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    The Night Olivia Fell
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    The Night Olivia Fell
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    The Night Olivia Fell
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Night Olivia Fell

    Written by Christina McDonald

    Narrated by Kelly Burke and Laurel Lefkow

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    ‘A stunning debut that kept me guessing until the final, heartbreaking twist’ Claire Douglas ‘Addictive, twisty and beautifully written’ Alice Feeney

    * * * * *

    A fast-paced and action-packed thriller, full of twists and turns you won’t see coming. It is the most gripping suspense mystery you’ll read this year.

    They said it was an accident. Her mother knows they’re lying. But the truth comes with a price…

    IT’S EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE.

    Abi Knight is startled awake in the middle of the night to a ringing phone and devastating news – her teenage daughter, Olivia, has been in a terrible accident.

    Abi is told that Olivia slipped and fell from a bridge into the icy water below, and now she lies silent, dependent on life support.

    But then Abi sees the angry bruises around Olivia’s wrists and learns that her sensible daughter is in fact three months pregnant . . .

    WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT IF THEY TOLD YOU IT WAS AN ACCIDENT?

    * * * * *

    What authors are saying about The Night Olivia Fell:

    ‘Addictive, twisty and beautifully written, an emotional roller coaster of a thriller that kept me guessing until the very end’ Alice Feeney, international bestselling author of Sometimes I Lie

    ‘A stunning debut that kept me guessing until the final, heartbreaking twist’ Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of Do Not Disturb

    ‘I was absolutely hooked; it was such an emotional read that I was broken by the end. Heartbreaking and thrilling at the same time’ Jenny Blackhurst, author of How I Lost You

    The Night Olivia Fell is leaving readers gripped!

    ‘This is a corker of a book that kept me reading late into the night. Highly recommend’

    ‘A brilliant read…gripped me from the start’

    ‘An absolutely brilliant premise’

    ‘Brilliant book, highly recommended for those that want to be taken on a roller coaster of emotion by a supremely talented author’

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateFeb 7, 2019
    ISBN9780008307684
    Author

    Christina McDonald

    Christina McDonald is the USA TODAY bestselling author of Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie, and The Night Olivia Fell, which has been optioned for television by a major Hollywood studio. Originally from Seattle, Washington, she now lives in London, England, with her husband, two sons, and their dog, Tango.

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    Reviews for The Night Olivia Fell

    4/5

    147 ratings17 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Good story but I wouldn’t say fast moving psychological thriller, a bit slow moving in places. Good story could have been better
    • 3/5
      Book was easy to figure out who the culprit who hurt Abi’s daughter. I skipped ahead to the end since I knew who had hurt Olivia and how the book would end.
    • 4/5
      Abi's life changes forever when she gets the dreaded "3am phone call", informing her that her only child, Olivia, is in the hospital, having fallen from a bridge, and will not recover from her injuries. Olivia is brain dead, being kept alive by machines, in an effort so save her unborn child that no one knew about until now.

      The police investigation underway stalls shortly thereafter, so a frustrated Abi begins an investigation of her own. She refuses to accept that Olivia, a bright, popular teenager with a zest for life, jumped purposely to her death, as the lead investigator claims. Abi saw the bruises on Olivia's wrists - something altogether more sinister is at play here.

      Through her journey, Abi begins to question if she really knew her daughter at all. And through the time-hopping chapters, we learn that Olivia, who recently learned an earth-shattering secret about her own past, had been questioning her mother's motives and loyalties as well. Will Abi learn what really happened to Olivia that fateful night she fell? And will she be able to handle the truth?

