Thrillers are kind of hit or miss for me. Sometimes, I love them and I think they're amazing and other times, if I can see through the mystery too quickly, I lose interest early on and find them to be more of a chore to read / listen to. Unfortunately for Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, it was the latter for me.

I feel like the plot was already a little flimsy for a premise with a bizarre gameshow and the contestants who wanted to be on it having loose motivation to ignore all of the many red flags around them. Lisa Unger has definitely written better premises before so this was a bit weak by comparison.

I think that was really my main issue, there were so many red flags that ALL of the characters ignored numerous times. I was so frustrated with their behavior that I found the book too unbelievable at that point.

I still really like Lisa Unger's writing and would definitely read more of her books but this just wasn't my favorite.

Lastly, thank goodness I listened to the audiobook here because I probably wouldn't have finished if I read this one. The audiobook kept my attention and kept the suspense through the storytelling. The narrator was excellent.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maverick Dillan is hosting an extreme game of hide and seek on an island in the middle of nowhere. A storm is raging and making this a more intense game than originally planned.

I was engaged enough to want to continue to read and figure out the ending. The book starts following the life of a single mom, Adele, who enters the game. However, the reader is switched between so many POVs that I was unsure of the main characters and didn’t fully connect to them.

Thank you to Lisa Unger, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't Unger at her best. I lived the premise , Extreme Hide and A Robin an island with an deserted and dilapidated hotel. The main character, the mom, Adele is coaxed into trying out by her gamer teenage son. Then chaos ensues which makes the game and other characters react in various somewhat predictable ways. The background of the characters wasn't developed and their story lines weak. Interesting enough to keep reading to the end but left a lot of holes.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I have always found myself enjoying Lisa Unger's work, rather it be a new release or a backlist title, and Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was no different. I enjoy the building of her psychological suspense plotlines woven in with her interesting characters and while I found some of this story to drag just a little bit, I overall really enjoyed my time with this one. Huge thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my early copy!

Lisa Unger is a name synonymous with gripping suspense, and her latest offering, "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten," certainly throws readers into a high-stakes scenario. The premise is undeniably intriguing: charismatic adventurer Maverick Dillan hosts an extreme game of hide-and-seek on a remote island, promising thrills and social media fame. However, as a violent storm descends and a real threat emerges, the game turns deadly.

At the heart of the chaos is Adele, a fiercely protective single mother who enters the competition with the sole aim of winning. Unger paints a compelling picture of Adele's determination and the primal fear she feels for her children's safety. Her perspective provides a grounded emotional core amidst the escalating danger on Falcao Island.

The initial setup is strong, with the isolated island setting and the impending storm creating an atmosphere of unease. The diverse group of contestants, each with their own motivations and secrets, adds layers of potential suspicion. Unger skillfully builds tension as the lines between the game and reality blur, leaving me questioning everyone's true intentions.

However, while the premise held immense promise, I found myself slightly underwhelmed by the execution in certain aspects. The pacing felt uneven at times, with moments of intense suspense followed by stretches where the narrative seemed to lose some momentum. Some of the secondary characters, while initially intriguing, didn't quite reach their full potential, and their storylines occasionally felt less developed than Adele's.

The exploration of the blurred lines between the virtual and real, a central theme highlighted in the synopsis, felt somewhat surface-level. While the social media aspect of the initial game is present, its deeper implications on the unfolding events could have been explored with more nuance.

Ultimately, "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" delivers on its promise of suspense and intrigue, particularly when focusing on Adele's desperate fight for survival. The storm-ravaged island provides a suitably claustrophobic and menacing backdrop.

This one had me tense from the start. Lisa Unger nails the psychological suspense with eerie vibes, layered characters, and just enough twists to keep me guessing. I didn’t fully connect with every character choice, but the pacing and atmosphere made up for it. Dark, twisty, and perfect for a one-sitting read.

I was so excited for this book and so let down. The hide and seek reality show vibe could have been so good but I was bored.

I did not finish this one as it did not keep my interest even after 60%. I think there were too many characters and too many plots going on. I think the overall concept is cool but maybe choose either Adele’s story or Maverick’s.

The idea of the extreme hide and seek game pulled me in. Unfortunately, it wasn't so much about the game as it was about the creators and business owners of the game. I was disappointed about that. The podcast part of the story added an interesting perspective. I felt that the other story about the disgraced father/ex-husband didn't really fit but it was finished up at the end as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to listen to this story.

When charismatic adventurer Maverick Dillan invites contestants to a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek on the remote Falcao Island, it promises to be a thrilling adventure. However, what starts as a social media stunt quickly devolves into a chilling battle for survival as a deadly threat emerges amidst a raging storm.

The novel is fast paced thriller, with a lot to say about our social media culture, and the personality defining need for clicks.

I was entertained from start to finish and highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley.

Just as the title suggests, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger is a thriller about the ultimate game of hide and seek. I loved the concept of the book and I thought there were definitely some high points. However, this was not my favorite book by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't think Lisa Ungers books are for me. They are really well written, however I think they are just a touch too creepy for me!

Overall, I think this was a thrilling read and the trapped setting aspect always is a win for me!

I was intrigued from the getgo on this one and it felt so fast paced but started to slow down a bit. This book had SO MUCH potential to be a great book. There were a bunch of amazing puzzle pieces I just felt like she put them together wrong? Maybe not wrong but just not 100% correctly.

I also was able to guess a lot of the twists that came up which of course a thriller reader never loves but again, I still felt like it was fun to read.

I also felt like the writing was a little confusing at times and I had to rewind a few parts for it to make some sense.

