A potential world-changing discovery in energy is rumored to have been made. But if so, the knowledge is hidden and only two women can unlock the key, both unlikely heroes.

Tara was giving a famous scientist who'd come to her college to give a talk a ride between venues when a wreck occurs. The man is killed and Tara is left in a coma, completely paralyzed. When she awakes, she realizes that she is conscious and able to think but everyone around her thinks she is still brain dead. How can she impart the knowledge she has?

Abby Reynolds was a famous stock car racer who became a stunt driver in the movies. But her nerve was shot when she wrecked her car one night with her movie star boyfriend in the passenger seat. He was left in a coma until his family decided to suspend life support. Since then, Abby has been a villain on social media and has come back East to decide what to do next in her life. Somehow, she has been drawn into the web of entanglements and assassins looking for the information on the scientist's phone. Can she find the knowledge and survive long enough to share it?

Both women have allies. Tara has her sister, Shannon, who has been by her side protecting her for their entire lives. Abby has Hank, the man who first sponsored her as a race car driver and who is letting her work as an insurance investigator until she recovers her nerve. Both are also drawn into the machinations as various entities try to recover the discovery that could mean billions.

This was my first novel by Michael Koryta. It was extremely suspenseful with lots of twists and turns. Although he is male and most of the main players in the novel female, he gets their characters perfectly. There are several villains and they are creepy and scary in the right proportions. I read this book holding my breath for at least half of it and was surprised by the ending. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

"If She Wakes" by Michael Koryta is a gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat as you follow the heart-pounding race against time.

4.5/5

Do you love nonstop action and books that read like action movies? If you said yes to one or both of those then If She Wakes by Michael Koryta is the book for you! This is a really old NetGalley read for me and I really wish I had gotten to it sooner based on how much I thoroughly loved it. It starts off with a bang and the suspense and action just keep coming the entire time. I loved both Abby and Tara, but the real star for me was Abby and her stellar driving skills. It was so fun having a female former stunt driver as one of the viewpoints, and her driving could put some NASCAR drivers to shame. She is just the kind of badass female character I love having in my books and I definitely enjoyed her POV the best. There are many POVs and even though she was my favorite, I really loved having every single one of them.

The narrator for the audiobook is Robert Petkoff and while I loved him, I would have preferred a female narrator since there are so many women involved in the story. That being said, the audio is still great, and a great way to go if you don't have time to actually sit down and read a book. As soon as I saw Connelly was endorsing If She Wakes I had to read it, and I am so glad I did even though it took me a couple of years!! I see that Koryta has a bunch of books published and I will definitely be checking out his backlist along with anything else he writes in the future. This was such a whirlwind of a story, but perfectly executed and full of twists and thrills. I was totally satisfied with the end and even the bit of ambiguity associated with it didn't bother me. If She Wakes is full of tension, and everything together created the perfect, quick read!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Michael Koryta is the best mystery/thriller writer who nobody ever seems to be buzzing about, and this was my favorite of his books to date.

I always cringe a little when I see the “protagonist in a coma” storyline (Always so maudlin! Always so bleak!), but I trust Koryta and that trust paid off here with a story that defied all my negative associations with the coma trope.

Koryta writes some of the most fascinatingly complex characters out there, and that goes for the good guys, the bad guys, and the ones who toe the line in between. Here our heroes are all women, and Koryta writes female characters exceptionally well (a rarity amongst male thriller writers).

But as much as I loved our heroines, the baddie in this book might be the best of the entire cast—creepy, brilliant, and deathly (sometimes in the literal sense) intriguing.

The story beats most in the genre in terms of likability, complexity, and uniqueness, and I loved the connection to Koryta’s earlier novel, Those Who Wish Me Dead.

Best of all, the ending assured that there will likely be more to come for at least some of the characters, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where Koryta takes them next.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of If She Wakes by Michael Koryta.

Just running a simple errand of transporting a professor to his lecture, Tara ends up in the most bizarre situation. The professor seems to be doing everything he can to avoid the conference, going to far as to ask Tara to pull over so he can sight see and take selfies. But it goes from weird to worse when a car comes barreling towards them, killing the professor and putting Tara in a coma. But while Tara looks vacant, she can actually hear, see, and understand everything that is happening around her. It's called "locked in" syndrome, and there is no promise that she'll escape from it.

But that's not all, it turns out that the car accident wasn't innocuous and now there are people who are not happy that Tara is lucid. What is it about Tara that makes her a target, and who else is involved?

This is the perfect "beach thriller" for a fast, fun filled escape. I liked the unique villain and the kick@ss women in it. It's very readable and enjoyable.

