Brilliant and Mindblowing The Escape Room  by Megan Goldin
Welcome to the escape room.  Your goal is simple.  Get out alive. 
How well do you trust one another?
Vincent, Sam, Jules, and Sylvie are 4 ruthless, greedy wall street executives who are stuck in an elevator.  Playing what they think is a team building, escape room event. 
This was an absolutely incredible read. Thank you #St.Martin'sPress and #netgalley for the copy of #theescaperoom for an honest review.
4 out of 5 stars from me.

When four executives get trapped in an escape room together, they realize that the challenge is more than just finding an exit. It’s about getting out alive. Author Megan Goldin deals her characters harsh circumstances but lets the plot slide toward the end of her debut novel The Escape Room.

On a Friday night, Wall Street executives Vincent, Sylvie, Jules, and Sam receive a mysterious invitation to a team-building exercise. They’re invited to an escape room in one of the company’s new high rises still under construction. None of them want to go, but none of them can decline either. The company, Stanhope and Sons, has been in trouble lately, and rumors of layoffs have everyone nervous. The four execs are nothing if not ambitious, and they’ll do anything to keep their jobs—including participating in a stupid escape room.

They enter the elevator in the skyscraper and realize soon enough that the elevator itself is the escape room challenge. As the senior-most administrator among them, Vincent tries to take control by looking for clues. Sylvie, Jules, and Sam make efforts to help, but the clues are few and far between. Meanwhile, they suspect that Vincent lured them into the elevator in an attempt to make them look bad in front of upper management at the end of the exercise.

The clues go from scarce to bizarre, and it becomes clear that they no longer need to worry about who will win: they need to worry about who will survive. As they try to work out who would bring them into this situation and why, the four discuss the last few years at the firm. The name of a former employee comes up: Sara Hall, newly hired out of college. Their working world is one of ruthless hours and even more ruthless tactics, and Sara just couldn’t keep up. Her dismissal from Stanhope was almost inevitable. Each of the executives can’t help wonder if they’re next.

Author Megan Goldin builds a fair amount of suspense in the novel. The narrative alternates between the executives caught in the elevator and Sara Hall’s experience in working for Stanhope and Sons. Sara’s portions of the book move at a steady pace, and readers will find their curiosity mounting in wondering how she fits into the other half of the book.

Unfortunately, it’s that part of the book that drags down the entire story. The novelty of the executives caught in the elevator wears off after it’s made clear that they’re not making much progress in getting out. They hurl insults at one another and even injure one another during heated arguments; beyond that, however, and the odd clue, Vincent, Sylvie, Sam, and Jules don’t engage in much action. 

More astute readers may figure out about halfway through why the four have been brought together, and because the novel starts with the end of the story they’ll already know the outcome of the escape room exercise. What is left, then, is the why and how. For those readers who make it to the big reveal at the end, they’ll find it rushed. Details are shared in what could be imagined are breathless tones, as if the characters were running to the end of the book and trying to fit in every single little detail before they get there.

Sara Hall’s portions of the novel are much more interesting than the elevator scenes; it’s a shame the entire book didn’t revolve around her. Goldin could have taken her time to develop Sara’s rise and fall within the company and the consequences of her actions. As it is, because Sara must share time with the four company sharks, readers don’t get to spend as much time with her as they would probably like.

The ambiance of the world of Wall Street feels somewhat familiar; there isn’t much new information offered on the strain of the working hours of real-life executives. Readers may not be able to stick with this one to the end. I recommend they Bypass The Escape Room.

A compulsive read, absolutely engaging. I read this book in two sittings.

Four competitive and highly ambitious Wall Street executives get called on a Friday night for a mandatory meeting. Once they arrive to the meeting point, they get locked on the elevator. Is this part of a team-building exercise or is it more than what it appears? You have to read it to find out.

This was an entertaining page-turner. It is part corporate thriller and part unsolved mystery. I was hooked from page one, there were compelling characters but also those you love to hate. A great read.

Received ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

The Escape Room was a very intriguing novel that I really enjoyed. It exposes the dark side of a job, a finance job on Wall Street, that would seem very glamorous and that I am sure is highly sought after.  Anyone thinking that may be the career path for them should read this book! 

