"Hell doesn't necessarily involve fire"

Synopsis: Siwar, a Jordanian woman, is murdered on her 25th birthday. However, not all of her is lost; her consciousness survives, carrying on in the body of a 3-year-old boy, Wyatt, living in Seattle. Siwar struggles to communicate through Wyatt. And due to a heavy medical procedure, Siwar's soul falls dormant for 22 years. Now 25, Wyatt has unexplainable fascinations with the Middle East and this woman named Siwar's death. He can't shake why he's so passionate about solving her "unexplained" death. The question is - what will he find out?

First off, what a fascinating plotline! I was immediately intrigued and captivated by soul duality and the incessant need to solve this crime. There was this element of "deja-vu" that Wyatt continued to experience that was so clever. It really tied together the essence of Siwar "residing" within him. In a way, it reminds me more of a supernatural fiction, than a thriller.

Character development was spot on. You instantly get a sense of who Siwar is, and even while she's "within" Wyatt, the use of flashbacks keeps you connected to her core character.

My favorite aspect of this book, though, was the Tynes' profound language. There were so many thought-provoking quotes. She mastered this art of thrill-seeking and prose. It truly was such a lovely experience.

Thank you, Natasha Tynes and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for my review!

Unlike anything I have read before.

Definitely not your usual murder mystery, a unique story about reincarnation, This book was a bit of wildcard for me but the premise intrigued me and I couldn’t put it down once I had started reading it. The first part of the book tells us about Siwar’s life in her native country and and highlights the culture differences and restrictions placed on young girls growing up in Amman Jordan and to my surprise I really enjoyed learning about this. The book then becomes Wyatt’s story the struggles he’s had and his obsession to find out what happened to Siwar and get the answers she deserves . This has my favourite ending a twist you didn’t see coming . If your looking for something different to your usual murder mysteries then look no further.

I really enjoyed this book and it pulled me in right from the first page! It was told from two POV’s, Wyatt and Siwar. Siwar was murdered on her 25th birthday and somehow woke up in a three year old’s conscious, Wyatt. I loved trying to figure out what happened and what was real or not. Very interesting and such a quick read! I was surprised by the twists and turns but wasn’t disappointed with how things turned out.

This had such a good plot and theme. I loved reading about how a woman is treated in the Arab world, especially from her point of view.
The story, which is about a murdered woman waking up in a toddler's body. She does not remember who killed her, and she cannot communicate what she remembers to cause an investigation in her own murder, because he is a toddler.
Years later, when the toddler is a grown man, she steers him unconsciously to solve the mystery.
I loved how this story was back and forth with her memories of her life as a woman, back to Wyatt who is a grown man obsessed in a way with her story. How intertwined both lives got. And the end. Very unexpected.
There's so much of powerful investigations of sexism and racism, and it's done beautifully. The descriptions of Jordan are inviting, you could almost feel yourself in her neighborhood.
I loved how this was a bit futuristic, and fantasy-like. The only issue for me was pacing.

Our main character Siwar, a Jordanian student studying in Baltimore, is murdered on her 25th birthday. Her mind ends up in the body of a toddler boy, Wyatt. The book ends up fast forwarding to Wyatt’s 25th birthday and we learn of his interest in the Middle East and his eventual obsession with solving Siwar’s murder.

This book deals with a heavy topic, but is relatively lighthearted (delightfully so). Siwar’s thoughts while she inhabits a three-year-old Wyatt are hilarious (you can easily understand her frustration and annoyance).

The dialogue could be a bit clunky at times (however, dialogue is so difficult to write!) but there are some really great segments of writing, and I think the idea of this story is unique and interesting.

Overall, They Called Me Wyatt is a solid debut from a promising author.

Thank you to Natasha Tynes for an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I received an ARC of They Called Me Wyatt from Natasha Tynes and Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. A book review will be posted on my blog: www.mynightsbooked.com, in the coming weeks.

I was drawn to this book right from the beginning. It starts with Siwar's unfortunate death during her 25th birthday party. The reader does not get to know her until after her death, when her conscious is awakened in a young toddler named Wyatt. The story follow's Siwar's point of view from Wyatt's body, in which she is trying to communicate to her mother what happened to her in her past life. She is reawakened in Wyatt when he is older and uses him to help solve her murder.

