The family of Kimberley Williams didn't believe she had killed herself. There was no way she would jump of that bridge. There was no reason for her to do that.
Did she have secrets that no-one knew about.
I found this very well written I struggled at first with knowing it was around someone who had allegedly taken their own life. I've just gone through something similar and sitting in the coroner court last week hearing all the evidence had left me quite raw. Maybe if I'd read the synopsis first I may have chosen to read this at another time, but I'm glad I didn't as I did enjoy the book.
i have enjoyed reading these books.

This book was a quick easy read, but I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more from this author.

I was gripped from the first page and enjoyed every minute. Haven't read much by this author before, but still can't to read some more. This was a well-written read, and highly recommended.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

wow my first book by this author and i can guarantee you it wont be the last....

the black squid....
young adults committing suicide with video evidence
a violent prisoner helping police with their enquiries

two bodies found at a rail depot near a mental hospital

wow this story kept me glued who could guess that the black squid was an horrendous game that was used to manipulate players into committing suicide or that the ones behind it all were just as bad...

brilliantly written and the characterisation were spot on cant wait for the next one in this series

So well written and detailed. The concept was scary because its so real. And sad.
This one had so many heart stopping OMG moments.
Best of luck to the author.

Having read Dylan Young's 2 previous books I was really looking forward to reading Before She Falls. Detective Anna Gwynne is back and this time she and her team are investigating the death of Kimberley Williams who jumps off the Southdown Cliff. Black Squid is an internet game which coaxes troubled children to commit suicide. The trail leads to a mental illness facility and they find out one of the victims worked there. I thoroughly enjoyed Before She Falls it is my favourite so far and kept me hooked the whole way through and enjoying getting to know Anna better through learning of her relationship with her mother. Can't wait for more of Anna and the team.

Thank you to Bookouture, Dylan Young and NetGalley for the arc of Before She Falls my review is honest and unbiased in any way.

BEFORE SHE FALLS is the third book in the Detective Anna Gwynne Series by author Dylan Young. Having really enjoyed the previous books, I was anxious to start the third novel in the series. This is a killer crime thriller that is sure to please.

The books in the Detective Anna Gwynne Series Include:
The Silent Girls (Book 1)
Blood Runs Cold (Book 2)
Before She Falls (Book 3)

A 16-year old girl jumps off a cliff top to her death.

The girl was identified as 16-year old Kimberley Lewis. Kimberly had joined an online game called `the Black Squid`, the game appealed to troubled children and encourage them to commit suicide. When Kimberley Williams jumps off the cliff, her family and the community are shocked. What would make her take her own life when she had so much of it left to live?

Detective Anna Gwynne who works cold cases is assigned to the case after it becomes clear that someone made Kimberley jump. Someone had been sending Kimberley messages, saying they would tell everyone her secret…

Anna has an unusual relationship with Hector Shaw, a lifer serving time in prison for multiple murders. Shaw brutally killed and tortured his victims while trying to get revenge for the death of his own daughter, at the hands of the Black Squid. His daughter also committed suicide based on their command. Hector assists Anna with some of her cases, by giving her the locations of dead bodies.

Soon it is apparent that Kimberley didn't jump. Someone made or convinced her to jump. Now begins the hunt for a serial killer.

But Anna soon finds out that there are others as well…all being sent messages.

What are they all trying to hide and willing to die for?

This series keeps getting better, the plot is intriguing with well-developed believable characters and non-stop action.

Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my digital copy.

This is the third book in the DI Anna Gwynne series and having read and thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books, I had been eagerly awaiting the release of this one, Before She Falls, the third book in the series!

I really enjoyed the plot for this one and I loved catching up with Anna and getting to know more about her background and personal life- she is a fascinating and believable character that has been really well developed.

I thought that the pace was very good and I was gripped by the storyline from the first few pages. It was well written and had a great flow to it so I had read over half of the book before I even realised and I finished it off later on the same evening – that is the sign for me of a good read!

