I loved this story! As a big horror fan it was so fun to see someone play with the popular Final Girl trope and put a unique spin on it. This was such a gripping thriller, I couldn't finish it fast enough!

REVIEW: Final Girls by Riley Sager
June 13, 2017rachandbooksEdit
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There is a term given to three women who share separate but similar stories: they have each been the last ones standing in brutal horror-story level massacres. Lisa lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife. Sam went up against the Sack Man during a late shift at the Nightlight Inn. And then there’s Quincy, who escaped the woods from Pine Cottage from the man she can only refer to as Him. Five friends went into the cottage and only Quincy made it out alive.

They were the lone survivors. They’re dubbed the Final Girls.

10 years after that terrible night at the cottage, Quincy Carpenter, despite everything, is trying to live a normal life. And she’s succeeding. Then, suddenly, Quincy finds out that Lisa is dead and it’s ruled an apparent suicide. This prompts Sam to suddenly appear at Quincy’s door, hellbent on figuring out Quincy’s past and current life, because Quincy’s memories of that fateful night have been blacked out since it happened. It’s something she used to be content with. All of this causes Quincy to question if she’s truly moved on. Each of the girls has secrets and Quincy is now trying to separate the truths from the lies from those around her. The story unravels from here. Secrets are exposed, intentions are revealed, and the reader is given glimpses into what really happened on that nightmare of a night so many years ago.

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Ever since I was a little girl, I loved horror movies–and mysteries and thrillers, as well. I was practically raised on them. I knew very well what I was getting myself into with Final Girls and couldn’t wait to be taken on this journey. I love rooting on “final girls” in films. Ellen Ripley, Sarah Carter, Laurie Strode… to name a few. They’re proof that women can prevail. There’s something empowering about there being a final girl. And you know what else I adore? When stories decide to slip tropes on their head. That’s what happened here because the story begins AFTER the horrible events that lead these women to be the final girls. And, more than that, our protagonist, Quincy, is rejecting the title, whereas Sam and Lisa embrace it. I was so excited by the premise and I wasn’t disappointed by it in the slightest.

This story has been compared to a rollercoaster ride and I think that’s truly accurate. It takes you on this WILD ride that grips you until the *very* end. Riley Sager is a fantastic writer. The pacing is fast and the intensity builds and builds, which is exactly what you want with this kind of story. You HAVE to know what happens next. I think the most exciting bits of the story happens when you read segments from the past and begin slowly piecing everything together. Or attempt to, at least. The twists and turns will leave you feeling woozy in the best way. I was blown away by this book. By the intriguing plot, the well-thought out characters, the REVEALS, the ominous tone, the layers of storytelling–everything!

This is one of those books that once you pick up, you find yourself not being able to put down until you know everything. The last 30% was utterly exhilarating. And the end of the novel has me sitting here reeling. I’m so impressed by this debut work. You should all go ahead and add this to your TBRs, pre-order it, all of that, because this book is going to be huge. Especially if you love thrillers, slasher films, and mysteries. I really enjoyed reading it. This book is certainly worth 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from Riley Rager in the future!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to the the publisher, Dutton, Penguin Random House, and to the author, Riley Sager, for giving me this opportunity.

FINAL GIRLS will be available in stores on July 11, 2017!!

Wow this book was right up my alley! I was totally hooked right from the very first page. I have read so many thrillers that lately I have found myself able to predict the big plot twists, but not with this one! I did not see it coming. I find it difficult to review these types of books as I think it's best to know as little as possible going into it and I don't want to spoil anything. I will say though, that the characters were so so well written. I really felt like I'd formed friendships with each one of the main girls. Read this book!!!

Phew. I think I've been waiting to read this book since I first heard of it as far back as a year ago. A novel about three survivors of three separate serial killers that are suddenly in danger in present-day checked my mystery/thriller/slasher film boxes simultaneously.  I am so happy that this book met my expectations. Strong female characters and an excellent plot are not something I should have to mention, but I feel like I want to make sure I'm giving credit where it's well-earned. 

