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Lily Moore Mystery #2
The Next One to Fall
Hilary Davidson's The Next One to Fall takes place three months after the events of her debut novel, the Anthony Award-winning The Damage Done.
Travel writer Lily Moore has been persuaded by her closest friend, photographer Jesse Robb, to visit Peru with him. Jesse is convinced that the trip will lure Lily out of her dark mood, but Lily is haunted by betrayal and loss. At Machu Picchu, the famous Lost City of the Incas, they discover a woman clinging to life at the bottom of an ancient stone staircase. Just before the woman dies, she tells Lily the name of the man who pushed her.
When the local police investigate, the forensic evidence they find doesn't match what Lily knows. Unable to accept the official ruling of accidental death, Lily hunts down the wealthy man who was the dead woman's traveling companion and discovers a pattern of dead and missing women in his wake.
Obsessed with getting justice for these women, Lily sets in motion a violent chain of events that will have devastating consequences.
Travel writer Lily Moore has been persuaded by her closest friend, photographer Jesse Robb, to visit Peru with him. Jesse is convinced that the trip will lure Lily out of her dark mood, but Lily is haunted by betrayal and loss. At Machu Picchu, the famous Lost City of the Incas, they discover a woman clinging to life at the bottom of an ancient stone staircase. Just before the woman dies, she tells Lily the name of the man who pushed her.
When the local police investigate, the forensic evidence they find doesn't match what Lily knows. Unable to accept the official ruling of accidental death, Lily hunts down the wealthy man who was the dead woman's traveling companion and discovers a pattern of dead and missing women in his wake.
Obsessed with getting justice for these women, Lily sets in motion a violent chain of events that will have devastating consequences.
326 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2012
26 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Davidson
65 books581 followersHilary Davidson was a journalist before she turned to the dark side and started writing crime fiction. Her novels include the award-winning Lily Moore series—The Damage Done, The Next One to Fall, and Evil in All Its Disguises—the bestselling Shadows of New York series—One Small Sacrifice and Don’t Look Down—and the standalone novels Blood Always Tells and Her Last Breath (coming in July 2021). She is also the author of some fifty short stories. Her fiction has won two Anthony Awards, a Derringer Award, and a host of other accolades. Toronto born and raised, she moved to New York City in October 2001. She is also the author of 18 nonfiction books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 14, 2012
I had the most delightful day yesterday. Sure, I was home, coughing and wheezing, all cuddled up in an afghan, drinking lots of tea, and feeling like the proverbial pile of crud. Sure, I felt physically miserable. But thanks to Hilary Davidson, my mind was totally caught up in The Next One to Fall. If you're going to be sick and miserable, the only thing that makes it at all redeemable is to have a good book to read. And I did.
Ms. Davidson's first novel, The Damage Done was a well-crafted, detail rich novel, which recounted the story of travel writer Lily Moore, returning to New York City after the death of her drug-addicted sister. This book picks up the story three months later, when Lily and her friend Jesse have journeyed to Peru in an attempt to help Lily break the cycle of depression, regret, and all the other emotions cranked up by her sister's death. There, on the slopes of Machu Picchu, they overhear a couple arguing, and then find the woman, broken and dying at the bottom of stairs. Lily was the only one to hear the dead woman's last words, which imply the fall down the steps to be a murder attempt rather than an accident. Add a disbelieving policeman investigating the incident, an wealthy, psychologically damaged, drug addicted ex, and his Machiavellian family with employees who will kill for or die for it, and you get a read with more twists than a road in the Andes mountains.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of place. I'll probably not be able to get to Peru this lifetime, but once again, Ms. Davidson has given me a detail rich picture. I know that today, I'll spend some delightful time online researching some of the elements she described so vividly. I also loved that one of my favorite characters from the previous book managed to make an appearance in this book, even if it was by phone. Even better, those brief phone conversations managed to help develop an interesting relationship that was there in the first book. I also enjoy the film and song references from what has now become the golden days of Hollywood.
