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A review by leahsbooks
They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I've actually been considering reading an Agatha Christie novel, but I haven't gotten around to reading any yet. However, this book is apparently based on And Then There Were None.
Miriam and six others are brought to a private island off the coast of Mexico to be on a reality show, and for Miriam, the invitation has come just in the nick of time. Things in her life seem to be falling apart at an alarming rate, and she can use the money from winning this show to start picking up the pieces. But of course, nothing goes according to plan.
They find out that the reality show doesn't exist - it was just a ruse to get them to this isolated island where they are cut off from the outside world. As they get to know each other a little, they discover that each character has their own dark secrets. It comes as a surprise when the first character dies in a horrible accident, but when the next character dies, it's clear that there's something fishy going on in paradise.
But none of the characters are really likable. I found myself empathizing with Miriam, but I found myself suspecting that she wasn't the most reliable narrator. I had my suspicions about who was behind the killings, even though everyone potentially had motive. I wasn't as surprised about the plot twists as I thought I would have been though, some of them were a little predictable, but I did enjoy the story. The narrator was especially good, and made Miriam come to life in a way that felt very true to the character and her story.
Miriam and six others are brought to a private island off the coast of Mexico to be on a reality show, and for Miriam, the invitation has come just in the nick of time. Things in her life seem to be falling apart at an alarming rate, and she can use the money from winning this show to start picking up the pieces. But of course, nothing goes according to plan.
They find out that the reality show doesn't exist - it was just a ruse to get them to this isolated island where they are cut off from the outside world. As they get to know each other a little, they discover that each character has their own dark secrets. It comes as a surprise when the first character dies in a horrible accident, but when the next character dies, it's clear that there's something fishy going on in paradise.
But none of the characters are really likable. I found myself empathizing with Miriam, but I found myself suspecting that she wasn't the most reliable narrator. I had my suspicions about who was behind the killings, even though everyone potentially had motive. I wasn't as surprised about the plot twists as I thought I would have been though, some of them were a little predictable, but I did enjoy the story. The narrator was especially good, and made Miriam come to life in a way that felt very true to the character and her story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Cancer and Eating disorder