I also felt like this book started to drag on and it could have easily been hours shorter. Lots of unnessary details it felt like to me.

Overall, if the book was a bit shorter, the twists more surprising, and the story written a bit clearer, this book could have been SO GOOD.

Rating: 3.5 stars!

I love that I can say that I got an ARC copy of a Lisa Unger book! The entire premise of the book reminds me of Mr Beast (from youtube) and the Beast Games. The main character is attempting to win money in exchange for an extreme game of hide and seek that is publicly broadcasted. There is a weird "is it / isnt it" dynamic going on with the main characters missing husband that ended up playing, what felt like, no major part in the overall plot of the book.. There was a lot of emphasis on this missing husband at the beginning of the book, which in hindsight was added to show how independently strong the main FMC was..? I think?

Overall, the plot was unique, the island vibes were spooky and dramatic, and the supportive family dynamic was great.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A few months ago, I read my first story by Lisa Unger and I was pleasantly surprised! I think this author has a lot of talent in crafting a twisty story and characters to root for. But unfortunately, I think this book wasn't right for me. I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on because it felt like so many tropes were thrown into this book to make it a more interesting story. It all felt like too much and really brought down my enjoyment of this book. I don't think the writing was bad, but I had read a short story recently and I liked how clear and thought out everything was in that much more than this full length novel. The game aspect of this game also brought down my enjoyment. I think something like that could be well done but in this case, it felt like we were supposed to care about the main character and hope for her to win but it felt like there weren't super high stakes despite the situation that made her sign up for this game in the first place. It all felt kind of out of left field. This didn't make me less interested in this author's books, but I should probably read deeper into the synopsis before I decide to pick something up from her.

This is the 2nd book this week with the same theme. Strangers gather and they are picked off one by one.
When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?
Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was intended to be.
Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.

Narration: 4/5
Overall: 3/5

I was lucky to read this both as an egalley and on audio (thanks to Park Row Books, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley!). I was really excited because it had such a fun concept that I was sure would hold my attention. I mean cmon! A reality show hide and seek game on a remote island turned locked room mystery!? And a crazy storm brewing! Talk about location, location, location. Unfortunately, with all its potential, this book just didn’t wow me.

Let’s start with the narration: the audiobook is well done, especially in capturing the influencer vibes and adventure-seeker personas we all recognize online. I thought that brought some life to characters that otherwise felt flat on the page.

As for the story? It’s a two and half star, rounded to three-star, read for me. A lot of that rating is giving credit to the sharp commentary on influencers. A great conversation around the things that people are willing to do to be seen, obsession, and a society that feeds on that. This book felt even more relevant taking into consideration how we engage with, and ultimately pay, creators who make more dangerous content for likes and views. It absolutely made me think of YouTube stunt channels and influencers like MrBeast. There’s a pointed reminder here that the audience plays just as much of a role in the dangerous spiral for views and virality as the creators do.

Where it falters is in the depth. While the characters are interesting to a degree, they were also easy to categorize and never really surprised me. In addition to having a lot of characters with perspectives that felt unnecessary. I never felt drawn to any of the characters, including Adele, and their tropey portrayal made the book all the more predictable. I could tell some elements were meant to feel simple, but I still wanted more. Overall this book could’ve used a little more OOMPH. Too much of a slow burn that by the end the pacing is uneven.

Part of the issue, too, is that I recently read another influencer thriller that I loved—and this one just didn’t hit the same. It didn’t turn pages the way I hoped it would. Which is why I really have to give credit to the audiobook for helping me finish.

That said, I would still read more from this author. It seems like they explore entertaining concepts that are sure to draw readers in. I’m just hoping to see stronger execution in future reads.

The plot is rich with unexpected twists that challenge the reader's assumptions and keep them guessing until the final reveal. Unger excels at creating an atmosphere of unease, blending psychological elements with a mystery that unravels gradually but compellingly. The pacing is brisk, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment.

I've been reading and enjoying Lisa Unger's books for many years so I was really excited to read "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10".

I was happy to have both the audiobook and e-book to review this time. As always, it's nice having the opportunity to switch back and forth between the two.

"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" was an intriguing psychological suspense novel that distracted me and kept me entertained.

Adele is a single mother whose life changed drastically after her husband was accused of fraud and went on the run five years earlier. Still in the same town where many once worked for him, Adele and her two kids now share a small apartment, dreading every ring of the doorbell.

After using the anger of her situation to get into the best shape of her life, Adele decides to join an extreme game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island. The game with a $1 million dollar prize is created by thrill-seeker Maverick Dillan. But what starts as a social media stunt quickly turns into a deadly fight for survival. Adele must navigate danger and deception while trying to make sure she makes it back to her family alive.

The novel is divided into four parts. There were a lot of characters and multiple points of view to keep track of and it took me a while to sort everyone out.

Although this didn't end up being my favorite book by Lisa Under, I still found it to be an engaging and worthwhile read that came together nicely by the end. I'm looking forward to my next read from this talented author.


I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-book and audiobook. All opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

This was my third Lisa Unger novel, and it was my favorite of the ones I've read. She does a secluded location really well (see also: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six) and this added the cat and mouse element. There were a LOT of pieces to this puzzle, which made things tricky to follow at times. I read the ebook ARC for about half the book and listened to an audiobook version for the other half on a drive. The audio was ABSOLUTELY easier to follow than it was reading it.

Everything built up really nicely in the beginning - adult hide and seek with a million dollar prize? Yes please! I loved Adele and the drama she brought as well as the emotion with her relationship with her kids. However, everything kinda bottomed out in the middle and never truly recovered.

Overall, solid! Enjoyed it!