The Fall

Written by Louise Jensen

Narrated by Helen Keeley

‘The term pageturner was made for books like this’ Andrea Mara

‘Thoroughly addictive, The Fall is full of twists you won't see coming’ Kathryn Croft

She promised not to tell. They made sure she couldn’t…

At her surprise 40th birthday party, Kate Granger feels like the luckiest woman in the world but just hours later her fifteen-year-old daughter, Caily, is found unconscious underneath a bridge when she should have been at school.

Now, Caily lies comatose in her hospital bed, and the police don’t believe it was an accident. As the investigation progresses, it soon becomes clear that not everyone in the family was where they claimed to be at the time of her fall.

Caily should be safe in hospital but not everyone wants her to wake up. Someone is desperate to protect the truth and it isn’t just Caily’s life that is in danger.

Because some secrets are worth killing for…

Readers are RIVETED by Louise Jensen!

‘This book keeps you on your toes! It is an excellent psychological thriller, with the tension building up throughout . . . A well-deserved 5 stars from me’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Compelling and chilling. Louise is at the top of her game when it comes to writing a unputdownable psychological thriller’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Louise Jensen has done it again . . . The writing had the sheer talent of wanting me keep reading one more chapter deep into the night’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Full of suspense and edge-of-your-seat moments. If I could give more than 5 stars I would because this book is definitely one of my favourite reads’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Apr 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9780008508531

Reviews for The Fall

[thecrow2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Is it a bit worse than the previous volume? Yes. Does it sometimes have a bit lame dialogues? Yes. But apart from that it`s still a highly entertaining and fast-paced, fairly original vampire story worth reading.

[es135_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Once again, Guillermo Del Toro delivers an exciting read in the second novel in his Strain Trilogy. As in the first novel, the vampires are an evil, frightening force that threatens to take over mankind. While this novel is a fast and engaging read, I felt that there were times when it went a bit flat. Some of the build up, in anticipation of the final novel in the series, didn't really pay off. Despite this, the entertainment value of this story is undeniable. I am eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this exciting trilogy.

[bdtrump · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I tried really, really hard to get over my disappointment with the first book to give this one a fair chance. However, there really aren't any redeeming factors here. Most of the main characters flatline in their development, and the plot moves in circles at a snail's pace. The dialogue is relatively tired, and character interactions become almost entirely implausible and unrealistic.

Where the first book had promise, this one is difficult to slog through. The ending would be more sentimental and interesting if the characters made sense and the plot wasn't full of holes, but unfortunately that isn't the case here. This simply falls into the category of another book with an all-powerful villain that decides to leave the task of dealing with his only real threat with ineffective and bumbling henchmen. Oh, and a few Nazis thrown in for good measure - vampire Nazis are always bound to get some people to continue reading.

[ruthiesbookreviews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Strain was an outstanding book and when I found out about this one I just had to snag it up and read it! This series definately puts a little twist on the vampire genre and I greatly enjoyed reading it! Now the Strain is spreading like wildfire throughout the world and the survivors have learned what they need to do to survive. Yet, we follow a group and one man who has faced the Master once before. Now finding themselves in the middle of a war between new and old vamps. The Master wants all vamps to rise up and take over the world but there is one thing that will stop him and it's a book that once it's found it needs to be used for that purpose. Money, power, supernatural forces take you on the ride of your life in this book. Not only will it chill your blood but it's better than any roller coaster ride I've been on! These two authors take the vampire world from sexy to dark and scary which is what it really would be if they rised up against the human world. Nasty creatures they are, not sparkling and beautiful, But dirty and creepy! Just the way I like 'em!

[csdaley-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Barely a three star rating. I am not even sure I care how this thing ends now.

[joe73-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book. It is not a great book. The story does the subject matter justice. The Fall, like it’s siblings is well written….If you are 15 years old. But that is ok. It is easy to enjoy as an adult. The characters are slightly generic and it reads like a screenplay. In regards to Vampires…….well I admit. I am spoiled by Brian Lumley’s books. And I proudly confess it. In my world no one even comes close to the tapestry he weaves. The Fall however is a good story that could be better. It is quite obvious it was written for a certain crowd. No disrespect to Del Toro. He is a magnificent story teller. But with this book….I wanted so much more. An epic idea without the epic. The mention of the Hunters having been professional soldiers from who knows when…..then it stops. I would love to hear more of that. The fact that one of them could be Alexander the Great or someone similar….then it falls flat. The movement of the action is quick and to the point while leaving a nice visual.