I received this copy from Paul Stevens at Tor, who knew how much I enjoyed the first book. I'm already hoping that Lily will travel somewhere else, and that I can come along as an armchair traveller.
Ms. Davidson's first novel, The Damage Done was a well-crafted, detail rich novel, which recounted the story of travel writer Lily Moore, returning to New York City after the death of her drug-addicted sister. This book picks up the story three months later, when Lily and her friend Jesse have journeyed to Peru in an attempt to help Lily break the cycle of depression, regret, and all the other emotions cranked up by her sister's death. There, on the slopes of Machu Picchu, they overhear a couple arguing, and then find the woman, broken and dying at the bottom of stairs. Lily was the only one to hear the dead woman's last words, which imply the fall down the steps to be a murder attempt rather than an accident. Add a disbelieving policeman investigating the incident, an wealthy, psychologically damaged, drug addicted ex, and his Machiavellian family with employees who will kill for or die for it, and you get a read with more twists than a road in the Andes mountains.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of place. I'll probably not be able to get to Peru this lifetime, but once again, Ms. Davidson has given me a detail rich picture. I know that today, I'll spend some delightful time online researching some of the elements she described so vividly. I also loved that one of my favorite characters from the previous book managed to make an appearance in this book, even if it was by phone. Even better, those brief phone conversations managed to help develop an interesting relationship that was there in the first book. I also enjoy the film and song references from what has now become the golden days of Hollywood.
I received this copy from Paul Stevens at Tor, who knew how much I enjoyed the first book. I'm already hoping that Lily will travel somewhere else, and that I can come along as an armchair traveller.
April 19, 2012
Still reeling from the devastating events that occurred in series debut The Damage Done, travel writer Lily Moore has been coaxed into going on a trip to Peru to hike the Inca Trail with her best friend, photographer Jesse Robb. Jesse figures that a combined vacation / work outing is just what Lily needs to help drag her out of the claws of grief and depression. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for Lily.
She and Jesse are enjoying the misty early morning views at the famous Inca city of Machu Picchu when they overhear an argument, followed a few minutes later by a scream cut ominously short. Upon investigating, they find a severely injured woman lying at the bottom of a steep stone staircase. Jesse goes for help while Lily tries to comfort the woman, who is obviously near death.
While going in and out of lucidity the woman tells Lily she was forced by her boyfriend, Len, to drink something that made her sick and disoriented, then pushed her down the stairs. When the woman dies shortly after help arrives Lily tells the police what she said, but the authorities seem perfectly happy to write the death off as an accident. Lily isn’t willing to let it go at that, however, and her subsequent poking around uncovers a very disturbing piece of information; the woman at the bottom of the staircase isn’t the first to end up dead after being involved with Len.
One of the reasons the police are so eager to dismiss the death as accidental is because of clear signs – track marks, cocaine under her fingernails – that the woman was a drug addict. Having gone through the painful process of dealing with a drug addict in the family, Lily is outraged that a woman’s life is being so casually dismissed as worthless. Between her anger at the injustice being done and her curiosity about the information she dug up on Len, well, Lily is going to get to the bottom of things whether the police are willing to or not. The police aren’t the only ones who’d just assume the matter be left alone, however, and before she knows it Lily and Jesse are caught up in a web of corruption and evil more complex than she could possibly have imagined.
Herself a seasoned travel writer, author Hilary Davidson brings the setting of Peru to life in a way only one who’s been there could. Her descriptions of everything from the ruins of Machu Picchu to the slums tucked away just outside the tourists’s beaten path to the magnificent cathedrals to the local cuisine (I really, really want to try some authentic olluquito con charqui, which sounds fabulous) are absolutely exquisite. Davidson makes the locale a character unto itself, and does so in a way that balances both the beauty and the danger that await foreigners who travel to such an exotic location.
