Michael Koryta has grown to be one of my favorite suspense writers over the last few years. His novels are intricately woven with thrilling characters, plowing through a plot that just won't let go. If She Wakes does not disappoint.

Tara Beckley is given the responsibility of welcoming a professor who's scheduled to give a speech at her college in Maine. One moment she's wondering why the professor is behaving so strangely, and the next, she's a prisoner in her own body. A fatal crash leaves her with "locked-in-syndrome".

Completely aware of her surroundings and the people around her, Tara fights to be heard. Yet, there are many who hope to silence her forever. Koryta introduces us to a world where no one is to be trusted and that the only person holding the key to survival is locked in.

If She Wakes presents readers with a host of characters most would not want to encounter for their whole lives. And what everyone is after is the professor's phone that may have extremely valuable information that is worth killing over.

I would like to say I had at least one gripe with this novel, but all the characters are so clever (and cleverly drawn), and the mysteries behind their motivations are equally captivating, that I don't have anything bad to say at all. Koryta delivers twist after twist with the skill of a professional driver hitting the pavement in a car that goes 0-60 in less than 5 seconds.

If She Wakes is a thrilling ride with a master in the thriller/suspense genre. Michael Koryta is at the top of his game with this one. I might be a tad bit bias since I am a fan, but I only hope to wake-up those who haven't had the pleasure of reading his books.

Copy provided by Little, Brown, and Company via Netgalley

If She Wakes is a psychological thriller of the creepiest kind. Abbie, a college student, was in an accident with a visiting professor. This accident is possibly not accidental at all. The professor is dead. Abbie is in a coma. She's physically unable to do anything, but she's mentally aware of everything. This freaked me out. It's like the worst claustrophobic situation imaginable. Just stuck. Knowing you are trapped but can't possibly escape. Ahhh!!! I'm major claustrophobic, and this was hard to read, but it's way too fascinating to put down. What a conundrum! An investigator is hired to examine the accident, and she gets the impression that something might be off here. And, a villain, Dax, is present in the story. He's just straight up creepy, like if you see him walking down the street, just turn and go in any other direction. It's a twisted chaotic mess. What is the big picture? Abbie knows her life is in danger, but what can she do to help herself? The investigator has the pieces but can't make them fit. Dax will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Why are these things happening?The writing is sharp and taut with suspense, full of twists you won't see coming. The characters are written with life, and it's easy to become invested in their outcomes. Basically, if you like a solid thrill ride, don't miss this one. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars.

A Visiting Professor, murdered. College Student, Tara Beckley, now in a Coma.

An Insurance Investigator is positive that the Police have it all wrong. A Hit Man covering up the tracks. Is anyone safe?

As Abby Kaplan, the Insurance Investigator discovers, the answer to that question is no. Lucky for her, she has agility, speed and intelligence on her side. The Hit Man Dax, however, never loses. Ever.

“If She Wakes” by Michael Koryta is one heck of a thrilling ride down the fast lane. Once it got going, I was literally on the edge of my seat. Believe it or not, this was my first novel by this author and the pleasure was all mine.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown and Company and Michael Koryta for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads, NetGalley and Amazon on 5.27.19.

This was an entertaining read, but didn't really hold up to the author's previous works. I did like the main character having "locked-in syndrome". That made the telling of her story interesting and different. There were quite a bit of subplots going on.

Loved it. Read it all the way through without diverting to another book at any time! I have always been fascinated by characters in situations like this - those who are medically impaired, if only temporarily, and yet have to communicate to save their lives and their families. This book deals with a "locked-in" patient, one unable to communicate but who is mentally capable and aware, though seemingly in a coma, There are murders that have to be solved, the patient has information that is hard if not impossible to retrieve, and there are dark forces trying to prevent her from revealing anything.

Suspenseful and intense, this thriller has characters both good and bad that are riveting. The writing is excellent and propels the story forward easily.

