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The Fall: Previously Published as Before You Leap
Peace of mind is all Greg Cole has wanted since the murder of his twin sister, Scarlett.
In his new sun-soaked Florida life, he thought he had found it. But when Scarlett’s killer is released early from prison with a cast-iron alibi, Greg realizes that his past is about to explode into his present, with terrifying consequences.
To expose the truth he must open up old wounds. As a talk therapist, Greg knows all about dark secrets, but when a childhood friendship comes to the fore and the police turn their spotlight on him, the thought of analyzing his own psyche is a disturbing prospect. How far can he trust his own memories?
With his life coming apart at the seams, and his grip on reality beginning to unravel, Greg must face the ghosts of his past if he hopes to prove his innocence and live to see another day.
In his new sun-soaked Florida life, he thought he had found it. But when Scarlett’s killer is released early from prison with a cast-iron alibi, Greg realizes that his past is about to explode into his present, with terrifying consequences.
To expose the truth he must open up old wounds. As a talk therapist, Greg knows all about dark secrets, but when a childhood friendship comes to the fore and the police turn their spotlight on him, the thought of analyzing his own psyche is a disturbing prospect. How far can he trust his own memories?
With his life coming apart at the seams, and his grip on reality beginning to unravel, Greg must face the ghosts of his past if he hopes to prove his innocence and live to see another day.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
1897 people are currently reading
3117 people want to read
About the author
Keith Houghton
21 books278 followersMILLION SELLING AUTHOR of the Kindle bestselling Gabe Quinn Thriller Series and the Maggie Novak Thrillers, including Kindle Store #1 books KILLING HOPE and DON'T EVEN BREATHE, as well as psychological standalone thrillers CRASH, NO COMING BACK and BEFORE YOU LEAP - roller-coaster reads with totally unexpected twists and turns - published by Thomas & Mercer.
More than ONE MILLION Crime Thrillers Sold.
100,000+ Audiobooks Sold on Amazon and Audible.
12,000+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five-Star Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Audible.
13 Kindle Store Number Ones and more than 140 individual category bestsellers.
Latest novel TOLEDO BEND is out NOW!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
March 11, 2019
This book was hard to connect with. It kept jumping from one thing to another with not any given smoothness for its reader.
It really was very disjointed.
It really was very disjointed.
October 4, 2016
I'm not sure what can be done with an author that can't even avoid basic cliches. When I attempted to search for this book by title, I found that there's over a page of books with either this exact title, or minor variations of it.
Authors. Please. Google your titles before you land on anything. I'm not expecting a unique turn of phrase, but if there's a complete page of books with a similar titles, one of which is a book of wisdom by Kermit the Frog, maybe brainstorm a few extra minutes.
As this was a Kindle First book, which Prime members get a free pick of each month, I did not feel obligated to finish this. If I had, for some strange reason, paid for this book, I would have hate-read it to completion. It's not incompetent prose, but there's a limit to how many issues I can stomach from a story I'm not financially invested in.
For starters, there's a preface that's essentially bragging about how challenging it is to write a book. No, Mr. Houghton, no it's not. It's challenging to write a good book. Most people with functional writing skills, a bit of free time, and a word processor can write a book. There's an entire website dedicated to writing mediocre books in a month, and it has many members who are apparently successful. All the mountain climbing metaphors in the world aren't going to make the reader feels impressed by the fact that you finished a book.
Then there's a prologue. I barely tolerate prologues, mostly because I feel a story should start where it actually begins, at the point where it's most interesting to begin. I do not need you to prepare me for the story to begin. And having the prologue be an in media res scene from much later in the story does not help this feeling, as I have also grown sick of artists thinking this is an interesting move. These days it would be more daring to tell a story sequentially, without flashbacks.
The prologue also introduces an issue that persisted through the entire reading. There's a sort of clumsiness in the arrangement of elements and choreography that just kept hurting my suspension of disbelief. The way events are sequenced felt like someone had planned it out with their action figures without considering practical plausibility.
And I could still get past all this, up to the second chapter, but then a bit of prose just completely kicked me in the head:
Please do not tell me that something interesting is going to happen, especially if it's not going to happen in the next few paragraphs. The universe implosion is not in the next paragraph, it's not even on the next page. I gave up before the implosion even occurred.