Similarly, Davidson’s handling of the grief haunting Lily is nothing short of masterful. Far from being some clearly definable “thing” that Lily can simply meet head on and be done with, Davidson demonstrates how grief can become insidious, worming its way into the very fiber of a person’s being. As The Next One to Fall begins that grief is something deeply haunting Lily, “crowdin’ in on her” as Jesse puts it. As the story progresses, however, Davidson allows Lily to use that grief to propel her in a positive way, taking its energy and turning it outward into a productive, rather than destructive, force. It’s an amazing transformation, one which is a genuine pleasure to watch unfold over the course of events. The supporting cast members are no less psychologically complex, with Davidson deftly pacing the twists and reveals to build maximum suspense and mystery.
Davidson’s debut, The Damage Done, won both the 2011 Anthony Award and Crimespree Award for Best First Novel , and was also a finalist for both the Arthur Ellis and Macavity awards. Folks, that was no fluke and Davidson is most definitely no one-hit wonder. It was hard to imagine when I named The Damage Done one of my Top 10 Reads of 2010 that Davidson would be able to top it, but I’ll be damned if she hasn’t. Davidson better polish up her dress shoes and buy a new party dress, because The Next One to Fall is going to take her to another round of awards ceremonies, that’s for sure.
She and Jesse are enjoying the misty early morning views at the famous Inca city of Machu Picchu when they overhear an argument, followed a few minutes later by a scream cut ominously short. Upon investigating, they find a severely injured woman lying at the bottom of a steep stone staircase. Jesse goes for help while Lily tries to comfort the woman, who is obviously near death.
While going in and out of lucidity the woman tells Lily she was forced by her boyfriend, Len, to drink something that made her sick and disoriented, then pushed her down the stairs. When the woman dies shortly after help arrives Lily tells the police what she said, but the authorities seem perfectly happy to write the death off as an accident. Lily isn’t willing to let it go at that, however, and her subsequent poking around uncovers a very disturbing piece of information; the woman at the bottom of the staircase isn’t the first to end up dead after being involved with Len.
One of the reasons the police are so eager to dismiss the death as accidental is because of clear signs – track marks, cocaine under her fingernails – that the woman was a drug addict. Having gone through the painful process of dealing with a drug addict in the family, Lily is outraged that a woman’s life is being so casually dismissed as worthless. Between her anger at the injustice being done and her curiosity about the information she dug up on Len, well, Lily is going to get to the bottom of things whether the police are willing to or not. The police aren’t the only ones who’d just assume the matter be left alone, however, and before she knows it Lily and Jesse are caught up in a web of corruption and evil more complex than she could possibly have imagined.
Herself a seasoned travel writer, author Hilary Davidson brings the setting of Peru to life in a way only one who’s been there could. Her descriptions of everything from the ruins of Machu Picchu to the slums tucked away just outside the tourists’s beaten path to the magnificent cathedrals to the local cuisine (I really, really want to try some authentic olluquito con charqui, which sounds fabulous) are absolutely exquisite. Davidson makes the locale a character unto itself, and does so in a way that balances both the beauty and the danger that await foreigners who travel to such an exotic location.
Similarly, Davidson’s handling of the grief haunting Lily is nothing short of masterful. Far from being some clearly definable “thing” that Lily can simply meet head on and be done with, Davidson demonstrates how grief can become insidious, worming its way into the very fiber of a person’s being. As The Next One to Fall begins that grief is something deeply haunting Lily, “crowdin’ in on her” as Jesse puts it. As the story progresses, however, Davidson allows Lily to use that grief to propel her in a positive way, taking its energy and turning it outward into a productive, rather than destructive, force. It’s an amazing transformation, one which is a genuine pleasure to watch unfold over the course of events. The supporting cast members are no less psychologically complex, with Davidson deftly pacing the twists and reveals to build maximum suspense and mystery.
