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Fifty Feet Down
In the years since its foundation, the town of West Rutland has been known for one thing marble.
Marble houses, marble art, marble people. They were first and foremost a marble town, historically mining from deep, hundred feet quarries scattered in the woods.
Production was stopped long ago when thirteen workers were killed in an accident in the 1900s, a taint of death lingering over the heart and soul of the town. Today, it becomes known for something else, something darker.
Four disappearances in the past month, all high school boys yet to be found. That's all Alex knows when her boss ships her from New York City to Vermont to get the story. That, and the only family member she has left is waiting there, unaware of her existence.
But instead of answers, she only finds more questions in the form of Luna, who, despite working at the local sculpture garden, avoids the topic of marble quarries like the plague, mourning a ghost that no one in town will speak a word about. The last thing Alex wants is a distraction, but that's all Luna needs, and together they unravel each other's secrets one by one, searching for ways in which they might be intertwined. And through it all the quarries wait, where Alex finds Luna on more than one occasion, crumpled on her knees at the edge, staring down into fifty feet of haunted water.
Marble houses, marble art, marble people. They were first and foremost a marble town, historically mining from deep, hundred feet quarries scattered in the woods.
Production was stopped long ago when thirteen workers were killed in an accident in the 1900s, a taint of death lingering over the heart and soul of the town. Today, it becomes known for something else, something darker.
Four disappearances in the past month, all high school boys yet to be found. That's all Alex knows when her boss ships her from New York City to Vermont to get the story. That, and the only family member she has left is waiting there, unaware of her existence.
But instead of answers, she only finds more questions in the form of Luna, who, despite working at the local sculpture garden, avoids the topic of marble quarries like the plague, mourning a ghost that no one in town will speak a word about. The last thing Alex wants is a distraction, but that's all Luna needs, and together they unravel each other's secrets one by one, searching for ways in which they might be intertwined. And through it all the quarries wait, where Alex finds Luna on more than one occasion, crumpled on her knees at the edge, staring down into fifty feet of haunted water.
329 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2023
8 people are currently reading
2870 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 15, 2025
Sophie Tanen, please contact me directly to explain what you mean by “I’m not a reporter, I’m a journalist,” I am begging.
December 24, 2023
This was such an addictive read. From the first page I was immediately sucked into the story. I wanted to unravel this murder mystery and to get to know these amazing characters.
The story was original, I couldn't pin the murderer until the FMC figured it out herself. Also I love that this book wasn't only about the murder but that it also had a beautiful romance subgenre.
The author also got a very nice writing style, what made the book read very smoothly. I loved it very much and I am sad I already finished it.
Last but not least I want to thank the author and midnight meadow publishing for providing me with an earc.
The story was original, I couldn't pin the murderer until the FMC figured it out herself. Also I love that this book wasn't only about the murder but that it also had a beautiful romance subgenre.
The author also got a very nice writing style, what made the book read very smoothly. I loved it very much and I am sad I already finished it.
Last but not least I want to thank the author and midnight meadow publishing for providing me with an earc.
March 19, 2025
Just a lil reminder to all the writers out there: if you don't have enough plot for a whole novel, you CAN just write a short story. It's not illegal!
This book was 75% wandering around town aimlessly, 20% wattpad romance (but with no smut🙄), and 5% "mystery"
Anyway I waited nearly a year to read this and it was really bad💔
This book was 75% wandering around town aimlessly, 20% wattpad romance (but with no smut🙄), and 5% "mystery"
Anyway I waited nearly a year to read this and it was really bad💔
April 3, 2024
3.5! i really enjoyed how descriptive the writing is in this, even if the mystery plot discovery wasn’t as satisfying as i hoped it would be. the romance subplot is pretty good too!