The protagonist of this novel, Quincy Carpenter was the victim of a murder spree that ended with all of her closest friends dead while she was saved by the intervening of a cop-now turned life protector, Cooper. She has no memory of the murders and has managed to successfully rebuild her life in New York City with a desserts blog and longterm boyfriend. In spite of her attempts at reinventon, she is forever linked in the media to two other "final girls", the lone survivors of their own mass murder sprees, but she wants nothing to do with fellow final girls Lisa or Sam. Quincy's perfectly curated world falls apart with news of Lisa's death and the arrival of Sam into Quincy's life.  As both women cope with their own unresolved traumas, they realize that Lisa's death may have left more questions.

I can't say too much more about the plot because I think this is one of the books that requires a delicate balance to avoid giving up too much. I will say that I read a lot of mysteries and I watch a lot of slasher movies and I was still surprised by the outcome of this book. 

This book doesn't officially come out for another month but it's the perfect add-on to your weekender bag this July. I couldn't put this one down and it may end up being on my favorites list in what is turning into a really crowded year. The plot moves without speeding too fast to enjoy and the characters all feel authentic without being too by the numbers.  Final Girls is worth the time I gave it, and satisfied my need for a good thriller this summer. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!

This is how you do a psychological thriller!!!

Quincy Carpenter is the lone survivor of a grisly crime. Ten years ago she went away with a group of friends to a cabin in the woods (sounds like the setting for a horror movie) to celebrate the birthday of a friend. She is the only one who came home alive. Everyone that weekend was murdered, Quincy was attacked as well, but survived her ordeal only to not remember what happened. She remembers arriving at the cabin with her friends, she remembers events leading up to the night of the murders, and she remembers being saved by a police officer as she ran through the woods covered by blood. The police investigating the murders don't believer her when she does not recall the attack. How could everyone be murdered viciously and she survived with non-life threatening stab wounds?

Now the press has dubbed her a "final girl" She in not the only one with this title. Two other women who have survived vicious attacks have also been dubbed "final girls" by the media. The press and society are interested in how these women survived. The press wants to know everything about their attacks and what these "final girls" had to do in order to survive.

Quincy has made a life for herself since her ordeal. She lives with her boyfriend, she has a baking blog and gets through her day with the help of her Xanax prescription. She has also maintained a relationship with Coop, the police officer who saved her all those years ago. Even after ten years, she still can't remember the massacre that occurred at the cabin.

Then she receives word that one of the other "final girls", Lisa is dead, and the other final girl (Sam) shows up on her doorstep. Suddenly Quincy's life is turned upside down and she starts engaging in activities that are out of the norm for her. Sam wants Quincy to remember what happened the night she was attacked. She tells her that knowing will set her free....but will it? Do you really want to remember your worst nightmare? Will knowing set your free or will it make things worse?

Soon Quincy begins to have her doubts about her new "friend" Sam, about the night her friends were murdered. She learns more details about Lisa's death which make her even more concerned about Sam, her own recent behaviors and that horrible night all of those years ago. Suddenly the nice comfortable life she has built for herself begins to unravel.

Reading this book was like watching a really good horror film/psychological thriller and I do mean that as a compliment! This book had a lot of twists and turns. I like when a book can keep me guessing. There were so many ways this book could have ended and I think this book ended brilliantly. Quite a few times I thought I had this book figured out. I liked that it managed to shock me. I also loved how the Author wrote each character to be interesting - I didn't like all of the characters but they had depth and felt real.

Everything unravels at the perfect pace. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I also enjoyed the way the story is presented. The reader is given glimpses into what happened ten years ago at the cottage as Quincy ,in the present day, is going about her life. As Quincy begins to remember more, the reader is shown more of the past. This was a very nice touch! As that "AHA" moment comes to Quincy it is also revealed to the reader. I felt like I was on the road to discovery with the main character. The story-line told at the cabin was very atmospheric. It was actually quite perfect and gave the story that "horror film" type feel to it. The atmosphere is foreboding, creepy and dark - this setting the "mood" for the massacre.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wish I had the time to go back and read this book all over again. It really is that good! I have a feeling this book is going to be on my top 10 favorite books of the year list! I highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Group/Dutton and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (I honestly LOVED it btw!)

