I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel about Natalie a young woman who is pursuing fame as an Instagram influencer. She attracts followers who are unhinged and dangerous. One person who randomly meets Natalie's husband turns out to be her unknown stalker.

The novel has several side stories of damaged people who help build the susense.

This was a great psychological thriller. It will keep you guessing until the end with all the twists and turns.

Natalie is a young, famous internet celebrity that ends up the victim of a vicious murder. With so many fans from behind a screen, how will they ever figure out who did it?

I love how the chapter are labeled...rewind, play, and fast forward...to give you all the back story along with what’s happening in the moment. I will definitely have to check out more books by this author.

My thoughts:

At first, I was unsure if I would like this book. The first chapter describes a bloody and vicious murder on a sleeping woman, all captured on a hidden camera. Honestly, I dislike opening with such violence before I know or care about either character. Even then, I understood that Howard had a master plan and that there were valid, good reasons for this opening, but it was still a risky strategy. My notes mentioned this, adding, Hope the payoff is worth it.

I’ll tell you straight out: it was worth it.

Here’s why:

1. That strategic opening

As I’d suspected, this opening was strategic. It’s the event that every other event revolves around.

The chapters are labelled rewind, pause, fast-forward, and play. The narrative skips around in time. Sometimes it fast-forwards into the future, presumably after the death. At other times, it rewinds into the past before the killing. Then it plays, once more, bringing us closer to the central events. And sometimes, it pauses to dwell on a particular character.

It was difficult for me to judge the effectiveness of the labels. Reading an e-book on my smart phone sometimes does strange things to manuscript formatting. (Not anyone’s fault. It just happens. Occupational hazard.)

But the changes in time are effective at building suspense. She knew exactly when to cut away from a scene, at the exact moment when I didn’t want it to end, and force me to fast-forward or rewind or pause. And of course, I kept reading. I had a migraine and I’d read the ending first (as I always do), but I still had to keep reading Rewind.

2. The perception versus reality theme

Another thing I loved was how Howard used Instagram-era obsessions.

Natalie is revealed as a social media junkie. She judges scenery by its potential for Instagram-worthy shots, gets the jitters without her phone, and knows the exact moment when she lost her signal. She’s absolutely lost without the internet. She judges all “real” things by their Internet counterpart: her walking time versus Google maps’ estimate, the scenery of Shanamore versus the images of it on the web.

No surprise, though. She’s a rising micro-influencer on Instagram with thousands of devoted and sometimes crazy followers. She makes a living off the differences between perception and reality.

Many of the characters use this, though each has different motivations. Audrey is a tabloid reporter for an online paper’s entertainment section. Actually, it’s clickbait articles, the type that exploits our cultural need to know exactly what our celebrities are doing, complete with lots of innuendo and lies.

Andrew, of course, is caught by his addiction to watching hidden camera images.

Even the architecture reminds us of a curated reality. When Natalie checks into Shanamore Cottage No. 6, she notes the floor to ceiling windows and the contrast between the inside’s neutral tones and the outside’s vivid colors. It is “as if the floor-to-ceiling windows were screens and some amazing filter had artificially enhanced the view” (Chapter titled “Rewind 0:00:20”).

Note the irony that it’s nature that appears artificial, not the decorated living room.

3. A creeping sense of dread

Howard is good at developing a sense of impending doom. Dread creeps throughout the lines. The book feels claustrophobic, with the characters trapped in a warped reality that blurs with perceptions, even when describing the vast world of the internet. The plotting is well-paced.

4. Realistic and sympathetic characters

I liked Audrey immediately. She’s being forced to find a new place to live in less than a month, her job pays almost nothing, and her ambitions outsize her experience. When she begins investigating Natalie’s disappearance, it’s obvious that she’s out of her depth and feels awkward interviewing others. But she’s smarter than others think. I sympathized with her, even though she’s exploiting Natalie’s disappearance to gain website clicks and further her career.

