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They All Fall Down
Hannah had a perfect life in London—a loving husband, a great job—until she did something shocking. Something that she doesn’t quite understand herself; and now she has landed herself in a high-risk psychiatric unit.
Since Hannah has been admitted, two women have died, including Charlie, one of her closest friends in the institution. It’s a high-risk unit, the authorities say. Deaths happen. But Hannah knows Charlie wouldn’t have killed herself. She is convinced there’s a serial killer picking off the patients one by one, passing their deaths off as suicides. But why? And who will believe her?
Corinne, Hannah’s mother, is worried sick about her eldest daughter. She hates that she’s ended up in the unit, though she knows it’s the best place for her to get the treatment she needs. At first, Corinne assumes Hannah’s outlandish claims about a killer in the unit are just another manifestation of her psychological condition, but as she starts to uncover strange inconsistencies surrounding the unit's charismatic director, Dr. Roberts, she begins to wonder if her daughter might have stumbled upon the truth.
But who can Corinne trust, when she doesn’t even trust her own daughter?
Since Hannah has been admitted, two women have died, including Charlie, one of her closest friends in the institution. It’s a high-risk unit, the authorities say. Deaths happen. But Hannah knows Charlie wouldn’t have killed herself. She is convinced there’s a serial killer picking off the patients one by one, passing their deaths off as suicides. But why? And who will believe her?
Corinne, Hannah’s mother, is worried sick about her eldest daughter. She hates that she’s ended up in the unit, though she knows it’s the best place for her to get the treatment she needs. At first, Corinne assumes Hannah’s outlandish claims about a killer in the unit are just another manifestation of her psychological condition, but as she starts to uncover strange inconsistencies surrounding the unit's charismatic director, Dr. Roberts, she begins to wonder if her daughter might have stumbled upon the truth.
But who can Corinne trust, when she doesn’t even trust her own daughter?
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2017
About the author
Tammy Cohen
25 books423 followersTammy Cohen (who was previously published under her formal name Tamar Cohen) is a freelance journalist. A late starter to fiction - and to other things besides - she has now written four novels. The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives, and Someone Else's Wedding. The Broken was her first pyschological thriller, followed by Dying for Christmas. Her brand new hardback novel, First One Missing is out now.
She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.
She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
July 24, 2017
They All Fall Down by Tammy Cohen is a psychological thriller about Hannah who is a patient in a psychiatric clinic. After two other patients die Hannah is convinced that they have been murdered but no one believes her. There are quite a few twist and turns in this story and it's hard to know who to believe.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2018
3.5 stars! They All Fall Down is a quick and twisty psychological thriller set primarily in a mental institution where things may not all be as they seem. Hannah Lowell isn't so sure she belongs there in the first place, and her unease and paranoia only grow as she learns more about the people around her ... and about herself.
The novel opens straightaway with the accusation that the suicides have been staged and Hannah's fear that she could be next, which made me expect we were to hit the ground running. But the first half of the story drags along, introducing us to the cast of characters and teasing at the reasons for Hannah's stay without divulging much new information. It was frustrating to be so blatantly kept in the dark about Hannah's past - you know what she's done can't be too terrible, given that her family's still visiting her in the ritzy psych unit where she's landed herself, and from there, it's not especially hard to guess. I was more interested in how quickly it becomes clear that none of the narrators we bounce between are guaranteed to be reliable, though a downside of that is how it can be hard to connect with the characters because we're kept somewhat at arm's length.
Despite all that, once the plot kicks into gear, the rest of the novel goes by in a breeze. The chapters are short but each one delivers a bang, dropping you some sort of hint that you're not sure if you can trust because of the character divulging it. Before you have time to find your bearings, you're already thrown into someone else's perspective. I was flipping through the pages, trying to keep track of the red herrings and trying to decide if I could trust Hannah. Is it all in her head? Some might not find it difficult to guess the whodunnit, but I guarantee the real journey is figuring out the why. The ending is deliciously twisty (if not a little outlandish), and you won't see it coming.
I also appreciated the focus on the stigma around mental illness. Hannah and her family must reevaluate their understanding of not just her condition but of the conditions of the other patients in the institution. It's a shame we don't see much character development with those other patients because of the need to play things close to the chest to pull off the plot, but I'm still grateful that Cohen sheds light on important topics.
Overall, I enjoyed They All Fall Down. It had a rocky start and I never felt like I truly connected with the characters, but it's still a fun read that spirals very quickly into a wild ride.
Thank you to Pegasus Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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The novel opens straightaway with the accusation that the suicides have been staged and Hannah's fear that she could be next, which made me expect we were to hit the ground running. But the first half of the story drags along, introducing us to the cast of characters and teasing at the reasons for Hannah's stay without divulging much new information. It was frustrating to be so blatantly kept in the dark about Hannah's past - you know what she's done can't be too terrible, given that her family's still visiting her in the ritzy psych unit where she's landed herself, and from there, it's not especially hard to guess. I was more interested in how quickly it becomes clear that none of the narrators we bounce between are guaranteed to be reliable, though a downside of that is how it can be hard to connect with the characters because we're kept somewhat at arm's length.
Despite all that, once the plot kicks into gear, the rest of the novel goes by in a breeze. The chapters are short but each one delivers a bang, dropping you some sort of hint that you're not sure if you can trust because of the character divulging it. Before you have time to find your bearings, you're already thrown into someone else's perspective. I was flipping through the pages, trying to keep track of the red herrings and trying to decide if I could trust Hannah. Is it all in her head? Some might not find it difficult to guess the whodunnit, but I guarantee the real journey is figuring out the why. The ending is deliciously twisty (if not a little outlandish), and you won't see it coming.
I also appreciated the focus on the stigma around mental illness. Hannah and her family must reevaluate their understanding of not just her condition but of the conditions of the other patients in the institution. It's a shame we don't see much character development with those other patients because of the need to play things close to the chest to pull off the plot, but I'm still grateful that Cohen sheds light on important topics.
Overall, I enjoyed They All Fall Down. It had a rocky start and I never felt like I truly connected with the characters, but it's still a fun read that spirals very quickly into a wild ride.
Thank you to Pegasus Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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April 26, 2019
They All Fall Down has an intriguing premise, where our main character, Hannah, is in a mental health clinic after some unknown event that’s referenced but not revealed until later in the book. During her stay, two women die from what seems to be suicide, but Hannah isn’t convinced. Dealing with her personal demons, a marriage that’s falling apart, and the death of her friends, she takes it upon herself to try and find proof that their deaths weren’t suicide after all.
To be honest, I struggled with this book. There were SO many subplots and character POVs that I found it hard to keep them all straight. I know the author was trying to tie everything together in the end, and while I did enjoy the final two chapters of the book, I felt like parts of the middle of the book were convoluted and confusing.
Ultimately, I think I wasn’t the right reader for this story. While I did like the overall plot, the execution wasn’t my favorite. If you are someone who likes multiple POVs and several storylines, you may enjoy this one more than I did. I ended up rating this one 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
To be honest, I struggled with this book. There were SO many subplots and character POVs that I found it hard to keep them all straight. I know the author was trying to tie everything together in the end, and while I did enjoy the final two chapters of the book, I felt like parts of the middle of the book were convoluted and confusing.
Ultimately, I think I wasn’t the right reader for this story. While I did like the overall plot, the execution wasn’t my favorite. If you are someone who likes multiple POVs and several storylines, you may enjoy this one more than I did. I ended up rating this one 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
July 28, 2017
I have enjoyed all of Tammy Cohen’s psychological thrillers: “Dying for Christmas,” “First One Missing,” and “When She Was Bad,” so I was looking forward to reading her latest. Hannah has been in The Meadows for eight weeks when we first meet her. This is a private clinic for patients with a high suicide risk and, as the story unravels, we discover why Hannah is there and learn about her fellow patients. At first though, all we are aware of is that there is that there is a baby involved and that Hannah’s marriage has been in trouble for a while.