What a fun and fresh new thriller!

Tara is a student who has been tasked with escorting a very important guest speaker to a conference at her university. On the way there, he asks her to take a very strange detour, and despite her protests about being late, he also asks for a selfie with her. Just as they're about to get back in the car, a vehicle careens towards them, killing the speaker instantly, and putting Tara in a coma. Unfortunately, Tara regains consciousness in the hospital, but can't communicate with anyone to let them know she's awake. Most of the people around her, including her doctors, seem to think there's little hope for her, but there are a few out there who can't and won't take a chance that she might be able to someday speak about what she saw that night. Enter Dax, one of the coolest assassins around. He's got a baby face, but he's no joke, and he's making it his mission to make sure Tara stays silent. Abby is the insurance investigator who gets assigned the case, but her past work as a race car driver gets her a little too close to revealing some secrets that Dax's boss wants kept hidden.

While some suspension of disbelief is required, what shines in this book are the characters. Even though there are lots of players, they are all interesting and multifaceted. Even minor characters, like Tara's mom and stepdad, are given brief backstories that make them come to life. Lots of cinematic twists and turns keep the pages turning, and a satisfying (if a little rushed) ending, make this book a complete package.

4.5 Stars

Michael Koryta takes readers on a thrill ride where two women are fighting for their lives against an enigmatic killer:

Tara Beckly is a senior in a small town college and she has volunteered to drive a visiting professor to a conference. On the way to taking him there he makes some unusual requests, one which leads to a car accident that has left Tara in a vegetative state called Locked In Syndrome. She is unable to communicate with those around her as hard as she tries, but she does learn that someone powerful wants her dead, who? why? Tara cannot remember how she even came to be in the hospital but she is the key to many things. With the car accident comes Abby Kaplan the insurance investigator hired by the college to protect themselves. Abby has a unique and painful history with cars as she used to be a stunt car driver and was found of pushing vehicles to their limits. What Abby does not know that is she is about to go on the drive for her life, where not only her life hangs in the balance but other too.

This book will grab you from the very first sentence: "Nineteen minutes before her brain and her body parted ways, Tara's Beckly's concern was the cold." I mean you literally want to know what has happened to Tara even though we know nothing about her or where she fits within the story. This sets the tone for the rest of the book of wanting to know more, never wanting to put the book down as it is a thrill ride, one event after another. There are many twists and turns along the way and you do not know what is going to happen next and who is going to survive it all. A unique aspect in this book is the lack of law enforcement through out. I like that Abby and Tara do not have law background and I think due to this the story flows in a much different way than it would if there was a detective at the helm. However, there are a few short chapters from a government Agent but for the majority of the book she is a secondary character.

The women characters that Koryta presents in this book are all strong in their own ways. Tara with her locked in syndrome and trying desperately to communicate with those around her. Trying everything that she can think of to make them see that she was still there. her thought process to get any part of her body to move, even her eyes to tear are feats of strength and force of will. Tara truly is an amazing character. Abby Kaplan a new insurance investigator who knows all about cars and how to drive them to their limits. Abby is smart, resourceful and has a will to survive that is outstanding.

The chapters from Tara's point of view are slower paced but OMG are they ever truly terrifying. Imagine being able to see, hear, think but no one around you knows that you are aware and then add in them talking about ending your life. I cannot think of something more terrifying.

I'm not sure about all the physic and car abilities that occur in this book but I like to think that Koryta took the time to do some research on Locked In Syndrome then he also too the time to research the vehicles in this book and their capabilities if someone like Abby is behind the wheel.

This was a great book by Koryta and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I look forward to reading another book by him. Just a side note that I enjoyed the nod back to his other book Those Who Wish Me Dead where you first run into the Blackwell family, you don't need to read that book to enjoy this one but you should just read it as it is amazing.


Enjoy!!!

This was a fascinating, tension filled book that kept me reading long past my bedtime. I loved all the characters, each was more clever than the last and though I’d never want to meet any of them, they were intriguing to read about! I loved the strength and sass of the characters. Reading about Locked-in syndrome was pretty terrifying though, imagining that was awful! Overall this was a great thriller and I look forward to reading more books by Koryta!

RATING: 3 STARS
2019; Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)

This is my second novel by Koryta, and unfortunately, this one was a bit of a miss for me. I found that there was SO much going on...and we heard every. thing. about. it! Koryta is a good writer, I just felt like it was too muddled for me.

***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***

I have found that my experience with Michael Koryta's books are either hit or miss for me This book was just so-so for me While I enjoyed the story line initially (loved the Maine/Fall/College setting), I found it went in too many different directions. While I didn't love this particular novel, I look forward to more of his books in the future. Thank you for the advanced copy.

