The Fall

Anna Kronberg Thriller #3

by Annelie Wendeberg

Book 3 in the award-winning Anna Kronberg series. “…dynamite!"
"...unparalleled in detective literature.”

Would you kill your father to save the lives of thousands?
Anna Kronberg wakes up with a gun to her head. James Moriarty offers her a single bargain: to develop biological weapons for him, or she and her father will die.

As Britain’s foremost bacteriologist she certainly has the skills. But will she make a deal with the devil and aid in mass murder? Or will she sacrifice the only family she has lef
Anna sees only one way out: She has to play a dangerous game of deception. If she fails, her experiments with deadly diseases will have terrifying and far-reaching consequences.

___________
Dear Reader,
if you enjoyed The Alienist by Caleb Carr, and dark mysteries and thrillers by David Penny, Anne Perry, Louise Penny, Jo Nesbo, Alex Grecian, Nelson DeMille, Daniel Silva, Lee Child, and Ken Follett, odds are you’ll enjoy my mystery & thriller series as well.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Historical Mystery

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2013

About the author

Annelie Wendeberg likes to throw morally grey heroines into impossible situations just to watch disaster unfold. Her books have sold nearly a million copies worldwide in multiple languages through both independent and traditional publishing. When she's not writing, you can find her herding goats, making cheese, and saving owls and kangaroos from peril.

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up the first book in the series "The Devil's Grin" as a freebie here on Amazon and really enjoyed it. I got so sucked in by the protagonist I had to order this, the second book, in the series as well.

I thought the first two thirds of this were well done. The story was suspenseful, the biological warfare aspect of the story was interesting, I liked the way the author wove in a brief history of biological warfare and the main character Anna Kronberg
was clever, strong and brave. She's one of those take no prisoners type of heroines and much of the story unfolds as a dangerous cat and mouse game between Anna and Sherlock Holmes's arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty.

Anna is Moriarty's intellectual equal and through the majority of the book she is maintains a consistency of character. But after she endures a surprising blow to her identity she begins to change. Some of the changes brought about by the shock are understandable but other changes in Anna's behavior feel inconsistent despite the transformation she's undergoing.

I really loved so much of this great ride of a story, I love the period and the tension between the characters, I love the way Annelie Wendeberg brings Sherlock Holmes to life and I loved Anna Kronberg. What disappointed me was the way the story began to fall apart at the end. Anna becomes sentimental and maudlin losing focus and a bit of herself and that was out of character. This could have been a really great story with a little more polishing. As it is, it was enjoyable but a bit disappointing. I will wait to see how others find the next book in the series before giving it a try.

[ABCme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast paced historical novel by Annelie Wendeberg. This second instalment follows Anna in captivity. It's either her help in producing a germ to be used in chemical warfare or her father's head. She submits herself to her captor, trying with all her might to come up with ideas for mass destruction and how to delay them, while at the same time figuring out a way to escape. She finally succeeds, with help from her friend Sherlock Holmes, but all's not over yet. A marvelous read, unfortunately with an ending that screams for more. Well done AW, I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Kronberg Chronicles!

[Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been a good one. Eluding Scotland Yard and Sherlock Holmes, Anna Kronberg leads an inconspicuous life far from London. Until the day she wakes up to a gun pressed against her temple. With her father held hostage and no help in sight, Anna finds only one way out - to take her captor for a dance along the razor's edge while delving into Britain's tentative beginnings of espionage and systematic biological warfare. Anna is an interesting character, beset by moral problems and urges that drive her. However, the author loses her way as the book goes on, and ends by having an unresolved ending, probably preparing us for her next book in that group. Yet, as the end occurs, the strands don't come together, the writing starts to fall apart, and the reader (and probably the writer) are glad that it has come to an end. I don't know what to say to people wanting to read the book. Maybe, do so at your own peril. There's better stuff out there.