It took a while to warm up to Natalie, more for personal reasons than anything else. But once I did, I felt sorrow at how her life has turned out.

5. And some creepy characters

Richard Flynn, Shanamore Cottages’ “handyman” with a tendency to ignore personal space conventions. Jennifer, a bed-and-breakfast manager, whose love for a married man is outsized only by her arrogance.

And then there’s Andrew.

It might sound strange to feel sympathetic toward Andrew. Most readers will hate him, I think, and understandably so. He’s a disgusting, evil person. But he also knows that he’s disgusting, even when he tries to justify his immoral actions. (Which he knows aren’t justifiable.) He isn’t sure how to live with himself, either. That small degree of self-knowledge and remorse saves him from being a caricature. And that’s what made my loathing for him tinged with sympathy.

This was a thrilling read. It’s guaranteed to keep you reading. It might also make you rethink your social media accounts (or at least what you share on them).

Thanks again to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Note: This review will appear on my blog on August 19, 2019: meredithrankin.com/rewind-catherine-ryan-howard, and I will link that on Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/meredithrankin4/)

This is original in the telling of multiple points of view as if you’re using your remote control to fast forward, rewind, and stop at what points the story is told. While the who-did-it I didn’t see coming at first, when the truth comes out, it’s one-hundred-percent TELLING (this is how everything turns out, explained quickly in a few pages). The other challenge is that I had to put the book down for a bit to do other work, and when I came back to it, it was really hard to get all the different timelines synced in my head. Even putting it down in the middle of a chapter, when I got back to it, the story was super confusing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 5, 2019.

WOW!!! What a creepy, suspenseful read this was! I read this in two sittings. It is told in a very unique style... Play, Pause, Fast Forward, and Rewind. It starts off with the video of a murder. And as the story unfolds there are some unsavory characters doing some very unsavory things. I couldn’t wait to see how the mystery unfolded. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!!

Rewind is a psychological thriller. There were plenty of plot twists that kept me wondering how the story would end. I will definitely be reading more books written by Catherine Ryan Howard.

If you like mystery/psychological thrillers and are looking for a quick read, this is a great one to pick up!

The thing that really makes "Rewind" stand out is its formatting. As a Kindle book, it was a bit difficult to really get into the how the author juggled the story line. She uses the header "rewind" to talk about the past, "fast forward" to talk about the future, and "play/pause" for the present. She flips back and forth between these, so the story is not told in a linear fashion. As an ARC copy with some formatting issues, it wasn't as easy to view these subheaders, which led to a few confusing moments. Yet, I'm sure that it will be corrected for the final proof and the back-and-forth of it is what really made it stand out. If the story was told in regular time, it wouldn't have been nearly as suspenseful.

Unfortunately, I didn't really like any of the characters. Four stars because the mystery itself was interesting and the pacing was spot-on for a psychological thriller. Also, this takes place in Ireland- I love 'traveling' to other countries! There were a few completely unpredictable moments that I enjoyed, but of course, don't want to spoil. Catherine Ryan Howard really thought this through, and I'm very happy with how everything pulled together in the end.

A satisfying read! Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Good suspense set in Cork County, Ireland.

The novel started with a video of a murder. Little by little the author brings the reader the 5 W’s. The first is Where. We learn that pretty quickly. But then we’re left with When? Who? What? And Why? All the action takes place in just a few days so it’s not a matter of skipping back and forth several decades or generations. However, the reader does need some background.

The really unique thing about this novel from Catherine Ryan Howard (who is new to me) is the layout (for lack of a better description) and manner in which she utilized flashbacks. The video in the opening scene was critical to the plot. Each new chapter was entitled by a command for viewing a video: fast forward, rewind, pause, play, etc.