This is the first book I've ever read on my iPad that I couldn't put it down! Usually books fail to engage me on the device and I always revert to a hard copy, If She Wakes was different. The story is masterfully paced, the characters are compelling, making me advance pages quickly, time or my bloodshot eyes temporarily forgotten. Koryta's engrossing story starts with an engineering professor, scheduled to lecture at a Maine campus, and the student escort assigned to drive him there. Acquiescing to the professor's odd request to exit the car so he can take her photo, the pair are run over by an unknown assailant leaving the man dead and the girl in a coma and, later locked-in to a body that can't move or allow her to speak about the terrible incident that nearly took her life. If She Wakes is also the story of a stunt driver, now working as an insurance investigator on the case, who has returned to Maine to recover from a driving accident where she killed her movie-tart boyfriend. Strong female characters and some nifty plot twists I didn't see coming keep the story engaging and me up reading throughout a transpacific flight and into the next day when I truly needed some sleep.

Well done!

Do you ever get to the middle of a book and realize, "this just isn't for me"?

I felt that way quite early on in If She Wakes, but I soldiered through. I almost always finish my NetGalley ARCs, because the publisher has given me a copy after all - it's just reviewer best practice to finish the book before giving an opinion.

Though I did enjoy certain elements of this thriller - the beginning for instance, was creepy and atmospheric - it was too a bit too long and felt almost prosaic in the way the action unfolded. Sometimes, it's hard to top an opener -

"Nineteen minutes before her brain and body parted ways, Tara Beckley’s concern was the cold."

I mean, that's stellar. And the premise is certainly intriguing. A woman trapped in a "coma" - unable to move or speak, but aware of everything going on around her (one of my personal nightmares). A hitman, hell-bent on his target and unwilling to stop until he's successful. An investigator with a chip on her shoulder, up against a ruthless killer. There's A LOT going on, and it feels like it should be very exciting, but it didn't get there for me.

The reason is that while I think Koryta is a talented writer, I'm not a huge fan of "gangster" novels and probably never will be. So I'm not really the intended audience, and if I had known the exact genre, I don't think I would have requested the book. If you are a fan of those, I think you'll really like this and probably find it hugely entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Michael Koryta writes books that are so visual that you can actually taste and smell the descriptions in his books. He writes so wickedly that there is just no way to not stop what you are doing and plow through the entire book in one sitting. He is amazingly talented.

If She Wakes by Michael Koryta is a masterpiece! I have a major book hangover after finishing this one. If you liked his previous book, Those Who Wish Me Dead, you will absolutely love this one. I admit the first few chapters I had a hard time getting into the story. There were different characters and settings and I had trouble sorting them out initially. After that, I never looked back! I have never encountered such a chilling villain as Dax Blackwell. Dare I say, I hope to see more of him! I especially enjoyed the toughness of Abby Kaplan, the main character. Please don't miss this book! You'll regret it.

This book is hard to review as it was thrilling in parts but also slow in parts. It was a good story line, it just went in too many different directions for me. Maybe I'm a little spoiled and expected more because I have loved several of Michael Koryta's earlier books. This one missed the mark but I look forward to more of his work in the future.

If She Wakes
by Michael Koryta

Hardcover, 394 pages
Published May 14th 2019 by Little, Brown and Company


Goodreads synopsis:
Discover the electrifying new novel from New York Timesbestselling author Michael Koryta, the "master" (Stephen King) of thriller writing, the story of two women fighting for their lives against an enigmatic killer.

Tara Beckley is a senior at idyllic Hammel College in Maine. As she drives to deliver a visiting professor to a conference, a horrific car accident kills the professor and leaves Tara in a vegetative state. At least, so her doctors think. In fact, she's a prisoner of locked-in syndrome: fully alert but unable to move a muscle. Trapped in her body, she learns that someone powerful wants her dead--but why? And what can she do, lying in a hospital bed, to stop them?

Abby Kaplan, an insurance investigator, is hired by the college to look in to Tara's case. A former stunt driver, Abby returned home after a disaster in Hollywood left an actor dead and her own reputation--and nerves--shattered. Despite the fog of trauma, she can tell that Tara's car crash was no accident. When she starts asking questions, things quickly spin out of control, leaving Abby on the run and a mysterious young hit man named Dax Blackwell hard on her heels.

Full of pulse-pounding tension, If She Wakes is a searing, breakneck thriller from the genre's "best of the best" (Michael Connelly).