There's a limit to how much machismo I will tolerate in my prose. Thrillers in particular seem to have this issue, where the author seems to think that their metaphors and dialogue will be so edgy that it'll kick my ass and leave me breathless with how bad ass my experience is. It's tiresome posturing, and I gave up not longer after.
I give almost any book about 10% of its run to start pulling me in, and I barely reached that in this case. This book is clumsy.
Authors. Please. Google your titles before you land on anything. I'm not expecting a unique turn of phrase, but if there's a complete page of books with a similar titles, one of which is a book of wisdom by Kermit the Frog, maybe brainstorm a few extra minutes.
As this was a Kindle First book, which Prime members get a free pick of each month, I did not feel obligated to finish this. If I had, for some strange reason, paid for this book, I would have hate-read it to completion. It's not incompetent prose, but there's a limit to how many issues I can stomach from a story I'm not financially invested in.
For starters, there's a preface that's essentially bragging about how challenging it is to write a book. No, Mr. Houghton, no it's not. It's challenging to write a good book. Most people with functional writing skills, a bit of free time, and a word processor can write a book. There's an entire website dedicated to writing mediocre books in a month, and it has many members who are apparently successful. All the mountain climbing metaphors in the world aren't going to make the reader feels impressed by the fact that you finished a book.
Then there's a prologue. I barely tolerate prologues, mostly because I feel a story should start where it actually begins, at the point where it's most interesting to begin. I do not need you to prepare me for the story to begin. And having the prologue be an in media res scene from much later in the story does not help this feeling, as I have also grown sick of artists thinking this is an interesting move. These days it would be more daring to tell a story sequentially, without flashbacks.
The prologue also introduces an issue that persisted through the entire reading. There's a sort of clumsiness in the arrangement of elements and choreography that just kept hurting my suspension of disbelief. The way events are sequenced felt like someone had planned it out with their action figures without considering practical plausibility.
And I could still get past all this, up to the second chapter, but then a bit of prose just completely kicked me in the head:
The day had started out innocently enough, with no hint of the tragic events that would unfold and brand themselves indelibly into my brain. I’d gone about my business on that fateful day as usual, with no knowledge that my universe was on the brink of imploding.
Please do not tell me that something interesting is going to happen, especially if it's not going to happen in the next few paragraphs. The universe implosion is not in the next paragraph, it's not even on the next page. I gave up before the implosion even occurred.
There's a limit to how much machismo I will tolerate in my prose. Thrillers in particular seem to have this issue, where the author seems to think that their metaphors and dialogue will be so edgy that it'll kick my ass and leave me breathless with how bad ass my experience is. It's tiresome posturing, and I gave up not longer after.
I give almost any book about 10% of its run to start pulling me in, and I barely reached that in this case. This book is clumsy.
November 4, 2016
Greg Cole's twin sister was murdered 10 years previously. The man accused of killing her was sent to prison. Today, Greg learns that the man is out ... seems he had an air-tight alibi. He was committing another crime at the time of the murder.
Greg is a talk therapist, so he's used to using speech to get to the real truth with his clients. Now that police are looking at him for his sister's murder, he's finding that he has to dig deep inside himself to find a truth. Greg feels that his grip on reality is slipping away.
Not everything is at it seems.
When I first looked at this book, and read the blurb, it looked to be a singularly fascinating as a psychological thriller. I was disappointed. Although the story premise was a good one, it seemed to fall apart the more I read.
The somewhat long chapters consisted of Greg in the here and now, and then suffering a blackout, where he remembered events that took place many years ago and then he would be in the present again. I didn't mind the back and forth, but there was no clear separation. The story rambled on and on and on.
My thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley who provided a digital copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Greg is a talk therapist, so he's used to using speech to get to the real truth with his clients. Now that police are looking at him for his sister's murder, he's finding that he has to dig deep inside himself to find a truth. Greg feels that his grip on reality is slipping away.
Not everything is at it seems.
When I first looked at this book, and read the blurb, it looked to be a singularly fascinating as a psychological thriller. I was disappointed. Although the story premise was a good one, it seemed to fall apart the more I read.
The somewhat long chapters consisted of Greg in the here and now, and then suffering a blackout, where he remembered events that took place many years ago and then he would be in the present again. I didn't mind the back and forth, but there was no clear separation. The story rambled on and on and on.
My thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley who provided a digital copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 19, 2016
My original Before You Leap audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
After Greg’s twin sister Scarlett was murdered ten years ago, Greg built himself a new life in Florida working successfully as a psychotherapist. But now the person accused of Scarlett’s murder has been released from prison on account of a new alibi that has been verified. As the murder case is re-opened and Greg is attracting the attention of a detective and of the formerly accused, Greg’s life is starting to fall to pieces.
To sum up my feelings about this one, I’d have to say it’s a tale with one twist too many. The first 75% were reasonably entertaining, but then the author suddenly seemed to change his mind about how this was going to go. It’s difficult to explain what didn’t work here without giving the key elements of the plot away. But there is a twist towards the end, which in my opinion caused a lot of what had happened previous to this revelation to become far-fetched and it made the entire plot implausible. Add to the revelation the fact that our protagonist is a psychotherapist of all things, and it makes it even more ludicrous.
Following No Coming Back, this was the second book I’ve listened to by this author. There were certain similarities with regards to the character of the protagonist and combined with the little clues dropped throughout, it made predicting the final twist in the epilogue too easy. I don’t think the prologue helped the story either, as it provided too much foreshadowing. A simple linear timeframe would have been preferable in this case, and I’m not sure the first-person perspective was the best choice for this particular tale either.
This sounds perhaps a bit more negative than it was overall. I think the excellent narration provided by Scott Merriman helped a lot to get me through this. This was definitely a case where if I had to sit still and physically read this book, I would have become much more impatient with it. Listening to it, it held my attention and was easy to follow. The narrator did a great job with the material he had. There were no issues with the production quality.
I think this may appeal more to readers/listeners who don’t mind suspending disbelief at some of the revelations made and who just want to follow a reasonably fast-paced psychological thriller without dissecting the plausibility of the content.
Story 3 stars. Narration 4 stars.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
After Greg’s twin sister Scarlett was murdered ten years ago, Greg built himself a new life in Florida working successfully as a psychotherapist. But now the person accused of Scarlett’s murder has been released from prison on account of a new alibi that has been verified. As the murder case is re-opened and Greg is attracting the attention of a detective and of the formerly accused, Greg’s life is starting to fall to pieces.
To sum up my feelings about this one, I’d have to say it’s a tale with one twist too many. The first 75% were reasonably entertaining, but then the author suddenly seemed to change his mind about how this was going to go. It’s difficult to explain what didn’t work here without giving the key elements of the plot away. But there is a twist towards the end, which in my opinion caused a lot of what had happened previous to this revelation to become far-fetched and it made the entire plot implausible. Add to the revelation the fact that our protagonist is a psychotherapist of all things, and it makes it even more ludicrous.
Following No Coming Back, this was the second book I’ve listened to by this author. There were certain similarities with regards to the character of the protagonist and combined with the little clues dropped throughout, it made predicting the final twist in the epilogue too easy. I don’t think the prologue helped the story either, as it provided too much foreshadowing. A simple linear timeframe would have been preferable in this case, and I’m not sure the first-person perspective was the best choice for this particular tale either.
This sounds perhaps a bit more negative than it was overall. I think the excellent narration provided by Scott Merriman helped a lot to get me through this. This was definitely a case where if I had to sit still and physically read this book, I would have become much more impatient with it. Listening to it, it held my attention and was easy to follow. The narrator did a great job with the material he had. There were no issues with the production quality.
I think this may appeal more to readers/listeners who don’t mind suspending disbelief at some of the revelations made and who just want to follow a reasonably fast-paced psychological thriller without dissecting the plausibility of the content.
Story 3 stars. Narration 4 stars.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
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November 3, 2016DNF
I really liked the sound of this book,from the synopsis it sounded really interesting and just like the sort of book that I would enjoy reading.Unfortunately as often happens when you finally get something that you have wanted for a while the reality was a major let down.
It started off really well,the car chase across the bridge was exciting and dramatic but then the book crashed through the barriers and smashed into the water and there were no survivors because no one was worth saving.
