DARK CORNERS

4.5 stars out of 5

After having read and enjoyed The Night Swim, the first book in this series, I was delighted to snag a pre-release copy of this, the next installment. And if anything, I enjoyed it more.

In part, I suppose, that's because the focus is on social media influencers - a "job" that's fascinated me pretty much from the first time I learned that it not only existed, but can be quite financially lucrative. But as a writer and former journalist, I identified with - and liked - the star of the show, true crime podcaster Rachel Krall. As this one begins, she's called by the FBI to visit prisoner Terence Bailey, a suspect in the disappearance and presumed murders of six women, in hopes that she can get him to reveal something meaningful before he's released in a couple of days (he's incarcerated as a result of a different crime). Specifically, a popular influencer named Maddison Logan visited Bailey recently, only to go missing a few hours later.

Alas, Rachel's visit raises more questions than answers, so now the FBI, led by hunky agent Joe Martinez, turns to Plan B - which doesn't include Rachel. Now intrigued by the circumstances, though, Rachel refuses to go quietly; instead, she signs up - under a fake identity - for Daytona Beach's BuzzCon, a big convention for influencers. Figuring Maddison would have been there had she not disappeared, Rachel hopes she can get some scoops that will beef up her planned podcast (and perhaps help the FBI in the process).

All does not go well with that plan, though, and Martinez worries not only that Bailey may be in cahoots with a partner on the "outside" but that Rachel may become a target as well. Then, another body turns up with a mysterious snake tattoo - one that may provide the link they need. Through interspersed chapters, readers begin to see what's really going on - and begin to understand why Martinez may be spot on with his concerns for Rachel's life. From that point on, there's never a dull moment (and I learned enough about the life of an influencer that I decided to give up any notion of doing it myself). Very entertaining book with some possible carryovers to the next one, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin (St. Martin's Press, August 2023); 352 pp.

STAY AWAKE

4 stars out of 5

It's "Groundhog Day" with a twist: Each time Liv Reese wakes up after falling asleep, she doesn't relive yesterday; instead, she totally forgets it - as well as the roughly 730 days that came before. The last thing she remembers, in fact, is being in her office at a big-time lifestyle magazine in New York City, planning to spend the night at home as usual with her doctor roommate, Amy. Anything she did, or anyone she interacted with over the past two years is gone.

When she wakes up in a taxi with no idea how or when she got in, she finds herself at the door of their brownstone. Problem is, Amy doesn't live here anymore - and according to the current resident, she hasn't for a couple of years. Totally confused, Liv searches her pocket for her cell phone, only to find a bloody knife. Then she sees that her hands are covered with ominous graffiti-like words and phrases like "Stay Awake."

There is, of course, a reason why the knife has blood on it. There's a reason why Amy no longer lives at the brownstone. There's even a reason for all those admonitions inked on Liv's hands. In fact, the only reason I can't figure out is why Liv is referred to by her full name just about every time she's mentioned throughout the book - that doesn't happen with the other characters. She's the only character named Liv, so surely readers will recognize her by her first name.

The constant switches in time frame and location is a little confusing as well, but the date-and-time subheads on each chapter makes that pretty easy (I admit to being guilty of not doing that, at least till I realize it's in my best interests to pay attention). Slowly, Liv realizes that it's her mind that's keeping her from seeing the big picture, but it's a medical issue she's virtually helpless to do anything about. Meantime, there are clues that she may be in danger - even if she can't avoid dozing off and forgets what they were when she wakes up.

One of her realizations is that she may be involved in a murder in a way she'd rather not admit - but a bloody message on the victim's window is, to her great dismay, the same as one of the messages on her hand. That she's a suspect is a thought shared by a couple of police officers assigned to investigate the murder. Maybe Liv is a murderer and maybe she's not, but a big question is how does she prove her innocence when she can't remember anything that would provide her with an alibi?

The whole thing is quite a thrill ride despite a bit of repetition (every time she wakes up, she has to relearn that her mind can't recall anything; readers, however, don't need quite so many reminders). The ending brought a couple of slight surprises that wrapped things up, and overall I'll give extra points for creativity and attention-holding writing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin (St. Martin's Press, August 2022); 345 pp.

