HQ The Night Olivia Fell

Christina McDonald has managed to create a suspense novel that will also take you on a turbulent emotional ride. Perfectly crafted by having the two protagonists, Abi and her daughter Olivia tell us the story of not just "the fall" but also, their lives, their thoughts and the contents of their hearts, makes this a gripping and heartbreaking novel. The suspense was mind blowing as each time I was sure I had figured it out it was like the Author was putting up her index finger and saying "But wait, there's more". I failed to know until the moment the Author wanted me to. Excellent! But this is not the typical who dunnit. It's filled with deeply, emotionally charged scenes that explore the Mother/Daughter relationship, family, friendships, loyalty, power and guilt. Her writing is the type that make you look away for a minute and reflect on your own experiences. The lengths that Abi goes to in order to protect her daughter not only before the fall, but after, as well as her love and devotion are laudable. My heart is still breaking for her. McDonald ended this story so perfectly I needed nothing more. If suspense is not usually your thing, this could be. I would give this stunner of a debut ten stars if I could. Congratulations Ms. McDonald!

Good read

Excellent

Amazing reading! Love my book

The Night Olivia Fells opens with a scene of which no one wants to relate. Abi Knight receives a phone call that her teen daughter has been in a tragic accident and is in the hospital. Upon arriving, she learns that her daughter is not only brain dead, but also pregnant. From there, the narrative shifts between Abi, mostly in the present day with some flashbacks, and Olivia in the months leading up to her fall, until the two narratives merge in a masterful way. Abi believes from the start that Olivia’s fall is no accident. She sees bruises on her wrists, and she quickly learns no one is taking her seriously, including the police. Once they finally begin to investigate, the case never seems to be their priority, and Abi decides to take matters into her own hands. What happened to Olivia that fateful night, and how will this tragic story end? There are so many things I loved about The Night Olivia Fell, and the biggest is how grounded it is in reality with authentic emotions, relationship dynamics, and characters. And those characters…wow! Not one is simply good or bad; they are a nice mix of complexity that keeps you guessing, especially when it comes to pointing the finger at who might have harmed Olivia. The author kept a wide net cast when looking for the suspect. I would develop a theory, and then pan to the next potential perp as the story went along and red herrings were dangled. The Night Olivia Fell is so much more than the typical suspense story. While it has all the paramount trademarks, including secrets, lies, and formidable tension, it is in a league of its own with its intensely relatable characterization and raw emotion. You will love Abi and Olivia, and you will most definitely want to wrap your arms around each of them together, as you read their story and accept their individual fates as mother and daughter. I read this book as a group read, and this was the best kind of story to read together. We shared in the tension, the love for these characters, and the guessing game at just who was guilty at the center of it all. I read the book early with a complimentary copy; however, I preordered the book because I enjoyed it so much. All opinions are my own.