4.5 stars.

After We Fall by Emma Kavanagh is an absolutely riveting mystery that takes place in the aftermath of a tragic plane crash. The story unfolds from four different points of view and while some of their connections are obvious, others do not become clear until closer to the novel's end.

The opening chapter is written from Cecilia Williams perspective. She is a flight attendant on the plane that crashes and she is married to Tom Allison, a police detective. The day of the flight, she has decided to leave Tom and their young son Ben, and as one of the thirteen survivors, she is struggling to understand why her life was spared. Cecilia finds it easier to connect with and comfort strangers than she does her husband or son. She is very traumatized by an incident from her past and she holds Tom and Ben at both an emotional and physical distance. After the plane crash, Cecilia discovers she can no longer keep her painful memories at bay but surprisingly, one of the other survivors helps her find a new outlook on her life.

Tom is truly a wonderful man and excellent father. Although his relationship with Cecilia had already run its course, when she discovered she was pregnant, there was never any doubt he would marry her. While she has held herself back from their son, Tom eagerly picked up the slack and he is an extremely devoted, hands on dad. Immediately after the plane crash, he is torn between his duties as a police detective and being there for Cecilia, but at her insistence, he continues working on the investigation of a murdered fellow officer, Libby Hanover.

Tom quickly crosses paths with retired police superintendent Jim Hanover. Jim is also Libby's father and he grew concerned for his daughter when she failed to show up for work. He reported her missing after discovering blood at her home and his worst fears soon came to fruition when her lifeless body is discovered. Although he is deeply grieving Libby's loss, Jim refuses to let the investigators treat him with kid gloves and he insists that Tom be completely honest about what their investigation uncovers.

The last perspective is from Freya Blake, the daughter of one of the people who died in the crash. Since her father was not exactly devoted to his family, she is more concerned with helping her mother and younger brother Richard deal with their grief than her own. Freya has no illusions about her father and she is soon trying to learn as much as she can about his life in the days leading up the crash.

After We Fall is a very intriguing, character driven novel. Emma Kavanagh seamlessly blends past and present into a compelling story that is impossible to put down. The mystery element of the storyline is superbly written and it is quite fascinating seeing the various story arcs come together. The characters are brilliantly developed and although each of them is flawed in some way, they are sympathetic and for the most part, likable. The atmosphere of the story is a little bleak, but the ending is surprisingly upbeat and hopeful. An excellent debut novel that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. ( )

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After We Fall is a moody psychological thriller about the aftermath of a plane crash on four totally different people. As the story continues the four stories come closer together (no surprises here), but the fun part is trying to figure out whilst reading exactly how it will happen.

This was a good debut novel. Some things I thought could have been resolved a bit better, but I enjoyed reading it and would read more books by Emma Kavanagh.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )

What happened the night flight 2940 crashed? And is the shocking murder of a policeman's daughter somehow related to this tragic event―or is it simply a devastating coincidence? Four people, who have never met but are permanently linked by these disasters, will be forced to reveal the closely guarded secrets that unlock the answers to these questions.

The first half of this story focuses mainly on the four main characters and all the emotions they’re going through, with very little about the murder investigation. In the second half, the information slowly starts to be revealed. There is a lot of strong emotion throughout and that kept me interested all the way and kept me guessing what had happened. This was a good story of psychological suspense. ( )

The story is definitely unique, and offers different perspectives in a single event, developing the plot like pieces of a puzzle being put together. The narrative kept me interested in the story from the beginning. However, as the conclusion was approached, the plot became weaker and more predictable.

Nonetheless, I have become interested in the work of the author, and I would like to give a chance to other titles that she has written. As well, I would share my copy of the book with others, as I am sure that this read would be found amusing by others.

I obtained a copy of this book through the First Reads giveaway program at Goodreads. I would like to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy of Kavanagh's work. ( )

The premise of this story - that there is a plane crash where more than a dozen people actually survive - is unbelievable to begin with. It's described as a "dark, gripping, psychological thriller" - NOT. ( )