Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Adele, a single mother who gets caught in a dangerous game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island, organized by the charismatic Maverick Dillan. What begins as a fun challenge quickly turns deadly as a storm and a mysterious threat put everyone at risk.

Unger does a fantastic job building tension and blending suspense with psychological twists. The blurred line between the virtual and real world adds an intriguing layer to the plot. This book is perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers and unexpected twists. Highly recommended!

I had SUCH high hopes for "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10", and while it delivered some solid tension and eerie atmosphere, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Lisa Unger's locked-room thriller, set around a deadly game of hide-and-seek on a storm-ravaged island, had all the ingredients for a gripping read. And yet, something was missing.

The multiple POVs made it hard to fully invest in any one character, though Adele, the determined mother at the heart of the story, stood out. The critique of social media's voyeuristic nature was compelling, but the game show premiere lost its tension as the story progressed. That said, the final 100 pages DID pack a punch, with buried secrets and shocking twists that kept me hooked.

While not my favorite from Unger, it's still an entertaining, slow-burn thriller. If you like survival stories with a psychological edge, this one's worth a read! 3.25/5 stars!

Such an intriguing premise—reality vs. online gaming vs. virtual game show! Which is the real world? And what and who can you trust? Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is another great thriller by Lisa Unger.

Main character, Adele, enters the ultimate challenge contest hoping to win the million dollar prize for being the last person found in this game of Hide and Seek. Encouraged by her teenaged children, she seeks to get herself out of the debt and shame her husband left behind when he disappeared, accused of stealing his clients’ money.

The stakes are also high for game show producer, Mav, whose company has been losing advertisers and money since the disappearance of a young woman in a previous challenge. Added to that are the threats from a mercenary army led by a gypsy-type old woman who warns him and his troop to leave the island where the challenge takes place or else…

The island itself is a living, breathing entity with an abandoned hotel in ruins as the focal point. With a major storm approaching, the location is in danger of being wiped out, along with the few inhabitants remaining. But a human menace increases the terror when someone in the group is found murdered in this locked-room psychological thriller.

Relationships and individual motives are explored as the characters, each with their own agenda and struggles, embark on a journey to discover what is real, what is staged, and what is most important. The past intertwines with the present as the various points of view expose the reasons why the characters find themselves embroiled in what becomes a deadly reality show.

There’s a gothic vibe to the novel, which will appeal to readers who love an eerie atmosphere and an ominous warning that something, both natural and transcendental, jeopardizes the lives of the characters. A suspenseful survival story set in a remote location, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 will keep you mesmerized until the truth is unravelled.

This was a dark, atmospheric read that had me at the edge of my seat. Told from multiple points of view. From a remote island that is being thrashed by a storm, in the most tragic settings, I was here for it all. The plot did have some holes, and I wish the ending answered a few more of my questions. But for a fun rainy-day activity this book ticked the boxes.

Adele and her family have been on the struggle bus since her husband disappeared. Leaving their lives in shambles. Her son is being bullied, and her daughter can blaze through anything. Adele wants to give them the world and make the sting of their father's abandonment disappear. Her son brings her a way in which to turn their lives around. Extreme Hide and Seek on the remote Falcao Island. There stands an abandoned wreck of a hotel where the seeking shall begin. If they are the last one found, they stand to win one million dollars. Adele knows she can do this; she must do this for her family. The moment she arrives at the island there is something off with Maverick Dillian's team. It seems like the entire challenge has been thrown together and there is a horrible storm slowly creeping up on them. Will they all be found in time?

I loved the detailed descriptions that brought this island to life. The hotel moaning and creaking in the howling wind. The way in which the island is shrouded in darkness. Making the creepy factor intensify. The tension and anxiety can be smelled on the stiff wind that tears through the trees. Making for a book I could not put down. Thank you to Lisa Unger and Park Row for my gifted copy.

I'm a Lisa Unger fan and loved The New Couple in 5b and Secluded Cab Sleeps Six and had high expectations going into this novel, but ultimately this one was a miss for me. The premise of this novel sounded amazing (a reality show-esque game of hide and seek?!) and at the beginning of the novel, I enjoyed being introduced to Adele, her family, and the unfortunate situation they were left in due to her missing husband. I was immediately connected to her and invested in her story, but honestly once she made it to the island it kind of fell apart for me. I enjoy a slow burn, but this book was just slow and I wasn't particularly rooting for anyone and often confused with the multiple POVs. I always stick with a thriller because ultimately the twist is typically worth it, but this felt a little lackluster and fell flat for me. I look forward to seeing the next book by the author and seeing if I find it as enjoyable as her previous works.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a psychological thriller that tries to blend suspense with emotional depth, but ultimately falls a bit short of its ambitious goals. The story centers around Hannah, a woman caught up in a tense situation involving a missing person, family secrets, and a series of increasingly dangerous events.

Unger’s writing is atmospheric, and the pacing keeps things moving, but there are moments where the plot feels a bit too predictable. The twists are present, but they don’t hit as hard as you’d expect from a thriller. The characters, especially Hannah, have potential, but their development feels somewhat one-dimensional, with motivations that don’t always feel fully fleshed out. As a result, it’s hard to truly connect with them emotionally, which can make some of the story’s more intense moments feel less impactful.

The book does succeed in creating a tense atmosphere, with well-done suspense and a sense of unease that builds steadily. However, the payoff isn’t as satisfying as it could have been. Some of the twists feel forced, and by the time everything unravels, it doesn’t quite deliver the punch readers might be hoping for.

Loved the multiple character viewpoint! I thought the social media aspect of the book was also interesting and relevant to life today. I didn’t predict the ending, always appreciated. Also loved what a bad ass Adele’s character was!