[Christine B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story - I'm not good at reviews, so I'll just say I enjoyed the story very much. The charcters seem very real to me and the story itself is well written, consistent in content and style, credible all through. The scientific parts were done exactly right; not too much detail as to be boring and off-putting for a non-scientific reader as myself (I've read books where I skimmed whole chapters because I couldn't understand wgat was being explained in WAY too much detail).
All in all I can highly recommend the second installment of this series and look forward to the next book :)

[Kimberly-Dawn Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter James Moriarity


A reminder of what women endured and overcame to experience life on their terms no matter what obstacles they faced. From an impoverished mother in a rookery, a brilliant mind that can match wits with Sherlock Holmes or the gilded cage of the highborn. This has an excellent number of mysteries that weaves an entrancing web.
The Character of Anna is all things strong women should exhibit—sharp intellect, strength of purpose, a vulnerability when her heart is aroused. This book is more difficult as Anna spends a large part engaged against her will in cahoots and matching wits with Holmesian Nemesis James Moriarity. Germ warfare and the groundwork for World War is laid out.

I’ve listened to the first 4 books on Audible and the Narrator’s voice and characterization of Anna, the shrillness, the German accent which always seems off somehow and poor transition between female and male characters had me gritting my teeth my at times. Sherlock Holmes sounds like a effeminate harpy. Sadly Moriarity is one of the best voices portrayed.

The WRITING is very good. Historical and medical research was excellent and could really transport you to St. Giles rookery, London’s medical school, and Tea Shops as well as, of course, 221B Baker Street.
I highly recommend this book be READ on Kindle/hard copy. The world building and character development are well worth the read. The vacillating, moral quandary and self flagellation that Anna goes through could be a bit much at times. To the point that I all that we knew of her of intelligence, fortitude and strength up to now has you wanting to give her a good shake. I would not have minded cracking Holmes over the head. Not a way I have ever felt to this extent in my extensive readings of various Holmesian stories.
At the very least, do yourself a favor and listen the sample. Text to speech would have been a better alternative. The Narrator is good in her other dramatic readings.

[Clarabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambiance opiacée, séduction veloutée, soirée à l'opéra, souper aux chandelles... Quel étrange roman !
Pour tout dire, j'aime beaucoup le contexte historique, l'Angleterre victorienne, la société à double vitesse, les rôles controversés que l'auteur attribue à Holmes et Moriarty, les joutes verbales avec la scientifique, par contre l'intrigue est assez complexe et un peu lente pour faire battre mon cœur.
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

as said by other readers, the series gets better and better -
this is quite a cat and mouse battle, the issue of which being uncertain... or not ?
good analysis as well of the concept on what women may or may not do in the 19th century

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sooo excited! It's so awesome when you find a series that you 'connect' with! A familiar world to revisit time and again (as long as the author continues to write...) with friends old and new. I LOVED The Devil's Grin and I loved this second installment, The Fall, as well! It's after the second book makes your skin tingle and you can't forget about it - just keep wanting to get back to the book - that you realize THIS is MY series. I belong here. It's not often that AHA! bulb goes off in my head - pertaining to series books, I mean of course, not just in general! :) When it does, though, I devour every possible written word!

A 3rd book is out and I'll be picking that up, too. As soon as it goes on sale. The ebook is currently selling on Amazon for $4.99 which is more than I pay. It will come down - I bought The Fall on sale, too, and Ms Wendeberg does not seem like one of those uppity Indie writers who thinks their talent to be so great that only a select (dearly paying) few shall enjoy it. If this were published by a 'big house', as I call them, $4.99 would be quite reasonable. Speaking of which - which 'big house' publisher turned these books away?? Seriously. I suppose the thought may be, 'well, who would actually buy and read these off-the-wall Sherlock Holmes and his female sidekick stories about germs, disease and science experiments?' Weirdly, me - that's who! I am pretty open to a variety of genre, but there are a few things I am very turned off to - medical, legal, aliens and zombies. These are all ugly things to me. Ugly. These books are not medical, exactly, but - they are certainly a VERY unique type of book. It is that very uniqueness that makes it soo great! The writing and the characters are fantastically weird! Our MC, Anna, is a complete intellect - her senses on overdrive at all times. Nothing gets past her notice, from every possible slight sound to various odors. She is amazing! Sherlock Holmes is also a very interesting character - something I can't believe I am saying. I never could get into Sherlock Holmes tales. Just didn't like them. Nor did I ever like any of the other more modern retellings either. But this...makes Sherlock seem human. Lovable, even.

There were a lot of intense events in this book, certainly more so than in The Devil's Grin. My emotions were going everywhere. Sometimes I didn't like Anna at ALL. Interestingly, though, Anna is so much a person of her own mind that unsavory behavior is sorta expected, so not as hard to forgive. Also, she was going through many changes as a person this time. The events of this book caused her to be different, as Holmes notices about her at the end as well. He says she is 'smaller', more effected and not so hard headed and self-directed. She has been changed through her experiences, of course she has. I will love meeting up with her again to see how she adapts to this new person she has become.

