And Then She Fell

by Dreena Collins

Fall Down Ten Times. Tell the truth once.

From the hand of an award-winning short fiction writer comes a story of motherhood, modern challenges, and a search for the truth.

57-year-old Catherine Keely’s world has been ripped apart by grief.

Independent, insightful, and intelligent – she is also the only person who finds her daughter’s death suspicious. Susie fell from a balcony while on holiday with friends, and one year on, Catherine is determined to unearth the facts about that night. But how well did she truly know Susie, and who – if anyone – can she now trust?

With hints of intrigue, gaslighting, and coercion surfacing, Catherine must be careful, or her own safety could be at stake.

And Then She Fell explores the secrets and lies around Susie's life through the eyes of a strong and faithful protagonist. With a unique structure, we experience ten possible scenarios to explain the tragedy as the narrative unfolds. Follow Catherine's journey as she explores the possible reasons for Susie's death, and you may find that - just like Catherine - you are unsure exactly what to believe.

Genres: Thriller

Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ women’s psychological fiction
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ November 8, 2022
Est Page Count ~ 267 (29 chapters)
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ death of an adult child

Author Content Warning: There are references to several challenging issues, though much of this is threatened or off the page. This includes fertility difficulties, mental health issues (including eating disorders and suicidal ideation), and the threat of violence/ sexual violence. These are all in short, contained scenes.

Catherine’s daughter, Susie, was 26 when she fell to her death while on holiday with her friends and boyfriend, Daniel.

Catherine does interact with people, but mostly she’s talking to Susie. She reminisces about the good times, and also wonders if she somehow missed a key piece in how Susie lived her life, and, also, how she died. She frequently hangs out with Jessica, Susie's bff, and Daniel, and learns some shocking things.

To build up the suspense, we get 10 scenarios sprinkled in from the day Susie fell, but we're left wondering what really happened until the very end.

Overall, I wasn't fully captivated, however the suspense did keep me intrigued. It's a well written story of the grieving process, and a mother just needing to know what happened to her baby, something that I'm sure is relatable to other mother's going through the same thing. I know I would definitely want answers, even if they were too hard to hear.

[Cheryl Burman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreena Collins is a master at contemporary short stories where she picks at the veneer of outward behaviour, layer by layer, until the raw pink skin of truth is revealed. Now she has taken this talent and successfully turned it into a psychological thriller.
Catherine Keely’s daughter, Susie, is dead, a fall from a balcony while on holiday in Crete. Drunk, an accident, say the formal findings but, a year on, Catherine can’t let it go. Intellectually she knows she should accept this as the truth. Emotionally, it feels all wrong.
Catherine visits the hotel where the tragedy occurred and returns home to England not much wiser. But her visit leads to a series of conversations with Susie’s friends who were on holiday with her, and with her boyfriend of the time, the handsome, charming Daniel. Catherine has never been truly comfortable with Daniel, although she can’t fault his behaviours and his way of making instant friends with all he meets. But what about the things Catherine is just learning about her daughter? She believed she knew her well, and now discovers her friends and her brother were aware of ‘issues’ of which Catherine has been ignorant, despite the signs. Has she been living with a delusion for years? Has she been a neglectful mother?
Catherine’s quest for meaning is interspersed with various scenarios of what might be the truth of that night. Common elements are put into different contexts, and the reader is asked to consider the likelihood of each scenario as Catherine believes she is gaining more insight, or perhaps, more acceptance. Collins adeptly follows Catherine’s thought processes as they circle round, point their finger here and then there, until … well, you have to read the book for the ‘until’. All I will say is that the ending caught me by surprise, but was totally appropriate, and skilfully told.
Highly recommended.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Dreena Collins’ short fiction for a while. And Then She Fell is a literary fiction short story collection that reads like a novel.

Things I loved:
-Older main character who’s not helpless in any way and loves living alone
-the exploration of a tragedy that will never have answers. Well done here and very relatable.
-Given the subject matter, it would have been easy to drown the reader in sentimentality. That doesn’t happen at all, and it makes the subject matter all the more crushing for it.
-The prose is sheer perfection.
-Characters are flawed, believable, and real.

