Book blurb...

DON'T TRUST HIM. IT WASN'T ME. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ME.
Meet Evie, a young woman held captive by a man named Jim in the isolated New Zealand beach town of Maketu. Jim says he's hiding Evie to protect her, that she did something terrible back home in Melbourne.
In a house that creaks against the wind, Evie begins to piece together her fractured memories of the events that led her here.
Jim says he's keeping her safe. Evie's not sure she can trust Jim, but can she trust her own memories?

My thoughts…
When it comes to books, especially thriller/suspense/crime genres, I tend to rate the experience on my need to keep reading. This one is described as a taut, intelligent psychological thriller and whilst enjoying the story, I did find myself putting it down more often than I usually might with this genre.
The opening certainly hooked me and the writing is competent, but the plot was reliant on an element towards the end that, rather than being a clever twist, was convenient change of POV and left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
That said, a good first novel.

I'm definitely the outlier here but sadly this book did not work well for me at all. Firstly, I found Evie's voice very difficult to relate to, and was wondering if this was a YA book. I put the book aside a few times in the hope that it would grab me when I was in a different mood, but this never quite eventuated. There were several elements that were very far fetched, which took away a lot of the credibility for me. I concede that the book just wasn't a good fit for me at this time and am happy to see how many people loved it. Such is life! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review it.

Call Me Evie is a fast paced psychological thriller that is compelling, well crafted with unique characters and developed dialogue.
A fast paced thrilling plot that shines in the thriller genre and leaves others in its dust.
The ability to leave the reader in anticipation, on the edge of thier seat, second guessing every single turn and choice within the story is a hard task yet Pomare does this effortlessly with expert detailing.

The characters were haunting and well developed I found Kate to be interesting and well written and easily connectable, the concept of the young woman waking up in an isolated cabin in New Zealand was very enticing & intriguing.
Following Kate as she unravels the layers to 'Jims' story who he really is and what exactly was her role in the crime committed in Melbourne?

The writing was effortless and I enjoyed the narrative of Kate reading as though in her head with the holes in her memory, the vivid dreams and the flashbacks keeping you guessing constantly as to the next step, it kept me on the edge of my seat finger nails chewed the whole works.
Pomare has created a plot full of twists and turns it's dark and haunting yet complex with imagery and scenery so vivid you feel like you too are in the small desolate town in New Zealand.
I really enjoyed the suspense and thrilling action the twists were incredible most I never saw coming and it was an incredible ride that I highly recommend you all taking.

Thanks to Hachette Australia and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for a review.
(All opinions expressed in this review are my own and unbiased)

Pomare has used his experience living in New Zealand to paint a realistic portrait of the beautiful Bay of Plenty. His comparisons between the relaxed New Zealand atmosphere and the hustle and bustle of busy Melbourne also work in the novel's favour. While a horrendous crime seems likely in Melbourne, the harbouring of international fugitives in a sleepy New Zealand town seems equally unlikely.

Call Me Evie also showcases Pomare's skill for dialogue. Each character has their own way of speaking, but where Pomare really shines is in his portrayal of the differences between Australian and New Zealand speech and cadence.

For anybody who has visited this region of New Zealand, the locals are instantly recognisable, from their pattern of speech to the local slang. Pomare's convincing cast of characters adds another fascinating layer to Call Me Evie. 

Pomare's crafting of settings, characters, dialogue, and plot creates a compelling, fast-paced psychological story a step above the cookie-cutter standard. He has penned a dark and twisted look into memory, truth, and trust. Call Me Evie is a psychological thriller that will have you hooked until the final pages.

Read my full review on my blog: https://reviewbee.errorfree.me/review/review-call-me-evie-by-j-p-pomare/