The Fall of Faith

Lust. Kills.

When a trucker gets stranded in a small Missouri town, he finds himself surrounded by a band of miscreants, fools and zealots. Danger closes in around him as he falls for a seductive local woman with a dark and secretive past. And the more he learns about the town and its inhabitants, the less likely it becomes that he’ll make it out alive. 

Will he find love at long last?

Or will he lose his life along with his faith?

“The Fall of Faith” is a gritty domestic thriller about lust, love and the consequences of doing whatever it takes to survive.

Awards:

• 2023 American Fiction Awards Finalist
• 2023 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
• 2023 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award Finalist

Media Reviews:

“This small-town crime thriller presents an interesting premise with a sardonic tone, discomforting encounters, and a fresh twist….Berney brings a unique sensibility to the story, filling the setting and circumstances with visceral unease.…The prose is strong, with a fine balance struck between exposition, energetic and snappy dialogue, and the protagonist’s introspection.”
– The BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly

“Dark, twisted humor punctuates a weirdly gratifying story with brilliant dialogue, unforgettable characters, and several consequential themes. An erratic pace and the stubborn illogic of the scenarios is deliberately disorienting, giving readers a true taste of the ‘Hotel California’ Jimmy has checked into. Yet, even in this baleful ambiance, the author works beauty into tragedy.”
– Indies Today

“Berney’s story is anything but the usual genre read. Its characterization, plot progression, and the detailed, realistic atmosphere of Missouri and Kansas that come alive under Berney’s hand lead readers into realms which are entirely unpredictable….Metaphors and insights permeate a tale replete with the unexpected…in a plot that revolves around sin, survival, redemption, and death….highly recommended for readers seeking surprises in powerful writing.”
– Midwest Book Review

“The Fall of Faith by Jeff Berney is a book about love, hidden pains, faith, and friendship. I like how the author used some idioms to express himself….his creative writing skills carried me through the book’s pages and always made it exciting….it was easy for me to picture and feel the emotions.”
– Online Book Club

“Dark and addictive…Berney delivers a fine blend of thriller, beguiling romance, mayhem, and human drama in his latest novel….The overarching plot and absorbing narrative voice make this an intriguingly immersive read. Heartbreaking and satisfying at once.”
– The Prairies Book Review

“This book is exemplary. It’s part romance, part urban fantasy, part alternate reality, part thriller, but it’s mostly an engrossing story that will keep the pages turning. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits. They are a real strength to the story….many twists and turns keep the reader guessing.”
– Writer’s Digest Review

Reader Reactions:

“I’ve never read anything quite like this before. This is honestly one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. The writing to me is reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut, but it is also distinct. It’s hard to describe, but you’ll understand what I mean when you read it….Approach this the same way you’d approach a David Lynch movie: don’t ask too many questions, don’t try to make it make sense, just sit back and enjoy the chaos and creativity.”
– Amazon reader

“When the description said gritty it meant gritty! I felt like I needed a shower reading this book. The detailed descriptions of characters and surroundings were so precise I could smell it.”
– Goodreads reviewer

“This story is very real, but also very allegoric. I find some of the characters very disturbing but in a good way. It somehow provokes deep thought about what faith means, what love means, and what it really means to go after what your heart desires most instead of the confusion in your head. Highly recommended.”
– Amazon reader

“Jimmy’s lorry overturns in Eden but he’s certainly not in paradise. It’s more like hell on earth and who is the strange little girl? This is one of the most intriguing and unusual books I have ever read and found it very hard to put down. This book certainly won’t disappoint.”
– Goodreads reviewer

“A dark ride through a carnival funhouse. From the moment you start reading The Fall of Faith you’re whisked on a carnival ride through varying degrees of nightmare….The author lured me into the story by making me laugh out loud in the first several pages, and then I found I was buckled in for the ride and couldn’t stop until the end.”
– Amazon reader

“I loved this book….The main male character captured my heart….I felt the same for the female character. We went on a rollercoaster of emotions together.”
– Goodreads reviewer

“Everything you want out of a thriller. So many twists and constant drama. Most of all I was completely caught off guard with the ending.”
– Amazon reader

“Dark twisty thriller that grabbed me right away.  Interesting characters, even the unlikable ones.”
– Goodreads reviewer  

“Anyone who is a fan of Dark Places will be interested in The Fall of Faith. This is a brutal domestic thriller about love, faith, consequences and responsibility, about the obstacles and the winding road to survive. Well done!”
– Amazon reader

“In this dark–and often darkly funny–tale, author Berney doesn’t let the characters take the fall alone; he pushes the reader off the cliff along with them….The story is rich and complex, with a decidedly bent take on the usual suspects one might expect in a small-town thriller. Berney can turn a phrase and has some things on his mind. If you like offbeat with a particular David-Lynchian palette, have faith that you, too, may fall for this book.”
– Goodreads reviewer

“This heartwrenching story will engage you till the end. It’s a story of hope and resilience, but also of despair and tragedy. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the emotional stakes feel very real. It’s a must-read! I highly recommend it! It’s a book that will remain with you long after you finish reading. Highly recommended.”
– Amazon reader

“A spellbinding domestic thriller leads you through a story about sex and love, friendship and deceit, obsession and guilt, and finally faith. The novel takes you on a journey with truck driver Jimmy, seeking redemption in a small town full of ‘different’ and ‘strange’ people. The story telling captures the essence of a struggling but good man, surrounded by hidden darkness and light. Worthy of five stars.”
– Goodreads reviewer