I was mesmerized throughout Ruby Falls.  I could not dream where the author was going with this story.

All kinds of thoughts ran through my head as I read this.  Is she crazy?  Is she imagining those sounds?  Or is someone/something really there?  Who is Orlando?  Who is Dottie?  I eagerly read page after page.  What a great story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Ruby Falls.  Well done, Ms. Royce.

So, is she crazy?

I fell for the tale woven by Ruby Eleanor, and what a story that was.  A soap opera actress has a whirlwind romance is believable.  The bungalow in Hollywood with the yard filled with roses is like a fairytale.  The marriage to Orlando ...well, I won’t give anything away.  I was hooked to the end.

What a treat!  This book has everything, mystery , intrigue, suspense and a really good plot. Ruby is abandoned on a day out to a tourist attraction cave by her father, and from that day on her life is troubled.  She becomes a young actress in a soap opera and things are good until one day events take a turn for the worse.  The story is so well told and the twists and turns in the plot are amazing.  The book is well written and keeps you guessing right to the end.  Thoroughly enjoyed, a great page turner, thank you NetGalley.  Looking forward to the next Deborah Goodrich Royce offering.

Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain in 1968 is where Eleanor Ruby Russell is abandoned by her father whilst they are deep inside the cave. Fast forward to 1989, she’s now a successful soap star, is married to Orlando Montague, they are moving to Los Angeles where Eleanor is cast as the lead in a remake of Rebecca. Ruby/Eleanor narrates her own story .... reliably? Only time will tell. 

First of all, this is very well written and easy to immerse yourself in. It’s very colourful and descriptive, you can almost smell the roses and taste the food! The characters are really good - Eleanor is very damaged by her terrifying childhood experience and loss of her father, Orlando is a controlling enigma who creates a veritable emotional rollercoaster of twists and turns. I really like the Rebecca angle (it’s one of my favourite books) and through the film the book does have a gothic vibe and some spooky elements to it. The story unfolds well, there is growing mystery and tension as you get one bombshell revelation after another although at times you do feel like you’ve tumbled down the rabbit hole with Alice as it’s very riddle-me-ree!! I like the titles of each chapter which are clever and usually film references and you do get the feeling that it’s all very Hitchcockian or Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap - who is the mouse in the conspiracy I wonder??!!  I love the puzzle of Ellie’s father and the clues that we get are interesting and we learn the truth about him towards the end. 

However, on occasions it’s a bit repetitive as Eleanor turns things over in her mind although I’m certain this is true to life I’d still have preferred less. The ending feels a bit rushed too and didn’t entirely do justice to the rest of the book. 

Overall, though it’s a well written and surprising read that keeps you gripped and entertained. The cover is amazing and I love it!

Ruby is abandoned as a child in the pitch black Ruby Falls cave by her father.  As an adult, Ruby prefers to go by the name of Eleanor and moves to California to star in a movie.  This story enchanted me and had plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning those pages.  Once this book comes out in May 2021, I know my book club will love it.  I can't wait to discuss this book (and the ending) with my friends!  Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publish date in exchange for an honest review.

This might be my favorite book of the year. Once I began, something came over me and within 24 hours I had devoured Ruby Falls, enjoying all the twists and turns and psychological warfare along the way. 

Comparing a book to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is a sacrilege. Rebecca is one of the best gothic style thrillers ever written, and certainly one of my favorites. Even invoking a comparison to Rebecca is a dangerous idea, because how do you compare something to a great work of art without resulting in disappointment. This book is nothing like Rebecca, even though its movie-star heroine stars in a highly modified adaptation of it. In fact, this book is so much of its own creation that it defies comparison. 

Our heroine, a term I use loosely, is Ruby, who now goes by Eleanor. As a child she was abandoned by her father at the famous Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, never to see him again. Now grown and recently married, we follow Ruby (Eleanor) as she and her newlywed husband move to LA as she begins filming a new movie. Told from her point of view, we experience the inner world and dialogue of Ruby (Eleanor) as she grows increasingly suspicious of her new husband, embarks on a magical realism fairytale with her elderly neighbor, and gradually degenerates into her own form of madness. 

Or does she? Unlike the unnamed heroine in Rebecca, this character is highly self-aware. As even she notes, “Why are these gothic heroines always so blind to the facts that surround them?” This heroine has not only one, but two, names, again showing the reader that this book is no anemic knock-off of a great novel. I imagine the author chuckling to herself as she weaves into the story classic tropes of film noir and gothic romance, and then twists it all on its head. It’s no coincidence that each chapter pays homage to popular culture, ranging from “Gaslight” to “The Red Shoes” to “The Woman in White”. In this way, I found Ruby Falls to be a love letter to the darker side of literature and film. 

However, to think of Ruby Falls as only an homage to classic gothic and noir is doing the book a disservice. It is truly interesting and captivating on its own, even if the reader had no former knowledge of any of these classics. I know little of the author, Deborah Goodrich Royce, but she has fine taste and I expect we would get along rather well. She is certainly someone I will be paying more attention to.

I will say little more about the story itself, to allow the reader to experience the roller coaster for themselves. I will just say: buckle up, darling. You are in for one magical, dreamy, and twisty ride. 

Thank you To Post Hill Press for the ARC. I am quite honored.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different and unpredictable so kept me interested and I sped my way through it. I couldn’t help but feel for Ruby and loved Dottie too. I could go on but don’t want to drop any spoilers. 

Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. #RubyFalls

What in the world did I just read?  My brain is trying to wrap my head around the storyline, characters, and overall emotions. It’s certainly unique and mysterious...very vivid in descriptions with the bizarre behaviors and thoughts.  It’s a page turner because you don’t know what’s next but at the same time confusing and I found myself rereading and go back over parts. It’s one that you may want to to check out for the what the heck factor.

Heartbreakingly relatable until the very end. This book is so full of twists and turns, it will lead you to wonder what is up and what is down. The way that this book is written, I kept finding myself reminiscing on "that movie I'm in the middle of watching," only to then remember that I was actually reading this story. The story kept me so entrapped from the very beginning, I actually read this book in about 3-4 days. The end did seem to be a little rushed, as I had not seen very many errors/typos and then right at the end I spotted a couple. The story builds up perfectly and I do feel that the end was just a tad bit rushed, but it almost seemed fitting to have the story all come crashing down at once, in a way. I am definitely interested in reading more from Royce in the future. Also, very fun, as Ruby Falls is the only cave I have ever been to and one of my favorite family vacations to date.

I was immediately swept up in Deborah Goodrich Royce's evocative tale about Ruby (or Eleanor as she prefers to be called) Russell's whirlwind romance with the debonair Orlando Montague. The newlyweds move to sunny Los Angeles to begin their new life together. Eleanor is excited to start her burgeoning career as a Hollywood actress with a ruggedly handsome husband by her side. But it isn't long before cracks begin to appear in their seemingly perfect relationship. It quickly becomes clear that the two lovebirds haven't been completely honest with each other. Deceit abounds and Eleanor grapples with her own dark secrets. Her father's abandonment at the infamous Ruby Falls continues to haunt her, casting a long shadow over her charmed life. As the unsettling incidents pile up and tensions mount, Ruby is left wondering.... how well does she really know the suave Orlando? 

Ruby Falls is like a vivid fever dream, unsettling and elusive. It provokes the imagination and slips through your fingers like smoke. I very much enjoyed this eerie, ethereal tale that continues to linger in my mind. I know I am under its thrall because I find fragments of the story surfacing in my psyche from time to time. As a Southern California native I especially appreciated Goodrich Royce's lush descriptions of the City of Angels. She perfectly captured L.A.'s eclectic allure. I would have loved to have seen additional content about Eleanor's time on set as a lead actress. That was a very unique and intriguing aspect of the story and it left me hungry for more. 

