The disappearance of Elise’s sister Robin has left her family shattered for many years even after the confession. But when her brother Kyle bring her his next conspiracy theory on what really happened to Robin and it includes Elsie’s ex boyfriend. Elise is left with so many questions and unsure of what to believe anymore or who she can trust.

This book left me with so many questions and I’m curious if there will be a sequel. Well written and kept me curious the whole way.

Always a great read from this author. She takes us on an adventure through solving a murder, or more than one, breaking down a conspiracy and coping with a mother as a shut in. The characters were highly developed and intense. I felt connected to Elise, understood the manic thinking of Kyle and lost in the suspense of the whodunnit. It’s a wonderful adventure with many loops and turns, missing puzzle pieces and a possible ending that could lead to another book. I’m thankful to the publishers for my advanced copy and I’ve written this review voluntarily.

A Gripping Dive into Past Trauma
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
As an avid reader with a hectic schedule, finding time to indulge in my favorite books has been a challenge. However, when I stumbled upon "Follow Her Down" by Victoria Helen Stone, it quickly ascended to the top of my TBR pile. Victoria Helen Stone consistently delivers gripping thrillers, and this book is no exception.
The story revolves around Elise, who has been haunted by the murder of her sister during their teenage years, a tragedy that fractured her family. Her mother became agoraphobic, her brother saw conspiracies everywhere, and Elise herself struggled with alcoholism. Despite a local boy confessing to the crime, the aftermath left permanent scars on their lives.
Elise tries to rebuild her life by purchasing and managing an old mountain lodge near her hometown. She is determined to move forward, refusing to revisit her painful past, even when an old ex-boyfriend reaches out to reconnect. But her resolve is shattered when this ex turns up dead, in the same area where her sister was murdered. This forces Elise to confront her past head-on. As her brother's conspiracy theories deepen, Elise finds herself struggling to maintain her grip on reality, bombarded by trauma from all sides. She must navigate these challenges while seeking answers to the lingering questions surrounding her sister’s death.
"Follow Her Down" was a solid four-star read for me. While it didn't compel me to read it in one sitting, I was thoroughly engrossed whenever I could steal some time to dive back in. The book masterfully blends several of my favorite tropes: revisiting the past, complex family dynamics, unreliable narration influenced by a vice, and a small-town setting. The atmosphere is tense and the semi-isolated mountain lodge adds an unsettling edge that borders on horror—a delightful touch for thriller enthusiasts like myself.
Elise is a fantastic character. Her unreliability never becomes frustrating; instead, it makes her deeply human. I felt her pain and rooted for her as she grappled with her flaws, hoping she would find the strength to overcome her challenges. The twists throughout the book kept me guessing, but it was the final twist that truly blew me away.
In conclusion, "Follow Her Down" by Victoria Helen Stone is a must-read for thriller fans. Elise's journey through trauma and the haunting suspense of her story makes this a gripping and atmospheric novel. I would gladly read more about her in the future.

Moving Thriller Set Against Family Trauma. There are times when you find a thriller tale that has genuine heart, when a book that is supposedly intended to make your heart beat faster also manages to make the room quite dusty at times. This is one of those tales.

There is quite a bit to unpack about this story, but to reveal the things that truly make it as powerful as it is could delve too far into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say that the setup itself is done well - we are many years after a massive trauma for a family and even their small community, and the trauma reverberates to this day in many different ways. Stone manages to craft a story that is pitch perfect thriller - more bodies are piling up *now*, and it seems they may be connected to the original trauma, at least if some people are to be believed. It is the way she goes about executing this story, exploring the various internal dynamics within our main character and the larger dynamics within her family and community, that give this book its heart and its soul.

Overall a strong tale, though perhaps not *so* atypical as to be heads and shoulders standing above others of its form and genre. Still, for those that enjoy this type of tale - or even those open to exploring if they like this type of tale - this is certainly a strong entry within the space, and a worthy read indeed.

Very much recommended.

Follow Her Down by Victoria Helen Stone is another gripping, and unique story full of suspense and intrigue, I raced through Follow Her Down and loved it.
I’m a big fan of Stones writing and excited to say she has written another sharp, engaging, and unputdownable story.
I got hooked immediately & ended up finishing the book in two sittings.
An engrossing, compelling read.

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book officially publishes on 6/4/24!

