Original and fresh.
I do love it when authors make a point of trying something new and the premise for this novel is an excellent one.
How do you solve a 'whodunnit' when you are unable to communicate?
The writing style is excellent and very thought provoking too.

I enjoyed this book and found it very original as it was told from an unusual viewpoint - a man lying in hospital in a coma, who could hear everything around him though his family and friends thought he could not. Mystery surrounded how he had ended up there after a climbing trip - was it an accident or had he been pushed?
This was an engaging and interesting read. I will look out for more from Emily Koch.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy in return for my honest opinion. I have shared this review on Goodreads.

This is such a fascinating concept, a psychological thriller where the "murder" victim is alive but unable to communicate. It's truly an edge of the seat novel, I found myself pumped up on adrenaline every time I picked it up! Highly recommended.

This is such an emotionally driven book that sucked me in, eventually, and made me cry like a baby at the end.

The reason I’ve knocked a star off is because the beginning wasn’t great, it didn’t capture my attention and that’s a key thing I look for in a book; is being swallowed into the story from the first few pages. This one didn’t. It was a gradual build-up before I got hooked. But boy did I get hooked!

I’ve never read a book quite like this one, and though it was refreshing to find a story that wasn’t like others, it was also a story that had to have your complete attention, and focus.

It’s gritty and heart-wrenching throughout and that ending *grabs a tissue*.

The characters were fantastic, though I didn’t like Alex’s sister, Phillipa, but I loved Alex and my heart broke for him.

Definitely have your Kleenex at the ready, readers, because for this book, you’re going to need them!

Great first read for this author and will definitely be keeping my eye out for more stories from her.

Excellent twist and turns which were not what was expected and gave the page turning appeal wanted in novel. Thoroughly compelling read.

A great device for a book - the narrator is trapped in a body that is paralysed but with a mind that is still very much awake, only he can't tell anyone this. We, the reader, watch Alex try to piece together the days and hours before his accident and we also watch it dawn on him that perhaps it was more than an unfortunate accident that put him in hospital. Chilling and at times edge-of-your-seat, this is a great thriller. If you like your books dramatic and fast-paced, this may not be for you, however, as it is quite a slow burner. An author to watch out for.

Imagine racing to solve your own murder while lying in a bed unable to communicate with anyone, add to that the fact they are talking about turning off your life support machine !

Alex only has his mind and senses to rely on. He describes smells and sounds around him, living with his memories. The descriptions are very vivid . Heartbreaking !

A who-dunnit with a difference. The pace increases towards the end of the book, stick with it.

The book was something new. It was unlike any crime books I have read before. I really liked the first part of the book. It was a mystery given to the reader in pieces. It was something both the main character and the reader had to figure out together, what happened, who knows anything, do we even care anymore?

The second half of the book I found some rushed. It did not spend the same amount on details as the first book. Also the story became more whole, which made me miss the pieces together story from the first half.

I did not like the ending, but I understand that it was the best ending for the book.

Excellent novel and great story line from the author. I thought it was just great. Well drawn plot and characters. Looking forward to the next one

Wow, what a debut, what a story! Alex is in hospital after a fall when he was out climbing. He is in a coma, so everyone thinks, but is actually suffering from locked-in syndrome. He’s an expert climber so can’t understand what happened and all he can do is listen carefully to anyone who enters his room and what he hears is shocking. Such a nightmare scenario this author has painted for the reader. The descriptions of what happens when you cannot communicate or move are vivid, intense and very distressing. This book will stay in my mind for quite a while.

The narrative is told from the first-person point of view Alex who has had a climbing accident., he is in a coma his body has shut down but his mind is still alive (Everyone's worse nightmare) Frustrating for Alex who knows that the accident was no accident. Could someone close to him also be in danger? A clever unique plot praise for the author who has written a very thought-provoking story. Recommended.