Five stars. This is what I call, 'intellectual writing for the dummies'. :) I feel so smart reading it...all that scientific stuff and details, details, details! But it is written so that we can all understand these scientific mysteries she becomes involved in, down to every last detail. It's sorta like an historic London CSI! Love it!!!!

[Wal.li · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vom Mann zur Frau

Ein Fortschritt ist es schon, auch Frauen können nun Medizin studieren. Dr. Anna Kronberg, die sich jahrelang in Dr. Anton Kronberg verwandelte, um ihrer Berufung nachgehen zu können, kann nun ihre wahre Identität offenbaren. Ihre Situation bessert sich dadurch nicht, verborgen und zurückgezogen in ihrem Cottage lebend, wird sie von Moriarty aufgespürt und in sein Haus entführt. Dieser will ihr Wissen für seine mörderischen Zwecke nutzen und biologische Waffen entwickeln, die nicht dem Wohle der Menschheit dienen. Zum Schein geht Anna auf Moriarty Verlangen ein, sucht aber insgeheim fieberhaft nach einem Ausweg.

Sehr angetan vom ersten Band dieser Reihe, war ich sehr gespannt und neugierig, auf welchen Wegen sich Dr. Kronberg und Sherlock Holmes wieder begegnen würden und welche Fälle sie gemeinsam lösen würden. Umso überraschter war ich nun, dass Anna Kronberg in Moriartys Fänge gerät und keinen Kontakt mehr zu Holmes zu haben scheint. Noch mehr überrascht war ich von der Entwicklung, die Annas Leben nimmt. Von der kraftvollen Persönlichkeit, die beinahe durch nichts zu stoppen ist, die es mit ihrer außerordentlichen Intelligenz sogar mit Holmes aufnehmen kann, wandelt sich sich in eine Frau, die sich fast zur Gänze aufgibt, um noch Schlimmeres zu verhindern. Allein bewirkt sie nicht so viel wie vielleicht gewünscht. Eine starke Veränderung geht mit ihrem Charakter vonstatten, die einen beim Lesen beziehungsweise Hören etwas niederdrückt. Diese Wirkung wird noch verstärkt durch die getragen betonte Lesung von Esther Schweins, die die Wandlung der Dr. Anna Kronberg damit hervorragend vermittelt.

Aus dieser Sicht betrachtet ist dieser Roman schon bald kein Krimi mehr, eher eine Studie der Anna Kronberg, eines Menschen, der zum Äußersten getrieben, sich extrem verändert und eigentlich mit Zärtlichkeit umfangen werden müsste. Zu meinem großen Bedauern jedoch muss ich gestehen, mir gefiel die Geschichte einfach nicht. Einen gradlinigen Krimi und intelligente Geplänkel zwischen Holmes und Kronberg erwartend, konnte ich mit diesem Psychogramm eines wahrlich Tiefen Falls nicht warm werden. Es ist alles vorhanden, was einen herausragenden Roman ausmacht, intelligent gestrickte Handlung, glaubhafte Gefühle - doch eher für andere Leser. Unsicher bin ich nun, ob ich mir den dritten Band zulegen werden, welcher im Englischen unter dem Titel „The Journey“ bereits erschienen ist.

[Kathleen Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FALL
Annelie Wendeburg

The Fall provides the tantalizing tale of Anna Kronberg, a female bacteriologist at work with the famed Sherlock Holmes, as she is forced to develop germ warfare for the ignoble Dr. James Moriarity, Holmes' evil nemesis. Throughout the story Dr. Kronberg is a prisoner in Moriarity's mansion and at his command in the implementation of his fiendish plot, and worse, he begins to desire her.

This book is the second of what so far is a series of three. The reader must be prepared to go on to Book Three, as central problems that evolve in Book Two are not resolved and leave us hanging. Note that these books are called “thrillers” rather than “mysteries” and revolve around the danger to Kronberg personally and humanity in general more than any cleverness on the part of Holmes or anyone else in solving a puzzle.

