Sing Her Down
A Novel
by Ivy Pochoda
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date May 23 2023 | Archive Date Jun 30 2023
Description
“Urgent, haunting, and fearless.” —Megan Abbott, author of Beware the Woman
A Barnes & Noble Mystery & Thriller Pick | An Elle Best Book of the Summer | An Apple Best Book of May | A Most Anticipated Book from BookPage, SPY, Lit Hub, and Paste Magazine
Cormac McCarthy meets Killing Eve in this gritty, razor-sharp thriller following two indelible women on a path to certain destruction
Florence “Florida” Baum is not the hapless innocent she claims to be when she arrives at the Arizona women’s prison—or so her ex-cellmate Diosmary Sandoval keeps insinuating.
Dios knows the truth about Florida’s crimes, understands what Florence hides even from herself: that she was never a victim of circumstance, an unlucky bystander misled by a bad man. Dios knows that darkness lives in women too, despite the world’s refusal to see it. And she is determined to open Florida’s eyes and unleash her true self.
When an unexpected reprieve gives both women their freedom, Dios’s fixation on Florida turns into a dangerous obsession, and a deadly cat-and-mouse chase ensues from Arizona to the desolate streets of Los Angeles.
With blistering, incisive prose, the award-winning author Ivy Pochoda delivers a fast-paced L.A. crime novel for the ages. Gripping and immersive, Sing Her Down is a spellbinding thriller that, at its core, shows just what an angry woman is capable of.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"Visceral descriptions of everything from the proliferation of homeless encampments to the simmering emotions of her characters distinguish Pochoda's latest, intense novel." —Booklist
★ "In muscular prose, Pochoda plumbs the psychological depths of her fascinating characters and extracts high drama from their shifting allegiances. This searing, accomplished page-turner deserves a wide audience."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Ivy Pochoda’s new novel, Sing Her Down, [is] a meditation on violence and women that is noir of the blackest variety.” —Sam Sifton, The New York Times e-newsletter
“Ivy Pochoda’s new thriller sounds like a Western version of Killing Eve, which is something we never knew we needed but now need desperately.” —BookPage
“Ivy Pochoda is one of the great writers of today, crime or otherwise, although luckily for me, she writes pure noir . . . I will be spending my holidays reading this amazing new novel so that I can recommend it to you all in far more detail come the new year. You’re welcome, my darlings (although reading this book is truly the opposite of sacrifice).” —Molly Odintz, CrimeReads
"A thoroughly entertaining, mean-as-a-snake modern Western, Sing Her Down hits like a shotgun blast." —Dennis Lehane, author of Small Mercies
“Sing Her Down is that rare novel that explodes your expectations from the very first page and goes on doing so until the end. Ivy Pochoda finds these characters at the root of their pain and desire. The prose is flayed and taut, the iconic episodes just keep stacking up, and the entirety has the epic intensity of a murder ballad.” —Jonathan Lethem, author of The Arrest
“I read everything Ivy Pochoda writes. Her capture of the complexities, diversities, and insanities of today’s life and culture is next to none. I loved Sing Her Down. The world will too.” —Michael Connelly, author of Desert Star
“Urgent, haunting, and fearless, Ivy Pochoda’s Sing Her Down has the grit and guile of Rachel Kushner, but with a ferocious empathy all Pochoda’s own. Pochoda proves herself a singular portraitist of Los Angeles, and Sing Her Down is her most ambitious and accomplished novel yet.” —Megan Abbott, author of The Turnout
“Ivy Pochoda once again writes with empathy about a world of unseen, unheard women—this time, two former cellmates whose lives remain entangled after their sudden release from prison. Sing Her Down is a stunning thriller, at once beautiful and gritty. Pochoda is a major talent.” —Alafair Burke, The New York Times bestselling author of Find Me
“Sing Her Down is an incantation, a hallucination, a fiery odyssey of women taking back the power stolen and leached from body and mind, while their souls got harder and harder—like diamonds. Ivy Pochoda's women inhabit a world everyone should walk into with them, a universe everyone should know.” —Susan Straight, author of Mecca
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780374608484 |
| PRICE | $28.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Morgan S, Reviewer
Pochada always gives us a lens into women’s darker spaces, and this prison novel is no exception. Again she transcends the genre of thriller into dark literary fiction, while still satisfying the thriller itch. This book was something else!
Megan J, Reviewer
A biting, beautiful character study with so much heart. I am newly in love with Ivy Pochoda, and I didn’t even know about her until now. This book is worth the journey, and though the premise (prison, pandemic) is interesting by itself, the character study is what makes it. You will care about the characters, and you should. Thank you for the ARC, this review is written purely based on opinion.
J. K, Reviewer
Ivy Pochoda is the queen of unique genre-bending, captivating thrillers, and I was EXCITED to get this eARC from Netgalley. Read ONE book by Ivy Pochoda, you will immediately know if you are a fan of her work, and if you are, she will draw you always draw you back - I, for example, am a "forever fan" and this novel not only examines the absurdity of our unjust justice system, it also reminds us that we are all just one step from being who we are currently judging. One of the most thought provoking novels of the year!
Andy L, Educator
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.
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