I would give this book 3.5 stars. This was the first Michael Koryta book that I have read, and I enjoyed it! It was a thrilling read, and a book that was hard to put down. I just wanted to know what was going to happen and how all the pieces would fit together.

The story is told from multiple perspectives of the many people involved in the investigation of the death of professor Amandi Oltamu. Tara is the girl who witnessed his death, but she is stuck in a coma in the hospital, fully conscious in her mind but unable to move or communicate. Abby is an insurance investigator who is suspicious that the pieces of the story are not lining up. Boone is another investigator who is anxious to get Tara to talk and reveal what happened. All three of these women become entangled in a complex web of danger and conspiracy and murder.

One thing that kept me turning pages was my curiosity. I wanted to know what was on that phone!!! Unfortunately, when it was finally revealed what was on the phone, I found it to be a big letdown. I'm not even sure that I fully understood the explanation, but it definitely didn't live up to all the hype about the phone throughout the book. So the end was a bit of a disappointment for me.

Thanks to Netgally and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

If She Wakes by Michael Koryta is a very highly recommended, fast-paced thriller.

Tara Beckley, a senior at Hammel College in Maine, is the contact person to drive visiting lecturer Amandi Oltamu to the venue where he will give a presentation related to his work on batteries and solar panels. Tara, following Oltamu's request, has parked the car by a walking bridge when a van hits them, killing Oltamu and leaves Tara in a vegetative state. After the driver of the vehicle who hit them confesses, everyone assumes it was an accident, but Abby Kaplan, an insurance investigator, doesn't believe that is the case. As a former racer and stunt driver, Abby knows how cars behave at high speeds.

As Abby continues her investigation she gets Oltamu's phone which she hopes hold clues. Tara regains consciousness, but is a victim of locked-in syndrome, which means she's fully alert but unable to move or communicate. To further complicate matters a young killer, Dax Blackwell, has been hired to make sure Tara can never say what happened, silence Abby, and get Oltamu's phone.

This is an tension-filled, exciting, fast-paced thriller that will hold your attention from beginning to end. A high level of suspense is sustained throughout the novel and the cold, malevolent calculating actions of Dax increase the fear and make the dread palpable. The quality of the writing is excellent and the plot moves quickly as each chapter alternates between the points-of-view of different characters. The various plot threads all begin to weave together, which makes the suspense created by the complicated, dangerous plot even more heart-stopping.

All of the characters are well-developed and you will fiercely care about what happens to them. Koryta gives all of these these characters a backstory, making them realistic with their own fears and motivations. These are not unreliable characters. They feel as real as a close friend, so the situation they are in is heartbreaking and heart-stopping. Even with plot twists, that also feel believable, these characters continue to experience growth - even through the fear.

If I had one bit of doubt, it was Tara experiencing the locked-in syndrome and medical professionals not realizing it sooner. On the other hand, I am not a medical professional, so perhaps it is possible. A strong 4.5 rounded up.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Little, Brown and Company.

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If She Wakes by Michael Koryta is a psychological thriller

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Little, Brown and Company, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Tara Beckley, a student at Hammel College, is currently escorting a rather tense Dr. Armandi Oltamu, back to the school so he can speak to the students on “batteries”. On the way,  he requests a more scenic route. When Tara pulls over by the foot-bridge, they both get out of the car and he snaps some pictures, asking Tara to lock his phone in her glove box. That accomplished, they both turn as a vehicle slams into them. Oltamu is dead, and Tara ends up in a coma.

Carlos Ramirez immediately confessed to causing the accident.

Abby Kaplan is an insurance investigator hired by Hammel College to investigate the accident to make sure they will not be sued. An ex-stunt driver, Abby immediately sees an issue. There is no way Ramirez’s story adds up. Then she discovers that the doctor's phone is missing.

Dax Blackwell, a young man with a black cap and hoodie looks like an innocent teenager. He is not.  Dax is a killer, and he is looking for that missing phone. There is big money on the line. He isn’t the only one looking.