July 16, 2025
There were lots of things I liked about this book, but there were also plenty of things that bothered me so overall- it’s gonna level out to three stars for me. I really liked the premise of the mystery and romance so that’s already a good start. I thought the motive for the murders was interesting and compelling even if it didn’t take me too long to figure out what the twist was going to be and I wanted to pull my hair out with how long it took Alex to figure out lol. The romance subplot was sweet and engaging too, though again, Alexs approach to the relationship bothered me there too. I felt like she was just a bit creepy and I despise the miscommunication trope which this kinda was in a way. The chemistry was good though and I did enjoy their interactions. My problems were mostly a lot of little things that added up to make it harder to fully enjoy the story. I found Alex to be very annoying at some points as previously mentioned lol. I found the pacing to be off in some spots and felt there were moments in the book where the main plot line (the mystery) wasnt being developed as actively as I wanted it to be. I also found there were some plot holes specifically surrounding the stuff with her missing sibling that were hard for me to overlook. Finally, I struggled with some of the way Vermont was discussed between characters. It felt like everyone was miserable there, even without the murder thing, and I feel like it didn’t have to be that way. Sure plenty of people who grow up in Vermont can’t wait to leave, but many others love it here and have no desire to go anywhere else, or leave for a while only to return. I totally see both sides as I left VT as soon as I could for college desperately wanting to try living in a big city, but I came back of my own accord because I missed it here. Maybe that’s what I get for reading a story centering around a New York City transplant but I just wanted there to be a few characters who were desperately trying to solve this mystery not because anyone they were related to was involved, but out of deep love for their community. To be fair though, I live in Central VT and not West Rutland so maybe things feel different down there lol.
September 14, 2023
Okay so everyone needs to CALM DOWN because I think this might be my NEW FAVOURITE BOOK.
The story is a mystery, set in rural Vermont. We follow Alex, a journalist who has left New York to investigate a series of disappearances in a small town. Along the way she uncovers family secrets, falls in love, and ultimately solves the mystery.
What I was hoping from this book was vibes – spooky, cosy, autumnal – and it 100% delivered. But there’s so much more than that! I loved the way Alex’s past and true intentions were steadily revealed to us. It’s so hard to do that well, especially in first person, but I thought it was done excellently here. Alex had a brilliant character arc that really elevated the whole book to the next level, and added so much to the existing layers of the story.
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The writing and the mystery drew you in, and once I started reading it was so hard to put it down! It’s impossible not to be drawn into the setting, and I so quickly became invested in knowing what had happened. The small-town atmosphere felt like Schitt’s Creek but with more murder, or like a Professor Layton game, with the key figures and places in the town being so pivotal to the story.
The queer representation was excellent, and I loved the relationship between Alex and Luna. It had heart and felt grounded without being at odds with the rest of the story in tone, and the way it linked in with the wider story? I was desperate to know that it would all end okay! (And I won’t tell you if it did – you’ll have to find out for myself!).
This is a really excellent mystery, perfect for reading under the covers while the days get shorter. Sophie Tanen is one to watch!
I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
The story is a mystery, set in rural Vermont. We follow Alex, a journalist who has left New York to investigate a series of disappearances in a small town. Along the way she uncovers family secrets, falls in love, and ultimately solves the mystery.
What I was hoping from this book was vibes – spooky, cosy, autumnal – and it 100% delivered. But there’s so much more than that! I loved the way Alex’s past and true intentions were steadily revealed to us. It’s so hard to do that well, especially in first person, but I thought it was done excellently here. Alex had a brilliant character arc that really elevated the whole book to the next level, and added so much to the existing layers of the story.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The writing and the mystery drew you in, and once I started reading it was so hard to put it down! It’s impossible not to be drawn into the setting, and I so quickly became invested in knowing what had happened. The small-town atmosphere felt like Schitt’s Creek but with more murder, or like a Professor Layton game, with the key figures and places in the town being so pivotal to the story.
The queer representation was excellent, and I loved the relationship between Alex and Luna. It had heart and felt grounded without being at odds with the rest of the story in tone, and the way it linked in with the wider story? I was desperate to know that it would all end okay! (And I won’t tell you if it did – you’ll have to find out for myself!).
This is a really excellent mystery, perfect for reading under the covers while the days get shorter. Sophie Tanen is one to watch!
I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
July 8, 2025
How do you keep on dreaming, when your life has turned into a living nightmare?
Reading this felt like I was lost in a forest going around in circles and never noticing because I didn’t care for my surroundings.