Although the patients at The Meadows are seen as suicide risks, we are also informed that one of Hannah’s closest friends at the clinic, Charlie, has recently died. Indeed, she is the second patient to die within a fairly short time and Hannah does not believe that Charlie killed herself. Is she merely being paranoid, or does she have a reason to suspect something is not quite right? At first, Hannah’s mother, Corinne, feels that Hannah is simply disturbed, but, gradually, she too begins to fear for her daughter’s safety and to investigate both the clinic and the events which brought Hannah there.
This is, undoubtedly, another interesting read from Tammy Cohen. A good cast of characters, from the assorted clinic patients, with their issues and back stories, to creepy clinic director, Dr Roberts, the other staff, Hannah’s work colleagues and the film crew, who are constantly recording everything at The Meadows for a future documentary. This is not my favourite of Cohen’s books (“When She Was Bad,” is still the winner for me), but a very enjoyable read nonetheless. Cohen is very skilled at taking closed communities, such as clinics, a support group, or an office, and creating a fairly oppressive atmosphere, which is realistic and works well, as well as characters you care about
Although the patients at The Meadows are seen as suicide risks, we are also informed that one of Hannah’s closest friends at the clinic, Charlie, has recently died. Indeed, she is the second patient to die within a fairly short time and Hannah does not believe that Charlie killed herself. Is she merely being paranoid, or does she have a reason to suspect something is not quite right? At first, Hannah’s mother, Corinne, feels that Hannah is simply disturbed, but, gradually, she too begins to fear for her daughter’s safety and to investigate both the clinic and the events which brought Hannah there.
This is, undoubtedly, another interesting read from Tammy Cohen. A good cast of characters, from the assorted clinic patients, with their issues and back stories, to creepy clinic director, Dr Roberts, the other staff, Hannah’s work colleagues and the film crew, who are constantly recording everything at The Meadows for a future documentary. This is not my favourite of Cohen’s books (“When She Was Bad,” is still the winner for me), but a very enjoyable read nonetheless. Cohen is very skilled at taking closed communities, such as clinics, a support group, or an office, and creating a fairly oppressive atmosphere, which is realistic and works well, as well as characters you care about
June 18, 2017
As the self-confessed No 1 fan of Tammy Cohen when I saw she had a new psychological thriller out in July I was very excited and when the publishers sent me a proof copy I did squeal a lot.
This psychological thriller is set in a mental institution and once again the author introduces a twisty, twisted set of characters, that get under your skin and keep you on the edge of your toes.
Alternating narrators bring this dark and clever thriller to life and the author has a wonderful knack of leading you in one direction, slamming on the brakes, causing severe whiplash and doing a three-point turn. It’s a fast-paced and fabulous thriller and Tammy Cohen proves why she is one of the best authors of psychological thrillers around. Highly recommended.
This psychological thriller is set in a mental institution and once again the author introduces a twisty, twisted set of characters, that get under your skin and keep you on the edge of your toes.
Alternating narrators bring this dark and clever thriller to life and the author has a wonderful knack of leading you in one direction, slamming on the brakes, causing severe whiplash and doing a three-point turn. It’s a fast-paced and fabulous thriller and Tammy Cohen proves why she is one of the best authors of psychological thrillers around. Highly recommended.
January 10, 2018
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3.5 stars, rounded up to 4- this is one of the moments I wish GR rating system allowed us to give halves!
They All Fall Down was a very enjoyable read for me. It is slow paced, and the characters open up and their histories reveal much later than you expect but worth the wait. I love a good suspense when characters are built well and this is it!
Hannah is somebody like us. Well, she was. She had a good job, parents that love her and a husband she loved before she’s moved to a woman-patients-only private psychiatric clinic. Apparently she had a breakdown, but we don’t know why. Some of the other patients in the clinic seem far more disturbed then Hannah. They are all haunted by their own minds and past.
When Charlie, the person Hannah feels probably the closest in the clinic, commits suicide Hannah is shaken. Then another patient dies. Hannah becomes convinced that someone is murdering them. She shares her fears with her mum, who unwillingly becomes doing detective-work to see what’s going on.
I know what you think! Girl, Interrupted- and yes, it definitely resembled the movie to me. I loved the movie and I liked this book too!
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4- this is one of the moments I wish GR rating system allowed us to give halves!
They All Fall Down was a very enjoyable read for me. It is slow paced, and the characters open up and their histories reveal much later than you expect but worth the wait. I love a good suspense when characters are built well and this is it!
Hannah is somebody like us. Well, she was. She had a good job, parents that love her and a husband she loved before she’s moved to a woman-patients-only private psychiatric clinic. Apparently she had a breakdown, but we don’t know why. Some of the other patients in the clinic seem far more disturbed then Hannah. They are all haunted by their own minds and past.
When Charlie, the person Hannah feels probably the closest in the clinic, commits suicide Hannah is shaken. Then another patient dies. Hannah becomes convinced that someone is murdering them. She shares her fears with her mum, who unwillingly becomes doing detective-work to see what’s going on.
I know what you think! Girl, Interrupted- and yes, it definitely resembled the movie to me. I loved the movie and I liked this book too!
July 18, 2017
What a disappointment from Cohen! To her credit, she doesn't simply re-write the same book constantly as some commercial authors do, but this one lacked the life of her usual stories. The setting is intriguing but then it turns into a same-old 'female' thriller built around multiple narrators, unfaithful husband, baby obsession, and an everyday woman turning murder investigator. Add in some in-your-face dodgy characters and this is soon teetering on the edge of black comedy.
A particular bugbear of mine is when a book relies on faux suspense by withholding something major from the reader that everyone in the book knows: - it's like sitting with a group of friends and they're all talking about something which happened last night but won't tell you what it was - mighty irritating! And a cheap way for an author to create artificial tension.
I lost interest at 40%, skim read to the end and was unsurprised and glad to be done with this. Hopefully this is just a blip and Cohen will be back to her best in the next book.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
A particular bugbear of mine is when a book relies on faux suspense by withholding something major from the reader that everyone in the book knows: - it's like sitting with a group of friends and they're all talking about something which happened last night but won't tell you what it was - mighty irritating! And a cheap way for an author to create artificial tension.
I lost interest at 40%, skim read to the end and was unsurprised and glad to be done with this. Hopefully this is just a blip and Cohen will be back to her best in the next book.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
July 31, 2017
Hannah led a normal life until one day, everything started to fall to pieces. Now she’s in a psychiatric clinic. But when two of her friends die and it is said they committed suicide, Hannah knows she’s being lied to. Nobody believes her though and time is running out.
Tammy Cohen’s writing is so incredibly beautiful and strong that I soon found myself completely engrossed in this brilliantly woven and intricate plot. So much so that it wasn’t until I closed the book that I realised I hadn’t been taking any notes to help me in writing my review.
The author doesn’t rely on all the tricks of the trade, dazzling the reader with a multitude of twists and turns, and she doesn’t need to. That’s not to say there aren’t any twists. Of course there are! But they’re done masterfully and as you get to know the various characters, they actually make sense as opposed to the ones that come out of nowhere like a bolt of lightning.