Davidson’s debut, The Damage Done, won both the 2011 Anthony Award and Crimespree Award for Best First Novel , and was also a finalist for both the Arthur Ellis and Macavity awards. Folks, that was no fluke and Davidson is most definitely no one-hit wonder. It was hard to imagine when I named The Damage Done one of my Top 10 Reads of 2010 that Davidson would be able to top it, but I’ll be damned if she hasn’t. Davidson better polish up her dress shoes and buy a new party dress, because The Next One to Fall is going to take her to another round of awards ceremonies, that’s for sure.
May 20, 2012
This second outing for travel writer Lily Moore is great for the explorer, armchair or not!. Lily and her best friend Jesse Robb arrive at Machu Picchu only to stumble upon a heated argument and a woman's fall to her death. Davidson includes fantastic location details and literary references as the suspense builds. Plenty of twists and turns kept this reader guessing and Davidson wraps it up neatly at the end. Throughout, descriptions of historical sites, art museums, the Incas and regional fare enhance the adventure. So, I have added Machu Picchu to my bucket list, as well as Davidson's next book.
December 31, 2018
Even Hillary Huber’s awesome reading couldn’t save this book from itself.
This was an odd book. Lily and her friend Jessie are in Peru. They are visiting Machu Picchu when they find a body. A woman has, apparently, been thrown down the steps and lies dying, at Lily’s feet.
Of course, Lily can’t leave it alone. Jessie stays with Lily and together they try to find out why this woman was killed.
The best part of the book were the descriptions of the tourist sites. The plot line was very far fetched, especially the ending.
This was an odd book. Lily and her friend Jessie are in Peru. They are visiting Machu Picchu when they find a body. A woman has, apparently, been thrown down the steps and lies dying, at Lily’s feet.
Of course, Lily can’t leave it alone. Jessie stays with Lily and together they try to find out why this woman was killed.
The best part of the book were the descriptions of the tourist sites. The plot line was very far fetched, especially the ending.
December 18, 2011
This was a great book. It kept you on the edge of the couch not wanting to put it down. Just when you thought you had it figured out, it turned out to be something different. It was a great book to read.
July 14, 2021
I'm disappointed and couldn't finish this one...unrealistic setting for an American to get involved in solving a crime in a foreign country. I won't be reading the 3rd book in this series.
May 15, 2012
Winner of the Anthony Award, Hilary Davidson writes a follow-up to her debut novel “The Damage Done” with another great thriller.
Lily Moore, unable to shake the guilt of her sister’s death and relentlessly badgered by her best friend Jesse Robb, agrees to dust herself off and get back to her work as a travel writer. Jesse and Lily have worked together on several assignments travelling to far off places: Lily writing and Jesse taking photographs for freelance work and tourist magazines. So now, Lily finds herself hiking through the wet jungles of Peru in search of Machu Picchu and wondering what on earth she’s gotten herself into this time.
Standing at the edge of the ancient city watching the sun rise, Lily and Jesse hear an ear-curdling scream and immediately run toward the sound only to find a woman’s body crumpled below the immense stone staircase. While Jesse runs to find help, Lily stays to comfort the woman and ends up hearing the last words of a dying woman, words that incriminate her missing boyfriend. The man that Lily witnesses running from the top of the stairs.
After trying to get the local police to treat the fall as a murder rather than the suicide of a drug addict, Lily is determined to investigate by herself to prove it’s murder. This is a decision both she and Jesse will soon regret as they find themselves the recipients of death threats and attempted murder in order to keep them from achieving their goal.
Lily discovers the depths which a madman will go to protect his family especially when one of them is a murderer…or maybe more than one.
With “The Next One to Fall” Hilary Davidson takes her readers on a rollercoaster ride from one thrilling situation to the next. She deftly writes a story that will have you thinking you’ve got it all figured out only to throw you off into another direction until her final reveal. Davidson is definitely a writer to watch.
