Intense and clever!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Escape Room by Megan Goldin!
The story opens as Miguel walks his night shift rounds in the empty, not-yet-open office building. He hears a scream and gunshots so he calls 9-1-1 and two policemen arrive. The police are skeptical until an elevator door opens and they start shooting. When Miguel finally gets a view of the elevator, he’s disturbed because he’s never seen that much blood before. The story then jumps back to thirty-four hours earlier when four people meet in an empty office building in the South Bronx on a Friday night. Next, Sylvie, Sam, Jules and Vincent are introduced to the story and they’re all on edge since the meeting was set up last minute and is interfering with their personal plans. The meeting appears to be an escape room challenge and as the four coworkers struggle to find clues, the story alternates with Sara as she’s interviewed, hired and works for Stanhope. Fresh out of college, Sara is thrown right into the devious nature of the career path she’s chosen and the financial and investment banker world takes a devastating toll on her entire life. Greed makes people cold and brutal and Sara learns firsthand how cruel people can be. She’s upset over the supposed suicidal death of coworker Lucy and questions Vincent when she feels that Lucy didn’t really commit suicide. She asks him if he thinks that maybe there was foul play. After that discussion, Sara’s berated about her work and her appearance and she eventually loses her job. The story alternates between Sara and her four elevator-confined coworkers. The escape room clues are interesting and we learn the reasoning behind them as the trapped four work them out. A solid suspenseful tale of greed, self-absorption and actions people might take to ensure that they come out on top, 4 stars!

WOW! What a debut! I’ve had my eye on this book for months and months and months! I’m so glad it lived up to my expectations! What happens when you’re stuck in an elevator solving an escape room mystery? This time, it’s nothing fake – lives are at stake! I adore escape rooms and this was nothing short of the excitement that they bring. A bit predictable, but left me breathless the entire read. You, as the reader, are aware of a lot of that is going on and what is about to happen, but are still surprised at certain things you didn’t see coming. Megan, I can’t wait to read more from you!

After the string of not-great books I've read in the last little bit, I was really hanging my last hope on this one. Luckily, it exceeded my expectations!

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

This book follows four ruthless New York City investment bankers who, in the wake of corporate 'restructuring' are ordered to participate in a mandatory team-building exercise. While the team works to solve the puzzles and get out of the locked elevator escape room, secrets long buried are dredged up and consequences are finally delivered. Their first clue? What happened to Sara Hall, their coworker who is gone, but not forgotten?

The initial reason why I agreed to review this book was because of the escape room premise. It's something that I've personally done a handful of times in my everyday life, but not something that I have seen described in any novels that I've read (sidenote: if you have any other escape room novel recommendations, hit me up!). While the escape room wasn't the sole driving force of the story, it was a major part and did prove to be extremely interesting and unique.

The story is told in two timelines, "The Elevator" and "Sara Hall." They aren't given a date, so you don't really know when each is happening until the end when things start coming together. I thought this book was really well written and I didn't find myself more drawn to one section of the book more than the other, a common problem I have with multiple-storyline books. I was riveted by the elevator sections but intrigued with how the Sara sections fit in as well.

In all honesty, there wasn't really a (major) character in this book that I really liked, but that was okay with me because I was so compelled by the plot and finding out what happened. I don't want to give too much away but I will say that in this case, as well as others, I don't particularly think you need to connect or even like the characters of a book to find in worth reading. There were times when I didn't really like Sara, despite getting the feeling that she was the character the reader was supposed to be drawn to the most. And I was okay with that.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and found it to be a new favourite!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ebook ARC in return for an honest review!

Sara is just getting out of college and is on the hunt for a job. All college graduates want a job, but Sara needs it to help take care of her sick parents. She gets an interview which turns out to be more like a joke when she meets Vincent in the elevator. He asks for her resume, and she ends up getting the job -- her dream job. She gets sucked into the routine and the hard work because of the huge payout. Even when she doesn't feel right about her work, the money keeps her going. She has the perfect life, until it abruptly ends.

Sara works with Sylvie, Vincent, Sam, Jules, and Lucy. Lucy is the brains of the company, but she doesn't necessarily fit the "brand" of the company. Lucy and Sara become friends outside of work, but Lucy wants Sara to keep it that way. Then all of a sudden, Lucy dies in what seems to be framed as a suicide. Sylvie, Vincent, Same, and Jules, the hot shots or big wigs of the company, find themselves stuck in an elevator which seems to be like an escape room gone wrong. Who set them up in the elevator, how do they get out, and why are they in there?

This book kept me guessing the entire time. I had no idea whose idea the "Escape Room" was until the author told us. I loved the back and forth, and the author did a great job at keeping that seamless.

Four co-workers are trapped in an elevator because they are participating in a corporate team building excercise. The elevator is the escape room. They need to solve clues to escape. There is lots of drama in the elevator and it's more sinister than they thought.

You have two points of view. One is from Sarah Hall. She is an only child. She chose a high paying job to help her parents. She looks into a lot of dark secrets and wants revenge.