The story of what happened to Greg's sister had promise but the chapters were far too long and bogged down with far too much psycho babble and padding.You would get part way through a chapter and Greg would go into a sort of trance and then there would be pages and pages of him remembering events from the past and then he would snap back to the present again.Stories set in two time frames do work but only if the two frames are in separate chapters and clearly marked.I find that having two time frames in the same chapter can be distracting and and break up the flow of the story.I felt no connection to the main character Greg who although he was amusing at times also came across as a whiney wimp.And then to top it all off we had the appearance of the good old tunnel vision cliched cop.Yeah I know they do exist in the real world but why oh why do they have to appear so often in the fictional world,it's just so cliched and predictable.
So unfortunately this is a DNF for me,which is a shame because it sounded so promising.I'm 46% through and am not interested in the story enough to carry on wading through the padding to find out what happens at the end.
Many thanks to publishers Thomas Mercer for an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
I really liked the sound of this book,from the synopsis it sounded really interesting and just like the sort of book that I would enjoy reading.Unfortunately as often happens when you finally get something that you have wanted for a while the reality was a major let down.
It started off really well,the car chase across the bridge was exciting and dramatic but then the book crashed through the barriers and smashed into the water and there were no survivors because no one was worth saving.
The story of what happened to Greg's sister had promise but the chapters were far too long and bogged down with far too much psycho babble and padding.You would get part way through a chapter and Greg would go into a sort of trance and then there would be pages and pages of him remembering events from the past and then he would snap back to the present again.Stories set in two time frames do work but only if the two frames are in separate chapters and clearly marked.I find that having two time frames in the same chapter can be distracting and and break up the flow of the story.I felt no connection to the main character Greg who although he was amusing at times also came across as a whiney wimp.And then to top it all off we had the appearance of the good old tunnel vision cliched cop.Yeah I know they do exist in the real world but why oh why do they have to appear so often in the fictional world,it's just so cliched and predictable.
So unfortunately this is a DNF for me,which is a shame because it sounded so promising.I'm 46% through and am not interested in the story enough to carry on wading through the padding to find out what happens at the end.
Many thanks to publishers Thomas Mercer for an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
October 14, 2016
Psychological thriller.
This book was one of the Kindle First titles for October. While reading some parts, felt like psychology 101, depressing at times. Kept going back and reading prologue again. Eve character is almost homebound, they moved to Florida together and they are roommates. Kyle is friend from kindergarten, grow up together but haven't seen him for eighteen years. Greg, had a twin sister, her killer is out of the jail, proven innocent. Greg is Psychotherapist, with colorful characters as patient, but he himself needs psychological help. Sometimes confusing plot, but it was interesting plot.
This book was one of the Kindle First titles for October. While reading some parts, felt like psychology 101, depressing at times. Kept going back and reading prologue again. Eve character is almost homebound, they moved to Florida together and they are roommates. Kyle is friend from kindergarten, grow up together but haven't seen him for eighteen years. Greg, had a twin sister, her killer is out of the jail, proven innocent. Greg is Psychotherapist, with colorful characters as patient, but he himself needs psychological help. Sometimes confusing plot, but it was interesting plot.
June 30, 2018
Before You Leap was an okay mystery thriller. However, I didn't really bond with the characters, so was unable to fall in love with the rest of the story. I'd still recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers though, as I'm sure many will enjoy it more than me.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Kindle Unlimited.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Kindle Unlimited.
October 4, 2016
This is decently written, overall, but outside that: it's a heavily flawed book.
Most of the book is written in the first few chapters, and it's stuffed to the brim with "Filler."
Beyond this: it explains itself. In fact, it's so intent on explaining that "describing" any particular thing comes across like an afterthought.
If this were written in 3rd person, and/or there was as much depth, throughout, as there were in the final pages (Or if foreshadowing was done more appropriately.) I might have been converted into someone who really enjoyed this particular book, instead, the story fizzled before it ever had a chance to "catch fire."
The final, and perhaps most important complaint (Outside the "Explaining" as opposed to "Describing.") Is The doc's distance from all other characters (except, once more, at the very end). He speaks from outside himself, or above himself, or under himself, but the narration is always slightly disengaged, and it distances the reader from being engaged.
Overall, I'll take some time before reading the author again, if I do. There are the seeds of good stories and possibilities for this particular author. They just didn't blossom in this particular book.
Most of the book is written in the first few chapters, and it's stuffed to the brim with "Filler."
Beyond this: it explains itself. In fact, it's so intent on explaining that "describing" any particular thing comes across like an afterthought.
