Palpable fear. A conspiracy trail. Compelling characters. Those are just a handful of the attributes describing Follow Her Down. A breathtaking ride that explored residual trauma alongside a gripping slow burn tale of suspense, the character-driven plot ducked and weaved throughout. Believe the paranoid brother? Second guess his lunatic ramblings? The further into the book that I got, the more I gave a serious side-eye to each and every character—including Elise herself.

Speaking of Elise, Stone crafted quite the unreliable narrator. Pulled into her brother’s irrational rants, her own descent into potential madness also made me start to believe as her frenzied panic oozed from the pages. That was just one of the huge strengths of this novel. Both possibilities were equally valid. And, of course, Elise was such a strong persona. Fully fleshed out and with realistic flaws, I yearned to reach out my hand to help as everything imploded around her. More than anything, though, I easily connected with her and that alone made this a truly stunning, binge-worthy read.

But that wasn’t all that sucked me into the story. Despite a slow start, the runaway storyline took off like a rocket around the halfway point. From there it was one explosive reveal after another. Don’t get me wrong, I did suss some of them out. Well, except for that truly shocking conclusion. Now I’m just crossing my fingers and toes that there will be a book two exploring that damning cliffhanger of sorts. All in all, thanks to a deftly woven narrative, heartbreaking emotion, and perfectly placed red herrings, I fell for this one hook, line, and sinker. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Victoria Helen Stone, Lake Union Publishing, and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse hit my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warning: death of a sibling, infidelity, alcoholism, mention of: agoraphobia

This book is getting a lot of buzz around @thrillerbookloversthepulse, it’s definitely one that you’re definitely not going to want to miss out on this summer!

This may have been a slow burn yet it still kept me on the edge of my seat. Let me tell ya, it was hard to put down and had me guessing until the very end! I just love thrillers like that! 🤌🏼

The past and present timelines worked very well together and the characters were well-written with the perfect amount of complexity to add to the suspense of the storyline.

I also enjoyed how the story is set in a cabin in a small mountain town.

Overall, a very enjoyable thriller that will make for a binge worthy read for thriller lovers this summer!

When Elise Rockwood’s sister was murdered, it understandably shattered her entire family. Her mother’s anxiety kept them all in the house, while her brother Kyle saw conspiracies everywhere. Elise, however, numbed her grief in a lifestyle with no real path or direction. Now years later, she attempts to reinvent herself and purchases a lodge in the mountains close to home. But her brother refuses to let things go. He is convinced that there is more to their sister’s murder and that the confession from the alleged murder doesn’t quite add up. When her ex-boyfriend ends up dead, Elise finally begins to wonder herself.

I loved Victoria Helen Stone’s previous book, The Hook, so I was eager to read this one too and it did NOT disappoint! Deeply atmospheric, “Follow Her Down” is so much more than a mystery. It is also the story of flawed, relatable humans and how grief essentially follows them down (see what I did there?!) I really respected how Elise was trying to start over and rebuild her life after it had fallen apart so many years ago. Her stories as a groundskeeper of the lodge were entertaining (spoiler alert: the story pretty much starts with her cleaning up animal carcasses outside of the cabins - LOL!) The tension in this book kept me glued to its pages and as the mystery unraveled, there was one twist that I had predicted but that did not keep me from enjoying this book in the slightest!

”Follow Her Down” is another book we are loving over at The Pulse! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Victoria Helen Stone for the beautiful autographed ARC! This story releases June 4, 2024 and this review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse for the #gifted copy of the book.

Family drama. Murdered sibling. Whodunit. Slow burn revenge thriller with an ending that I didn't see coming! WOW! Overall, I enjoyed this book.

This was a suspenseful, slow-burn thriller with a well-executed whodunnit plot. Told from the brilliantly limited perspective of Elise Rockwood, we get delicious breadcrumbs as the situation unravels. We also get her perspective of her brother and mother as they all struggle to come to terms with the murder of Elise's sister Robin. Things get even more complicated for Elise when her former lover is murdered and the police focus on her. I don't want to say more and spoil the book, but I highly recommend this book for fans of mystery and revenge thrillers.

I take great pride in my ability to figure out a mystery. I thought I had this ending figured out, but I was dead wrong. For that fact alone, I recommend this book. additionally, it had a gripping plot, the pace was perfect, and I was highly entertained the entire time. This was a great thriller, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

★ 5 Stars ★
I’ve been busy reading incredible thrillers since joining @thrillerbookloversthepulse. I feel guilty giving out so many 5-star ratings, but the books are totally worth it.

“Follow Her Down” is another twisted novel deserving of five stars. The ending alone is worth five stars. I was dumbstruck for a minute. There has to be a sequel. Tell me there’s more!!

I discovered the author when her "Jane Doe" series was recommended to me, and I keep meaning to read more of her books but haven't found the time. When I was offered an ARC of "Follow Her Down." it was an absolute YES without reading the blurb! I mean, who could turn down this stunning cover?

