The Fall

By: Claire McGowan

Narrated by: Tanya Moodie, Jane Collingwood, Anthony Howell

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

What would you do if the man you love was accused of murder? Bad things never happen to Charlotte. She's living the life she's always wanted and about to marry wealthy banker, Dan. But Dan's been hiding a secret, and the pressure is pushing him over the edge. After he's arrested for the vicious killing of a nightclub owner, Charlotte's future is shattered. Then she opens her door to Keisha, an angry and frustrated stranger with a story to tell.

Convinced of Dan's innocence, Charlotte must fight for him - even if it means destroying her perfect life. But what Keisha knows threatens everyone she loves, and puts her own life in danger. DC Matthew Hegarty is riding high on the success of Dan's arrest. But he's finding it difficult to ignore his growing doubts as well as the beautiful and vulnerable Charlotte. Can he really risk it all for what's right?

Three stories. One truth. They all need to brace themselves for the fall.

©2012 Claire McGowan (P)2012 Headline Digital

Critic Reviews

"One of the very best novels I've read in a long while...astonishing, powerful and immensely satisfying." (Peter James)

"There is nothing not to like...a compelling and flawless thriller." (S J Bolton)

"A cool and twisted debut." (Daily Mirror)

"She knows how to tell a cracking story. She will go far." (Daily Mail)

"It's crime-novel-meets-Hampstead-novel but without the contrivances of the former genre and the navel-gazing of the latter. Funny and perfectly paced, the pervading sense of "there but for the grace of God go you" chills you to the bone." (Daily Telegraph)

It Fell

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I am okay with a European accent but, cockney Brittish just doesn't translate to me. I spend so much time figuring out what the heck was said or what possibly that could be sland for that I loose all track of the story.

What other book might you compare The Fall to and why?

I was repeatedly reminded of a book I read this year called Another Piece of My Heart. The author in that book did the same thing I dispise.... As the main character is in the heat of an action they begin to ask themselves repeated questions and ponder the ramifications. So that a run down the flight of the stairs can take five minutes of wondering what is at the bottom. I think it's a ploy to stretch the book out.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Three people??? Seriously?.... One good performance beats three ho hums

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Fall?

MUCH of the interaction with the parents - Geeez Louise!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great Performances

The story was good, although you could kind of figure it out. But the performances of the three narrators were outstanding!

Great characters, riveting story

All three narrators did such an amazing job of bringing the characters to life with incredible vividness! It was so easy to get totally sucked in and empathize with each of the mains. Although it would have been better if Charlotte had ended up with DC Hegarty...but reality, you know.

Just a handful of characters

A lovely liesurely read, this book is a great choice for a winter weekend. It reminds my of a cage fill of colorful parakeets - lots of action to see and enjoy - the crime underlining everything like a cage bottom paper.

A really good story, I became totally involved

Charlotte is a pretty, middle-class, well-educated girl with a good job and her imminent wedding to Daniel and a great future ahead to look forward to. Keisha, a mixed race single mum, is struggling after giving up her chance of further education after becaming involved with her white boyfriend, Chris, having a child and then losing her to Social Services when Chris was accused of physically abusing the little girl. A horrifying event one night in a Camden club brought these two very different girls together in an unlikely union. Neither of them was directly responsible for what had happened but it affected their lives in so many difficult ways. The life of DC Hegarty, a young copper, was also changed when he became involved in the story. The three narrators brought these main characters, plus those that surrounded them, to life in a most believable way and I really cared about the outcome as the girls fought for themselves and the men in their lives. Claire McGowan has written a super book.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Good story

If you could sum up The Fall in three words, what would they be?

Great book but very nearly ruined by the choice of narrator as Charlotte, Jane Collingwood would be very good as a children's book narrator. Think of a scene where a young woman is being brutally beaten unconscious in a public toilet but read aloud in the style of Mr Tumble, from CBeebies at tea time.......

Any additional comments?

The other narrators were good. It's still worth listening to.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Hello, lovin this!

This was excellent and I've never come across this writer. From the word go I was hooked the different narrators are great combined with a compelling story.
A murder takes place in a club and a male is apprehended it is not so much a police proceedural as a character study - I really enjoyed this it was a bit different give it a go. I'm going to try and find more by this writer now.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Lacking any twist

There was no plot twist, nothing exciting and the end was disappointing. Just a story of events which you knew was going to happen once you had the first part of the story. Just lacked any real oomph and I finished it thinking it was a bit pointless.

Enjoyed from start to end

What made the experience of listening to The Fall the most enjoyable?

The characters were excellent and very well portrayed

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The narrator brought the characters to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes if only there had been time

Modern story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. It was an intriguing plot, but I didn't like the two main female characters. I wanted them to be a bit more gutsy and proactive, but I just found them irritating. I don't mind a bit of swearing, but there was too unnecessary f words.

What will your next listen be?

Apple Tree Yard

Did the narrators do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Yes, except that they pronounced Keisha differently!

0 of 1 people found this review helpful