The story is told from many perspectives and on two different timelines. One timeline and story is told by Sara Hall, a now deceased finance employee who ended up disgraced and fired from a team at a fancy firm shortly before her death. The other timeline is told from the multiple perspectives of her former team members, who are alive and well, and have been summoned for a weekend team building exercise in an escape room. Who is behind this meeting? What is their goal? And what does it have to do with Sara?

I don’t want to give anything away so that’s all I’ll say about what happens. I was surprised by the end of this book and there were a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming. This book was a fast, easy read and I highly recommend it for a fun summer read! 

*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!*

I wanted to read this book because I really enjoy doing Escape Rooms and enjoyed the Escape Room movie. So I wanted to see what Megan Goldin would do with the premise in a book. While the escape room clues themselves were easy and didn’t play a huge part in the story, they still helped to add another layer to the novel.

Goldin really excelled at describing the characters, which makes sense, since most of the book takes place inside of an office building or an elevator. But with these two main environments, she was able to write an atmosphere with a sense of stress, menace, and dread.

And with the characters themselves, Goldin did such an amazing job at making you feel for them, but then dislike them, but then, maybe feel for them again. Only to turn it back into hate. She engineered the roller coaster of emotions like a master.

One of the things that makes if difficult to write reviews for mysteries and thrillers is that I don’t want to give too much away. I want you to experience all the red herrings and twists that I do. For me though, The Escape Room, had twists that I saw coming and clues that were easy to solve. Normally this would make me give the review less stars, but Goldin kept me intrigued, and the story was so well put together that I not only want to give it five stars, but highly encourage you to read it.

3.5 stars. 

(Review contains spoilers)

This book had me hooked from the very beginning and didn't let go until I turned the last page. It is a compulsively readable thriller: fast-paced, characters you love to hate, and a smooth, accessible writing style. I liked that the chapters alternated between the elevator "escape room" and Sara Hall's story. As the story progressed, the growing desperation and anxiety in the elevator really drove up the tension. It was horrifying, but also a little satisfying, to see Vincent, Sylvie, Jules, and Sam turn on one another as their survival instincts took over.  The revelation that Sara Hall is actually alive was not at all surprising. It's was a bit too GONE GIRL, and I think most readers will see that coming. The ending was wrapped up too nicely, with Sara enjoying the profits of her former colleagues and living a life of leisure in paradise. Not that she didn't deserve it, but I think a darker ending with a shocking twist would have been a really good fit here. Overall, THE ESCAPE ROOM is very entertaining and the perfect beach read for this summer. 

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the first page. Interesting characters, some I could relate to. The story moves along so fast, it's hard to put the book down. A really  good psychological novel that is a little  different  and well written. You will be surprised how it ends.

This book was a joy ride that was amazing. The ending was so clever and so satisfying. I’m really mad that I finished it so soon.

In this book people get what they deserved. No matter how rich you are. The consequences will always come back. That’s the main thing I loved about the book.

Let’s not forget the autism rep . It was amazing to see someone in the spectrum have a job.. Lucy is legitimately my favorite character behind Sara.

Trigger warnings for sexual assault though.

But I’m so happy that I finally read it and can July 31st come here. I need a physical copy ASAP.

Enjoyed this book. Kept me interested all the way through. Would recommend to a fellow reader.  Love the cover.

Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are ruthless and ambitious in their pursuit of the top rung of Wall Street finance.
When they are ordered to participate in a corporate team-building exercise that requires them to escape from a locked elevator, dark secrets of their team begin to come to light. This is no longer a game. 
They’re fighting for their lives.
•
As my son would say, “Lordy child, Lordy!” I finished this book in less than 24 hours because it was so compelling and my need to know what happened far outweighed my need to do laundry. I was drawn in right away because of the “what the heck!” beginning. It has the kind of characters you love to hate. Is it bad that I had zero compassion for them and their predicament?😬 Anyway, I’d definitely recommend this great mystery/thriller!