Delving into the human psyche in an environment like a psychiatric clinic, where every single person is dealing with mental health issues, was already compelling enough on its own. But adding a mystery and a long list of potential suspects brought the story to a whole other level. Is it a member of staff? Is it a client? Is it someone else entirely? Or is Hannah just paranoid? I have unholy love for an author who can keep me guessing like this. While I had an inkling halfway through the book that I knew what was going on, I never felt quite secure in my belief. As it turns out, I was only half right and there was a part near the end that made my jaw drop so hard I think my chin hit the floor.
My list of go-to authors continues to grow at a terrifying pace as I now also add Tammy Cohen and I’m confident that no matter which genre she writes in, I’ll be first in line.
Tammy Cohen’s writing is so incredibly beautiful and strong that I soon found myself completely engrossed in this brilliantly woven and intricate plot. So much so that it wasn’t until I closed the book that I realised I hadn’t been taking any notes to help me in writing my review.
The author doesn’t rely on all the tricks of the trade, dazzling the reader with a multitude of twists and turns, and she doesn’t need to. That’s not to say there aren’t any twists. Of course there are! But they’re done masterfully and as you get to know the various characters, they actually make sense as opposed to the ones that come out of nowhere like a bolt of lightning.
Delving into the human psyche in an environment like a psychiatric clinic, where every single person is dealing with mental health issues, was already compelling enough on its own. But adding a mystery and a long list of potential suspects brought the story to a whole other level. Is it a member of staff? Is it a client? Is it someone else entirely? Or is Hannah just paranoid? I have unholy love for an author who can keep me guessing like this. While I had an inkling halfway through the book that I knew what was going on, I never felt quite secure in my belief. As it turns out, I was only half right and there was a part near the end that made my jaw drop so hard I think my chin hit the floor.
My list of go-to authors continues to grow at a terrifying pace as I now also add Tammy Cohen and I’m confident that no matter which genre she writes in, I’ll be first in line.
July 1, 2017
Another excellent page turner of a psychological thriller from Tammy Cohen here - brilliant. Always always a good reading time.
Full review spotlight to follow publication week.
Full review spotlight to follow publication week.
July 17, 2017
I do love a new Tammy Cohen book and I have to admit that They All Fall Down did “somehow” manage to sneak its way up my topping TBR pile as I was just DYING to read it! And it definitely didn’t disappoint as I have to say I think it’s her best psychological thriller since Dying for Christmas!
The setting here is a psychiatric clinic, where Hannah has been detained since an horrific incident that we have to wait impatiently to find out more about. The unanswered questions about Hannah’s mental health got this book off to a claustrophobic and intriguing start. What had happened to instigate her being admitted to such a facility and why does she think the girls who have committed suicide have been murdered? As we get to know the other patients and staff at the institution, we come to realise that maybe Hannah isn’t an incredibly reliable narrator and it’s left to Hannah’s mum Corrine and other narrators to fill in the blanks for us.
Well, Tammy Cohen has absolutely knocked my socks off AGAIN-I loved this book! Every character was well drawn and developed gradually, inspiring so many different emotions in me as more details start to seep out about Hannah’s life before. Corrine was the archetypal protective mother, desperate to help her child no matter what the cost either financially or at the expense of her own happiness. Her determination and commitment to finding the right balance between just being there for Hannah no matter what but also trusting her mother’s instinct that something didn’t quite add up. I felt a lot of admiration for her and I think I enjoyed her narrative more than any other. As for Danny, the husband, I just wanted to scratch his eyes out, rather like Hannah and THAT photo!
The plot here zig zagged along at a jaunty pace, throwing out red herrings galore along its path and doubling back on itself just when you thought you knew in which direction it was heading. With every twist and turn, I was drawn deeper into Hannah’s nightmare until I was nearly in need of some relaxation therapy myself! And although there are some very upsetting issues brought to the forefront here, they were integral to the intensity and development of the plot. I was so totally gripped me by the storyline and the conspiracy theories running through my head that I was forced to cram in every single page in one gluttonous sitting. And what a feast it was!
Very highly recommended by me.
The setting here is a psychiatric clinic, where Hannah has been detained since an horrific incident that we have to wait impatiently to find out more about. The unanswered questions about Hannah’s mental health got this book off to a claustrophobic and intriguing start. What had happened to instigate her being admitted to such a facility and why does she think the girls who have committed suicide have been murdered? As we get to know the other patients and staff at the institution, we come to realise that maybe Hannah isn’t an incredibly reliable narrator and it’s left to Hannah’s mum Corrine and other narrators to fill in the blanks for us.
Well, Tammy Cohen has absolutely knocked my socks off AGAIN-I loved this book! Every character was well drawn and developed gradually, inspiring so many different emotions in me as more details start to seep out about Hannah’s life before. Corrine was the archetypal protective mother, desperate to help her child no matter what the cost either financially or at the expense of her own happiness. Her determination and commitment to finding the right balance between just being there for Hannah no matter what but also trusting her mother’s instinct that something didn’t quite add up. I felt a lot of admiration for her and I think I enjoyed her narrative more than any other. As for Danny, the husband, I just wanted to scratch his eyes out, rather like Hannah and THAT photo!
The plot here zig zagged along at a jaunty pace, throwing out red herrings galore along its path and doubling back on itself just when you thought you knew in which direction it was heading. With every twist and turn, I was drawn deeper into Hannah’s nightmare until I was nearly in need of some relaxation therapy myself! And although there are some very upsetting issues brought to the forefront here, they were integral to the intensity and development of the plot. I was so totally gripped me by the storyline and the conspiracy theories running through my head that I was forced to cram in every single page in one gluttonous sitting. And what a feast it was!
Very highly recommended by me.
July 16, 2022
4,5 stars - English Ebook
Hannah had a perfect life in London.
A loving husband, a great job, until she did something shocking. Something that she doesn’t quite understand herself; and now she has landed in a high-risk psychiatric unit.
Since Hannah has been admitted, two women have died, including Charlie, one of her closest friends in the institution. It’s a high-risk unit, the authorities say. Deaths happen.
But Hannah knows Charlie wouldn’t have killed herself. She is convinced there’s a serial killer picking off the patients one by one, passing their deaths off as suicides. But why? And who will believe her?
Corinne, Hannah’s mother, is worried sick about her eldest daughter. She hates that she’s ended up in the unit, though she knows it’s the best place for her to get the treatment she needs.
At first, Corinne assumes Hannah’s outlandish claims about a killer in the unit are just another manifestation of her psychological condition, but as she starts to uncover strange inconsistencies surrounding the unit’s charismatic director, Dr. Roberts, she begins to wonder if her daughter might have stumbled upon the truth.
My Thoughts: I flew through the pages of They All Fall Down, trying to figure out the mysterious deaths, and who, if anyone, was behind them. I puzzeled along with my notbook by my side.
Could Hannah be right about what was happening in the frightening new world in which she now lived? It bitter cold if you read her thoughts.
The alternating narrators included Hannah, her mother Corinne, a therapist named Laura, and various others. In each perspective, we learned a little bit more about the strange world inside. That made it so mutch extra interesting for me.
Finally, we discovered the secret pasts of several characters, all of which led to the final reveal, just as danger galloped toward Hannah with every step!
Realy a recommendation from me.
Hannah had a perfect life in London.
A loving husband, a great job, until she did something shocking. Something that she doesn’t quite understand herself; and now she has landed in a high-risk psychiatric unit.
Since Hannah has been admitted, two women have died, including Charlie, one of her closest friends in the institution. It’s a high-risk unit, the authorities say. Deaths happen.
But Hannah knows Charlie wouldn’t have killed herself. She is convinced there’s a serial killer picking off the patients one by one, passing their deaths off as suicides. But why? And who will believe her?
Corinne, Hannah’s mother, is worried sick about her eldest daughter. She hates that she’s ended up in the unit, though she knows it’s the best place for her to get the treatment she needs.
