There are times we feel we know someone but just cannot figure out from where. This is what happened to Jake on a usual flight he took. He knew her from somewhere but all the usual connections of college or work place or mutual friends did not turn up a clue. The same connection went with Clara herself. It remains a mystery.

On the startling revelation that Clara is flying out to a destination to kill herself, and then coupled with the recent realisation that things are not good with him too, too many coincidences seem to come up leading to a most remarkable beginning of their lives which were inextricably linked and which accounted for the almost immediate recognition of a like minded spirit.

Part fantasy, this was a likeable story. Lots of twists and turns as said by many reviewers.

Wow! This was a twisty, dark, gripping ride! I haven't read any of Carter WIlson's book prior to The Dead Girl in 2A but I certainly wasn't disappointed! This book had me wondering what was going on through the entire thing!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the arc of this title!

When Jake Buchanan is seated next to Clara Stowe on a flight to Denver they both get that feeling that they've met before. They also have quite a lot in common, including that they are both orphans and are suffering increasing memory loss. Jake is on his way to Denver to ghost write a memoir for a wealthy man while Clara tells him she has decided to kill herself in the Colorado mountains.

This is a twisted tale of repressed memories, secret programs and a man who has been manipulating Jake and Clara for his own means. It did all feel a little too contrived to me but made for a different type of mystery that will appeal to many.

People who have cracks in their souls seem to gravitate toward those recognizable scars in others.

Jake Buchannan is a freelance writer whose articles appear in men's magazines. His other claim to fame is ghost writing for those wishing to publish their memoirs. But Jake has been slamming into more and more episodes of memory slips and mood swings. It's taken its toll on his marriage and his relationship with his eight year old daughter., Em. His wife, Abby, is emotionally unreachable as Jake was responsible for a car accident involving Em.

With medical bills mounting, Jake takes a job with quite a few perks offered by Alexander Eaton. Eaton proposes that Jake write his memoir. He flies Jake out to Denver first class with several days at a high-end hotel. The money up front is too much to turn down.

As Jake tries to relax in his cushy first class seat, he notices the woman sitting next to him. Even with a currently faulty memory, Jake feels that he's crossed paths with this woman. She introduces herself as Clara Stowe, a former teacher. Clara has her own agenda. She's hellbent on taking her own life at the Maroon Bells in the Rockies soon after they land. Neither one can come up with a link between them. But it's there.......oh, it's there.

This was my first book by Carter Wilson. He's buttered this one on both sides with quite the psychological twisties. The majority of the book was well done and intriguing. However, it then became a bit burdensome like the weight of those repressed memories that will soon come to light. The more that the backstories were revealed, the more the reader becomes aware of the subplot. The ending was folded up too neatly like an airlines napkin on that flight.

The Dead Girl in 2A has its moments and maybe shouldn't be missed. Perhaps it's time for a little mind messin' this summer for a change. Seatbelts obligatory.

I received a copy of The Dead Girl in 2A through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Sourcebooks and to Carter Wilson for the opportunity.

The Dead Girl in 2 A is the latest story by Carter Wilson. As usual with Mr Wilson, there are edge of the seat moments and the reader feels compelled to turn pages to see what happens next. As fascinating as The Dead Girl in 2 A is, I also found the Author's Note quite interesting and scary at the same time. I was given an early copy to review.

Firstly I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book. I was granted this book on Saturday 15th June and by the evening I had finished it. I just could not put it down, it was so gripping and intense. This is the first book of Carter Wilson's that I have read and I am really intrigued to read more.

The premise of this book is really good and interesting; Jake and Clara meet on a plane, and although they can't explain it they have this unshakable feeling that they know each other. Jake feels lost; following the accident that irrevocably changed his families life, he doesn't know how to move forward and help them. Clara however, feels at peace, she knows where she is heading and has no doubts about what she is going to do. Before they part, Clara tells Jake one thing that sends him reeling. She has come here to kill herself. She isn't dying, she isn't depressed, she just needs to kill herself.

"Memories are the truest measure of wealth, and yet they can't be passed down, not really. Stories can be told, but our memories, those things as unique as our fingerprints, all crumble along with our bones"

Purely from this premise I was hooked and knew that I needed to read this book. And I am so so glad that I did. I couldn't stop reading this book and I desperately needed to know more. The story mainly alternates between the viewpoint of Jake and Clara; including present times and flashbacks to what led them to where they are now. Clara is writing a diary of her life, about what led her to the point where she wishes to kill herself. I think this was extremely interesting; working backwards from her life to see where she has come from to where she is now; and witnessing the way in which Jake and Clara's lives overlap and mirror one another's was really interesting.

What I really enjoyed about this book is that the main characters do not know what has happened in their own lives; they are just as in the dark as we are. As the story unravels we begin to learn more about their childhoods which has ultimately led them to where we are, and we meet the other two main characters Landis and Eaton; both of whom have their own motivations for meddling in Clara and Jake's lives. What none of them understand is how deeply they are interlinked. Through Clara and Jake we get flashbacks, including one particular flashback which is incredibly unsettling. Four children in a bedroom surrounded by blood and death and destruction. As adults these children can't remember where they were or what happened, but you can be damn sure they're going to find out.

THIS WAS A REAL PAGE TURNER. I was absolutely hooked and there wasn't a moment of this book that disappointed me; some of the reveals I could see coming but it didn't at any point take anything away from the book for me, and I was so gutted when the book actually ended. I WANT MORE. I would 100% recommend this book.

Thank You for Net Galley, the publishers and a friend and member from my thriller group "A Good Thriller" Carter Wilson for a copy of this book.

Jack Buchanan knows the woman sitting next to him on his business flight to Denver―he just can't figure out how he knows her. Clara Stowe isn't in Jake's line of work and didn't go to college with him. They have nearly nothing in common apart from a deep and shared certainty that they've met before. As their airplane conversation deepens, both struggle to figure out what circumstances could have possibly brought them together. Then, in a revelation that sends Jake reeling, Clara admits she's traveling to the Colorado mountains to kill herself, and she disappears into the crowded airport immediately after landing.

The Dead Girl in 2A is the story of what happens to Jake and Clara after they get off that plane, and the manipulative figure who has brought them together decades after they first met. Intensely creepy, beautifully written, and full of Carter Wilson's signature whom-can-you-trust paranoia, this is a psychological thriller unlike any you've read before.

This is a statement sentence "Thriller unlike any you've read before". This is so true, a unique story and amazing this comes from one mind the thoughts of one person.

It holds your attention all the way, I had no idea where this book was going, how the story would unfold, told from Clara and Jake life's unfolding in front of them.

With some very strong characters, well paced and thoughtful book. The weakness of the book was the ending, maybe I was hoping for a real big explosive shocking ending, yes a few shocks but I had guest the main surprise.

But I did enjoy the rare and unique story, not as good as "The Comfort of Black" or Carter Wilson best book " Miss Tender's Girl"

So three stars from me

I didn't like this as much as Wilson's previous book, Mister Tender's Girl, but I did enjoy it. It felt fresh and different than a lot of the similar and predictable thrillers I've read lately, so it has a lot to offer on that front (on the other hand, it felt like it could have been a Dean Koontz novel, so perhaps there really is nothing new under the sun and I just haven't read this kind of book for a long time.) It's hard to say much about the plot without spoiling anything, so I won't, and I would recommend just going into this one blind. I was completely hooked for the first half, but it was slightly less compelling once I got an idea of what was going on. Overall I would recommend it if you want something different than the glut of psychological thrillers out there (or if you really love Dean Koontz).

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a thrilling and compelling sci fi novel about a man losing his memory and his family and the consequential find of a childhood secret. The author does an amazing job weaving a suspenseful narrative and creating real, believable characters. A group of adults find each other after experiencing similar loss of memory and compulsions. Discovering that they are linked due to a non concencial experiment ties them together but also reveals the horror that can result when scientist push for perfection.

My love with this author continues!

