BooksGoSocial | October 2020 | 150 pgs
Source: NetGalley
“I can’t sleep. Not since June 16th, 2018. Not since what happened…”
Becky Braithwaite is traumatised by the accident of her older brother, Jordan, two years ago and the unfortunate tragedy has led her to having insomnia since then. Now a university student at Wessex, she intends to put the past behind her but it isn't as easy as she's thought.
For starters, she keeps receiving calls from an unknown number and when she answers them, the other party refuses to speak. Then, there are times that she thought someone is stalking her and when she turns around, no one is there. And the most troubling is, someone left her a note and a book titled "You Killed Him" and after a wild goose chase, these items have mysteriously gone without a trace after she returned. Is her mind playing tricks on her given her mental condition, or is there someone out to get her?
First off, the storyline was gripping and the unreliable narrator theme always appeal to me. Becky's insomnia condition sounds terrible and this made me worried about her and yet this also led me wondering about her credibility at the same time. The first half focused on her life at the university and her relationship with her flatmates as well with a glimpse of her troubled past although it is vague and not much information is given (which is understandable perhaps due to the pace of the plot). The second half was better intense-wise but I was a bit disappointed with the ending given it was rather abrupt. That said, the author has done a good job in creating the claustrophobic atmosphere of uncertainty and the character's distrust in herself, her fear and anxiety so this made an interesting case of character study alongside the suspense.
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I've noticed the abrupt ending in several books and agree that it is disappointing when so much work goes into the writing to conclude in a hurry. Still, I'm interested in this one. ;)
I don't like those abrupt endings either. But there's a lot about this one that appeals to me. Great review, Melody! :)
Jenclair - It's such a great disappointment, isn't it? Oh well. I'll be curious of your thoughts if you read this, Jenclair. :)
Lark - Thanks, Lark! I think it's both a regret and a disappointment if the book was great but ended with an abrupt and/or a meh ending. Then again, I suppose each reader has different expectation so it's all very objective. :)
Sounds like a good read. I do enjoy unreliable narrators too as they do certainly add another layer to the mystery.
Iliana - It was an OK read to me. Unreliable narrators certainly add another layer and intrigue to the story, isn't it?
I hate it when endings are so abrupt. That's really too bad. Such a promising premise. I'm sorry this one wasn't better for you.
Wendy - The ending was a bummer. Hopefully the next book will be better.