The book has alternating timelines between when Siwar was growing up in Jordan and in the present day (which is actually the future, 2026) when she is living through Wyatt. I really enjoyed the portions of the story that focused on Siwar's experience growing up as a woman in Jordan and her strive to leave and attend college in the United States. I wish the book focused more on that. I felt as though there was a lot going on between learning about Siwar's life and learning about how Wyatt is trying to solve the murder. Some parts did feel a little disjointed and the ending did not give me the "edge of my seat" feel that I hope for in a thriller. That being said, this book straddled between three and four stars for me. I enjoyed Natasha Tynes writing style and would read another one of her books, but the storyline was not for me.

This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read. Told from two different points of view that share the same body, "They called me Wyatt" talks about themes like racism, sexism, murder, family dynamics, and pre 9/11 the Middle East and America. Throughout the book, we get to learn how it was to grow up as a girl in Jordan in the 90's and we later return a generation later to see what's changed. I particularly loved the main characters because they wore so enormously flawed and it was only when you saw them through other people's point of view that you got a more complete idea of who they were in reality or at least of how they were perceived.
Thank you to Net Galley and

A 25 year old Jordanian college student, Siwar is murdered in the U.S. in 2001 months before 9/11. Her consciousness wakes up in the body of a 3 year old boy. She is intent on finding out who murdered her but unfortunately Wyatt barely speaks. Her efforts are not successful. Fast forward 25 years to 2026, Wyatt is 25 years old and having recurring dreams about falling, has a strange affinity to Arabic and is dating Siwar's niece. Siwar must convince Wyatt, somehow, to follow up on her case and try to solve her murder.

I really enjoyed this book. A unique and different story, it centres around the murder of Siwar but is not a crime thriller. It deals with lots of topics, from racism, gender equality and stereotypes to fitting in and standing out. I particularly liked reading about Jordan, it's culture, traditions and general way of life. Siwar and Wyatt are great, well developed multi-faceted characters and I was rooting for both of them throughout the book, It wasn't a major whodunnit but the story was nicely tied up at the end. 4/5

A very entertaining read! I loved the Arabic flair and the unique story. I’ll miss Siwar and Wyatt.

***

Let’s be honest, there is a weird thing about a grownup in a toddlers body. The author did a splendid job, still it was I bit weird for me. At least the first couple of chapters.

Siwar is a very likable person. I really enjoyed the jumps to the past and Siwar telling the reader about her childhood and teens in Amman, Jordan. I’ve been to Jordan (sadly not Amman, I only got to see the airport of Amman) and really loved this country. It has a certain flair which is hard to explain. (Find out more on this German article on my blog).

The author captured Siwar great, I had a clear picture of her in my head and I was cheering for her all along. The story starts with her murder and the only thing I was thinking on those first pages was: Why? And Who?
Well, you have to read, to find out.

The story had me hooked within one chapter. I immediately liked the characters and the way the story was told. Also I find the idea to be quiet unique.

Between the lines of the story, the book focuses on racial clichés and the question of ‘belonging’. Siwar has a hard time adapting to her live in the US and has to overcome some of the clichés which are stuck in her head about Americans. I really enjoyed these parts of the book, because it brought me a lot closer to Siwar. As a ‘boring’ Caucasian Female, I (luckily) never experienced any racial related rejection or discrimination, therefore I was enjoying to read more about Siwars experiences.

Don’t mistake it for a crime story. It’s not. Not really at least. Yes the murder of Siwar is what the story is built on, but the book didn’t feel like a crime-story to me. There is a twist coming up but not as in those thriller-books where you get all like wohaaaaaaaaa wtf. It felt more like deserved closure!

A very entertaining read! I loved the Arabic flair and the unique story. I’ll miss Siwar and Wyatt.

A very intriguing novel that had me instantly engaged, They Called Me Wyatt is about a woman murdered on her birthday whose consciousness unexpectedly survives in the body of a 3-yr old boy. The central question - who killed Siwar - is so strong it carried me through the whole novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Tynes and California Coldblood Books for a free ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

The concept for this book is so intriguing and I am so happy that Natasha reached out to me to review her book!

When Jordanian student Siwar Salaiha is murdered on her birthday in College Park, Maryland, her consciousness survives, finding refuge in the body of a Seattle baby boy.

I don’t think I even read the blurb for this book, I totally went in blind and I am glad that I did. I was sucked in from the get-go, and the alternating chapters between Siwar and Wyatt's conscious keep the pages turning. It wasn't predictable, it felt really fresh, and at the same time still very interesting.

I have been umming and arring over stars but I reckon this deserves five for being so different. I didn’t once get annoyed whilst reading this which can often happen. There were no forced plots, everything made sense. It was really a great read for me.

I can’t wait for whatever may be next!

2.5 stars 

This book had a great premise, but it fell slightly short for me. I enjoyed reading about Siwar's background and her culture. Everything else just dragged a bit for me. I kept reading because I wanted to find out what happened to Siwar. There's a bit of a mystery surrounding why she died, but with the help of Wyatt (who is really Siwar) we are able to fill in all the missing pieces by the end. I did find it super hard to believe that the police would believe Wyatt when he said he only had information because Siwar had been reincarnated into him. 

I saw so many great reviews, prior to reading this one. The blurb didn't really pull me in, but I thought it was worth giving a try. It was beautifully written, but the plot just wasn't for me

I received an Advanced Readers' Copy electronic version of this book from the author, Natasha Tynes, and publishers, California Coldblood Books and Rare Bird Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is incredibly unique and unlike anything I've ever read before! Jordanian student Siwar's consciousness transfers to a boy born in Seattle the same day she is murdered. When a seizure in this young boy awakens Siwar, she must adjust to her new reality in this young boy, Wyatt. She finds that she's unable to communicate effectively with those around her to explain her story. Fast forward two decades, Siwar finds ways to make herself known to Wyatt and the story that unfolds is a thrilling adventure to attempt to uncover the truth behind Siwar's mysterious death.

Siwar and Wyatt's stories captivated me from the start and I found it difficult to put this book down! The general concept was fascinating, the cultural differences made the story complex and unique, the characters were well-written, and I can honestly say I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the killer was. If you're looking for a mystery/thriller that is different from anything you've ever read, this book is for you!

GoodReads review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2751602300

Right let me start by saying that I was not sure I would like this when I first started it. It's different to what I would usually read but the story sounded interesting so I thought I'd give it a go. The book starts with the murder of Siwar on her 25th birthday. She then wakes up on the body of 3yr old Wyatt.
I found this part of the story slow but interesting. Not much really happens in the present but reading about the cultural aspects of what her life was like and how she wanted to go against the norm was interesting and helped you understand her a bit better. Wyatt is unable to communicate much as a toddler so while she is in control of his body she can only do what his body allows
.The story jumps forwards 22 years after Wyatt has a operation that for some reason makes Siwar dormant in his mind.Wyatt is now a young man and finds out about Siwars death and can't help but feel connected to it and starts investigating. At this point he is still unaware of his connection to her but she starts to send him memories and ideas about who could have possibly murdered her.

I found once the second part of the story started I got sucked into the mystery of who could have possibly murdered her. As Wyatt searches out old friends I found my opinion changing each time he spoke to them. I did not see the ending coming! I would never have guessed who it was.

This is definitely a unique book and one hard to categorise. Murder, mystery, coming of age, culture , identity and lots more are explored

I found the book initially a bit of a slow burner as but once the story picked up I found myself page turning sometimes with sleepy eyes as I read just one more chapter .

The book itself is divided into two parts . The first is written from Siwar’s viewpoint, a Jordanian living in America who died after falling from a building on her 25th birthday. Although I found this part slower to read it was fundemental in giving the reader insight into the rest of the story . After Siwars death her consciousness is transferred to Wyatt a baby who is born in America the same day as Siwar died.

Wyatt has always felt he was different as struggled for years with his uniqueness but when he is 25 he starts feeling Siwar’s presence in his mind. He feels so drawn to her that he makes it his mission to find out the truth of how she died. Was is suicide as the police at the time concluded or was it something more sinister???

Many twists and turns happen throughout Wyatts quest each unraveling another part of Siwar’s life story,

I loved the cultural aspect of the book. The contrast between living in Jordan and the United States is immense and something I’d never really considered before. Woman in particular have a very different life in Jordan. The writers understanding of the cultural differences definitely shows throughout the book.

