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Allie Down Mystery #1

Way Down There

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WHO IS KIDNAPPING YOUNG GIRLS IN THIS SMALL TOWN?

Detective Allie Down never had a strong relationship with her sister. Now her sister is dead - a tragic hit and run accident - and Allie leaves her busy city life to come back to her hometown to raise her teenage niece. She's now in the role as mother instead of the 'cool, fun' aunt. Her niece is grieving the death of her mother and Allie has more questions than answers about what really happened the night Alex was killed.

Sandemor is a sleepy town. A place not many would know or remember. Compared to the city detective life, Allie isn't sure how she's going to make this work. Trying to track down a missing cat isn't exactly what she signed up for.
Then comes the day two frantic - and newly divorced - parents show up to the police station. Pointing the finger at each other, claiming the other forgot to pick up their daughter from dance class two nights ago. All Allie hears is that a little girl has been missing for about forty-eight hours. If that's not bad enough, both parents end up getting caught in lies as to what they were doing the night their daughter went missing.

Allie is thrust into the disappearance case, but she's not alone. She didn't know Ben Welloski became a detective. Last time she saw him, he was working in his father's garage. The secret sparks between them are still there, but the focus has to be on finding young Jessie.

Clues lead Allie to another kidnapping case in a different town. The lead detective is an arrogant jerk, and the man accused of the kidnapping swears he's innocent. Without enough evidence to make an arrest, Allie wonders if the man has struck again.

Just as she begins to piece things together, a call comes in that a body has been found nearby. When Allie arrives and sees who it is, she suddenly feels like she's back in the big city again. Only here in her small town, any young child could be the next victim if she doesn't act fast enough.

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

714 people are currently reading
209 people want to read

About the author

P.J. Fernor

7 books7 followers

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5 stars
179 (45%)
4 stars
127 (32%)
3 stars
53 (13%)
2 stars
23 (5%)
1 star
8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
130 reviews8 followers
December 17, 2021
Ridiculously bad

I knew immediately that this book isn't worth reading when the imbecile Allie Down not only pulled her gun on a neighbor checking her tire, but continues to hold the gun on him because she forgets she is doing so and even remains unaware as she meets yet another new neighbor.
She is rude and sarcastic from her very first words with her new boss, the Chief of Police!
She goes ballistic over irrational leaps of misperception in almost every scene.
WHY are so many females in law enforcement portrayed as headstrong, arrogant...idiots?????
There is no excuse for this embarrassment of a protagonist. You should be ashamed, PJ, male or female. You either hate women and/or are such a terrible writer that this is the only way you could think of to describe a woman. You should never try again. You are not a writer.
Your idea of descriptive beauty???She dropped the teabag into the water in her cup like an anchor dropping from a ship into the ocean. ?!?!?!? Good Grief! Guess you are expanding your art (oh,ha) with those fancy similes you read about somewhere.

Yes, I am being sarcastic and scathing. I am weary and angry that writers, readers, and Amazon apparently don't just have low standards for writing, but none at all.









Profile Image for Dawn.
7 reviews
March 23, 2021
So-so

The story line was great, but Allie's character was not very believable. She was portrayed as an experienced, well respected detective, yet came off as a hot-headed rookie. In the beginning, she acted as if the small town detectives wouldn't be able to even find a cat if asked to yet they acted more experienced and leveled headed that she did. I finished the book but I'm reluctant to read the next one, hoping she doesn't act the same way.
187 reviews2 followers
February 24, 2021
Good storyline but. . .

Female is "Big city" which translates to bring the smartest person in the room or so she thinks. About third of the way in you lose respect for her and things go down hill from there. Skipped chapter of two to get to the end. Wouldn't read more from the series.
Profile Image for Lisa Menor.
805 reviews15 followers
July 29, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Allie returns to her home town after an accident that makes her the guardian of her 15 year old niece. Being a detective in a small town was much different than being one in a big city, but she'll adjust. No choice in the matter, it would just take some getting used to. Right now, Allie was exactly where she wanted to be. Being home meant going down memory lane. The good, the bad, all of it. That included Ben. A guy she went to school with. A guy she passed over in favor of Tommy. The shoulder she cried on because of Tommy. That same Ben would now be her partner searching for a young girl named Jessie.
As Jessie finishes her dance class, she waits for her ride home. Jessie is a beautiful, talented little girl and soon she would add brave, smart and strong to those qualities. Jessie disappears without a trace.
Not long ago Allie was in the city working on the case that would make her a Detective, but would leave her with nightmares. Today she is in her home town trying to figure out another abduction case while raising a teenage girl....all the while knowing that, in both situations, failure is not an option.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING, IT PLAYED OUT LIKE A MOVIE IN MY MIND ! I WAS READING THE WORDS AND VISUALIZING THE CHARACTERS COMING TO LIFE ! THIS WAS THE BEST KIND OF WHODUNIT, WITH PLENTY OF SUSPECTS AND DIFFERENT THEORIES.
A GREAT STORY, WITH EVEN BETTER STORYTELLING ! ! ! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ ! ! !
Profile Image for Coleen Walton.
73 reviews
October 13, 2020
Not my usual genre to read, but a friend highly recommended this book. The cover drew me right in and after reading the blurb, I was hooked. I ended up reading the book in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down! It was that good! There were so many twists and turns that made it nail biting until the very end! I think this new author did an awesome job with this debut book and I can’t wait for the next book! Highly recommend giving this author a try! You won’t be disappointed! Coleen W.
20 reviews
February 26, 2021
WAY DOWN THERE was a captivating mystery with its heroine struggling to deal with her sister’s death & newfound responsibilities to her niece in the aftermath. Allie Down is a dedicated & sometimes reckless detective devoted to her job & new life as a mom. You love her instantly & will want to read more of her life & travails as she returns to the small town she grew up in. I look forward to reading more from P. J. Fernor.
Profile Image for Dee Cash.
566 reviews2 followers
February 27, 2021
A Good Story

