the man she loves, or to let him die—Ellie’s decision propels her into a whiplash-paced adventure, filled with cinematic twists and a startling sense of unease.
Just Fall is a dark, mysterious psychological thriller where the characters go to extreme lengths to hide what horrors they are capable of.
Just Fall is a well done psychological thriller where the layers of the story, and the layers of the characters are slowly unpeeled, until only the dark, ugly horror is left for the world to see. Told in several different points of views, and from both the past and the present, the story unfolds in a way that makes it hard to put the book down. At the beginning, it read as something between a love story and a horror story, where one of the main characters, Ellie, is observed by an external narrator who is speculating about what she is doing, and who she is with at a very dark moment.
I loved that there were several sub-plots that happened parallel to the main plot, and there were more than one story-line as well. I was immediately drawn in by Ellie, and her new relationship with Rob. They seemed to be such a normal couple in the beginning, but as their layers were slowly taken away, there was so much more to them than what met the eyes. Just Fall is the kind of mystery and suspense where the dark deeds of the characters are told with a certain detachment, and this detachment makes their actions seem both distant and somehow more gruesome at the same time.
More time was spent with Ellie and her inner thoughts than with the other characters, and that worked really well for me! While Ellie wasn’t necessarily the kind of main character I usually fall for, there was something about her that made me want to know her story, understand the reasons behind what she was doing, and her want for love and understanding. As the story unfolded, it became more and more complex, but never to the point of not making sense, and I enjoyed everything that transpired on the beautiful island of St. Lucia.
If you are looking for a slightly muted horror story, where the characters move everything, and where you will be left wondering what is truly going on until the very end, you should pick up Just Fall and see just where it takes you.
The next five years were absorbed by Mary Ann’s illness, like a sponge soaking up a rancid spill. Ellie’s parents were always at the hospital or seeking out some experimental cure. Ellie’s failures, her triumphs, her strivings and dilemmas, went unnoticed because Mary Ann took everything.
Stealth had stuck as a nickname. Ellie liked being called Stealth. It completely suited who she wanted to be in college, a departure from the inherited notoriety that had surrounded her when she was ‘the girl whose sister died.’ She was seen in her own right and had a cool nickname, one that also spoke to being unseen, which felt like a private little irony.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I’ve seen this one around, but your review tells me everything I thought was nothing like the book in reality lol! It’s a tense book isn’t it? I already feel tense reading the review!
It’s definitely tense, and the reader is kept in the dark for a long time, which was really well done, Veruska!
Twitter: Mlsimmons
This sounds like a great story. I just added it to my TBR list. I see that there will be an audio. I’ll have to check it out. 🙂
It was really good, Melanie, and I’m so happy you’ll be able to get it in audio 🙂
OOOOOOH! I adore Psychological Thrillers, ESPECIALLY if they can keep me guessing! I think my favourite one (I’m not sure if it’s really a Psych thriller, but it is DEFINITELY a thriller) is the Snapped Series by Ketley Allison. Have you read them?
I haven’t read the Snapped series, Aditi, but I’m definitely going to check it out. I love psychological thrillers that are chilling and keep me guessing too 🙂
Wow, sounds like a rollercoaster ride of a book. I usually enjoy thrillers, and this one has a particulary interesting premise.
It was definitely a rollercoaster, Majanka! And it was very interesting!
I used to devour mystery books, particularly older ones, but I stopped for some reason, but I’ve been getting back to it. This one sounds fantastic! I’m especially very cruious about these characters. I’m going to have to be on the lookout for this one!
Great convincing review, Lexxie! 🙂
P.S Did you request/see I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Ian Reid from NetGalley? I read it a few weeks ago and it BLEW my mind! Definitely a suspense title I recommend! 🙂
Oh if you enjoy mysteries, you should definitely try this one, Nick! It was very well done, and the characters had so many different facets to their personalities.
I have requested I’m Thinking of Ending Things, we’ll see what happens 😀
Okay, Just Fall is another book that I was curious about after seeing it on your StS post and it seems to have lived up to my (and your) expectations. Seriously Lexxie, just reading your review about the mystery, suspense, and the characters kinda gave me goosebumps. You know I like a good psychological thriller and Just Fall is moving up in priority in the queue. 😉 Great review!
I hope you’re having a fantastically, marvelous Monday, my friend!! Happy Birthday! <3 *BIG HUGS*
Oh my goodness, Brandee, it was so good! The characters were really well done, and the story unfolded in such a way that it was impossible to figure out what would happen. I’m pretty sure you’ll love this.
*BIG HUGS*
Oh this is totally my kind of book! This is going on the master reading list for sure! 😀
Christy, you are going to really enjoy this, I’m pretty sure of it 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you think of it once you get to it!
Twitter: talksupeblog
Oh wow, this sounds so good, Lexxie. Just my kind of read.
(Advance) Happy Birthday!
It was awesome, Braine! You should pick it up 😉
I would probably not pick this one up based on the cover but I will now! I love horror and the addition of romance is awesome. I am so glad that you enjoyed this one, Lexxie! Great review!
It was so full of surprises, Carole, and the characters were so well done!
Twitter: Mollykatie112
Oh now this kind of book used to be my kind of book..still is at times and I admit to being intrigued by your review. Going to add it to my wish list. Great review!
I do love the sound of this one! Thanks for sharing…I like the description of the narrative as somewhat detached…that style always makes the story and the characters so chilling.