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clairereviews's review
4.0
Published by headline on 19th June 2014. Thanks to Sam Eades at headline for the proof copy of this book, which I received in return for an honest review.
Set in part on the beautiful Greek island of Ikaria, this book is about secrets.'How far would you go to protect your secrets?' asks the back cover header. Promising intrigue and more than a little danger, this novel appealed to my love of suspense. I was not disappointed.
We follow main character Kate as she goes about her life as a housewife to mega-rich Mark. Kate's life seems idyllic - she lives in a magnificent house, has access to more money than she knows what to do with, a wardrobe full of designer labels and a perfect family. Sound too good to be true?
We also follow teenager Emma as she travels alone in 1980, ending up in Greece. Here she makes friends with fellow Americans Jake and her lookalike Beattie. The trio throw themselves into the party lifestyle, with alcohol galore and more than a handful of Valium and slimming pills thrown in for good measure.
I found the characters well written and endearing, and the use of descriptive language made Greece and Ikaria come to life. The parallel stories were each given appropriate time to develop, so I felt I really got to know Kate and Emma.
Around the middle of the book I was floundering a bit, as I could feel that something big was approaching and I wasn't getting there fast enough!
There are a couple of big twists in this novel that I'd already sussed out before they were revealed, which was a little disappointing, but this didn't detract from the fact that this is a thoroughly good read. I'd recommend this to anyone with a love of suspense and/or thrillers particularly, but I'm sure it will appeal to a wide range of readers. 4.5/5 stars
Set in part on the beautiful Greek island of Ikaria, this book is about secrets.'How far would you go to protect your secrets?' asks the back cover header. Promising intrigue and more than a little danger, this novel appealed to my love of suspense. I was not disappointed.
We follow main character Kate as she goes about her life as a housewife to mega-rich Mark. Kate's life seems idyllic - she lives in a magnificent house, has access to more money than she knows what to do with, a wardrobe full of designer labels and a perfect family. Sound too good to be true?
We also follow teenager Emma as she travels alone in 1980, ending up in Greece. Here she makes friends with fellow Americans Jake and her lookalike Beattie. The trio throw themselves into the party lifestyle, with alcohol galore and more than a handful of Valium and slimming pills thrown in for good measure.
I found the characters well written and endearing, and the use of descriptive language made Greece and Ikaria come to life. The parallel stories were each given appropriate time to develop, so I felt I really got to know Kate and Emma.
Around the middle of the book I was floundering a bit, as I could feel that something big was approaching and I wasn't getting there fast enough!
There are a couple of big twists in this novel that I'd already sussed out before they were revealed, which was a little disappointing, but this didn't detract from the fact that this is a thoroughly good read. I'd recommend this to anyone with a love of suspense and/or thrillers particularly, but I'm sure it will appeal to a wide range of readers. 4.5/5 stars
myrdyr's review
2.0
I enjoyed the book right up until Part 3: After when the past catches up to the present. From that point on, I was just incredibly frustrated with Kate/Emma. She was so naive, I actually found her to be unbelievable. I also found the ending unsatisfying as everything wrapped up too neatly. This book left me feeling irritated, annoyed, and unfulfilled.
thebooktrail88's review
4.0
A book about a Backpacking journey that goes so horribly wrong….
come on the booktrail and see the locations for yourself with the booktrailer! - link: Booktrail to Ikaria
Greece 1980 - A young girl goes travelling alone and takes herself off to Greece where she enjoys exploring the islands and meeting new people.
She travels via Calais, Paris, before reaching Marseille. Some would say she should have turned back at this point. Before things really started going bad……
Travelling further to Milan, Athens and then finally to the island of Ikaria where she spends time with her two new friends Jake and Beattie. The party atmosphere is alive and well, the drink, the drugs and all that being young, free and single on a sun drenched island can entail.
But behind the backdrop of paradise, the dark clouds are descending…..
Present day London - Kate appears to have the perfect life. A husband, daughter and a happy home. But then someone from her past walks right in to this perfect set up and suddenly it doesn’t seem so perfect anymore.
For Kate has been hiding a secret for many years and when it threatens to spill out into her current life , she will go to any lengths to protect herself and her family.
When the two worlds collide, we are left wondering what on earth we would do to protect everything that we know and to keep hidden everything that we wanted to forget.
come on the booktrail and see the locations for yourself with the booktrailer! - link: Booktrail to Ikaria
Greece 1980 - A young girl goes travelling alone and takes herself off to Greece where she enjoys exploring the islands and meeting new people.
She travels via Calais, Paris, before reaching Marseille. Some would say she should have turned back at this point. Before things really started going bad……
Travelling further to Milan, Athens and then finally to the island of Ikaria where she spends time with her two new friends Jake and Beattie. The party atmosphere is alive and well, the drink, the drugs and all that being young, free and single on a sun drenched island can entail.
But behind the backdrop of paradise, the dark clouds are descending…..
Present day London - Kate appears to have the perfect life. A husband, daughter and a happy home. But then someone from her past walks right in to this perfect set up and suddenly it doesn’t seem so perfect anymore.
For Kate has been hiding a secret for many years and when it threatens to spill out into her current life , she will go to any lengths to protect herself and her family.
When the two worlds collide, we are left wondering what on earth we would do to protect everything that we know and to keep hidden everything that we wanted to forget.
steph1rothwell's review
5.0
If you like a quick entertaining read The Long Fall is for you. Part of the novel is set in the 1980s when Emma's holiday in Greece goes horribly wrong. I quite liked her but certain things I didn't care for, mainly her attitude towards her parents.
The other half is set in modern day. Now known as Kate, and living in a completely different world from 30 years earlier she is horrified when a face from the past brings back the horror of that holiday.