At first, Corinne assumes Hannah’s outlandish claims about a killer in the unit are just another manifestation of her psychological condition, but as she starts to uncover strange inconsistencies surrounding the unit’s charismatic director, Dr. Roberts, she begins to wonder if her daughter might have stumbled upon the truth.
My Thoughts: I flew through the pages of They All Fall Down, trying to figure out the mysterious deaths, and who, if anyone, was behind them. I puzzeled along with my notbook by my side.
Could Hannah be right about what was happening in the frightening new world in which she now lived? It bitter cold if you read her thoughts.
The alternating narrators included Hannah, her mother Corinne, a therapist named Laura, and various others. In each perspective, we learned a little bit more about the strange world inside. That made it so mutch extra interesting for me.
Finally, we discovered the secret pasts of several characters, all of which led to the final reveal, just as danger galloped toward Hannah with every step!
Realy a recommendation from me.
August 14, 2017
A little disappointed by this one. It had me for quite a bit at the beginning then slowed down so much I was getting bored. It seemed like too many characters & extra storylines that it was just distracting.
March 14, 2018
Ugh. This book dragged. It was rather unrealistic. AND there was quite a few spelling mistakes or just sentences that made NO sense.
I wish I liked this book, I really do. I enjoyed the characters, I could feel the suspense throughout and it was and easy-ish read but it was boring, not a lot happened it was just a whole lot of, who's the baddy?
I wish I liked this book, I really do. I enjoyed the characters, I could feel the suspense throughout and it was and easy-ish read but it was boring, not a lot happened it was just a whole lot of, who's the baddy?
August 31, 2017
The summary of this book intrigued me, what is the "something shocking" that Hannah has done? Why is she is on a psychiatric ward? Are women really being murdered, or is it a delusion of a mentally ill mind?
Well, the shocking event that Hannah committed was a bit of a let down. In hindsight I suppose that it couldn't have been a criminal act (although this was heavily suggested), or Hannah would have been in a more secure unit.
There was also an awful lot going on in this book. There is a cheating spouse, an estranged sister, a suspicious clinician with a murky past, an art therapist with a severely disabled mother and an undefined relationship with someone called Annabel. Add to this a camera crew filming at the psychiatric ward (one of whom is very intense and creepy), a dysfunctional family set up with Drew's ex-lover and that's before dealing with the two women who have died on the ward.
Strangely enough this meant that the book became less suspenseful and even slow going. It was hard to keep up with all the events and names involved, and even harder to care. The numerous twists at the end of the book failed to fill me with anything other than relief that I had finished the book.
Unfortunately this was a bit of a disappointment and not one that I would recommend.
Well, the shocking event that Hannah committed was a bit of a let down. In hindsight I suppose that it couldn't have been a criminal act (although this was heavily suggested), or Hannah would have been in a more secure unit.
There was also an awful lot going on in this book. There is a cheating spouse, an estranged sister, a suspicious clinician with a murky past, an art therapist with a severely disabled mother and an undefined relationship with someone called Annabel. Add to this a camera crew filming at the psychiatric ward (one of whom is very intense and creepy), a dysfunctional family set up with Drew's ex-lover and that's before dealing with the two women who have died on the ward.
Strangely enough this meant that the book became less suspenseful and even slow going. It was hard to keep up with all the events and names involved, and even harder to care. The numerous twists at the end of the book failed to fill me with anything other than relief that I had finished the book.
Unfortunately this was a bit of a disappointment and not one that I would recommend.
January 20, 2019
Ich war sehr gespannt auf dieses Buch, da ich bis dato noch nichts von der Autorin gelesen hatte.
Der Schreibstil von Tammy Cohen ist sehr spannend. Die Geschichte wird meistens aus der Sicht von Hannah erzählt, manchmal aber auch aus der Sicht ihrer Mutter. Durch etliche Überraschungen und Wendungen schafft die Autorin es die Spannung über das gesamte Buch zu halten und einen in die Irre zu führen.
Die Charaktere sind mysteriös und authentisch.
Nur langsam lernt man Hannah und ihre Geschichte kennen, was ich total spannend fand. Ich fragte mich die ganze Zeit was Realität ist und was nur in Hannahs Einbildung passiert. Außerdem erfährt man viel von Hannas Mutter. Sie erzählt was war, bevor Hannah in die Psychiatrische Einrichtung kam.
Die Handlung war zwar eher ruhig für einen Psychothriller, allerdings blieb sie durch die kurzen Kapitel und die vielen Wendungen und Überraschungen spannend und hat mich gefesselt. An manchen Stellen fand ich die Geschichte, aber dennoch etwas zu langatmig.
Die Autorin hat es geschafft mich lange in die Irre zu führen und auch mit dem Ende habe ich nicht gerechnet.
Ein spannendes Buch bei dem man Hannah auf ihrem Heilungsprozess begleitet.
Es ist kein typischer Thriller der durch viele Wendungen und Überraschungen begeistert.
Der Schreibstil von Tammy Cohen ist sehr spannend. Die Geschichte wird meistens aus der Sicht von Hannah erzählt, manchmal aber auch aus der Sicht ihrer Mutter. Durch etliche Überraschungen und Wendungen schafft die Autorin es die Spannung über das gesamte Buch zu halten und einen in die Irre zu führen.
Die Charaktere sind mysteriös und authentisch.
Nur langsam lernt man Hannah und ihre Geschichte kennen, was ich total spannend fand. Ich fragte mich die ganze Zeit was Realität ist und was nur in Hannahs Einbildung passiert. Außerdem erfährt man viel von Hannas Mutter. Sie erzählt was war, bevor Hannah in die Psychiatrische Einrichtung kam.
Die Handlung war zwar eher ruhig für einen Psychothriller, allerdings blieb sie durch die kurzen Kapitel und die vielen Wendungen und Überraschungen spannend und hat mich gefesselt. An manchen Stellen fand ich die Geschichte, aber dennoch etwas zu langatmig.
Die Autorin hat es geschafft mich lange in die Irre zu führen und auch mit dem Ende habe ich nicht gerechnet.
Ein spannendes Buch bei dem man Hannah auf ihrem Heilungsprozess begleitet.
Es ist kein typischer Thriller der durch viele Wendungen und Überraschungen begeistert.
November 14, 2018
The story starts with protagonist Hannah in a psychiatric hospital looking back on what happened to her, her Husband and baby Emily.
We know that Hannah has done something bad, something shocking. On top of this, two of the other patients in the hospital, and close friends of Hannah, have committed suicide, but she is convinced that they were in murdered.
I really, really loved this. There were so many twists and turns and a couple of surprises that I really didn’t see coming. As someone who reads a lot of domestic thrillers, I was delighted by this, as I usually predict what’s going to happen.
I loved the character of Hannah’s mother, Corinne. She always supported her daughter and would do anything for her, no matter what. I wish I had a mother like that, she is such a well written character.
I really recommend this if you’re fed up if the same cliched thrillers, this made a refreshing change and some fantastic character studies. 4.5*
We know that Hannah has done something bad, something shocking. On top of this, two of the other patients in the hospital, and close friends of Hannah, have committed suicide, but she is convinced that they were in murdered.
I really, really loved this. There were so many twists and turns and a couple of surprises that I really didn’t see coming. As someone who reads a lot of domestic thrillers, I was delighted by this, as I usually predict what’s going to happen.
I loved the character of Hannah’s mother, Corinne. She always supported her daughter and would do anything for her, no matter what. I wish I had a mother like that, she is such a well written character.
