Shutter sounded really good: mysterious movie on a deserted island?! However, the story was boring: nothing the characters did made sense and parts seemed to go on longer than necessary. I felt like I was reading all the Thriller/Horror movie cliches together in one book.

Good concept, poor execution.

This was a debut, so I will seek out the author's next book and hope it's better

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Larsen, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Melissa Larsen brings much to this debut novel, taking the reader on a curious, as well as eerie, trip through the mind of a film director with a mission. A young woman has her sights set on making it big and heads to New York, where she knows but one person. After being introduced to a mysterious film director, Betty agrees to be cast in the leading role of an upcoming film, not entirely clear what it will entail. Later learning that this is an ‘act natural’ film, Betty soon discovers there’s more to it than she thought at first, pitting actors against one another, especially those unaware that the camera is even rolling. Well-paced and chilling at times, Larsen shows in Shutter that she has what it takes to stand above many in the genre.

It’s been a rough few months for Betty, which is why she has decided to flee her small California town for the bright lights of NYC. There, with only one childhood friend to call upon, Betty tries to make it big. She’s soon introduced to Anthony Marino, a film director with a new idea. Marino feels that Betty could be the perfect fit for his new project, but he is not yet ready to share any of the details.

Travelling up to a small Maine cabin, Marino, Betty, and a few others prepare to shoot the film on-location. It happens to be the Marino family cabin, where Anthony spent much time as a child. Betty is told that the film with be without script or actual direction, more an ‘act natural’ idea, where cameras are always rolling, hidden in rooms, on trees, and many other places. It is supposed to be a chance for everyone to just be and let the story evolve.

Betty is tasked with becoming Lola, a young woman with no clear backstory. She must also develop immediate chemistry with her leading man, Mads. While this may be the goal, Betty finds herself constantly drawn to Anthony, which will make building proper chemistry a little harder. Still, Betty is trying to come to terms with the literal and figurative transformation into Lola, its importance as yet baffling.

When Anthony announces that there will be a stalker element to the film, he introduces a new face, Sammy. This is a childhood friend of Anthony’s and an unknowing addition to the film. While Sammy appears inquisitive on the surface, he begins to gravitate towards Betty in odd ways. It is only then that the truth about the Anthony-Sammy connection is revealed, as well as the essence of Betty’s transformation into Lola. What’s not yet clear is what will happen when all these elements are put together in a bucolic setting, with the cameras rolling non-stop.

Melissa Larsen does a great job in her storytelling, pulling the reader into the centre of this piece with unknown elements coming together at just the right pace. With little revealed at the outset, the mystery is as present for Betty as it is for the reader. Slowly, things become clearer, which does not always make for a smooth ride for anyone involved. It permits a handful of key twists throughout the piece to shape a narrative that gains momentum with each page turn.

Betty is a great protagonist, in that she offers much to the story on both a personal and ‘professional’ level. Her desire to flee home is apparent throughout, as the reasons come to light throughout the novel. Her thirst for escape is only heightened when she feels that she can transform into a new woman by taking up the film project. However, while Betty would love to forget herself, it is not the change into Lola that fuels what she had in mind. All that being said, there is a great deal going on, none of which Betty could have predicted from the outset.

Larsen offers a number of intriguing secondary characters throughout the piece, all of whom bring something to the table to flavour the story effectively. While some complement Betty, others serve as obvious roadblocks to impede her natural growth. The underlying Anthony-Sammy storyline comes to a head and adds a needed depth to the plot, though things are less than smooth from thereon in. Larsen is able to portray the likes of Sammy, Anthony, and even Mads as different yet all tied together in one form or another. This keeps the reader entertained and curious about how the chemistry will develop, much like actors working on a script with the cameras rolling.

For a debut, I was quite impressed with Melissa Larsen’s efforts. While there were some small bumps, the overall experience was one that I enjoyed and would do so again without a second thought. The narrative flows well and gains momentum at just the right pace, with characters offering something to the experience without stealing the spotlight. Save for the opening chapter, each part of the book is short and keeps the reader wanting to know more, which is matched with an eerie plot that injects twists and confusing at key points. Larsen’s great use of dialogue keeps things feeling natural, which is an interesting parallel with the actual premise of the book, where the characters are to ‘be themselves’ while the cameras roll onwards. With a chilling end, Larsen leaves the reader wondering and thinking well after turning the final page, which is the essence of a strong thriller.

Kudos, Madam Larsen, for a great start to your writing career. I cannot wait to see what else you have in store when next you publish!

Well that was... disappointing. I really liked the setup, and was eagerly looking forward to finding out what was *really* going on - but when I did, it all felt anticlimactic and unbelievable and bizarre and it lost me... It just all felt like melodrama, which I suppose in part was the point, but I just didn't really enjoy it. It built up for 2/3 of the book, and the revelations just didn't feel like they lived up to that build. I found myself skimming the last third just to find out what was going to happen and see if it would redeem itself. Unfortunately, for me, it didn't the way I wanted it to...