My favorite things about Wilson's books are that they are unique, unpredictable, and very entertaining. I love that he constantly pushes the envelope. While I wouldn't classify all his works as psychological thrillers, they definitely rank high on the intensity meter!

Part thriller, part mystery, and even parts sci fi make this a twisty fun read that will keep you guessing!

*Kept one star off rating due to a lull just after the half way mark and for some of the unexplained conveniences used to help propel the story forward.*

ARC provided by NetGalley

The Dead Girl in 2A is heartbreakingly dark and wonderfully twisted. It pulled me into the world of the story from the very beginning, and still hasn’t completely let go. It explores memory and tragedy in a strange and interesting way, and I love the writing style. It’s honestly hard to write a review without spoiling some really great details and moments, but this book is one I would definitely recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers and anyone looking for a fun and fast read. And Carter Wilson has officially become one of my must read authors.

I received a free e-copy of The Dead Girl in 2A by Carter Wilson from Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for my review.

You had me at “Carter Wilson”. Anything that he writes, I read ASAP. His books defy categorization. Take thriller, mystery, magical, otherworldly blend them together with “you know bad things will happen but it will all work out on the end” and you get a just a hint of what is to come.
Go in with an open mind and you won’t come out until the last page has been devoured.
He is the best!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this book to review. This is my first book by Carter Wilson, and I am anxious to pick up his others!

Jake is on a plane to Denver to ghost write a memoir for a mysterious man. He ends up sitting next to Clara; a woman he has an overwhelming feeling he’s met before. Clara feels the same but neither can figure out how they know each other. He discovers Clara has boarded the plane to Denver to kill herself in the mountains of Aspen. The story that unfolds is not at all what I expected. I was certain I had this story figured out after the first five chapters and boy was I wrong! There were so many unpredictable twists and turns in parts I and II that I couldn’t put it down. I read this in one sitting, unable to go to sleep until I knew how it all played out. Part III was less dramatic than I was hoping as the mystery became clearer, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a fast-paced, psychological thriller! You’ll definitely want to get your hands on this one, as I anticipate this will be a popular book this summer! Releasing on July 2, 2019.

Thank you to the wonderful Netgalley for this arc, you guys are the best!

Thrillers are my favourite genre especially in the last few years as ive been reaching more towards adult fiction. Upon seeing the title of this book 'The Dead Girl in 2a' i immediately thought this would be a whodunit, i assumed our main protagonist Jake would find a dead girl in a hotel room and have to unravel the mystery surrounding her death. Boy was i wrong! This was a massive surprise to me, it was well written and flowed well. The pacing is perfection, honestly masterfully done (and im really hard to please on pacing) the story is interesting and intriguing and i just couldnt put it down, for 400 pages it felt like a 200 page book to me.

This story is ultimately about 2 orphans that meet on a plane, Clara and Jake. They recognise each other but cant figure out how or why. They realise that the only thing linking them together is that their parents both died in car crashes and that they have no memories of their childhood. Im not going to say anymore as i think the best thing for this book is to go in blind.

The ending felt a little bit long winded in parts and 'the big reveal' didnt happen until the very end pretty much but the ending was pretty satisfying

Jake and Clara meet in first class on a flight from Boston to Denver. After quitting her teaching job and becoming a recluse, Clara has decided to kill herself and thinks the Maroon Bells in the Rockies would form the best background for her final resting place. Jake’s life is spinning out of control: his marriage is dissolving after he caused an accident that severely injured his daughter. It doesn’t help matters that he is having memory issues. A mysterious client contacts Jake to ghostwrite his memoirs.

A thin line between fate and coincidence. The flight to Denver brings out a empathic connection that neither can explain. But as they continue to speak, Jake and Clara reveal a link, a solution to their memory problems... a series of experiments that involves a network of others who are also possibly being controlled. Jake is stuck with rising debt and needs to take this job, but also feels like Clara could help provide the answers he is looking for.

Dead Girl in 2A is a book about memory, greed, and the razor’s edge between enlightenment and violent impulses. Stuck in a cycle of deja vu, these two characters try to piece together their histories and alternate between POVs from chapter to chapter.