***

2 Stars

The basic premise is Tara Beckley is driving a professor to a conference when she finds herself in an accident that leaves her in a weird coma-like state where she knows what is going on around her but she can’t move or speak. A gal named Abby is hired to look into the circumstances around what happened to Tara and she finds that her accident wasn’t an accident at all.

This was very hard to get into in my opinion. The ratings on this vary greatly. Some loved it and others couldn’t relate. I think starting the whole thing off with what happened to Tara might have killed this novel for some people. I spent a good portion of the beginning wondering why I was even reading this. Nothing was sticking in my brain and I was left feeling empty.

Do not read this if you have a headache or are in any state where you are less than one-hundred percent focused. You need to pay attention to everything since there is so much going on and a lot to chew on visually. I had to reread sections in order to really grasp what was going on. I felt the author can say a lot with few words and sometimes that is overlooked if you are reading quickly or skimming.

There is a bit of a hate to love (as in hate to I don’t really want to kill you but I will) relationship wandering around in here. Call it the un-relationship. Not really a relationship but it reads that way.

A lot of people liked this. Called it pulse-pound. I just didn’t get it. Perhaps just not the book for me so don’t take my word on anything. Read it for yourself and see how it fares.


I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I've been a fan of Michael Koryta for years. When I first started my blog, I was enamored with the way he mixed supernatural elements into the plots of his thrillers. More recently, Koryta has cranked out new standalone mysteries, eschewing the temptation of settling into a regular series in favor of original plots and characters. I enjoyed How It Happened so much that I instantly vowed to read whatever he came up with next. Koryta's publisher generously provided me a copy of If She Wakes, which I eagerly devoured over the last few days.

Tara Beckley is trapped inside her own body. She lies in the hospital bed, attached to machines and fully conscious, but unable to speak or move. Heck, even a blink would be welcomed at this point. She remembers driving the professor to his speech. She remembers his odd request for a detour. She remembers the van crashing into her car, leaving the professor dead and her lying in this hospital bed with locked-in syndrome. Tara just needs to be able to tell everyone what happened.

Abby Kaplan has a simple job to do. As a claims investigator, Abby has been tasked with making sure Tara's university can't be faulted for the death of the visiting professor. They had Tara pick the guest lecturer up from the airport, so they want to make sure their own interests are covered. The driver of the van has already admitted his fault in the accident, so Abby is merely there as a formality. She is a former stunt driver who gave it all up after a horrific accident. As she looks at the tracks on the street and angles of the cars, Abby realizes that everyone has simply trusted the van driver's story. The evidence points to something much more nefarious.

There is no denying Micahel Koryta's skill at crafting intriguing stories with relatable characters. If She Wakes hinges upon a simple premise and is full of the kind of characters I love to read about. Still, I couldn't help like something was missing from this novel. Instead of a plot propelled by layers of deep character development and thoughtful contemplations on larger themes, If She Wakes serves more as pure action entertainment. That's not to say I wasn't sucked into the momentum of the novel, I was. I guess I've just come to expect more from Koryta's work. Still, I'm a sucker for a thriller with the kinds of twists and turns If She Wakes presented, so I'll recommend it as a worthy addition to any summer reading list.

I loved this book!! I might have a crush on The Kid, Dax, which is all kinds of wrong. Fast paced, kept me guessing and best of all, it's open for a second book in all kinds of ways. YES!!!

Michael Koryta does not disappoint with this stand-alone novel with a few Easter eggs for fans of his previous work.

Tara Beckley is a college student in Maine who is tasked with accompanying visiting professor Amandi Oltamu from a dinner to his keynote presentation on campus. Dr. Oltamu's strange behavior has Tara perplexed, but she tries to balance the unusual requests of her guest with the expectation that he be on-time for his speech. But before they arrive, a van careens off the road, colliding with Tara's car, killing Dr. Oltamu and leaving Tara in a coma.

Investigators are certain it was an accident, the driver admitting as much, and are prepared to leave it at that. But a curious insurance investigator, Abby Kaplan, saw things differently. Her experience as a stunt car driver told her Dr. Oltamu's death was not an accident, and perhaps the only person that could explain it was in a coma. As she pieced together the events of the accident, at least two other people wanted the same answers, and were willing to kill for them.

If She Wakes is Koryta's fourteenth novel and eighth stand-alone. As has become his trend, each book is better than the last, and that remains true with the addition of If She Wakes. It is well-researched and relies heavily on the characters to give the book more depth than many traditional thrillers.

I couldn't get into this book, I couldn't even get pass the first to chapters of it, guessing it wasn't the kind of book , that I enjoy.