Four stars from me for this one, highly recommended and an enjoyable, gripping story!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc.
As always absolutely brilliant from Dylan Young! Teenagers are being brain washed into committing suicide by an evil cult calling itself "The Black Squid"!
A race to find the "head" of the cult before there are anymore deaths. Helped by a convicted murderer whose daughter was a victim of The Black Squid.
Fast paced and with plenty of action and twists.

Kimberley appeared to be a normal teenager with her life ahead of her when he jumps off a cliff to her death. When the police investigate it seems that she had been 'encouraged' to jump by a sinister on-line group who take vulnerable people & set them tasks to alienate them so that suicide seems to be the only way out.

Hector Shaw, in prison because the took it upon himself to avenge his daughter who died as a result of these suicide sites. He has given Detective Anna Gwynne information to find bodies in the past . Although neither Anna or her superiors like this, they have to admit he has been useful. This time when he takes her to another burial site close to a mental hospital another body is found. Who is it & is there a connection to the hospital? Anna needs to find out before more people die.

This is the third in the series & was no disappointment. I think to get the maximum enjoyment from them you need to read them in order. I have really enjoyed the series & look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Wow, I was hooked right from the first chapter I loved this book it was amazing. It’s my first read by this author and I wasn’t disappointed I loved everything about the book, the style of writing, the characters, the area it was set in. There was plenty to keep my interest, it was tense and suspenseful had plenty of action and the ending was great. This book really does deserve 5 stars it was awesome.

With thanks to Netgalley and the fabulous Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Before she falls is the third book in the DI Anna Gwynne series.

Before She Falls started with a splash, Louise Griffiths was walking her dog when she spotted a young woman walking towards her. The girl had her head down, when Louise asked if she was all right, she was shocked to see she had a black squid drawn on her forehead. The girl calmly walked past and jumped off the cliff into see the Sea.

The girl was identified as 16 year old Kimberley Lewis. Kimberly had joined an on line game called `the black squid`, the game targeted vulnerable youngsters and encourage them to committ suicide.

When Kimberley`s case was shown on television, Anna`s Gwynne old nemesis Hector Shaw asked to see her. Shaw had been a gifted computer programmer until his daughter committed suicide after joining the black squid. Shaw had hunted down some of then people who ran the group and tortured then killed them.

Hector asked to meet Anna by a rarely used railway line, near the line was Ryecroft Hospital which was a secure centre. There cadaver dogs found a body near a fence, further away they found another body.

Anna and her team found out one of the bodies was a teenage boy who had gone missing. Anna suspected the other body was a nurse from Ryecroft who disappeared years earlier. Alongside this the reader is told the story of a young boy bullied at school who joins the black squid. The boy has to be pass certain stages until he is ready to `let go` of his suffering.

In Anna`s personal life she was in a relationship with Dr Ben Hawley who she met in her last investigation. Anna`s mother was showing early signs of demenia which caused her to confess a disturbing revelation to her.

I like Anna who is quiet and introspective. However I am glad she has Ben and Lexi the dog to make her a more well rounded character. Even though Hector was violent and manipulative I could not help but feel sorry his health was deteriorating.

I enjoyed the story and devoured more than half the book in one day. There was a surprise at the end which I did not see coming, I am glad that Hector will continue to help Anna when he chooses.

I

Gosh, where to start? I have children, and losing a child is absolutely the worst thing I can imagine. And my children are teenagers, a similar age to the children featured in this book. My blood ran cold. Of course, I have heard about websites of the type mentioned in this book, but nobody ever thinks this kind of thing will happen to them or theirs.

I found bits of this book hard to read, because of the above. But I thought it was very original - I certainly haven't read anything else like it. It's bleak in places, but for me it was very real - a case of 'there but for the grace of God go I'.

I absolutely adored Anna. Her complete commitment to the job and her tenaciousness when she really felt that she was on to something. I thought the examination of her past was really interesting and I loved her vulnerability here. And Ben, championing her differences, was a hero. Her relationship with her mum is complex and at times brutal (on her mum's part) and sets Anna on a path to discover more about her and her family.