If this were written in 3rd person, and/or there was as much depth, throughout, as there were in the final pages (Or if foreshadowing was done more appropriately.) I might have been converted into someone who really enjoyed this particular book, instead, the story fizzled before it ever had a chance to "catch fire."
The final, and perhaps most important complaint (Outside the "Explaining" as opposed to "Describing.") Is The doc's distance from all other characters (except, once more, at the very end). He speaks from outside himself, or above himself, or under himself, but the narration is always slightly disengaged, and it distances the reader from being engaged.
Overall, I'll take some time before reading the author again, if I do. There are the seeds of good stories and possibilities for this particular author. They just didn't blossom in this particular book.
December 4, 2016
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Wowww. I seriously couldn't put this down. I love how this author writes and hooks you in with just a few sentences from the very beginning.
Though I thought I knew the big twist within the first few pages, by the end I was satisfied I was right, only for it to turn around and be to shocked with a very different conclusion.
What a fun and exciting read!
Wowww. I seriously couldn't put this down. I love how this author writes and hooks you in with just a few sentences from the very beginning.
Though I thought I knew the big twist within the first few pages, by the end I was satisfied I was right, only for it to turn around and be to shocked with a very different conclusion.
What a fun and exciting read!
September 1, 2017
Meh. While there were some parts that were engaging, I didn't like it on the whole. I guessed some things which proved to be right, but then not right? Some reviews say they were confused by the ending, no I saw that coming from the first moment we met that character, I was more confused about someone being unreal becoming real. What?! So yeah. Just a mess all around.
October 5, 2016
Who Is Kyle?
This book starts out with a hostage in the backseat and Greg and Kyle in the front. It was like the trailer for a movie complete with a high-speed car chase, the police not only following but also blocking the exit of the bridge they wound up on. It seems there no way out for Greg and Kyle.
The next chapter takes us to three days earlier. We find out Greg is a therapist. I was surprised at Greg's profession considering the trouble we saw him in at the beginning of the story. The writing is very good, revealing little clues with such subtlety that I didn't realize how they fit into the whole puzzle that is Greg and Kyle. I actually went back and re-read the first couple of chapters and I saw things in a different light.
It's important to know that Greg had a twin sister and that Scarlett was the dominant twin. Greg told us she had bloody noses that seemed to occur when she had a migraine or her period; sometimes just a few drops and other times it was enough to soak her shirt.
The characters are interesting and complex. Greg describes Kyle as "..everything I'm not. Salvation and damnation rolled into one. The definition of reckless, the result of a faulty gene." There are some unexpected twists and surprises that made me go back and read the previous few pages to make sure I didn't miss something. I liked the book enough to give it four stars. Don't let your attention wander or you will miss important clues.
This is one of the Kindle First Picks for October. You can pre-order now or it will be available for sale November 1.
This book starts out with a hostage in the backseat and Greg and Kyle in the front. It was like the trailer for a movie complete with a high-speed car chase, the police not only following but also blocking the exit of the bridge they wound up on. It seems there no way out for Greg and Kyle.
The next chapter takes us to three days earlier. We find out Greg is a therapist. I was surprised at Greg's profession considering the trouble we saw him in at the beginning of the story. The writing is very good, revealing little clues with such subtlety that I didn't realize how they fit into the whole puzzle that is Greg and Kyle. I actually went back and re-read the first couple of chapters and I saw things in a different light.
It's important to know that Greg had a twin sister and that Scarlett was the dominant twin. Greg told us she had bloody noses that seemed to occur when she had a migraine or her period; sometimes just a few drops and other times it was enough to soak her shirt.
The characters are interesting and complex. Greg describes Kyle as "..everything I'm not. Salvation and damnation rolled into one. The definition of reckless, the result of a faulty gene." There are some unexpected twists and surprises that made me go back and read the previous few pages to make sure I didn't miss something. I liked the book enough to give it four stars. Don't let your attention wander or you will miss important clues.
This is one of the Kindle First Picks for October. You can pre-order now or it will be available for sale November 1.
February 4, 2017
I didn't hate this book the way I did most of the books I 1-star, but I did not like it.
1. The benevolent sexism annoyed me, what with the whole men can't cry thing, and men are territorial, and men can't lie because women have a sixth sense. Ugh. Spare me.