Have you ever noticed that a large percentage of people who do really bad things to others have in their formative years had really bad things done to them. Some of them all their lives. This story is about a man who kidnapped little girls to replace his sister who has died. The divorced parents of the second girl just forgot who was supposed to pick her up from dance. So no one did until the man came along.
Profile Image for Black Butterfly.
2,630 reviews39 followers
June 7, 2021
3 ½ *stars REALLY
WHEN I GOT TO ABOUT 34% I STILL DID’NT LIKE ANGIE, SHE IS JUST TOO INTENSE. SHE SHOULD’NT BE A COP NOR SHOULD SHE HAVE A GUN. IT’S NOT A BAD READ DOES GET LITTLE REPETATIVE IN SPOTS (many of them) BUT I ENJOYED IT ANYWAY. EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS BUT IT DOES WORRY ME THAT SOMEONE WITH A GUN AND 007 LICENSE IS ON THE POLICE FORCE. THIS IS ONLY BK#1 SO THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS, HOPE SHE AND THE OTHES GET THEIR LIVES FIXED WITH SOME MUCH NEEDED THERAPY. ;O

Profile Image for Deena Scintilla.
729 reviews
February 7, 2022
I hung in there until the last only because of the plot which was ok. The main character, Allie, who was supposed to be a seasoned detective " from the city" was perhaps the most irritating and unlikable protagonist I've come across in a long time. The author was repetitious, and if I never hear the phrase "from the city" again, it'll be too soon. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
370 reviews3 followers
Read
February 23, 2021
Eminently readable story, one of those you can't put down once you start. Strange choice of name but I suppose it helps with the series titles. Anyway it's up there with the good stuff now not way down there. Allie sorts out her problems and gets the job done.
Profile Image for gloria marquardt.
732 reviews7 followers
February 24, 2021
A good job writing and a better story.

Allie is stubborn as all get out. Especially she's wrong. Ben is too good to be true. Very understanding. They get along fine. And also with her niece, Lo. And it all flows together effortlessly.
1,471 reviews7 followers
February 23, 2023
Great police thriller

This story kept you on your toes until the end. Lots of action and suspense. Loved the main character Allie. A very determined lady. Can't wait to read more of Allie's adventures.
Profile Image for Michael Altieri.
197 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2024
Good Mystery

It was a slow start but picked up speed about 50% through story, although too much time was spent on the boring private life of the main Detective. That could have been reduced significantly. But generally speaking it's worth the read.
610 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2025
Wow, what a story

When you thought it could not get any crazier it did. A very good story written is a simple style which made it easy to read. I will definitely read more from this author.
Profile Image for Donna George.
274 reviews2 followers
August 6, 2020
Good. Not really a thriller. Get to know main character, Allie
78 reviews
January 26, 2021
I enjoyed this page turner, interesting book

It kept me wondering what next, The Who did it all the way to the end and wanting more and cheering the character on.
195 reviews
March 5, 2021
Lynnie

Was a very good book. Want to continue to read more of the series.
Was real to lifetime experiences and changes in the life off characters.
Profile Image for Debby.
61 reviews3 followers
March 11, 2021
The story was maybe three stars, but there were a lot of errors in the ebook and enough repetition to be annoying.
1,507 reviews7 followers
May 23, 2021
Way Down

This is a book you can't put down. Great thriller. I really enjoyed this book. Can't wait to read the next book. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for linda kellogg.
515 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2021
Down to earth

This book is filled with characters that are interesting and likeable. The plot is wicked and as the people you like navigate it,it is scarey intense, fun to read.
340 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2021
I was drawn in and continued to read late into the night. I loved the story in spite of not liking Allie.
303 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2021
Good book

Fantastic storyline, great and engaging characters. Lots of intriguing drama. Keeps you guessing. Was pleasantly surprised at the ending. Keep up the good work.
Profile Image for Micky Parise.
550 reviews2 followers
November 28, 2021
First time reading PJ Fernor. Book was decent, characters were OK, storyline flowed.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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