This book was an interesting read and a good take on the unreliable narrator trope. Between a dual timeline of crimes and not knowing who to believe, I read this one fairly quickly. Despite being told from a single POV, I found the characters to be well developed through a singular lens. Giving this one 3 stars because by the end of the novel I still had several questions that I started out with, which can be discouraging to me as a reader. Would recommend this one if you enjoy crime thrillers or are looking for a good beach read. If you do pick this one up, please check any relevant trigger warnings before doing so.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Victoria Helen Stone. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Elise and Kyle were young when their older sister, Robin was found murdered. The whole family has suffered ever since - their mom became agoraphobic, Elise turned to alcohol, and Kyle got wrapped up in conspiracy theories. An old boyfriend of Robin eventually confessed and then killed himself. Elise has finally turned her life around - she owns and manages a cabin rental business. But then Christopher, her married ex-lover, turns up dead in the same woods. Are the cases somehow related?

This book kept me glued to the pages, with so many potential suspects and unreliable narrators. Plus, the remote atmosphere of the cabins in the woods added another creepy factor. We even hear from Robin through letters she wrote from camp the summer she died. I loved Elise's character - flawed yet trying so hard to live the right way. But conspiracy theories can sound real too, so is Kyle onto something? Put this one on your reading list - and that ending just screams for a sequel, so I've got my fingers crossed!

I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't my favorite by the author. I really wanted to know what happened to Robin. Was Phoenix the real killer or was it someone else? Where's her body? Was anyone else involved? (Now I sound like Kyle) Was Kyle right with all his crazy conspiracy theories? So many questions. With Robin's disappearance, Kyle and Elise's childhood got turned upside down. Their mom checked, put all her energy into finding Robin and wouldn't leave the house. Kyle and Elise went down two different paths. Kyle remained home with his mom and had a passion for conspiracy theories. Elise left town and had a passion for alcohol and men. Elise finally got her life back on track with her cabins and then her married ex-boyfriend is found dead. What did Christian want to tell Elise? Did he want to confess? Apologize? It was hard to follow what was real and what was part of Kyle's conspiracy theories. It was easy to believe everything Kyle was saying and there might have been a ring of truth to it. even Elise feeds off of it and falls into the madness of it all. She starts consuming more and more alcohol, becoming suspicious of everyone and believing Kyle. Was I shocked when the truth was revealed about who was involved in Christian's death? No, I suspected this person might be involved. Poor Daniel came back to tow at the wrong time. He ended up getting in the middle of all the craziness coming from Kyle and Elise. It wasn't hard to guess who tried to run him off the road. The ending was the biggest shock, especially at what Elsie finally discovered. With her determination she might be able to solve the mystery of Robin's disappearance.

Definitely recommend giving the books a try. The book turned into something I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the writing style, characters and story. Maybe there will be another book with Elise trying to find out the truth about what really happened Robin. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

From the talented Victoria Helen Stone, author of the popular Jane Doe series (favorite author), comes a dazzling new gritty psychological crime suspense thriller, FOLLOW HER DOWN—which explores the aftermath of a crime and the lives of those left behind.

The atmospheric setting follows the story of Elise Rockwood (35) and the trauma of her teenage sister, Robin's disappearance 25 years earlier. When her former lover is found dead in the same river where her sister was last seen, it sparks a conspiracy investigation led by her brother, Kyle, for an explosive, gripping tale that will have you begging for a sequel!

About...

Twenty-some years ago, Elise Rockwood's older sister, Robin, was murdered. The grief, anger, and aftermath of the trauma wore heavily on the family. The mom's anxiety (agoraphobic and paranoid), the brother, Kyle's conspiracy theories, and Elsie's drinking, addictions, and empty relationships took a toll on all of them. Kyle still sometimes went dark and spiraled into obsessions. Their mother's terror had been real and heartbreaking.

Robin was 18 when she disappeared after a campground party in the woods. Kyle was 13, and Elise was 10. They all became obsessed. Some guy who had gotten too serious later confessed.

Elise is back on track and owns a small cabin rental/motel business, Creekside Cabins, near her mom and brother, in the same wooded area where her sister vanished. Forty minutes from Tahoe with a semicircle of nine tiny homes with forest, creek, and river. She handles all the work herself and has some help during high season.

Then, a man goes missing from the trailhead. He was an old friend and lover, an older married guy. Silicon Valley and rich. They broke up two years earlier. The cops suspect foul play and are questioning Elsie. Then she finds out he is dead. They pulled him from the Mokelumne River. The same river that had hidden her sister's body from her years ago. Now Christian? The cops found out about the affair. What about the wife?

There was a recent email. There are too many parallels with her sister. What were the chances? But Kyle won't let it go. He still believes there's more to their sister's murder―and the confession―than meets the eye. Then Christian's partner winds up being shot to death. What does Silicon Valley have to do with Willow Canyon?

How are they all connected? Will Elise listen to her brother now?

