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.

I could not turn these pages fast enough! I loved the cabin setting and that there was always something happening. I questioned all of the characters until the very end. I enjoyed this book a lot! Fantastic thriller!

I have read all of this aothor’s books and enjoyed every one of them!
This one is more of a slow burn mystery, with some suspense.
It’s about a woman who is nursing a broken heart after she had am affair with a married man that ended badly. She is trying to get her head and heart back together, focusing on the cabins she owns and runs. One day, the police arrive to inform her that her ex-lover is dead. 👀

Honestly I really couldn’t get into the book. I read about 50% of it and I rarely don’t finish a book. The main reason I was turned off from the book was because of the description of Elise’s brother being a conspiracy theorist multiple times. The author could have left it at that but then gave reasons for why he was a conspiracy theorist. It didn’t take much to figure out why the author used those topics for her characterization of the brother. No thank you.

Disappointing🫤

I so looked forward to this book. Victoria Helen Stone has always been one of my go-to authors! Sadly, this book just didn’t feel on par with her previous novels.

Elise’s sister was tragically killed when she was just a teen. The family of course, left shattered and their lives crushed. Her mother no longer able to leave their home and her brother unable to accept what happened..

Determined to get her life in order Elise opens a cabin retreat in the surrounding mountains. Just what the doctor ordered…a quiet, simple life. At last finally finding her peace of mind.

Until an ex-boyfriend is found killed near her cabin lodge. And of course the police come knocking!

This book just failed to move me. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters or storyline. It all felt very surface level. No depth.

With several positive reviews for this book be sure to take a look at those. At the moment I a bit of an outlier!🙃

Will I pick up this authors next book! An emphatic yes! This was her first (and only) book that garnered less than four stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

I had such a great time with this one! The storyline was so captivating, and although it started off slowly, the second half really grabbed my attention. It was amazing to see how everything came together in the end, and the twist at the conclusion completely caught me off guard! Overall, it was a fantastic book, and I can't wait to explore more of this author's work!

Having loved other books by Victoria Helen Stone I'll admit to having to work a little harder to get into this one but it was well worth it because once it took off it zoomed and the second half of the book was completely engrossing.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

Ms. Stone is a new to me author but I look forward to checking out her other books after having the chance to read her latest novel. Follow Her Down does a fantastic job of fulfilling the role of thriller genre. Often times, in my desire to be "thrilled" I notice that a lot of authors tend to drag things out to the 50% mark in an effort to ramp up the suspense. This book gives us suspenseful moments throughout and an mystery to be solved. The FMC is getting her life back on track after spiraling for the better part of her adult life to find her way after losing her sister when she was a teenager. Her sister goes missing under suspicious circumstances and is never found and her brother becomes a conspiracy theorist. There are moments when you think all the clues are leading to a particular outcome but then things start to move in another direction. The ending is like going down a hill in roller skates.... a fast slide that makes you a little dizzy from the pace. I enjoyed the way things gave you a hint of exactly what probably happened and the possibility that we may see a sequel. In any case, I felt this book didn't fall into the trap that many "thriller" books lay out for the reader which is to throw such a surprise into the ending that it's unbelievable. The twist was believable and yet unexpected. Great read! Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Follow Her Down. Elisa Rockwood is getting her life together after years of trauma following the disappearance of her 18-year-old sister when she was 10. But the sudden death of an old lover and the paranoia of her brother starts a landslide of triggers.

"Follow Her Down" by Victoria Helen Stone is a gripping and emotionally charged mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story follows Elise Rockwood, who is trying to rebuild her life after the tragic murder of her sister years ago. As she runs a small mountain resort and tries to come to terms with her past, a series of events unfold that dredge up old traumas and force Elise to confront the truth about her sister's death.
I found Elise to be a compelling and complex protagonist, grappling with grief, guilt, and the weight of her past traumas. Her relationship with her family members, especially her brother Kyle, added layers to the story and kept me invested in unravelling the mysteries surrounding her sister's murder and the recent suspicious deaths. The slow-paced narrative allowed for introspection and deep dives into Elise's internal struggles, adding depth to her character and making her journey all the more poignant.
While the story delves into themes of grief, loss, and the quest for truth, I appreciated the author's portrayal of Elise's resilience and determination to seek justice for her loved ones. The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing, and the final revelation left me stunned and satisfied. The pacing may have felt slow at times, but it contributed to the gradual unfolding of the narrative and allowed for a deeper exploration of Elise's psyche.
I particularly enjoyed the author's nuanced portrayal of Elise's emotional journey and her gradual growth throughout the story. The ending, though somewhat abrupt, delivered a powerful and satisfying conclusion that tied up the loose ends of the mystery while leaving room for further exploration. Overall, "Follow Her Down" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that delves into themes of family, loss, and the search for truth in the face of tragedy. Victoria Helen Stone skilfully weaves a gripping tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and leave them pondering the complexities of human nature long after the final page.

I really enjoyed this one! The plot was intriguing and while I did feel like it was a slow burn, the second half picked up and I loved the way everything fell into place. I was NOT expecting the ending at all and it definitely was a twist I wasn’t ready for! All in all great book and I look forward to checking out more work by this author!

Thank you to #thrillerbookloversthepulse and the author, Victoria Helen Stone for the opportunity to read this ARC! Follow Her Down comes out on June 4th

In true Victoria Helen Stone fashion, I was ENTHRALLED from page one.

This story has EVERYTHING. Twists. Turns. Family drama. And things that keep you guessing until the very end.

I don't want to say too much and give anything away, but this is a book you won't want to miss.

Our main character Elise is trying to get her life together. When she was a child, her older sister Robin disappeared. Many years later, someone finally confessed, and now the fractured family is trying to move on and find closure in their own ways.

Elise lived a nomadic life, moving city to city, and had/has a drinking problem. The story starts with her having bought some rental cabins near her family as she tries to settle herself down and limit her drinking. Her world is rocked when her ex-boyfriend Christian is murdered and they think she had something to do with it. From there, her brother Kyle starts sharing conspiracy theories about the Robin's murder and Christian's involvement. And Kyle's childhood friend shows up at Elise's cabins right when everything is going down - is he involved?

It's an interesting premise for a book and I was really excited to see where it would go. As others have mentioned, the build up is a bit slow, which didn't bother me. I wasn't expecting the conspiracy angle and it added an interesting element. There were some twists that I wasn't expecting, which I appreciate.

I'm struggling a little with the wrap up - it answered some questions but left others open or implied. It felt like the book was setting up for a sequel.

Overall, this was a fine book. It wasn't amazing or horrible; it was a middle of the road read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.