Long Way Down is a slow-burn psychological domestic thriller that will keep readers fully engaged with its compelling themes of family drama, buried secrets, wealth, and infidelity. The story follows Deni Rydell in the town of Gold Hills, who’s finally stepping into the life she dreams of when she becomes engaged to Cal Cooper Jr., heir to a vast California mining fortune. But just as wedding preparation is underway, tragedy strikes: Cal and his parents die in a private plane crash, leaving Deni grieving and confused. Meanwhile, Cal’s brother Grant returns from rehab with a mysterious new woman, and a sudden murder forces Detective to look further into the Cooper family. Deni is a compelling, empathetic protagonist with a knack at getting to the truth of things. She’s also somewhat of an unreliable narrator, as there’s always an underlying sense that she’s not telling others everything she knows. Coming from a modest family and having endured tremendous loss, being engaged to Cal Cooper Jr. and thrust into a world of wealth and privilege feels like a new beginning she’s been waiting for her whole life. But everything comes crashing down once Cal and his parents are killed—and just when she tries to wrap her head around what happened, another tragedy strikes, sending her into a tailspin. From here, her character arc and tenacity begin to shine as she takes matters into her own hands—and sometimes recklessly without thinking through consequences—making for a very engrossing read! Grant Cooper, Cal’s brother, is an equally intriguing character—he’s just come out of rehab, and his return to Gold Hills brings with it a host of challenges and uncertainties. His relationship with Erika, the woman he met and fell in love with in rehab, makes him appear gullible. She refuses to give him details of her past but is happy to enjoy the luxuries that his money has to offer, and her behavior is full of red flags—but Grant refuses to see it! There’s a lot of compelling dialogue and confrontational scenes between characters that will keep readers fully engrossed, especially those between Deni and Erika! The female detective protagonist, who’s assigned to investigate a murder in Gold Hills, uncovers some unsettling truths about the Coopers—and becomes both an ally and a “thorn in the side” to Deni. The characters’s relationships, alliances, and arcs continue to shift and evolve right up until the very end, so be prepared for a thoroughly entertaining & unputdownable read! The novel has a slow-burn start, giving readers in-depth character development and a gradual buildup of tension, motives, and backstory. The midsection has better pacing and dives into the Cooper family’s dynamics and secrets, the detectives’s investigation, and their intricate interrogations (of Deni and others). The ending has a few pleasing twists, some predictable and others that come out of nowhere, giving readers a satisfying resolution! Overall, Long Way Down is a standout domestic thriller that has the perfect balance of domestic drama, family, secrets, murder, mystery, and character-driven intricate storytelling! It’s suspenseful, intricate, and twisty, without being over the top or requiring readers to suspend their disbelief too much (which is refreshing!)—and, most importantly, it will keep readers hooked until the end!