Reviewed for Suspense Magazine
Lily Moore, unable to shake the guilt of her sister’s death and relentlessly badgered by her best friend Jesse Robb, agrees to dust herself off and get back to her work as a travel writer. Jesse and Lily have worked together on several assignments travelling to far off places: Lily writing and Jesse taking photographs for freelance work and tourist magazines. So now, Lily finds herself hiking through the wet jungles of Peru in search of Machu Picchu and wondering what on earth she’s gotten herself into this time.
Standing at the edge of the ancient city watching the sun rise, Lily and Jesse hear an ear-curdling scream and immediately run toward the sound only to find a woman’s body crumpled below the immense stone staircase. While Jesse runs to find help, Lily stays to comfort the woman and ends up hearing the last words of a dying woman, words that incriminate her missing boyfriend. The man that Lily witnesses running from the top of the stairs.
After trying to get the local police to treat the fall as a murder rather than the suicide of a drug addict, Lily is determined to investigate by herself to prove it’s murder. This is a decision both she and Jesse will soon regret as they find themselves the recipients of death threats and attempted murder in order to keep them from achieving their goal.
Lily discovers the depths which a madman will go to protect his family especially when one of them is a murderer…or maybe more than one.
With “The Next One to Fall” Hilary Davidson takes her readers on a rollercoaster ride from one thrilling situation to the next. She deftly writes a story that will have you thinking you’ve got it all figured out only to throw you off into another direction until her final reveal. Davidson is definitely a writer to watch.
Reviewed for Suspense Magazine
January 26, 2012
I received an advance copy of this book through a giveaway here on Good Reads.
The Next One to Fall is Hilary Davidson’s follow up to her debut mystery, The Damage Done, and takes place in the months following the events of the first novel. Travel journalist Lily Moore is dealing with the aftereffects of a personal tragedy involving her sister, and accompanies a friend on a trip to Peru as a way to get away from her life - and the things that haunt her - in New York.
Against the backdrop of the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Lily finds herself caught up in the mysterious death of a woman who reminds her of her sister, and quickly becomes involved in what transpires. With the local authorities quick to write off the death because of the victim’s disreputable background, Lily - possessing first-hand information of the victim’s last moments - decides the woman’s death needs closer investigation. Far from home, she becomes ensnared in a complex drama involving members of a wealthy American family and the people who work for them, risking her own safety as she becomes more deeply involved.
The plot moves at a rapid pace, with many unexpected twists as the story unfolds. A diverse cast of characters, a compelling plot, and lots of interesting bits of Peruvian culture, history and local color mix nicely to create a story that briskly moves toward a highly suspenseful climax. Hilary Davidson has upped her game with The Next One to Fall, and - ending the novel on a note of things to come - makes the idea of a third book in this series something to await with anticipation.
The Next One to Fall is Hilary Davidson’s follow up to her debut mystery, The Damage Done, and takes place in the months following the events of the first novel. Travel journalist Lily Moore is dealing with the aftereffects of a personal tragedy involving her sister, and accompanies a friend on a trip to Peru as a way to get away from her life - and the things that haunt her - in New York.
Against the backdrop of the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Lily finds herself caught up in the mysterious death of a woman who reminds her of her sister, and quickly becomes involved in what transpires. With the local authorities quick to write off the death because of the victim’s disreputable background, Lily - possessing first-hand information of the victim’s last moments - decides the woman’s death needs closer investigation. Far from home, she becomes ensnared in a complex drama involving members of a wealthy American family and the people who work for them, risking her own safety as she becomes more deeply involved.
The plot moves at a rapid pace, with many unexpected twists as the story unfolds. A diverse cast of characters, a compelling plot, and lots of interesting bits of Peruvian culture, history and local color mix nicely to create a story that briskly moves toward a highly suspenseful climax. Hilary Davidson has upped her game with The Next One to Fall, and - ending the novel on a note of things to come - makes the idea of a third book in this series something to await with anticipation.