I highly recommend reading And Then She Fell. Start early in the day. You won’t be able to put it down.

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! After reading the blurb, I knew I'd be engrossed in this book. The idea of multiple potential stories told throughout the book captivated me, and so did the book itself. Dramatic, emotional, a wonderful psychological thriller.

Catherine's daughter Susie fell to her death in an accident in Crete. Nothing has ever felt right about it to her, and so Catherine decides to travel to Crete herself and see if anyone can remember anything that may help her "solve the case" and gather some closure. After speaking to several employees of the different areas in Crete, Catherine has gained the courage to approach Susie's friends and boyfriend to help her piece together what could have happened.

As Catherine winds her way through the events, she comes to a startling realization - she didn't know her daughter as well as she thought she did. Was she ignoring Susie's shortcomings because she was blinded by love? Was she not aware because she was neglectful? This is an emotional journey and brings to mind "be careful what you wish for." There are unpleasant discoveries and revelations, some things better left unknown.

The 10 possibilities weaving known scenarios together was an awesome approach and I found them each to be coloring my opinions on who was responsible. Even with all of the well written suggestions of what happened to Susie, the end surprised me. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Bravo!

[Lorrene Huisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a must read for sure, one that could not be put down for any reason! It gripped me, and held me at a stand still, I constantly wanted to know more to reach the truth! Outstanding writing!

Nothing can compare to a mother's quest for the truth. Especially when she believes that what she has been told is wrong compared to what she thinks.. A mother will do anything for her daughter, even in death, that is certain. As a reader, I was at Catherine's side trying to seek out the truth referring to Susie. The more answers we got, the more things built up and questions came to light. I was constantly trying to figure out the truth, only to hit a wall each and every time. Catherine wanted the truth, she was a very admirable character. Everything leads up to the shocking end, which I must say I was not prepared for, and it was jaw dropping! The character development was done with excellent writing. Great build up of suspense. And a story that is woven that makes you guess as the pages turn. An amazing read and impossible to put down! Loved it!

Such a good book with such good writing. Very impressed with this author for me! I cannot wait to read more works by them! Highly recommend this must read thriller book and author! Do not pass up!!!

[Ashley Sugar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah, I didn’t expect that ending!! Im shocked actually. This is my first book by Dreena and it was such a huge page turner for me. Book is about a mother who’s daughter died from falling off a balcony. But she starts wondering if she fell or if someone pushed her. So she starts talking to her friends, her ex boyfriend and she’s starting to question what really happened! The way Dreena writes and the way she explains things in great detail, is simply amazing. Love love love her writing. If you want a book with suspense, this is the one for you. You think one person is a suspect but then you think someone else is too. You never really know what someone is capable of. I really enjoyed this book and I’ll be reading more of this authors work!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled into this book from the beginning. I was originally drawn to this book by the front cover, but once I read the synopsis I I knew I had to read it, and once I started I simply couldn’t put it down. The drama, the suspense, and all of the emotions in this amazing thriller will take you on an emotional Roller coaster ride. The story is original, the characters are perfectly developed and the book as a whole is the best thriller that I’ve read this year. So if you’re looking for your next great read, then make sure you pick this one up today.

[Heather Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything by Dreena Collins before and this was a different book then I’m used to. The author choices to the audience to write to. I wasn’t used to this, and it was a little weird at first but as the book went on, I understood why she used this tactic. I really liked this story by Dreena Collins, and I will be looking for more books by her and I hope that she uses the audience as she did in this one. I wanted to see what Susie really did to fall. I had to keep reading until the end to find out. This is an author I will definitely be keeping an eye out for.

[Lily Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreena Collins has a way with words. She plucks you from where you are and lands you in the middle of the story. Susie is very alive in this book despite being dead. The characters paint her into the picture. The grief, blame and sorrow drips from the pages. I've read this twice, such well written prose deserves more than one read. Each beat is considered, each action worked out to keep you guessing. The cast of imperfect humans recognisable. Award winning Collins shows us her talent is not limited to short stories, far from it.