This book struck a nice balance between plot and character development- a rare feat! I found myself reading well into the night, unable to put it down. Ruby Falls is the kind of story that demands to be devoured in one sitting. Goodrich Royce kept me on my toes the entire time and I just had to discover what would happen next. The side characters were especially delightful and dynamic. I loved hearing about the exploits of the supportive and upbeat Howard, the intuitive and compassionate Dottie and Eleanor's adorable (but feisty) cat, Bel. If I had any minor criticism, it would be that certain scenes were drawn out for longer than necessary. Most notably, the hillside scene. Also, while some readers may not appreciate an unreliable narrator as it is admittedly an oversaturated device, I feel that it worked for this particular novel. 

Ruby Falls is moody, bewitching and riveting, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers. It is akin to experiencing a literary descent into madness. You won't be able to look away.

Great page turner that keeps you constantly guessing and wondering what is true, what is reality and what is imagined. Ruby’s fragile character is well done and I loved her mother’s strong and supportive character. Start this when you have lots of time to read because you will want to read until you find answers!

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

I liked the premise of the book, but the constant references to Hitchcock & du Maurier were a bit over the top. 
Unfortunately, for me it was like the story was written in choppy little sections and sewn together later, so I couldn't get deeply engaged because there was no natural flow in the writing.
While I did enjoy the unexpected last twist, I felt like the first 2/3 of the book were just filler in order to get up to that twist.  
I would most likely read more work from this author, provided that a good hard edit happens to make a smoother story with far more fleshed out scenarios and conversations.  There was much that seemed rushed or just ... incomplete. 3 Stars - with the potential for 4 with a really good edit.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me the e-copy to review at no charge!
All opinions are definitely my own.

RUBY FALLS
BY DEBORAH GOODRICH ROYCE

This was a very intriguing and interesting idea for a novel. I do have to say that this has to be hands down the most unreliable narrator that I have ever come across in all of the many books that I have read over the years. I had to go back and reread the explosive ending twice to make sure that I understood the story and the way it ended I just never could have imagined how it tied up and ripped the curtain down that for the entire book was built on such false pretenses. I thought that I had been reading the narrative carefully but what makes this story so flawless is that the final reveal had me fooled throughout the entire novel. Nothing prepared me for such an explosive ending and nothing about most of the book was really evident that I was supposed to question the narrator as being completely unreliable.

All I can really say is that childhood trauma can leave more of a mark on some than others. That sometimes things that happen to us as children can leave life long affects when we are triggered with a shock even as an adult. Everybody is different. I really loved this book and it was enjoyable to read from start to finish. I think that I am going to say as little as possible so as not to spoil it for any future reader. I loved this novel and I thought that the author has left me feeling grateful for having this wonderful reading experience that I won't soon forget. I really can't recommend this novel high enough. It is a gem that is unforgettable. One of my favorites of all time for sure.

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Deborah Goodrich Royce and Post Hill Press for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#RubyFalls #DeborahGoodrichRoyce #PostHillPress #NetGalley

3 stars

A dreamlike read with prose that paints vivid imagery, Ruby Falls has moments of brilliant storytelling, but ultimately underwhelming; trapping itself with conventional thriller tropes, instead of heading down a bolder, more original direction.

Comparing Ruby Falls to The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and Rebecca in its marketing copy is a little pompous, and ultimately not doing itself any favor. In my opinion, the 'final twist' is the novel's weakest link, and even though Rebecca has a constant presence throughout (The protagonist is playing the lead in a new film adaptation), its presence is superficial at best, offering little substantial juxtaposition or correlation to Royce's story. (Same goes with naming each chapter after a movie, when there's no clear association to the happening in the plot.)

If we have to compare Ruby Falls to existing materials, David Lynch's Mulholland Drive and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper comes to mind (Alice in Wonderland is another contender).