Tara may be in a coma, but she is aware of everything going on around her. Her sister, Shannon, seems to be the only one that feels Tara’s energy. Her mother, step-father and most of the hospital staff have already written her off. If Tara can’t let them know she’s still with them, they will pull the plug. That’s if the killer doesn’t get to her first.


My Opinions:
WOW. This one grabbed me from the first page, and I just hung on. Didn’t want to put it down, not for nothing! There was so much suspense, and edge-of-the seat moments, that you just had to take a breath every now and then.

The plot and twists were really good, and the characters had enough background that they felt real. The relationship between the sisters was really good, and so was dynamics between Abby and Dax. They “got” each other.

This was an action-packed book, and although I am not into spy or mafia novels, it did have that sort of feel. It didn’t bother me a bit. There was so much suspense, and edge-of-the seat moments, that you just had to take a breath every now and then.

Highly recommend this book!

What an utter disappointment from an author I usually enjoy tremendously. The plot is stupid, characters are cartoons, and the novel is downright lazy. The only saving grace is making the killer a baby faced individual to blend in, but otherwise, for me it’s a total waste. Here’s hoping that the next novel goes back to terrific, as Koryta is talented, but this book is a zero for me.

3/5

Not much to say about this book.

It was a well written book and the story was good. However, I thought it was a bit slow and it drag a bit.

I will definitely recommend this book since the story was good and interesting.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I knew when I saw If She Wakes by Michael Koryta that I wanted to read it. I own (and enjoyed) How It Happened and Those Who Wish Me Dead, so I appreciated the chance to read the latest offering thanks to Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

In this latest thriller from Mr Koryta, a student named Tara Beckley is driving a visiting guest speaker to a conference at the college she attends. A grisly car accident leaves her in a coma and the visiting speaker dead. In a creepy plotline, Tara is really fully alert but can’t move a muscle. As she listens to people in her hospital room, she realizes someone wants her dead, but she has no idea why. (this reminded me of a fear my husband and I share of being given anesthesia before surgery and being totally awake and feeling pain but unable to speak, so we just have to endure it (yikes).

In a parallel plotline, the college hires an insurance investigator named Abby Kaplan to review the case, fearing some liability as a result of one of their students driving the car in which the guest speaker was riding when he was killed. Abby is a former stunt driver who has come back to Maine after a car accident of her own left her boyfriend actor dead and her reputation and nerves in shreds. She starts asking questions about Tara’s crash and she then has to go dark, hiding undercover while a hit man chases her.

It’s wildly entertaining, requiring a small dose of willing suspension of disbelief, but those who are up for that will really enjoy this latest from Michael Koryta. Four stars.

If you haven't read anything by Michael Koryta this book is a good place to start.

Michael never disappoints.

If She Wakes is a page turning psychological thriller .

Tara is a student who drives visiting dignitaries around but this drive did not go as expected.

It leaves Tara in a coma and she is the only one with the answers and her life is still in danger.

Dax , my favourite character, just happens to be a professional killer , is looking to find out what Tara knows.

Abby is out to thwart him.

You will soon join the chase and the pages will turn quickly.

A great read to get lost in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the opportunity to read If She Wakes

If you already read Michael Koryta, you know what to expect from his books: unrelenting action and suspense. If She Wakes is no exception.

For me, anyway, it was made even more tense by the fact that Tara has locked-in syndrome: her family thinks she's in a coma, but she's awake---she just can't move or speak. It's an actual nightmare of mine and it's only worse since reading her chapters.

We ALSO have the world's creepiest villain (Dax) and no real idea of why any of this is happening.

In any other author's hands, this might seem like a chaotic mess. In this book, however, it all makes perfect sense once everything clicks into place.

Highly recommended.

If She Wakes is an intense, pulse pounding book that I did not want to put down at all.

The story was well thought out and I love plots with "locked-in-syndrome". In a coma, but actually fully aware of everything around you.

This was one pulse pounding thriller with some twists and turns I did not expect with a shocking ending.

Great book. Will be looking for more novels by this author.