This book felt very drawn out and all over the place. There were a lot of characters and settings, which made things a little bit confusing. I was interested while reading, but it felt a little disorganized for my liking.

This book has gotten so much hype, and rightfully so! I went into it a little trepidatious because I've been burned by overly hyped books before. This did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. I thought I knew what would happen next, but of course, I was wrong (and in the best way). Loved it!

I'm having trouble figuring out how to rate this book. On one hand, I mostly enjoyed the book while I was reading it but on the other, the second I thought about anything further, nothing made sense. The characters weren't very developed, there were too many storylines, not enough suspense, everything was predictable and yet no one acted realistically. The "game" at the center of the plot never really even happened and nothing ended satisfying. The potential was there but this was just not the book I wanted to be reading.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I was so invested in finding out what happened with Adele's husband and who was wreaking havoc during the extreme hide and seek game. Overall this is such a great suspenseful read!

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was clear from the beginning that Mav and Angeline were jerks- never once did I feel any sympathy for them and/or their respective situations. **spoiler: I’m not even remotely surprised that the Extreme employees turned on him. On the opposite hand, I loved Adele, Malika, and Cody. Blake and Violet were also likeable and I enjoyed their character development. Killer felt like a pointless side plot.

I feel like this book was fairly predictable but it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

4/5 stars.

This book was ok. I guess I was expecting a more cat and mouse game. The story follows a group of people at a deserted hotel who are there to play a hide and seek game with the hopes of winning money. The story has multiple Povs and you get to see the impact social media has in today's world.

Lisa Unger delivers another pulse-pounding thriller with Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten. The story kicks off with a chilling premise: a group of strangers finds themselves trapped in an isolated, remote location, forced to play an extreme and deadly game of hide-and-seek. As the stakes escalate, dark secrets come to light, and survival becomes a desperate, all-consuming focus.

From the first page, Unger grips you tight and doesn’t let go. The novel is relentlessly propulsive—just like the deadly game at its center, it’s teeming with drama and tension, and you simply can’t look away. Unger’s mastery of atmosphere adds an extra layer of dread to this locked-room mystery, making every chapter feel claustrophobic and urgent.

Told through multiple perspectives, the story cleverly unfolds in a way that constantly shifts your perception of who can be trusted. Each twist feels earned, and the sense of unease only deepens as the characters’ personal histories and motives are slowly revealed. This is a psychological thriller that doesn’t just entertain—it gets under your skin.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes read that blends psychological suspense with a chilling survival scenario, Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten is one you won’t want to miss.

This was truly an atmospheric thriller. It felt dark, and gritty and rainy and like I could just imagine being on this island. I thought it was interesting that Lisa Unger mixed two worlds social media / video games and the real world and how they tend to overlap at times. It was definitely unique. I did figure out the main twist halfway through the book, and really felt like all the characters other than Adele and her kids were pretty crappy people. I didn't feel myself rooting for many of them. This was my first Lisa Unger book and probably wouldn't rush out to read more, but would also keep the others on my TBR. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: thriller/myster📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I love a good secluded island setting and while this one was intriguing I was hoping for a little more.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Extreme survival games
Social media influencer dynamic
Isolated island settings
Psychological thrillers
Reality TV-style competitions
Character-driven narratives

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Unique game concept
Atmospheric and eerie setting
I feel like the motherhood aspect made the FMC more relatable

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Pacing felt slow at times
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters
Some predictable plot twists
It wasn’t as creepy as I was hoping it would be

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “When the game starts, the masks come off.”
★ “Survival isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about who you trust when everything’s stripped away.”
★ “The island keeps its secrets. It’s the players you have to watch.”

This was an enticing read with a few plot holes.
The biggest was around the hide and seek game, which was supposed to be televised. They didn’t outfit the contestants with cameras and the contestants were under the impression there would not be cameras on the property - how was the audience supposed to view this?? The guy running it is supposed to be some sort of Mr. Beast anti-hero with his shady gang of friends/business partners and it gives the impression there are no adults in charge.
I enjoyed the book and found it to be twist-y (there’s a mysterious island matriarch who may or may not be anamorphic) and the ending was pretty satisfying but would’ve loved some more attention to the hide and seek broadcast logistics which, since not fleshed out, served as a hollow plot device.

I recently finished Close Your Eyes and Count to 19 by Lisa Unger, and while the premise was thrilling, I found myself struggling to connect with the story at times due to the overwhelming number of points of view. The novel follows several characters, including Maverick Dillan, the charismatic daredevil behind the deadly game, and Adele, a single mother fighting to protect her children. The plot, which starts as a seemingly harmless game of hide-and-seek on a remote island, quickly escalates into a survival challenge against a lurking threat.

The shifting perspectives, however, made the pacing feel disjointed. Just when I thought I was getting a grip on the storyline, the narrative would jump to another character, and I found myself having to recalibrate. Instead of building suspense, the constant switching pulled me out of the story and left me feeling confused about the overall direction. The characters themselves were compelling, especially Adele, but I struggled to fully invest in their journeys with so many voices competing for attention.

While the book certainly had moments of intrigue and tension, the complexity of the narrative structure made it hard for me to follow the plot's progression smoothly. There was potential for a tight, suspenseful story, but for me, the multiple perspectives distracted from the core tension and made it harder to stay engaged

Thank you NetGalley and HTP for the advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was excited, because I love locked door thrillers. Unfortunately I found this to be quite the challenge to get through. It was too long, the many POVs were jarring and took me out of the story, and ultimately I found it quite boring.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I’ve never read a book by Lisa Unger before and I had high hopes. Unfortunately this was a huge disappointment. A slow and boring story, I expected way more to happen