Published: 2014
Author: Julia Crouch
Evocative and compelling
It’s now the middle of June and, against all expectations, the weather is improving and we could even say that summer is coming. It’s the time of year when thoughts turn to beaches, holidays and relaxation. And there’s no better way to relax than with a book which takes you away from your own life and to far away lands. Julia Crouch’s thriller The Long Fall
In 1980, 18 year old Emma is travelling around Europe on her own before beginning university. As she journeys from France to Greece, her diaries tell of a naïve young woman whose life is ripped apart by two violent events which will change Emma for ever. Today, Kate has an outwardly perfect life – a rich husband, a wonderful daughter and the strength to turn a private tragedy into a force for good. A face from Kate’s past returns and the stories of Emma and Kate come together for an explosive conclusion.
I loved The Long Fall, while I was reading it I found it hard to put the book down. So many questions came into my head that I had to keep going so that I could find the answers. I’m not sure much of what transpired came as a complete surprise (except perhaps the denouement) but the story was great and the pace fantastic.
The stories swapped from 1980 to today absolutely seamlessly and worked together brilliantly to build a complete picture of the two stories and how they intersected. Emma’s teenage diaries were a particular source of pleasure – Crouch perfectly captures the naivety and arrogance of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood. I may have blushed once or twice as I fully recognised Emma’s tone (if not experiences) from my own diaries. Emma was a particularly sympathetic character, despite some of her own bad decisions and actions.
The portrayal of Greece was particularly evocative. This wasn’t just the Greece that is seen in picture postcards but also the sleazy, unattractive country seen by backpackers and those not staying in five star hotels.
The Long Fall is a superior psychological thriller which kept me hooked for the couple of days it took me to read. It’s the ideal book for someone who fancies a compelling, but intelligent rather than frothy, summer read. Just a word of warning though – if you’re about to send your teenage child out on their gap year or backpacking holiday you might want to leave this one until they’ve come home safe and sound.