Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

NOTE: The publisher graciously supplied me with a copy of this book and asked me to write a review.

“Greed is good.” Gordon Gekko, the financial wheeler-dealer portrayed by Michael Douglas, spoke these words in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street in 1987. That line came to epitomize the unscrupulous but lucrative type of high finance machinations portrayed in that movie and in real life since then. And those words might also be the mantra for the four greedy, backstabbing investment bankers in Megan Goldin’s highly entertaining financial thriller, The Escape Room. These characters make Gordon Gekko look like a piker, and readers have the distinct pleasure of seeing them literally sweat.

These greedy bankers are part of a formerly high-flying team that works for the Wall Street firm of Stanhope and Sons. Their job is putting together mergers and takeovers that make small fortunes for them and larger ones for the company. But things haven’t gone all that well for the team lately, and they receive a mysterious summons one Friday night to attend a team-building exercise at an unoccupied high-rise building. What they don’t know, but those who read the very first chapter of The Escape Room do is that the exercise is going to end very badly and very bloodily. Just how badly it ends and whose blood is on display, however, are juicy details that the author doesn’t reveal until the end of the book.

This particular team-building exercise is an escape room, a popular live-action game where a group of people in an enclosed location like, say, an elevator must solve a series of puzzles to get out. As played in the real world, it’s a harmless couple of hours entertainment that can be fun for those who enjoy answering riddles, deciphering codes, finding hidden compartments, and the like. But the escape room in which these four bankers find themselves soon leaves the riddles and codes far behind. Instead, things really heat up for them as the elevator’s heating system goes into overdrive. At the same time, the clues that they discover don’t seem to show the way out but, instead, reveal unsavory bits of information from their past.

For the most part, author Goldin tells her story in alternating chapters told from different points of view. Half of these chapters describe the plight of the group trapped in the elevator. Meanwhile, the other half of the book is narrated by a young Stanhope analyst named Sara Hall, who joined the team shortly after being hired by the firm. Sare is conspicuously missing from the escape room invitation list. However, the other characters soon reveal why Sara isn’t along for the ride.

The Escape Room is, in part, a mystery thriller in which readers try to figure out just what occurred in the past that led to the characters’ eventual fates. Frankly, the mystery elements don’t require a Sherlock Holmes or Nero Wolfe to figure out (although the author does throw in a couple of rather interesting developments along the way). In larger part, however, the novel is a character study that contrasts the extent to which the various characters are driven by greed. On the one hand are the four veteran investment bankers. In a clever authorial touch, they don’t appear at first to be complete monsters. Instead, they seem to be relatively normal corporate types, a bit self-centered and snobbish, but not that all different from what you’d find in most businesses. To reinforce this take, the author has Sara recount her initial encounters with the various team members and how, at certain times, she liked or respected them for their positive qualities. But as the book goes on, the author peels away this veneer of respectability surrounding the bankers like layers of an onion. Goldin does this simultaneously in the elevator chapters and in Sara’s narrative, as the young analyst learns more about her colleagues and the extent to which they will go to protect themselves. Further, the misdeeds at Stanhope aren’t limited to those particular bankers chasing after the almighty dollar. Apparently, management there is utterly unaware of the #MeToo movement, as sexual harassment, blatant sexism, and even outright assault are commonplace.

The Escape Room is considerably more than the story of four Gordon Gekkos trapped in an elevator, however. Much as the movie Wall Street focused on a novice stockbroker (played by Charlie Sheen) that Gekko took under his wing, The Escape Room is largely Sara’s story. And it’s a story of a young woman trying to overcome a lot of bad breaks in her life who seemingly finds Cinderella’s glass slipper when she gets a dream job at Stanhope. But her dream gradually becomes a nightmare. The author takes great care not to make Sara a saintly figure. Instead, Sara at first falls quickly under the spell of the handsome salary, bonuses, and fringe benefits she receives. (She repeatedly mentions how much the items of her new wardrobe cost.) But as the novel progresses, Sara becomes increasingly desperate as she tries to figure out just how twisted her co-workers are. Again, Goldin cleverly juxtaposes descriptions of the worsening conditions in the elevator and Sara increasing plight.

Eventually, The Escape Room becomes a morality tale of bad things happening to bad people (as the author foretold in the first chapter). This type of epic downfall can be enormously satisfying when done right. Unfortunately, the author misses the mark a bit here. Plotwise, a lot more happens in the last 50 pages of The Escape Room than in the first 300, and readers’ feelings are not unlike what patrons of a bar experience when forced to gulp down their drinks at closing time. Although the ending is somewhat rushed, it’s still quite easy for readers to follow. However, I do wish the author had expanded on her description of these events, which would have led to a more satisfying conclusion.

Still, The Escape Room is quite an accomplished work for a relatively inexperienced writer. I was especially impressed with the way the two strands of Goldin’s narrative complemented each other on multiple occasions. The result is a book that draws readers in on both levels and where plot revelations in one thread have an immediate impact on the other. The Escape Room is the type of book that movies often get right where authors stumble. However, Megan Goldin keeps readers enthralled the entire way, and the book becomes a classic summer page-turner. (Needless to say, this book could make a great movie.) The Escape Room is one book from which readers will not want to escape.

4/5 very Good.

Clever, inventive, different are a few words to use about this excellent thriller from Megan Goldin.

Told in two voices, about a team building exercise gone wrong, it’s a whip smart thriller full of characters I really didn’t like but then I think that’s the point.

Atmospheric, claustrophobic and really a cracking good Read

Omg......... this book was amazing I flew threw the pages with Olympic speed I was hooked from the very first page. I found it full of twists and turns threw out and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way threw  I would defiantly recommend this book if you like a good book to keep you reading threw the night hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did

I couldn't stop reading this book! Starting the story with some of the aftermath of the elevator plot was a masterstroke as it made me want to keep reading to see how it unfolded. The backstory with Sara was fascinating too. I can't wait to read more from the author!