Readers will like Dr. Kronberg, as she is a gutsy little thing, surprising everyone around her with her audacity and her capabilities. Holmes may be developed more in the first book, The Devil's Grin. In The Fall he plays mainly the facilitator of Kronberg's attempted escapes and other efforts to foil Dr. Moriarity's plan. The author depends upon the readers' knowledge of Holmes and does not round out his character as much as might be desirable.

Wendeburg's series reminds me of Laurie R. King's mystery series about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. I feel that King was able to ground her characters more firmly in the time period (early 1900s) and the character of Holmes over time was more complex than in Wendeburg's series at this point. I find I prefer a mystery to a thriller as mysteries are more stimulating to the mind.

At the same time, Wendeburg's books are enticing and fun to read. The author has taken care to research the methodology for preparing the bacteria and other related information, so that we understand the science involved. For Sherlock Holmes buffs, here we have yet another series of stories about the man who fascinates so many of us, but more importantly about a woman physician who is brilliant and resourceful. I recommend that you read The Fall.

[Douglas Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a great lover of mysteries involving Sherlock Holmes. Although Holmes is a minor character in this series, Dr. Anna Kronberg is very much like him in the way that her mind works. This book is especially enticing as Moriarty's character is developed much more than in the original Conan Doyle series.

(I am reminded of my favorite series including Holmes as a minor character - the most excellent Mary Russell series by Laurie King)

First paragraphs
Wednesday Night, October 22nd, 1890 Something cold pushed my head into the straw mattress. Two sharp clicks and the smell of metal sent my heart slamming against my chest. The gun’s mouth was pressed flat against my temple. If fired, the bullet would rip straight through my brain, driving blood and nerve tissue through the mattress down onto the floor. If the gun were tipped a little, the bullet would circle inside my skull, leaving a furrow in the bone and pulp in its wake. ‘Dr Kronberg,’ a voice echoed through the dark. ‘Get up slowly, if you please.’ I opened my eyes. ‘Sit over there,’ he rasped, waving a lantern towards the table. I obeyed and the small chair gave its usual quiet squeak. A match was struck. Sulphur stung my nostrils. A candle cast the room into unsteady light. A man of approximately fifty years sat across from me. A face chiselled in hardwood, cracked by tension and ageing, his demeanour commanding strict obedience. ‘You are good at hiding,’ said he. Waves of goosebumps rolled over my skin. He looked at me, waiting for a reply that did not come. What could I possibly say? Obviously I hadn’t been hiding well enough. My tongue glued itself to my palate. The wrong word might end my life in an instant. Suddenly, my ears picked up a sound. The floorboards had produced a lone pop, raising the hair on my neck as though to assess the danger lurking behind me.

Wendeberg, Annelie (2013-07-16). The Fall (Kronberg Crimes) (pp. 11-12). Annelie Wendeberg. Kindle Edition.

[Sabrina Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Fall' is the second installment in the Kronberg Crimes series. The Fall begins a year after the events of The Devil's Grin and leaps right into the fray with Anna Kronberg waking up to a gun against her head. Her abductor is none other than Professor James Moriarty. The tension builds with each additional chapter and Anna's situation becomes even more complicated as she enters into a tense psychological battle with Moriarty.

I'm a big fan of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and I believe this is the first pastiche to explore James Moriarty in such depth. The author weaves events flawlessly in and out of the original Canon with surprisingly believability. She humanizes Moriarty and very nearly made me sympathize with him. A thrilling read, and once again, Annelie Wendeberg kept me turning the pages for hours on end. Can't wait for the third installment!

[Kirsten Lenius · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a series of stories about Anna Kronberg, a woman physician who hid her identity and masqueraded as a man, The Fall is a book worth reading.

Arch-nemesis of Sherlock Holmes, James Moriarty captures Anna and forces her to continue her research, turning it into the development of biological weapons, while Sherlock tries to aid her and extract her from his clutches.

Both The Devil's Grin and this book do full justice to the Holmesian tradition and to the historical period in which they are set.

Though I can't say much more without revealing details of the plot which is cleverly written with the knowledge of a mind trained in the scientific method, I can say that I highly recommend both books.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I loved the The Devil’s Grin, I enjoyed The Fall even more. The historical details were amazing, the science fascinating, the plot relentless and the tension kept me turning page after page to see what would happen next. Most importantly, though, is the fact that the main character, Anna Kronberg, now stands on her own so fully developed and three-dimensional. She shared the stage with Sherlock Holmes in the first novel but in The Fall the stage is fully hers and she needs no support in holding the reader’s attention at all times. I never doubted that the pain, entrapment, confusion and resourcefulness sprang from the soul of a living and breathing person. Just wonderful and a I can’t wait to read what follows.