      An overall fast-paced book, that you will race to the end to finish, and a very enjoyable read. At time, however, the writing was a bit clumsy, or some character motivations didn't jive throughout. All-in-all, though, I would recommend the book. Four stars, Ms. McDonald - thank you for the read!
    • 4/5
      I am literally sitting here in tears. What a horribly sad and touching story. But it was so well done that you can’t really fault anyone, especially since unfortunately, this kind of stuff does happen. I was not too surprised at the ending. I had a feeling that it would play out the way it did. The characters are extremely well done and you really can feel their emotion and pain and happiness and ultimately, their loss. You just can’t help feeling the useless and pointless loss of a life.
    • 4/5
      I guess I expected too much; I'd heard this was an amazing book. It was good, in fact, I read it pretty much in one sitting. I just got sick of all the lies and half-truths that people told to avoid hurting someone's feelings. It was a fast read!
    • 4/5
      The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald is a 2019 Gallery Books publication.Engrossing and emotional mystery-When Abigail Knight learns that her seventeen- year- old daughter, Olivia, is lying in a coma after a fall, her life turns on a dime. Noticing some marks on Olivia's body which suggests the possibility of foul play, Abi works tirelessly to discover what really happened to her daughter. Yet, she is met with one brick wall after another and resistance from law enforcement when she pushes them to pursue the case fully.Meanwhile, we hear directly from Olivia, who fills in the blanks about her home life, introducing us to her friends, and romantic interests, while explaining the events leading up to her fall.Her haunting voice reflects on her relationship with Abigail and the usual teenage dramas, which eventually leads to some hard and serious questions about her absentee father.This is a very impressive debut novel by Christina McDonald. I was immediately invested in the story and remained riveted all the way through to the heart-rending conclusion. The mother/daughter dynamic is explored as long buried secrets float to the surface, highlighting the similarities and differences between Adi and Olivia. The taut atmosphere kept me on edge, despite sensing the direction the story was going to take me.The questions Adi has about what led to Olivia’s fall, the lies and secrets that plague Adi and the teenage angst, makes the mystery compelling, with several surprising revelations, that kept me guessing until the big reveal, which did, but didn’t surprise me, if that makes any sense.Teetering on the literary line, the story delves deeply into the various insecurities and vulnerabilities of the characters touching the need for belonging, the ways we detach to protect ourselves, and how we deal with life’s curveballs and the lessons one takes away from adversity and tragedy.It’s not often that a mystery novel is as thought provoking and stirring as it is suspenseful, but McDonald manages it masterfully!4 stars
    • 4/5
      “Whatever, whatever. I’m here forever”

      4.5 ⭐️ Stars for this read. I could not put down this book. Make sure you have tissues handy, and don’t finish reading it around anyone! The characters are relatable, flawed and real.

      Abi is a single Mom to 17 yo Olivia. She is keeping a secret, thinking she is doing the best thing in protecting Olivia. Olivia is for all purposes, a normal 17 yo girl. But she has questions she needs answered. She unexpectedly meets her ‘double’ randomly and a lot of her questions come to surface. As the mom of a 17 yo daughter, I can so relate to the mother/daughter dynamics, and the school drama. When Abi gets THE phone call no parent ever wants, it sets her world spiraling.

      Although, I found some parts of the story predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the author’s writing. This book is so much more than just a mystery, it’s a love story...between mother/daughter, sisters, and young love. The ending ripped my heart out!

      Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley got this digital ARC. Opinion is my one. I look forward to reading this author again.
    • 4/5
      Who exactly is Olivia? Did her search for her true identity lead to the disaster...or was it just a terrible accident? Abi...Olivia's mother...was a literal basket case. I wondered how long she thought she could keep her secret from Olivia and how soon before Olivia would rebel. So the storyline revolves around the question of did Olivia fall from the bridge or was she pushed. The police were less than enthusiastic in their joke of an investigation and decided to half-heartedly listen to her mother who is certain it was a crime. Meanwhile Olivia remains brain dead...kept alive so her fetus can grow and be born. They are actually going to give Abi another child to raise???? The list of people who could have wanted Olivia dead is longer than Abi ever could have imagined. The known boyfriend??...The secret boyfriend? ?...The ex best friend??... The newly discovered half sister??...Her biological father??...or was it would it appears to be...just a tragic accident?
    • 4/5
      “The Night Olivia Fell” by Christina McDonald is a suspense novel that starts with Abigail “Abi” Knight getting a middle of the night call. Her daughter Olivia has fallen off a bridge.