2. Scarlett is this huge, looming presence in Greg's life, yet she remained a shadow by the book's end. Everything revealed about her was a little anecdote or a pat tidbit that gave me no feel for who she was.
3. The whole ending made very little sense and just did not feel like it hung together.
4. Greg annoyed me. He's given to long bouts of boring navel-gazing, and he struck me as falsely self-effacing, since there's a fair whiff of superiority about him. His long digressions bled the novel of all suspense.
5. I fell for one red herring, but I figured out the big secret less than halfway through the book. I only kept reading because I wanted to know if I was right. I should have skipped to the end and checked instead of dragging myself through the tedious remains of the book. Lesson learned.
1. The benevolent sexism annoyed me, what with the whole men can't cry thing, and men are territorial, and men can't lie because women have a sixth sense. Ugh. Spare me.
2. Scarlett is this huge, looming presence in Greg's life, yet she remained a shadow by the book's end. Everything revealed about her was a little anecdote or a pat tidbit that gave me no feel for who she was.
3. The whole ending made very little sense and just did not feel like it hung together.
4. Greg annoyed me. He's given to long bouts of boring navel-gazing, and he struck me as falsely self-effacing, since there's a fair whiff of superiority about him. His long digressions bled the novel of all suspense.
5. I fell for one red herring, but I figured out the big secret less than halfway through the book. I only kept reading because I wanted to know if I was right. I should have skipped to the end and checked instead of dragging myself through the tedious remains of the book. Lesson learned.
October 2, 2016
Wowza!!!!!
Okay, if you are in the mood for a can't put down, can't turn the page quick enough story-ride look no further because this book is it!! This is the first work I've read of Houghton's but it won't be the last....and that's a promise. This is a great book all the way through from start to finish and you won't be sorry for investing the time it takes you to read it....just plan on doing it in one sitting....once you start it you will not want to put it down. Thanks for the most awesome entertainment Mr. Keith Houghton, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Okay, if you are in the mood for a can't put down, can't turn the page quick enough story-ride look no further because this book is it!! This is the first work I've read of Houghton's but it won't be the last....and that's a promise. This is a great book all the way through from start to finish and you won't be sorry for investing the time it takes you to read it....just plan on doing it in one sitting....once you start it you will not want to put it down. Thanks for the most awesome entertainment Mr. Keith Houghton, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
March 17, 2018
An enjoyable read, decent storyline and well written. My major gripe is only that I saw the twists coming from a mile away. Not a disaster, but it does tend to leave me thinking "okay, then, get on with it" from quite early on in the book.
Overall, a good and worthwhile read, perfect for a holiday book. I will probably give the author another go. 3.5 out of 5.
Overall, a good and worthwhile read, perfect for a holiday book. I will probably give the author another go. 3.5 out of 5.
October 6, 2016
I really liked it until I was about 3/4 of the way through, then I started to suspect what the ending would be. It seems very much like the author was planning that same ending and then decided to switch things up again for a "doubt twist" in the plot to save the narrator in the end.
November 21, 2016
I wanted to like the book more, it is full of weird psychotic twists that leave you wondering about the sanity of the main character. I did read it in one afternoon so if you like dark fast-paced suspense, you will probably enjoy the book. The ending was a total surprise.
January 12, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Loved it!! Well written book that had me hooked from the beginning. The twists just kept coming. Just when I thought I'd figured everything out, here comes another twist. I did not want to put this book down! Definitely, highly recommended.
Loved it!! Well written book that had me hooked from the beginning. The twists just kept coming. Just when I thought I'd figured everything out, here comes another twist. I did not want to put this book down! Definitely, highly recommended.
October 20, 2016
Not what I thought it was once I started to read the book! It pulled me in! I wanted my version in my world to be true, to be real, but not so! I need therapy too! Good read!
February 18, 2017
I did enjoy the book while I was reading, but I could go days without reading, and I didn't miss it. The, "I can't wait to find out what happens next," never stuck with me.
February 12, 2017
This was a good suspense read. I liked the twists and turns in the plot that kept my "Nancy Drew" mind activated and stimulated as I tried to sort out who did what.
October 28, 2024
I suppose I’m being quite hard on this book, and it was really not that bad. The author obviously knows how to write, but there were a few things I intensely disliked in it, hence the low rating.
