How Far We Fall

by Jane Shemilt

From the author of bestselling phenomenon Daughter comes a thrilling exploration of a marriage consumed by ambition and revenge . . .

The perfect couple

Meeting Albie gave Beth a fresh start - a chance to leave her past behind. Now she has her new husband; an ambitious, talented young neurosurgeon.

The perfect marriage

Their marriage gives Beth the safe haven she's always wanted - with just one catch. Albie has no idea of the secrets she's keeping. He doesn't know that years ago, Beth had an affair with Ted, the boss helping Albie's star ascend. Nor that the affair's devastating ending will have consequences for their own future.

The perfect storm

So when Ted's generous patronage begins to sour, Beth senses everything she's built could crumble. And she sees an opportunity. To satisfy Albie's ambitions, and her own obsessive desire for revenge . . .

She'll keep her marriage and her secret safe.

But how far will the fall take them?

'A modern Macbeth, with a compelling sense of place, good twists, and a tense, intense ending' Sarah Vaughan, bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2018

About the author

Jane is a general practitioner who completed a post graduate diploma in Creative Writing at Bristol university and went on to study for a M.A in Creative writing at Bath Spa. She was shortlisted for the Janklow and Nesbitt award and the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize for Daughter, her first novel.

She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth a theatre nurse, had been having an affair with Professor Ted Malcom for seven years, their relationship ends badly so that when she meets Albie at a party and they marry, she keeps it a secret from him that his mentor Ted and her had an affair.

Ted promises his prodigy Albie his job but when Ted starts to cool towards Albie, Beth a woman scorned plots Teds downfall!!

I devoured every word of this book, enjoying the medical aspect. I admit to being hooked on medical dramas so this book was definitely for me. The Neurosurgery was very well explained and had me gripped at every word.

Jane shermit is a master when describing scenes, you actually feel like you are there, whether it was at the lab or at Jura you can feel the dark atmosphere!!

Definitely a book that needs to be cherished and not rushed. Thank you to netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had higher expectations for this book and was left disappointed. I didn't care for the story or the characters. It took about 200 pages for anything to happen. It just fell really flat on me.

I skimmed my way through most of the pages, it easily could have been a DNF.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark and twisty tale, of love, ambition and revenge, with a good pinch of madness thrown in for good measure. All guaranteed to keep you reading, but leaves a bitter after taste.

[Eva]

3.5* --> 4*

Beth and Albie seemingly have the perfect marriage. But Beth has quite a few skeletons in her closet, amongst them a long-running affair with Albie’s boss, Ted, which has affected her future. Albie is blinded by ambition and his admiration for Ted but when Ted’s generosity seems to crumble, Beth sees this as the perfect opportunity to satisfy her husband’s ambitions and have her revenge on Ted in one fell swoop.

How Far We Fall is very different from the psychological thrillers I’m used to and I must admit it took me quite a while to get into it. Not only are the characters incredibly unlikeable, the pace is also rather slow. Particularly in the first part of the story, which lays the foundation of how these three complex characters are connected and turns this story into the most fascinating character study.

There is a constant claustrophobic and almost threatening vibe, especially in the dramatic setting of the Jura where parts of the story are played out. Jane Shemilt takes full advantage of her medical background as a GP and of her husband’s, who’s a neurosurgeon. These were parts I read through my fingers because while I can apparently read about the most gruesome of murders, actual surgery descriptions make my stomach go all funny.

This is a story about ambition, jealousy, betrayal and revenge with an intricately and thought-provoking character-driven plot. It’s intriguing, incredibly dark and chilling. Not one to race through but one that requires a bit of concentration and I’m glad I stuck with it because despite the slow pace, it was well worth it in the end.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not a favourite of mine .... ridulously far fetched and certainly didn’t deliver in the thrill factor

[Joanna Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Far We Fall is an intriguing, dark and twisty thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I always like a revenge story, particularly when I feel it’s justified, so I found this book to be very entertaining.

It is a bit of a slow burner but after the first couple of pages soon picks up.  The author slowly increases the tension and intrigue which along with a few surprise twists in the plot make this a hard book to put down.