      Olivia is brain-dead, but even more shocking – she is pregnant. She has to remain on life-support to keep her baby alive.

      The incident is ruled an accident, but Abi is convinced there was foul play, especially with the bruises on her daughter’s wrists. Abi decides to look into what happened on the bridge.

      The story is told from two POVs –

      * Olivia – from the past six (6) months and leading up to the accident
      * Abi – from the accident forward

      Single mom Abi and her daughter are close. But, despite their closeness, they’re both hiding secrets.

      Olivia grew up thinking her father had been killed. But, while visiting a college she runs into someone who looks enough like her to be her twin – Kendall Montgomery. Olivia sends the girl a friend request on Facebook and the two began talking. The problem? Kendall’s dad is an up and coming politician – Gavin Montgomery.

      In the months leading up to her accident, Olivia is desperately seeking the truth about her father who it turns out is very much alive. Did seeking the truth cause her accident?

      That’s what Abi wants to know.

      The police are told to stop investigating the incident and refer to it as solely an accident. The investigation stalls until she gets help from someone working in the Seattle Police Department.

      Abi has to confront a past she wanted to remain hidden.

      But, the truth about her daughter’s accident is one that she didn’t expect.
      For those who are thinking that there are not mothers and daughters that are this close – my mother and I are very close indeed, and like Abi, my mother was a single parent (not by choice though). Perhaps not for the same reasons as Abi and Olivia are in this story, but we are close. I have no secrets from her and she hasn’t kept any secrets from me. While rare, it does happen. While some find that part unrealistic, I can relate to the relationship.

      “The Night Olivia Fell” is a disturbing, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching story of love, lies, deceit, secrets, and jealousy. It makes you consider the impact of a lie, but it also highlights the fact that the truth can be just as hurtful if not dangerous.

      This is the first novel I’ve read by the author and was quite impressed by it. It is not normally the type of story I would read only because it dealt with a child’s death, particularly a pregnant teen. The premise was interesting and I wanted to see how it played out. The title was definitely eye-catching.

      I was somewhat surprised and yet not surprised by who the killer was. After I read the book, it was apparent that there were subtle clues all along.

      Some have remarked this was more for the YA (young adult) genre than a serious adult thriller. I believe it could be marketed for both adults with the mother’s perspective, and also the YA market with the daughter’s perspective.

      It is an easy to read book with short chapters. The author’s history as a journalist gives the story life with the vivid descriptions and sensory words.

      It is hard to LOVE a book with such a sad premise, but it wasn’t a disappointment to read either.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald is an emotional, poignant and compelling domestic mystery.

      Abigail "Abi" Knight knows right away an early morning phone call brings nothing but bad news.  But she has no idea just how tragically heartbreaking the news awaiting her at the hospital is going to be. Her beloved, only daughter, seventeen year old Olivia, is brain dead yet due to Washington laws, she has to remain on life support until she gives birth. Abi is stunned by this shocking detail because she had no idea Olivia is pregnant. Even more  upsetting is the realization that the police are not investigating her daughter's late night fall from a bridge. Abi wants to know who is responsible for hurting her daughter and she absolutely refuses to stop searching until she learns the  painful truth.

      Abi is an extremely over-protective mother who clings tightly to Olivia. She works hard and willingly makes whatever sacrifices necessary for her daughter's future. Abi holds herself back from friendships and she does not date. She is also very tight-lipped about the identity of Olivia's father and no one, including her older sister, Sarah, knows who he is.

      Up until the past several months, Olivia has never pushed back on Abi's smothering concern and stringent rules.  But after she decides to learn the truth about her father, she asserts herself much to her mother's dismay. Olivia is also going  through changes in her personal life but her well-intentioned choice to protect someone close to her makes her feel guilty.  Olivia is withholding important information from Abi but does this have anything to do with her fall?