[meags222_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in a trilogy. I really enjoyed reading this book although at times I found that it lagged a bit. I really liked the first book and knew I just had to have the 2nd and 3rd books when they came out. What I like about this novel is that it has vampires in it but they are vampires at a very primal animalistic level. Rather than being 100 year old men who still go to high school, the ancients are focusing their energy on total domination of the human race. For all the Twilight fans out there who are going to be upset with that last sentence, I still enjoyed reading Twilight. Don't get me wrong, it was a good series but at times I found myself wondering why on earth would these vampires go back to high school. I know I personally wouldn't want to go back to high school and date a teenager (too much angst for me). Anyhow, it's time to get back to The Fall. As much as I enjoyed the first book, I found myself needing to go back and re-read parts of it because I couldn't remember exactly what had happened. I think that could be because I read so many books in a year it's sometimes hard to get all the characters straight. I am also wondering if it would have been better to wait and read The Fall until the last book comes out. I found myself wanted to know what is going to happen next when I finished the book and I hate that I have to wait to find out. That being said, I think the author did a good job of ending the 2nd book of the trilogy. I find that sometimes it can read like the end of a chapter but in this case it seemed like a logical place to end the book. I love the characters in these books. All the characters come from such different backgrounds but find a way to come together to kick vampire butt. One is a doctor, one is a pest control man, one is a former gang member and another is an old Holocaust survivor. All in all this was an excellent book and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

[ct4bergeron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this second installement of the strain trilogy, the world is really coming to an end. Where in the first book a small group of people tried, with all their might, to prevent the spreading of a vampiric infection, the second book, show the rise of the vampire and the destruction of the world as we know it. Can't wait to see how this will conclude, because at the end, something good must come out of all this destruction.

[ali_marea_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Let me be up front here. This book would never have caught my eye if it weren't for other book bloggers and book lovers on Twitter. While I enjoy sci-fi and horror, I tend to be very picky and this book would have come across to me, if I had seen it on my own, as a fangirl type thing. Just not for me. So it would have been a great tragedy, as I have now become a huge fan of not only the book, but this amazing trilogy!Let's start with the fact that you have two amazing authors coming together on this trilogy. You have Guillermo Del Toro (also known for his award-winning filme Pan's Labyrinth) bringing his ability to weave reality into mythology into a stunning piece of art. And you have Chuck Hogan adding the mystique and suspense seen in his crime novels. The pair work flawlessly together, and I was immediately drawn in to the novel, even though I'd never even read the first book in the trilogy.Without the background of what had happened, I discovered a world thrown into chaos. Scary, nasty, primal vampires flood the country, changing the landscape of a once-beloved homeland into a nightmare. I was drawn into the depth of the characters in this novel, from the motherless child, to the ex-gang-banging leader of the anti-vampire crew, to the ever-vigilant vampire hunter Abraham Setrakian. They were all believable as people and drew me further into the story.So I must thank those book lovers I follow on Twitter, for if not for them I would never have heard of this fabulous book.I must also thank the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book so I was able to read it before it hit the shelves.I urge any sci-fi or horror fan to give this book a try. Even if it doesn't seem like 'your thing'. I know I was stunned to find I loved it, and I'm sure you will love it too.Check out the page for the The Strain Trilogy too!5 out of 5 stars