April 14, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Hilary Davidson's debut novel, The Damage Done, and I loved its sequel, The Next One to Fall even more. The Peruvian setting is so vividly portrayed that I feel as if I've been there. The story is exciting and suspenseful, the writing excellent, and the character portrayals truly outstanding in their complexity.
I don't know what travel writer Lily Moore, still grieving for her dead sister, would do without her best friend, Jesse, a cheerful, Bible-quoting gay man from Oklahoma, who is my favorite character. I wish him luck in turning Lily into a "cockeyed optimist," and I hope she'll come to have a sunnier outlook on life. There I go again, thinking of fictional characters as real people! Ms. Davidson's storytelling is so convincing that it's easy to believe that Lily, Jesse and her other characters are indeed real!
I don't know what travel writer Lily Moore, still grieving for her dead sister, would do without her best friend, Jesse, a cheerful, Bible-quoting gay man from Oklahoma, who is my favorite character. I wish him luck in turning Lily into a "cockeyed optimist," and I hope she'll come to have a sunnier outlook on life. There I go again, thinking of fictional characters as real people! Ms. Davidson's storytelling is so convincing that it's easy to believe that Lily, Jesse and her other characters are indeed real!
February 22, 2012
After appreciating the high bar set with her debut novel, The Damage Done, I approached Hilary Davidson's new novel with great anticipation, tinged with a hint of trepidation. Not to worry; her second novel starring Lily Moore fulfilled my anticipation and left me eager for more. No spoilers here, but the continuing insight into what makes Lily tick, and the fragile state of her ongoing emotional recovery, provide the heartbeat of what makes this novel shine. The use of Peru as the venue for the action was grounded in well-executed exposition, and Lily's propensity for jumping headfirst into situations of all kinds was nicely played off against the positively charged persona of her traveling companion and best friend, Jesse Robb. A compelling read, and a worthy sequel to her breakthrough novel. Nicely done, Hilary!
November 23, 2012
Hilary Davidson swung twice and has yet to miss. THE NEXT ONE TO FALL is very different from its predecessor as it focuses more on her protagonist Lily, instead of her difficult relationship to her sister. Claudia isn't left behind because she's the very reason why Lily and Jesse went visit Peru in the first place, but THE NEXT ONE TO FALL is more centered around her, what makes her motor run as a human being and how her upbringing still weight her down, to the point she throws himself in harm's way, thinking she's doing the good thing. While the eclectic cast flabergasted me in THE DAMAGE DONE, THE NEXT ONE TO FALL sometimes takes simpler plot decisions (not always, Davidson likes to surprise people), but it's because she goes so much deeper into Lily's character psychology. One again, Hilary Davidson wrote a fascinating novel.
January 26, 2013
Sometimes this trying to write gig makes me very depressed. Primarily when I read someone else's writing, their early books, even, and they're as good as this one was.
It's true, you can see some unevenness in this thriller, but it's good enough that you can't help but be pulled along through it to the exciting conclusion.
Davidson is another of the very sweet writers I've met at Bloody Words Mystery Conferences - kind to we newbies, sharing of knowledge and friendly. Hardly the sort of person you think would kill people in her spare time.
Now if only she didn't do it so well!
Jealousy aside, this is an excellent series. Well-worth the following. Why not start it today? It's cold here in the north - get your blood flowing with some exciting reading....
It's true, you can see some unevenness in this thriller, but it's good enough that you can't help but be pulled along through it to the exciting conclusion.
Davidson is another of the very sweet writers I've met at Bloody Words Mystery Conferences - kind to we newbies, sharing of knowledge and friendly. Hardly the sort of person you think would kill people in her spare time.
Now if only she didn't do it so well!
Jealousy aside, this is an excellent series. Well-worth the following. Why not start it today? It's cold here in the north - get your blood flowing with some exciting reading....
September 22, 2012
"Standing at the edge of the mountain, I imagined what it would feel like to let go."
