The Fall

Genre:  Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Date Published: 2023

Book Length: 494

Format: Paperback supplied by the author in return for an honest review

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

About Book: Regrets are like birthdays—they keep coming, each one a new scar slowing you down and dragging you closer to your grave. Ariel Fall, a seasoned private investigator, knew this well. After the devastating loss of his wife and young daughter, Ariel attempts to forge ahead, leaving behind the painful memories that threatened to ensnare him. But his quest for redemption proved more elusive than anticipated, and his entanglement in a series of harrowing investigations were proving rather useless, only serving to expose the darkest corners of humanity's nature and the enigmatic depths of the human mind. Haunted by the relentless pursuit of truth, Ariel embarks on a treacherous journey, encountering a seductive femme fatale and an enigmatic "guardian angel" along the way. As he delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Lavender Killer, the League of Damned, and the notorious Dirty Joe, he discovers the pervasive corruption lurking within the very heart of the London police force. In a world where rules and morality blur, Ariel is forced to confront his own limitations and question the validity of conventional approaches. Struggling with the weight of his decisions, each one seeming to lead to his downfall, he realizes that true impact requires bending and even breaking the rules. With the spectre of failure looming, Ariel must navigate treacherous waters where every choice feels like a waking nightmare.

My Thoughts: The Fall by Albert Jaskula starts as it means to go on it is full of grit and action. At times, the prose is short and that adds to the intense drama. I had to read some of the sentences twice to ensure I understand what is happening, but I think that is because it is so faced paced that the words sometimes ran away from me. It is a book that I needed to concentrate on to make sure that I keep up with the plot.

I got an intense sense of the main protagonist, Jaskula’s way of describing things is a testament to his writing. I could feel the angst and extreme pain he is going through emotionally as well as physically. The book follows a private investigator and uniquely for a book goes through more than one investigation which reignites the attention span, I was nervous at the beginning of the book as it was so long, but it didn’t feel like that while I was reading.

Some of the book, in  my view, is gruesome but it did pertain to the story, and I felt it was justified. The main protagonist is definitely a badass PI, but he also has another side to him that he is trying to make win over the darker side.

In conclusion this book is fast paced and very dark dealing with the seedier side of life. There were surprises throughout the book right until the end which kept me engaged and I was wondering what happens next. A testament to Jaskula’s writing a great first novel that I fully recommend if you love a dark thriller that will keep you on your toes.