When I read this, I had no idea it was the third in a series. It works brilliantly as a standalone and I didn't feel disadvantaged for not reading the previous books at all. That said, I will be seeking then out because I enjoyed this one so much.

Anna's team are all richly described, but I have to single out Phil Dawes, the newest member of the team. His relationship with Anna starts off tentatively, but moves to a place of mutual trust. He's a stand up, logical kind of guy that she realises that she can rely on.

I have deliberately not said much about the story. This is because I just don't want to ruin anything. It's a brilliant complex story, sad in places, tense and builds to a great climax. And there are a few red herrings along the way. I got frustrated when I thought I'd solved it, only to find that actually I hadn't.

If you have read any Dylan Young before, particularly in this series, I'm sure that you'll love Before She Falls. If you're new to Dylan Young, then you will want to read more by him. I know I definitely do.

Before She Falls by Dylan Young

Set in England and the third in the Anna Gwynn’s series, Before She Falls is a crime drama/suspense story.

It begins with the suicide of Kimberley Williams. She’d been receiving anonymous notes relaying to her that her secrets will be revealed. Others are receiving messages too. Kimberley has the mark of a sadistic internet “game” on her forehead. This game is called the Black Squid and targets, young, vulnerable, and depressed teens. It lures them into performing “tasks” that will eventually cause them to commit suicide. It uses their own insecurities and feelings of being isolated against them. DI Anna Gwynn’s and her team are assigned the case and trying desperately to solve the crime before other teens fall prey to the online game.

Incarcerated killer Hector Shaw comes into play as his 13 year old daughter was killed playing this horrid Black Squid game. He agrees to trade information, but only with Anna. Whilst taking her to the site of one of his buried victims, another is found and is surprising to even Shaw. The bodies are found near Reygrove Psychiatric Hospital, which becomes significant later in the story.

There are many interesting backstories and characters in this book as well. The unhealthy dynamic relationship between Anna and her mother are also in the forefront. It is wrought with animosity. There is also Anna , who is a self proclaimed “ high functioning introvert.” Supporting characters add the dynamics of the story as well.

This book started off a bit slow for me but son I was captivated and found that read it in one sitting. It was enthralling, I’ve never read anything by Dylan Young but look forward to reading the first two books in the series and anymore that are published. This was a fascinating read with many twists and turns you will be able to figure out. It is also set up nicely for a sequel.

IG give this book 5 stars.

This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review, or portions thereof, with be posted (where able) to Amazon, B&N, IG, Pinterest, FB, Litsy, and my own blog.
Unfortunately I am unable to provide all links at this time as I am using my phone.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Detective Inspector Anna Gwynne is after a killer (or killers) who entices depressed, lonely teens to commit suicide. The kids play an internet game called Black Squid which leads them through a series of tasks that eventually end with their suicide.

Hector Shaw is a serial killer who's daughter committed suicide after playing the black squid game. He "helps" Anna find the bodies of those he killed. He refuses to talk with anyone but Anna.

When Hector leads Anna to another body they are both surprised to find two bodies in the area. This discovery sends Anna's case in an interesting new direction.....Sorry have to stop here to avoid spoilers!

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this series.

I was excited by the blurb of this book, it sounded like my type of psychological thriller, so I was quite disappointed to find it was a formulaic police procedure novel. The premise of the book, teens being driven to suicide by unknown persons online, showed a lot of promise, yet instead this part of the plot was barely touched on. We got more information about the police officer's dog! I hadn't read any of this series before, but I would definitely have found it beneficial, as I wasn't aware of the nuances of the relationships of the various characters. The backstory was barely mentioned, so while ok for regulars of the series, it puts newcomers on the backfoot. As for the plot I found it ok, if a bit slow at times, and I was also disappointed that the whole thing wasn't resolved at the end of the book. This book will probably please fans of the series, but I don't recommend coming into it at this book. For those that want to get into it, it would be best to start at book one.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

When Louise Griffiths sees a woman while walking her dog, she immediately senses that something is wrong. For one thing, there is a lost, hopeless expression on the girl’s face. To Louise's incredible shock, the young woman runs towards the sea and suddenly jumps in the water.