Alex has been in a coma for two years after a climbing accident....there are no signs of life, the doctors are sure he's gone. Except he hasn't. His body has shut down but his mind is alive. He can feel, hear and sometimes see - he just can't move, or speak. He listens as his girlfriend and family debate whether or not he should be kept alive. He thinks they should let him go. But then it's discovered the accident was no accident at all and that someone he loves could also be in danger.Now he wants to stay alive to work out who did this, and how he can stop them from his comatose body.



This book starts great. The author has given a real sense of Alex's desparation as he hears his family's and friends suffering as he remains in a coma. But then, strangely, as it kicks off into full blown mystery it loses momentum. I think the issue was in the back of my mind was "well if he works it out what can he do?" Really he just becomes an observer. However the last few pages really redeem the book but left me wishing this hadn't been a thriller, and perhaps just Alexs story.....I think it would have been a more interesting tale.

Imagine lying in bed, being in a coma, for all purposes dead, but you are not. You hear every word said, everything discussed. The mere thought of it gave me the chills. Well written and intriguing in a very strange horrible way. Recommended.

Very cleverly written book, I really felt like I was locked in with Alex as well. To experience all emotions, and almost all of your senses, but no one knows. To feel all that real pain and everyone assumes that it doesn't hurt you. To be talked about and discussed and all you can do is listen, even when you're screaming out loud in your head. I thought the ending would be different, and was slightly disappointed. But having said that, a very well written book, addictive read, recommended!

Imagine being able to hear what's going around you, if your eyes are open you can see shapes but not details, your sense of smell is fine and you have feeling...but you are unable to respond. Doctors believe you are in a vegetative state. Your friends and family come to think that too. Add in that someone tried to kill you, putting you in this coma, and you might not be the only one in danger from that person. Thoroughly enjoyed If I Die Before I Wake. It was a slow-burner that built and built and ended how it should.

Alex has been in a coma for almost two years after a climbing accident or that’s what everybody thinks. He is actually aware of everything going on around him, unable to communicate, he can only listen. But as strange things start to happen to his girlfriend, he realises that his accident may not have been an accident after all, did someone try to kill him and why?

This is an immensely clever book. Alex is suffering from locked in syndrome, a condition which means your aware of everything around you but unable to do anything about it. When I was a kid I used to have these episodes where I’d wake up, but be unable to move or open my eyes, the sensation only lasted for about a minute but it was truly horrific (thankfully I grew out of it) and to be in that state permanently, *shudders*. Anyway as he is unable to see properly, the author uses sounds, smells and his memories to communicate the story.

If you’re looking for an action packed book, this probably isn’t for you. In fact it takes until about half way through to really get into the mystery aspect of the story, which for me was the weakest part. It was the characters that really made this book. They are so well done and life like, even though the author doesn’t give away much description, I could still picture them.

Overall this has to be one of the most original psychological thrillers I’ve read this year, it’s emotional, compelling but I will say it is a little bit of a slow burner.

I did find the book boring but as the main character is in a coma that is sort of expected however the book lacked mystery or thriller and the ending and reveal were unsatisfying

Enjoyed this book, very different approach to unravel an attempted murder with the victim pronounced to be in a vegetative stage, but actually conscious but unable to move in any way. Story moved at the right pace to keep the interest and wanted to know the outcome all the way through reading it. Would read other books from the author.

This book bravely and sensitively addressed the topic of locked in syndrome, something I knew very little about. I found the narrative from Alex point of view whilst in his coma really fascinating and very well considered, the small things we take for granted that he is so hyperaware of. I thought the plot that weaved throughout his coma incident and what led him there was really well done, bringing in his family dynamics, his relationship with his girlfriend, the attempted murder- a really good and different read, very refreshing to have a book that both grips you and educate you at the same time.

This was a fascinating concept but very drawn out. The progress with each aspect was very slow and it was difficult to stay engaged but I stuck with it and in the end it was a worthwhile read.