      Due to her difficult childhood, Abi knows how difficult it is to live without answers about life-altering events.  So, when it comes to Olivia's fall, she refuses to let police inaction stop her from unearthing the truth. During the course of investigation, she is dismayed and hurt as she discovers what Olivia was doing in the previous months. However, as she tries to untangle her daughter's life, she learns a valuable lesson about accepting help and allowing herself to trust the people in her orbit.

      Written from Abi's perspective in the present and Olivia's point of view in the months preceding her fall, The Night Olivia Fell is an absolutely riveting mystery. With a complex and multi-dimensional storyline and well-rounded characters, the novel  captures readers' attention right from the first page.  Abi is an incredibly sympathetic character who sometimes thinks before she acts. Olivia is a normal teenager who wants to learn the truth about her father, but she discovers far too late that she is in over her head.  With a stunning array of twists and heart-wrenching turns, the truth about who harmed Olivia and why is revealed in a during a shocking confrontation.

      Keep the tissues handy because Christina McDonald's will bring readers to tears as this emotional debut comes a deeply moving conclusion.
    • 5/5
      This was a heartbreaking whodunit, and an amazing debut novel. I loved how Christina McDonald told the story of Olivia, a good girl teenager, who suddenly changes and is pushed over a bridge and left for dead. Now Olivia is brain dead, and her mother, Abi, tries to figure out why. So many possible people are suspect in this novel. Abi struggles with how she raised Olivia, and what mistakes she made. She uncovers some things about Olivia which were kept secret from her, and explain why Olivia changed so much in the previous months. But, Abi also finds answers.I really loved this book - all the possibilities, all the nuances, all the people who had reasons to be suspects, and the surprises! Well done!!#TheNightOliviaFell #ChristinaMcDonald
    • 5/5
      This book is amazing! Read it. End of story. Ok, I guess you want to know a bit more. Olivia is a 17 year old girl when she falls from a bridge and is brain damaged beyond all hope. Her mother, Abi, is understandably devastated. Being a single mother, her and Olivia were close and Abi just wanted to protect her. Where did it all go wrong? Because Abi can see that Olivia's fall may not have been an accident and also, Olivia is pregnant. Abi becomes determined to find out what really happened to Olivia.This is a book that hits the ground running and right from the prologue it's thrilling and I found it hard to put down. We see the current situation through Abi's eyes and follow her investigations into what happened that night, and we also see flashbacks of the past through Olivia's eyes which brought to life a character who is now silent. I liked both of the main characters very much and could really identify with Abi's distress over her daughter who is being kept alive until the baby is born and then she will die. The end section was really emotional and I might just have shed a tear or two. How could I not? This is heartbreaking stuff.I wasn't sure I would get on with Olivia's sections at first. I don't have much in common with a 17 year old student! But she had a good head on her shoulders and I feel pleased that I was able to 'meet' her. I certainly preferred her to some of the teenagers in the book! But I thought they were all well-portrayed, doing all the things that teenagers do.I find the lines blurred for me between what is a psychological thriller and what isn't. This has elements of the thriller about it but it's more the heartbreaking story of a mother's love and what she will do for her daughter, not just now but for the whole of her life. It's also full of suspense. We're not only kept guessing about whether Olivia fell or was pushed, but other secrets come to the fore as the story progresses and this made it a genuinely thrilling read.For a debut I think this is a fabulous piece of writing. Christina McDonald is an accomplished author, she's weaved a story that not only kept me interested but had me needing to know some answers. I thought it was brilliant.
    • 4/5
      Was it an accident or something more? That is what is at the bottom of this story. A mother is awoken in the middle of the night by a phone call that changes her life forever. This book goes back and forth between present day and a few months in the past to tell the story of what happened the night Olivia fell. I thought I had figured it all out, twice. But I was wrong! The characters were all believable. I loved the relationship between Olivia and her mom. There was even the high school scene, with the snotty best friend that could turn on you and turn everyone against you. A very strong debut novel.
    • 3/5
      Alternating between the perspectives of Olivia, leading up to the night of her fall and Abi (her mother), in the aftermath of the fall, The Night Olivia Fell is a mystery at its core. The book does have suspense, and I wanted to know what happened. However, it was also predictable. I figured out most of it and it was just a matter of reading to see how it all came together.