THE NIGHT SWIM

4 stars out of 5

Make no mistake; this book is about rape - more than

one, in fact. And even though it's told mostly through the "unbiased" eyes of an investigative reporter's wildly popular crime podcast, it's clear that it favors the "Me, Too" notion that accusers are to believed (or at the very least taken seriously). Honestly, I happen to agree; but if I am to be fair, I can't write a review without letting other potential readers know what's in store.

Those who are up for that also should know they'll be getting into a well-written, captivating (if not sometimes horrifying) story that begins as Rachel Krall is in small-town Neapolis, North Carolina, to cover a rape trial for the third season of her "Guilty or Not Guilty" podcast. Her producer, who usually accompanies her, can't make it this time, but the digital age keeps them bound together. The accuser is a teenage girl, and the young man is - or was, before all this happened - well on his way to becoming an Olympics hopeful (plus, unlike the young woman, he's from a prominent and wealthy family. No surprise, then, that the citizens of Neapolis are staunchly divided on who's lying and who's telling the truth. 

Before the trial begins, Rachel finds a note on her car from someone named Hannah, who insists her sister Jennie was murdered in the town years ago and begs Rachel to investigate while she's in town. Rachel is intrigued, but Rachel must concentrate on the trial at hand. Besides, Hannah refuses to meet in person, making her story more of a stretch to believe. Still, there's something very convincing in what Hannah writes as she repeatedly finds ways to get messages to Rachel. So despite her producer's cautions to stay on track, she ventures out to see what she can learn. 

Some chapters take place in the courtroom, some are "playbacks" of Rachel's latest podcast and others follow her as she attempts to dig up information on what really happened to Hannah's sister. As a whole, that makes for a story that held my interest from beginning to end. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (St. Martin's Press, August 2020); 348 pp.

THE ESCAPE ROOM

4 stars out of 5

Count this one as an emotional roller-coaster. For openers, it's the first book in a long time that's held my attention so well that I simply had to finish it in one day (almost in one sitting). Wow - can't wait to find out how it ends, I kept muttering to myself as I hurried along. Then I got there. And it felt as if I'd smacked into a brick wall. 

Let me start at the beginning, with a prologue in which a night shift guard in a building not yet open to the public hears noises and what he fears were gunshots coming from an elevator. The cops rush in with weapons at the ready, and when the elevator doors open, there's no mistaking the gunshots. There's no further explanation; the scene shifts to the first chapter, in which readers are taken back to 34 hours earlier as investment firm higher-ups Vincent, Sylvie, Sam and Jules have been ordered to meet at the aforementioned  vacant building to take part in an "escape room challenge." They've all been worried about losing their jobs, and they're sure the outcome of the challenge will seal the future of their employment.

Switch then to the story of Sara Hall, a recent MBA grad who's having trouble landing a job and barely making ends meet with a waitressing job. Resume in hand after leaving another unsuccessful interview, she gets into an elevator with Vincent, who eyeballs the resume (and her) and inexplicably offers her an interview at his firm. Of course, she says yes - and after a rather grueling series of interviews, the firm says yes to her. Thus begins an even more grueling job so high-stress that it leaves precious little time for anything resembling a personal life.

Then it's back to the elevator saga; by now, it's clear that the elevator itself is the "room" from which they must, as a team, figure out how to escape. The elevator zooms up to the building's 70th floor, where it stalls with doors locked, lights off and a digital readout on a wall to provide occasional clues. As one might suspect, the longer the "team" is involuntarily sequestered with no resolution to their dilemma, the more the ties that bound them together will start to unravel.

As the story and tension among the stranded employees escalates, readers learn much more about the firm, each of the team members (plus a few other key employees) and, of course, Sara. As I alluded to earlier, my excitement built up page by page as well; I swear my Kindle-swiping finger developed a callous in my hurry to get to the end. But even amid the constant excitement, the last few chapters - pages in which my suspicions turned out to be pretty much spot-on - were a rush to the finish that made me feel like I was in that elevator during a free-fall. And although the who and why were revealed, the how simply defied credibility.

So what's my verdict? Well, I cannot in good conscience bash any book that is so well written that I literally was unable to put it down. Besides that, I'm sure not everyone will share my dismay over the ending (pre-release reviews in large part have been positive). That said, neither can I give it a rave review; so 4 stars is my compromise. I do, however, thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Quite a heady experience!

The Escape Room by Megan Goldin (St. Martin's Press, July 2019); 361 pp.