Ruby Falls is at its best when it embraces its hallucinatory quality, painting an alternate, rose-tinted Los Angeles, where the protagonist transverses between a house with kooky cat lady, an antique store in the middle of Hollywood, and the blurring boundary between her shuttered memory, Hollywood make-believe, and an unreliable present.

The plot ultimately leads to a reveal that should be no surprise to domestic thriller enthusiasts, however, such a defining resolution with objective details put all the surrealist build-ups in jeopardy; instead of being satisfied with this book as a metaphoric fever dream of a troubling mind (where things are symbolic and not grounded to common sense), we are forced to re-analyze the preceding events through a new, logic-focused lens, and unfortunately many elements starting to fall apart under such scrutiny. 

Ruby Falls should've been a literary fiction with a touch of magic realism, instead of the sleight of hand pivoting to a thriller in its last act, because the only player that got played, is itself.

***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***

Soap actress Eleanor Montague knows about reinvention . At age six, Eleanor - known then as Ruby Russell - is left abandoned by her father while on a cave tour in a place called Ruby Falls. Left with only a confusing whispered message, Eleanor spends her childhood and early adult years imagining the reasons her father left and never returned. 

As the story begins, we find Eleanor moving to LA with her new husband - a man she married after a whirlwind European romance. They purchase her dream home, she adopts a kitten, and is cast in a reimagining of du  Maurier's Rebecca. Soon, though, Eleanor learns that get husband isn't exactly who she thought. As their marriage unravels and the danger grows, Eleanor becomes less and less sure of what's happening and who she can trust. 

Overall this is a good read. At times Eleanor's mental dialogue is so frenetic and frantic that it's hard to read, but her fear and confusion are obvious. The twist at the end is surprising, but rushed. So much time is spent building the suspense that when the answers are revealed they are just dumped in your lap and the book ends. Other than that, it's a satisfying story for those who enjoy domestic mysteries.

Ruby Falls, by Deborah Goodrich Royce is a fun psychological thriller, intentionally in the vein of Daphne du Maurier or a Hitchcock film.  In fact the chapter names are after movies of the genre.   Ruby is a child who left by her father in the dark caves and the waterfall of Ruby Falls.  His disappearance has scarred her.  As an adult, she becomes an actress who marries quickly and moves into a rose covered cottage with her English husband.  Life is but a dream, right?  Well, not so fast..
This book is a very quick read and quite enjoyable with the twists and questions constantly popping up.  The ending, however felt like a rushed jumble to me.  It was not laid our with the same wit and thought as the rest of the book.  By then, I felt the author had shown her hand and the ride was all but over.

My thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC of Ruby Falls in exchange for my honest review.

The ending was great.  I had no idea the author was moving in that direction.  I read it in 3 days because I would not put it down.  I would love to see this author write a sequel to this book.

Ruby Falls is the story of a little girl who was abandoned as a child in the recesses of Ruby Ralls and grows up to become an actress. I’ve been to the falls, and knew exactly of where she speaks; it can be quite claustrophobic in the cavern where the falls are located. Lights out, falls light up beautifully. Lights on, she’s alone and frightened. The trauma affects her so deeply that she functions - somewhat - as an adult, but holding in the trauma for so long has encouraged a descent into madness. Good story, vague due to the nature of the circumstances. It slowly unfolds in a backward way. Very well written. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Being a huge fan of Rebecca, I knew this novel would be great. There are twists and turns around every corner. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC. 
I was initially attracted to the book because the premise was so intriguing. The narrative is very twisty and unreliable, and it was the question of what happened to Eleanor's father that kept me reading. The connection to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier was also interesting, and the setting, but I was disappointed by the ending. A lot of the central plot wraps up very quickly towards the end, with a twist that's surprising but unsatisfying, and the actual ending is very abrupt. I feel like there were a lot of elements to deal with that got jumbled and not fully explored.