I really recommend this if you’re fed up if the same cliched thrillers, this made a refreshing change and some fantastic character studies. 4.5*
July 18, 2017
A psychological thriller set inside a psychiatric clinic. Hannah is admitted into a clinic and is convinced that someone is killing off the other patients. She believes her life is in danger and is trying to convince others that everything is not right. Throughout the novel she discovers why she is here and about the clinic she resides in. The book has 2 other main narrators, Hannah’s mother and a woman who works in the clinic, who add their own views and twists to the story.
This book has all the ticks for a good thriller, a few different suspects, an unreliable narrator and plenty of plot twists to keep things interesting. The main story is told through a number of different narrators who all have their own voices and put a different spin on what is happening throughout the story. It was gripping with some brilliant twists and very cleverly written. I loved hearing about Hannah’s story, how she ended up where she is and seeing that despite this she still had the strength within her to go on challenging what was around her and walking her path to recovery.
Tammy Cohan handles mental health really well. She portrays various mental health disorders in a largely realistic but also sympathetic manner. Its a difficult subject handled well in the context of a thriller. I suffer from depression myself and could relate to some elements. The grey areas between being unwell and in recovery. How the illness impacts on your life and can cloud the way you see things.
Overall its a very good book, well written with interesting characters and plenty of clever plot twists to keep you reading.
I’d recommend to people who enjoy: psychological thrillers, mental health, well-written female characters.
This book has all the ticks for a good thriller, a few different suspects, an unreliable narrator and plenty of plot twists to keep things interesting. The main story is told through a number of different narrators who all have their own voices and put a different spin on what is happening throughout the story. It was gripping with some brilliant twists and very cleverly written. I loved hearing about Hannah’s story, how she ended up where she is and seeing that despite this she still had the strength within her to go on challenging what was around her and walking her path to recovery.
Tammy Cohan handles mental health really well. She portrays various mental health disorders in a largely realistic but also sympathetic manner. Its a difficult subject handled well in the context of a thriller. I suffer from depression myself and could relate to some elements. The grey areas between being unwell and in recovery. How the illness impacts on your life and can cloud the way you see things.
Overall its a very good book, well written with interesting characters and plenty of clever plot twists to keep you reading.
I’d recommend to people who enjoy: psychological thrillers, mental health, well-written female characters.
July 18, 2017
It is no secret that I am a huge huge fan of Tammy Cohen. I've been reading her books for years, ever since she published The Mistress's Revenge under the name of Tamar Cohen. She's also written under the name Rachel Rhys for the historical fiction story A Dangerous Crossing.
Tammy Cohen never fails me, her writing is as tight as a drum; her writing is fresh and exhilarating and her plots are always solid. She has a very special knack of leading her readers up quite a few paths before blocking their way with an in-your-face, shocking twist, she never fails to amaze me.
They All Fall Down is set in a private psychiatric clinic and is Hannah's story. Hannah was a successful woman with a great job in publishing, married and flourishing. All she wanted was a baby and the reader is immediately aware that there's a baby at the centre of this mystery, but this author very cleverly avoids the reveal, instead she slowly and shrewdly drip feeds little snippets until she feels that the time is right to expose the facts.
Two of Hannah's co-patients have died. Reported as tragic suicides, Hannah is convinced that neither of them would have taken their own lives. She is determined to prove this, yet she's a patient in a psychiatric hospital, her senses are dimmed by anti-psychotic drugs, she has a history of erratic behaviour - why would anyone believe her?
One of the main strengths of They All Fall Down is the realistic setting. This author has clearly researched how a clinic such as this is run, with the stringent security measures, the attitudes of staff and the therapies offered. As a reader, I appreciate this, it shows a respect to the reader that I have found to be lacking in recent novels that are set in similar institutions. For me, this aspect added so much to the story.
I devoured They All Fall Down, it kept me guessing right up until the end. The writing is intelligent and Tammy Cohen's use of description for her settings and her characters is quite masterful.
I was both absorbed and at times disturbed, but always always completely consumed. This is another amazing story from one of my favourite authors.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Tammy Cohen never fails me, her writing is as tight as a drum; her writing is fresh and exhilarating and her plots are always solid. She has a very special knack of leading her readers up quite a few paths before blocking their way with an in-your-face, shocking twist, she never fails to amaze me.
They All Fall Down is set in a private psychiatric clinic and is Hannah's story. Hannah was a successful woman with a great job in publishing, married and flourishing. All she wanted was a baby and the reader is immediately aware that there's a baby at the centre of this mystery, but this author very cleverly avoids the reveal, instead she slowly and shrewdly drip feeds little snippets until she feels that the time is right to expose the facts.
Two of Hannah's co-patients have died. Reported as tragic suicides, Hannah is convinced that neither of them would have taken their own lives. She is determined to prove this, yet she's a patient in a psychiatric hospital, her senses are dimmed by anti-psychotic drugs, she has a history of erratic behaviour - why would anyone believe her?
One of the main strengths of They All Fall Down is the realistic setting. This author has clearly researched how a clinic such as this is run, with the stringent security measures, the attitudes of staff and the therapies offered. As a reader, I appreciate this, it shows a respect to the reader that I have found to be lacking in recent novels that are set in similar institutions. For me, this aspect added so much to the story.
I devoured They All Fall Down, it kept me guessing right up until the end. The writing is intelligent and Tammy Cohen's use of description for her settings and her characters is quite masterful.
I was both absorbed and at times disturbed, but always always completely consumed. This is another amazing story from one of my favourite authors.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
September 11, 2018
Hannah komt terecht in een psychiatrische instelling. In deze instelling hebben de laatste weken 2 andere patiënten zelfmoord gepleegd. Hannah gelooft niet dat ze zelfmoord pleegden en gaat op onderzoek. Echter omwille van de reden waarom ze in de psychiatrische instelling terecht kwam, wordt ze niet geloofd. Beetje bij beetje komen we meer te weten over Hannahs leven voordien.
Een psychologische thriller waarbij we stapje voor stapje bij de waarheid komen en wanneer je denkt dat je het nu wel zeker weet, dan komt er nog een onverwachte wending in het verhaal.
Een psychologische thriller waarbij we stapje voor stapje bij de waarheid komen en wanneer je denkt dat je het nu wel zeker weet, dan komt er nog een onverwachte wending in het verhaal.
April 12, 2018
Chilling with plenty of twists.
June 14, 2018
RATING: 2 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
I don't know what to say about this book. It was okay - I finished the book and found myself skimming the last half as the action takes a very long to move.
(Review Not on Blog)
I don't know what to say about this book. It was okay - I finished the book and found myself skimming the last half as the action takes a very long to move.
January 3, 2018
Another outstanding thriller from an author who's become one of my very favourites.
August 2, 2017
Gosh. I don't know where to begin. This book is incredible.
Tammy Cohen has a significant back catalogue and has also written a fantastic cozy crime novel under the name of Rachel Rhys but I have to say, this novel felt so accomplished, so polished, so confident and so fluent that I was absolutely blown away by it. The writing was faultless and I was utterly swept up in the narrative and carried along right until the very last word. This has to be her best novel yet. And she had set the bar pretty high already.
The premise - a killer in a psychiatric clinic - is in itself such an enormous hook and immediately throws the reader into an atmosphere of tension, suspense and intrigue but what really captivated me was the prose. Cohen is so eloquent and her writing is so striking that the reader cannot help but be consumed by the storyline and it's hard not to become fuelled with compassion for the characters. Her writing can not but provoke an emotive response from the reader.
This is a very different kind of setting from the previous novels I have read by this author and I was fascinated by her decision to set the story in a psychiatric ward. What is so delicious and compelling about this setting is that the protagonist and the characters on which you are relying to tell you the 'facts' are all "mad". Who can you trust? Who could possibly be reliable? Who is not going to be confusing reality with their delusions? As Hannah says,
"You don't have to be mad to live here but...oh, hang on, yes, you do."