      Olivia's chapters read a little bit like young adult fiction, but they were from the perspective of a 16-year-old girl. Abi came across as desperate (which is to be expected) but also naive. It was frustrating to read her, running blindly trying to figure out what happened, trusting the wrong people.

      The story starts with knowing that something happened to Olivia. She was in an "accident" which her mom believes was not an accident, but a deliberate action. Olivia was so severely injured she is brain-dead and would never wake up. However, then it is discovered that she's pregnant. It's pretty easy to figure out who the baby's father is (even though plenty of people Abi talks to lie to her). I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the story; I just wish there was a little more suspense.

      Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Wow, the hype you may be hearing about this book is worth it. This was a one seat read for me! In the beginning, I must admit that I was not drawn to Abi but luckily, this feeling did not last long. She showed that a mother's love is the strongest love. She was the whole reason that I loved this book so much. Her daughter, Olivia may have been the whole reason why Abi fought so hard but I did not share the same strong connection towards her as I did her mother. This book is toward from alternating view points. The two main voices are Olivia and Abi. As the story progresses, the events leading to the tragic ending are slowly revealed. What I will say is that I did feel sadness for Olivia. She seemed lost trying to find her place among friends. I will leave you with one last word of advise...if you read any book in 2019; make sure it is The Night Olivia Fell! Not to be missed.
    • 5/5
      the night Olivia fellByChristina McDonaldWhat it's all about...Abi is Olivia’s mother. Abi has raised Olivia alone. They are close...very close. Abi wants only to keep Olivia safe. She monitors Olivia’s studies, whereabouts, friends...pretty much keeping very close tabs on her entire life. Then Abi gets the phone call that every parent fears...Olivia has had an accident. And...if that wasn’t enough...there is even more news about Olivia to absorb. Olivia is brain dead and pregnant and must be kept alive until her baby is ready to be born. Why I wanted to read it...I love mother daughter books and this one was about Abi and Olivia and their fragile relationship. Olivia was beginning to lie to Abi about everything...every aspect of her life. But the biggest lie of all was that she was pregnant...something that both Abi and Olivia wanted to avoid. What made me truly enjoy this book...The writing was lovely, the alternating Abi/Olivia chapters were intense and the mystery surrounding Olivia’s birth made this book one I could not put down. Why you should read it, too...This book was both joyful and sad...I simply loved reading it. I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
    • 5/5
      It's difficult to believe that this was Christina McDonald's debut adult novel. This book was so well written that it got my attention on page 1 and kept me turning pages until the end. The characters were so well written that I felt like I knew them in real life. Warning -- have tissue close to you because you're going to need it.Abi is a single mother and she and her daughter Olivia have always been very close. Olivia was a popular and very smart student who was planning to go to college. Imagine getting that phone call in the middle of the night from the hospital telling you that your daughter had been badly injured - the daughter that you were sure was asleep down the hall. It only gets worse when Abi talks to the doctors -not only is Olivia brain dead but she is pregnant and the hospital has to keep Olivia on life support until the baby is delivered. When Abi sees the bruises on Olivia's wrists she begins to question the police who believe that this was an accident and not a homicide. As Abi starts questioning her daughter's death, she not only learns more about her daughter and their relationship, she also begins to discover who she is not only as a mother but also as a woman.Was Olivia pushed? Was it an accident? Did she commit suicide? This wonderfully well written novel will have you asking those questions to the end as you become part of this family mystery. FANTASTIC!!Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.