S. F. Prescott

Propulsive and gut-wrenching!

Before Rachel Paris came to writing, she was a finance lawyer for many years, but as a child, she wanted to be a writer or a detective, “so I guess I’ve taken the long way around and finally tried out both.” She currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and three children, two neurotic dogs and a geriatric cat.

See How They Fall publishes April 29th, 2025.

A solid debut! See How They Fall by Rachel Paris, is a must-read this spring. I flew through it in a day and couldn’t put it down. Told in alternating perspectives between, Skye, the wife of rich heir Duncan Turner, and Mei, a senior detective assigned to investigate a poisoning inside the Turner family, this psychological thriller gripped me from the first page.

I read a lot in this genre so it’s difficult for a book to surprise me, but this story had me guessing until the end. The tension was expertly woven and multi-layered, keeping me turning the pages. The pace was steady between the two POVs, which is rare, as I usually favor one more than the other in these types of novels. I loved getting to know the characters, especially the dynamics of the Turner family, and the dark secrets revealed. Both Skye and Mei were interesting protagonists, and I loved reading from the perspectives of two strong leading women.

The opening scene of the Turner family reuniting after the death of their patriarch was vivid, including the fight between the brothers. I also enjoyed the scenes between Skye and Mei, and realized their characters had more in common than I initially thought. Mei’s dedication and perseverance in her job, particularly when dealing with her toxic boss, eased the tension and I found myself rooting for her even more. When she’s finally recruited by Heather toward the end it felt very deserving.

I can’t wait to read more from Rachel Paris!

For fans of Succession and Knives Out! A whodunnit, a rich family, and twisted secrets.

Synopsis:

When Skye married into the wealthy Turner family, she thought she was entering paradise. But now, several years later, she remains uneasy amid the opulence of her husband’s world, struggling with her own secrets and working to maintain a normal life for their young daughter, Tilly.

Skye’s delicate balance is undone when the family patriarch, Sir Campbell Turner, dies suddenly and an illegitimate heir comes forward to stake his claim in the luxury goods empire the old man leaves behind. Reluctantly, the Turners receive the newcomer at an intimate weekend retreat at Yallambee, the family seaside estate, but tempers flare and egos clash within their first few hours together and the night ends in a tragedy that leaves one dead and another fighting for life.

Sergeant Mei O’Connor is assigned to investigate the incident and though her superiors are keen to close the case as swiftly as possible, the evidence just isn’t lining up. Convinced that there’s more to the suspicious death than a simple accident, Mei continues to search for answers. But pulling at these threads may just tear down the Turner empire.