Member Reviews

Great fast paced novel with twists and turns and interesting characters. Ms. Goldin does a fantastic job of bringing you into the greedy, backstabbing world of Wall Street finance through the eyes of a recent MBA graduate Sarah Hall.

The book cuts back and forth from the past, as Sara searches for and finally lands a job with a prestigious firm, to the present when her senior-level co-workers are forced to suffer through a team building event that turns out to be something altogether different! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, mystery, or thrillers. It was unlike anything I have read and look forward to more from this author! #theescaperoom

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In the last few weeks, I have read a few psychological thrillers that have just wowed me to no end.  The Escape Room is one of those books.  Set in New York at a finance company, the story focuses on a team that works on M&A deals for their company.  It is a high-pressure industry (I used to work close to this industry) and while the money is good, is it worth giving up most of your life?  Our protagonist, Sara Hall, is about to find out as she embarks on a new career and her life will never be the same again.

The story focuses primarily on six characters but the escape room only has four of the characters and you learn more about them and the other two throughout the book.  These four characters think they are better than everyone else and while the business they are in requires a bit of an ego, they lose touch with reality and those around them.  Not true for Sara and Lucy.  Both of these characters are a bit more grounded and while at times seem like they might fall in with the other four, things happen which proves us wrong.

The story switches POV between characters which made the story more interesting to me.  I liked seeing the situation from various viewpoints and how the different characters handled situations thrown at them over time.  I wonder if it affected their personalities once in the elevator trying to escape and having to rely on those in the elevator with them?  One of the clues asked if they trusted each other.  I think the answer is no for various reasons which I won't share since it would take away from the story.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I read the book fairly quickly.  I think the ending wasn't tied up as neatly as I would have liked as some things felt unresolved.  The book always made me think about to what extent I would work at a job or if I would want to come back after those that wronged me.  I was disgusted by the actions of some of the characters.  They were selfish and had no compassion.

I didn't think about it until after the story marinated in my brain for a while, but why did the 4 go to a building that wasn't occupied based on a text/email?  I suppose a company doing an escape room could have utilized a building not open to the public yet but it makes me wonder about the intelligence of these four.

This book is definitely worth reading especially if you enjoy psychological thrillers.  We give it 5 paws up.

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I was hooked from the shocking beginning of this unusual thriller. As the story wove back and forth between flashbacks and present, I was drawn in and eagerly flipping pages to find out exactly what happened. I admit that I was somewhat disappointed that the only two characters I liked appeared to have died, but I was fascinated to find out what would happen to the four main despicable characters of the story.

I can't say more without spoilers - - just that the brilliant ending was totally satisfying!!

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We have four high level members from a prestigious financial company who have worked on the same team for years but remain in competition with each other. They aren't really friends and will do anything to get a better bonus or a promotion even if they have to make their fellow team members look bad. All four are ruthless and cruel. They all received an email to meet in a new building for a mandatory team building exercise and after they got into the elevator, the elevator suddenly stops and these words show up on the panel: "WELCOME TO THE ESCAPE ROOM. YOUR GOAL IS SIMPLE. GET OUT ALIVE.". They aren't really excited about a team building exercise but they know that it's almost time for bonuses so they want to do their best to succeed at the game - after all, it will only be an hour out of their lives. But things don't turn out like they'd all thought that it would and as the hours pass and each person's secrets are revealed, they realize that this is more than a game.

In alternating chapters, we get the story of Sara Hall. She joined the team as a new member years before, eager to work with her new MBA degree in her hand. Her starting salary amazes her but the 90 plus hours a week are difficult to get used to. She tries to work with the team but is always treated as an outsider. The only person that Sara becomes friendly with is Lucy, a very intelligent analyst who is also on the autism spectrum, lacking in social skills and often made fun of by the rest of the team. After a tragedy occurs and Sara begins to question what really happened, she becomes even more ostracized by the rest of the team.

I can't really tell you much more because I don't want to give away any plot points. What I will tell you is that this is an exciting book to read and it kept me up way past bedtime to find out how it would all end and who was responsible for setting up the escape game.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

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Four coworkers attend an escape room challenge. They are trapped in an elevator, where the puzzles they are presented become increasingly personal. As tempers rise and egos bruise, it seems that not everyone will make it out of the elevator alive.

Told using multiple points of view and multiple timelines. The book is largely told from Sarah's POV. Sarah is a former coworker, with her story starting when she took a finance job at a top company. Sarah is a recent graduate with a desire to succeed. The coworkers in the elevator are Vincent, Sylvia, Sam, and Jules. As they come to terms with their present situation, bits and pieces from the past are included to pull it all together. Vincent is the boss, Sylvia is the seductress, Sam is the charmer, and Jules is the alcoholic. They are all workaholics and ruthless in their rise to top.

