If I Die Before I Wake

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Jan 11 2018 | Archive Date Mar 31 2018

Description

RATED 5* BY REAL READERS:
'UNIQUE'
'THRILLING...FULL OF TENSION'
'BEAUTIFUL, HEART-WRENCHING'

HOW DO YOU SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER?

Everyone believes Alex is in a coma, unlikely to ever wake up. As his family debate withdrawing life support, and his friends talk about how his girlfriend Bea needs to move on, he can only listen.

But Alex soon begins to suspect that the accident that put him here wasn’t really an accident. Even worse, the perpetrator is still out there and Alex is not the only one in danger.

As he goes over a series of clues from his past, Alex must use his remaining senses to solve the mystery of who tried to kill him, and try to protect those he loves, before they decide to let him go.

A stunning edge-of-your-seat debut novel with an unforgettable narrator.

CHOSEN AS ONE OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'S BOOKS TO THRILL YOU

'This is a debut to be reckoned with.' Guardian

RATED 5* BY REAL READERS:
'UNIQUE'
'THRILLING...FULL OF TENSION'
'BEAUTIFUL, HEART-WRENCHING'

HOW DO YOU SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER?

Everyone believes Alex is in a coma, unlikely to ever wake up. As his family...


A Note From the Publisher

Emily Koch is an award-winning journalist living in Bristol. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa Creative Writing programme.

Emily Koch is an award-winning journalist living in Bristol. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa Creative Writing programme.


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781911215479
PRICE £12.99 (GBP)
PAGES 320

Average rating from 247 members


Featured Reviews

Not set

I was totally hooked from the start a fantastic book that I couldn't put down. Written entirely from the mind of Alex who was in a coma after a climbing accident ( or was it ) a truly brilliant read with a very emotional ending, thought provoking from start to finish.

Not set
Was this review helpful?

This was such an interesting and captivating story. The plot is definitely unique, and I think this is why I enjoyed it so much. I also like a novel that is thought provoking, and there were a number of times in this book where I stopped to think about things. Emily Koch has done an amazing job with this wonderful piece of writing, and she has certainly captured my attention. Alex loved his rock climbing more than anything, but after a terrible accident, he ended up in hospital in a coma. However this wasn’t a normal coma, as Alex could hear and feel everything. He just couldn’t talk or move any part of his body. At one point he would have welcomed death, as he found it quite tough living in limbo. Alex had questions that he needed answers to, and it plagued him that he couldn’t remember how his accident happened. He didn’t know how long he had though, as the doctors were discussing with his family the possibility of stopping his treatment. If they decided to disconnect his feeding tube, then there really wasn’t much he could do about it. Hand down, this is a book worth adding to your reading list.

Was this review helpful?
Not set

So pleased to have had the opportunity to read this edge of your seat novel! So refreshing to read a crime thriller that is totally different to any other.

This was a very thought provoking novel. A novel whereby Alex is in hospital after a climbing accident and is in a coma (PVS), on life support. The story is told through the mind of Alex, who can hear and feel others who are around him. A clever story whereby Alex pieces together a puzzle as to what happened whilst out climbing, who he could trust, his past and where did Bea who he loved, fit into this puzzle.

As i got nearer to finishing the book, I did start to wonder how it would all end. All i will say it had a wonderful ending.

It is hard to believe that this was a debut novel and cannot wait to read more. I highly recommend this book to all, especially if you enjoy this genre.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for sending me a copy of 'If I Die Before I Wake' and this is my honest review.

Not set
Was this review helpful?

Still a fair few to go in my “Ones to Watch in 2018” feature and next up we have a tense and brilliantly edge of the seat psychological thriller – If I Die Before I Wake by Emily Koch.

Now this is one of those books that grips you from the outset to the point that you ignore everything else until you are done. Told entirely from the point of view of Alex, in a coma with everyone believing he is to all intents and purposes gone, he is still in there and can hear what’s going on around him and feel what is happening to him. He has had an accident – or was it? As we get drip fed snippets of information from those around him we come to realise that all is not as it seems. Possibly not even Alex himself..

What I loved about this one was the very strong emotional core Emily Koch brings to the storytelling, really digging into the trauma Alex suffers and how it affects his psyche. Torn between wanting to die and wanting to live, all the while trying to work out what the heck happened to him and why, you really feel for him, lying in that bed, unable to communicate – and even worse realising that the danger has not passed.

You also get a real feel for the characters around him – his Sister, Father, close friends and most of all his girlfriend Bea who is fighting a battle of her own – should she remain loyal or move on – as things progress you get to know them all well, even though you are only getting random snapshots.

The mystery element is brilliantly imagined and the plotting is excellent – there are twists along the way, emotional resonance to the haunting sense of loss and an ending that absolutely kills – one of those that will keep nagging at the edges of your mind for a long time afterwards.

Overall a really excellent, often nail biting, always engaging read and a page turning addition to the genre.

Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

This was an incredibly addictive novel that I could not put down once started. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a thrilling page turner with fantastic characters

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: