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A review by outsmartyourshelf
The One Who Fell by Kerry Wilkinson
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Millie Westlake lives in Whitecliff, the town where she grew up. She makes her living as a dog groomer & volunteers at the local nursing home. Her business is struggling due to some bad reviews related to her parents' deaths as, thanks to a newspaper article at the time, many people think Millie was responsible. Her marriage to ex-husband Alex broke down after she had an affair (there's a hint of a revelation to come about Alex but we don't find out until the last moment) & he has moved on with Rachel, & Millie is only allowed partial custody of their son.
Whilst she is at the nursing home one day playing a sedate game of Guess Who?, her opponent, Ingrid, suddenly announces that the night before she saw a young woman get pushed off the roof of one of the houses nearby. Millie is sceptical but wanting to put Ingrid's mind at rest, she noses around the outside of the house & speaks to the owner, Dean Parris, who says he is the only occupant. Outside Millie finds a loose roof tile on the floor of the alleyway but doesn't think too much of it, until it seems that Parris has started following her & she thinks she sees his van outside her home before he suddenly drives off when he thinks he has been spotted. Has Millie put herself in danger?
Millie has a nice friendship with Jack (who also works at the nursing home) & his partner Rishi, & it looks as if a bit of a double-act with Guy, a retired journalist who was close friends with her parents, may be in the offing. His contacts help Millie solve the mystery & he has a really cute dog named Barry. Cute dogs aside, I found this to be very slow-going & almost DNF'd it. I carried on as I was intrigued enough to want to find out what had happened but I can't say I'd be in a rush to read the next one. 2.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Whilst she is at the nursing home one day playing a sedate game of Guess Who?, her opponent, Ingrid, suddenly announces that the night before she saw a young woman get pushed off the roof of one of the houses nearby. Millie is sceptical but wanting to put Ingrid's mind at rest, she noses around the outside of the house & speaks to the owner, Dean Parris, who says he is the only occupant. Outside Millie finds a loose roof tile on the floor of the alleyway but doesn't think too much of it, until it seems that Parris has started following her & she thinks she sees his van outside her home before he suddenly drives off when he thinks he has been spotted. Has Millie put herself in danger?
Millie has a nice friendship with Jack (who also works at the nursing home) & his partner Rishi, & it looks as if a bit of a double-act with Guy, a retired journalist who was close friends with her parents, may be in the offing. His contacts help Millie solve the mystery & he has a really cute dog named Barry. Cute dogs aside, I found this to be very slow-going & almost DNF'd it. I carried on as I was intrigued enough to want to find out what had happened but I can't say I'd be in a rush to read the next one. 2.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent