Down The Rabbit Hole by Australian author Shaeden Berry is her debut fiction novel. There is mystery, tragedy, grief, sadness, and secrets — lots of secrets.
Hannah Shean is packing her suitcase with the few possessions she owns. She is returning to her small hometown in coastal WA to help her mum, Jamie with rehab after her surgery. She has not been home since her best friend Alice Montgomery went missing without a trace in 2015.
When she returns, Hannah is determined to uncover the truth about Alice. She hears Marnie Montgomery, Alice’s mum, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This is an opportunity to ask questions before it is too late. Marnie insists she knows nothing of her daughter’s disappearance and blames Rachel Olney, Alice’s high-school teacher.
The more Hannah delves she realises how much three women’s lives have been affected by the tragedy. There is pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, and unavailing remorse. Will fractured relationships be healed and will Alice’s disappearance be revealed?
From the first page, I was fully invested in this well-crafted mystery. The depiction of the small-town community provides authenticity, unveiling a canvas of interconnected lives, secrets, and human relationships with multiple character viewpoints woven in.
The plot moves at a smooth pace with fantastic dialogue exchanges and vivid scenes. You think you have it all figured out with its trail of clues, but then it shifts in a new direction with just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning.
This story is filled with well-drawn and sophisticated characters. The author writes about family dynamics in a powerful way, using emotions and feelings to enrich the characters and create situations that enable readers to appreciate their humanity.
The main characters each get the chance to speak their point of view. I found myself rooting for Hannah, she desperately wanted to discover what happened to her best friend, full of frustration she had the guts and determination to find the answers.
Marnie may come across as an unlikeable character, but I liked her bluntness and her take it or leave it attitude. Rachel was not my favourite character, she has no self-awareness and I found it hard to relate to her.
The cover has a beautiful colour palette, and the picture is so whimsical you are immediately drawn to it. The large type combined with the colours makes this so effective.
Shaeden Berry is a great storyteller, this tale will bring tears to the eyes of readers, touch their hearts, and have them reflect on themes of love, family, and commitment. I look forward to reading future novels.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Down the Rabbit Hole by Shaeden Berry. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.

My love of books started at a very young age. My mum has always been a reader and encouraged me to read, buying me endless book from classic fairy tales advancing to the world of Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene, Francine Pascal. In my adult years the list of authors is endless and every room in my house is filled with books.
One of my favourite novels is Narnia which has always has a special place in my heart. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1978 and when I was given this book to read it let me escape to another world where I felt like I was in the book with all the characters, it wasfun and exciting to escape from reality and eased the ups and downs of the disease at such a young age.
In books nothing is impossible and there is endless potential and hundreds of places to explore or being taken to places that are only made up from the authors’ great minds, the past and future to navigate, characters lives you step into taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride or being scared out of your wits. I can experience things that I can’t in real life because they’re not possible or real. It challenges my perspective and mindset expanding my worldview.
I find joy, comfort and peace with books, many people may not get it, but I know bookworms like me truly understand. Reading makes my heart happy.
Shaeden Berry does an excellent job of exploring the complex relationship between Hannah Shean and her mother, who is recuperating after a recent surgery. Hannah has been away from home, a coastal town in Western Australia, for several years after fleeing when her best friend, Alice Montgomery disappeared. She decides to return to find the truth!
The story is further enhanced with the introduction of a local high school teacher, Rachel Olney, who is known to have befriended Alice at some point in her schooling.
Hannah is also suspicious of Alice’s own mother, Marnie Montgomery, who is facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. Perhaps now is the right time for Hannah to find the truth about her best friends disappearance.
A riveting story, with believable characters and a suspenseful plot.
Thank you for the opportunity to read, ‘Down The Rabbit Hole.”
Thank you so much, Beauty and Lace and Echo Publishing for the opportunity to read and review ‘Down The Rabbit Hole.’ I really enjoyed this book by Shaeden Berry, I felt the key characters were totally relatable, it was very well written, well thought out, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the pages.
Hannah’s life changed irrevocably when her teen friend Alice went missing in 2015, and Hannah has been wildly veering off track ever since. Hannah has a typical teenage daughter relationship with her mum Jamie, that she has carried into adulthood. When an opportunity presents itself for Hannah to reconnect with her mum, she reluctantly accepts the challenge. Whilst Hannah’s mum Jamie is thankful to have Hannah back in the family home, Jamie’s sceptical neighbour Ginger can see through Hannah’s ploy, and consistently quizzes her motives.
A chance comment from the local hairdresser, sets the wheels in motion and Hannah is determined to pay Alice’s mum, Marnie a visit before it’s too late. Marnie is not overly enthused to see Hannah; a lot of Marnie’s long quashed memories and disappointments start to raise their ugly heads and has Marnie re-accessing her past parenting skills. A chance comment from Marnie has Hannah putting her sleuthing flair into overdrive and actively seeking out Rachel, a former teacher both Hannah and Alice had as teens.
Hannah’s quest overrides dedicating her time to caring duties to her mum Jamie, which should be her number one priority, and Ginger constantly quick to point out Hannah’s failings is not helpful. After catch up drinks with friends, Hannah is introduced to Cassie, and the pair immediately click. With Cassie’s assistance, together we all venture down the rabbit hole hand-in hand with Hannah.
Shaeden Berry’s Down the Rabbit Hole bravely explores the damaged relationship between mother and daughter. Hannah seems to be going through the motions of life – some may say she’s actually bouncing from job to job, half-heartedly doing a course at Uni. She’s running from the past – a past where her friend Alice Montgomery disappeared 7 years ago and when she returns home to a small coastal town in Western Australia to look after her mum after she has surgery, she discovers her missing friends’ mother has terminal cancer. Hannah has a burning desire to find out if her friend is missing or she has been murdered – after all there was gossip about Marnie (Alice’s mum) being an addict and recluse. Marnie maintains that she is innocent and points the finger at the teacher that taught both Hannah and Alice is hiding something. As the story progressed, I realised the focus wasn’t on a crime (or potential crime) as I originally thought in fact it is about 3 women impacted by tragedy and seeking closure.
This was definitely a standout read of this year for me – I really loved the suspense vibe. If I was to sum up this book in one word it would have to be wow!
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Echo Publishing for my copy of Down the Rabbit Hole. And thanks must go to Shaeden Berry for writing such an amazing book.
Down the Rabbit Hole by Shaeden Berry is a compelling work of fiction that weaves together complex family relationships, love and the healing power of forgiveness.
The story follows Hannah Shean as she returns to her hometown, seven years after the mysterious disappearance of her best friend, Alice Montgomery. Driven by a deep need for closure, Hannah embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind Alice’s disappearance. The novel has many interesting characters and it explores family dynamics, revealing how secrets and unresolved emotions can shape lives.
Down the Rabbit Hole is a journey of self-discovery and redemption. Thank you very much Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read and review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking and captivating read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read Down The Rabbit Hole
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The way the characters were relatable was great, every family has mother daughter issues, the way it was written was spot on. It kept you intrigued in what was going to happen and what had happened to her teenage friend. On her quest to find closure of what had occured to her friend leads to a journey of self discovery, how family secrets were kept and much more. How we deal with our emotions that have been kept in check for years
This book was well written and was a great read, I highly recommend it.
Thank you beauty and lace for the opportunity to read this novel.
Your childhood shapes you, the memories, the people, the friendships. This was nevermore true than for Hannah. She has been adrift, trying to find her way but stumbling from one thing to the next. Returning home wasn’t in the plan, but her mum needs her, at least that’s what she tells herself is the whole reason for the return.
Follow as she chases her past, looking to find the answers, or is it the questions?
I really enjoyed this book, easy to read, left you wondering.
Down the Rabbit Hole by Shaeden Berry is a beautifully written story about Hannah, who returns to the town she grew up in while her mother is recuperating from surgery. Hannah has spent her years since high school floating and keeping people at a distance, so returning home allows for her to come to terms with her past.
This book explores the complexities of relationships and the effects trauma has on others and through this exploration, Hannah is able to work through some of her issues that are holding on to her.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Shaeden Berry for the opportunity to read this story.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book! It was the first by this author for me and I really enjoyed it.
I found the characters easy to relate to an absolutely loved the twists and turns!