Then the second point of view is from the four co-workers in the elevator. All they care about is getting rich and they will do anything to reach the top.

This was such an unique book. It's a gripping unforgettable psychological thriller. The elevator scenes made me feel claustrophobic and it was full of drama. I really did enjoy the elevator scenes. This one was a thrill ride. I couldnt believe that this one is a debut novel.

I loved the second half better than the first half. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I found this to be very unbelievable but I thought the author had a great imagination and it is a great story.
So I didn't mind that it was implausible.I

There are lots of despicable characters in this one. They are so unlikable.

I really loved the ending!

This was a Traveling Sister read and we all had mixed feelings.

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for sending me the
ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the cutthroat world of Wall Street is one of appearances and greed, and Sara Hall was caught up in it as a junior member of one such finance team. The rest of the team, headed by Victor, was comprised of Sylvie, Jules, Sam, and Lucy. Her story is intercut with that of Sylvie, Jules, Sam and Victor in an escape room team-building exercise. The escape room clues were categorically cryptic but feel far more personal... and potentially deadly.

Interspersing the escape room chapters with that of Sara's story ups the tension and the drama in both. Sara thought she was in a rags-to-riches story, though the high stakes Wall Street life is hardly glamorous behind the scenes. There are eighteen-hour workdays, sometimes six or seven days a week, which implicitly encouraged casual drug use. The team has disparate personalities in it, and there is no sense of camaraderie outside of the work. Even the romance that Sara has feels fairly superficial, though it's in keeping with the rest of the Wall Street look and Sara herself doesn't see it that way. Trying to make money skews the sense of right and wrong for these people, and Sara gradually uncovers a conspiracy that ended her career and sense of self.

Jealousy, greed, and secrets abound in the escape room chapters, though the secrets themselves aren't revealed until the final quarter of the book. It's gradually introduced, and we see the backstories for all of these characters as well as Sara's. At first, I felt sorry for them in their own way, because of the machinations of the others and the executives at the top of the company. But they're also complicit in their own misery because they worked within the system to keep it going for their own gain. The tone in some chapters changed abruptly, but there is still the passage of time to explain some of that change. It also sets up the revenge aspect that clearly takes over the escape room exercise. Ultimately, the ending was a surprising one that definitely satisfied.

Well, let's just say make sure you haven't pissed off anyone before you get back on an elevator!! While totally unbelievable, this was a fun book to read that had some neat twists. It was interesting to see the inside lives of those at the top of Wall Street and see how far they can fall. Is this a team building exercise or has someone created the most crafty, well thought out revenge plot? You solve the mystery and potentially escape and get a big promotion, or you could die trying. As the reader, you get to figure out which it is. The investment banking executives at Stanhope think they are the only ones who are ruthless and coniving. Little do they know.....they are in for a big seriously life changing surprise.

If you are looking for a thriller that has a mix of corruption, greed, anger, love, loss, excitement, murder, suspense, and a need for answers all set in a very creative plot with solid characters you will both like and dislike, then this is the book for you! I had fun reading this book, I enjoyed this book. Even though the overall plot is completely unrealistic, it was very exciting to see how it plays out and imagine this really happening to a slimy executive who steps on the intelligent to put cash in his or her pocket. Even team building activities can go wrong, right??? Enjoy the ride and be careful getting on that elevator!!

My thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When three motivated, driven, and ruthless top New York City investment bankers become trapped in an elevator under the guise of it being a team-building exercise it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems and their dark secrets quickly become exposed. Sounds like it could be great, right? It does, but "Escape Room" was just kind-of sort-of OK. I felt it was fairly predictable as far as thrillers/suspense goes, and there was not really all that much character development.

A mandatory team-building activity. At the very least, that is what everyone thinks. Who are we talking about? Vincent, Jules, Sylvia and Sam. What are they about engage in? Escaping from a locked elevator by following specific clues. How are they connected? They are investment bankers who all work for the same lucrative corporate firm.

Four intelligent adults. A few hours in a locked elevator. How bad could it possibly get? After all, escape rooms are becoming more and more popular. However, nothing about any of this is easy. Instead, what is about to happen to the four of them is truly the stuff of nightmares

Although there are four in the elevator, there are two more people that were associated with the firm. In fast format the story shifts between the elevator scene and the two others who are not there now. One of the people not there proves to be the catalyst of it all. She is Sara Hall and her absence is not only deeply noted, but is deeply connected. The question is whether or not any of them will make the real connection and what their immediate futures will promise.

The Escape Room is a thriller of the highest caliber. It is an incredibly intense story that was literally impossible to put down. The shift between past and present was both rapid and heart-stopping. When discussing this book with another reader, two words came to mind immediately, absolutely brilliant.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Escape Room is one hell of a ride. It's a corporate, psychological thriller set in the ruthless, cut-throat, greedy world of Wall Street. Four finance high-flyers and co-workers, Vincent, Jules, Sylvie and Sam, find themselves in a bizarre team-building exercise where they have to escape a locked elevator. Things go horribly wrong during the exercise, dark secrets are revealed, and loyalties (if there were any) are tested.