I really enjoyed this and will look for other books written by CR Howard.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!!!!! My mind is blown after finishing this story. I literally could not put this down and already plan to re-read it. I must admit that I was very confused at first because I was gathering pieces of a story from all over the place literally in terms of location and with various characters and literally in terms of time of occurrence of events. However, DO NOT let that put you off of this story. I don't want to give away too much for fear that I will ruin it for readers, but I must say that is absolutely worth the confusion you feel at first as the story begins to play out and you get more and more of the events that have occurred. I was just certain I had it "all figured out" multiple times and then some new information or plot twist would come my way and I would be left feeling as though I was completely wrong all over again! I do not mean that as a criticism, but as an extreme compliment! The writing is genius and the concept by which this was written is not only thoroughly engaging for the reader but completely captivating in every sense! What a fun, yet dark and mysterious read this is!! HIGHLY recommend!!

I just could not get into this book. Maybe if I had the chance to just sit down and read it all at once I might have cared more, but since time only allowed me to pick it up, read a short bit, put it down, over and over, I did not find myself interested enough to put up with the choppiness of it. Timeline shifting between present, past, etc. played into that as much as my reading only short bits. I put it down for a few days and tried again, but it just didn't work for me. I'm sure I'm missing a good story.

The opening murder was rather graphic, but not knowing who was just murdered, or who the person was who was recording the murder, I didn't stay with it long enough to figure it out. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion. Others seem to really like it, based on the reviews I have read, so this is my loss.

Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A woman is murdered in a vacation rental cottage and it is captured on tape by the strange guy that runs the place. From there the story goes backward and forward about what lead her to be at that place and who murdered her.

This was a 4.5 star for me. I thought the back and forth and the shear number of characters introduced would be too much to keep straight and I wouldn’t enjoy it but I did enjoy it. I thought the ending was solid and feasible. I liked it a lot.

Thank you to the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
How can any thriller lover not want to read a book with the following description:
“Psycho meets Fatal Attraction in this explosive story about a murder caught on camera”?
This book lives up to its description, it was an original, unique, clever, creepy and highly addictive thriller.
This is the 1st book that I have read by Catherine Ryan Howard and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
I highly recommend this book.

Take one measure of what could be a predictable domestic thriller, add in a splash of creepy voyeurism, and mix well with a wildly split timeline. Serve over a quaint backdrip of the Irish countryside, a look at clickbait journalism, and the world of Instagram influencers. That's what you're getting with Rewind.

The driving force (the murder mentioned in the plot synopsis) starts immediately. From there, the books jumps around in time so many times that you would this Tarantino had a hand in the writing. That's not a slight against the book; it proves to make it far more satisfying.

My only minor gripe was that I had a hard time trying to figure out how the chapter titles fit within the realm of the overall timeline, but eventually just realized that thinking of events as relative to each other was best.

Beyond the fractured timeline, the writing is excellent. There are a ton of characters and the vast majority have their own minor side plots. However, I think all are handled well and not too over or under detailed - the rare Goldilocks of sub plotting. All plots (including the twisty main narrative) are fleshed out in their entirety by the end, which is also unheard of in this day and age of franchise bait.

This is the third or fourth book in a row I got from NetGalley that I have absolutely loved. I've got one more before I clear out my To Read shelf, and the bar has been set extremely high. Be sure to check this one out.

Wow!!! A 5 plus star read for me, but I absolutely love the more disturbing books! This book was so intense, thrilling, shocking, and chilling; but also descriptive in the subject matter, which some might not enjoy. If you enjoy the demented books, check this one out, you WILL NOT REGRET IT!
Will make sure to highly recommend in Chapter Chatter Pub!