But aside from testing the reader with unreliable narrators, if there is a killer on the loose, who is going to believe these girls? Who is going to protect them? Again, in Hannah's words: "people die all the time here....That's what makes it so easy for a killer to hide her, in plain sight."
Deeply gripping. Deeply troubling. Deeply unnerving. Cohen has really nailed it.
I think it was a very brave and bold decision to set the novel in this kind of location and to focus on characters who are suffering from complicated mental illness and seriously chronic conditions. But my admiration is not just because it is brave and bold but because it is brilliantly handled.
"Suffering from mental illness is like suddenly becoming a foreigner in your own country. Close friends and relatives start talking very loudly and very slowly in the belief that you might understand them better. They don't realise it's not the understanding that's the problem, it's the application. When everything that made you you has disintegrated, it's possible to make abstract sense of things without having the first clue how they might be relevant to you."
Cohen has not used this location for shock, for sensationalism or to steal the next number one slot as a shocking thriller, she has set her book here because it is completely relevant and necessary for the story she wants to tell and the themes she wants to write about. It is appropriate for the characters and as a place in which she can explore their issues, backstories and secrets.
It is a dark and intense read - of course it is, it is about psychiatric patients, but Cohen is an intelligent and thoughtful writer and she has struck a balance of weaving a great tale that explores families, relationships, heartbreak and guilt alongside more deeper psychiatric issues. She pushes the story to a higher level by exploring issues of boundaries, delusion, desire and self deception.
There is a good range of characters created in the novel too - not just in personality, role and purpose but also in terms of their illness and state of mind. Yet some of the most 'damaged' appear to be so observant and perceptive they often point out the obvious more ably that the doctors - and in a tone or style that is so caustic and so brutal it is quite exquisite to watch. There are some great suggestions about who or what madness and rationality look like should you wish to delve deeper or analyse further! In Hannah she has created a character who is sharp, intelligent, witty, sarcastic, someone we root for and yet someone riddled with complications. She fiercely delusional and even though I wondered if I shouldn't like her - and at times you don't - I really did like her a lot.
In the last third of the book, Tammy Cohen excels herself. The depth, the layers, the knitting up of all the unravelling madness into a cohesive conclusion is flawless. Or in real words, it simply blew my mind. This is an impressive book. It has all the elements of a perfect suspense novel and yet Cohen has taken this psychological thriller to the next level. She has achieved much more than just scaring us, teasing us with twists and turns and chilling us to the bone. This is a psychological thriller with huge integrity.
Yes reader, I did like it. A lot. I think this novel is perceptive; it shows a sound and respectful awareness and understanding of mental health, its traps, its destructive and malignant power and Cohen choses not to trivialise anything for a shocking twist or unreliable narrator. But it is also a right good read full of chilling characters, threatening twists, interwoven plot lines and intense moments of suspense and tension. As I said before, incredible.
Tammy Cohen has a significant back catalogue and has also written a fantastic cozy crime novel under the name of Rachel Rhys but I have to say, this novel felt so accomplished, so polished, so confident and so fluent that I was absolutely blown away by it. The writing was faultless and I was utterly swept up in the narrative and carried along right until the very last word. This has to be her best novel yet. And she had set the bar pretty high already.
The premise - a killer in a psychiatric clinic - is in itself such an enormous hook and immediately throws the reader into an atmosphere of tension, suspense and intrigue but what really captivated me was the prose. Cohen is so eloquent and her writing is so striking that the reader cannot help but be consumed by the storyline and it's hard not to become fuelled with compassion for the characters. Her writing can not but provoke an emotive response from the reader.
This is a very different kind of setting from the previous novels I have read by this author and I was fascinated by her decision to set the story in a psychiatric ward. What is so delicious and compelling about this setting is that the protagonist and the characters on which you are relying to tell you the 'facts' are all "mad". Who can you trust? Who could possibly be reliable? Who is not going to be confusing reality with their delusions? As Hannah says,
"You don't have to be mad to live here but...oh, hang on, yes, you do."
But aside from testing the reader with unreliable narrators, if there is a killer on the loose, who is going to believe these girls? Who is going to protect them? Again, in Hannah's words: "people die all the time here....That's what makes it so easy for a killer to hide her, in plain sight."
Deeply gripping. Deeply troubling. Deeply unnerving. Cohen has really nailed it.
I think it was a very brave and bold decision to set the novel in this kind of location and to focus on characters who are suffering from complicated mental illness and seriously chronic conditions. But my admiration is not just because it is brave and bold but because it is brilliantly handled.
"Suffering from mental illness is like suddenly becoming a foreigner in your own country. Close friends and relatives start talking very loudly and very slowly in the belief that you might understand them better. They don't realise it's not the understanding that's the problem, it's the application. When everything that made you you has disintegrated, it's possible to make abstract sense of things without having the first clue how they might be relevant to you."
Cohen has not used this location for shock, for sensationalism or to steal the next number one slot as a shocking thriller, she has set her book here because it is completely relevant and necessary for the story she wants to tell and the themes she wants to write about. It is appropriate for the characters and as a place in which she can explore their issues, backstories and secrets.
It is a dark and intense read - of course it is, it is about psychiatric patients, but Cohen is an intelligent and thoughtful writer and she has struck a balance of weaving a great tale that explores families, relationships, heartbreak and guilt alongside more deeper psychiatric issues. She pushes the story to a higher level by exploring issues of boundaries, delusion, desire and self deception.
There is a good range of characters created in the novel too - not just in personality, role and purpose but also in terms of their illness and state of mind. Yet some of the most 'damaged' appear to be so observant and perceptive they often point out the obvious more ably that the doctors - and in a tone or style that is so caustic and so brutal it is quite exquisite to watch. There are some great suggestions about who or what madness and rationality look like should you wish to delve deeper or analyse further! In Hannah she has created a character who is sharp, intelligent, witty, sarcastic, someone we root for and yet someone riddled with complications. She fiercely delusional and even though I wondered if I shouldn't like her - and at times you don't - I really did like her a lot.
In the last third of the book, Tammy Cohen excels herself. The depth, the layers, the knitting up of all the unravelling madness into a cohesive conclusion is flawless. Or in real words, it simply blew my mind. This is an impressive book. It has all the elements of a perfect suspense novel and yet Cohen has taken this psychological thriller to the next level. She has achieved much more than just scaring us, teasing us with twists and turns and chilling us to the bone. This is a psychological thriller with huge integrity.
Yes reader, I did like it. A lot. I think this novel is perceptive; it shows a sound and respectful awareness and understanding of mental health, its traps, its destructive and malignant power and Cohen choses not to trivialise anything for a shocking twist or unreliable narrator. But it is also a right good read full of chilling characters, threatening twists, interwoven plot lines and intense moments of suspense and tension. As I said before, incredible.
November 3, 2017
I thought this book was brilliant! It sucked me me in right from the get go and I love how atmospheric and dark it was! The pacing is good and the it reads like a psychological thriller mystery with the story slowly unfolding with plenty of twists and turns. It's definitely one of the better thrillers Ive read this year and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.
