I’m definitely in the minority with my 2 star rating but this story fell flat for me and I could not connect with any of the characters. Just not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my review.

Wow! Gritty! Raw! What a dark, emotional and intimate story, one that I could not put down. The dual POV and dual timelines, really kept me turning the page to understand the characters more deeply. Overall, I cared more for Arrow than Sam, but both were quite fractured. This story centers on sexual abuse - emotional and physical - and the murder of the abuser, but how Arrow and Sam unbury their secrets in a toxic environment. I've not read anything so dark and sexual, yet the depth of the characters' internal conflict was so raw and disturbing, you couldn't help but feel misery and fury for them.

Heather really hits it out of the park with her debut novel. She keeps you on the edge of your seat through the whole book. I can’t wait to read whats next!

In Walking Through Needles, Heather Levy takes us on a journey through an existential labyrinth of desire, pleasure and pain, love and hate. What happens when childhood sexual fantasies and a desire for love collide with adult attraction, power, denial, loyalty, and cruelty? How do nascent romantic wishes withstand such an impact? The answer to these questions is poignant, tragic, and strangely hopeful for the characters swept up in this drama, in response to which the reader may be surprised to find the seeds of their own self discovery.

Way too dark for me and I am a huge fan of Gillian Flynn and Megan Abbott. I am not sure what was missing in this story-there were damaged lead characters and pathetic mother figures who were either on drugs or too weak to face what was happening to their children and the sexually deviant villain and the sweet but tough grandma...Unfortunately, I don't see the hype although the writing was descriptive and I really liked the way the author tells the story --I just did not like the story being told.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Wow! Amazing book. I am so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me access this book. I will be on lookout for more by author.

Description
A riveting, dark debut psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, S.J. Watson, and Megan Abbott. When Sam Mayfair was sixteen, her life was shattered by an abuser close to her. News of her abuser's murder fifteen years later should have put an end to the torture she's endured because of one decision plaguing her life. But with her stepbrother Eric as the prime suspect, Sam is flung back into the hell of her rural Oklahoma childhood. As Sam tries to help exonerate Eric while hiding certain truths of their past from investigators, details of the murder unravel. And Sam quickly learns some people, including herself, will do anything to keep their secrets buried deep. A riveting and unflinching look at violence, sexuality, desire, and the cost of all of it from a fresh, compelling new voice in Heather Levy.

I LOVED this book. It was a shock to find Heather Levy wrote her first book...maybe a movie deal next. I was up all night and it was just no lost time. I would say Walking Through Needles was the best read in a long while.

I honestly can't believe this is Levy's first novel. Talk about a hit out of the ballpark! This will be an author to keep a close eye on going forward. I'd place WALKING THROUGH NEEDLES right up there with the likes of Ruth Ware, Alice Feeney and Sarah Pinborough.

We are introduced to Sam and Arrow (Eric) through two era's. Then and now. The book shifts effortlessly through time allowing us to see how these two ended up being the damaged individuals they become. Both filled with longing, heartbreak and regrets. You fall a little in love with Arrow while wanting to throttle Sam at times but still have empathy for the broken girl and woman she becomes. You'll love Grandma and find frustration with other family members.

When a murder charge is launched all things are possible. Was it the angry, protective Arrow? Was it the damaged beyond belief Sam? Or was it someone else? All things are possible with this book. I couldn't put it down and read it straight through.