Love this opening line -- it pulls you into a story of intrigue and deception worthy of its power.
Setting is alive and vivid. Reading this, Hilary took me to Peru, made me feel it and smell it. I'll take a pisco sour please.
A fantastic second novel after her stellar debut, The Damage Done. Really looking forward to Evil in All Its Disguises.
Love this opening line -- it pulls you into a story of intrigue and deception worthy of its power.
Setting is alive and vivid. Reading this, Hilary took me to Peru, made me feel it and smell it. I'll take a pisco sour please.
A fantastic second novel after her stellar debut, The Damage Done. Really looking forward to Evil in All Its Disguises.
September 17, 2012
One of the most intelligent, original mysteries I've read. It's part travelogue, giving the reader a strong sense of what it's like to visit Machu Picchu and other places in Peru. The mystery is a well-constructed puzzle that kept me guessing right until the end. What I loved most about this book were the characters, especially Lily Moore. She seems so frail at the start, but she gets stronger and fiercer as the story unfolds. Her grief and personal demons drive her throughout the book, but they take a backseat when she becomes focused on getting justice for others. I loved this novel and can't wait to read more by the author.
May 25, 2013
Travel journalist Lily Moore has been persuaded to visit Machu Picchu and Cusco by her best friend, photographer Jesse Robb. It’s been months since a family tragedy for Lily, and Jesse hopes to lift her spirits. Instead, the beginning of the trip find Lily holding the hand of a dying woman, who implicates her boyfriend in her death. The woman’s death strikes a chord with Lily, who can’t stop digging and pressuring the police, putting her own life in danger. I thought this would be a cozy, but it’s actually quite a dark book. And Davidson, a travel journalist herself once, does a wonderful job of showing you Peru -- the good and bad. I’ll definitely be reading her other books.
May 3, 2014
Another fantastic read for Hilary Davidson. Just as good, if not better than the first installment. Davidson is the best female crime writer out there. If you have not read any of her stuff, you are nuts. Start at the beginning with THE DAMAGE DONE and be prepared for a real treat. I am anxiously awaiting the third book. It is arriving at my house this week. Highly Recommended!!!
March 25, 2012
Lily, recovering from the loss of her sister, travels to Peru with her friend Jesse. She finds more trouble than she leaves behind. This is Hilary Davidson's second novel featuring Lily Moore. Sending her abroad this time makes for a great second act.
August 18, 2012
Hilary Davidson is a really talented mystery author and I love her characters. It's rare an author can take me so far from the scene of the first book (which I adored) and make me still love it so much! But I really did and her descriptions of Peru made me absolutely itch to travel there.
April 21, 2017
I was actually suprised. I enjoyed it. Grabbed my attention right away. I don't ususaly read mystery who-dun-it type books, but I think this could be a winner.
March 2, 2012
Exhilarating!
March 12, 2013
Why didn't I start this series when it was first published? Really enjoyed the 2nd, and the third is in my bag to take home tonight.
January 23, 2017
Too much smut.
July 12, 2017
Joanne Fluke writes novels set with the same protagonist, a woman who, despite NOT being a criminal investigator of any kind in any official capacity, solves murders and other assorted crimes that she just happens to stumble upon, and although it IS a ridiculous premise, it kind of works. Hilary Davidson, unfortunately, despite being a good writer (at least as good as Fluke, if not better) does not make the same premise work in this novel. The first in the series, The Damage Done, with the same protagonist, travel writer Lily Moore, has as its set-up the death (murder?? suicide??) of Lily's sister, and I really enjoyed that novel. It was at least plausible. This novel is not, and even though I enjoyed what she wrote about Peru (a LOT of information about the country, and since Davidson really writes books about travel I assume she knows the info regarding Peru firsthand), the novel has too many ridiculous situations to be either plausible or enjoyable. One passage, for instance, is when Moore, a guest in someone's home for dinner, manages to sneak into a bedroom, rifle through someone's belongings for like an hour, even getting the name (and jotting it down) of every medication the character takes, all without anyone knowing. Nonsensical. And the only thing more ludicrous than the rest of the story was its ending. So...I still recommend The Damage Done but I cannot recommend The Next One to Fall.