I had been looking forward to reading Final Girls for quite while and I can say that I really enjoyed it. The book is written from Quincy's perspective and flips back and forth between the present and the night at Pine Cottage, slowly telling the back story throughout the book. I do have to say that Quincy as a character was not my favorite and I found her quite annoying at times. It was very interesting to read about Quincy and Sam's relationship after Sam comes into her life and they start to get to know each other. I do have to say that there were a few parts of the book that seemed to slow down a bit and I kept waiting for the plot twist to happen, which of course thought I had figured out. The plot wasn't exactly clear at all times and sometimes I wasn't really sure where it was going. That is where there 4 stars comes from because I was quite impressed by the multiple plot twists towards the end of the book. I do have to say that after the impressive plot twists, the ending wasn't exactly what I expected. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to suspense and thriller fans.

Thank you to the publisher was sending me an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Riley Sager, and Dutton (Penguin Random House) for the advanced reader copy of Final Girls. I give this book a solid 3.5 stars (but oh so close to 4, especially for the first half of the book).

Let me begin by saying that I am not a huge fan of horror literature, so I was hesitant to review the book. After seeing all the great reviews and hype, however, I decided to request a copy. It did not disappoint, and if I was a fan of this genre, I would probably give it a higher rating.

The book starts out with Quincy, who has become a seemingly normal and very successful food and cooking blogger. She lives in a nice, semi-upscale apartment in a big city, and has a loving lawyer boyfriend to boot. As we soon find out, Quincy's normalcy is a ruse; she was a victim of a heinous crime that involved the deaths of all her close college friends during what was supposed to be a fun trip to a cabin in the woods (yes, it's that cliched).

Quincy is the only person to survive the massacre, and as a result she is known as a "final girl" by the media. Final girls are women who have been the lone survivors of violent killing sprees. To her knowledge, there are two other "final girls" out there: Lisa and Samantha. Lisa has managed to make her life also seem normal, and has written a bestselling book about being a survivor. Samantha, in contrast, has disappeared off the radar of society, and no one knows what she looks like or where she went.

Though Quincy seems to have everything (despite being a victim/survivor of a brutal crime), she is wounded. She takes Xanax to ease her constant anxiety. She bakes to exercise control over something, even if it is just a recipe. She feels like she cannot be intimate with or trust anyone, including her own boyfriend. Her scars are not visible to others, but she lives with them day in and day out. On top of this, Quincy has psychological damage that prevents her from accessing memories of the day of her attack, making her question what happened and even her own sanity.

Quincy's life is shaken up when Samantha, one of the final girls, shows up in her neighborhood after Lisa, the other final girl, has supposedly committed suicide. Samantha, or "Sam," is looking to connect with Quincy given their unique status as now the only two "final girls" left standing. At first, Quincy denies Sam's offer of friendship, and questions her motives for showing up at this particular moment in time. But something is off with Sam, and Quincy, desperate to relieve her daily anxiety and pain, befriends someone who seems just like her on the inside (but definitely not on the outside). As readers will soon discover, many people in this book aren't who they initially seem to be, which leads readers on a quest to discover the truth behind the final girls and the events that lead up to Quincy's attack.

The first half of the book was excellent, but it slowed down at about the half-way mark. Nonetheless, it makes for a good summer read, and is well written.

3.5, actually. It's definitely a page turner, it makes you itchy to know what happened and what will happen to the main character. My problem was that it still lacked some oomph and any character I could actually cheer for. But let's talk about the plot first.

Final Girls are what people call the sole survivors from massacres. Even in real life, there are three of those, Lisa, Samantha and the main character, Quincy. But Quincy doesn't feel she is one, she doesn't even remember what happened that night all her friends and boyfriend died. She only remembers being found by police officer Coop, who still now takes care of her. Despite what her current boyfriend thinks, secretly she still has a lot to deal with, like a compulsion to steal shiny things so she can see her reflex. She is under control until she hears about Lisa's suicide and so-far-off-the-radar Samantha shows up in front of her home.

The story is mainly narrated in first person from Quincy's point of view but there small parts done in third person, still from her point of view. This is a minor complaint but whenever they changed to third person, it would feel like a cold shower. I kind of understand the effect Sager was going for—this mainly happened for flashbacks to the night of the massacre—, but I don't think the pro was worth the con.

My big issue was that I couldn't cheer for any character. A big reason was that I suspected anyone, even some homeless guy who was mentioned once, lol. That's a good thing for a thriller, right? I still manage to pick a side, to want to protect someone there. It didn't happen in this book. No one came too close to being likeable. Which made this book not likeable for me.

