In She Fell Away, Lenore Nash introduces Lake Harlowe, a U.S. State Department diplomat whose new posting in New Zealand quickly turns into a search for a missing American teen, Bowie Bishop. What begins as a disappearance unfolds into something far darker, pulling Lake into a web of power, secrets, money and buried truths. As the investigation deepens, so does the story’s emotional core, revealing Lake’s own past growing up in a cult and the lingering trauma that still shapes her choices. The case becomes more than a mission. It becomes personal, especially as the connections between Lake, Bowie, and the complicated relationships with their mothers begin to surface.
I was pleasantly surprised by the emotional depth running beneath the tension. Nash’s background in historical romance shines through in the immersive writing and carefully built atmosphere. This is not a breakneck thriller chasing plot alone. It is deeply character driven, spending real time inside Lake’s grief, guilt, and internal struggles. The dynamics between Lake and her mother, Bowie and her mother, and the growing connection between Lake and Bowie give the story weight and urgency. Lake’s childhood trauma unfolds slowly, revealing pieces of a painful past that adds another layer of intrigue and keeps the emotional stakes high.
Pick this up if you want a thriller with substance and mood, one that values psychological complexity as much as suspense. The tension is steady, the emotional threads are compelling, and Lake Harlowe feels like a character with much more to reveal. I am genuinely excited this is the start of a series because her story feels far from finished, and I want to see where her journey goes next.
Follow Teresa on Twitter or Instagram or contact her via the site.
Purchase She Fell Away
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)
Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen
