REVIEW: SINCE WE FELL By Dennis Lehane

Posted May 13, 2017 by Renee / 38 Comments

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Published May 16, 2017 By Ecco Books

Since We Fell follows Rachel Childs, a former journalist who, after an on-air mental breakdown, now lives as a virtual shut-in. In all other respects, however, she enjoys an ideal life with an ideal husband. Until a chance encounter on a rainy afternoon causes that ideal life to fray. As does Rachel’s marriage. As does Rachel herself. Sucked into a conspiracy thick with deception, violence, and possibly madness, Rachel must find the strength within herself to conquer unimaginable fears and mind-altering truths. By turns heart- breaking, suspenseful, romantic, and sophisticated, Since We Fell is a novel of profound psychological insight and tension. It is Dennis Lehane at his very best. 

******

I’ve been in a love/hate relationship with blurbs lately but I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with the one above, especially because in the grand scope of the whole book it’s actually very vague and a little misleading in the best possible way. Confused yet? Good, because part of the fun of reading this book is feeling slightly confused as to where Dennis Lehane is taking you. If you’ve read any of his books you’ll know, as I did…it’s going SOMEWHERE and it’s possibly going to come out of the blue and knock your socks off!

I went into this novel having no preconceived notions and really no idea what it was about; in fact, I sought out Sonya from Ecco Books and begged for a copy solely on the fact that it’s DENNIS LEHANE and I’ve loved every single book of his I’ve read as well as the movies that have been made based on them. I didn’t care what it was about I just wanted to read it! So here’s where it gets interesting…I’ve been on bad terms lately with psychological thrillers…we’re just not getting along for many reasons.  I just don’t enjoy unlikeable, unreliable narrators, gimmicky plot lines, twists that come out of nowhere just for the sake of being a big “twist,”etc and that’s what the genre has seemed to me to be a lot of lately.  So, I was a little worried going into THIS psychological thriller but let me tell you, all my worry vanished when I started reading!

I’ll start with the prologue…fantastic!! If you’ve read Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard, it reminded me a little of that which is to say, it starts off with things going very wrong for certain characters and as the reader I knew I needed to find out what led to that and why. Then we get to know Rachel Childs, a journalist who has not had the greatest relationship with her mother, ends up working her way up at the Boston Globe, falls in love (kind of), and goes in search of her long lost biological father. The entire first half of the book centers around Rachel as well as her immediate friends and family. I had no problem with this per se because Dennis Lehane’s writing is phenomenal…it’s astute, engaging, lyrical…and I was rapt to find out more about Rachel as I LIKED her and there was this faint voice in my head whispering the whole time…is she for real?…what are we not seeing/hearing accurately about her? But doubts started to creep in and at the 50% mark on my kindle, I said to myself…Oh no, this is going to end up being my first Lehane book that’s just going to be good but not great…he’s wrote a really good character driven study but that’s not what I expected from him….I mean is this story going anywhere? Then, literally, by 51%, the tide turned and boy did it ever! Lehane went from 0-90 and never looked back with the next half of the book and I couldn’t have been happier! I read the rest like a speed demon, having absolutely no idea where it was going but what a fun ride it was.

I won’t say anything more about the remainder of the plot but what I WILL say is thank you to Dennis Lehane for restoring my faith in psychological thrillers. I knew I could still love them. In my opinion, this is what a psych thriller is all about…and he did it without jumping back and forth between multiple narrators or timelines. Amazing!

Many thanks to Sonya Cheuse and James Faccinto at Ecco Books for my copy, I’m happy to provide an honest review

 

38 responses to “REVIEW: SINCE WE FELL By Dennis Lehane”

  1. noveldeelights

    I’m not familiar with this author at all. Although I did just see on Goodreads that he wrote Mystic River and I really enjoyed the movie. So based on your review, I’ll be adding this to my TBR.

    I was so glad to hear you found something to restore your faith in the genre as well. I’m being very picky lately about the psychological thrillers I pick up and I’m trying to take breaks in between them as well. There are still gems out there, Renee. We just have to find them! xx

    Reply
  2. Fictionophile

    Great review Renee! I’m so glad that your faith in thrillers has been restored. My faith has wobbled lately too. Dennis Lehane is a great novelist. I read his Patrick Kenzie series back-to-back one summer, and have enjoyed his other titles as well. This new one is on my TBR.

    Reply
    • Renee (Itsbooktalk)

      Thanks so much Lynne! He really is a great writer and I will most definitely need to read the Patrick Kenzie books I haven’t gotten to yet. I think you’ll really enjoy this one when you get to it!

      Reply
  3. Abbie at Bloomin' Brilliant Books

    Great review Renee! It’s been so long since I read a Lehane book, going to have to (eventually) check this one out. I’m so with you on the blurbs. I often forget what a book is about when I start reading it and when I go back to it to include it on the blog I’m often shocked. They often don’t do the book justice or give away bits I think should be kept quiet.

    Reply
    • Renee (Itsbooktalk)

      Thanks Abbie! I totally agree with you about blurbs, I’m finding it much more fun to go into a book I want to read knowing the least amount of info as possible. I hope you’ll get back to Lehane soon, his writing is just a level above:)

      Reply
  6. Cathy

    The only Lehane book I’ve tried is Shutter Island and I couldn’t get into it. But this sounds interesting..so maybe it’s time to try another.

    Reply
    • Renee (Itsbooktalk)

      I have to say the ending of Shutter Island blew me away but sometimes, like the case with this one, his writing starts off slow. I also always recommend Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone of his…awesome mysteries! Hope you enjoy your next Lehane read:)

      Reply
  7. FictionFan

    Glad he managed to restore your faith! That’s the thing about favourite authors – they can tempt us even when we’re feeling jaded. One day I’ll try another Lehane… 🙂

    Reply
  10. Donna | Chocolate'n'Waffles

    I don’t know this author at all but your review tells me to jump and jump do I want to!!!!!! Fabulous and enthusiastic review! I love that you found THE book you needed, after all those niggles with the psychological thrillers!

    Reply
    • Renee (Itsbooktalk)

      Thanks Donna and I have a feeling you’d like this one:) I’m sure you might’ve seen some movies based on Dennis Lehane’s books…Shutter Island, Mystic River, Live By Night (most recent) and Gone Baby Gone…all amazing movies but I have to say the books were better:) I really hope you give this author a try sometime!

      Reply
  11. Jo

    Great review, Renee! Lehane isn’t an author I’m all that familiar with, although I read Mystic River years ago. Really like the sound of this though 🙂

    Reply

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