The plot tries to advance quickly through short chapters and reveals at the end of each character’s narration, but the repetition of same events becomes tedious. And as the backstory gets clearer, it turns into a book that’s been done before. The main characters are certainly drawn well, but the secondary players fall into those stereotypes of bad guy and henchman.

One thing I did enjoy was the author’s note at the end explaining that there is a bit of truth behind several of the threads. It would be interesting to further investigate these real-life connections.

Overall, Dead Girl in 2A is a book that doesn’t reach its potential. A decent premise is stalled by ‘memory’ issues, which seem to be so fashionable in the thriller genre these days.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

WOW! This was NOT what I expected from the cover. Further proof that you should not judge a book as such. But truly, the refreshing storyline took me by complete surprise. I was sucked in from the first time this book proved me wrong - within the first few pages. I love a book that keeps me guessing. And the writing was spectacular!

Jake Buchanan feels like he somehow knows the woman seated next to him, in seat 2A, on his flight to Denver. He just isn’t sure how.

Clara, the woman seated in 2A, feels like she knows Jake too.

Just before landing, she reveals that she is traveling to the Colorado Mountains to commit suicide. Jake follows her into the crowded terminal, and thrusts his card into her hands, wanting to, but feeling helpless, to stop her.

This is the supposed to be the story of what transpires after they get off that plane, and the manipulative figure who has brought them together, decades after they first met.

It is.

But, it’s NOT anything like I expected it to be.

Expecting a psychological thriller, I requested this one from Netgalley, but the line I SHOULD HAVE paid more attention to is....”the manipulative figure who has brought them together”.

Think “Anonymous Girl” meets M. Night Shyamalen or perhaps Josh Malerman’s “Inspection” .
More of a “psychological study” or “Government experiment” kind of story.

Hypnotic children’s books about death, drugs, alternative therapy....

If you like that kind of thriller, I think you will be pleased.

But, if, like me, you envisioned something different from the synopsis, this may not be for you, as it wasn’t quite for me. Not bad writing...just a title or synopsis which doesn’t quite fit.

I hate when that happens! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I would like to thank Netgalley, Sourcebooks-Poisoned Pens Press, and Carter Wilson for the digital ARC, I received in exchange for a candid review. This book will be released on July 02, 2019

The Dead Girl In 2A by Carter Wilson is a nightmare...in a good way! Jake is a separated dad on a flight to Colorado to ghostwrite a memoir for an anonymous person. The anonymous employer pays for Jake to sit in first class. Not long after he boards, a young woman sits next to him in seat 2A . Jake feels like he knows her from somewhere but can’t figure out where. She feels the same way. When they are deboarding the plane, she tells him the reason she’s coming to Colorado is commit suicide. She then takes off into the crowd and leaves Jake disturbed. Jake can’t let it go and has to find Clara. I loved pretty much everything about this book. It reminded me of a nightmare you have that you cannot escape. That is the ultimate compliment from me because my favorite kinds of stories are the ones that make me cringe and feel dread. This is a story that will have me thinking about it for some time to come. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars)

I found this book hard to put down. The storyline is really unique and one we don't see often. This book ticked all the boxes for me. it was unpredictable, twists, turns, lies and secrets. Highly recommend to others.

Requesting The Dead Girl in 2A was one of the best bookish decisions I've ever made. I started reading it a few hours ago and practically devoured it in one sitting! The first page had me hooked immediately and I couldn't put it down. Some pages had me feeling creeped out and unsettled. Twists are expected in these kind of books, and I may have even guessed it already, but I was too busy being drawn to the writing to give it a second thought and was still shocked when it came anyway. All in all, I absolutely loved it! ⠀⠀
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This is a psychological thriller you wouldn't want to miss! I'm excited to get a physical copy once it's published on July. Thanks @sourcebooks and @netgalley for sending this book to me, and @carterwilsonauthor for writing it!⠀
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#TheDeadGirlIn2A #NetGalley