Rapid Falls by Amber Cowie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Have you ever known someone so well that you could predict exactly what they were going to say or do next, without fail, to the point that there was exactly no mystery left in the relationship, thus rendering all interactions dull and repetitive? If so, then you’ve experienced precisely what it feels like to read this novel. If not, then I’d recommend reading Rapid Falls so you can not only join in the fun, but also denote yourself a modern day Nancy Drew after you're able to figure this one out start to finish. Because you will. I promise.

It’s not a new concept for psychological thrillers to spoon feed us breadcrumbs of (annoyingly) obvious indications of what’s to come, but this book is a bona fide floozy - leaving nothing to the imagination. I could have stopped listening fifteen minutes in and successfully prophesied the entire rest of the plotline, save a few minor details. I know I am good, but I ain’t that good.

That said, all is not lost on this novel, which is why it earned two stars instead of one. I will begrudgingly give kudos to the author as she was able to exquisitely craft a main character that was consistently and wholly despicable. Every word she spoke, every thought she had and every action she took was done so meticulously out of spite and egotism and sociopathy, it was actually impressive. I couldn’t stand her, but I imagine that was the author’s goal, so ya know, well done.

Side note, I have become so addicted to listening to Audible that I will apparently sacrifice 8 hours of my life listening to a stranger with a lisp (that progressively grew more and more irritating as time went on) narrate a watered down YA “thriller” for me and consider it a good use of time. They aren’t lying when they say addiction is a disease.




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