I stood beside Wyatt in wanting to solve the mystery surrounding Siwar’s death and my instincts were totally wrong as the conclusion of the book left me speechless.

Overall a really unique memorable book , I will watch out for this authors next book as this was a fantastic debut novel.

Thank you to netgalley , Natasha Tynes and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic book.

“Dying was not the worst part. It was what came after dying.”

“I look around me. Everything feels right now. I’m suddenly elated. I feel myself float. Images are flashing in front of my eyes. Memories. My life story. I’m getting lighter, lighter, lighter. This is it. This is my moment. This is my exit. Oh. Wow. Just Wow. It’s wonderful out there.”

Full review: https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/they-called-me-wyatt-by-natasha-tynes/

They Called Me Wyatt is exceptionally unique! Divided into two sections, this book brings a new, refreshing light to the mystery and thriller world. They Called Me Wyatt is about the death of Siwar, originally ruled a suicide, but those close to her think otherwise. Wyatt discovers his connection to Siwar and cannot resist her and the need to investigate her death.

I appreciated the multi-cultural perspective, the touch on cultural differences and discrepancies. It added depth and character to this story. I also enjoyed the the changing viewpoints throughout. I will have to say that there were a handful of spelling and grammatical errors so this did stick out to me as I was reading.

Siwar Salaiha desperately wants to become a writer. The life she wants is not in Jordan. Against the wishes and advice of her family and friends, she applies and gets into a university in Maryland. Here she is free to write and date and not be gossiped about by the entire town.

She is a good girl, a smart girl. A girl afraid of heights who supposedly committed suicide on her 25th birthday by jumping off the roof of the restaurant.

At the same time she dies, a baby boy in Seattle is born. And somehow her consciousness is now sharing space with a baby. A baby that can't talk, that can't ask for help. 

Years later that baby, Wyatt, is turning 25 and through a series of events is made aware of Siwars death and the coincidence of their birthdays. He is forced to acknowledge that there is someone else inside his head and that person wants answers about her death.

This was a good story. The characters were okay. The ending left me unfulfilled. There were quite a few grammatical errors that were pretty significant and I hope those have been addressed. 

Good Story, not so great execution.

NetGalley/ June 11th 2019 by Rare Bird Books

I really enjoyed They Call Me Wyatt- Siwar’s story pulled me in and kept me wanting more.

This book is a unique take on a sort of reincarnation mixed with murder with some Jordanian culture thrown in to top it off. Wyatt & Siwar finish strong & I recommend this book for anyone looking for something different in the thriller genre. Natasha Tynes is a force to be reckoned with - I’m a fan!

"You really can’t understand the Middle East if you don’t put yourself in Arab women’s shoes. It’s all about the hymen."

I’ma just say this right now – They Call Me Wyatt is eye-opening as hell and this is unlike anything else I’ve read. At no point did I find a character to be bland or off-putting AND I got my white ass educated when it comes to life as an Arab woman. Essentially, this is a cracking little read and here’s the main reason why:

This shit is from the point of view of a dead person and from her new human vessel, Wyatt.


Ok, let me rewind a little bit. Siwar, a woman that you’ll fall in love with, dies on her 25th birthday after being pushed from a roof. On the same day, Wyatt is born and Siwar’s consciousness moves into his infant body only to awaken on his third birthday.
This part. This part right here is what gets me excited mainly because I’m low-key interested in reincarnation.

After many, many medical procedures, Siwar was pushed to the back of Wyatt’s mind until he reaches his 25th birthday. Determined that it wasn’t a suicide, Wyatt becomes irrationally obsessed with the death of a woman he’s never met and is set on finding her killer.

This is the kind of story that will stick in your mind and you’ll quickly notice similarities when it comes to the two characters; Wyatt is terrified of heights and you can only presume Siwar would be as well with, you know, the death thing.

This is actually one of the first books I’ve read where real life things turn up. Peppered throughout the story were everyday brands you’d see in life which makes this a much more relatable read than anything else I’ve held in my clammy hands.

It does come with its downsides though. My irrational pet peeve about this book? LEGO being called Legos. It kills me every time.

This will be published on my blog on the 28th May: https://shitbookreviews.com/?p=235