We have quite a number of plot twists. Some I hadn't considered, so I can't call it predictable. And even those I considered, it wasn't the type I was sure it could only be that. That's why I repeat, this was surely a page turner. And very easy to read too. I'm not a fast reader but I read the second half in basically one sitting, I didn't even want to stop to go to the bathroom.

Nonetheless, the twists weren't much surprising. On the bright side, they weren't the type that makes you want to throw the book against the wall. Nor were they too expected, we had other possible options. This brings us back to what I mentioned, the book lacked oomph. The wow element. And it lacked good characters.

However, it's a book I can say very few could utterly hate. Some may even fall in love with it. If you're interested, go ahead and give it a try. As for me, I just liked it, nothing more, nothing less. In fact, I want to read more from Sager, because chances are high I'll find something I really love.

I thought Final Girls was a lot of fun. This book runs with the idea of what happens after the credits of a slasher movie. There are many twists and turns within a thoroughly entertaining and fast-paced story. I feel like this will be adapted into a film and it would make a good one.

<i>Final Girls</i> should have been a slam dunk. It has not just one but THREE (!) spunky, lady-survivors of horrific massacres. The "Final Girls" as they are dubbed, attempt to dodge the press and live lives of relative obscurity until a tragic death forces them to revisit their pasts. All of this sounds awesome, but unfortunately the book is bogged down with an unlikable narrator and a series of extremely illogical choices. I couldn't make the leap of faith required to follow along with the story. I just kept saying, "Why on earth did she do that? WHO would do that?? Arghhhhhhh, whyyyyyyy!"

Anyway, I would recommend this book to folks who like slasher films, and gruesome thrillers and who can suspend their disbelief for more than 2 seconds (unlike myself).

I'm not really sure the premise of this book holds up. The idea that there are "Final Girls" who are sole survivors of mass killing sprees (just like in your average horror movie!) seems a bit of a stretch. I can't think of one instance, but in this book there are 3 "Final Girls" who have survived infamous massacres at around the same time. Now, 10 years on, one of the three has contacted Quincy Carpenter, another survivor. Quincy has tried to get on with her life after surviving the cabin-in-the-woods horror that happened while she was in college. Although she was injured, she's been able (with the help of a non-stop flow of Xanax and grape soda) to carve out a successful career as a food blogger (not sure how that works, but OK . . .). Then one day she's contacted by Samantha, another Final Girl who's been off the radar for years. Coincidentally, just as they meet it turns out that the third Final Girl, Lisa, has been found dead. This ignites a press frenzy as reporters try to outdo each other in their attempts to get photos and quotes from the surviving girls. It turns out Sam really doesn't have any money or a place to stay in New York City (where Quincy lives with her public defender boyfriend, Jeff), so Quincy invites her for an indefinite stay. Sam for some reason keeps goading Quincy to do things she doesn't want to do, including pressing her on the details of her own horrific experience. It seems that Quincy has been unable to recall what happened on the night all of her friends were killed, much to the consternation of the police who investigated the crime at the time. Eventually, there will be a confrontation that forces Quincy to recall things she had buried for so long, and these recollections will (of course) put her in danger.

I didn't especially enjoy the book, from the wimpy Quincy to the abrasive Sam, and thought the ending was a bit of a stretch.

Grab some popcorn and prepare to be entertained as you dive into this entertaining and twisted thriller!
Horror movie aficionados know the concept of a final girl- the last female left alive after a killer's rampage. When Quincy Carpenter survived a massacre where all the rest of her friends were murdered, the press labeled her a Final Girl- a new member of a very exclusive club that consist of two other women who were the only ones to walk away from their own tragedies. Quincy has no desire to claim this label, though- she can't remember what happened to her during that terrible night, and doesn't see why she can't just forget what happened and move on. That seems to work for a while, but when one of the final girls dies, and the other confronts Quincy, claiming that a killer might be targeting them, Quincy's perfect new life rapidly unravels.
While definitely a fast paced read full of twists and surprises, Sager adds depth and interest to the story by creating a complex and evolving main character that is flawed but sympathetic. Readers will be very invested in seeing if Quincy can retain her status as the last one standing when the last page has been turned.