[highvoltagegrrl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This follow-up to book one of The Strain Trilogy wasn’t as creepy, but maybe the effects have worn off since I’ve read the first one. There is still an “ewh” factor with parts of it, but I didn’t go to sleep thinking I would have nightmares this time. The story picks up right where we left off and there is still plenty of story and plenty of action within this book.It is the type of book you want to read all the way through in one sitting, it’s just that good. There is always something happening, something to look forward to, something you want answered or unraveled. Del Toro and Hogan are obviously master storytellers as they weave in and out of the many characters individual thoughts and storylines, overlapping them in the perfect places each time. Still, not all of the characters have met one another, but there is enough of interaction between many of them for it all to make sense and feel very real. (When everyone knows everyone in a book it seems like a very small world.) I think that this can translate very well to film and I would be very excited to see it in that format. This is a vampire tale like no other that you’ve read. If you are expecting the vampires to sparkle or be all about eternal love, look elsewhere. Here you are getting what a vampire epidemic would be like in our modern world. It is a scary, scary thought and the authors are able to relate all of this in such a way that it seems very plausible that this could actually happen. I can’t wait for the conclusion of the trilogy!

[skybalon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good middle volume of the trilogy. Moves the plot along and is very entertaining. Honestly all three books should probably been one large volume, but the economics of the publishing business dictated otherwise. In any case if you liked the first one, you'll like this one too.

[mikewick_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The second book in Del Toro & Hogan's series was a thoroughly enjoyable romp though a pending vampire apocalypse, culminating in an Empire Strikes Back-like cliffhanger without all of the boredom of having had to watch Luke Skywalker balance swamp rocks. There were some cringe-inducing spots of shoddy description (ex: "soon, their mutual intentions were made manifest and discretion gave way to apprehension as they hid in dark, dusty corners to find each other’s breath and saliva.") but all is forgiven when one of the many vampires appear and rips a man in half. I'm looking forward to the completion of the trilogy and will just have to close me eyes for the kissing scenes.

[joles_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A stunning continuation of Guillermo del Toro's The Strain. If you read The Strain right when it came out everything will come rushing back at you...no re-read required. We've come so far and still have so far to go!Will the Master win out? What will become of Earth and mankind? How will Eph keep Zach safe from his vampire mother?

[thejohnsmith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The "Strain" story continues in "The Fall" with the characters battling a, now rampant, vampire horde. The Master's evil plan for world domination is revealed, there's blood and gore, tension and drama. Its an entertaining read but, for me anyway, it doesn't quite warrant the "terror-filled sequel" tag on the cover. That said, I can't wait to get started on book 3.

[motortmech · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The second book in the amazing Strain Trilogy, this segement was about how after the strigoi virus became introduced into the population and what mankind did, in the early stages, to combat it. We are also introduced to the Ancients and the Occido Lumen, which turns out to be the official 'Vampire's Hunting Guide' detailing the rise of the Ancients and where their sites of origin are located. I was enthralled in the entire series and this one stayed true to form. I felt many times like crying as Ephraim Goodweather did everything in his power to protect his son. I laughed along with Vasiliy Fet the exterminator and was enraptured by the level of knowledge and drive by Setrakian. He is the kind of character that makes me want to go out and learn about the real history behind Eastern European folklore and myth. The series as a whole is a must read for anyone who loves a great apocalypitc story with a twist thrown in there.

[aadyer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Perfectly adequate yet slightly disappointing sequel. Some of the new characters aren’t fully developed and I’m afraid to say that I found the plot to be quite linear. The character arcs of some of the protagonists could have been more interesting. This is perfectly adequate blockbuster entertainment, but those that are looking for a newer type of vampire fiction or dystopian fiction, Will find this to be slightly disappointing. I will finish the trilogy but like many sequels it’s not as good as the first.

[analogwhale · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Totally delightful rubbish.

[katyas_26 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review based on book I received from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review. I've read this book twice.The vampires are spreading; the government is denying any problems in an attempt to avoid “panic.” Ephraim, Nora, Vasiliy and Dr. Setrakian continue to work together to try to stop the Master, and to keep Zach safe from Kelly, Ephraim’s ex-wife, who is focused on claiming the boy as her Dear One. Meanwhile, Eldritch Palmer continues to plot and plan, entirely focused on keeping himself alive forever. The Master, meanwhile, continues its plan to take over the world. And the other Ancients send out their hunters to try to stop him.Book 2: The Fall continues The Strain Trilogy, further developing the story and re-imagining the vampire mythos. We learn more about the structure of vampire society, and about the Ancients, and meet the mysterious Mr. Quinlan. Many times a middle book in a trilogy loses momentum as it fills in the plot, but not “The Fall.” It continues to speed forward, simultaneously further developing both plot and characters. There were a couple plot points that changed – most confusingly, in “The Strain,” Abraham Setrakian says his wife, Miriam, has been dead for less than 20 years, but in this book he tells the story of her death somewhere in the vicinity of 40 years previously. I’m not sure if it was a case of forgetting what was said in the first book – bad planning – or just a case of Setrakian providing incorrect information previously for his own purposes, and it is never explained. Nonetheless, the series continues to enthrall me and should be well-received by lovers of horror, apocalyptic situations and vampires. Book 3, “The Night Eternal,” has just been released, and I will post a review soon. Stay tuned!