Interesting characters in a unique setting. I enjoyed the trapped elevator with puzzles to get released. Besides that, it's the world of Wall Street finance, with workaholic, extravagant, and outrageous behavior. The four escape room characters aren't all that likable, since they are greedy, corrupt, and selfish. Sarah, the former coworker, is mostly likable. She is smart and driven, and struggles to fit in with her team.

I found this to be a fun and intriguing read. This is a revenge type story against some greedy Wall Street investors. Everyone on the team is out for themselves, and more than willing to throw the others to the wolves. Recommended for readers of finance thrillers. Complex, absorbing, and entertaining.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Megan Goldin for the opportunity to read and review this book - loved it! 4.5 stars!

Sara Hall, a young MBA graduate who is starting her first job at a powerful Wall Street investment banking firm. The money is better than she could have hoped for, but the hours are brutal and the atmosphere the same. She is the lowly analyst on a 4 member team. As we learn about Sara's life, there are alternating chapters entitled The Elevator, where the 4 team members are trapped. They were all called to an important meeting they couldn't say no to and find themselves in the elevator escape room. The four are given clues to help them figure out how to escape. But their cut-throat behavior only escalates once they are trapped.

Push reality on the back burner a bit and just enjoy this wickedly fun thriller!

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John Grisham's The Firm is one of my favorite books because I love the way it flows and the adventure of the plot. Escape Room reminds me a lot of what I enjoyed about that book.
This was a very quick read, I finished in less than a day because the plot moves forward at such a dramatic pace. It is divided between the first person account of Sara Hall and chapters featuring a group of colleagues trapped in an elevator designated as an escape room.
I loved the way things unfolded and although I figured out pretty much where things were going halfway through, I still liked the journey and the satisfying ending. This is a superb summer read, recommended for those who enjoy a good locked room whodunnit.

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what an amazing debut!

so amazing that i read it in about one day.

trust me- this book is that freaking good.

it's a fresh suspense novel- it takes place over a very very short time period (although there are times it does shift back into the past for some back story)

i admit to having figuring it out but that didn't lessen my enjoyment. and in my opinion, the ending is open ended and begs for more!

this book deserves all of the buzz that has been surrounding it.

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Why are Vincent, Sam, Jules, and Sylvie locked in an elevator? These four investment bankers think they're in a building escape room exercise until it becomes apparent that they aren't. Events in the elevator are alternated with the story of Sara Hall, a young woman who pulled herself up by her bootstraps and joined the bank, working as a junior member of their team. Her story is the story you'll find most interesting. DOn't worry if you don't know much about banking- this never gets specific about exactly what they do (although there is a point where one character expresses concern about their impact). Sara finds herself pulled into the lifestyle of money and the ability to help her parents. She makes friends, of a sort with Lucy, a brilliant woman on the spectrum also on the team. How we get from Sarah to the elevator- well, that's one you'll have to find out for yourself-no spoilers. There's a twist I didn't expect which is good. This is a well done thriller that would have benefited from another run through edit to eliminate some of the repetition and occasional awkward phrasing. Nonetheless, I found myself turning the pages. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A quick and entertaining read.

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Four co-workers must attend a mandatory event for their company. They are asked to meet at an empty building, enter the elevator and go to the 70th floor. As soon as they enter the elevator, they realize that this is no ordinary ride. Suddenly, the lights go off and the elevator screen lights up with a welcome message which tells them that they are in an Escape Room. A series of clues are presented to the four co-workers which will reveal deep secrets and play them against each other. Is there a way out? Will they resolve the riddles before it is too late?
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First, I must admit that this book scared the bejesus out of me because I am claustrophobic and the thought of being stuck in an elevator just made me sweat. Secondly, the plot and the denouement of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. This was one of the most engaging thrillers I have read. It is relatable, convincing and mind-boggling. Well done Ms. Goldin!!!!

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⭐️Book Review ⭐️
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
5/5 Stars

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.**

This was my first Megan Goldin novel- where has she been all my life??

The story was told by two perspectives. The First is by newbie MBA grad Sara Hall and the second by four Wall Street executives in an elevator for a ‘team building’ escape room activity.

Sara takes us through her days at the soul sucking firm where she crunches numbers, analyzes data and never sleeps. She shows us that the firm and its employees only care about money, power and will do anything to get it all. Anything. The secrets they keep, the loved ones they hurt- they will trample it all to get to the top.
Is it worth it all?

