Book blurb...

DON'T TRUST HIM. IT WASN'T ME. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ME.
Meet Evie, a young woman held captive by a man named Jim in the isolated New Zealand beach town of Maketu. Jim says he's hiding Evie to protect her, that she did something terrible back home in Melbourne.
In a house that creaks against the wind, Evie begins to piece together her fractured memories of the events that led her here.
Jim says he's keeping her safe. Evie's not sure she can trust Jim, but can she trust her own memories?

My thoughts…
When it comes to books, especially thriller/suspense/crime genres, I tend to rate the experience on my need to keep reading. This one is described as a taut, intelligent psychological thriller and whilst enjoying the story, I did find myself putting it down more often than I usually might with this genre.
The opening certainly hooked me and the writing is competent, but the plot was reliant on an element towards the end that, rather than being a clever twist, was convenient change of POV and left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
That said, a good first novel.

I'm definitely the outlier here but sadly this book did not work well for me at all. Firstly, I found Evie's voice very difficult to relate to, and was wondering if this was a YA book. I put the book aside a few times in the hope that it would grab me when I was in a different mood, but this never quite eventuated. There were several elements that were very far fetched, which took away a lot of the credibility for me. I concede that the book just wasn't a good fit for me at this time and am happy to see how many people loved it. Such is life! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review it.

Pomare has used his experience living in New Zealand to paint a realistic portrait of the beautiful Bay of Plenty. His comparisons between the relaxed New Zealand atmosphere and the hustle and bustle of busy Melbourne also work in the novel's favour. While a horrendous crime seems likely in Melbourne, the harbouring of international fugitives in a sleepy New Zealand town seems equally unlikely.

Call Me Evie also showcases Pomare's skill for dialogue. Each character has their own way of speaking, but where Pomare really shines is in his portrayal of the differences between Australian and New Zealand speech and cadence.

For anybody who has visited this region of New Zealand, the locals are instantly recognisable, from their pattern of speech to the local slang. Pomare's convincing cast of characters adds another fascinating layer to Call Me Evie. 

Pomare's crafting of settings, characters, dialogue, and plot creates a compelling, fast-paced psychological story a step above the cookie-cutter standard. He has penned a dark and twisted look into memory, truth, and trust. Call Me Evie is a psychological thriller that will have you hooked until the final pages.

Read my full review on my blog: https://reviewbee.errorfree.me/review/review-call-me-evie-by-j-p-pomare/