Review of Close your eyes and count to 10 by Lisa Unger

I am always thrilled when a new book from one of my favorite authors comes out and I couldn’t wait to read this one. I really did like it a lot, but overall not my favorite by her. I think the reason for this is I didn’t like one of the main storylines and I didn’t love the setting. I think I’m more into domestic thrillers lately and there was one storyline that I didn’t enjoy and a lot of unlikable characters in this one. But it was well written fast pace, lots of twists and overall a solid read.

Synopsis:

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.

While initially intrigued by the premise and drawn through the story simply to find out what happened, I didn't feel connected or invested in the characters. The writing was decent but ended up being predictable for me. The novel was a bit too long for the type of story. With being predictable it dragged on. There was 20% of surprise which is what keeps it in the 3 star range for me. I would recommend to people getting into reading thrillers or into reading in general.

I went into *Close Your Eyes and Count to 10* expecting a high-stakes, game-driven thriller set in an abandoned hotel on an isolated island. Instead, the game itself takes a backseat, serving more as a mechanism to trap the characters and force their secrets to unravel.

While the concept had potential, the plot quickly shifted away from the actual game to focus on the characters’ tangled relationships and hidden motives. The multiple POVs were hit or miss—some characters were compelling, but others felt grating and detracted from the tension. Adele, the main character, started strong but eventually got overshadowed by the Extreme Team’s personal drama, which muddled the mystery.

The twists were predictable, but I can’t deny that Lisa Unger’s writing still kept me intrigued enough to keep turning the pages. While I enjoyed certain moments, the book’s focus on character conflict over the supposed game left me wanting more. It’s an intense, psychological story with layers worth exploring, but if you’re looking for a plot-driven, suspenseful game, this one might leave you feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Overall, a decent mystery with strong writing, but I wish the game itself played a more central role.

"When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?"
What happens when a game of hide and seek becomes dangerous? This is a page turner from beginning to end that you do not want to miss. I was captivated from the start and the author did such an amazing job writing this. All of the characters in this were great and I liked Adele a lot. I loved this book so much and would recommend it to any reader especially to those who like thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Park Row for this read in exchange of my honest review of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger.

When I got into reading thrillers, this was one of the first authors I picked up and with every new release I am in awe of her talent. Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a new take on an old classic game and it was an enjoyable read!!

I love Lisa Unger and I wanted to love this book, but I didn't. The concept behind the TV show in the book didn't work for me; I didn't like several of the point of view characters, and I wanted more from the back story about the disappearing husband. But she's a great writer and I'll still eagerly read anything else she publishes.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 intrigued me right when I read the plot (I love love love! closed circle murder mysteries), but the execution of everything fell flat for me.

The story felt a bit all over the place. There were too many characters and plotlines, which made it hard to stay focused. None of the characters really stood out, and I found myself struggling to tell them apart, especially when switching between the multiple POV chapters. And the “hide and seek” element that I was so excited for? It didn’t pan out like I was hoping for. The book had a lot going on, but not enough focus. I’m still curious enough to give Lisa Unger’s other books a try.

Thank you Netgalley and Park Row Books.

Lisa Ungar is an auto buy/read for me so, I was disappointed when Cloae Your Eyes and Count to Ten failed to live up to Confessions on the 7:45, Last Girl Ghosted, and The New Couple in 5B. The setting was perfect (creepy and cultish) but that's where my enjoyment ended. I don't mind unlikable characters but this group, for some odd reason got on my last nerve in the worst way. When I root for everyone to just die already, I know there's no enjoyment left on the horizon. This wasn't good at all.

3.5 rounded down. I really liked the beginning of this book, but found myself losing interest and steam as it moved along. Sad I didn't love it, but it was decent.

This book had way too much going on for not a lot of hearty material. There were many POVs I didn't think were necessary. and I hated the video game dynamic added in order to have a plot twist - just unnecessary.

I loved the concept and wanted to like this book but I couldn’t. The story went in too many directions that didn’t feel like parts of a puzzle but more like pick up sticks randomly thrown. Many villains but I knew who the “master” villain was early on, so no surprise. A sad compilation of stories about people making all the wrong choices with no story really going anywhere and no real redemption

I wish there had been more suspense around the competition, but this book did pull me in and I read it very quickly. Fast paced and great for a suspenseful duh ride.

I usually always love a Lisa Unger book, but this one lost me about halfway through. The premise was exciting - a reality tv game of hide-and-seek with a large reward for the winner, set on an old deserted hotel plot. Add a tropical storm and it sounds like the perfect recipe for an exciting thriller.
I think where this went wrong for me was that during the middle of the book there were just too many different storylines and characters that all seems to be going in different directions, and I had a hard time of trying to keep track of how they all related.

Besides that, I did enjoy the main character and her kids, and really felt sympathy for their situation. There also was some creeping encounters amongst the gameshow contestants that were certainly engaging.

Not going to lie though - best part was the unexpected ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub Date: 25 Feb 2025

Story: 2.5 ⭐️
Audiobook narration: 4 ⭐️
Overall: 3⭐️

Oh, this book. This story itself was decently engaging, and I definitely wanted to see how the mess these characters made for themselves would turn out. But the premise—a fitness influencer enters an extreme hide-and-seek challenge put on by some shady online streamers—is infuriating because it sounds great but the execution is…not.

Don’t get me wrong: the arc of the story isn’t horrible, but the way it was set up and the premise that has been marketed to readers? That’s all a big ol’ let down. I think it would have been so much better if it didn’t seem like the whole point of the story was this freaking game.

Thankfully, the audio narration was pretty good, so I stuck with it until the end.

I haven’t totally written off Lisa Unger because of this one, but it may be a while before I pick up another of her books.

Full review on Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6623601815

Sadly this one didn’t live up to the hype for me. I was so excited to read it. But it just fell flat. I was excepting more of the thriller aspect durning the hide and seek game and we didn’t get that. For the most part it was okay.

it was a decent book, 6/10. it was long but not super suspenseful, as much as it could have been for being this long. the premise was good, it was just a little underwhelming.

This books sucks I had to dnf 37% through. It’s ridiculously boring and I don’t believe anybody was able to finish this book

Revenge, money, extreme sports, and blood. That is what you will find in this Lisa Unger thriller - especially the last 30%. What you may not find? An actual game of extreme hide-and-seek.

Extreme adventurer and Social Media Icon Maverick Dillan has just announced the most exciting reality game of hide and seek to be played on the desolate Falcao Island. Maverick has not exactly been known for his ethics and honesty when hosting his Extreme games. Already, one woman has been reported missing from a previous game. When a woman named Adele, who is fiercely competing to protect her children from their fugitive father, finds herself a contestant on Extreme Hide-and-Seek, she has no idea the deceptive webs she is walking into. Told from 10 different points of view, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a ruthless competition for survival where the stakes grow higher and higher.

This definitely was a good book, especially in the last 25%. I just felt that the isolated setting mixed with bad weather made it very common. I don't think I would have given the book the title "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10". The hide-and-seek extreme game made up about 10% of the actual storyline. I would have been much more invested had the game been the focal point of the book. This one just doesn't stand out. Plus, several MAJOR plotlines are never followed through. Most of this book trope is business drama, which I struggle with anyway. And if you are a fan of that trope, this book IS for you. I probably would have titled this book "The Edge of Revenge" or "Extreme Karma".

A special thank you to Lisa Unger, Netgalley, and HQ Fiction for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one started out strong and I was excited about the storyline but then it lost me. So many things going on and it just seemed to go on forever. Not her best book.

I wasn’t able to read this digital copy but I did end up buying the book. I will review and post it after I’ve finished reading it.