Spend thanks to Giroux, Farrar and Stroud and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is my first Iva Pandora and I heard she writes really great character studies and this book is no different. Highly recommebnded, love the author and loved the story of female prison and pandemic!

Just great book! 4.5 stars!

After being granted early release from prison, Florida flees to California, but is followed by a fellow inmate intent on settling scores.

Having loved the gritty reality and well drawn characters of “These Women”, I was looking forward to “Sing Her Down”. The description alone, "No Country for Old Men meets Killing Eve in this gritty, feminist Western thriller from the award-winning author of These Women” equated to the promise of a compelling read.

The main characters, both in prison when we meet them, are Florence "Florida" Baum and Diosmary "Dios" Sandoval. The depiction of their prison life was stark, spare & violent and the early chapters compelling, particularly the hate-hate relationship between the two. Following the pairs early release due to Covid overcrowding and re-entry into a world that is bleak and hopeless, the book took a turn that I was unable to regroup from. I almost never abandon a book mid-read, but I did here. The aspirational police procedural style turn mid-story along with characters who were one-dimensional, and unlikeable just didn’t work for me.

Though I didn’t finish it, I would still recommend it if for no other reason than the author’s raw, evocative writing style.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance reader copy for free in exchange for a honest review.

Dark and gritty, themes of violence. Follows the lives of four women during the COVID19 pandemic: three are prison inmates and one is a defective. Atmospheric: some alternating times lines and allegorical structure. Evenly paced but difficult to follow at times. The premise drew me in. Overall a thought provoking read

I REALLY wanted to love this book.

The description reads: "No Country for Old Men meets Killing Eve in this gritty, feminist Western thriller from the award-winning author of These Women."

"No Country for Old Men" is a absolute gritty and dark masterpiece. And my love for female assassins has no bounds which will explain my love for "Killing Eve" I hit request so hard my dog woke up and asked for another treat.

We have two women in prison: Florence "Florida" Baum and Diosmary "Dios" Sandoval. The first part of this book is the best, IMO, and it's a decent portrayal of prison life. I guess, of course, since I still haven't spent any time in the pen. They get paroled early and that's where this book starts to 'theoretically" take off. Florida takes off and for whatever reason, Dios is obsessed with her and follows her and forces a showdown which is foreshadowed in the very beginning.

At it's core this is a great book. In fact it may be fantastic. But I didn't like several things. Specifically the personalities of everyone involved. To me, a sign of a great writer is to portray several personalities with their own life and character. This one is not the case as you can cut and paste every character in the book. They are all the same character. And second: It tries to be a police procedural which to me falls short. Maybe I read too many of them but the main detective on the case just wasn't believably written.

Overall, I think the book is average and I recommend it. There are plenty who, when reading the synopsis, should take a chance and get some satisfaction from it. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm in that group.

I really appreciate Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD for giving me the opportunity to read a advance reader copy for free in exchange for a honest review and it has a publication date of May 23, 2023.

Story is told in the voices of four women - three prison inmates, Florida, Dios and Kace and police officer Lobos, dealing with abuse, violence and pent up rage.
Dios spends much of her time goading Florida, trying to get Florida to admit what she really did.
When the two are released early from prison due to Covid 19, Florida is determined to get home and Dios follows, determined to get Florida to admit who she really is. The murder of a prison guard sets them on a violent path as they continue their journey.
Through Kace the reader learns more about what transpired when all were inmates.
Lobos joins the story as she hunts for the women, believed to be responsible for the death of the prison guard.
Mixed feelings due to the amount of violence in the story but it did hold my attention.
 #SingHerDown #NetGalley