The story revolves around siblings Elise and Kyle, who were young when their older sister Robin was murdered. While Elise turned to alcohol and reckless behavior to deal with the trauma, Kyle started exploring conspiracy theories. Years later, Elise is settled down, but Kyle is still chasing his crazy ideas about Robin's death.

When a murder occurs in the area, it turns out the victim was an old flame of Elise's and at the center of one of Kyle's conspiracy theories. Just as Elise starts to believe he might be onto something, everything blows up. You've got to read this one to find out what wild twists Ms. Stone came up with!

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for providing me with these ARCs through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#FollowHerDown #VictoriaHelenStone #ARC #NetGalley #BrillianceAudio #LakeUnionPublishing #pageturner #bookbuzz #bookalert #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #hottestthrillers #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #lovebooks #booknerd #bookstagrammer #booktoker #CapCut

Elise Rockwood has spent decades dealing with the aftermath and trauma the murder of her sister has caused her and her family. She's finally found herself a stable life when she bought and began managing a small mountain lodge. She's determined to get her life on track. Even when her ex-boyfriend reaches out to her, she doesn't let it derail her. But Elise’s brother won't let the past go. He's convinced that something isn't right with their sister's murder even though the murderer confessed years ago. When Elise’s ex-boyfriend is found dead in the very same woods her sister went missing from all those years ago, Elise isn't sure what to believe anymore. Will the truth about what happened to Elise’s sister finally come out?

If you are looking for a wild, twisty thriller that will have you frantically turning pages and coming up with a multitude of theories of wth is happening, do not pass up this one up! This book has Elise’s past shockingly collide with her present and completely turning her world upside-down. She starts to question everything she thought she knew about her sister's murder all those years ago. Then her brother, Kyle, starts in with his conspiracy theories that seem farfetched, but she's left wondering how crazy they really are. This slow-burn book quickly amps up and leaves you with a mind-blowing twist that you will not see coming. My only complaint is that I'm left with more questions than answers at the end. Will we get a follow-up to this book? I sure hope so.

4/5! A sister gone missing years ago, a brother who is obsessed with the case and Elise is trying to get her life on track. She went down a bad path for a while, but has sobered up and bought a camp ground. It keeps her busy, keeps her mind off the drink and gives her something to get up for every day. But when a male's body is found in the same river her sister went missing in, and she has a direct tie to this person, Elsie's life starts to spiral once again. As word spreads of who the deceased is, her brother comes up with even more conspiracy theories about their sisters death and what really happened. He is always dragging Elsie back down and she can't take it anymore. But when there is another murder and some photos surface from that summer, Elsie wonders if maybe her brother is onto something after all. Will the truth of what really happened to their sister finally surface? The was such a fast paced thriller of a read, and you really didn't know who was telling the truth about that summer decades ago and if the correct person was accused even though no body was ever found. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to more from this author. Excited to be collaborating with Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse to make awareness of this amazing book. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the complementary ebook. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 was my first read by this author and I found it to definitely be a slow burn, but towards the end it picked up the pace. There were multiple possibilities on who the suspect could have been, and I really didn’t the ending twist. 🤯 I do wish there would have been more on the murder of her sister, but it wasn’t a big issue. I listened to this one on audio and thought the narrator did a fantastic job. I’ll certainly read more from this author.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my advanced ebook and audiobook. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 will be published 6/4.

I loved how this thriller brought to the surface the way a tragedy impacts the immediate family but also can create ripple effects much further.

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.

Years later, a murder close to home occurs and questions are raised. Is this murder linked to the murder of Elise's sister?

I loved the setting of this book and the way different theories kept rising to the surface. It was hard to know who to trust or what to think.

The characters were unique and the story stayed true to who they were without polishing everything off in a gift wrapped type of way- I appreciate that, and I loved the conspiracy edge as well.

Don't miss this one- out 4 June! *

This book had me on edge throughout! It weaves two crimes separated by time but connected by Elise. Set near Lake Tahoe, Elise has spent years trying to pull her life together after her sister was murdered. When Elise’s ex is found dead, new information comes to light that may be connected to her sister. I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting since I’m a nature lover. It seemed perfect for someone like Elise who was rebuilding herself as well as the intrigue of the crimes. I loved the red herrings and twists in this book! I never knew what to expect and that kept me fully engaged!

Two years after their sister's death, Elise and Kyle's life are still impacted. Their mother hasn't left their childhood home in over a decade - the recent start of a garden close to the backdoor the furthest she has left in years. Stone does an amazing job detailing what such a massive loss does to a family - and a community. The stagnation of this family's lives, their lack of motivation to leave their hometown, impact on the community. Growing up in the shadow, physical resemblance. Just so well done.
The suspense throughout this entire book was INTENSE. I need breaks. My teeth almost shattered with hard I clenched.
Elise has her own business - a group of tiny homes for rent, great location and near the river, her sister's final resting place. Struggling with sobriety, Elise coventrates on getting through the day.
Her ex married lover reaches out - asking to meet, his need to atone for some past misdeed. His murder brings the cops to her door.
Kyle - struggling with chaos theory, is convinced Christian had something to do with their sister's death. Elise just wants to grieve.

