38 reviews for:

The Fall Girl

Marcia Clark

3.47 AVERAGE

shereadsceaselessly's review

4.0

I am a huge fan of [a:Marcia Clark|276470|Marcia Clark|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298671408p2/276470.jpg] as an author, because she writes realistically strong, smart and gritty women working in tough professions and tackling tough life choices. Her characters work hard, live up (never down) to people's expectations, and get the kinds of results that make people stand up and notice. Who doesn't enjoy a story like that?

When I saw she had a new book out, I was ecstatic. I got my hands on [b:The Fall Girl|60311671|The Fall Girl|Marcia Clark|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653951566l/60311671._SY75_.jpg|95082272] and devoured it in two days. It wasn't the best Clark has ever written, but she created two very complex women in even more complex situations, and I found their stories compelling right up to the very end.

Was everything in the setup and execution of the plot completely plausible? No, but I was willing to overlook some incredible stuff just to get to the meat of the action and mystery. I took off one star for that, but the fangirl in me forged ahead unperturbed because I was having fun reading this one, and that counts for a lot.

What's best: I SMELL A NEW SERIES!

deannav's review

3.75
fast-paced

A bit cheesy at the end. 

beckimoody29's review

4.0

This wasn't bad. The main character is on the run from someone (not a spoiler -- you know that at the beginning just not the details). She has changed her name, moved away, and taken a new job as an assistant to the hotshot prosecutor who has just won a big case. However, both women have secrets, and those secrets will begin to overlap in terrifying ways. I would have liked more courtroom stuff and less "action thriller/fight scenes" stuff. The main character is self-destructive in a way that may be realistic, but makes her hard to root for. I thought she was the weakest part of the book. I was far more interested in what was going on in the other case that was barely mentioned most of the time. I did NOT see the ending of that part and felt it was satisfying. Overall, the writing is good and it was an interesting story.
4tticb's profile picture

4tticb's review

1.5

This sounded so good but didn't deliver.

mbranit's review

2.5
adventurous tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
judithdcollins's profile picture

judithdcollins's review

5.0

CAPTIVATING! My seventh book by the author and my favorite—her best yet! A taut, cleverly crafted murder mystery that will leave you guessing to the explosive ending.

Marcia Clark is a former LA, California deputy district attorney who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case, bestselling author, television correspondent, producer, frequent media commentator, and columnist on legal issues. She returns with a standalone riveting legal thriller—THE FALL GIRL.

Charlie Blair (Lauren Claybourne) is hiding from a monster from her past. She has a new identity after leaving Chicago and is now with the Santa Cruz DA's office. She must keep a low profile.

She worries about her family constantly and always looking over her shoulder for the monster. She could lose her job and life if anyone finds out about her.

Erika Lorman, a hotshot prosecutor, has just won a big case, making a name for herself. Now there is more pressure with a new high-profile murder case, and Charlie has been assigned her co-chair. Charlie does not need a high-profile case and needs to stay out of the press and limelight.

The case is a murder of a local bail bondsman Shelly Hansen and the daughter is the top suspect. Is she guilty or innocent?

Charlie and Erika both are keeping secrets, and both are from a highly abusive background. We learn more about both pasts and how their past have shaped their present. They have more in common than they know, if only they could communicate on a more personal level.

Ericka will stop at nothing to win with the help of Skip. How far is she willing to go, crossing moral lines while throwing her co-chair under the bus? She is also suffering from panic attacks and is worried about her brother. If anyone discovers what she is doing, she could lose her job and her license.

However, Charlie is brilliant, and she suspects something is wrong. She suspects the person on trial for murder is innocent, and she does not trust Erika. However, how will she go up against her? What will happen to the case?

In a twisted game of cat and mouse, the two women are supposed to be on the same side with two different agendas. Will blackmail work, or will Charlie step up against all odds to seek justice for the wrongly accused? Will Erika be willing to lose it all for the truth?

Wow! This is one riveting legal thriller with two strong, intelligent women with personal, abusive pasts that make for relatable characters. The author knows her way around a courtroom and is a talented writer.

I love legal thrillers—my favorite genre. The author does an outstanding job with character development, courtroom scenes, and investigative skills and dives deep into the human psyche, making this a must-read winner! There is a focus on complex themes of morality, conscience, and personal responsibility.

Reflecting on the author's past, both professionally and personally, THE FALL GIRL is a highly recommended read. For those who enjoy legal thrillers, strong women, intense courtroom scenes, storylines with an undercurrent of humanity, heartbreaking honesty, emotional depth, and a passionate search for justice.

I have read some of her earlier books, her Rachel Knight and Samantha Brinkman series; however, THE FALL GIRL is brilliantly written, and two characters, Charlie and Erika, that I thoroughly enjoyed and hope she brings back for a series!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and Cathy Lepard for an engaging and outstanding performance. Highly recommend the audiobook. Get this one on your list!

A special thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books, and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. I also have pre-ordered the hardcover.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sep 13, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars
Sept 2022 Must-Read Books
heatheradoresbooks's profile picture

heatheradoresbooks's review

3.0

3.25⭐

Featuring ~ dual 1st & 3rd person POV, lawyers, child abuse (on page by foster parent)

Lauren is on the run from an abusive relationship and changes her name to Charlie. She begins working at the DA's office beside, Erika, the prosecutor. How she's able to do this I am not really sure. Would she have to retake the bar exam because of the name and state change?

"The Fall Girl" by Marcia Clark

This is the first novel I have read from the former lead prosecutor on the OJ Simpson case. I enjoyed this as an audiobook and really thought the Narrators did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life.

If you enjoy suspense, this book is for you. There were so many strings that Marcia left open to pull. I never knew what would happen. You know how sometimes you start a book and can tell by the 50-60% point exactly what is going to happen and who the bad guy is? This isn't that book - you will be guessing until the end as you maneuver the motivations at play for everyone involved in the story.

I really enjoyed the character development of Erica and Charlie and how much detail Marica put into their backstory. They felt like three-dimensional people with real fears, flaws, and hopes. The book dives deep into exploring what these characters of made of and what is eating them alive. By the end of the book, I was sad to see Erica and Charlie's stories end.

The Fall Girl was written in a way that made it easy to read or listen to. The chapters were concise but still packed with action. There are a few different plot lines running simultaneously, so having a dual POV really worked well for this novel.

Read this if you enjoy:

- suspense and thrillers
- crime and law stories
- Dual POV

Overall, I rated "The Fall Girl" a 3-star book. I did really enjoy the story but felt that there were a few missing pieces. I felt strung along with the development of Erica's brother, who ended up being a rather pointless character.

charleybelsly's review

4.0
mysterious tense fast-paced