Thank you Lydia Spooner for including me in the Blog Tour for If I Fall – by Merilyn Davies – published by Arrow Publishing, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
A gritty, heart-stopping crime thriller from an exciting new voice in crime writing
We were told to meet at a rooftop bar.
Four friends, bound by one terrible secret.
No one knew why we were there.
Then we saw a woman, watched as she fell from the edge and plunged to her death.
The police think it’s suicide, but I know better.
Someone is sending a message.
‘A breath-taking, page-turning read’ CLARE MACKINTOSH
Our Author – Merilyn Davies
Merilyn Davies is a former Crime Analyst with the Metropolitan Police who worked as part of the violent and hate crime unit for eight years. She was inspired to write about strong women working in the police force thanks to the incredible women she encountered on the force, and was fascinated to explore the relationship between civilians working in the force and police officers, drawing on her own experiences being married to a serving MET officer.
She decided to set her thriller in her home her home city of Oxford, but the action all takes place away from the dreaming spires in parts tourists don’t stop at. She studied Sociology at university and is fascinated with the manner in which society leads people down criminal paths. She was co-founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival and now works for Oxford City Council.
My Review – If I Fall
This is the second book in the ‘series’ by Merilyn Davies. The first If I Lost You introduced us to the characters of DS Nell Jackson and Crime Analyst – Carla Brown – but this takes us further and although you could read as a stand alone, the first is truly worth reading too.
I am lucky enough to live near Oxford and have been to The Varsity Club, where the If I Fall first takes us and I don’t blame Merilyn for basing her books in this iconic city, its what she knows and where she works, so why wouldn’t see, what she visualises becomes what you, as the reader then see too.
Her characters Nell & Carla especially lead us through this excellently plotted police procedural with in-depth expertise, learnt from first hand experience from Merilyn’s own working life as a crime analyst. So you know this is true to life.
As I said, we begin with a reunion at The Varsity Club. Four friends are due to meet up, when tragedy strikes and although it looks like a straight forward accident, it doesn’t seem that way to Carla, who was there when it happened. She thinks theres more to it and is proved right, two weeks later when a body is found.
How this all linked, is what Nell and Carla and the rest of the team need to solve. But there seems to be so many layers to this that they have to delve deep. Religious roots lie heavy and can’t be dismissed. For crime analyst Carla, this sees her crossing the lines and seeing what really goes on to solve crimes.
An excellent book, thick with plots and background, which wouldn’t work if the characters weren’t as deeply woven into it. Taking personal experinces and lifestyles into play also. Intricately written and plotted, as sure fire hit with fans of Clare Mackintosh and Cara Hunter.
To buy – If I Fall – https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-I-Fall-Merilyn-Davies/dp/1787461564/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CUCNN9JVAVBD&dchild=1&keywords=merilyn+davies&qid=1614514975&sprefix=Merilyn%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1
@nellbelleandme @arrowpublishing @penguinrandom #IfIFall
