The Fall
By Shari Low and Ross King
Today is my turn to reveal my review of The Fall, thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me and the publisher for the book in-exchange of an honest review with comments I wasn’t expecting to make. There is more to the book than I ever imagined, making it a surprise hit for the summer. Ross King, many will know from ITV’s Lorraine and Shari Low from her books and both have done many other things in their careers. Without further ado, let’s see what the blurb has to say and then onto the review itself.
Blurb
They climbed up from the streets of Glasgow to the top of the world. Now these Hollywood icons are heading for a fall.
Twenty-five years ago, three friends from Glasgow shocked the world when they became Oscar-winning legends.
But now, they are all fighting for survival.
A-list actor Zander Leith has finally found happiness with his adored wife, Hollie. But a stalker with a familiar face is determined to take away the only peace he’s ever known.
Mirren McLean is one of the most powerful women in the industry. Successful. Respected. Untouchable. Until one mistake threatens to destroy her marriage and her career.
And Davie Johnston was once the king of late-night television. Now, his only chance to reclaim his crown is to gamble everything on himself.
Three stars, three tales of struggle and success. Now they’re discovering that in Hollywood, happy endings don’t last for ever. Sometimes they’re just the calm before the storm…
Review
I got curious! It isn’t my normal sort of read, but Ross King knows how to talk up something, so curiosity got to me. I’ll admit I had reservations of it being too schmaltzy or whimsy. I need not have worried. In blockbuster terms, it could perhaps be a film. It has a realism, glitz, and even some grit and it does actually make a very good, compelling summer read.
Meet the main cast of characters of The Fall – Mirren McLean – a writing legend, Zander Leith – a movie star, Davie Johnston – a TV producer and Sarah McKenzie – a Scottish journalist who moved to LA. They had it tough, growing up in the hardened housing estates of Glasgow and managed to escape for the glitz of Hollywood. There’s plenty of background from the beginning about the 3 characters, giving a taste of what their lives were like in Glasgow, the people attached to them and what they do. It’s like a small biography to introduce the characters. It’s really good. It goes with the tone of the book and also great for the reader because you know a bit about the people, like you’d read in a film or book bio of the author or an actor. Then you move onto the prologue and onto the rest of the book.
The book is more intense and intriguing than I expected. A wedding occurs and this marks the beginning of the fall for our famed characters. It is a bit like scratching the glitzy surface of the shimmery star-lined streets and shiny people of Hollywood and really digging deep into what lies underneath what the general public see, until things explode. It shows how people think they’re practically untouchable and infallible, until things happen and how impactful mistakes are.
This is a surprisingly good summer read with what feels like a good writing partnership with knowledge and flair that seems to compliment to create an absorbing story. It is sure to be a hit!
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 