Well, this didn't go where I was expecting... and it was pretty confusing for the majority. But, my persistence paid off as once all the layers had been peeled back and the naked truth exposed, I realised how clever the really intricate plotting had been.
Jake and Clara "meet" when they find themselves next to each other on a plane. There's this spark between them, something that connects them, but neither have any idea what. They just know that they've met before although, despite their conversations, they struggle to figure out how. Then Clara admits her reasons for her travel; she intends to take her own life. Jake is shocked by this but, on landing, Clara disappears before he can talk further on the matter.
Jake continues on to his appointment and, here's where it all gets a bit convoluted and interconnected and I can't see any way of explaining anything further without spoilers, so I am going to leave the storytelling to the author.
Suffice to say what followed held my attention whilst confusing the heck out of me pretty much throughout. I also had to do a fair bit of accepting and suspending disbelief along the way but I had this feeling that it would all come together nicely, eventually, at the end. Which it did, and it left me wholly satisfied.
There was a bit during the book that dragged a little for me, and there were a few things that, shall I just say, were more than a little convenient, a tad on the contrived side, but I was happy to take one for the team on these occasions as all that was of this ilk did move the story along and brought all the previously disjointed elements together nicely.
It's definitely unique both in contents and delivery and so it was a breath of fresh air for me in amongst a lot of samey books that I have been reading in this genre recently. This is partly due to it not being quite what I was expecting going in.
All in all, a good solid read that, by the time I got to the end, came together nicely. But, be prepared to be confused for pretty much the majority. If you're not a fan of reading through uncomfortable confusion then this may not be the book for you. But the reward at the end does make up for the pain throughout. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

An unexpected gem of a thriller. I read this one late into the night as I was unable to sleep until it was over. I'm still catching my breath! This is certainly not the last Carter Wilson book I'm reading.

While it took me a bit to get into this book, I found myself intrigued and wanting to know what happens next.

Clara and Jake find themselves as seat-mates on a plane ride and strike up a conversation. Both feel as though they know the other, but can’t place from where. Enjoy the separate journeys both of them are on to find missing memories. Is it coincidence they were on the plane together?

I would recommend this book to someone looking for something different and suspenseful. There were a few twists I didn’t expect and a couple I caught before they were revealed. Overall it was a really enjoyable read.

Last year I read and loved Mr Tenders Girl so when I saw that Carter Wilson had another book out I jumped at the chance to read it. And I wasn't disappointed at all. This book was nothing like I expected at all but all in a good way. The blurb just scrapes the surface of this book, there is so much more involved once you get into it. All I can is go into this book with an open mind and you will enjoy it. It is twist, dark, freaky and dramatic... all making for a fantastic read.

So far as the story goes all you need to know is the basics... Jake is headed to Denver for work when he meets Clara. She has been given a surprise upgrade and is sitting next to Jake. They both feel that they know the other but are not sure how or where from. Both have been struggling with memory loss in recent times. Clare admits to Jake that she is going to Denver to kill herself. And that is all you are getting, After all of this you need to read the book to find out what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

So so good! This was my second Carter Wilson book and it's official I will read anything he writes! This one didn't catch me from the very beginning like Mister Tender's Girl did but after a little bit of a introduction into the actual plot I was hooked. The last third of this book was so fast paced that I could stop even if I wanted to. Wilson's books read super fast for me so I usually finish in two days tops unless life gets in the way. I felt like this book was everything I wished the very popular Night Film to be. It was dark and had photocopies of letters/notes and pictures from the books in the story but not too much mixed media to where it was distracting. It was pretty to the point without a bunch of extra filler which I love! Basically my opinion is just READ THIS BOOK!❤

This is a genre bending tale of two people- Jake and Clara- and what memory really is. When they are seated next to one another on an airplane, they can't figure out how they know one another. Turns out there's quite a back story. This is a blend of psychological thriller and science fiction complete with a sort of conspiracy thing. Sounds confusing? It's not. What is memory? What is repressed memory? What if your memories are selected for you and not by you? Interesting questions but know that this doesn't delve into the philosophy, only the effects of, to put it mildly, messing with a child's mind. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an unusual read and one you might find equally frustrating and rewarding because nothing is what it seems, is it?