3.5 stars

I was a big fan of this author’s Lincoln Perry series but it’s been a while so I was happy to get my hands on his latest stand alone. For me this was very much a book of 2 halves. I see you squinting at me so I’ll try to explain but first, the 411.

“Nineteen minutes before her brain and body parted ways, Tara Beckley’s concern was the cold.”

Got your attention? That’s the opening line & you may wonder if it might be a good idea not to get too attached to poor Tara. No worries. After a car crash, she’s still alive albeit trapped in her own body with locked in syndrome. Her passenger, a professor she was driving to a conference, didn’t fare as well.

Meanwhile a woman named Lisa Boone is wondering what happened to her latest client. She’s in the Detroit airport waiting for a professor who had one more lecture to give before she whisks him away. All she can do is ponder his last text: ASK THE GIRL.

As Tara lies in a coma, family gathers at her bedside to consider the options. It’s probably a good thing they don’t know she’s listening as they discuss when to turn off the machines & let her go. Luckily she has someone in her corner. Her sister Shannon has always had her back & refuses to believe Tara is already gone.

Then we meet Abby Kaplan, a claims investigator hired by Tara’s college to look into the accident. They sponsored the conference & want to nail down any potential legal liability stemming from the professor’s death. Fatal accidents are something Abby knows a bit about. She recently returned to Maine after surviving a crash that killed her boyfriend. It’s obvious Abby is still traumatized but she needs this job. So maybe she’ll have a couple of drinks before tackling the crime scene.

There’s a lot of history & more characters to introduce before the story can really take off. This is what I meant in the intro. The first half sets up various sub plots & establishes the cast but you soon realize Tara & Abby will be the main narrators. I enjoyed Tara’s side. Making one of your MC’s a person who never leaves her bed is an interesting choice. I fared less well with Abby. First, I have a thing about drinking & driving. That’s just a personal tic. But it was mostly the frequent references to the accident in California that sent her running back to Maine.

Her boyfriend was a well known actor so in addition to her personal grief, Abby had to deal with being excoriated in the press. It’s a horrific experience that would leave anyone reeling & we better understand her behaviour after the initial reveal. However, she (and the reader) delves into it over & over again including long passages of conversations she had with her boyfriend. Not only does it slow the pace & yank you out of the present, it doesn’t add anything to the story. We already know she’s suffering & I confess I found myself skimming these sections to get back to the current situation which was much more compelling.

Thankfully, this happens less often in the second half. The plot is intricate & things really get interesting when we spend time with a creepy young killer hell bent on making sure no one digs into the circumstances around Tara’s accident. It becomes a fast paced read with several nice twists that keep you turning the pages.

So with 3 stars for the first half & 4 for the second, I’ll split the difference.

Michael Koryta writes a very good thriller...plenty of action, plenty of suspense. However, I don't think the writing is as good as in his earlier Lincoln Perry mysteries. I'd love to see him revisit that character, with the same level of writing I found in his first novel.

The book opens as Tara Beckley, a senior at Hammel college, a small university level school situated in Maine, is driving a visiting dignitary to a conference being sponsored by her college. Suddenly there is a horrendous accident killing the professor and leaving Tara in a vegetative state. She is aware of her surroundings and what is going on but in what is termed locked in syndrome and unable to move or communicate with the outside world.
Abby Kaplan, who is a former stunt driver involved in an accident resulting in one fatality, now an insurance investigator is assigned by the college to look into the accident and make a determination of who is at fault. The events occurring in the novel revolve around both Abby and Tara and what happens to them. Tara, of course, is completely paralyzed but soon realizes that someone wants her dead in order to cover their tracks regarding the accident. Abby has her own demons beginning with her early career as a very talented stunt driver, but than stopped when she is involved in the accident resulting in a fatality.
Mr. Koryta's reputation as an author that easily grabs his readers and creates situations that keep them glued to the book does it again. With the introduction of a professional killer named Dax, the son and also the nephew of two brothers that were famed for their murders the reader cannot put the book down until finished. The description of Tara caught in her state, yet aware of the outside world, gives the reader an introduction to a human situation that , fortunately, is not a common one. Abby, normally a brave young lady must conquer her fears of driving while working on the case and does find that those circumstances hinder her in a situation that demands she override them. Even Dax is capable of attracting the reader in his own cold blooded way.
The nove lmoves from Mr Koryta's pen with the ease he has always demonstrated. The ending flawlessly flows from the events described in the book, and my recommendation to all is read this one and than just sit tight until Mr Koryta's next book comes out.