I actually got this arc together with You Know Her and thematically they fit into a category of feminist thrillers. As Nora Murphy writes: "It is by no means a new sub-genre in a rich array of thrillers and domestic suspense books, but perhaps its use as a classifier is relatively new. "
In broadest and simplest of terms looking through prism of thriller setting authors are shining a light to modern issues and challenges of being a woman in today's society.
Ivy Pochoda is by no means a newbie in this because she was highlighting the female perspective from her earliest works and Sing Her Down is Pochoda with her writing skills honed to perfection.
As much as blurb suggests that novel is focusing on Florence "Florida" Baum and Diana Diosmary "Dios" Sandoval and their escape from prison ending in an epic showdown, I don't recommend going into it expecting some version of Thelma & Louise as they run from the police. This novel is Florida mostly running from herself and Dios. And Dios is not even running.
In Part II another female character is introduced- a detective assigned to the case, E. Lobos whose domestic circumstances makes her understand what's going through escaped prisoners' minds.
In its core, the novel actually deals with female rage, how women feel angry all the time, but it seems like they are not particularly allowed to feel this way. If they commit crime in a fit of rage, male investigators will look for a reason behind it, they will equate the burst of violence with madness or being crazy, completely skipping the rage as an emotion woman are capable of.
Some women, like Florida, will conveniently hide their rage and thus, their culpability in this blindness.
Some women, like Dios, will burn the world down and everyone in it to make them acknowledge their anger, to make others see.
And some women, like detective Lobos, will bottle it down, grind their teeth and deal with it themselves, in, let's call it,a "socially acceptable" way.
This, a whole palette of female perspectives, is what Pochoda excels at, but the message she was trying to convey was drowned in places where her style of expression-her storytelling signature, if you please- got more importance. It's like they way she was telling this story got in a way of why she was telling it in the first place. This was particularly obvious to me in Dios's chapters, who is the most direct mouthpiece on the subject, where she is elevating her motive, this right to feel angry, to mythical heights which is just another way of divorcing it from emotion everyone is entitled to and the same goes for symbolism of mural. I saw this novel being called a "spiritual successor" to These Women and on comparison simply I have to say it lacks for me when it comes to characterization. Kace, another prisoner who got few chapters, with her voices of dead women in her head somehow got more to say than the character she gave the loudest voice to.
Hence the rating. But Pochoda is never not worthy of your time.

Florida and Dios are released early from prison. The pandemic means they are two of the prisoners eligible for that early release. Taken to a motel to quarantine, Florida decides to ignore her parole conditions and head home to California. But Dios Isn’t going to let her get away that easily. She follows Florida and they both wind up on the same bus heading west.
Pieces of each of their back stories are revealed showing two people who were both wronged in different ways by the system. Most of the story is told by Florida, but the detective determined to figure out what these women have done also has a haunting backstory.
Seeing the many ways how Los Angeles was changed during the pandemic, provided a stark look at how much of the world wound up being so different, by this, hopefully once in a lifetime event. This really was a story that was well told. My rational brain says that I should have felt equally bad for these three women, but honestly, it was Florida whose story move me the most.
My first book by this author, and it won’t be my last.

3.5 stars? I feel like this was a little above my head. A lot of it is abstract and metaphorical- which is fine! I just found myself struggling to grasp the meaning I think.

The writing is stunning. I highlighted whole paragraphs at times. This story follows two primary characters, Florida and Lobos, their different backgrounds and their approaches to violence.

Except the character I wanted to follow most was Dios. She was fascinating and every time she showed up I found myself wondering where she’d been.

I think it has a lot to say on the cyclical nature of violence and also the expectations society has of women.

What held it back from being a full four star read is just the abstractness of it all. At one point while a murder is being committed the main character is musing on violence as though it is the pull tide of the ocean. We never really see the violence committed, just the aftermath of the murder being discovered.

So there was a little confusion in places for me and I sometimes found it difficult to connect/envision the story being told, because of the abstractness.

I appreciate that this story exists and that people are enjoying it. I think it would make a great book club book.

I also know this is a story I will be thinking about for many months yet to come, and am likely to feel fonder of in retrospect, as is often the case with me an literary stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Grabbed me right away. Great characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Visceral and haunting, Sing Her Down was a book I did not want to read but couldn't put down. It is, on the surface, a story of four women (Florida, Dios, Kace, and Lobos). Florida and Dios are released early from prison due to the pandemic. Lobos is the police officer looking for them following a gruesome murder they appear connected to. Dios and Florida are not friends but Dios is obsessed with Florida. stalking her, goading her. Lobos is fighting demons of her own. Kace, still in jail, harbors voices of the dead who are eerily prophetic. As the tension built, I found myself holding my breath. In Pochoda's expert hands nothing was insignificant, no words wasted. And that mural; that mural was brilliant!

For me, Sing Her Down is best described as a psychological case study exploring whether women broken by abuse and violence at some point reach a tipping point, releasing their pent up rage, changing them from victim to abuser. It is a fascinating addition to women's literature.