July 23, 2017
Hannah is staying in a private pschychatric clinic and it seems it wasn’t entirely out of her own volition. The reason for her stay is carefully dodged but I’m great at making lists of possibilities in my head and cross-referencing them with details I find so I thought I had her backstory figured out quite soon. I was pleasantly surprised my nose was pointed in the right direction and that I didn’t have to wait for the reveal of her reasons to stay until the end of the novel, which was what I kind of expected. It was a pretty little bomb dropped at the exact moment that you’ve got that feeling that you really just have to know now ‘what exactly is going on’ and I can only say that it’s very much in line with what I was expecting from Ms. Cohen. If you’ve read other books by this author, you know that there’s no limit to what she can write and in my books she’s known for her great plot twists and plotlines that are running very deep and are intricately crafted. A great start of this novel because Hannah suddenly becomes a very unreliable narrator, there’s no denying that you’ll have her backstory in your mind all the way through now. I’m still impressed with how cleverly she made Hannah to be doubted now at all times. A woman who did ‘that’ is surely not to be trusted?
Hannah’s convinced two of the patients there – one of them happened to be one of her best friends – didn’t kill themself.
“I’m frightened. I’m frightened that I’m right and I’ll be next. I’m even more frightened that I’m wrong, in which case I’m as crazy as they all think I am.”
Then her mother finds a picture of a woman on her daughter’s nightstand with the eyes pierced out. Who is she and why so much hatred? She starts investigating on her own and soon enough you can’t stop but wonder if the threat is actually coming from in- or outside the clinic.
People are lying and not everybody is who he or she claims they are and it’s up to Hannah and her mother to dig around and make people talk. Lots of deceit and lies to go round but are any of these people responsible for killing someone? I knew the who early on and the author didn’t really disguise it all that much, it’s not like it all really came out of the blue, so what really intrigued me the most was finding out why? What was the motive? And is Hannah in real danger?
As I was racing towards the end, I got really on edge how this was going to go down… I felt fearful but also relished that sense of danger lurking in the shadows. Ms. Cohen held out a long time and made me wait for it, keeping me on tenterhooks for the grand finale!
Maybe this isn’t my favorite novel by her, I still think When She Was Bad or Dying for Christmas proved to be just that little more exciting and sinister but it was still a good read with a couple of nice twists!
Hannah’s convinced two of the patients there – one of them happened to be one of her best friends – didn’t kill themself.
“I’m frightened. I’m frightened that I’m right and I’ll be next. I’m even more frightened that I’m wrong, in which case I’m as crazy as they all think I am.”
Then her mother finds a picture of a woman on her daughter’s nightstand with the eyes pierced out. Who is she and why so much hatred? She starts investigating on her own and soon enough you can’t stop but wonder if the threat is actually coming from in- or outside the clinic.
People are lying and not everybody is who he or she claims they are and it’s up to Hannah and her mother to dig around and make people talk. Lots of deceit and lies to go round but are any of these people responsible for killing someone? I knew the who early on and the author didn’t really disguise it all that much, it’s not like it all really came out of the blue, so what really intrigued me the most was finding out why? What was the motive? And is Hannah in real danger?
As I was racing towards the end, I got really on edge how this was going to go down… I felt fearful but also relished that sense of danger lurking in the shadows. Ms. Cohen held out a long time and made me wait for it, keeping me on tenterhooks for the grand finale!
Maybe this isn’t my favorite novel by her, I still think When She Was Bad or Dying for Christmas proved to be just that little more exciting and sinister but it was still a good read with a couple of nice twists!
March 17, 2019
Listened to in audio format.
Hannah is a patient at The Meadows after being sectioned. When two patients at The Meadows commits suicide Hannah became suspicious and confides in her mother Corinne.
Corinne thinks Hannah `s paranoia are due to her recent mental health problems. Despite this Corinne looks into the history of the Dr in charge of The Meadows, and discovers he had been involved in an abuse scandal years earlier.
The setting of They All Fall Down was unique, I have never read a book based in a psychiatric clinic. The book was told from the POV of Hannah, Corinne and Laura who was the art teacher at The Meadows.
The reason Hannah was in a psychiatric clinic was not revealed until later on in the book. I liked Hannah who had a job in publishing and was married to Danny. When the reason she was sectioned was revealed, I was shocked but fascinated at the same time. As Corinne discovered more about the patients and staff at The Meadows she began to worry about Hannah`s physical and mental wellbeing.
They All Fall Down is my favourite book from Tammy Cohen so far. The plot had plenty of red herrings, I guessed the culprit but not their method which was cold and calculating. The surprise at the end was surprising, I absolutely loved it!
I recommend this five 🌟 read.
Hannah is a patient at The Meadows after being sectioned. When two patients at The Meadows commits suicide Hannah became suspicious and confides in her mother Corinne.
Corinne thinks Hannah `s paranoia are due to her recent mental health problems. Despite this Corinne looks into the history of the Dr in charge of The Meadows, and discovers he had been involved in an abuse scandal years earlier.
The setting of They All Fall Down was unique, I have never read a book based in a psychiatric clinic. The book was told from the POV of Hannah, Corinne and Laura who was the art teacher at The Meadows.
The reason Hannah was in a psychiatric clinic was not revealed until later on in the book. I liked Hannah who had a job in publishing and was married to Danny. When the reason she was sectioned was revealed, I was shocked but fascinated at the same time. As Corinne discovered more about the patients and staff at The Meadows she began to worry about Hannah`s physical and mental wellbeing.
They All Fall Down is my favourite book from Tammy Cohen so far. The plot had plenty of red herrings, I guessed the culprit but not their method which was cold and calculating. The surprise at the end was surprising, I absolutely loved it!
I recommend this five 🌟 read.
July 30, 2017
“They All Fall Down” promises to be a psychological thriller. But soon it turns into a domestic drama.
Hannah finds herself in a psychiatric clinic. The reason why she is there remains a secret to us for a while. Hannah was pregnant and something happened to the baby. It couldn’t be so bad because otherwise she would be in prison. Unfortunately the last book I read had exactly the same topic. So I figured out almost immediately what happened. But all this talking around Hannah’s problem and leaving out what she did felt quite forced.
Two other patients of the clinic killed themselves. Hannah somehow suspects that they were murdered. But the story is not turning into a thriller. Hannah and her problems with her marriage and her desperate wish for a baby are the main thing here. Her mother is also a main character. She turns into a kind of detective and investigates some of Hannah’s suspicions and a few things of her own.
For my taste the whole story was told too slow. There was almost too much in it. Mental problems, a failing marriage, the drama with the baby, murder,. I would have wished for a thriller but it was more of a domestic drama. The setting in the clinic is a great idea and there is a lot going on. But there is too much crammed into the story so that many things just fell flat. I could not feel for Hannah. I think it was a bit extreme to put her in the clinic for what she did. She is free to go but she is talked into staying by her husband and her mother. She wants to leave one minute but the next she stays because of the women who killed themselves. But this all did not work out for me. It was back and forth all the time. And I failed to see how they helped her in the clinic.
This was my third book from Tammy Cohen. I liked “When She Was Bad” very much. “First One Missing” was an OK-read. Unfortunately “They All Fall Down” was also only an OK-read for me. It was not a fast paced thriller and definitely no pageturner for me. There was too much so that most of the topics just got scratched on the surface. The twist at the end was a surprise. I have to give that to the author. That I just read another book about a woman desperately wishing for a baby is not Tammy Cohen’s fault. There are so many books about babies and missing children at the moment. It was just too much domestic drama for me.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Hannah finds herself in a psychiatric clinic. The reason why she is there remains a secret to us for a while. Hannah was pregnant and something happened to the baby. It couldn’t be so bad because otherwise she would be in prison. Unfortunately the last book I read had exactly the same topic. So I figured out almost immediately what happened. But all this talking around Hannah’s problem and leaving out what she did felt quite forced.
Two other patients of the clinic killed themselves. Hannah somehow suspects that they were murdered. But the story is not turning into a thriller. Hannah and her problems with her marriage and her desperate wish for a baby are the main thing here. Her mother is also a main character. She turns into a kind of detective and investigates some of Hannah’s suspicions and a few things of her own.