The prologue was entirely unnecessary and besides not adding anything to the story at the point that it is introduced, I found it actually detracting from the overall story. No need to put that bit at the very beginning, as it felt quite disconnected from how events start unfolding in chapter 1.
Being a psychotherapist by profession myself, I very much object to the ridiculous notion that the main character ends up as a good friend and eventually a client of a lawyer who had previously been his own patient. This is flagrante boundary crossing and extremely frowned upon in the profession.
Similarly, at the end, this main character is predicting that he will build another strong friendship with his own therapist. This leads me to think that the author does not really understand the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship at all. Your patients are not your buddies, people!!!!!! There are very strong professional boundaries in the interaction, as well as money changing hands, and a very complex power dynamic due to the disclosure of information flowing in only one direction, which prevents such a thing, and that this author and his character seem to know nothing about. This is not very realistic.
The epilogue contains an attempted shocking twist that you can see a mile ahead from the beginning (of the epilogue) and that it is first again completely unnecessary, and second, too obviously written exclusively for this intended shocking factor.
On the other hand, the notion of therapist being way crazier than the clients, is probably not that unusual, really.
The Kyle character was completely insufferable and got on my nerves all the way to the gory resolution.
On the plus side, at least the author identified vasovagal syncope correctly (I spent all the seasons of The Sopranos shouting at Dr. Melfi in my head for the misdiagnosis).
Popsugar Reading challenge 2024: 1. A book with the word “leap” in the title.
And
33. A book with an unreliable narrator. (Together with The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides)
The prologue was entirely unnecessary and besides not adding anything to the story at the point that it is introduced, I found it actually detracting from the overall story. No need to put that bit at the very beginning, as it felt quite disconnected from how events start unfolding in chapter 1.
Being a psychotherapist by profession myself, I very much object to the ridiculous notion that the main character ends up as a good friend and eventually a client of a lawyer who had previously been his own patient. This is flagrante boundary crossing and extremely frowned upon in the profession.
Similarly, at the end, this main character is predicting that he will build another strong friendship with his own therapist. This leads me to think that the author does not really understand the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship at all. Your patients are not your buddies, people!!!!!! There are very strong professional boundaries in the interaction, as well as money changing hands, and a very complex power dynamic due to the disclosure of information flowing in only one direction, which prevents such a thing, and that this author and his character seem to know nothing about. This is not very realistic.
The epilogue contains an attempted shocking twist that you can see a mile ahead from the beginning (of the epilogue) and that it is first again completely unnecessary, and second, too obviously written exclusively for this intended shocking factor.
On the other hand, the notion of therapist being way crazier than the clients, is probably not that unusual, really.
The Kyle character was completely insufferable and got on my nerves all the way to the gory resolution.
On the plus side, at least the author identified vasovagal syncope correctly (I spent all the seasons of The Sopranos shouting at Dr. Melfi in my head for the misdiagnosis).
Popsugar Reading challenge 2024: 1. A book with the word “leap” in the title.
And
33. A book with an unreliable narrator. (Together with The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides)
September 22, 2024
This was fine.
April 19, 2020
As a rule, I’m not a fan of the “Fight Club” twist. I always see it coming. But this was a twist on that twist, so I gave it 4 stars for the originality. I was suspecting from almost the initial sighting of Kyle that he was the imaginary one. I somewhat was suspecting it about Eve as well. I was hoping and praying he wasn’t imagining both of them, and I was very glad when Kyle turned out to be real! Overall it was well-written and held my interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2017
Great read
Finished in two nights; unable to stop reading until I totally crashed. I've missed reading and decided I just had to make it work. Getting 75% done and staying up until 3am is apparently how I found the time in my schedule. This was a great book to dive into to remind me why I love reading and how easy it is to get caught up in the stories and lives of others. Just when I was getting comfortable, the book kept me guessing, and just when I thought I totally got it, the rug got pulled out from under me (which I love, when done well) and I realized I hadn't even considered those options and got swayed (which was the goal). Great character development, scene depictions and realism - it was very easy to get caught up in their lives and there weren't any out-of-character traits that jolt you out of the book and remind you...well, that you're in a book and not in their reality, lol. One of my only comments/thoughts was that the author was almost trying to sound too fancy. He used a lot of great, descriptive and multi-meaning words, but sometimes there were so many in a row you had to slow down just to take in all of the bigger words and there were a couple of times it slowed down the enjoyment of feeling the rush of quick reading. They were not overly-advanced so you couldn't understand what he was saying, many were just unnecessary where much simpler words would have sufficed without disrupting the flow. Overall, great read and I recommend it to any one who likes books that keep you on your toes and demand your attention.