[allisonmacias · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Fall is just as complex as The Strain was. If you enjoyed it, then by all means, devour this one. Be warned, a little review of The Strain will come in handy. Also, its a slow start, but quickly picks up and leaves you turning pages. All in all, The Fall is a strong follow up and a great read

[saramllr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fast paced and scary as hell. It seems like the middle book in a trilogy always lags a bit, but I didn't notice it here. This series is about a strain of vampirism that spreads like a virus and wipes out most of humanity. The story follows a small group of humans who are fighting these creatures by trying to understand where they came from. If you read horror fiction, this series is REQUIRED. Don't miss out.

[madam_razz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this second part of the trilogy. Often, the second book of three tends to be slow and a bit tedious, at least partway through, but no part of this was either of those things. A thrill ride from start to finish, with so many answers leading to so many more questions and so many things left to think about. I definitely wasn't expecting that ending and I'm certainly interested to see where The Night Eternal and the conclusion of the trilogy take this story. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

I have to say, though, that there are some things I just didn't think that I'd like which happened in this book and yet...I'm satisfied about them. For instance, I didn't think that I'd be able to be okay with Setrakian dying before the end of the trilogy, I didn't think I'd be okay with him dying before the Master bit it for good, and I didn't think I'd be okay with the Master choosing a new vessel and casting away Sardu's. But the way that the authors wrote it was completely satisfying and completely fitting. I'm glad that Setrakian got the ending that he did, and I'm glad that he was able to release Sardu at the same time. I'm glad that Sardu's soul was truly released and left the collective of souls that the Master keeps with him, because I've always felt bad for him. So many years. Finally, release. And I'm glad that it was Setrakian who was able to do that, with his last act of defiance, because for Setrakian it began with the Master in that body and I'm glad that for Setrakian and for the Master that body ended with the conclusion of Setrakian's life. I'm glad that Setrakian was able to die peacefully, as well. It just...seemed so perfectly fitting. Something that I had dreaded and had thought I would hate, actually became my favorite part of this second book and, perhaps, it will continue on to be my favorite part of the trilogy itself.

I also have to say that I'm glad that Setrakian was able to destroy Eichhorst, as well.

I was also unsure about Palmer dying before the end of the trilogy, as well. He was such a good adversary, such a good obstacle, but his time really had been played out and I like his ending. I think it was perhaps the best ending I could have wished for for that awful character.

I'm going to be on pins and needles until I can get hold of the last book and see what happens with the remaining characters and what becomes of the world. I definitely recommend this trilogy and this book for anyone who likes sci-fi and vampires, and misses when vampires were the evil thing that went bump in the night and it was okay to hunt them indiscriminately in fiction.

[flying_monkeys_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rating: 3.5 of 5Explored further everything that captured my attention in the first book. A few surprises I didn't think the authors would pull. Anxious to read the conclusion; although, I'm bummed after Book Two's ending.

[jrg1316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very good follow up book. Del Toro and Hogan have created a very bleak world where it feels like no one is safe. I have no idea how this trilogy is going to wrap up, and that's part of the excitement. I can't wait for the last book.

[djupstrom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second in The Strain Trilogy. The plot kept moving with action, and there was plenty of interesting storyline. A very interesting take on the vampire genre that has been dumbed down by the Twilight versions of vampiric lore.

