Falls to Pieces
By Douglas Corleone
Narrated by Cynthia Farrell and Ellem Quay

Published April 1,2025

This kept me on my toes the whole time, it was a fast paced mystery. Kati, the protagonist had lots of secrets and was very complex. She had a traumatic past, from her abusive husband and her abusive mother, who she seemed to be on the run from, or maybe it was the police maybe even both. I had a hard time trusting her, and she was inconsistent and at times out of control and for someone who was on the run her decisions didn’t make sense. Still she kept me guessing. It was on of those mysteries that you can’t put down once you start it because you have to know what happens next. It was a quick read and had me surprised for so many twists.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This one had a lot of great twists and was a good audio. It was not what I was expecting but it was really good!

So-so for me. I didn’t feel like the main character was believable. Her daughter went missing and she didn’t seem quite upset enough. With her paranoia, that seemed especially odd. I did enjoy the twists, but it didn’t excite me quite enough.

This was a quick and fun read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written suspense filled with twists that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
An intriguing story with characters who draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself gripped, turning the pages, not knowing what was to come next.
It was suspenseful, mysterious and unpredictable.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was fine. It really had me in the first half and i didn't see the twist coming but it fell a little flat for me in the end unfortunately.

There was so much happening all at once, and that had been in the works for a while but homegirl never caught on to anything? With all that paranoia? It just didnt make sense to me.

I had high hopes for this book, but it didn't fully deliver. Kati and her teen daughter, Zoe, live off the grid in Hawaii. When Kati’s fiancé goes missing it brings up questions from the past. Then Zoe goes missing too.

I loved the Hawaiian setting and the search through the wilderness. There’s a lot of back information that is slowly revealed that is important. It keeps you interested by slowly letting out a bit at a time. I had a hard time keeping some of the characters straight. Once Zoe goes missing, I found it a little less believable as it seemed the main character was not very distraught.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Complex and multilayered, with deeply flawed characters and lots of secrets and lies to unravel. Unfortunately none of the characters were likable or relatable for me and I had a hard time following the extremely convoluted plot. The final twist was interesting, but deeply disturbing and dark. The narrators of the audio version did a fair job for the most part, but the voicing of the male characters was a little off.

The start of this audiobook was great! From the very first sentence, it kept my attention and I had to find out what happened to Eddy. However, after about 35% it started to drastically slow down and become boring.

I really did not care about any of the characters and what happened to them. Katie, the main character, was insufferable. Everyone slowly started to become horrible as the book went on, especially Zoey.

I did not care about where this book was going at all. I’m not sure how it had such a strong start to then petering out so fast.

The narrator was however, great. I enjoy her voice and her attitude. I listened at 2x.

2/5

First things first, this was much more mystery than thriller.
I loved the scenery. Hawaii is so beautiful, and the author must appreciate that beauty with her vivid description.
I did not love the characters. I struggled to like them, trust them, or really enjoy getting to know them.
The plot was alright. It seemed a little unlikely at times, but I did crush this book quickly. It was quick and easy and I did like the ending.
Thank you netgalley for the advance listen.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for my gifted ALC!

I’m not going to lie - I was confused for most of this book. It seems like our FMC had beef with everyone. And I didn’t really like the characters. That said, it a was fast moving read, and I did enjoy the Hawaiian setting.

Douglas Corleone’s Falls to Pieces is a high-octane mystery that wastes no time plunging listeners into a whirlwind of suspense, emotion, and relentless action. The story follows Katie, a woman thrust into a nightmare when her husband vanishes—only to be further shaken when her daughter also goes missing. What begins as a desperate search quickly evolves into a layered, fast-paced thriller with surprises at every turn.

Corleone crafts a gripping narrative with stakes that escalate page by page, but it’s the audiobook experience that truly elevates the story. The narration brings Katie’s voice to life in a way that’s both raw and relatable. Her determination, confusion, and vulnerability are amplified through the performance, making her journey all the more immersive.

What stands out in Falls to Pieces is its meticulous build-up. Each clue uncovered adds another layer to the mystery, keeping the listener on edge and second-guessing everyone. And just when you think you have it all figured out, Corleone delivers a twist that lands with the force of a gut punch—one of those rare moments that makes you actually say, “Wait, what?”

Whether you’re a longtime fan of thrillers or new to the genre, Falls to Pieces is a standout. As an audiobook, it captures the tension and emotional depth of Katie’s story in a powerful way, making it an unforgettable listening experience.

🎧I was expecting more from this mystery/thriller. It started off with potential and grabbed my interest but as it went on I found myself being less interested. As the plot twists were revealing I was underwhelmed. Also, I’m not a fan of some of the topics this book went into. Note trigger warnings: Child sexual abuse and domestic spouse abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for a copy of this audiobook.

The search is on to find Kati's fiance Eddie, who goes missing while hiking.The last thing Kati needs is for her and daughter Zoe to be in the spotlight considering they are trying to stay out of sight but then Zoe herself goes missing too. This was an exciting story with twists I didn't see coming. The author's writing style was addictive and I hope to read more of his work in the future. Fantastic on audio too - highly recommend the narration!

I picked up "Falls to Pieces" by Douglas Corleone hoping for a real page-turner, and honestly, it started out really strong. Corleone definitely knows how to write characters that feel real, and I found myself getting invested in their stories. I was really into the legal stuff, too – it felt authentic and kept me on the edge of my seat.
But, and this is a big but, the plot started to feel a bit...meh. Like, I'd seen it all before. The twists were there, but they weren't exactly jaw-dropping. It just kind of chugged along, with some parts super exciting and others making me want to skip ahead.
And then, the ending. Ugh. I was so bummed. It felt like Corleone just wanted to wrap things up quickly, and it left me with a bunch of unanswered questions and a general feeling of "that's it?" It's such a shame because the beginning was so good!
I wanted to love this book, I really did. It had all the right ingredients, but it just didn’t quite come together for me. Maybe it’s just me, but I think I'll be looking for something else next time. 3 out of 5 stars.