It is now five months later and DI Anna Gwynne is assigned the case of the apparent suicide of a sixteen-year-old girl. The very girl that the woman had seen previously. The young girl was named Kimberley Williams. Anna is horrified that the police have learned that due to her social media and Internet activity she may have been involved in a suicide game. This horrid game is responsible for the deaths of 130 young people.

This case comes close to home for Anna. When she reaches her boss he lets her know that a previous case that she worked on will give her great insight as to what happened to Kimberley. Anna is none to pleased to have to deal with serial killer Hector Shaw again.

As the investigation takes off, Anna and her team are led to two dead bodies. Evidence proves that all three murders are connected. Are more young people destined to become victims? Not if Anna has anything to say about it. Her new case is certainly going to keep her very busy. As it is she has a dog and a lover in her life. And, as if things aren’t tough enough, her past comes before her, front and center. Her family dynamic is off-kilter.

Anna is a seasoned detective and leaves no stone unturned. Her professional relationship with the brutal serial killer reveals the cause for his terrible killing spree. Will Anna be able to use what she is forced to learn from him to stop the deaths? Meanwhile, Anna must contend with the peril social media can cause. This definitely made me stop and think for a moment.

From the very start this was a very intriguing story. I found it to be rather unique, connecting a disgusting game to the deaths of young people, as well as Anna’s knowledge of the serial killer and his motives. As an extension, the serial killer is connected to the case at hand. Before She Falls is a chilling, one-sitting read. It is full of twists and turns, and certainly has a shocking conclusion.

This is the first book in the series. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to read the previous stories, this did well as a standalone. The previous books in the series are The Silent Girls and Blood Runs Cold.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so looking forward to book number three in this series featuring Detective Anna Gwynne and wow, it certainly was worth waiting for. I am loving this series and I couldn’t put this book down. Anna and her team are investigating the apparent suicide of a young teenage girl but she has the mark of the Black Squid on her forehead. This is a website that draws in vulnerable teenagers and then uses them to participate in a set of tasks before comitting suicide. Anna is reunited with the serial killer, Hector Shaw, who she has encountered in the previous books and this is how his daughter died and he wants to trade information again with Anna. Anna and her team also find links to a mental unit as one of the victims worked there. In this book Anna has to confront her past with her and Dawes putting their lives at risk. This is a brilliant book as we learn more about Anna and her troubled relationship with her mother and also with Hector Shaw. The ending blew me away and I can’t wait for book number four. A big 5 stars from me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via NetGalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I read the first two books in this series earlier in the year and I really like DI Anna Gwynne so I was excited to see what she was caught up in this time. While this can be read as a standalone I think you would get more enjoyment out of it if you read the whole series. There is some background in the first two books that leads nicely on to this one.

We have met Hector Shaw in the previous two books and we have heard about the Black Squid but this case really focuses on this. We really start to unravel the Black Squid in this story. I enjoyed seeing the background story of the Black Squid come to the forefront in this one. It's been niggling at me since we first met Hector Shaw, like an itch you can't scratch. We get to hear more about what the 'game' is and how it works. It's truly horrifying that there are organisations out there that can so easily reach vulnerable children.

As well as Anna we also have the return of her squad. They are a very loyal hard working team. They reluctantly go home every day despite wanting to carry on long into the night. There was also the new face of DS Phil Dawes. He was an excellent addition and fit in really well with the rest of the team.

We again saw a bit more of Anna's personal life in this book. Its good to see her opening up and progressing her relationship with Dr Ben. Her interactions with her mother are as always strained but Dr Ben does an excellent job of helping her with this.

This story really showed Dylan's style at its best. We had a good build up with more questions than answers. For a long time, it was hard to see the wood through the trees. This had me racing through page after page to get the answered I not only wanted but needed.

I really liked the Epilogue and I can't wait for the next instalment of DI Anna Gwynne.