‘First to Fall’ by C L Pattison.

Published by Headline,
27 February 2025. 
ISBN: 978-1-0354 -51-9 (PBO)

Libby fell in love with figure skating when she was 11.  She has achieved some success, but the need to earn a living has meant her getting a job and reconciling herself to giving up her skating ambitions.  However, to her surprise she receives an invitation from Lukas Wolff, the world-famous figure skater, to train with him and, after some persuasion, takes up the offer.  On arriving at his amazing house in the Bavarian Forest, she is again surprised to discover that eight other very talented young skaters have also been invited.  Wolff starts the course with an unusual first day of training and later shares the news that the training programme will result in one person being evicted every week. .

The course progressed, friendships and relationships are forged, and Woolf continues to surprise, unsettle and shock the skaters.  Then one of the skaters dies in mysterious circumstances, the snow starts to fall and, suddenly, they find themselves snowed in.  They are trapped, with no electricity, no connection with the outside world, limited food and a murderer in their midst.  The beautiful setting of the house takes on a threatening aspect.  As the anxiety and tension build up the story moves to an unexpected ending.

Libby’s colleagues are a mixed bunch, all very motivated, but with a variety of backstories and motivations.  She is a strong main character – though she underestimates her own abilities, she does follow her instincts and act on them, something that Woolf seems to value.  He himself is a somewhat mysterious character, whose motivation for the training course gradually become apparent.  The figure skating background itself adds colour and information to fascinating and interesting story. 
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Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood. 
Other books by this author:  The Housemate, The Guest Book, The Florist

C.L. Pattison worked as an entertainment journalist for 20 years, before re-training as a PCSO with Hampshire Constabulary. Today, she writes psychological thrillers from her home on the south coast of England. Her previous novels, The Housemate, The Guest Book and The Florist, have been published in eight languages and were all eBook bestsellers.  

Jo Hesslewood.  Crime fiction has been my favourite reading material since as a teenager I first spotted Agatha Christie on the library bookshelves.  For twenty-five years the commute to and from London provided plenty of reading time.  I am fortunate to live in Cambridge, where my local crime fiction book club, Crimecrackers, meets at Heffers Bookshop .  I enjoy attending crime fiction events and currently organise events for the Margery Allingham Society.