Four high-flying financiers meet at an out-of-the-way building to take part in an escape room challenge. Vincent, Sam, Sylvie, & Jules board the lift which whisks them to the 70th floor. Then the lights go out and a strange message appears on the screen “Welcome to the Escape Room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.”

The story is told in alternating chapters from the present scene in the lift to the story of Sara Hall, a young woman who is offered a lifechanging opportunity by Vincent. The four main characters in the lift run the gamut of bad behaviour: greed, fraud, infidelity, backstabbing, and violence. There's practically nothing they couldn't rationalise in the pursuit of money. I worked out what was going on pretty early on but it was still an entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Orion Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I love escape rooms so I knew immediately that this would be my sort of book. This story of a team building escape room gone wrong had me gripped from start to finish. I found the ending slightly unrealistic but still found myself desperate to find out what happened.

Thanks NetGalley for the early copy.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

Vincent, Jules, Sam and Sylvie are a team of financial high flyers who work together but don’t trust each other. They’ve been called together to take part in an team building escape room challenge. Now they’re stuck together in an elevator and things seem to be getting stranger with every clue.
The book is written in alternating chapters between those in the elevator and that of Sara who was once a part of their team. Sara’s chapters are written in the past and tell her journey of joining Vincent’s team. What has Sara’s story got to do with an escape room? I was hooked to find out.
I wasn’t sure the author could manage a novel where 50% was based in an elevator car, but she managed it. I was gripped to find out how Sara’s story would end & what would happen to the team in the elevator. I wasn’t disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheEscapeRoom

I went into this book hoping for a good psychological thriller. But unfortunately it fell short. The first part of the book sets you up for a thrilling escape room challenge, which we all knew was going to happen.
The main protagonist, Sara, is supposedly this incredible student who has recommendations from professors and those she had interned with. After failing an interview, she meets a member of that particular firm, Vincent, in an elevator. Vincent gives her a second chance with the interview, which in turn lands her the job.
Midway through the book, there wasn't much tension, and I regret saying the escape room is VERY predictable. There are many clues, but these don't help with the escaping from the room. I'm sure these very educated people should realise sooner that this isn't some ordinary escape room?
There were a lot of side stories that were introduced throughout the book, but none of them were ever solved or given a resolution, which is why I will be giving this book 3 stars. I'm sure that with some conclusions to these problems, and some more character building this book would have been 4+ stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I tried a few times but just could not get into this book and ended up marking it as ‘Did not finish’.

A strong debut novel from Megan Goldin, this is a twisty thriller that keeps you reading and is hard to put down!

I'd heard great things about this book so I was pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed it too. It was suspenseful and easy to read

loved this book - would 100% recommend and am looking forward to reading what this author writes next!

Four high flying financiers are ordered to take part in corporate team building exercise which results in them struggling to stay alive. Sounds brilliant but not for me. It was just a bit mindless to be honest.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s debut work. Her writing style is exceptionally easy to read and kept my attention.

The chapters alternate between the four characters who have been trapped in a lift in the present, and the past from the perspective of one of their colleagues which gradually reveals why exactly they’ve been trapped. This has been done so perfectly that I was annoyed whenever either perspective ended because I wanted more of both! The build up of suspense is amazing, making the reader feel more and more tense as the story goes on and you begin to understand the situation.

The characters are well written and I found myself bonding with a few of them, even the less pleasant ones. I can absolutely see this book being turned into a highly enjoyable film with the levels of claustrophobia and flashbacks.

The only reason I’ve given this book 4 stars rather than a full 5 is that the ending didn’t quite do it for me, it was so close but didn’t quite pack the punch that I felt it deserved after such an amazing build up to that point.

The Escape Room is an exciting modern day thriller. Claustrophobic and fast paced it is a page Turner and an enjoyable read.

Four people trapped in an elevator, their only hope of escape to solve the clues, clues that somehow appeared deeply personal, that would shatter trust, respect and open up secrets. Not your average crime novel, it's setting unique and refreshing, its characters the ultimate in greed and selfishness.

Goldin didn't hold back as she gave us four characters who worked hard, typical examples from the world of banking. Vincent, their leader, all powerful, in control, pulling their strings. I loved how Goldin diminished his power, his respect as they grappled in the darkness of the elevator and revealed the extent of his subterfuge.

I detested Sylvie, hard, focused, the ultimate bitch driven by her need to succeed in a man's world. You could see her vulnerabilities emerge the longer they remained in the elevator but it didn't make me like her anymore.

The interesting aspect of The Escape Room was Sarah Hall, the one person not in the elevator, but on the outside. She was our eyes, our narrator who filled in the background of the financial team she was thrown into, the one who was never quite accepted. You watched as she enjoyed her success, the money, was enveloped by the whole corporate image, indoctrinated and ultimately blinkered. You wondered what her connections to the escape room were as Goldin ramped up the tension, twisted the screws as you tried to read faster to discover the outcome.

It was an outcome that made you cheer, no sympathy for those involved, a sense of you reap what you sow.

I loved the ending and it did make me think that perhaps Goldin had left the door open for a sequel and I for one would be first in the queue to read.

Well written thriller that, at times, seems to have borrowed part of its plot from Agatha Christies "Ten Little Indians", which is no bad thing in itself. This time the four protagonists are stuck in a lift stuck between floors rather than an English manor house and the tension is ratcheted up nicely as old secrets are gradually revealed.
An enjoyable read and although credulity is stretched to breaking point on occasion, the overall story is well worth reading.

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