Kerry Wilkinson's "The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker" presents a high-concept, psychological thriller that immediately hooks the reader with its central mystery: a woman waking up with no memory, trying to piece together her life and the truth behind a tragic event. The premise itself is compelling, offering a labyrinthine journey of self-discovery and the uncovering of dark secrets. Wilkinson sets up a genuinely intriguing puzzle, inviting readers to delve into Eleanor's fragmented past alongside her.

The book's strengths lie in its initial mystery and the author's ability to create a sense of disorientation and suspense. The fragmented memories and the unreliable narration are handled effectively, keeping the reader guessing about Eleanor's true identity and what really happened. There are moments of genuine intrigue and a few well-placed twists that contribute to the overall suspense. For readers who enjoy unravelling psychological puzzles and narratives centered on memory loss, the core concept here is quite strong.

However, "The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker" didn't quite deliver the consistent impact I hoped for to earn a higher rating. While the premise is captivating, the execution occasionally felt a little repetitive, with Eleanor's internal struggles circling similar ground without always moving the plot forward meaningfully. The pacing, though generally consistent, sometimes felt a little slow, particularly in the middle sections, where the revelations felt drawn out.

The characters, including Eleanor herself, often felt a bit emotionally distant. While her amnesia is a plot device, it also created a barrier to truly connecting with her on a deeper level, as her past self remained somewhat elusive. The supporting characters, though important to the mystery, weren't always fully fleshed out, making their roles feel more functional than deeply integral. The emotional payoff of some of the bigger reveals didn't land with the force I anticipated, perhaps due to this lack of deeper character connection.

In summary, "The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker" is a clever and intriguing psychological thriller with a strong central mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. It offers a fascinating puzzle and a suspenseful journey through a fractured past. However, its occasional repetitive nature, somewhat distant characters, and a less impactful emotional resolution keep it from truly standing out as a powerhouse read. It's an engaging enough ride, but one that ultimately leaves you wishing for a bit more emotional resonance and a stronger punch.

I wasn’t a fan of this one. I didn’t enjoy the parts that were supposed to be creepy, I think I just expected more.

A fun pseudo-scary book for someone who wants something spooky but still wants to be able to sleep. When Eleanor wakes up by the side of a river, she’s partially alive and partially dead. She’s determined to figure out who killed her. A good YA Murder mystery.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

This book was interesting but I didn't really connect with the supernatural element of it, even though it made sense with the narrative.

Also I couln't really keep my focus on the book because at times with was dragged out.

Unfortunately I am no longer interested in reviewing this title and feel that it is too late to submit a review. Thank you for the offer, I would love to workk together on future titles.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

DNF. I couldn't connect with this book at all and found it really hard to get into. I had high hopes for this, which is a shame.

This was an okay YA thriller. I liked the premise where we follow the main character, who has been murdered and is trying to investigate and solve her own death. Overall, it was fairly predictable.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think that The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker can be an intriguing YA thriller with the paranormal side to it for readers. However, I don't do well with supernatural elements sometimes. I get lost and then I lose interest. Unfortunately, thats what happened here and I just went through the motions just to get through it. Just a case of the wrong reader for this book.

A gripping story that likens to Amelinda Berube's The Dark Beneath the Ice, this was a thriller that had my heart racing and had me wondering WTF was going on. A good Fall read.

There are a few books similar out there; Sunflowers in February and Release. Unfortunately this book suffers only because they came first and set the bar so high.

Thank you for providing a copy of this book for review however I was unable to open the file for this document unfortunately! Apologies.

OH HO HO.

Drowning? Murder? Amnesia? Supernatural? This book was everything I wanted. Literally had me hanging onto every word, I had to cover the other side of the page so my eyes didn't read ahead. Really good.

Typical Kerry WIlkinson, grabbed me from the start. So many plot twists and turns you dont know where you are until bang the ending is explaining everything!

This is such a gripping, unique read! I went into this expecting a thriller but it's exceptionally memorable. Eleanor Parker has seemingly returned from the dead - waking up in a river with no memory of how or why. Eleanor is convinced that she died and returned, however how could that have happened?

There is a bit of a supernatural element in this novel, which I happen to be a huge fan of. For me it made the story even more chilling. Absolutely loved this!

Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a YA murder mystery with a paranormal twist. This novel is edged with paranormal elements that I had to suspend my disbelief over, but it’s not nearly as dark and gritty as I thought it would be. Overall, great book, and I will definitely be reading more from this author!

This was definitely a gripping edge on your seat page turner- it’s like watching a car crash unfold you cover your eyes not wanting to look but not being able to help but peak, my first Kerry Wilkinson book and it won’t be my last!

I really wanted to read this book but because of downloading difficulties, I wasn't able to. I have read other books that Kerry Wilkinson has written and she is a great writer.

was a gripping thriller that took you to every aspect of trying to figure out what was really going on and what was going to happen next! This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what else is released from this author!