My Five Word TL:DR Review: Liked Not Loved This One

Okay, I’ve read a few Riley Sager books now and two things I know for sure. One, always expect the unexpected as he loves twists. Two, I tend to have hit and miss experiences. So, with that being said, perhaps the best advice if you’re planning on picking this up is don’t take anything for granted. This twists and turns in quite unexpected ways.

Now, basically, I’m not going to over elaborate on the plot. In a nutshell this is a story of a struggling actress (by which I mean she hasn’t yet landed a role) who is given a last minute opportunity to star in a forthcoming movie shot by a well respected director and starring a much loved actress. In taking the role, our MC, Marin, agrees to take part in a short break that will take place on a remote island. So, years ago, a number of women disappeared from an island known as Avalon. Years later the story is about to be adapted to the big screen and, apart from discovering she is unexpectedly playing the lead role, Marin also comes to understand that this island retreat, where they will now be expected to fully immerse themselves in the lives of those missing women (as described in one of the missing women’s diaries) is actually Avalon.

What I liked about this. The writing is good, the story is entertaining, and, although I had slightly mixed feelings, I had no difficulty in reading this and never at any point was there even the remotest possibility that I would put this down.

I really like the dual timeline and the whole book within a book. Although, why is it that people read these things so slowly, if somebody give me an acting job, put me on an island where some creepy things may or may not have happened and then provided me with a transcript of the original diary of the character I’m playing you better believe that I would read that entire diary in one sitting. The end.

The main character was easy enough to get along with. The supporting cast were a bit thinly developed but that wasn’t really an issue for me.

I love books where we jump back and forth and I was fascinated by what actually did take place to the original women on the island – and, I can safely say that I never saw any of the reveals coming.

What I struggled with a little.

Firstly, I didn’t feel any heebies at all. And, I am a big wuss and quite easy to scare. Now, put me in the middle of a psychological mystery with talk of demons, potential possessions, missing women, more missing women and seances in a creepy mansion and you better believe my expectation of the creep factor are at the next level. But, no, I seriously didn’t feel fear. I did have the odd moment of exasperated eye rolling when a character acts like she wants to be the first missing victim in a story but – in fairness, and trying hard not to give away spoilers, there are reasons. And yet, again, I must repeat, no problem in pushing forward in spite of not feeling the shivers.

Secondly, I expected the twists. It’s RS so the twists are definitely to be expected. And yet, I kind of feel like they didn’t quite have the impact they were supposed to have. I was surprised, without a doubt, I literally had no idea. Completely clueless in fact. But, they didn’t deliver the wow factor I felt they should.

My third reservation is something that is difficult to pin down, in fact I’m still thinking about it and also there’s a real case of straying into spoiler territory if I discuss it. All I can really say is I have mixed feelings about the endings. In one respect I really appreciate the extra effort to finalise one particular thread. In another I feel a bit disappointed but also at the same time I can think of reasons for the choices here.

So, in conclusion. I enjoyed this. Without a doubt I did. The intrigue got to me. Basically, I love a good mystery, and coupled with a few twists I’m usually a happy bod. But, I did have reservations. That being said, I think I will always want to read the next Riley Sager novel because he definitely entertains.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3.5 of 5 stars