...if you put fancy clothes on a scarecrow, no one would remark, "That's a nice scarecrow." They'd say, "What the fuck is that thing?"

This quote, found near the beginning of this story, literally made me laugh out loud...but it also, unfortunately, pretty accurately describes how I feel about this book.

What the fuck IS this thing?

Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a really creative psychological thriller.
What I got?
A really weird, boring psychological/government study.

Now, I could potentially get behind a book about government research on humans...had the synopsis lead me in that direction. Unfortunately, since I expected something entirely different, I felt more annoyed than anything. And honestly, regardless of the description of the book, I still don't think I'd have enjoyed The Dead Girl in 2A much, as it's very, very slow...barely skimming the surfaces of why all these crazy things are happening. Worse, the characters are poorly developed. I had zero desire to pick this novel up and read...that rarely happens to me.

Honestly, I don't have anything else to say. All I can suggest is to be aware the synopsis is somewhat misleading and go in with an open mind.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Carter Wilson for my digital ARC.

Publication date: July 2, 2019
Goodreads review posted: June 28, 2019

The Dead Girl in 2A was a unique, imaginative and intricately woven suspense thriller. I really loved this awesome book and it was so good that there were times when I had to force myself to put it down. I really appreciated Carter Wilson's writing style in this taut and dark psychological thriller. With some very strong characters and great pacing, it was an intensely creepy tale of twisty perfection. Unique and definitely a page-turner, it was full whom-can-you-trust paranoia.

This is the first time that I have read anything by this author and it will not be the last.

If you want to read a psychological thriller unlike any you've read before, then look no further as The Dead Girl in 2A is the book for you.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I first discovered Carter Wilson when I read Mister Tender's Girl last year, which I absolutely loved!!! I knew after reading that one, that I would be reading anything he wrote and so as soon as I saw he had a new book coming out, I requested it on Netgalley and I was not disappointed. It's different than his last book, but I loved the uniqueness of this one.

This book kept me glued to the pages, intrigued as to what was going on right from the start. This psychological thriller will really keep you guessing, and at times get under your skin. It really is quite a puzzle. I'm always fascinated when an author explores memory loss and the way Carter Wilson uses it in this book is really quite clever - almost in a sci-fi way that is quite scary. When you add in manipulation and anguish, it's hard to not be sucked in to the story.

The characters were well drawn and I loved that way it alternated between Jake and Clara's point's of view. Both are deeply flawed characters and you can't help but want to know as much as possible about them to know how they got themselves into the situations they are in.

The deeper I got into this story, the more invested I became with the characters. I couldn't stop thinking about them and couldn't stop coming up with theories about what was going to happen. Of course, I never guessed what ultimately happened - but let me tell you, it was the best reveal possible at just the right time. The tension had been building all along and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for it and it was so good!

I love Carter Wilson's writing and now, as I wait for whatever comes next from him, I need to read his earlier books. This guy has a cleverly wicked, devious mind and it is wildly entertaining and thrilling. Have you read any of his books yet?

I'm between 3.5 and 4 stars for this read but I'll round it upto 4.

I have not read the author's previous books so wasn't too sure what to expect. I was definitely surprised with the book. In a good way.

The story is quite unique and kept me entertained right until the end. I had no idea how the story would unfold and how it would all tie up together. The author did a great job in holding my attention with all the twists and turns and just overall with the unusual story.

I did have some issues with the length and certain explanations given but that didn't take away from me enjoying the book.
I don't want to give away too much because I went in blind and I enjoyed the book. I hope others do that too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have read by this author and I thought it was even better than the first. This one was very unsettling and disturbing, which I loved. The characters were suffering from memory issues so I wasn't sure who to trust of believe! I liked where the story went and the dark feeling lasted for the entire book. I also though the ending worked well and made sense with the whole story. I would recommend this one to anyone who is looking for something that makes you question everything!

This was a powerful story. One that had so many twists and turns. It barrelled it’s way down the tracks to the end, taking, me along for the ride. I just couldn’t put it down.

I greatly enjoyed this tale and would recommend it to anyone who lives a good psychological thriller.

Finished reading 'The Dead Girl in 2A' by Carter Wilson.
This book took me by surprise!
After reading the synopsis I was expecting something different. However, the book has a very unpredictable, unique and creative plot. The storyline involves trauma, memories, regrets and manipulative activities.
I surprisingly really enjoyed reading this book. It was truly a page-turner with many twists. Overall 4 stars.

