Overall Rating:
“You’ve set up a bloody slaughter there. What tempted you?”
“Revenge.”
After a few lighter reads before this one, I was certainly ready to get my teeth into something like this; an action-packed, suspenseful thriller with complex investigations and an interesting cast of characters. However, be warned – it’s a long read and a big commitment. If you’re on board with that and are up for a challenge, then read on, my friend! So happy to be sharing my review for Albert Jaskula’s new Book, The Fall!
About the book
Regrets are like birthdays – they keep coming, each one a new scar slowing you down and dragging you closer to your grave.
Ariel Fall, a seasoned private investigator, knew this well. After the devastating loss of his wife and young daughter, Ariel attempts to forge ahead, leaving behind the painful memories that threatened to ensnare him. But his quest for redemption proved more elusive than anticipated, and his entanglement in a series of harrowing investigations were proving rather useless, only serving to expose the darkest corners of humanity’s nature and the enigmatic depths of the human mind.
Haunted by the relentless pursuit of truth, Ariel embarks on a treacherous journey, encountering a seductive femme fatale and an enigmatic ‘guardian angel’ along the way. As he delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Lavender Killer, the League of Damned and the notorious Dirty Joe, he discovers the pervasive corruption lurking within the very heart of the London police force.
In a world where rules and morality blur, Ariel is forced to confront his own limitations and question the validity of conventional approaches. Struggling with the weight of his decisions, each one seeming to lead to his downfall, he realises that true impact requires bending and even breaking the rules. With the specter of failure looming, Ariel must navigate treacherous waters where every choice feels like a waking nightmare.
The beginning
There’s always something intriguing about a private investigator. I think part of me deep down wishes I could do a job like that! We’re introduced to Ariel Fall as he takes on a brand new case; a missing fourteen-year-old girl. It doesn’t take long for us to get a real good idea of the kind of person Ariel is and the cases that come his way. He’s got attitude and is brimming with confidence which I always find makes a really memorable character. The author also injects subtle humour in all the right places which really complemented his personality. After reaching dead ends and searching high and low for the missing teenager, the end result wasn’t what he’d hoped for. He’s disappointed. That poor girl, her poor mother. There’s action pouring out of every chapter, especially as he tries to get justice for Hailey, and all the other girls before. But I had a feeling that this was just the start of something bigger, something more complicated and deadly than we could even imagine. Such a powerful and impactful start to the book!
“I turn on the torch. I retreat and vomit. The smell of death is everywhere. Like a house that death would rent.”
The book is split into numerous different ‘Investigations’ which felt good and is something I’ve not seen before in a book like this. I found myself really getting into the complex cases he works on with Chief of Police, Victor, their relationship rocky at the best of times. Normally, the fast-pace in a book like this would put me off, but I think it works pretty well here with so many different investigations being explored. One thing I didn’t like at all about the book so far though (and I’m so sorry to the author) were the sex scenes/scenes of a sexual nature. The way they were written made me cringe, they were way too graphic and happened way too frequently for a book of this genre. I had to skip past these parts or I’m not sure I would have enjoyed the book as much. They weren’t needed at all and I definitely didn’t miss them! On a lighter note, the story itself became a complex web of clues, interrogations and some exciting action scenes which was what I was here for. I was looking forward to what the rest of the book had in store!
The middle
Ariel is a very complicated and troubled character beneath the surface. Despite him being a great private investigator, his job is a dangerous and stressful one. His investigations and threats from powerful people cause him to turn to drink and have unhealthy relationships with women to make him feel something. The development of this character is great and he fits perfectly in this messy puzzle. As time goes on, we learn more about his past and exactly what he’s lost, these pieces of information building such a solid picture of him and making us understand why he’s the person he is, why he acts in the way he does and why his work is so important to him. Ariel has so many near-death experiences and gunshot wounds that I was almost certain his life would end at any moment, but he always manages to pull through. How on earth is this guy so lucky?! I suppose we wouldn’t have a book if he wasn’t! There was so much going on all of the time and I couldn’t get enough, but sometimes, it can be a lot to take in.
“Recently, everyone is trying to kill me. I have started to get used to it.”
Right, there are some weird scenes. Weird, but great. I think the weirdest one for me was a religious cult/sacrifice scene where it’s touch and go whether these characters would come out alive. It’s dangerous, it’s sickening, it’s super dark. And I kinda loved it! Chapters like this made me so curious and they felt so unique, building tension and suspense. I wanted more of them! The book is surprisingly graphic in places too – which crime/thriller lover doesn’t want to read about bits of brain being blown out of someone’s skull?! Chapters surrounding the Lavender Killer were some of my absolute favourites. (Is it weird to have a favourite killer? ) But again, there were some scenes that were stupidly graphic and sexual which made me do a bit of eye-rolling. Destroying drugs, weapons, dirty money, and of course, killing for justice, is what Ariel seems to excel at, but he isn’t out of the woods just yet.
The end
Ariel has contact from the Lavender Killer in the form of creepy, disturbing emails (and even a TV broadcast) but even this doesn’t make it any easier to track him down. I loved the mystery of all this, and time really was running out. Saying that, we actually have quite a bit of time because the book is SOOO long! I couldn’t quite believe how many pages there were in this book and I felt it could have easily been split into two books, maybe even more. Books that are this long are not something I tend to reach for a lot, and I know I speak on behalf of a big chunk of readers, so hopefully this is something the author will take on board for his next book. This didn’t bother me too much the closer to the end we got though because it felt really exciting. The conversations between characters get more intense and urgent, and I was desperate to get to the end and to see where things end up for Ariel, whether he can end this investigation and finally have a normal life, or if this particular killer would be the end of him.
“When a man has lost everything, he becomes extremely dangerous because he has nothing left to lose.”
Ariel is given an ultimatum that really hit me hard; would he save his friends or his family? The scenes from here had me gripped and it was certainly my favourite part of the book, my eyes completely glued to the pages. I felt some unexpected emotion and really felt for Ariel and what he’s having to endure. The final section of the book, ‘Revenge‘ was everything I wanted from this book. I felt Ariel’s rage and sorrow building and reaching boiling point, and the idea of a copycat killer felt really good! It’s tense, action-packed and full of moments of uncertainty as lives hang in the balance, but it was that final scene which really rounded things off. It’s hard to read and it’s a real solid and dark ending, but in another sense, it also paves the way for a second book… I’m sure that if Ariel gets another book, or even if we follow a different character, the author will do it justice! A long, complex read, but once you get your teeth into it, it can be real hard to let go. A great effort!
Overall thoughts
The Fall is a tense, action-packed thriller filled with complex investigations, gripping fight scenes and a cast of characters to love and hate. Private Investigator, Ariel, is such a well developed character. We feel his anger at the world thanks to the way the author brings him to life, everything he faces throughout his journey so vivid and full of danger. Killers, corruption and revenge create the very heart of this book, the characters and storyline creating a memorable and atmospheric journey. The book is too long for me personally but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment too much. A great debut from this author and would be keen to read more from these characters!
You can grab your own copy of The Fall by Albert Jaskula when it releases on December 1st! Read my author interview with the author here!
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