I received a drc from the publisher via Netgalley. Publication slated for 5/23/23.

This was an interesting story. I liked the audio of the story and also had the book to follow along. It had a lot more language than I'm used to, but overall, I liked it.

I am in awe of this novel. By far the best book I've read this year. I'm inclined to reach out to Ms. Pochoda and get a signed copy, that's how much this book has impacted me as a reader. It's not that it's full of lessons or guides, or anything that is going to change anyone's life for every reader, but there are parts that moved me, that I can't shake, so the impact is real. And yes I mean, there are those scenes that are likely present that will change readers, and yes, there were some parts that had some pretty big impactful moments for me, but the writing. The writing is out of control beautiful. The characters of Florida, Dios, Kace, & Lobos are exquisitely rendered. The story is amazingly tactful and well-constructed. The scenes of a COVID lockdown country are immaculately drawn up. It's a novel that is just an amazing thing to hold in my hands.

I suppose I would compare this novel and Pochoda's writing to that of MFS or S.A. Cosby. It's grit-lit, but Westcoast. It's Southern noir but set on the other side of the country. The way these characters are written is flawless. The opening and ending scenes are so emotionally strong I literally set my coy down and uttered the word "wow". That doesn't happen very often. I would love to go into detail on the story, but I won't. You have to experience it. But, it's about two women who are early released from prison. It's about secrets. It's about finding who you are, who you were, and who you want to be. It's about strong women taking it to the man and it's a book that I won't soon forget. Well done Ms. Pochoda. This book is a triumph.

I really enjoyed Sing Her Down. Two women are released early from incarceration due to the pandemic. I liked the gritty setting of LA during the pandemic. I loved the multiple points of view, it kept the story moving along. It was thrilling and a good insight into the problems with the criminal justice system.

Dios and Florida are inmates at a women's correctional facility in Arizona. Former cell mates, the two women have a dark history that makes Florida want to avoid Dios as much as possible. When they are both given early release during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dios tracks Florida to the streets of Los Angeles, obsessed with making Florida own up to the darkness inside her.

Gritty and immersive, Sing Her Down is a feminist Western that hums with atmosphere and an almost overwhelming sense of disquiet. Ivy Pochoda's prose is steeped in the noir tradition, darkly observant and richly detailed. The setting of this novel -- the desolate streets of pandemic-era Los Angeles, businesses shuttered and streets littered with disposable masks; the urban warrens occupied by the undomiciled -- is so vivid and adds a surreal element that works well as a backdrop for the violence of the narrative.

The story is told from four perspectives: Florida's and (briefly) Dios's, as well as another inmate named Kase and Detective Lobos, who is pursuing Florida and Dios. Through these four complex, compelling characters, Ivy Pochoda explores how women respond to -- and how they instigate -- violent situations, and it's gripping and fascinating. I do wonder, though, how different this book would have been if more narrative space was given to Dios. She's by far the most intriguing character, and without more context for her behavior, it was sometimes difficult to understand the reasoning behind her actions.

Touching on larger themes such as the effect of the pandemic on marginalized populations and the failings of the criminal justice system, Pochoda weaves an intimate, sinuous portrait of a dangerous cat-and-mouse game between two deeply flawed, desperate women that gripped me from the beginning and didn't let go until its devastating, inevitable conclusion. The audio version is well-read by a full cast, which made this an even more immersive reading experience. The narrators' haunting interpretations brought Pochoda's prose fully to life. Thank you to MCD x FSG Originals, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance reading opportunity.

I had to dnf this one. The writing style was frenetic and made me feel such anxiety. This could have been due to the nature of the story. I will have read another one to see if that is the case. This was definitely not for me.

4.5⭐

Diana Diosmary “Dios” Sandoval and Florence “Florida” Baum are inmates in a women’s correctional facility in Arizona. As the pandemic rages on, both of their sentences are commuted and they are released on parole. Florida and Dios have a history – something that ties them to a violent event in the prison and Dios has knowledge of secrets about Florida’s arrest and her actual role in the crime that landed her in prison – secrets that Florida is desperate to protect. Dios holds this knowledge over Florida’s head and is fixated on proving that Florida, who comes from an affluent background and hopes to leave her time in prison behind her, is no less a violent criminal than Dios believes she is. After they are released from prison, Dios stalks Florida, refusing to back down as Florida struggles to gain control of her life.

Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda is a dark, gritty and immersive novel that I could not put down. I finished it in a single day! The narrative is shared from the perspectives of four women – Dios, Florida and Kase, another prisoner who was incarcerated with Dios and Florida, who shares her unique perspectives on the psyche of women whose lives are plagued by crime and violence. We also meet Detective Lobos, surrounded by violence in her work life and dealing with her troubled marriage,who crosses paths with Dios and Florida and tries to gain some insight into these two women while pursuing them. Through flashbacks, we get to know more about Dios and Florida, their backstories and the events that led to their incarceration. The characterizations are superb and the author does a superb job of giving us a glimpse into the innermost thoughts of these characters all of whom are plagued by their own demons. The setting of the story changes from Arizona to Los Angeles and the author describes each of these settings with vivid imagery that only adds to the atmosphere of the novel.

With its exceptional writing, consistent pacing, complex characters and gripping narrative, this novel reeled me in from the very first page. This is a thought-provoking story and these women and their stories will stay with me.This is my first Ivy Pochoda novel and it surely won’t be my last!

However, I should point out that this is not a light or easy read. There are disturbing scenes of prison violence and the story does venture into dark territory.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the digital review copy of this novel, I was fortunate to also receive the ALC of this novel from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio which made for an exceptional immersion reading experience. The phenomenal full-cast audio narration by Frankie Corzo, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Sophie Amoss, and Victoria Villarreal made these characters and the story come alive. I would definitely recommend both the book and /or the audiobook.

This novel is due to be released on May 23, 2023.

This powerful book begins in a women’s prison, where inmates Dios and Florida are about to be released early, due to the pandemic. This is a very dark and compelling story, told from different points of view. Pochoda’s writing is atmospheric and sensory, and being set in the early days of the pandemic made it feel that much more. Empathy for all women is clear in all of the writing. I will be reading more from this author. Recommended.

This is ‘a tale of violent women. A song for the ages with a surprise ending.’ Florence ‘Florida’ Baum and Diana Diosmary ‘Dios’ Sandoval are serving time in an Arizona prison for violent crimes. When Covid worsens in 2020 and starts killing prisoners, Baum and Sandoval are among those who fit the system's criteria for early release. They will be held in quarantine in a motel for two weeks and fed three meals a day. But when the food doesn’t come, the two each women leave the motel and both end up on a bus heading to California, violating their parole. But no matter where they travel, they are still the same people inside and carry their violent tendencies with them. Dios seems obsessed with Florida and follows her, egging her on. When the dead body of a young corrections officer is found on the bus, LA Detective Lobos and her partner are on the case.

This is an interesting study of violence within women. Florence is a pretty and wealthy young woman who had everything in life except attentive parents. At the age of nine, she became flirting with danger and came alive to the thrill of destructive behavior. Dios is beautiful and smart, a scholarship student who received a good education, but a rage has grown within her that is only too happy to burst free. Detective Lobos is trying to leave behind an abusive husband and marriage to start over. A small woman, she fears appearing weak to her partner. Will she be strong and smart enough to bring these two escapees in? Sooner or later, there will be a final showdown…and who will walk away?

Los Angeles during Covid is an interesting backdrop for this story, with so many businesses closed and homeless people living in tents and camps throughout the city. Discarded masks blow along the streets like tumbleweed. It gives the story a surreal feeling, almost apocalyptic.

Pochoda's writing style is excellent, even lyrical at times. This is not a gentle story so be aware that it is often violent and gritty. The comparison with No Country for Old Men is quite apt.

I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks to them for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Although I really enjoyed Pochoda’s previous novel, These Women, this one sort of fell flat for me. This is the story of Florida and Dios, two women in an Arizona prison who are released early because of the overcrowded conditions due to Covid. Although they are supposed to quarantine for two weeks in a motel and then find a place to live (and check in regularly with a parole office), things definitely do not turn out as they are supposed to. Eventually, Lobos, a detective in LA working on a case involving the murder of a prison guard, enters the scene, but I found the portions of the novel involving Lobos to be misplaced and seemingly unnecessary because all really revolves around Florida and Dios. Additionally, although I generally liked the storyline, the novel as a whole seemed way too long and perhaps would have worked better as a novella. Nonetheless, I found it to be a decent read and look forward to Pochoda’s next work.