There is a bit of information about neurological procedures which I found quite fascinating, as I’ve always been intrigued by the subject.  Some of it might not be to everyone’s taste though as it is quite detailed in places.  There is also a mention of animal testing which was a bit of an eye opener for me and which I can see leading to a lot of discussions.  For this reason it might be quite a good book club book as there would definitely be a lot to discuss.

I wasn’t really sure what to make of Beth, the main character.  On one hand I felt quite sirso for her as I felt she deserved her new start with Albie and I can imagine her horror at discovering Albie’s new boss was her ex.  However on the other hand she seemed quite cold, calculating and emotionless which sent a shiver down my spine.

This is Jane’s third book and I definetly look forward to reading more from her in the future.  If you like intriguing, dark thrillers with some great twists then you’ll love this book.

Huge thanks to Jenny Platt and Michael St Joseph for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

[Susan Atkin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very slow, not for me which is disappointing as I enjoyed her previous novel. Didn’t finish

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I have read Jane Shemilt's last 2 books which I enjoyed. So I was interested when I discovered How We Fall would have characters from Jane's debut novel Daughter.

Beth was a theatre nurse who had been having an affair with the eminent Professor Ted Malcolm for seven years. The relationship broke down after his daughter Naomi went missing. Beth was pregnant at the time but the baby died shortly after the birth, ever since she hated Ted. A few years later Beth attended a party for Ted at the hospital, there she met his prodigy Neuro surgeon Dr Albie Mccalister. Beth never told Albie about the affair, in the end it was too late to tell him. Albie and Beth got married and hoped to start a family. Ted had always said that Albie would take over his job when he retired. However Albie's friendship with Ted soured when he found out that his had got the job. Upset Beth devises a way so they can punish Ted together.

You can tell Jane was a GP shone through with her medical knowledge of surgery and laboratory testing. How Far We Fall was an interesting book about lies, manipulation and deceit. The desolation of the Island of Jura was perfect for the uncomfortable getaway for Beth, Albie, Ted and his sons.

Initially I found this book slow going and difficult to get in to. Once the story picked up however I was hooked. You cut the tension with a knife when Beth, Albie, Ted and his sons went on a weekend away to Jura. The bleak desolation of the island made me scared for all the characters. I did not like Beth for reasons you will found out but I enjoyed reading about her.

I recommend this book, it was a slow read but I encourage you to persevere with the story.

[Christina McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Macbethian novel with a modern twist, How Far We Fall is set in the world of neurosurgery and explores themes of revenge, betrayal and ambition. With sharp, impeccable writing and layered plotting, this is a thoughtful thriller you won't want to miss.

Beth finds a fresh start and a safe haven in Albie, a talented, ambitious neurosurgeon. But Albie doesn’t know that Beth was previously entwined in a passionate affair that ended badly with Albie’s boss, Ted. (We last saw Ted in Shemilt’s novel The Daughter). When Albie’s ambition begins to get in the way of his relationship with Ted, and Ted’s patronage begins to sour, Beth sees a way to exact her revenge.

Shemilt is absolutely masterful at two things: her setting descriptions and her character development. How Far We Fall is no different. I could practically feel the island location settling around me as I read and the characters were wonderfully flawed with very real motivations. It is certainly a slower pace than Shemilt’s previous two novels – think of a thoughtful thriller rather than a fast-paced thriller – but How Far We Fall is altogether enjoyable, especially once you get past the first few chapters and see how the story and the characters begin knitting together.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Jane Shemilt for letting me read How Far We Fall in exchange for my honest review.

[Sandie Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow first half but the tension builds to the end. Not bad but not my favourite read of the year.

[Pamela Boyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't really get into this

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled with this book. Quite graphic in places but I'm glad that I persevered. Not sure that it would be one of my top reads of the summer but I would recommend it.

[Alexandra Oxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

After struggling a bit through the first few chapters, I thoroughly enjoyed this dark and twisted story.
The short, sharp writing style took a while to get used to but I will definitely look out for other books by this author.
I struggled to empathise with the characters (usually a must!) but it didn’t matter as I absolutely loved the concept, details and conclusions of the story!