Sylvie, Sam, Jules, and their boss, Vincent, receive a generic meeting invite to an escape room challenge on the eightieth floor of a large building. All come with little question, as they have a slavish devotion to their firm, Stanhope and Sons. They make a lot of money for the firm--and in turn, they make a lot of money for themselves. But lately, their team has failed to secure two major deals in a row, both of which have gone to a key competitor, who had inexplicably undercut them each time. The team is trouble. Their revenue is lower than it has been in years. They know their jobs are in trouble, and bonuses are being issued next week (along with notices). However, it quickly becomes clear this may be more than a typical team-building escape room challenge. The group solves a clue related to Sara Hall, a former analyst on the team who died. Locked together in an elevator, the competitive quartet starts to turn on each other.

"There was only the message on the television monitor. 'Welcome to the escape room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.'"

This was a really fun, bizarre read that I very much enjoyed. I had no idea where it was going for much of the book, but that was totally okay. It's told in very short, quick alternating chapters between members of our elevator group and then Sara Hall herself, back when she was alive and well and working at the firm. The result is a fast-paced read, as you wonder what on earth happened to Sara, whom actually seems like a human being compared to the four others. Our four trapped analysts, however, range across various levels of despicable--liars and cheaters all devoted to making money at any cost.

Truth be told, you can only feel so sorry for them to be trapped in this elevator in the dark, at the mercy of a screen doling out clues. Once in the dark, they turn violent at times: empowered against their boss, Vincent. You realize that they've sacrificed so much for their company that they basically have nothing left on the personal front.

It's a fascinating, gripping tale of what people will do to succeed, for revenge, and what they'll do when pushed to the brink. It's a really fast read. Is it a plausible story? Probably not. Is it fun, enjoyable, and full of twists and turns? Oh yeah. I could see this one as a movie, for sure. Definitely just a thrilling read to get lost in a for a couple of hours, especially if you enjoy the dark and twisted world of finance. 4+ stars!

Have you ever been stuck in an elevator with 3 people you can't trust? Getting out with their lives intact may be difficult.

The story goes back and forth between Sara's story and "The Elevator". Sara is a sad and lonely woman who thinks she has finally found success at a large New York company, only to be caught up in the mysterious death of her co-worker and friend and eventually losing her job because she asked too many questions. Her life is in ruins and it looks pretty bleak.

Jump to a year or so later and Sara's four colleagues are stuck in the company's elevator assuming they have been called there for an escape room game where they have to answer clues to get out.  Little do they know, someone has found out their secrets and plans to make their life a living hell.

The characters are naive, brilliant, contemptible, and shallow. The emotions will run high when one reads about the low and backstabbing things these people do because of money and power. And some are too naive to see it before it's too late.

I was blown away by this story! It is so original and well-planned out that I was glued to it to the end. Let's just say, revenge is sweet. A chilling read that will make you look at your co-workers a bit differently. Recommend highly!

Thank you to Ms. Goldin, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectations of a positive review given.

I have been waiting for this book for so long. I love going to escape rooms myself, but love the idea of it being used as revenge or mind games on someone (obviously not the ones I go to though!). 

Unfortunately, The Escape Room starts quite slowly. You have two timelines, one of Sara Hall, a struggling college graduate who's desperate to find work in New York's banking scene, and one of the elevator, where four colleagues meet to take part in a team building exercise the firm has forced them to attend. With threats of job losses amongst the company, everyone is desperate to prove that they should be kept on.

The elevator chapters were the ones I was most interested in from the beginning, and was slightly frustrated that I kept being torn away from it to Sara's chapters. However, one you get over this initial slump, and get more into Sara's life at the company, things get more interesting. The pacing picks up, and I couldn't put this book down once I got about a quarter of the way in. 

Some twists were a little predictable, some were more surprising, but the whole concept of the personalised escape room seemed very Pretty Little Liars-esque to me (I mean the TV show, I've never read the books) and I really enjoyed it. I loved the concept and the book really pulled it off towards the end.

