Just. Wowi! If you've read any of Carter Wilson's books (of course, I've read them all) you know that you're in for a dark and twisty ride! So when I saw this title pop up on NetGalley, I started hyperventilating and (silently) screaming, "Pick me, pick me!" So I had incredibly high expectations going in and I was not disappointed.
Jake is estranged from his wife and feels guilt for a car accident that injured his young daughter, Emma. When a mysterious man hires him to ghostwrite his memoir, Jake gets on a plane and immediately feels some unspoken connection with his seat-mate, Clara in 2A. Clara is also suffering from incredible depression and is headed on this trip committed to the idea that she "needs" to commit suicide. What binds these two strangers together is an incredibly hypnotic tale of childhood, repressed memories, and manipulation by unlikely sources. In true Wilson style, the book is a crazy thrill ride of gasping and goosebumps with an ending that's oh so satisfying! Simply put, I loved every minute of it! Run, don't walk to get your hands on this when it comes out in July!

This is probably a terribly sexist way to start a review, but it’s been so long since I’ve read a thriller by a male author. Or maybe it just seems that way because the genre is currently so overpopulated by female authors. Which is good and occasionally great, but as with so many things the popularity doesn’t necessarily bode well for quality control. But this guy…I like this guy. I’ve read most of his books, almost all of them, probably. So when his latest showed up on Netgalley, I requested it without even reading a description and read it almost immediately upon getting approved by the publisher. And sure enough, Wilson’s done it again. His other books have always been good, his latest preceding this one was awesome and this one is somewhere in between, but closer to awesome. This opinion is certainly helped by the fact that he used one of my favorite themes…psychological experimentation, think secret government research of 60s and 70s. Creepy, trippy, all that. Now imagine if some of those scientists continued the work in secrecy on their own after CIA has ended the program. I really should say more, the book’s description is sparse, probably strategically so as to not give too much away. Just as it should be, because the plot is a doozy. At least until you figure out what’s going on which’ll take place around 50% in. From there on it’s revelation upon revelation, but until then it’s just this great WTF*ckery wherein you’re completely unsure what’s going on, what’s the connection between the characters, is it supernatural or otherwise, what are these strange books, what are these strange thoughts and what have they forgotten. And it’s just so freaking fresh to have a genuinely mysterious mystery that doesn’t stick to any formulas (outside of the split narrative thing) and kinda boggles the mind. I’ve been reading entirely too many mysteries, suspense thrillers, etc. and correspondingly I’ve been figuring them out easier, which isn’t optimal, because one of the greatest things the genre offers is surprises and twists. So I was so glad, delighted, thrilled even, appropriately enough, to read a mystery that’s actually unpredictable and tough to figure out. (And if you like this sort of theme, check out Josh Malerman’s Inspection). Many thanks to the author for making the genre shine as bright as it ought to with this terrific, wildly original tale of dark psychological suspense. I liked it so much, just about loved it, thought the denouement dragged out ever so slightly for longer than expected and maybe the ending was slightly too cheery, but otherwise it was great. It read quickly, it puzzled, it entertained. It did all the things it was supposed to. I’m so pleased to be the first person reviewing this book or more like singing its praises, but seriously, this was so much fun. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.