Title: Take the FallAuthor: Emily Hainsworth
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Rating:
WHO KILLED GRETCHEN MEYER?
Fear grips the residents of Hidden Falls the night Sonia Feldman and her best friend, Gretchen Meyer, are attacked in the woods. Sonia was lucky to escape with her life, but Gretchen’s body is discovered at the bottom of a waterfall. Beautiful, popular, and seemingly untouchable, Gretchen can’t be gone. Even as Sonia struggles with guilt and confusion over having survived, the whole town is looking to her for information…could she have seen something that will lead the police to the killer?
At the top of the list of suspects is Gretchen’s ex-boyfriend—and Sonia’s longtime enemy—Marcus Perez. So when Marcus comes to Sonia for help clearing his name, she agrees, hoping to find evidence the police need to prove he’s the killer. But as Gretchen’s many secrets emerge and the suspects add up, Sonia feels less sure of Marcus’s involvement, and more afraid for herself. Could Marcus, the artist, the screwup, the boy she might be falling for have attacked her? Killed her best friend? And if it wasn’t him in the woods that night…who could it have been?
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
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Book Review: Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth
Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth is one of the most suspenseful books of the year. The reader will be turning the pages like mad, eager to learn the truth. This crime novel is action-packed as the characters try and catch a killer, and the focus is on the mystery, not the romance, which is enjoyable. However, the ending may be disappointing for some in this whirlwind of a story.
❀ A Perfect who-done-it
Take the Fall has all the components of a good mystery: characters searching for possible suspects and attempting to uncover evidence, and the massive reveal of the murderer’s identity at the end. Also, there is so much suspense as the characters get closer and closer to the truth. Add the fact that it is action-packed, and this book contains that right mix for a perfect who-done-it that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats!
❀ Enjoyable Subplot
The subplot in this book is really enjoyable as well and adds to its overall appeal. There is a romantic theme in Take the Fall between the two main characters. While these types of dramas in books can sometimes take away from the plot, it isn’t the main focus of the story. As a reader, I want to focus more on the solving of the problem and not get distracted by unimportant details. This love affair was just the right amount to keep Hainsworth’s story at its fast pace.
❀ Ending is Lacking
The only thing really lacking in Take the Fall was the ending. It is hard to provide details without spoiling the book, however, the whole ending didn’t really make sense. For such a well-written novel, it was surprising to have it end the way it did. If perfect endings are important to you, then this book might not be your cup of tea.
❀ A Suspenseful Mystery
Take the Fall by Emily Hainsworth is a suspenseful mystery with a focus on crime, not romance. Though I enjoyed most of this book, the ending didn’t really satisfy me. However, I would recommend fans of the mystery/thriller genre, since this book really fits the bill with the crime aspects.
About Emily Hainsworth
Emily Hainsworth was raised in Syracuse, New York, until she fell in love and fled its gray skies for the sunny Rocky Mountains. Before she started writing full time, she worked as a turndown maid at a fancy golf club, scooped poop at a dog boarding kennel, worked retail in an upscale pet boutique, and owned a dog grooming business. She currently resides in Denver with her family. Emily's debut novel, THROUGH TO YOU, a romantic sci-fi thriller, was published in 2012 by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins. It was on the Fall 2012 Kids Indie Next List, received a starred review from VOYA magazine, was translated into nine languages, and was optioned for film by Paramount Pictures. Her second novel, TAKE THE FALL, is a suspenseful YA thriller about a girl trying to understand why she escaped murder when her best friend didn’t.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
Could you stop giving me book to add in.my wishlist lol. I like your review.
Awww! Carine! 😂
I just read a book that has a very similar plot. Two best friends, one found dead in a lake at the bottom of a cliff, the other hurt but survives, the boyfriend who is a suspect. It was Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout which I thought focused too much on teen angst and romance so maybe I’d like this one better.
I was very intrigued when I first read the blurb of this book – finally a YA murder mystery that I might enjoy! But I’ve heard some were disappointed with the book’s ending and I really hate when that happens! I’ll give it a read though and see for myself. 🙂
I hope that you enjoy it!
The ending of this one made me SO mad. Seriously, mightily angry.. I mean, how do you just end a book like that? It is bound to make a reader angry. I want so much to know what happened. I don’t want to say anything specific, but you know what I am talking about!!!
Yes! I know exactly what you mean!
Everyone talking about the ending of this book has me anxious to know what it is before even reading the book! Though the disappointment does make me want to reconsider reading It altogether…
Ooh this one sounds awesome!! Can’t wait to check it out!! Right up my alley!!
I just read a book with a bit of a disappointing ending so I don’t think I could bear through all the suspense and then just have it not come together too well for the ending. So I’m going to have to pass, even though the rest of this one does sound wonderful.
This sounds really great. Thanks for featuring this book.
I love the sound of this one. Can’t wait to add to my wishlist.
Take the fall by Emily Hainsworth sounds great ♡ Thank you, I enjoyed your review.
I enjoy your reviews! This book sounds interestingly mysterious, but I don’t really like the odd ending or rushed.