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book begins very slow before spiraling into a predictable end. There’s a ton of medical jargon which is to be expected, given the authors background, but it was more distracting than anything. I mostly enjoyed the details of the Scottish scenery. Heartbreaking story that I wish had ended differently. Also, an unexplained play/theater narrative that began each chapter. Still not too sure why that was about.

[♡ tia ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloominess is the main theme of this book.

From the very beginning you can sense darkness seeping its way to the very last page. Usually, books have ups and downs leaving you wonder; yearning for a happy turn of events. However, everything that happened in this story went from bad to worse..

It’s a sad read really; about how revenge could never bring peace and that once you intentionally break everything you stand for, there’s no turning back.

The last scene left me questioning everything I’ve read. I’d say it’s worth it.

[Lia Valenti · Rating 3 out of 5]

La prima parte di questo libro più che thriller è una ricerca scientifica.
Nella seconda parte inizia il thriller e si legge sino a che non si sa come finisce.
mi è piaciuto anche se ho trovato il personaggio principale prima molto debole e dopo invece un calcolatore disposto a tutto pur di far carriera.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth is in love with Albie. Albie is a researcher working on a virus to try and eliminate a type of fatal childhood brainstem tumour. He is hoping that his work with his boss Ted will lead to a contract with a pharmaceutical company and a cure, as well as financial security for him and Beth. What he doesn’t know is that years ago Beth had an affair with Ted and has learnt not to believe anything he says and not to trust him as he lets people down at the last minute. When you start reading a book, whatever the subject matter, you get a feeling of the writer, their use of words and a little of how the book will proceed. This one stunned me from the start. There is writing, good quality writing and then that other level , where occasionally you have to re-read the odd sentence as the depth conveys so much more than the individual words. Jane is a wordsmith of the highest order. You can understand what she means and the pictures portrayed in your mind are vivid and colourful in every way. There are theatrical introductions to some of the chapters making it read almost like a classical play. Three sisters at the beginning making me think of three witches. A modern twist on a classic. An interesting read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

[Nicola Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate Shakespeare's impact on the world and know he was a great writer, but I can't really get along with his work. I once went to see a play of Macbeth and I'm afraid I found it rather dull. So the fact that How Far We Fall is a modern day version of Macbeth was perhaps a little wasted on me. As I was reading though, there were little things that jogged my memory of that play, for instance the three witches. And having read up on Macbeth since finishing this book, I can see how very clever Jane Shemilt's plotting and characterisations are and how well she has managed to stay true to that story whilst making How Far We Fall an utterly compelling story in its own right.

I really don't think I can do justice to this book in my review but I'll try and explain a bit more about how affecting, how engrossing it is.

The story centres around Beth, Albie and Ted. Beth is a theatre nurse, previously having worked alongside Ted. She also had an affair with him which ended badly. Ted is a brilliant neurosurgeon, self-assured, arrogant at times. He's also Albie's boss. Albie is up and coming, hoping to take over where Ted leaves off one day. He also falls in love with Beth. Oh, what a tangled web!

This is an intense story. One of power, revenge, ambition and betrayal. I loathed Ted throughout the whole book. He's Svengali-like with his influence over Albie until Albie realises that Ted is playing him. Given that, and various aspects of his previous relationship with Beth, he was a man I could only dislike.

My feelings towards Albie and Beth were more complicated. Because of how Ted treated them I couldn't help but side with them, but as the story proceeds the boundaries between what is acceptable or not are blurred by Ted's behaviour.

I've read and enjoyed both of Jane Shemilt's previous books but I think with this one she has gone onto another level. It's such a clever book with some absolutely jaw-dropping moments where I actually commented out loud to myself about what the characters were doing. It's not a book to rush, and actually I just couldn't do so. It was one where I wanted to take in every detail, every nuance, every character trait, every brilliantly described location. Talking of the latter, the action is either set in London or the Scottish island of Jura. Both were so perfectly portrayed that it was almost as if I was there alongside them all, either in the Hampstead house or at the hospital, or alternatively on the remote, windswept and beautiful island.