[jimrgill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Among the many artistic and practical challenges that novelists face, one of the more frustrating must be this: writing the second novel of a trilogy that can stand on its own rather than as a bridge from the first novel to the concluding novel. Del Toro and Hogan confront that challenge with “The Fall,” the second novel in their trilogy, and they succeed better than most.The story picks up immediately after the conclusion of “The Strain,” the first book in the trilogy, and the remaining band of vampire hunters fight the good fight against the Master and his vampire and human minions. The action is fast-paced, the plotting is quick, and the death and destruction are relentless. In the course of the story, we learn more about Setrakian’s past, and a new plot element is introduced—an ancient book that contains the secrets of the strigoi’s origins. The novel concludes with the death of a major character, another character in dire jeopardy, and the world on the brink of nuclear winter—all of which points clearly to a thrilling conclusion in “The Night Eternal,” the final book in the trilogy.I suspect that the concluding volume (which I’ve not yet read) will be just as enjoyable as the first and somewhat better than this one—a serviceable and better-than-average “bridge” between the first and the last.

[irregularreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

a strong follow up to the first book in the series, "the strain"

[dduning_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quick read - not as captivating as the first, but then again, it is the middle book.

[jamiesbookblog · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the Strain Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan showed us a world where myth and legend were so much more horrifying that we could ever imagine ending the book on a near cliff-hanger aftermath of the ultimate struggle between good and evil.And now we have the Fall which picks up right where the Strain left off only now that we've had most of the characters introduced and the lines drawn between good and evil the book kicks the action and fear up a notch. Humankind is not alone and only a few people truly understand what is happening. While they struggle against an evil that seems near unstoppable they also try to make the world understand what is truly happening. This is not a normal virus! No normal strain! This is The Fall! Born from the evil of a master vampire and the heroes must race against the clock to find a way to stop it.Without giving away anything I can only say if you loved the Strain then you'll doubly enjoy The Fall. This book has more action, more horror and more answers that only lead to more questions. In book one the Characters were introduced and the plot established so with book two the authors were free to really put the peddle to the metal. I found myself unable to put this book down and my only regret is that I didn't pick these books up until they'd all been written. How will I ever make it until October when the third one comes out? I don't know but when it does come out get your night lights ready and make sure you have plenty of batteries because you won't want to spend too much time in the dark.

[jgolomb_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The sunset of humankind is the dawn of the blood harvest."Authors Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan take the world and their apocalyptic vampire saga to a darker place in the second of their "Strain" trilogy, "The Fall". This second volume is short at less than 300 pages and makes for a satisfying companion when read back-to-back with their first in the series, "The Strain". At the end of "The Strain", our primary players, pawnbroker/professor/vampire-hunter Abraham Setrakian and CDC disease specialist Ephraim Goodweather were left having just injured, but not killed, the Dark Master. Eph's ex-wife had just been turned, and made it clear that she was taking the custody battle over their son Zack to a whole new level."The Fall" propels the trilogy's story at a break neck pace. I couldn't help but feel that this middle frame in the series was carved out as a bridge from the creation of the characters, plot and modern vampire myths of the first book, to the world-shaking catalytic conclusion that I assume (and have read) will take place in the final book. Like the first book, "The Fall" is very dark and weighty. All plot elements and characters are taken with a heavy seriousness – sometimes melodramatic, but contextually appropriate to the story and its themes. The authors write very descriptively, and one can sense the imagery brought to the novel through del Toro's filmmaker's eye.del Toro and Hogan bring a mix of fictional elements to their story. "The Fall" delves deeper into the historic world-wide power struggle and existence of The Ancients - the world's original Vampires. Not all vampires are alike, and while they don't actually appear in many scenes themselves, one feels the pall of their shadow throughout Setrakian's search for a solution to save humanity. Some scenes play out like the slickest wire-fighting battles from The Matrix. Other scenes play out like the bloodiest of zombie-killing video games.As 'literature', this book really rates 3-stars, but I love how Hogan and del Toro build their fictional world, and develop their vampire history and myth. As a story this rates 4-stars, and the myth-building of the first two novels, promises a dramatic finish. I can’t wait to dig into the recently released conclusion.

[starknits_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So this one was good a little more gory and definitely more of the "history" of this story very interesting!