My rating was just barely salvaged by the last few chapters, and it was hanging on the plot twist. It certainly was something I never saw coming, but instead of a cunning and stealthy twist, it seemed like something nonsensical. It wasn’t hinted at at all, and it feels like Sophie Tanen just threw darts to choose the murderer. There was perhaps one bit with subtle foreshadowing, which was this:
“I wish we knew who did it to him,” I say, gazing at that booth that used to belong to a young kid, but now has become as generic as all the rest. It’s haunted, filled with ghosts. “So we could make them pay.”
“Me, too,” she says, voice bitterer than I’ve ever heard. “Me, too.”
And, you know, I liked this quote. It truly was subtle, with how it could be marked off as simply Jo’s resentment for what happened to the boys, but it was also something you noticed. It threw me off.
Aside from the twist, I was pretty much reading a whole lot of nothing. There’s no substance or suspense in the writing. However, something I really enjoyed was the fact that I was truly immersed in Alex’s perspective. I completely followed her thought process, finding the town drab when she perceived as it such, then finally seeing it clearly right when she does.
Luna and Alex’s relationship was something that was clearly plotted out from the start. I do believe they had great chemistry, but at times the scenes between them felt flat and it gave the feeling that there really wasn’t much about them.
The whole thing with Alex’s family felt useless because it never went anywhere. There was barely any closure and I felt more about it than Alex did, which is insane considering that was the major reason she even took up the whole reporting thing in Vermont.
All-in-all, this book was just so-so. 2.5 stars.
Reading this felt like I was lost in a forest going around in circles and never noticing because I didn’t care for my surroundings.
My rating was just barely salvaged by the last few chapters, and it was hanging on the plot twist. It certainly was something I never saw coming, but instead of a cunning and stealthy twist, it seemed like something nonsensical. It wasn’t hinted at at all, and it feels like Sophie Tanen just threw darts to choose the murderer. There was perhaps one bit with subtle foreshadowing, which was this:
“I wish we knew who did it to him,” I say, gazing at that booth that used to belong to a young kid, but now has become as generic as all the rest. It’s haunted, filled with ghosts. “So we could make them pay.”
“Me, too,” she says, voice bitterer than I’ve ever heard. “Me, too.”
And, you know, I liked this quote. It truly was subtle, with how it could be marked off as simply Jo’s resentment for what happened to the boys, but it was also something you noticed. It threw me off.
Aside from the twist, I was pretty much reading a whole lot of nothing. There’s no substance or suspense in the writing. However, something I really enjoyed was the fact that I was truly immersed in Alex’s perspective. I completely followed her thought process, finding the town drab when she perceived as it such, then finally seeing it clearly right when she does.
Luna and Alex’s relationship was something that was clearly plotted out from the start. I do believe they had great chemistry, but at times the scenes between them felt flat and it gave the feeling that there really wasn’t much about them.
The whole thing with Alex’s family felt useless because it never went anywhere. There was barely any closure and I felt more about it than Alex did, which is insane considering that was the major reason she even took up the whole reporting thing in Vermont.
All-in-all, this book was just so-so. 2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2024
Full disclosure: I bought this book because I live in the real town this book is based on. So from that perspective I found this book quite good. There’s nothing quite like reading a book about a place you know pretty well. It was special.
The mystery was underwhelming to me. I found myself confused a lot. I wanted Alex, the main character, to be a better investigator. I wanted less of the good details she “discovered” to be a result of happening to overhear a conversation.
The thing with the long lost brother also fell flat for me. Based on the back of the book description it seemed like it would feature more prominently, but it didn’t. And of course he was tied to the murder in some way. Too convenient.
And the love story. I didn’t dislike it. But kinda like how the brother was sorta involved, I hated that of course the girl she falls for is closely involved with the whole murder situation. There are some sweet moments. But honestly I think if this whole book’s timetable wasn’t so short it would have worked out better for me. We go from being standoffish with each other to declarations of love that save a life in the matter of, what, weeks? It just kinda didn’t work for me.
However, I did enjoy this book. And if you’re a Vermont person, I’d definitely recommend it. I’m giving this book to a local friend to read, so if that helps at all, it wasn’t a compete bust. 3 stars feels a bit harsh, so I’ll go with 3.5.