EXPLOSIVE! The past and present collide. Are the cases related? The traumas of the past are reemerging. So is the truth. Is she in danger?

My thoughts...

Atmospheric. Riveting. Binge-worthy! Mix in an unreliable narrator, a twisty plot, compelling characters, intense suspense, and that ENDING?! Explosive. Sequel, please.

FOLLOW HER DOWN is gritty, dark, and character-driven. The author cleverly keeps you guessing about each character's motivations. Stone brilliantly follows Elise's journey from years of living with grief and trauma of her sister's disappearance to another death, and she is a suspect.

From conspiracy theories of the brother into a world of madness (because he needed something more significant to explain his suffering), the sprinkling of letters (past) from the sister Robin to Elsie, to the doubt, fears, suspicion, grief, and unresolved traumas of the past and present, with secrets, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists, make this a must-read crime/psychological thriller.

A huge fan of the author, have read all her thriller novels, and FOLLOW HER DOWN is stellar! Stone has published 29 romance and nine suspense novels with this being her tenth. 10th and it is mind-blowing. Get this one on your list!

Recs...

For fans of the author, true crime junkies, complex revenge thrillers, and those of Wendy Walker, Heather Gudenkauf, Joshua Moehling, Mary Kubica, Laura McHugh, Christina McDonald, and Lisa Unger.

Read more on Townlift Park City News.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to listening to the audiobook (pre-ordered) narrated by Nicol Zanzarella. ( For some reason, all of a sudden, I am being declined by Brilliance Audio for their audiobooks).

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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
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This started out so well but it took a weird turn and the storyline fell flat for me. The story really lost me when the conspiracy theory came up with Christian’s business he was involved in with the partners and how that related to the murders. This story had so many characters and storylines but they didn’t connect that well for me. I didn’t feel that drawn to any of the characters or the story at all. I’ve read other reviews and a lot of other reviewers say this author is amazing, this is my first book from this author but I may try to read her other books in the future to see if it was just this one I didn’t enjoy.

Title: Follow Her Down
Author: Victoria Helen Stone
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Rating: 4 stars

As always, I’m thrilled to be a part of Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse, where we are given so many opportunities to experience great books before they are out in stores.

Elise’s sister was murdered when they were teenagers causing the entire family to fall apart - her mother became agoraphobic, her brother finds a conspiracy in everything, and Elise herself battles a drinking problem. Even after a local boy confessed to the crime, the ripples of the tragedy have done irreparable damage to the family.

Elise attempts to forge some sort of a life for herself by buying and running an old mountain lodge near her hometown. Determined to move forward, she puts the past away in every aspect, including ignoring requests from an old ex to reunite. But when that ex turns up dead, in the same area as her sister, Elise is forced to go back and address everything. As her brother spins his theories and Elise falls further down his rabbit hole, she starts to struggle to maintain a sense of reality and as her trauma comes at her from all angles, she’s doing everything she can to stay in control as she also works to get to the bottom of the still lingering questions and suspicions surrounding her sister’s death.

I’ll start by saying that Follow Her Down was a five star read for me. It wasn’t a book that I read compulsively, but I was deeply engrossed whenever I had the chance to pick it up.

There are a lot of tropes that I personally seek out: revisiting the past, family drama/strained family dynamics, unreliable narration due to a vice (not just a lying MC), and small town setting. It’s atmospheric and tense throughout, Elise being in a semi-isolated location gave the book an unsettling edge that bordered on horror (another thing I’m living for in thrillers these days). There were several twists, but the final one just blew me away.

Elise was a fantastic character. She wasn’t reliable, but also wasn’t an annoying unreliable character either. I found myself suffering alongside her when her flaws came out and got in the way of her life, and just rooting for her to figure out how to fight through and stay strong. I would absolutely read more books about her.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Victoria Helen Stone’s novel “Follow Her Down” takes readers on a gripping journey through trauma, secrets, and unresolved mysteries. With a twist that will leave you breathless, this suspenseful thriller delves into the depths of human emotions and the haunting past.

Synopsis: Decades after the murder of Elise Rockwood’s sister shattered her family, Elise is still haunted by the past. Her mother’s anxiety keeps her housebound, and her paranoid brother, Kyle, sees conspiracies everywhere. Elise numbs her grief with an aimless lifestyle, but when her ex is found dead in the same forest where her sister disappeared years ago, the traumas resurface. Elise must confront the truth, even if it means risking her own survival.

Character Depth: Stone masterfully crafts complex characters. Elise’s emotional journey is raw and relatable, making her a compelling protagonist.

Atmospheric Setting: The mountain lodge setting adds an eerie backdrop to the unfolding events. The forest becomes a character in itself, concealing secrets.