Finished in two nights; unable to stop reading until I totally crashed. I've missed reading and decided I just had to make it work. Getting 75% done and staying up until 3am is apparently how I found the time in my schedule. This was a great book to dive into to remind me why I love reading and how easy it is to get caught up in the stories and lives of others. Just when I was getting comfortable, the book kept me guessing, and just when I thought I totally got it, the rug got pulled out from under me (which I love, when done well) and I realized I hadn't even considered those options and got swayed (which was the goal). Great character development, scene depictions and realism - it was very easy to get caught up in their lives and there weren't any out-of-character traits that jolt you out of the book and remind you...well, that you're in a book and not in their reality, lol. One of my only comments/thoughts was that the author was almost trying to sound too fancy. He used a lot of great, descriptive and multi-meaning words, but sometimes there were so many in a row you had to slow down just to take in all of the bigger words and there were a couple of times it slowed down the enjoyment of feeling the rush of quick reading. They were not overly-advanced so you couldn't understand what he was saying, many were just unnecessary where much simpler words would have sufficed without disrupting the flow. Overall, great read and I recommend it to any one who likes books that keep you on your toes and demand your attention.
April 14, 2017
Awwwwhhhhh! I was 30 pages from the end and couldn't force myself to finish.
March 3, 2017
This story is well written and I truly cared for the main character and his journey. So much so that I finished the story eve though I guessed the little twists and turns the story takes. Including the ridiculous choices this intelligent self aware character makes.
March 19, 2017
In many ways, Before You Leap is a book I admire. I’ll mention two. The author has a way of describing things that, frankly, is bound to make me work harder as a writer. And indeed, he has taken to heart the notion that it’s better to start in the middle of things, leaving the reader in a dizzying confusion of places and events that—ever so slowly—become more apparent as you wend your way through a pulse-pounding maze of violent emotion. It’s a technique I’ve used myself, and it’s very effective in the mystery thriller genre. The other thing is, the characters ring true to me—especially Greg. Although after finishing this book, I’ve come to the sad conclusion that he is more than a little disturbed.
Regarding the plot, I felt the story was a little convoluted and could have benefited from some simplification. Don’t get me wrong—I have no problem dealing with characters whose motives are mysterious and who consistently act in ways that deceive. But there were a few times when I found myself wishing for more of a straight line as Greg is forced to confront his painful past.
Overall, I liked Before You Leap and recommend it to fans of the genre. It’s a solid piece of work and definitely worth exploring.
Regarding the plot, I felt the story was a little convoluted and could have benefited from some simplification. Don’t get me wrong—I have no problem dealing with characters whose motives are mysterious and who consistently act in ways that deceive. But there were a few times when I found myself wishing for more of a straight line as Greg is forced to confront his painful past.
Overall, I liked Before You Leap and recommend it to fans of the genre. It’s a solid piece of work and definitely worth exploring.
October 19, 2016
I'm giving this book 4 stars because I liked the narrator's voice and author's writing style. Yes, I thought Kyle wasn't real, so I guess finding out he existed was surprising. But I knew Eve was imaginary almost the entire book. I know I shouldn't be, but I'm rather baffled that so many other readers were confused by the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2016
Exceptional read wow I had a hard time putting this book down I even contemplated applying tape to my eye s to keep them open. Well-written kept me wondering to the very end
Exceptional read, wow I had a hard time putting this book down i even contemplated applying tape to my eyes to keep them open. Well written kept me wondering to the very end.
Exceptional read, wow I had a hard time putting this book down i even contemplated applying tape to my eyes to keep them open. Well written kept me wondering to the very end.
November 5, 2016
I won this book. A lot of twists and turns. Greg's twin sister Scarlett, was murdered 10 years ago and he had the killer put in jail. I want to give it a 5*, but Greg was making such stupid decisions, I wanted to slap him. The very end made me wonder.
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