November 28, 2020
A travel writer, Lily Moore, goes to Peru with her friend Jesse to help get her mind off her sister's death. When Lily and Jesse find a woman clinging to life at the bottom of a staircase at Machu Picchu she is reminded of her drug addicted sister. Lily is determined to figure out what happened to the woman. The woman had told her some things before dying and Lily tells the police but they don't seem to take things seriously. She then encounters several people associated with the woman and the plot thickens.
There are quite a few characters that interact with Lily from the woman's previous boyfriend and all his current and former wives and their relatives, people who work for the boyfriend, Len, and various police. The descriptions of Peru and Machu Picchu and enticing. I liked Jesse as he seems to have Lily's best interests at heart and really wants to help her. Lily is warned off the investigation but she just feels a need to get to the bottom of things. This puts her and Jesse in danger. Len has lots of issues and half the time you can't tell if he is really a bad guy or not. His family is definitely messed up as is he and the people who work for them. Because they are rich they feel like they can get away with anything. Some stereotypes thrown in such as the incompetent police, scammer locals and ditzy women. I thought the ending was a bit odd and it felt a little unfinished and I didn't care for it.
There are quite a few characters that interact with Lily from the woman's previous boyfriend and all his current and former wives and their relatives, people who work for the boyfriend, Len, and various police. The descriptions of Peru and Machu Picchu and enticing. I liked Jesse as he seems to have Lily's best interests at heart and really wants to help her. Lily is warned off the investigation but she just feels a need to get to the bottom of things. This puts her and Jesse in danger. Len has lots of issues and half the time you can't tell if he is really a bad guy or not. His family is definitely messed up as is he and the people who work for them. Because they are rich they feel like they can get away with anything. Some stereotypes thrown in such as the incompetent police, scammer locals and ditzy women. I thought the ending was a bit odd and it felt a little unfinished and I didn't care for it.
November 1, 2022
This started out with such great promise, but deteriorated into a completely unbelievable mess at the end.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Machu Picchu as I will never be able to visit in person due to the high altitude.
The fall and death of Trisha was interesting, due mainly to her commentary before the fall.
The author subsequently explained what the meaning of her comments were, but the family involved was just too far out there to be believable. When the climax in the basement happened, I just abandoned the story entirely.
There is very little here for me to like, beyond Jesse and Lily. And Lily's thoughts were extremely repetitive and annoying.
Perhaps one needed to read The Damage Done first?
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Machu Picchu as I will never be able to visit in person due to the high altitude.
The fall and death of Trisha was interesting, due mainly to her commentary before the fall.
The author subsequently explained what the meaning of her comments were, but the family involved was just too far out there to be believable. When the climax in the basement happened, I just abandoned the story entirely.
There is very little here for me to like, beyond Jesse and Lily. And Lily's thoughts were extremely repetitive and annoying.
Perhaps one needed to read The Damage Done first?
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
June 5, 2018
It took a while for me to convince myself to read this one, but I read, and finished, this book set in Peru. Finding a woman dying at a Peruvian ruin begins a scary, near fatal adventure for main character LiLy Moore.
February 10, 2020
Had trouble following this audiobook. Too many bad guys, but great descriptions of Peru and locales.
Can't give this a must read or should read recommendation! It's a if you have nothing else to read recommendation.
Can't give this a must read or should read recommendation! It's a if you have nothing else to read recommendation.
February 27, 2024
I listened to this book. I found it sensational and was annoyed by the poor southern accents. I competed it but not sure why. I did not care about any of the characters. Maybe I should have scored lowered but like I wrote, I did listen to all of it.
April 27, 2019
It was okay, having been to the locations mentioned in the booked helped.
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