3.5 stars. Good story. Picture coming to after an accident and not knowing where you are. Family is around you and looking at you and talking to each other, but not to you. You tell them you are ok, but the words don't get heard by them. Wait a minute, the words can't be heard anywhere but in your head. What's happening? What's wrong with you and where are you and why? No one is saying what your condition is and you can't move or signal them that you are here.
We learn the accident may not have been an accident at all, but rather an intentional act by people who do not want you to tell what you may have seen. They want to make sure you can not communicate ever again. Why are they after you for the phone and will do anything to get it?
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was truly an amazing book. The storyline flowed, the characters were engaging and I could barely tear myself away from this book. Highly recommended!

4.5 stars, actually.

To the best of my recollection, I've read only one other book by Michael Koryta ("Rise the Dark" in 2016, to which I gave 5 stars). And "Short Story," which he co-wrote with Karin Slaughter for the 2017 "Matchup" compilation was my favorite of the bunch. So it was that I was delighted to get an advance review copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley). In fact, I stayed delighted all the way through the nonstop action; when I got within shouting distance of the end, not even this season's final episode of "Madame Secretary" could make me turn off my Kindle (well, okay, I finished up during the commercials, but you get my point).

Tara Beckley, a senior at Hammel College in Maine, is tapped to escort a high-profile keynote speaker to his presentation at the college. Although they're on a tight schedule, the visiting professor asks her to show him some of her favorite spots in and around campus. Reluctantly, she agrees - even when he decides to get out and walk. Shortly thereafter, a car comes out of nowhere, mowing down the professor and knocking Tara into a bridge barrier. When she awakes (if you can call it that), she's in a hospital bed unable to move or speak. Readers know she can think, see and hear, though - but that's of little consequence because everyone around her (except perhaps her sister Shannon) assumes she's in a coma from which she'll never recover. If they all give up on a possible recovery, what would happen next is almost too frightening for her to bear.

Meanwhile, former race and stunt car driver and now insurance investigator Abby Kaplan has been hired by the college to look into the college's potential for liability - after all, it provided Tara as an escort. To prove there's no fault, she must dig into every angle of how the accident happened. Right from the git-go, though, she learns one very important thing: The accident definitely wasn't an accident.

Thrown into the mix is a very nasty predator known as Dax and his "boss" Gerry Connors, both of whom have intense, but perhaps different, interests in the late professor and what he really was up to. Then there's Hank, Abby's boss, mentor and friend, and Tara's aforementioned sister Shannon - Tara's strongest ally. And don't count out Tara herself, who struggles to make her family and doctors believe she's still "in there." Everyone who loves her, of course, is pulling for her return to the real world. But Dax and others are watching her progress closely; if she recovers, it's likely she'll need to be silenced - this time, permanently.

Chapters flip among the various characters, holding my attention throughout and providing me with inside looks at what they're thinking before, during and after they do it. To that end, though, I must say that I marveled at how quickly and in-depth the characters figured out what was happening and how they should handle the situations. I like to think I'm a fairly intelligent person, but put me in high-stress, life-threatening scenarios like these folks faced and it would take me months to decide what to do next (by which time, of course, I'd be six feet under). Then, too, I do think the medical professionals should have been able to detect brain activity long before they did in this case.

That noted, everything comes together to make for an exciting journey that ends with...oops, almost forgot that's not my story to tell. It's the author's -- and it's a doozy. Very entertaining!