by Jane Casey
Series: Jess Tennant #1
Genres: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Sixteen-year-old Jess Tennant has never met any of her relatives, until her mom suddenly drags her out of London to spend the summer in the tiny English town where her family’s from. Her mom’s decision is surprising, but even more surprising is the town’s reaction to Jess. Everywhere she goes, people look at her like they’ve seen a ghost. In a way, they have—she looks just like her cousin Freya, who died shortly before Jess came to town. Jess immediately feels a strange connection to Freya, whom she never got to meet alive. But the more Jess learns about the secrets Freya was keeping while she was alive, the more suspicious Freya’s death starts to look. One thing is for sure: this will be anything but the safe, boring summer in the country Jess was expecting. Beloved author Jane Casey breaks new ground with How to Fall, a thrilling and insightfully written mystery.
How to Fall is the first book in the Jess Tenant duology by Jane Casey. It is a young adult mystery with a snarky protagonist and shares her summer at a small English seaside town. Casey wraps us up in an unexplained death mystery involving Jess’s cousin and adds a smidgeon of romance to keep things interesting.
How to Fall begins when Jess Tennant finds out she and her Mum will be spending the summer in her mother’s hometown. She will meet cousins and an Aunt she has never met. On the drive, she discovers her cousin who looks disturbingly like her died last summer when she fell from a cliff. Intrigued Jess sets out to learn about her cousin Freya and the mystery surrounding her death.
Jess is a well rounded character who doesn’t accept bullshit. When she caught her boyfriend in London cheating on her, her response was fantastic and I couldn’t help hollering, “You Go, Girl.” She is inquisitive and has a young “Sherlock” like quality with her observations. There are cliques and secrets among the teens in town, and despite advice to let things lie, she is determined to unearth what happen. Will, was one of Freya’s best friends, and although we have just begun to get to know him, I immediately was intrigued by him. There is a young man, who shows an interest in Jess, and his ex-girlfriend protects her turf making for a little tension, but all of this led back to the mystery.
How to Fall focused on the mystery at hand, and I completely enjoyed the subtle clues, suspects and Jess’s observations. We get a little side dish of the family and the whisper of romance that only served to enhance the story. How to Fall wrapped up nicely and we saw closure to the mystery. Bet Your Life contains an all-new mystery and Jess once again will use her mad detective skills. I look forward to learning more about her and the other characters we met.
For those looking for a murder mystery in the young adult genre, How to Fall serves up nicely.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Amber Elise
I LOVE murder mysteries and snark is my middle name so I am here for this book! Jess seems like a character I need to experience!
Thanks for your review!!
Amber Elise @ Du Livre
kimbacaffeinate
I enjoyed Jess and hope you do too.
Lorna
How fun! A sixteen year old sleuth, reminds me of Nancy Drew(I know, I am old!) Thanks for the great review 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Indeed. As a young pre-teen Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Agatha lined my bookshelves.
Sharon - Obsession with Books
Jess sounds wonderful and I love a good mystery that gives you closure.
A great review Kimba.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Sharon, I was happy to have discovered this.
Sue
This looks good. Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
It was Sue, not overly complicated but kept me hooked.
Paij Slater
I love your review! Murder, mystery…YES please 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed the perfect combo in a novel 🙂
Red Iza
The main character looks good and so does the novel, great review 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
She was and I enjoyed discovering what happened.
Cyn
Ooh sounds creepy and pretty darn interesting! I do love a snarky protagonist! I’m happy to hear it’s a duology (: Thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
I do too, thanks Cyn
Jess
This sounds great! I love a good mystery and the setting is awesome. I am definitely curious about what happened to Jess’s cousin. Thanks for sharing.
kimbacaffeinate
It was great discovering it Jess
Heidi
I am always up for a good suspenseful read with a solid mystery. I have been seeing this one around and I think I am going to have to give it a try.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you get to read it Heidi. Have a fantastic weekend 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things)
Sounds like a good mystery but I would totally read this for that character, Jess. She sounds like someone I want to know! Brilly review!
kimbacaffeinate
Jess was great Melissa.
Candace
Mystery in YA, WIN! This sounds excellent and I might have to add it to the pile!
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Candace, and yes I was glad to see a good mystery in YA
Lily
Oh i’m completely in love with the cover for this one! If anything I just want it for the haunting cover that would look great on my bookshelf 😉
kimbacaffeinate
That is how I ended up with it in the first place,…the cover screamed read me
Michele
Love the haunting cover, and Jess sounds great!! Thank you for putting this on my radar 🙂 Happy reading!
kimbacaffeinate
You are welcome Michele
Kay
I am very intrigued. I like the sound of this one, a teenage sleuth trying to figure out a death sounds like my kind of book. Also, the MC does sound pretty awesome. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Kay, this was well done, and I enjoyed many aspects of it
Christa
The closer we get to fall the more mysteries I want to read. This sounds like a particularly good one.