I loved the descriptions of Greece, back packing was never for me but Julia Crouch showed why it was so popular amongst the younger generation.
I guessed fairly early on what was going to happen but still really enjoyed the book.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via NetGalley.
The other half is set in modern day. Now known as Kate, and living in a completely different world from 30 years earlier she is horrified when a face from the past brings back the horror of that holiday.
I loved the descriptions of Greece, back packing was never for me but Julia Crouch showed why it was so popular amongst the younger generation.
I guessed fairly early on what was going to happen but still really enjoyed the book.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via NetGalley.
shelleyann01's review
2.0
The ending of this book completely ruined it for me. Also, I knew who the bad guy was before the middle of the book. Very disappointing as I loved the premise.
antheasaw's review
5.0
This book was fabulous! a whirlwind of a ride.
started off with a diary entry about traveling to Europe alone. it then transits to Kate with her perfect life (except for the part where her younger daughter died and she is still grieving).
the first third of the book goes back and forth from past to present. and it keeps the readers at the edge of their seats, wondering what the hell happened. why is there Kate and Emma. and how are they the same person.
the second half shows the journey of Emma in Europe. the mishaps she faced and the people she meet. it was really interesting.
I kind of saw the ending coming. but its still pretty well executed considering that it was predictable. I also liked how the author subtlely hints at an eating disorder Kate faced after her trauma. it wasn't in-your-face anorexia but slight hints here and there.
overall, love it! will definitely read more from this author
started off with a diary entry about traveling to Europe alone. it then transits to Kate with her perfect life (except for the part where her younger daughter died and she is still grieving).
the first third of the book goes back and forth from past to present. and it keeps the readers at the edge of their seats, wondering what the hell happened. why is there Kate and Emma. and how are they the same person.
the second half shows the journey of Emma in Europe. the mishaps she faced and the people she meet. it was really interesting.
I kind of saw the ending coming. but its still pretty well executed considering that it was predictable. I also liked how the author subtlely hints at an eating disorder Kate faced after her trauma. it wasn't in-your-face anorexia but slight hints here and there.
overall, love it! will definitely read more from this author
jackielaw's review
2.0
The Long Fall, by Julia Crouch, is described as a revenge thriller about a mother trying to protect her family. I found this aspect of the plot weak. The protagonist irritated me as so many of her actions reeked of stupidity. Her background may have been sheltered, but a working class girl clever enough to have been offered a place at Cambridge would be capable of critical thinking. The way she acted suggested a distinct lack of cognitive awareness.
Having said that, the first half of the book succeeded in drawing me in. The use of journal entries worked well and the characters were believable enough at this stage. Given their ages and the loneliness of the protagonist whilst travelling, it was possible to accept that she would act as described. Each reader comes to a book with their own personal life experiences colouring how they will respond to the unfolding tale, and I have yet to meet a young person as foolish as Emma, but I could swallow that such a girl may exist.
Having created the background and teased with sparse plot details, the build up to the key act was well written. Even though I knew what was coming I was eager to find out the hows and whys. This middle section was tense and enjoyable. Its conclusion left me satisfied and ready to continue with what was to happen next, the revenge. It was this which disappointed.
As soon as Beattie reappeared I guessed what was coming; not all of the finer details, but the gist of what was happening. A supposedly intelligent woman, even one with the many issues described, would not have walked so blindly into every trap set, would not have complied so meekly. I found too many contradictions in Emma. Whereas I could accept some stupidity in a nineteen year old, alone and afraid in a foreign land, it was harder to believe that a woman with the life experiences described could be so blindly foolish.
My antipathy towards the second half of the book grew as it progressed. I could not believe that, given how these people had acted in the past alongside how they acted now, Emma would not have at least suspected that all was not as it seemed. Her unquestioning acceptance grated to such an extent that I struggled to continue with the story.
The concluding chapters went some way towards redeeming a book that I was no longer enjoying. There were a few pleasing plot twists, although some loose ends were perhaps tied up a little too neatly. It was not enough though. The book was about an act of revenge, and this was the aspect that I found weak. A person with the background and intelligence that the protagonist was given would have shown more sense.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
Having said that, the first half of the book succeeded in drawing me in. The use of journal entries worked well and the characters were believable enough at this stage. Given their ages and the loneliness of the protagonist whilst travelling, it was possible to accept that she would act as described. Each reader comes to a book with their own personal life experiences colouring how they will respond to the unfolding tale, and I have yet to meet a young person as foolish as Emma, but I could swallow that such a girl may exist.
Having created the background and teased with sparse plot details, the build up to the key act was well written. Even though I knew what was coming I was eager to find out the hows and whys. This middle section was tense and enjoyable. Its conclusion left me satisfied and ready to continue with what was to happen next, the revenge. It was this which disappointed.
As soon as Beattie reappeared I guessed what was coming; not all of the finer details, but the gist of what was happening. A supposedly intelligent woman, even one with the many issues described, would not have walked so blindly into every trap set, would not have complied so meekly. I found too many contradictions in Emma. Whereas I could accept some stupidity in a nineteen year old, alone and afraid in a foreign land, it was harder to believe that a woman with the life experiences described could be so blindly foolish.
My antipathy towards the second half of the book grew as it progressed. I could not believe that, given how these people had acted in the past alongside how they acted now, Emma would not have at least suspected that all was not as it seemed. Her unquestioning acceptance grated to such an extent that I struggled to continue with the story.
The concluding chapters went some way towards redeeming a book that I was no longer enjoying. There were a few pleasing plot twists, although some loose ends were perhaps tied up a little too neatly. It was not enough though. The book was about an act of revenge, and this was the aspect that I found weak. A person with the background and intelligence that the protagonist was given would have shown more sense.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
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