I thought the level of detail about the operations that Ted and Albie were doing was brilliant. I soaked it all up and it's quite obvious that GP Shemilt is using her own medical knowledge (and that of her neurosurgeon husband) to great effect. It always strikes me that there is so much that only medical staff see and that the rest of us are protected from. Not here though, we are not spared the detail. On that note, there's quite a lot about animal testing in the storyline which I found quite difficult to read. However, it's a part of medical research that goes on and it is very relevant to the story.

I think it's obvious that I loved this book. It had a slow build up to some explosive events and it's one of those that is staying with me after I've closed that last page. How Far We Fall is simply an exercise in masterful writing and deft plotting. It's superb!

[Juliet Bookliterati · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Far We Fall is a slow burning thriller about ambition, power, revenge and love.  The plot follows the main characters, Ted, Professor of Neurology at National Hospital. Albie is his young protogé waiting in the wings and Beth, the ex mistress of Ted and wife to Albie.  All are ambitious, Ted is at the top of his profession, Albie wants to be Ted's heir, and make a name for himself, and Beth wants Albie to move up the ladder at any cost, and as things progress for the three of them, get revenge on Ted for the past.

The book is separated into Four Acts, and many of the chapters have a short paragraph at the beginning that set the scene like in a play.  At first I thought this was very much like a Greek Tragedy with the Chorus setting the scene, but as I progressed through the book I realised that in fact How Far We Fall is in the style of a Shakespeare play, and is a modern day version of Macbeth.  Ted in the image of King Duncan, Albie as the upstart Macbeth and Beth as influencing wife Lady Macbeth.  Throughout, Albie's path crosses with three sisters Skuld, Verandi and Urth who all work at the hospital; the modern day three witches who tell Macbeth his prophecy. It is a conversation with Skuld, in which he hears about how is going to be promoted, that sets into motion his and Beth's obsession with taking over from Ted.

All three character's were flawed and power hungry.  Ted is still at the top of his game  respected by his contemporaries around the world, and will do almost anything to remain there.  Beth is still hurt after a seven year affair with Ted, he left her damaged and pregnant to return to his wife.  In Albie she sees the perfect future, she can have what Ted and his wife had, but her marriage will be perfect; behind every great man is a great woman and she is the driving force behind Albie. Albie himself comes to this the innocent party a the beginning, his only vice is wanting to progress his career and become Ted's heir.  But in his relationship with Beth and Ted he is pushed into situations he didn't see, and moulded into doing things he never thought he would; he is open to suggestion, especially from Beth.

The only problem I have with How Far We Fall is that the characters left me cold.  The relationships and personalities were all very clinical and devoid of any emotion; I didn't engage with any of them on any level which is a problem for me. There needed to be more character development in my opinion, this left me feeling distanced from them and the plot at times.

Jane Shemilt writes in detail of the neurological and procedures and research, that may be a little uncomfortable for some people, especially on the topic of animal testing.  She has clearly done a lot of research, no doubt helped by her husband who is himself a professor of neurosurgery.  The plot line opens the debate of research and animal testing  in medicine and gives you pause for thought.

How Far We Fall is a slow burning dark, calculated thriller.  The plot line is fascinating in its subject matter and really draws you in, it would be a great book for a book club as it has the potential to raise many questions of morality and science.  it is a Macbeth for today's audiences.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Far We Fall is a novel that I am glad I persevered with. Part one, lays down the foundations with a lot of detail about the clinical trials that Albie is involved with and his career as a neurosurgeon. You can see how ambitious he is, and how he thrives on pieces of gossip that he hears regarding his career prospects. Much of the clinical and medical detail went way over my head but it is important to the novel to see this aspect of the novel. You also get to see his relationship with Ted and his blossoming romance with Beth. You do see glimpses of what happened in the past with Beth and Ted but Albie is oblivious to any of this.
When the novel changed direction slightly from part two onwards I was hooked.
I have seen references to Macbeth mentioned with regards to the storyline. There are parts that are theatrical but the only part of Macbeth I know concern witches. This is a part does feature slightly. As the novel progressed I could see how the need to get revenge had fatal consequences for all concerned.
It was difficult to like either Albie or Beth, even though I did have more sympathy for Albie initially but his more sinister attitude became more evident the further I read. It was the minor characters I liked more. Gita, Jake and Ed especially and I understood their way of thinking. And I was very impressed with the sisters!
It is very different to a lot of crime I read. This was more of a character study and explained the reasoning why the events happened. How revenge, obsession, loss and envy overtook the desire to change lives for the better.
I found it a chilling and unique read.