Parallel to a Sara’s perspective is Vincent, Jules, Sylvie and Sam. They all work in the highly prestigious world of finance together. The business is cut-throat and they all have proven they deserve to be at the top, so why are they at this team building escape room?
As they are there, secrets begin to unravel torturing each of them. We begin to get a true sense of their true characters and how they actually climbed to the top.

This was so engaging and not at all what I expected. Well done Goldin!! Characters were well developed, plot well designed and storyline very intense. Will absolutely read more by this author.

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A great read! No holding back for this author, and I like that! The story unfolds in two timelines, which wasn't hard to keep up with. It was different from things I've read. Different is good.

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The Escape Room is a slow building suspense thriller. It jumps between Sara Hall and the four people who where her teammates. Each chapter tell a different side of the story. How Sara gets hired by Vincent to work with Sam, Sylvie, Jules and Lucy. How it was all about the money. Sam, Jules, Sylvie, and Vincent are invited to play a game. They all get on an elevator and the games begin. They think it is an Escape room. It's Friday night and they have other things to do but this was mandatory if they were to get their yearly bonus. It will only take an hour or two so they all show up. Four people in an elevator that has been up to no good for the good of the company. In Sara's chapters she talks about how she didn't fit in with rest of the team. And what's going on in her life. It was a good book that has me hooked until the end. I want t to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful book for an unbiased opinion.

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A story that, in concept, sounded fascinating and thrilling, just fell flat for me! I feel like the book kept taking pauses to talk about the character's backstories and I just couldn't care less! The writing also could not keep me focused and the character's felt too...flat and stereotypical? I'm unsure. I couldn't connect to the suspense either, but that might have honestly been because the file on my Kindle was such a mess of formatting, worse than I'd ever seen. Overall, The Escape Room was a miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

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Oh my goodness! What a story. Though admittedly somewhat repetitive in nature, The Escape Room is still a page-turner with fast-paced, alternative chapters providing perspectives from the elevator occupants and Sara Hall, employee of the prestigious investment banking firm, Stanhope and Sons. It’s the quintessential revenge story with a healthy (or unhealthy) mega-dose of greed mixed in.

I don’t want to reveal too much, because it’s a story best read with few details known going in. Basically, the story follows 4 coworkers in an investment firm who are suddenly and unexpectedly called into a late night meeting for a team-building experience. With each fearing that their job security is on the line, they comply, despite their misgivings. What appears to be an escape room challenge, is nothing of the sort. As these ambitious, ruthless go-getters spend time together in the elevator, we get to know their back stories, while tension builds, puzzles are solved, and their fate determined.

Though some aspects of this story weren’t altogether surprising, other elements definitely were. The reveal at the conclusion is fully fleshed out giving the reader a clear picture of what transpired and why. It’s complex and rather unbelievable in scope and detail, but still purely entertaining, and somewhat horrifying, to read. This story is shocking, and more than a bit mercenary, but also suspenseful and thrilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book seems to have a lot of 𝕞𝕚𝕩𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨𝕤, and I'll admit the 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 was a wee bit on the 🅕🅐🅡-🅕🅔🅣🅒🅗🅔🅓 side. 😳 I also figured out who was βĔĤĨŃĎ the entire thing very early on. 👀 However, I still found it 🆁🅸🅳🅸🅲🆄🅻🅾🆄🆂🅻🆈 🅴🅽🆃🅴🆁🆃🅰🅸🅽🅸🅽🅶. 🙌 So I am giving it two solid 𝓽𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓫𝓼 𝓾𝓹. 👍👍

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Often upcoming books have so much publicity that my expectations run high and the actual story ends up being a huge letdown. That definitely wasn’t the case with this masterfully written addition to psychological thrillers.

I enjoyed how the characters were created in such in a fashion that not only could I get a real feel for their backgrounds but also how they currently lived and interacted with each other. The main character, Sara, was definitely my favorite and I was routing for her throughout the book. I liked how kind she was to her family, friends and co-workers. I also came to appreciate Lucy, the member of the financial team who is on the autistic spectrum and has a extremely high IQ but doesn’t always interact well with others. The main four: Vincent, Sylvie, Sam and Jules, worked reasonably well together, but each of them cared mostly about themselves and wanted only to make more money than anyone else.

The book alternates between Sara’s story and that of the main four, who are stuck in an elevator trying to solve the Escape Room clues. I like when authors show alternate points of view like this, and it turned out to be an excellent way to tell the story. The book’s ending was a surprise, but I did like how it wrapped up for the most part.

