Book Summary and Reviews of Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor

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Cloggie Downunder

Brilliant Australian crime fiction.
Girl, Falling is the second novel by award-winning, bestselling Australian author, Hayley Scrivenor. The audio version is narrated by Sophie Loughran. Three young women do a climb in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Only two survive. Experienced parks guide, Finn Young is on a ledge below, ready to belay as the woman she wants to marry, Magdu Fernandes, and her best friend since high school, Daphne Bennett, prepare to step off the cliff at the top of the Kamikaze Koala climb.

Finn’s first-person narrative describes the aftermath of the fall that takes Magdu’s life, interspersed with flashbacks to before, which gradually reveal the genesis and dynamics of the relationships.

Readers will easily recognise manipulative behaviour, gaslighting and control that characterises the narcissist. At a certain point, though, Finn observes: “Daphne wasn’t holding a gun to my head – except for the one I had loaded for her.”

While some of Finn’s decisions stretch the credibility a little, most of what happens requires no suspension of disbelief. There is an excellent twist which will remind readers that everything is told from Finn’s perspective.

Plot, setting, characters and descriptive prose all showcase Scrivenor’s literary talent. Brilliant Australian crime fiction.

Lynn H. (Clive, IA)

Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivener
This is a fascinating book that explores themes such as friendship, trauma and its aftermath, and the complexities of growing up.

Girl Falling centers on Finn and her best friend, Daphne, who have grown up together in the Blue Mountains of Australia. Bonded by the shared tragedy of losing younger sisters to suicide, their friendship is both deep and sometimes too close. Now in their twenties, their lives are beginning to diverge - Daphne is at university, while Finn remains in their hometown, working and rock climbing.

The book delves into the dynamics of their relationship, especially as it becomes entangled with Finn's girlfriend, Magda. An inciting incident, a climbing accident, leaves Finn to deal with profound grief and unanswered questions.

The portrayal of the Blue Mountains captures the region's natural beauty contrasting it against the dark undertones of the story. The exploration of memory, truth and human connections is thought-provoking in this captivating story.

Elizabeth_D

Successful Second Outing
I really enjoyed Hayley Scrivenor's first book, Dirt Creek (in the US), so was thrilled to read an advance copy of her next book. It did not disappoint.

It's been several weeks since I finished the book, but I still find myself thinking about the characters and themes of this book. How much do people change? Who are you/are you truly yourself if you're masking major parts of yourself from the people you love? What motivates people to stay involved in toxic friendships? How do you balance friendship and love when you want to devote time and care to both? Can you ever escape by believing the stories you tell yourself? So much to think about in this book. I think it will make a great book club choice.

I feel the book has both good character development and a plot that moves along at a good pace. As in her prior book, she does an excellent job of describing the setting.

My only nit with the book is that I feel some plot points were left a bit ambiguous at the end, but I know that doesn't bother some people.

I would suggest this book for people who would like a literary lite thriller, who is interested in thinking beyond the action.

Debbie_C

Mystery and discovery
I really enjoyed this book. The plot kept you interested and intrigued. It also helps a person understand manipulation and how someone can be sucked in when they provide the opportunity. A very good description of a type of mental illness. I recommend this book.

Terrie J. (Eagan, MN)

A book full of feelings
I really liked this book. A tragedy brings out many different feelings on so many levels…friends, parents, relatives and the police. Friendship is tested and there is an undertone of friendship vs love. I feel that women would enjoy this book because women are the key characters. I also think women can relate to the roller coaster of emotions. This book is well written and introduces new plots throughout the book. I highly recommend this book.

Barbara H. (Thomasville, GA)

Friendship to the end....
Another amazing Australian author!! This is a powerful novel about friendship, all its nuances and its power to destroy another. A co-dependent relationship existed for many years between Daphne and Finn, developing and morphing into something else - "like a vine that snakes around a tree until the tree and vine can no longer be separated.....holding each other up...." This story is also about secrets and how a secret in the telling can destroy someone and a secret in the knowing can give a person power over another.

The author graphically depicts the rawness of each character - and brings them to a level of development like the coming together of a great symphony.. I had to read this novel with new acceptance and tolerance and lose prejudices. It is totally amazing how the mind can block the obvious to keep one from seeing what is truly in front of them.....as this novel does. This was a wonderful novel!!

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