Overview…

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It was one of the most incredible psycho thrillers that I’ve ever read, kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and had a very, very good ending that helped pull the entire piece together. I first came across this book when Stephen King (yes, THE Stephen King) recommended it via Twitter, and I cannot explain how excited I was to receive an e-ARC and have the opportunity to read it. The best possible compliment I can give the book is that it reminded me somewhat of a Gillian Flynn novel, and was definitely up to her standards, although of course it was uniquely Riley Sager. But, if you enjoyed the likes of Sharp Objects and Gone Girl, I can promise you that you will adore this can’t-put-down read.

The Plot…

Wow. Just wow. That’s really all I have to say for this section. Sager did such a good job of creating a plot which moved quickly enough to be an edge of your seat read, but not so quickly that you felt as though it was rushed. Although there were elements of “action” throughout, there were also plenty of scenes which took their time to unfold, and the fast paced scenes were all the better for it.

Although there were plot twists, very good ones, it always seemed realistic, and in fact probable, after the fact. That’s something that I love about this book. It never felt like they were stretching to create a plot and thereby doing something which didn’t fit with the natural character flow. Twists were VERY, VERY surprising, but in hindsight you could see how/why.

What I think made this book special was that throughout the book, Quincy can’t remember what happened to her at Pine Cottage, the place where all of her friends were killed by a psycho named Joe and she was brutally injured. Because of the way it unfolds, you know that there is something more to the story but you don’t know what. To pull you in, Sager occasionally utilizes flashbacks to Pine Cottage so that you see what is happening slowly, as present day occurs. I think this offered a good change of pace and kept you hooked the entire time.

The Characters…

The main character, Quincy, has a lot of issues that she attempts to cover up throughout the novel. She seems afraid of facing her real self in a way that makes her at once vulnerable and strong. Even though she is a Final Girl– supposedly the toughest and the strongest– she has a plethora of weaknesses, and everything seems real.

Sam, the other mainest character, is a deeper, more mysterious personality, and that helps add a lot to the book. Whereas Quincy’s emotions are all laid out there for the readers to see, Sam is a mystery who you struggle to uncover, and yet she somehow seems so developed the entire time.

Reasons I Loved It…

It was overall an amazing read. Thrillers are always exciting, and I loved this one because the whole premise was likely to happen. 3 mass murders, 3 female survivors, all lauded by the media…. It’s just so cool and such a 21st century thing. After the general concept, Sager did a great job at actually DOING something with her plot and bringing it to life. It would have been easy to make a flat story line, but Sager did the opposite.

Ugh Moments…

Umm this is a 5 star review so I don’t really think there are any? Like I honestly can’t think of any flaws whatsoever and that’s worrying me slightly? I’ll edit this if I think of anything.

Diversity and Triggers…

I can’t really think of any diverse characters in this novel whatsoever, so you aren’t going to get any of that.

As far as triggers, there are TONS of mentions of mental illness. Quincy has anxiety and just a generally messed up brain and has to take Xanax for it. Her mental disorder causes her to steal things and drink too much wine, but IMO this is a normal reaction for someone who saw all of their friends murdered in college?? It never stereotyped or grouped all illnesses together, so it wasn’t making a comment on mental illness in general.

There was also a boy named Joe who was locked up in the mental institution, escaped, and murdered all of Quincy’s friends at Pine Cottage. That being said, once more it is not stereotyped and there is other development with this character.

Obviously, the book contains violence, including many deaths, stabbing, and strangulation which, although to me that sounds exciting, may be worrisome to others. Also there are drug and alcohol references.

Summary…

IF YOU READ ONE THRILLER THIS YEAR IT HAS TO BE THIS ONE. I know it’s early to say this, but I think it might be one of my favorite reads of 2017, and it most likely would have been in the top 5 of 2016 as well. I will be on the lookout for more of Riley Sager’s books in the future, because it was that good.

Growing up, my summers were spent walking to 711, drinking Slurpees, and watching slasher films. By high school, you could hardly get me and one of my closest friends to watch anything other than horror movies. Reading Final Girls by Riley Sager was so fun for me because it really took me back to that time.

"Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another.
Final Girls opens with a classic slasher film scene: a girl running through the forest soaked in blood. We soon find out that girl's name is Quincy, and she is the sole survivor of a massacre that just took place at her friend's vacation home. Throughout the novel, Sager continues to bring us back to that frightful night with flashbacks that slowly build up to reveal the truth of what happened."