“Escape Room” by Megan Goldin is a story of greed, mistrust, and revenge. It opens with a frightening event. A security guard calls 911 on an icy Sunday morning because he hears the unmistakable sound of gunshots. “He’d never seen so much blood in all his life.”
The scene shifts to thirty-four hours earlier.  Sylvie, Sam, and Jules are part of Vincent’s crack multi-disciplinary team at a prominent Wall Street firm, and the four are in the elevator on their way to a “mandatory” meeting late Friday.  The elevator stops, and the doors do not open despite frantic pushing of every button. Then the message is revealed. 
“Welcome to the Escape Room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.” 
Vincent calmly asks, “Who here has done an escape-room challenge before? It will take an hour.” Some of the group had done escape room activities with disappointing results, leading to fake deaths. No one seems ready to “play.” They are in an elevator, sterile, spotless, and empty. However, they just have to make it for an hour or in the worst-case scenario, they will be found on Monday morning, cranky but alive and well. After all, how much trouble can four investment bankers get into in a locked elevator?  
They find the first clue; “Dead but not forgotten. ASLHARLA.”
Chapters alternate between the current scene in the elevator and a first person present-tense narrative by Sara Hall. Her time-frame is not defined, but she is just out of college and applying for Wall Street jobs with little, if any, luck. 
In the elevator, the significance of the first clue becomes clear. “If you rearrange those letters,” Jules explains, “It spells out Sara Hall. Dead but not forgotten. Sara Hall. It fits, right?” Sara now becomes much more interesting to readers. In Sara’s narrative, Vincent offers her a job, and she embraces it all with the unbridled enthusiasm of the young and ambitious.
Back in the elevator, the group finds another clue and deciphers the name that goes with it, also someone no longer with the firm. As more and more time passes, tensions mount, secrets are revealed, and nastiness breeds nastiness. In the dark, suffocating world of the stalled elevator, the rules are different. Then, the group makes a frightening discovery; someone has a Glock, and it is loaded.
Goldin’s use of alternating voices enhances the tension and suspense. Those in the elevator are not the only ones with cryptic clues to decipher. Readers know Sara is “Dead but not forgotten,” but are wondering not only what will happen to those in the elevator but also just how everyone got into that situation. Of course, lurking in the background is all that blood in the opening.  
“Escape Room” is a non-stop story of power and ambition. To quote Sam, “There are winners and losers in this world…Success is not for the squeamish.” Some participants are smart; some think they are smart, and some are very stupid. Readers are left to sort it all out. I received a copy of “Escape Room” from Megan Goldin and St. Martin’s Press. Surprising secrets are revealed page by page. Readers will not be able to put this book down until the shocking end. (Oh, and may never ride in an elevator again – ever.)

I love a good thriller .... especially one that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
I LOATHE Team building exercises ... especially when I have co-workers that I'm not real fond of.

This book ... what can I say? It kept me turning pages and hoping for the best.

Oh, man this was a fun book! Love thrillers and this one  was pretty unique the way it unfolded. Goes back and forth between a work team lured into an escape room. They find themselves trapped in an elevator trying to figure out how to get out. The other story is told by Sara, a former team member.  So entertaining. Absolutely loved this one. Thank you @netgalley for the copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book was insanely hard to put down. Once you get past the beginning where everything gets introduced, you get pulled into this web of deceit and lies and bad behavior. It's like watching that train wreck -- you can't tear your eyes away even though what you're seeing is awful and shameful and terrible.

I really liked this book. It was a great story, chock full of the things that make thrillers what they are. Overall, it wasn't even super thrilling - you can totally predict the end if you're paying attention, and much of the stuff that happens isn't "edge of your seat" material... but it's so compelling that it's still fantastic.

I think the only negative for me in regards to The Escape Room is that, well, there isn't all that much "escape room" stuff in it, and since that's what it is being marketed as containing, I was a little disappointed in that one aspect.  But mainly, WOW. Great book.

4.5 stars!

I loved the escape room, despite it being highly far-fetched.  It gripped me from the begging and I raced through the book, determined to get to the end.  When a bunch of wall street financers are sent on a team building escape room experience, all is not what it seems.  But who is the mysterious person who sent them there in the first place?  Four gripping stars

It has been my experience that very few books start off kind of muddy and get better, however this one really does. It's a far fetched premise, in my opinion. However, once I got into the swing of the novel, it flowed really fast and furious. The book is a fun escape for a summer read and I read it super quickly. The details are vividly written, and I could see it as a movie. I was even casting it in my head. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

The Escape Room is a psychological thriller about four co-workers locked in an elevator in order to complete a team-building exercise.It grabs my attention from the very beginning.I thoroughly enjoyed Megan Goldin's writing style , it was refreshing and unique!