The mystery was underwhelming to me. I found myself confused a lot. I wanted Alex, the main character, to be a better investigator. I wanted less of the good details she “discovered” to be a result of happening to overhear a conversation.
The thing with the long lost brother also fell flat for me. Based on the back of the book description it seemed like it would feature more prominently, but it didn’t. And of course he was tied to the murder in some way. Too convenient.
And the love story. I didn’t dislike it. But kinda like how the brother was sorta involved, I hated that of course the girl she falls for is closely involved with the whole murder situation. There are some sweet moments. But honestly I think if this whole book’s timetable wasn’t so short it would have worked out better for me. We go from being standoffish with each other to declarations of love that save a life in the matter of, what, weeks? It just kinda didn’t work for me.
However, I did enjoy this book. And if you’re a Vermont person, I’d definitely recommend it. I’m giving this book to a local friend to read, so if that helps at all, it wasn’t a compete bust. 3 stars feels a bit harsh, so I’ll go with 3.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2023
“Make me believe we’ll one day be cast among the stars.”
I picked up this book after seeing a TikTok about dead boys and a lesbian journalist and finished it in TWO SITTINGS.
I want to preface this by saying I’ve maybe read three thrillers in my lifetime and I’m not really the best voice to rate and review them on a ‘thriller’ level, my rating is based on my enjoyment alone.
As someone that grew up in a town just about the size of the one in the novel I instantly connected with the Erie small down secrets and the realistic way of ‘everyone knowing everyone’ and the outsider perspective on that. I think it was a spectacular setting for this story. AND THE QUARRY’s WERE TERRIFYING. I thought the romance was cute and I overall enjoyed all of the characters on some level, though at some points there were just a LOT of names for my mind to handle.
I think the loss of a star for me was maybe the pacing? I felt that 2/4ths in the story was stuck in a loop of a few repeated scenes with the same lack of knowledge and not much else going on and it took a bit to work through until the pacing picked up again.
I enjoyed this debut so much and could very much see myself both recommending this book to others, and looking forward to the authors next work.
I picked up this book after seeing a TikTok about dead boys and a lesbian journalist and finished it in TWO SITTINGS.
I want to preface this by saying I’ve maybe read three thrillers in my lifetime and I’m not really the best voice to rate and review them on a ‘thriller’ level, my rating is based on my enjoyment alone.
As someone that grew up in a town just about the size of the one in the novel I instantly connected with the Erie small down secrets and the realistic way of ‘everyone knowing everyone’ and the outsider perspective on that. I think it was a spectacular setting for this story. AND THE QUARRY’s WERE TERRIFYING. I thought the romance was cute and I overall enjoyed all of the characters on some level, though at some points there were just a LOT of names for my mind to handle.
I think the loss of a star for me was maybe the pacing? I felt that 2/4ths in the story was stuck in a loop of a few repeated scenes with the same lack of knowledge and not much else going on and it took a bit to work through until the pacing picked up again.
I enjoyed this debut so much and could very much see myself both recommending this book to others, and looking forward to the authors next work.
February 19, 2025
I thought this was a good story. However, it did need a better copy editor, as there were several times that statements a page or so apart completely contradicted each other, for example in discussing timing and chronology. Also, I sometimes have a hard time reading a book that is based on a place I know, which is very much the case for this book. My visual images based on what I read are very sharp, and it can be hard to square that with what I know things to actually be. But that will not be a issue for those unfamiliar with the setting.
August 19, 2024
Final Rating: 5/5
I finally finished a book after three months of not reading consistently. :)
This book was really well done, especially for being the author's first published one. The element of mystery, surprise, love, and betrayal balanced very well. I loved the sapphic aspect of it, of course!! I recommend checking this book out.
I finally finished a book after three months of not reading consistently. :)
This book was really well done, especially for being the author's first published one. The element of mystery, surprise, love, and betrayal balanced very well. I loved the sapphic aspect of it, of course!! I recommend checking this book out.
October 16, 2023
This book was absolutely amazing! I could not put it down. Mystery, who-done-it, love story, family “drama”. Every second of this book was intriguing building up to the end which was very much a surprise. Definitely recommend!