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially wasn't sure how I felt about this book, so I had to sit with it for a moment and really think about what I had just read. This made me realise that's the intention of the book.

We meet Catherine, a grieving mother, a year on from her daughter's sad death. Catherine is determined to find answers as she is sure there is more to it than "the accident" it was declared. 

She meets friends and the ex-boyfriend of her daughter Susie and gleans information that makes her consider theories of how her daughter came to pass away (10 in total).

This book is an exploration of a mother's grief and the inner turmoil of not being able to save her daughter. It also prompts Catherine to evaluate herself, her behaviours and, ultimately, how she is perceived by others. 

Grief is a complex emotion and it is easy to become consumed by it. Dreena does a good job of exploring it in this book. 

Some darker themes are explored in this book, so reader discretion advised.

This book is written in 1st person from the pov of Catherine. What I found a little jarring was how she would switch to tallking to Susie and then flip to the hypothetical scenarios. For me it just felt like it pulled me in and out of the story. After a few I was a little more used to this style. 

Overall a good read. This is for you if you enjoy a book that gives you pause for thought, explores hypothetical scenarios, and is suspenseful. 

Thank you to Dreena Collins, Sherman House and Rachel's Random Resources for this complimentary advanced copy.  This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own. 

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked throughout this psychological crime mystery, in which a mother is the only one who thinks her daughter’s death is suspicious. Catherine Keely embarks on an emotional search for the truth, following the death of her daughter Susie. Susie fell to her death from a balcony whilst holidaying with friends, but a year after her world was ripped apart by grief, her mother Catherine still finds her death suspicious. However, she is the only person to think so, but Catherine is determined to find out about the events of that night. As Catherine unearths the facts, she wonders how well she truly knew her daughter. Fearing for her own safety, Catherine has to tread carefully, as she discovers who, if anyone she can trust to tell the truth.
This was a real page turner of a novel, with an intriguing storyline and a unique narrative structure, in that the reader is given ten possible scenarios to explain Susie’s death. Catherine is a great main character who brings the story together, and although dead, Susie is very much a central character as the secrets and lies around her life, and reasons for her death are explored. I was gripped by the narrative and was left guessing as to the outcome of the story, and I was also left wondering who to believe, myself. Due to the plot twists the ending came as a clever surprise, and I was left thinking about this novel long after I had finished it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mother's love knows no bounds but as a mother, how well do you know your children? Catherine Keely's daughter Susie died a year ago. She was on holiday with her boyfriend Daniel and some friends when she fell over a balcony. Was she drunk? Some say she was. Was she pushed? It's pretty suspect. Catherine travels to Crete to try to get to the bottom of her daughter's death. There are so many questions that she has. As she meets with Susie's friends, her former boyfriend, and people who were present on the night of Susie's death, different pictures emerge. All of them have some layer of truth to them but what really is the truth? She's presented with ten different scenarios and the reader is challenged to choose the correct one.

This is another new-to-me author and I found her writing style to be very easy to read. She has a way of drawing the reader in to her story and not letting go even after the last words are read. This book is full of intrigue and lots of twists and turns. I hope you'll enjoy this great little short story!

[Katie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins is a book about a mother, Catherine Keely, who is determined to find the truth about her daughter Susie’s death. Her daughter died on a trip to Greece at age 26, and Catherine’s grief was not ebbing. She sets out to try to put together the pieces of what really happened. As she meets with those who accompanied Susie on her trip, and residents who may have seen her during her stay, it does not take long for Catherine to realize that Susie had secrets she was withholding.

This story was an intense read for me. I never want to know the pain and grief that weighed upon Catherine. Losing a child is the biggest fear of any loving parent. The author did such a wonderful job conveying that devastating pain to me as a reader. It was so raw and unwavering. I could not have guessed the story would end as it did! Phenomenal writing and a well-crafted story. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future. Highly recommend.

[Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was intriguing from the very beginning. I could not put it down. I kept pushing on trying to find out if there was something sinister to Susie’s fall or if it was as simple as the official story, she was drunk and fell.

We follow Catherine as she tries to find the true story of her daughter's death while also trying to cope with said death. She feels as if the official story is not true since Susie wasn’t much of a drinker. Catherine thinks she knows her daughter best but as more and more stories of Susie emerge, she doesn’t know what to think anymore. Catherine starts getting paranoid about everyone in Susie’s life, especially Susie’s boyfriend at the time. As the story progresses there are 10 different scenarios that Catherine thinks happened but which one is the truth?

The book was written like it was a journal that Catherine wrote specifically to Susie. I found myself going through a slew of different emotions with this read. I highly recommend this book!

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins

And Then She Fell is a Psychological Mystery that you won’t want to put down until you’ve finished. Wow just Wow , this wasn’t what I was expecting at all but so much better. This is a gripping story that had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Catherine’s world has been destroyed by the passing of her daughter and the grief is ripping her apart. She sets out to uncover the truth of really happened to her daughter. Did she fall or was she pushed? Catherine is a independent woman whose determined to uncover the truth but how well did she truly know her daughter? Is she putting herself in danger? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading more from this Author.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Then She Fell is the story of a mother who believes there is more to her daughter's death than she has been told. See what happens when she is determined to find out.

This original and clever psychological thriller is told with ten different accounts but only one is the truth. Which one do you think is real? I am not going to reveal anything about this tale as it is one that plays on your mind and needs to be discovered all for yourself.

Maybe the truth is a bitter pill and is better left where it was. Maybe you did not want to uncover the life she led.

You will not believe the ending.

I have not read anything by Dreena before now I look forward to reading more of her stories.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Keely is in Crete at the hotel where her daughter Susie was; one year prior before falling from a balcony to her death. Susie’s death is ruled an accident from too much alcohol. Catherine, a mother who is still coping with the loss of her daughter, is there looking for answers.
And Then She Fell is a stunning suspenseful mystery. Dreena Collins had me reeled in with her writing. After each chapter I wanted to know more about Susie and that fateful night.
Catherine speaks to Susie throughout the book as she meets with Susie’s friends and learns more about her daughter than she thought she knew. Each story gives Catherine a different take on what happened on that balcony. This book had me wanting to know the truth and the ending surprised me!
I recommend this book!

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine has lost her daughter and is struggling to make sense of it all. She revisits the last place Susie went to and then tried to unpick the holiday and what people say.

It's an interesting journey with different scenarios mixed in. All very possible and incredibly sad. I think you quickly make your mind up about some of the characters and the scenarios help cement that view. What makes this a good read is the fact that you don't really know either way as you read through.

The final scenario is as sad as the others and gives such a tense moment for Susie who has been falling apart slowly throughout. I can't imagine what Catherine has gone through and can see why she's dedicated to finding the truth. I think I'd be doing the same!

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the oddest books I’ve read. It started like a mom that couldn’t accept her daughter’s death. As the story unfolded, more possibilities came to light (there are 10 in all.) I can’t tell you much about the story, you’ll have to read it for yourself. It is also one of the best stories I’ve ever read. You are led to think about what you are reading. I found the characters to be very interesting. There are several POV and this makes for a well rounded look at what could have happened to her and why she did what she did. The book is pretty powerful too. I found myself feeling some big emotions. I recommend this for those who can handle it. I also give a trigger warning!

[Lucy Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d heard a lot about this book in some of my friend’s circles, and I knew I had to give it a try. What a book. This is one of the most riveting books I've read, honestly. It’s a story of clarity, mystery, and a search for truth. I’m not someone who reads a lot of psychological thrillers, but this one was so hard to put down! I loved watching the development of the characters as the story went on. The determination, the suspense, just everything about it is utterly fantastic. Highly, highly, recommend this book, and this author!

[Nakyshia Leger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine is processing the death of her daughter. She wants nothing more than to find the truth behind the accident that rocked her world. But with conflicting stories, she has no idea what is truth and what is lies.