This is one of my favorite books so far this year, and I feel it is worth every one of the 5 stars I am giving it.

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I admit that I was sold as soon as I read the blurb. I mean, we are dealing with a Wall Street angle combined with a potentially lethal escape room setting here; how am I supposed to resist that?! You guessed right, I didn't, and it turned out to be a very interesting ride. There are a lot of good things I can mention about The Escape Room, and also a few minor issues, but overall it is without doubt a story I can recommend to fans of the genre.

The first thing that stands out in The Escape Room is of course the setting in the financial world. This story mostly takes place in New York, with a focus on Wall Street and just how brutal the financial sector is. Ambition is an understatement and people will crush their competitors and crawl over their dead bodies if that means they could add more money to their already generous paycheck that way. Addiction comes in many forms, and this story shows us that there is definitely such thing as money (and power) addiction. This insight in the Wall Street lifestyle of the elite is without doubt one of the most fascinating aspects of this story. The work that goes behind the multi million deals, the possible consequences for those involved, the competition, the discrimination and sexism still involved in the financial world, the physical and emotional toll the sheer pressure of the job has on those involved... All these elements and more are incorporated into the plot of The Escape Room.

We mainly learn more about the financial world through the chapters told from Sarah Hall's POV. While we are not sure in the beginning exactly what role this character plays in the whole escape room situation, Sarah's POV is essential to understand more about the background and events leading up to the escape room. Sarah's chapters are altered with those set inside the elevator where the escape room is situated. These chapters have a more acute feel as there seems to be an underlying feeling of danger present at all times... And since you already know some basic facts about how things will end, because it's right there in the very beginning of The Escape Room, you will find yourself wondering how things could have escalated to that point. I personally didn't mind already knowing the ending before the story had even started, because it was intriguing to slowly try to discover why those specific characters ended up in the elevator and how Sarah's character fitted in. The actual suspense is more subtle that way, in the sense that we don't have a pile of crazy plot twists to recover from, but I could personally really appreciate how the plot itself was constructed.

Next up one of my issues with The Escape Room, and it has all to do with the main characters. I've never met a bunch of main characters that were each and every single one completely and utterly unlikeable and frustratingly irritating. Ok, I'm lying, I did mostly like Lucy as a character, but she wasn't as present as the other five (Sarah, Vincent, Sylvie, Jules and Sam) so technically she doesn't count right? There is a lot of complaining going on by all five characters before you reach the final page. Complaining about money: wanting more money, not having enough money, wanting to make more than their colleagues...Complaining about their situation in the elevator: they have better things to do than being stuck in an elevator, why them?, it's not fair! etc. etc... Complaining about the job: the pressure, not receiving the recognition they deserve, blaming the job for their addictions... And I could go on and on. Each of the five of what I call the principal characters have a whole lot of negative personality traits and negative behavior we are forced to deal with and it makes it a lot harder to make yourself care about both what is happening in the elevator and about Sarah's story as a whole.

I also had some issues with the credibility of it all, as some aspects of the plot are extremely farfetched and will make your eyebrows work overtime if you are looking for a credible and realistic thriller. On the other hand, if you are looking for an fast and crazy pageturner that will keep you entertained all the way, you will find yourself more than satisfied by what you find. It's true that I would have liked to have more focus on the escape room itself, with less bitching and complaining of course and more secrets and clues to solve (some of the existing ones were really easy to guess), but there is just something about The Escape Room that made me enjoy the ride anyway despite the fact I saw the end coming quite early.

In short, if you don't mind your stories on the insane side and think you can stomach the unlikeable characters, you will find yourself having a great time reading about what you can call a conspiracy plot mixed with an intense escape room situation.

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Recruited by Vincent, Sara Hall lands a lucrative job as an Investment Banker at Stanhope. The team Sara works with include Jules, Sam, Sylvie, and Lucy. Sara soon finds that there is no time for friends or a life outside of Stanhope.

As the novel opens, Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are invited to a mandatory team-building meeting. They soon find themselves trapped in an elevator that is fashioned as an escape room. While trying the figure out the cryptic clues, they are pitted against one another in a game of who to trust.

Told in the alternating perspectives of Sara and the Escape Room, the reader is left to figure out the secrets of Stanhope. Who will survive?

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What happens when four investment bankers get trapped in an elevator during an escape room team building activity? Definitely nothing believable, but the story had me hooked and was highly entertaining. The majority of characters are very unlikable (given their choice of work), but I still enjoyed the story nonetheless.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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