[Julie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Far We Fall is a story of manipulation, betrayal and jealousy. When Beth meets Albie she believes her life is finally good again after her previous disastrous secret relationship with married top consultant Ted. However keeping secrets from her husband Ablie isn’t a good start to a happy marriage and soon lies and deceit Muddy’s not only their lives but also others with horrifying consequences.

This book for me had a slow start and a little difficult to follow at first, which was a bit disappointing as I have thoroughly enjoyed this author’s previous two books, but as I progressed everything knitted together and I became more interested in the plot.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC - these are my own thoughts of How Far We Fall.

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A slow-burning but ultimately gripping tale of betrayal, ambition and revenge in the medical arena.

Given How Far We Fall came to me via two readers, both of whom had failed to finish it, I am glad that I persevered through a slow start and some dense neurological detail because this turned out to be a clever and gripping thriller. A slow-burner, Jane Shemilt takes quite a time to set out her stall and offer some indication as to the direction of this story and I confess to struggling through the first third. This, I suspect, is due to the heavy backstory that needs to be fleshed out in order to derive the full benefit out of reading. Whilst the medical detail is well conveyed and lucid, this, together with the references to testing on rats in a medical laboratory may well mean this book is not to every readers taste.

The story opens in Summer 2015 with Beth, the embittered ex-mistress of illustrious Professor Edward (“Ted”) Malcolm at a party announcing his latest achievement as he is named President of the Society of British Neurosurgeons. As consultant neurosurgeon and head of the research laboratory at London’s prestigious National Institute, Ted Malcolm is heading into the twilight of his career and just two years away from retirement. Still seething from Ted’s rejection when their seven year relationship resulted in pregnancy and he abruptly ended their involvement to retreat into his family life with his wife, orthopaedics theatre nurse, Beth, is determined that he will get his comeuppance. Watching from afar she sets her sights on Ted’s protégée, Baird (“Albie”) McAllister, currently a middle-grade registrar and the prime candidate to assume Ted’s roles upon his retirement. From connecting at the party to a swift marriage, Beth is playing a long game as she plots the downfall of Ted in the world of neurosurgery and the eyes of his family by way of her new love, Albie. Not knowing of Beth’s past, Albie is naive to her intentions and seemingly blind to Ted’s smarmy manner of promising the world and delivering nothing. As their relationship flourishes, Albie strives to capture the success he desires and ensure their financial security as he oversees renovations on the two expensive properties he owns, but all too soon the pressure on him begins to mount...

When Ted puts his own name to a potentially revolutionary clinical trial of a treatment for brain cancer in children instead of crediting Albie for developing, Albie sees his chances of being appointed as Ted’s consultant locum and acting head of the clinical laboratory whilst he is visiting the US rapidly plummeting. As Albie starts to feel overlooked, with Ted’s son being lined up as a next potential head of research, Beth fuels his rancour by highlighting just his Ted has betrayed him. As Beth’s desire for revenge and the complete destruction of Ted reputation grows, Albie’s ambition and drive comes to the fore, thereby usurping his desire to do good through his work, and a very dark plan is set in motion that leads the couple into risky territory and poses ethical dilemmas aplenty for doctor, Albie. But exactly what lengths will they go to in order to achieve their aims, and could their mission to destroy Ted mean they ultimately destroy one another?