Twists and Turns: Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Stone throws a curveball. The unexpected revelations kept me turning the pages.

While the slow burn builds tension, some readers may find the pacing too deliberate.

Elise’s trauma is palpable, but at times, it overwhelms the narrative.

“Follow Her Down” is compulsively readable. Stone’s exploration of trauma, family bonds, and the search for truth is chilling and heartfelt. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with depth, this novel is worth following down the rabbit hole.

🎧 Audiobook Recommendation: The narration enhances the suspense. Listen while driving through winding forest roads for an immersive experience.

Sometimes the darkest paths lead to unexpected revelations. 🌿🕊️

Thanks so much to netgalley and Lake Union publishing for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I didn’t like any of the characters and I just couldn’t connect with anyone. I felt bored throughout and couldn’t connect with the story.

I hope others enjoy this one but it wasn’t for me.

I had such a great time reading this book! I love her stories, the mysteries and characters are just so entertaining to read, and I had a really fantastic time with this latest book! This story about this family broken by a murder was so compelling!

Really, I felt for Elise, who lost her sister, and her family fell apart. I can understand why she wouldn't want to revisit it, even if there was someone who confessed. To have an ex try and get her to do so? Yeah, I can definitely see why she wouldn't want to do that!

The complicated relationships that this family had, and all the complicated emotions, which were to be expected, which added to the drama and the tension of the plot, to add red herrings to the mix of the mystery. I just wanted to know what was going on!

This story had so many ups and downs and twists and turns, I just had to keep reading! Oh, but that ending, that was just shocking! But so entertaining to read, and I really enjoyed seeing that all happen, it was just so thrilling!

This was a really great read and I can't wait to read more by Victoria Helen Stone!

Gripping mystery. I was hooked from the first page. This book started very strong and just kept going.

This books was a unique concept with multiple layers. I enjoyed the premise of the story overall and found it to be quite gripping.

I didn’t feel overly connected with the characters which I think made it a little harder to buy into some of the conspiracies which made the end a little predictable overall.

This book definitely felt chaotic and gripping and was an enjoyable read which I’m sure people are going to really enjoy.

The murder of Elise Rockwood’s sister shattered her family. Their mother’s anxiety kept her housebound. Elise’s paranoid brother, Kyle, saw conspiracies everywhere. Elise numbed her grief in an aimless lifestyle that left her emotionally broken. All of them victims. A local boy eventually confessed, but the damage was already done.

I really liked this. A tight and well-written mystery with good plot twists.

Twenty-five years ago, Elise Rockwood’s world was shattered when her older sister, Robin, was murdered. It left her and her brother, Kyle, the remaining children of a mother who was never able to escape the grief of her oldest child’s death.

Elise now owns the Creekside Cabins in Willow Canyon, a secluded area in the hills of Northern California. Kyle and their mother live nearby, and they all three still struggle with the loss of Robin. Elise is a recovering alcoholic who has very few friends, Kyle spends his time with computers and video games, and their mom is still disabled by depression.

One evening, Elise notices a name she knows on her arrivals sheet: Daniel Serrano, a friend since childhood. Kyle comes out to visit, and they all have a night around the fire, talking about old times. Unfortunately, their old times are full of tragedy, and the talk of Robin’s death hits Elise hard. She’s still in a funk about things when the police come to her house…asking if she knows a man named Christian Valic, who has just been found dead. Elise plays it cool, but the truth is she’d had an affair with Christian while he and his wife were “on a break”. He recently reached out, and she declined an invitation to meet.

Now, she’s a murder suspect, but when Christian’s business partner is also found dead, she and Kyle really start digging into things. The murdered men were all part of a Silicon Valley tech company that has had its share of problems. Could these men be targets because of Stratum, and does any of it relate to Robin’s death?

This started off well, then really slowed down and got a bit convoluted in the middle, taking my rating down a notch. The ending was great though; I didn’t see any of it coming, and it wrapped up the storyline nicely! This is a good, but average, mystery/thriller. 3.5 stars.

(Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Victoria Helen Stone and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 4, 2024.)

Victoria Helen Stone is an author i took a chance on once, and never had to worry about content again. She never misses, and this book has continued with that trend. Past traumas, a murder that altered many lives, and new things coming to light. Couldn't ask for anything better in a murder mystery story, and this one certainly had me entertained.

Elise has done her best to move on after the murder of her sister Robin, even though her mom and her brother Kyle have not. And now Kyle's conspiracy theories might be more important than she thought because her own ex has been found murdered. This is a thriller that's really about family trauma and grief. Good characters and fine storytelling (along with a twist) make it a good read.