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angrygreycatreads's review
4.0
Ruin Falls was an excellent read and is second book I have read by Jenny Milchman. This book explores the theme of “do you every really know someone”. In this case a wife and mother has to face up to the fact that she doesn’t really know her husband and it could cost her her children. 4 out of 5 stars
gregread's review
3.0
This book had an interesting premise and the mystery was intriguing, but it felt a little half-done. There was some disconnect in her writing style that I found jarring. I also think certain background areas weren't fleshed out enough.
writerrhiannon's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, I don't usually like reading thrillers. It's just too much. I'm also a big scaredy cat when it comes to horror. But I wanted something edgy to suit the season. After much deliberation, Tamara and I chose this novel as our October Book Talk feature and I have to say: It was perfect! I'll get into specifics in our spoiler posts but, in general it was exactly what a thriller should be: Fast-paced, believable actions by the protagonist, and correctly spaced clues. Rarely, do I find a book that I literally can't put down, but I love it when I do. I believed Liz's reactions and even when she did something I might not have done, her actions were still believable. I hate reading a novel and the protagonist does everything opposite of logical. The same with a horror movie. I'm always like "Don't go further into the house/tunnel/scary space. Get out of the there!" Then the main character hides in the basement thinking "oh, the man with a chainsaw will never find me down here." This book wasn't like that, even when things started getting really strange and creepy. As for clues, Jenny Milchman provided just enough clues for a reader to stay connected and fell they were figuring things out at the same time as Liz.
I will definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no additional compensation.
I will definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no additional compensation.
jeanm333's review
3.0
Because I loved Cover of Snow, Jenny Milchman's first novel, I eagerly started Ruin Falls. I was disappointed; it was not as good.
The story involves Liz Daniels, whose children go missing on a family vacation. Liz quickly figures out who took them but she can't figure out why or where they are, so she begins to search, with help from a friend and a police chief.
I began to read, lost interest and got confused a couple of times. Milchman kept inserting stories about other people with no apparent link to the main story. I couldn't get interested in the main story because it kept getting interrupted. Finally I settled in to read, determined to get through. The story picked up, but the outside story lines kept intruding.
In the end, one of the extra stories seemed to have no purpose except to set up a suspenseful incident at the end. There were other brief mentions of people who popped into the book then disappeared with no explanation. Milchman admits there was a character who she added toward the end who "had to be there." I don't know what that means.
Milchman's big problem was that she didn't mention "Ruin Falls" - a place in the book and the title - until the very end. She missed the opportunity to build up foreshadowing and suspense by leaving this setting out.
I also didn't see any change in Liz, which is essential in my opinion. At the end, the resolution doesn't rely on her actions, but takes place without her.
A quick one-day read for me.
The story involves Liz Daniels, whose children go missing on a family vacation. Liz quickly figures out who took them but she can't figure out why or where they are, so she begins to search, with help from a friend and a police chief.
I began to read, lost interest and got confused a couple of times. Milchman kept inserting stories about other people with no apparent link to the main story. I couldn't get interested in the main story because it kept getting interrupted. Finally I settled in to read, determined to get through. The story picked up, but the outside story lines kept intruding.
In the end, one of the extra stories seemed to have no purpose except to set up a suspenseful incident at the end. There were other brief mentions of people who popped into the book then disappeared with no explanation. Milchman admits there was a character who she added toward the end who "had to be there." I don't know what that means.
Milchman's big problem was that she didn't mention "Ruin Falls" - a place in the book and the title - until the very end. She missed the opportunity to build up foreshadowing and suspense by leaving this setting out.
I also didn't see any change in Liz, which is essential in my opinion. At the end, the resolution doesn't rely on her actions, but takes place without her.
A quick one-day read for me.
kendracastle's review
2.0
This book was all over the place, and I just didn't find the plot at all convincing. I think the story could have benefited from keeping to only two POV characters (Liz and Kurt) - the other POV chapters seemed out of place and unnecessary, especially since the message board gave a reasonable way to reveal pertinent info about the others. Paul's character was hollow, and his motivations were difficult to believe across the board. I think this could have been really interesting, but wound up being a bit of a hot mess unfortunately.
scknitter's review
3.0
A rare family vacation quickly becomes a nightmare as Liz Daniels' children vanish from the hotel during the night. When her husband disappears later in the morning she discovers that he orchestrated their disappearance. The police will not get involved so Liz must figure out what happened on her own. As she delves deeper and deeper into Paul’s past and his relationship with his estranged parents she finds that she has much more to worry about than her husband taking the children. Ruin Falls is a tense psychological thriller that points out how easy it is to brainwash those who are vulnerable or weak and shows how a determined mother cannot be stopped
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