Raw. Emotional. Mind-bending. I could not keep up! As soon as I thought I knew what happened, I was quickly left spinning and guessing again. Catherine will do anything to learn the truth as every grieving mother would. She is strong and fierce but questions herself with every turn until the very end. Every scenario left me guessing. I was truly blown away!

[Kirsten Berkebile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hits home for those who have lost someone unexpectedly. Catherine Keely, a very distraught mom is trying to understand what happened to her daughter. No one seems to “know” what happened to her. Catherine does her best to find out what happened and doesn’t believe that her daughter just fell because she was intoxicated. I am not a mom so I can’t relate to losing a kid, but I have lost my mom and feel like there is something missing. Does she find out what really happened to her daughter, You have to read to find out.

[Mandy Kneale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing was incredible and what an ending!

Catherine's daughter, Susie, has fallen from a balcony while on holiday.
It is suggested to be a drunk accident, but this doesn't feel right to Catherine and she is not letting go, determined to find the truth. Who can she trust? What will she uncover?

The 10 possible outcomes were such a great premise, I suspected this was going to be a great read and I was not wrong! Such a well thought out story and characters. This was so gripping with the twists. I was hooked after just a few chapters.

Definitely recommend!

[Paula Peckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew in the first few pages this book was going to be great. Dreena writes prose as if it is poetry. Such perfect turns of phrase, all through the book. You learn in chapter one the book is in the POV of a grieving mother who is trying to discover what really happened when her daughter died. Each chapter reveals another detail, and you think, "Aha! It was you!" But the next chapter turns that on its ear. When you finally realize the truth, your heart will break. I finished this book two weeks ago, and it still pops into my mind throughout the day.

[Vicky Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's every mother's nightmare, your daughter dies after having fallen from a balcony. As a mother of two daughters, it was hard to read this excellently written story at times, but amongst the heartbreak, there was hope and a way forward. I loved the style it was written in, like a long letter to the daughter who is no longer there, which I imagine must be very restorative in a way. I could picture multiple ways the book could have ended but the actual end made a lot of sense. I was hooked from the beginning and read it in a day. Fantastic writing. I'd love to read more of Dreena's stories.

[Codi · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins - Review by Codi Parham

Incredible writing. This is the first book I've read by Collins, and I cannot wait to get my hands on more! Suspense, intrigue, and mystery. This is a story of loss and the grief of losing a child under unusual circumstances. How far would you go to learn the truth?

And Then She Fell, Dreena Collins, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Crime, Women's Fiction

[Nina Maes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent psychological read! A story of a true mother's love. This one had me at the edge of my seat and other times getting up to walk away. Lots of twist and turns, which I just love in a great book. Love the approach this author takes with their readers, looking at all the scenarios and even more options that comes along. You feel like you're walking this path with this mother who is just looking for answers and closure.

[Christen Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark and twisting mystery that truly skyrockets toward as a psychological thriller. One can only imagine what it’s like to be the mother to a child lost, and we give sympathy to those who live that reality. This book keeps you guessing and with so many possibilities that are equally plausible, it allows the reader to assume things themselves while feeling like they’re perfectly in step with Catherine. Overall, a good read.

[M.K. McCollom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Read Mystery

From the very first page, 'And Then She Fell' had me hooked! Catherine Keely's determination to uncover the truth behind her daughter Susie's death kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The author skillfully wove together suspense and emotion, leading to a conclusion that left me stunned. Through Catherine's perspective, we're drawn into a world of secrets and uncertainty, making it impossible to put the book down. If you love mysteries with unforgettable characters and jaw-dropping endings, 'And Then She Fell' is a must-read!

[Trista Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreena did a really good job with this thriller. I kept trying to figure out what happened to Susie right along with Catherine only to be left puzzled and suspicious throughout the entire book. Dreena did an outstanding job developing her characters and even though Susie is deceased you got a sense of who she was right along with everyone else. I look forward to reading more by this author.