Since We Fell

Since We Fell follows Rachel Childs, a former journalist whose career implodes after a public breakdown while covering the Haiti earthquake. After developing agoraphobia, she rebuilds her life and enters a second marriage with Brian Delacroix, a private investigator she initially hired to track down her long-absent father. The narrative shifts between Rachel's past and present, focusing on the psychological impact of childhood abandonment, career destruction, and her evolving relationships. A chance encounter forces Rachel to question everything she knows about her current marriage and sets off a chain of events that transform her understanding of truth and reality. The novel combines elements of psychological suspense and noir, exploring themes of identity, deception, and the ways trauma shapes human behavior. Through Rachel's perspective, the story examines how past wounds influence present choices and the complex nature of trust in intimate relationships.

Readers found the first half compelling but slow-paced, focusing on character development and psychological elements. The second half shifts dramatically into a thriller, which some readers enjoyed as a thrilling ride while others felt it betrayed the original tone. Liked: - Deep exploration of anxiety and mental health - Strong, complex female protagonist - Quality of writing and prose - Unexpected plot twists Disliked: - Abrupt genre/tone shift midway - Unrealistic plot developments in latter half - Pacing issues (too slow then too fast) - Some found the ending implausible Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (32,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Multiple reviewers compared it unfavorably to Lehane's earlier works. One reader noted: "Two different books smashed together - one a thoughtful character study, the other a B-movie thriller." Another praised: "The psychological depth and attention to detail in the first half made the protagonist's choices believable."

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🔍 Lehane wrote several episodes of the critically acclaimed TV series "The Wire," bringing his gritty Boston storytelling style to Baltimore's streets. 🏆 Like "Since We Fell," many of Lehane's works have been adapted for the screen, including "Mystic River," "Gone Baby Gone," and "Shutter Island." 🌍 The Haiti earthquake referenced in the book occurred on January 12, 2010, killing over 200,000 people and affecting an estimated 3 million Haitians. 🧠 Agoraphobia, which affects the main character Rachel, impacts approximately 1.3% of American adults at some point in their lives. 🗺️ Boston, where the story is set, is a recurring location in Lehane's works, drawing from his own upbringing in the city's Dorchester neighborhood.