3.5 stars. For me the beginning and end were kind of slow. The middle caught my attention and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Unfortunately it died down. The characters were good, the plot was ok.

Y’all, I just binged this book and my head is still spinning!

1. The suspense!
2. I need more answers, that ending! Ahh!

This was my first book by Victoria Helen Stone and it did not disappoint! I’ve already stalked her on Goodreads for her backlist. Ok, so stalked is the wrong choice of words after reading this, but you know what I mean.

The audio for this book was fantastic! The narrator Nicol Zanzarella had me hooked from chapter 1! I might as well have been watching a Netflix series because she made me completely forget I was “reading”.

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙬𝙣 is scrumptiously suspenseful, you’ll be hiding under your covers (or maybe that’s just me) as you try to solve the mysterious murders alongside MC Elise and her brother, Kyle. And I bet you can’t guess the ending/whodunnit!

Will there be a book two!? (The ending was a little open ended in my opinion and I just need more!)

If you love a suspenseful thriller guaranteed to give you goosebumps and keep you guessing, be sure to check out 𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙬𝙣.

⚠️ As always check the trigger warnings.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Yikes.

The premise of this book was interesting. Messy family dynamics surrounding a murdered sibling from the past...sounds like it will grab you right from the start, right? Nope. This is a slowwwww read, and it never picks up. I found myself getting more and more irritated by Elise and her brother Kyle. Elise was a girl who literally said a few times "is not like other girls". She tried so hard to come off as rough around the edges but she gave me whiny teenager vibes, even though she was supposed to be in her mid 30's. Kyle is supposedly a conspiracy theorist who reaches way too hard to make connections that don't make sense. HIs logic doesn't make sense, and never made sense. The fact that the main storyline is based upon his outlandish claims with lack of evidence makes the book lack any sort of depth or suspense. Anyone with a brain can see through this.

There is a lot of over explaining happening in these pages. I think that's part of why it is so slow. Kyle is explaining something to Elise, and then Elise is explaining the same thing to Daniel, or her mom, or Amber. Elise's thoughts are tedious and redundant. Everything is so surface level and lacks any sort of substance.

The characters are just so...lacking. The ending was predictable. And I didn't even have any fun getting there.

I'm extremely disappointed but proud of myself for getting through it and not DNF'ing.

FOLLOW HER DOWN examines the impact of trauma on a brother and sister. Elise was ten and her brother thirteen when their big sister Robin was murdered. Now late-thirties, Elise is managing a rural motel and trying to cut back on her drinking, while Kyle is obsessed with conspiracy theories. Much to Elise’s fury, he questions whether the man who confessed to Robin’s slaying actually did it. When Elise’s wildly wealthy former lover is found murdered, Kyle’s convinced his death is linked to their sister’s. Not only is Elise a suspect in her ex’s killing, but she finds herself forced to ask questions she’d rather keep avoiding. Like Elise, I never knew where things were heading. If you like strong and complex female leads and tales of unsettling power dynamics, FOLLOW HER DOWN is great summer reading.

This was a first time read for me from this author. I enjoyed the book. A very slow burn, which never is my cup of tea, but some books are just like that. Also, that's a me issue, not an author issue.

Elise is the main character and has opened a cabin retreat in the mountains. After losing her sister, Robin, at a young age, Elise went through years of being nomadic and out of control. Seems like she's finally settled down some, but the disappearance of her sister still haunts her. Her brother, Kyle, is a conspiracy theorist looking for answers everywhere about Robin's disappearance although someone confessed to the crime. When an ex boyfriend of Elise's turns up dead, the cops come calling on her. This triggers many memories of the ex, Christian, and somehow Christians wife finds Elise. When an old work partner of Christian's also turns up dead, the police leave Elise alone and go off on another route for answers.

I loved the setting at the cabins. Very dark and mysterious. I also loved the descriptive way the author introduced us to the characters. Where I got hung up was with the ending. I felt like I was left with more questions than answers. This book gets many positive reviews, so I do think the book just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it and I do recommend this book.

This was my first read from this author, and I will definitely be checking out more from her in the future.
I was hooked from pretty much the start, and I flew through the book so quickly. There were a few slower parts of the book, but it kept me guessing right to the very end. And I have to say, I desperately hope there's a second book in the works because the story can not be left like that. Nuh uh.

Elise Rockwood’s family implodes after her older sister Robin never returned home from a party, the suspected victim of foul play. Many years later, a boy who was infatuated with Robin confesses, but the damage is done. Now Elise is working hard to move on; she’s sober(ish) and running a small resort of mountain lodges. But her world is turned upside down when her ex-boyfriend Christian turns up dead in the nearby woods, and Elise is the police’s prime suspect.

I really enjoyed this slow-burn, small town suspense story! It’s so atmospheric with the little group of lodges in the woods being such an isolated and ominous setting. The plot was intriguing and Elise’s brother Kyle as a conspiracy theorist was a great device. His elaborate theories were over the top but connected the dots so logically that they seemed entirely plausible too. Lots of twists and turns with a great ending!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.