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed, I keep eyeing suspense thrillers, horror and mysteries!
Debbie Haupt
OH WOW what an interesting storyline. Okay Kimba my aching tbr pile thanks you again!!
kimbacaffeinate
This was a good one, and sorry. *maybe*
Jenea
Jess was a pretty good little detective. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Great review.
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed, glad you liked it too Jenea
Rita
I’ve seen this author around and I’ve had her adult books, Maeve Kerrigan series on my radar. This one sounds good though! I would read this..maybe I would read it before the other series to get a taste for her writing, so thanks.
kimbacaffeinate
She is totally new to me, and I didn’t realize she wrote adult too.
LuAnn Braley
Did I hear snark? I am SO THERE! (I have a RDA of snark. :p )
kimbacaffeinate
hehehe..I love snark too LuAnn
Faye D'Social Potato
First: is it me or have I seen that girl model in many covers before? o.o I swear it’s not my eyes deceiving me!!
Second: wow, that’s some mystery. I know I will be creeped out as frack if I found out someone who looked like me fell to her death D: AND I WOULDN’T EVEN ATTEMPT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT!!! Excited to see what Jess will find out though ^^
kimbacaffeinate
Faye…now I am looking at covers trying to spot her!
kindlemom1
I really do want to read the next book because I wasn’t quite ready for this to be over. Still so much left undone!
kimbacaffeinate
I definitely want to learn more.
Laurel-Rain Snow
The setting sounds lovely, and I like “snarky” characters…sometimes. Mystery always intrigues me. Thanks for sharing!
kimbacaffeinate
I love snark if it is done right, that and wicked banter 🙂
Kelsey
Ooh I like a little mystery and the way you described the character makes me think I’ll like her a lot. I’m definitely adding this to my wishlist, thank you!
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you enjoy it Kelsey.
Kristin
I actually have this on my shelf so I’m thinking I’m going to pick it up FOR SURE!!!! Thank you b/c otherwise, I probably wouldn’t of.
… you lead… 😀
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you enjoy it Kristin 🙂
Nick
The main character is Sherlock-like? I want! How have I never heard of this before today, Kim? I adore reading YA mysteries and if this one is set in England I think I’m going to have even more fun with it. I’m glad you liked this one so much because I know you’re picky with your YA books! 🙂
Great review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
I stumbled on to this on Netgalley..LOL I liked the cover and the synopsis sounded good. I loved the seaside setting.
Katherine
I’ve seen this one and was wondering about it! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ll definitely have to look for this one. I don’t read much YA but this sounds like a good mystery.
kimbacaffeinate
I am picky about YA and tend to read dystopian, fantasy, paranormal and horror if I dabble in it.
laura thomas
Thanks for the excellent review. I’ve been looking for more mysteries and this sounds great. I love a tough female protagonist and Jess sounds authentic.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Lauren, I enjoyed this one. I have been in the mood for mysteries/horror and thrillers of late..it is the call of Fall. LOL
Angela Adams
Wow! Thanks for the review!!
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Angela 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend
Meg
Oh, this sounds really good to me! Glad you liked it!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Meg it was good and perfect for fall.
Teddyree
Now that cover I like 🙂 I’m more a suspense/thriller girl rather than mystery but the ‘sherlock’ like quality has me curious
kimbacaffeinate
I was pleased with this one Teddyree it has some thrills especially towards the end
Trish
Oh I like the reference to a young Sherlock. And a girl who refuses to be messed around. I find most YA thrillers to be a bit lacking but I like the sound of this one. Sold!
kimbacaffeinate
She was very clever and observant Trish
Melliane
Jess sounds like a wonderful character! I didn’t know the book but I’m intrigued by the deat of the cousin as well and want to know more now. thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
It had a neat mystery and I quite enjoyed it Melliane.
Silvia
I don’t read mystery novels much, but this one sounds really captivating! I might check it out, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kimberly 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It was interesting Silvia. Have a lovely weekend!
Naomi
Great review Kimberly. Jess sounds like a great character… I love the ones that take no crap!!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
kimbacaffeinate
Oh I do too, since I so often have to bite my tongue.
blodeuedd
Creepy, and interesting
kimbacaffeinate
That it was Linda 🙂