After taking a hiatus from reading, I am glad I was afforded the opportunity to start back with an interesting and exciting read like Rewind. I do admit, I was a little thrown off by the change in perspective of different characters and the constant change in timeline but after getting 1/3 through the book,I was a pro and easily handled the shifting narrative. Many people may not like the idea of a book going back and forth in time to reveal important details of the plot piece by piece, but I feel this is what made the book so exhilarating and engaging. The plot never felt dull and kept me intrigued to find out the big picture in the end. I loved how unpredictable the ending was due to the way the book was written. I was forced to stop making terrible guesses and just enjoy wherever the book decided to take me in the end, which was really refreshing for a change.
I think this book would be a great addition to anyone's summer reading, as once you begin, it's difficult to put down without finishing. Rewind is easy to get into, fast paced, and the ending will leave you feeling satisfied. Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

The manager of a remote vacation property witnesses the murder of a guest, thanks to the hidden camera he was using to spy on female occupants of the cottages. This particular creep is only one of a whole cast of unappealing characters participating in slimy activities. The action skips back and forth in time, and the slightly gimmicky chapter headings indicate the relative timing of the various events. A clickbait-writing entertainment “journalist" is finally given a chance to investigate and report on a real story—the disappearance of a well-known social media personality—and she follows the clues to the vacation home where the murder took place. The tenacity and determination of this reporter, who pursues her story even when called off, are appealing, and a number of other characters are equally well-drawn. The plot is twisty and disturbing. It’s only a matter of time before someone makes this one into a movie.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance digital review copy.

Taking a page from a couple of classic thrillers, this one begins violently and was almost too graphic for this gentle bedtime reader. Still, intrigued, I proceeded. Then the well-plotted thriller settles into another classic well-known timeline switch back. Usually, that meant delving into the backstory of another of the main characters. Which also meant a switch of POV and really the storyline carries no major protagonist.

The characters are well-developed, giving us more clues each switch back to the individual. The victim Natalie O'Connor becomes more sympathetic, and Andrew more loathsome. Audrey Coughlan is struggling to find a niché and determines that this is it. Sean, the newly installed, unseasoned garda of the village is appealing.
Indeed, the Cork village itself becomes a character; dark, cold, the people tight and mistrusting, unwilling to share a pint but more than willing to share the latest gossip. Andrew is the manager of Shanamore Holiday Villages, a failed development of exclusively odd cottages; Icky Dickie, who should have moved on.

Natalie, a major Irish Instagram personality has disappeared. Audrey is looking for the story and finds herself in the same unit as Natalie. Working through the timeline, the reader is gradually caught up to present day and conclusion, which has snuck in quietly and without a whimper. We knew who it was all along but needed the full explanation and reveal. Also it was necessary to wait for Audrey and the police to ferret out the truth, dropping crumbs and red herrings along the way, to finally name the heinous antagonist(s).

It's a tale about privacy given away, truth bent for stats, perhaps too freely in social media, and the following the media attracts. It is an intense and engaging, fast-paced suspense-filled thriller. I was given the ARC download by the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for any who enjoy a disturbing thriller. 4.5/5 stars

Play, Pause, Rewind. The book starts as a Rewind. We know what happens we just don't know why or by who. Andrew, who is a manager at an Inn, likes to watch and videotape his guests, until one night he sees one of his guests killed in their room. The masked killer then turns and goes directly to the camera and removes it. How did they know it was there? The guest that was killed is a "famous' Instragram star who has suspicious that her husband has been unfaithful.. She decides to get away for a few days to see if she can prove it and becomes the victim of a murder.
I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the book and at first found the chapter names a bit confusing.
However, as the story went along I really enjoyed the different style of storytelling. We learn a lot about the characters surrounding our Instragram star and her husband, along with the Inn Manager. The ending was creepy and made for a great thriller. I will definitely check out more by this author.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book for my opinion.

I loved this book. I love how you got to undercover what happened along with the main character with a couple extra thrown in to keep you guessing. This book was so hard to put down and finished it within a couple days.

I really enjoyed this! Kept me on the edge of my seat. I found the chapter titles a little bit confusing. I found myself not really paying attention to that and just figuring out what 'timeline' I was in by what was happening. I thought this was well written and unpredictable. Would definitely recommend!