The Dead Girl in 2A to me was a genre bending book. As I was reading this book, while this a psychological thriller, it definitely had essences of Sci-Fi. To me this felt close to reading a Blake Crouch book (who I adore).

This book is all about connections and memories or lack of memories. Jake and Clara have a kismet moment on a plane to Colorado, but though both feel a connection, cannot remember ever meeting each other. What ensues is fast paced and many characters will be introduced.

I could not figure out where this book was going, but this was a great trip. Looking forward to see how this book does in the coming weeks. This one deserves a lot of praise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press Books for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this book and thought the whole idea was very clever and unique. It was well written but I did struggle with it slightly and found it hard to get into. I would still look out for more by this author

Unputdownable from page one. I was immediately hooked on the premise of man meets woman on a plane, they felt an intense familiarity and connection, only for the woman to declare she is meant to end her life at her destination. Awesome, right? But that is only the first couple of chapters. What happens next is totally unpredictable.

I highly recommend this for readers who are looking for a good psychological thriller with a touch of sci-fi. I wouldn’t reveal too much of the plot so as not to spoil the experience. I would have wanted a bit more action and drama towards the ending, but overall this is an enjoyable and quick read, it’s almost like watching an intense movie 👍🏻

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Sourcebooks for providing a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I begin with this book? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read that’s for sure! It’s smart and imaginative! The plot really intrigued me! Two people sitting next to each other on a plane have a feeling they know each other but cannot figure out how. What follows is a crazy,wild and often unbelievably sad explanation of events. If you enjoy a thriller that’s not a typical whodunnit and leans more towards sci-fi then this is for you!

Do you consider yourself to have good memory recall or do you forget things easily? Do you have a clear early childhood memory?

Imagine if you didn’t remember your life before losing your parents in a tragic accident? Only to be an orphan in more ways than one.

“Jake Buchannan knows the woman sitting next to him on his business flight to Denver—he just can’t figure out how he knows her. Clara Stowe isn’t in Jake’s line of work and didn’t go to college with him. They have nearly nothing in common apart from a deep and shared certainty that they’ve met before. Despite their best efforts over a probing conversation, both struggle to figure out what circumstances could possibly have brought them together. Then, in a revelation that sends Jake reeling, Clara admits she’s traveling to the Colorado mountains to kill herself, and disappears into the crowded airport immediately after landing.
The Dead Girl in 2A is the story of what happens to Jake and Clara after they get off that plane, and the manipulative figure who has brought them together decades after they first met.”

I became a fan of Wilson’s after reading Mister Tender’s Girl last year. Again, he picks such a unique and compelling topic and runs with it. I really don’t want to give too much of the plot away but know that this isn’t your run of the mill thriller. Think Blake Crouch’s “Recursion” to a less confusing degree. It is a tad longer than I prefer, at 400 pages. Nonetheless, the alternating POV’s and short chapters keep the story at a smooth pace. I wasn’t overly invested in the characters but I was intrigued with how the story would tie up. Be sure to read the authors note at the end for some very eye-opening background to the story.
I give this unique story 3.5 stars.

WOW!!!! This book was nicely written and captured my attention once I started reading! This author did such a great job!!! I have never read a book by this author; however, I must say I am already looking forward to reading others by this author. I loved it! I definitely will recommend this to anyone looking for a great read. Thanks!

After reading and loving Mister Tender's Girl last year, I was really excited to read the newest release by Carter Wilson! Unfortunately, this one didn't work nearly as well for me. The book focuses on memory loss, and a group of people connected through their past, though "how" they are connected isn't revealed until later in the book.

I was enjoying the book up until the "how" was revealed, and it took a totally different direction than I was expecting. A minor spoiler coming up, but one I feel is important to know before deciding whether or not to read the book (had I known, I would have skipped this one), is that the book's main focus is a government testing program that caused memory loss. It got way too sci-fi for me, and I've read similar books in the past that dealt with government conspiracies, or government testing, and I've hated them all, so I wish I would have known that prior to going into this book.

If you're okay with genre bending, or you enjoy those types of themes and plots in books, you may enjoy this one. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. That said, I do like Carter's writing style, so I look forward to his next release.