[Deborah Kinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Devils Grin last week and was pleased to see book two of the Series available. The Fall was equally well written, a great read I completed in two days between work and family. In the Fall Holmes played a smaller roll and I missed the banter and tension between He and Anna. Like Holmes Anna is a master of disguises, only Anna's is a disguise of emotion. Both for the love of Holmes and her father she allowed herself to be held captive and continue an emotional and physical farce with Holmes nemeses. She undoubtedly is the strongest character of the series but seems to be the one who loses and suffers the most. I again await book three to see how this Cat and Mouse game continues. Great book!!

[Alan Marston]

An intriguing novel with Anna (Anton) at first baffled by her capture, and then, against her will, having to try to develop biological weapons. How she employs her intelligence, quick thinking and even her womanly charms to overcome the problems with which she is faced, forms the substance of a well told and quite enthralling novel that is a credit to the author. Anna is very likeable, very determined, and utterly devoted to overcome the problems that life throws at her. There is only one person who tries to help her, and sometimes the wiles of Sherlock Holmes seem not to be helping.
The development of a form of Stockholm Syndrome (though that term was not known at the time) adds to the complexity of the novel. Looking forward to the next one.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not wait for this book to become available. I even wrote to the author. I loved her first book so much ,that I had to find out where the story led.I certainly was not disappointed. Her writing is brilliant,and I stayed late, up until 4am. to finish it.I cannot wait for the next installment.I love the Victorian era,and she is very gifted with her story weaving in and out of this time period.There is even Sherlock Holmes who enters in the story now, and again. It also showed more of the evil nemesis,than other books I have read,and you see more of his personality..So amazing..glad I own it.

[Stacy Spoonster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall

What a complex and delightful tale. The depth of the characters and the sophistication of the plot make this second novel in the series far superior to the first. The book takes you through the psychological game of cat and mouse between Anna and Moriarty after Anna is taken hostage. Anna becomes a deeper and richer character in this book as the trauma of captivity changes her. Ugh...do I really have to wait
until May for the next book?!!? I didn't want the story to end it was so good!!

[Sean Mcdougle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I preferred this book to the first one. The character development was more thorough, the plot didn't move in ways that left me wondering how it got where it ended up. The slow mental torture Moriarty exerts on Anna during her confinement until she finally breaks was very suspenseful. I kept wondering if she would kill him, kill herself or unborn child. I wish there had been more explanation of how Moriarty "died," I'm sure that is for the next book.

[Hibkei · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a strong and interesting start in "The Devil's Grin," book 2 in this trilogy was a let down for me. Anna went from flawed but fascinating and strong, to irritating. The book was hard to get through and I didn't care for the characterisation of Moriarty at all. It was well written but ultimately boring which is a shame.

[Patsy Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first in the series. Mystery and suspense (and sometimes confusion) kept the book interesting. One could read the second without reading the first, but there are some understandings one would miss.

[Darcee Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not read the first novel in this series but was sucked into the fast paced thriller. Wendeberg has an idealistic perspective and her characters reflect her wit. I loved the novel and plan to read the first novel, as well as the rest of this series.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story gets a bit unrealistic, but the writer certainly draws one into it. Although a mystery with a Sherlock Holmes flavor, I think the novel is somewhat "chick lit". Well, now that I've taken a break from serious material, I'm about to plunge into one by Jill Lepore.

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and then weird. Nope, didn't like it. The first book in the series was a fast read, so I figured I would move on to the second book. But then it got super repetitive and boring and what did happen was odd and unnecessary.

[Joea · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book but the first one moved better.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply cannot wait for the finale! Kronberg rocks!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like a little kid having a temper tantrum...more, more, more, now, now, now! I am intensely enjoying the ongoing adventures and complicated relationship of Anna and Sherlock.

[Giovanna Donnithorne-tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

A continuation of the Devil's Grin, continues as fast-paced and gripping. I read both books within short order! Definitely recommend both books to all Sherlock Holmes fans!

[Ja'nell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up late to finish this one. On to the next book.

[Tequila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Er - Wow! Not my favorite subject area but a very interesting read.