All three lead protagonists are fascinating but with the novel narrated in the third-person and focused on Beth and Albie it is their evolving relationship and character arcs that prove the most impressive. Beth starts the novel as the woman scorned and is quite ruthless in her pursuit of Albie as she pulls the strings to manipulate him, all with the intention of bringing down Ted. Yet it is Albie who turns from simply being ambitious and played by Beth into something far darker by the end. Whilst I never understood the nature of their true feelings for one another , the dynamic between the couple is utterly intriguing. In truth I was a little bemused at the likelihood of Albie being so easily kept in the dark about Beth’s relationship with Ted as surely most couples would have discussed their past romantic histories during the early stages of their affair. Beth herself is fascinating and the deeper into her background Shemilt takes the reader, from a traumatic childhood to her thwarted dream of being a surgeon, it is easy it is to see why she has become so singleminded and driven. Although it is Ted that the reader sees less of there is no doubt that he comes out of this story as a despicable and incredibly manipulative individual.

How Far We Fall spans a vast timeline, following the lives of the three central characters from Summer 2015 to Autumn 2018, necessitating snapshots into the key events and meaning that the detail of seeing the day to day goings on is absent. The action takes place predominantly between the clinical laboratory in London and the rugged and windswept island of Jura, off the Scottish coast. Whilst the threat of discovery permeates the scenes in the laboratory, it is the remote isolation and lack of connections to the mainland that exude an altogether more menacing chill in Jura. Shemilt’s medical knowledge certainly pays dividends as she comprehensively summarises and makes complex neurological procedures accessible to the layperson. Understanding the essence and not necessarily the detail is enough to follow the story. Whilst the denouement undoubtedly felt appropriate and believable it also proved something of an anticlimax for me after the absorbing web of lies, deceit and scheming that preceded it.

I admired the clever analogies to Macbeth and the slick representation of all the players in the modern arena of neurosurgery but it was only the ‘Four Act’ structure and the scene setting that really drove home just what a clever thriller and transposition of a classic this is. An appreciation of Macbeth is not, however, a prerequisite for understanding this novel. This is my first experience of reading Jane Shemilt although I do have her debut novel still to be read and am hopeful of another similarly absorbing read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book!

I have a thing for psychological thrillers with a slow build. I love it when in the end everything comes together into an exciting conclusion and that was exactly what happened here. Can highly recommend!

[Marie (UK) · Rating 2 out of 5]

this just didn't float my boat. The abuse of and search for power leads the main characters to exploit any and all possibilities. it just felt pedestrian

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Albie and Beth are married. Unknown to Albie, Beth has had a relationship with Albie's boss, Ted, that ended rather dramatically. Between Albie and Ted, they have potentially found a cure for a fatal children brainstem tumour, however Albie doesn't know what to think when Ted starts to take credits for his development, discoveries and hard work - Ted is more than a boss to Albie, he's his mentor and friend, so he's really hurt. This is where Beth senses her chance for a revenge - but is this going to change her and Albie's lives for ever? How far will they fall?

The characters in this book were not the most likeable ones. They were all full of flaws, keeping secrets and telling lies and in fact not a single one of them would hesitate to bring the others down in the name of their career or revenge. But I think that Ted was the most obstinate of them all, being at the top of his game and being able to do anything to remain there. The story is mostly told from Beth and Albie's points of view. Right from the beginning we know that something happened to Beth and she's seeking revenge. We can also have a guess what it was that happened and with whom, and all my suspicions were confirmed. Beth was dreaming of a career as a surgeon but she's a theatre nurse, however right now she's enjoying her life, spending most of her time in her garden. Albie is a surgeon, working hard on finding a cure for cancer. Meeting him was like a fresh start for her - however here, guys, I am still not sure if Beth truly loved Albie from the beginning, or was it only the awareness that he was Ted's best friend that made Albie interesting for her? Nevertheless, their characters were not too straightforward and it was so very well described how they affect each other. However, she brilliantly showed how human her main characters are - how lost they are, how helpless in the world and angry, but also how calculating they can be. Shemilt captured in an incredibly great way the conflicts of the characters, how tangled they felt, how important loyalty was to them and how far would they go to not inflict problems.
However, I think I've never warmed to any of them. They might have been in relationships and had feeling to each other but somehow they came across as clinical and without emotions, without conscience. I just didn't get them fully - as well as the end, that didn't sit with me at all.

