Before She Fell

Author: Natalie Sammons

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery,

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Date Published: 2024

Book Length: 315

Format: E Book supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend

About Book: An ostentatious party descends into violence—and a disgraced cop sets out to redeem herself by solving the case . . .Susan Grey’s fiftieth birthday party promised to be a talked-about event—an over-the-top extravagant gathering of a hundred guests at her sprawling Georgian home. But it would be talked about for all the wrong reasons . . .From an escalated argument to the disappearance of an expensive piece of jewellery, the party was quickly spiralling out of control. But the worst was yet to come, when Susan suffered a horrific fall down the grand staircase. Was it an accident or was she pushed? For DI Grace Roth, relegated to desk duty due to an internal investigation, this could be a high-profile case and a chance to redeem herself. But every lead seems to send her in circles. As the badly injured Susan lies in her hospital bed, DI Roth must try to gather the scattered pieces of the puzzle and make them fit—before anyone else gets hurt . . .

My Thoughts: Before She Fell by Natalie Sammons is a gripping crime thriller and mystery, and the first book I’ve read by this author. Right from the start, the story hooked me in and held my attention until the very end. The chapters are cleverly structured, each headed by a different character, and the third-person narrative worked well, making it easy to follow each perspective.

The book alternates between the present and the time before the accident, which gave me an insight into the victim’s point of view. This added depth to the mystery, and although I usually let the plot unfold naturally, I found myself trying to solve this one—and I was pleased to find my assumptions were correct.

Sammons' writing is methodical and meticulous, with seamless transitions between chapters that kept the tension building. The pacing was spot on, making the book hard to put down. I read it in just a couple of sittings, completely absorbed by the story.

If you're a fan of well-crafted mysteries with a compelling plot and memorable characters, I highly recommend Before She Fell. It's a page-turner that delivered on suspense and intrigue.