May 14, 2024
An awesome mystery with a love story developing throughout. The author's description of the setting, and scene made me desperately want to experience the quarry and a hot Vermont summer. Beautifully and creatively written!
May 21, 2024
3-4 ⭐️
I would have liked a little more suspense being a mystery. I loved the little jabs about my hometown! I laughed out loud.
Not at all a bad read or too much funk. I feel this was more YA (not sure how it’s labeled). A debut novel worth a read!
I would have liked a little more suspense being a mystery. I loved the little jabs about my hometown! I laughed out loud.
Not at all a bad read or too much funk. I feel this was more YA (not sure how it’s labeled). A debut novel worth a read!
August 27, 2023
A cozy, sapphic mystery perfect for spooky (and flannel) season
October 24, 2023
a solid lil sapphic mystery book
January 6, 2024
Good book, but I found myself pushing through near the end. I got a little bored of the mystery but was nearly finished and didn't want to dnf
March 25, 2024
It was ok but it felt too similar to Sharp Objects…a reporter moves to a small town trying to solve a mystery and unravel family ties…it just felt like it had been done before, maybe if I hadn’t read S.O I would have liked it more. Extra point for it being gay
December 27, 2024
2.5 rounded up. The pacing felt way off and the reveal/reasoning didn’t really feel earned.
October 17, 2025
A small town, sapphic murder mystery that could've been 5 stars if only someone had proofread it
February 25, 2024
This book was supposed to be a murder mystery, and it completely and utterly failed at it. Alex, the MC, is our detective here. She’s a journalist going undercover to discover the truth. However, she does little to no investigation. Genuinely, she is the worst journalist in the world. I myself have no journalistic training, but even my first instinct when investigating a murder would be to try to get information out of the police. She NEVER does this. Her whole investigation consists of talking to a few locals (not the family and friends of the victims, mind), looking at some quarries, and going to a hospital, which the author only has her do to develop her relationship with Luna, the love interest. This brings me to my next point, which is that the reason why literally NOTHING HAPPENS with the mystery (you know, the alleged POINT of the book), is because Tanen dedicates every. single. chapter. to developing Alex and Luna’s romance. Tanen should have just written a contemporary romance and forgotten the mystery, because the romance was the only well-written thing about this book. Clearly she has a knack for the genre, and could have produced something excellent. However, she didn’t, and we are left with this murder mystery story that is anything but.
Alex’s complete lack of investigation means that the evidence and suspects accrued are extremely limited; consequently, the mystery’s solution is painfully obvious to the point where I shouted “How are you not getting this Alex???” at my Kobo.
I disliked Tanen’s writing style, too. There were attempts to be poetic through tortured description that just made me cringe. I was also expecting Tanen to draw out the marble aesthetic present in the synopsis (for example, marble people) in creating the atmosphere of West Rutland, but this was not the case.
The only reason I didn’t DNF this book is because I wanted to find out what happened. But that’s me with all murder mysteries; this read did nothing to make me specifically interested in it.
Aside from the romance, the other positive thing I have to say is that Tanen’s character work was good. Both Alex and Luna were well-thought out characters that underwent development (even if Alex made me want to pull my hair out). That’s why I’m rating this book two stars instead of one.
Rep: lesbian MC, sapphic LI
Alex’s complete lack of investigation means that the evidence and suspects accrued are extremely limited; consequently, the mystery’s solution is painfully obvious to the point where I shouted “How are you not getting this Alex???” at my Kobo.
I disliked Tanen’s writing style, too. There were attempts to be poetic through tortured description that just made me cringe. I was also expecting Tanen to draw out the marble aesthetic present in the synopsis (for example, marble people) in creating the atmosphere of West Rutland, but this was not the case.
The only reason I didn’t DNF this book is because I wanted to find out what happened. But that’s me with all murder mysteries; this read did nothing to make me specifically interested in it.
Aside from the romance, the other positive thing I have to say is that Tanen’s character work was good. Both Alex and Luna were well-thought out characters that underwent development (even if Alex made me want to pull my hair out). That’s why I’m rating this book two stars instead of one.
Rep: lesbian MC, sapphic LI
December 21, 2023
more of a 3.5 didn’t really get me into it still halfway but not bad i liked the lesbians
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