I must say, I wasn't sure if I was going to like The Escape Room because I absolutely have no interest in reading books about Wall Street but this book sucked me right in. I couldn't put it down and finished it in less than two days. There were some great twists, even if they were not entirely believable, and the ending was very satisfying. I would definitely recommend The Escape Room to all the thriller fans.

Absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down. This is about a team building game that goes wrong, and it just turns out great. I seriously read it in one night!

This book was sooo good. Very thrilling and had me engaged from the very start. Vincent, Jules, Sylvie and Sam are at the top of financing and the amount of hours that they work is unreal let alone all the pressure. But the money and prestige that goes with it is worth it to them. They get a cryptic txt saying to go to the escape room and it is mandatory. So they get into the elevator and that is when the games begin. They have to solve cryptic messages and we end up finding out secrets about all of them which in turn they also find out about each other.
You also will meet 2 other people throughout the book that were a part of the financing group and how some of the team turn their backs on them.
This book is filled with intrigue and it goes back and forth also with the other 2 characters that are not in the elevator, and what happened to them. I could not put this book down.
I want to thank ST. Martin's and NetGalley for letting me read this for an honest review.

I love twisty suspense novels and Goldin's premise was a great one. Four co-workers believe they're doing a team building exercise by participating in an Escape Room. Believable right? Uh huh, until they realize that the elevator itself is the room - and getting out alive is the goal. Love it!

Each of the four in the elevator are selfish, self-serving and just downright unlikable. (And that's just right for this book.) As the heat turns up in their box, we learn more about each one, their secrets and their true natures. They are all financiers determined to make deals and more and more money - at the cost of just about anything. I wondered if the depictions of their cut throat practices were true. Alternating with the action in the elevator are chapters from a former employee named Sara. Details from the past are slowly played out until they collide with the present.

The Escape Room is a heckuva page turner - I couldn't wait to see what would happen next! The ending is a bit implausible, but perfect for this story and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Oh, this one has movie written all over it! What a great debut.

This was a fun book idea! Fast paced, thrilling and highly mystertious! I had an amazing time reading this!

A terrifying page-turner, tautly paced. If you weren't already scared of elevators, you will be after reading The Escape Room.

I absolutely loved this book! I will be posting my review on my Bookstagram page in the next couple of days. Lately, I have been feeling a little burned out on thrillers, but I am happy to say that this book renewed my faith in the genre. I loved everything about this book. It was very fascinating to see the inside look at a high-stakes, high-intensity company. From the office politics to the grueling hours, I thought life at Stanhope was crazy! As a former teacher and now stay-at-home mom, I couldn't imagine working in that type of environment, yet I know there are people who do every day. I thought the concept of the escape room and the people trapped in the elevator was very cool. I love how the story alternated between Sara's story and "the elevator." I liked how the elevator took place in the present tense and Sara's story was the backstory of how the people ended up in the elevator. I don't want to give too much away, but I did also like how the story turned out. It is an important message that eventually karma will catch up to you. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I ended up giving it 5/5 stars! I try to save my five star ratings for really stand out books, and I think this one will definitely be in my top 10-20 books of the year! Thank you St. Martin's for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for providing me with a free copy of this book and for inviting me to participate in the blog tour!

I’m a huge fan of game-type thriller and suspense novels and I absolutely loved this book! I went into this book not knowing much about it and I think with this book, that’s what you need to do. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours and was reeling from it for a while.

This story follows a group of employees that work in the cutthroat finance world and each of them seems to be at the top of their game. They all live the life of luxury, but luxury comes at a cost. When they are all invited to participate in an escape room challenge for team-building purposes, they have no idea what they’re in for.

I loved the beginning of this book and how it flipped back and forth between the characters so you felt like you really got to know them. They were all well developed and I had a love/hate relationship with each of them for different reasons.

If you’ve ever seen the horror movie Devil, it has those types of vibes. A group of people stuck in an elevator, trying to figure out how to get out, and they start dropping dead one by one with no idea who the real killer is.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the incredibility of some of the things the main character did as revenge. It seemed a little far fetched for me and that’s the only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5.

Riveting story of a young woman who is hired at a NY firm that makes financial deals. The pay is great but the hours are long and hard. The woman is able to help her ailing parents and pay off her student loans and live in a nice apartment. Then, she finds that there's much more to the story. You will too!

The Escape Room starts with a hair-raising prologue followed by a bit of a slow start as the characters are introduced, but don't let that little bit of a lag deter you. This one quickly develops into a sharp thriller. The chapters alternate between the present in the escape room and the past with one character's story As the story unfolds it's not hard to figure out what's going on and at least some of the why, but that doesn't diminish the thrill at all. There are still plenty of great twists in this one and lots to ponder as the tension builds. It turns out that four people trapped in an escape room may have more secrets than they thought, and the close quarters may be more than they can handle. All in all, a solid debut from Megan Goldin, and I will certainly be watching for whatever she does next.

I requested this book after watching the movie escape room and I must say this book was just as good if not better! I loved all of the suspense and this book kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. It was so hard to put this book down because it was so good. Loved it!