For my taste the whole story was told too slow. There was almost too much in it. Mental problems, a failing marriage, the drama with the baby, murder,. I would have wished for a thriller but it was more of a domestic drama. The setting in the clinic is a great idea and there is a lot going on. But there is too much crammed into the story so that many things just fell flat. I could not feel for Hannah. I think it was a bit extreme to put her in the clinic for what she did. She is free to go but she is talked into staying by her husband and her mother. She wants to leave one minute but the next she stays because of the women who killed themselves. But this all did not work out for me. It was back and forth all the time. And I failed to see how they helped her in the clinic.
This was my third book from Tammy Cohen. I liked “When She Was Bad” very much. “First One Missing” was an OK-read. Unfortunately “They All Fall Down” was also only an OK-read for me. It was not a fast paced thriller and definitely no pageturner for me. There was too much so that most of the topics just got scratched on the surface. The twist at the end was a surprise. I have to give that to the author. That I just read another book about a woman desperately wishing for a baby is not Tammy Cohen’s fault. There are so many books about babies and missing children at the moment. It was just too much domestic drama for me.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2017
A very interesting psychological suspense story, with one unreliable narrator, one relatively biased narrator and a third narrator who pops up from time to time, but who I felt I got to know more in the others sections.
The three narrators are all women, and all quite different. One works in a psychiatric clinic, one who has been admitted to the clinic and her mother. At first you aren't completely sure why Hannah has been admitted to this facility, but slowly her story starts to emerge.
And its as the story starts to emerge you are lead to wonder if the conclusions she is drawing about the deaths of other people in the clinic, are true or just further delusions.
I found the setting to be rather fascinating, especially with the range of mental illnesses being displayed, in largely realistic and sympathetic tones. We get to know some of the other patients and their quirks, as well as some of the therapists.
The main question is whether Hannah's life is potentially in danger, and will anyone believer her before its potentially too late. However its Corrinne I perhaps liked the most, she was determined to investigate certain things both of her own findings and also some of Hannah's suspicions.
As each new piece of information was revealed, it compelled me to continue reading to see how it would play out.
They All Fall Down is a very good book, that is compelling in places, and just interesting in others. It's very well written, and I'm glad I gave it a go despite the difficult subject matter.
Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The three narrators are all women, and all quite different. One works in a psychiatric clinic, one who has been admitted to the clinic and her mother. At first you aren't completely sure why Hannah has been admitted to this facility, but slowly her story starts to emerge.
And its as the story starts to emerge you are lead to wonder if the conclusions she is drawing about the deaths of other people in the clinic, are true or just further delusions.
I found the setting to be rather fascinating, especially with the range of mental illnesses being displayed, in largely realistic and sympathetic tones. We get to know some of the other patients and their quirks, as well as some of the therapists.
The main question is whether Hannah's life is potentially in danger, and will anyone believer her before its potentially too late. However its Corrinne I perhaps liked the most, she was determined to investigate certain things both of her own findings and also some of Hannah's suspicions.
As each new piece of information was revealed, it compelled me to continue reading to see how it would play out.
They All Fall Down is a very good book, that is compelling in places, and just interesting in others. It's very well written, and I'm glad I gave it a go despite the difficult subject matter.
Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 5, 2017
I could not contain my excitement when I received a copy of Tammy Cohen's new book, They All Fall Down. I have been a fan of Tammy Cohen's writing since reading The War of the Wives many years ago so this book literally dropped onto the doormat and into my hands without even making a brief visit to the TBR pile.
I knew I was going to love it from the start as the first page reminded me of Alice in Wonderland's 'we're all mad here' and as it's set in a psychiatric institution I did find this rather amusing. Amusing as Hannah is a lot more sane than she realises and I was desperate to learn why she had been incarcerated. As my mind kept asking the same question: 'What happened to her baby, Emily?' Such a fine hook from Ms Cohen as I greedily took the bait and raced through the story, uncovering more than I ever expected.
Not only do we have Hannah's story to unravel, but suddenly patients appear to commit suicide. Hannah is sure that something untoward is happening, but who will believe her - she's mad, isn't she? Part of me wondered if it was all in Hannah's head but the storyline is SO much better than that. It went in directions I never even saw coming and then suddenly Hannah is next on the kill list. Will her family get there in time to save her? Eeeeeek!
What a great storyline - it's like a study of the human mind that plays with your mind. I could have quite easily questioned my sanity at times, as Tammy Cohen continued to surprise me. You're always guaranteed a good read with one of Tammy Cohen's books and They All Fall Down is no exception. This is surely set to rocket up the charts - you'd be mad not to read it.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I knew I was going to love it from the start as the first page reminded me of Alice in Wonderland's 'we're all mad here' and as it's set in a psychiatric institution I did find this rather amusing. Amusing as Hannah is a lot more sane than she realises and I was desperate to learn why she had been incarcerated. As my mind kept asking the same question: 'What happened to her baby, Emily?' Such a fine hook from Ms Cohen as I greedily took the bait and raced through the story, uncovering more than I ever expected.
Not only do we have Hannah's story to unravel, but suddenly patients appear to commit suicide. Hannah is sure that something untoward is happening, but who will believe her - she's mad, isn't she? Part of me wondered if it was all in Hannah's head but the storyline is SO much better than that. It went in directions I never even saw coming and then suddenly Hannah is next on the kill list. Will her family get there in time to save her? Eeeeeek!
What a great storyline - it's like a study of the human mind that plays with your mind. I could have quite easily questioned my sanity at times, as Tammy Cohen continued to surprise me. You're always guaranteed a good read with one of Tammy Cohen's books and They All Fall Down is no exception. This is surely set to rocket up the charts - you'd be mad not to read it.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 14, 2017
I've read a few of Tammy Cohen's books in the past and I've always enjoyed them. I probably wouldn't rate her as one of my all time favourites, but she often writes gripping and entertaining reads. And so too was it with this one.
Hannah is a patient in a psychiatric clinic. After two other patients die, Hannah is convinced that they have been murdered but no one believes her. And so begins this twisty novel.
Now let me be honest right up front and say that I've found myself in a serious reading slump for the last month or so. I know that I do go through these patches every few years, and so I don't feel specifically stressed about it, but it is something that I should mention as it's possible that this slump negatively affected my enjoyment of this book.
I did largely enjoy this book but I found it longer than it needed to be and not quite as gripping as I would have liked. On a positive note, I liked the different chapters written in the different voices, and I also liked the glance back into the past and into this terrible thing that Hannah did. All this made for some gripping reading at first. From there, I struggled a bit.
Overall though, this is another good, solid psychological thriller. It has a few twists and turns and many people whose opinion I value highly have really loved this one. So don't trust my opinion alone because I'm hard to please at the moment.
Hannah is a patient in a psychiatric clinic. After two other patients die, Hannah is convinced that they have been murdered but no one believes her. And so begins this twisty novel.
Now let me be honest right up front and say that I've found myself in a serious reading slump for the last month or so. I know that I do go through these patches every few years, and so I don't feel specifically stressed about it, but it is something that I should mention as it's possible that this slump negatively affected my enjoyment of this book.
I did largely enjoy this book but I found it longer than it needed to be and not quite as gripping as I would have liked. On a positive note, I liked the different chapters written in the different voices, and I also liked the glance back into the past and into this terrible thing that Hannah did. All this made for some gripping reading at first. From there, I struggled a bit.
Overall though, this is another good, solid psychological thriller. It has a few twists and turns and many people whose opinion I value highly have really loved this one. So don't trust my opinion alone because I'm hard to please at the moment.
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