In the present day, we find Quincy attempting to move on from her horrific past. Things seem to be going alright for her - she has a successful blog, her own apartment, and a serious boyfriend. But that all goes to hell when fellow final girl, Sam, shows up at her doorstep following the death of Lisa - the original final girl.

What follows is Quincy's attempts at finding the truth of what happened all those years ago. I tore through this book in a couple of days. It's exciting and quick - an engrossing guilty pleasure. If you're looking for a dark, twisty book for your summer TBR pile, put this book right on top.

I'll start by saying that this took me some time to finish. I read it on and off for around a month, which may reflect how I feel about it. I wasn't gripped enough to want to finish this. It took sometime to get going and while I was waiting for that I wasn't compelled to read, but once the twists and turns started, I was excited to finish it.

<b>Release Date: 07.11.17</b>

I finished this novel in two sittings, over the span of five hours. This debut release from Riley Sager is a story that must be completed once begun — so don't start it on a school or work night!

To discuss much of the plot would spoil the story, and that's no good. So, I'll say this: <i>Final Girls</i> is the story of three girls (though we see the story through the perspective of only one, as is necessary), all lone survivors of gruesome massacres. They share a bond with one another, and it is from this bond horrific secrets and ties come to light. I would love to say more, really, but I can't. I don't want to risk spoiling anything.

Written in the vein of Gillian Flynn (though this is grittier and scarier than Flynn's stuff, I found) while being its own thing, this is a stunning ride — one on which the brakes stop working just after it begins. This author successfully pulled the rug out from under me no less than six times; every time I thought I knew the direction in which this grisly thriller was going, it galloped somewhere else entirely. I had to give in and give up, and put myself totally at this author's mercy. If it weren't for a dinner break, I would have read this book even faster.

A totally original and complex exploration of a hellish scenario, <i>Final Girls</i> might just be the best book I've read this year. I suspect it will become a runaway success upon release, and rightfully so.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Final Girls is about three girls who each had their own traumatic experience with murder, serial killings, massacres, etc. Lisa, Sam, and Quincy. Suddenly Lisa turns up dead and Sam shows up at Quincy's house to bond with her. This story follows Quincy regaining her lost memory of the events that transpired during her experience with the Pine Cottage massacre. I can't say too much more about this because it is so much better to go into it with as little knowledge as possible.

There are so many twists and turns in the book that we are questioning what is real and who we can trust at every turn. I was honestly surprised by where the story went and the conclusion left me breathless.

The characters were so relatable and real that I was easily drawn into their story and feeling their emotions along with them. It's not every day that I read a book where I can actually connect with the characters.

I know I have nothing really negative to say about this book so you are probably wondering why I only gave it 4.5 stars. Well, have you ever read a book that you loved but just couldn't bring yourself to give it 5 stars? This is one of those books for me. When I give a book a full 5 stars it almost instantly gets put on my favorites list. After I have had some time to think about it, it may come to be a full 5 stars but as of right now my brain is just too full. It could also be that I am pretty stingy when it comes to 5 star ratings.

I definitely recommend this book. It comes out July 2017 and if you are a fan of thrillers/mysteries/psychological genres then I say give this one a shot, you won't regret it.

<b> I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and have in no way been influenced by the publishers. </b>

Finished this book just the other day and I'm a little conflicted. While I enjoyed reading it (I particularly liked the ending, very satisfying), I had one problem with it that took me out of the story while reading. Towards the end of Sam's stay with Quincy, when the revelations begin - I felt like there were a lot of leaps in logic. Quincy seems to take the information from Nancy and the journalist and then BOOM! All is known. But the information that she received didn't warrant those types of conclusions. It was like 1 + 1 = Dog. It became unbelievable and pulled me out of the story

This might be the psychological thriller of the year to beat!

It's briiiilliant.

(And to think I almost passed on it because I saw "slasher"/"horror movie" across reviews, and Stephen King compared its likability to "Gone Girl." All turnoffs to me.)

I must've looked like I Krazy Glue'd my Kindle to my hand, because I did not put it down even to use the kitchen, the loo, or to sleep!! And then, after finishing the book, I couldn't sleep — couldn't stop thinking about the story (and wondering which talented author wrote it under this pseudonym).

Thank you, NetGalley and Dutton, for the advanced reader copy.