But I don't know guys, I can't put my finger on what it was but I just felt confused by this story. However, it was a read with a difference and I can certainly say that never before have I read a story like this. It was confusing for me, yes, but it also was intense and interesting. It was dark and mysterious, and there were many moments that it was too medical for my liking, with many, many very detailed descriptions of procedures. There was also the case of the rats, like in animal testing, and while it felt really uncomfortable, hats off to the author for pulling it off like this, giving all the options and presenting both points of view, those of the researchers and those of the petitioners, without judging them. But back to this medical stuff - it was very literal and especially some of the descriptions of operations were really realistic. and I mean, really.

"How Far We Fall" was a thought - provoking story about ethics, morals and how far we - yes - fall to get our revenge. About power and revenge and ambition. It wasn't predictable, oh no, on the contrary, I had no idea how it will proceed and in which direction it's going to take us. The author has incredible way with words, the story is written in simple, short sentences but they're exceptionally eloquent and she easily brings to life all the things she writes about. You're going to feel hate, uncertainty, repulsion, anger and compassion. It was slow - burning but multi - layered. Tense and taut, and full of provocative questions about ethics and the author has created a claustrophobic, dark and heavy atmosphere and complex, multi - layered story. Recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Ronnie Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth meets Albie at a party and instantly a connection sparks between them. He is a talented, devoted neurosurgeon. She is a ambitious, determined nurse. To him, Beth is a miracle, the perfect woman who strolled into his life one day. To her, Albie is a fresh start, a way of storming the walls of her troubled life and remaking it with the man she loves firmly at its centre. In no time, they are married and talking about starting a family. But Albie is unaware of her dark past, the secret she is devoted to keeping hidden. Her affair with his boss Ted and what followed gouged a hole in her life and left her scarred. When Ted’s friendship with Albie begins to turn rotten, she realises that it wouldn’t take much for her secret to come spilling out. They say the past is in the past. But when hers begins to threaten her future, she sets her sights on revenge.









Beth is quite a cold, calculating character. She is stricken with loss and loneliness when she is introduced. Her affair with Ted, combined with a traumatic childhood has left her with scars but I really couldn’t connect with her. I think her true personality gets stronger further into the book, especially as she begins to manipulate those around her.







It was really interesting to see events play out and how the book twists onto new paths. Jane Shemilt keeps the tension rippling through the pages. I loved the medical aspect of this book. Although a few scenes did make me cringe it was fascinating to learn a bit more about neurosurgery. For me, this gave the book another layer.







With short, sharp chapters, this book is a well-written story. Jane Shemilt captures emotions beautifully on the page. Her seamless descriptions of Jura, one of the locations in the book, really made me feel as if I was on the island and in a few seconds, Albie, Beth and Ted would emerge. How Far We Fall is a dark, intriguing thriller about jealousy, betrayal and the lengths someone will go to for revenge.







Dark. Twisty. Intriguing.

[Fiona Mccormick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book as an arc.
This book is certainly beautifully written and I loved the scenes set in the Scottish Isles, these were extremely atmospheric and evocative. I recognised the allusions to Macbeth and the themes of ambition, revenge and guilt were very cleverly explored. However, I did find the book slightly hard going and felt I was skim reading at some parts. I am still not too sure of the motivations for some of the characters' actions, I didn't feel we were given enough background information, but I have since discovered some of the characters feature in the author's book Daughter and I would liked to have read that one first.
This will probably sound ridiculous, but I have a dreadful fear of rats and there were far too many references to them for my liking, at times it was like a horror story to me!
A good book, well written, but a bit of a slow burner for me.

[Emma Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It's one of the tensest books I've read in a long time. Beautifully written as well. It's based on Macbeth - but since I've never seen MacBeth I didn't know the story. It's about revenge, love, ambition and murder. Really excellent. I highly recommend it. I've read Daughter, which was also very good, and will read more of this author's books.

[Danni Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely slow start and it included too much description. Weird comment, but everything seemed to be explained in so much detail that seems irrelevant.
That being said, after about 40% I couldn't put it down and was so eager to find out how it all worked out for Albie.

[Rachael Cavinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow building suspense, yet also disturbing.