Member Reviews

Thank you so much to Brilliance Publishing Brilliance Audio and author Victoria Helen Stone for my advanced audio copy of this book. Everyone at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse has been talking about this book and I see why! It definitely deserves the hype and I really enjoyed it!

When she was a child, Elise Rockwell’s sister, Robin, went missing. Robin’s body was never found, but she was ultimately determined to have been killed. A boy who knew Robin confessed, but questions remain regarding her disappearance. Without closure of who was behind her death, the Rockwell family has never been able to heal. Elise’s brother, Kyle, becomes a paranoid conspiracy theorist and their mother spends her life as an agoraphobic. Elise had reckless years of wild nights full of alcohol and regrets before deciding she needed to change her life. She takes over a cabin rental company and spends her days trying to live a normal life. But when her ex is found dead, not only does she become a suspect, but she soon learns that her ex has connections to her past, and potentially to Robin as well. If she can find out the connection, maybe she can finally know exactly what happened to Robin…

I loved Elise as a character! Described as “a foul mouthed local with all the morals of a stray cat,” she was a very strong female protagonist without being overbearing or pushy, and I loved her sense of humor. She was really someone to root for. I LOVED her interview at the end of the book where she discusses DV and how the ripple effect of this violence impacts hundreds of lives. This point was very, very well written and I greatly respect it.

Our narrator did a fabulous job on this story, with perfect pacing and tone. She kept my attention on the story the entire time! I did not see that ending coming, and my jaw dropped. It was definitely a bit of a cliffhanger and I’m wondering if there is a sequel coming up next.

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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 :)

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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. The narration on the audiobook was haunting and pulled me into the story.

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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.

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★ 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

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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 audiobook. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 will be published 6/4.

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Thanks to #NetGalley and #BrillancePublishing and #ThrillerBookLoversPromotions for the book #FollowHerDown by #VictoriaHelenStone. This book is about a sister that was murdered decades ago and now her ex is murdered. It made me crazy as I read through wanting to know who was behind it all. I highly recommend this thriller and its crazy plot twist.

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In this intricately woven tale of familial bonds and personal struggles, the author delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of past traumas on present realities, all experienced through the auditory medium.

From the very start, the narrative grips the listener, inviting them into a world where the lines between past and present blur, where the echoes of previous generations reverberate through the lives of the characters. Through the medium of audio, the story unfolds, layer by layer, revealing the intricate web of connections that bind the characters together.

Despite the compelling storytelling, moments of disconnect arise, whether due to external factors or timing. Nonetheless, the emotional weight of the story and the author's skill in crafting a tale that resonates with authenticity remain evident.

As the story reaches its conclusion, a mix of anticipation and disappointment lingers. While some revelations satisfy, others leave lingering questions and a desire for deeper insight. The understanding of 'who' behind the events is clear, yet the 'why' remains elusive.

This narrative embodies resilience, as characters confront the ghosts of the past and seek solace in the flawed yet enduring bonds of family. Despite its flaws, the narrative prompts reflection on human nature and the enduring power of forgiveness.

Throughout this journey, the richness of themes and the authenticity of characters leave an indelible mark, evoking a profound exploration of human relationships.

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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.

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Follow Her Down was a twisty turny ride. I did not see this ending coming. I would classify this book as a murder mystery and not a thriller. I was totally engaged in the story, but I did not feel "suspenseful" while reading. I feel like the author left the ending open for a possible sequel. I would definitely read more about these characters. I rated this book 4 stars.

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FOLLOW HER DOWN was an entertaining story. I enjoyed trying to figure out who killed Christian and what really happened to Robin. The audiobook was easy to listen to, the narrator spoke clearly. I've read several of this author's books and I do recommend this book as well as her other titles.

Many thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my gifted ALC
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

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