In this debut novel, Betty Roux moves to New York City to recover from the recent loss of her father. Living with friends, she is asked to play the lead role in the newest project by Indie filmmaker Anthony Marino, based on the film Cape Fear. She is delighted to be chosen! She is told they will be on location for a month in a cabin on a private island in Maine owned by Anthony’s family, with only five others including her two friends. When she meets scary caretaker Sammy, she begins to realize this might be more than she bargained for, and then finds out she is a dead ringer for Sammy’s ex-girlfriend, who broke his heart. Hidden cameras are filming everything, including the storm that cuts off all the power. It’s a fairly predictable tale, but still manages to keep your interest, and the surprise ending was a great payoff for the time spent reading. Look forward to more from the author! Thank you to the publisher, the author and #NetGalley for my copy.

Oh boy, this books was absolutely not for me. I’ve tried really hard to think of positive things to say about it and the only thing I can think of is that I actually felt the need to finish it, instead of DNF-ing it. I wish I would have DNF-ed it, though.

The characters were all awful. Every last one of them. There was no one to root for. No one to connect with. I could not for the life of me understand why everyone was so drawn to narcissistic Anthony. Or why Betty just rolled over every time he said “trust me,” even though he had done absolutely nothing to prove himself worthy of trust. And Betty. The story is told through her first person POV and it was a trial to be stuck in her head. I think we’re supposed to give her a pass because she’s still grieving over the loss of a parent, but that does not make up for the never ending parade of stupid decisions she made.

While the plot of making a mysterious movie on a secluded island sounded like it would be creepy and entertaining, I ended up just rolling my eyes at the whole thing. Anthony’s motivation was childish and psychopathic, as was Sammy’s character. The whole thing was just ridiculous and then the ending was super anti-climactic.

Overall, I did not enjoy Shutter at all. I kept waiting for some great twist to be revealed that would make everything worth it, but it never came. The awful characters and ridiculous plot made this a chore to get through. While this book is obviously not for me, I have seen some much better reviews on it, so it might be worth the read for others.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 1 Star

Thrillers are popular at my library, so I'm sure it will circulate well. The writing was a little flat for me, and the character development not as good I would have hoped, but for a debut, the author shows promise.

Was this a thriller? Sure. Was this thriller I thought I was going to get? Definitely not. Larsen took the slow burn thriller genre a bit too intensely, as, this one takes too long to burn. The pacing of this book was quite fast, (despite seemingly nothing happening) which shows promise for a thriller debut author. However, the characters were flat, and the story felt like it needed more polishing. I wanted to enjoy this more, but it just missed the mark for me. Also, the book uses the phrase “let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding” in full seriousness, and I laughed out loud.
Full review will be posted on July 9th, 2021.

In the wake of her father's death, Betty Roux doesn't allow herself to grieve. Instead, she runs away from everyone and moves to New York City. She doesn't know why, she just runs.

When she's offered the chance to play the leading role in the famous filmmaker Anthony Marino's new project, she excepts. For a month Betty will live in a cabin on a private island off the coast of Maine, with a five-person cast and crew. Her mother tells her it’s a bad idea but she doesn’t listen.

Anthony has her embody her role as Lola. Betty is happy to reinvent herself except for when she meets Sammy, the island's caretaker, and Betty realizes just how little she knows about the movie and its director.

Ahhh...they all can’t be five stars. This story was highly (and I mean highly) unbelievable. The main character is extremely naive. A majority of the action happens within the last 20 pages and it is extremely slow moving. That being said, for a debut, I thought it still kept my attention. How, may you ask since I just talked all that shit? Curiosity kills the cat and I HAD to see what the hell was going to happen. I think it takes special talent to keep a reader strung along even when they aren’t truly vested. I look forward to what else Melissa Larsen has but all in all this was a dud for me guys. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think that this was a case of the description hinting at something that just wasn’t there.

This is a very slow moving story that eventually has a touch – a very small touch – of suspense/thriller thrown in.

Instead, what we get is a small look into a few nasty, pretentious personalities. Despite my extreme character dislike, I still wanted to see what would happen on the island. There are hints that something dreadful might occur. Unfortunately, what does happen is anticlimactic, sad, and a little…teen-angst in adults.

While the plot does move slowly, I was invested enough in order to finish it. I just wasn’t thrilled when I did.

I think this will work more for people interested in the psychology of the characters and a bit less interested in the plot.

Not for me.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Betty leaves town after her father’s death, wanting to start a new life in NYC. She decides to try her hand at acting, and finds the perfect opportunity when her friends Ben and Sofia introduce her to THE Anthony Marino. Anthony directed and starred in an Indie smash hit a few years ago, and is looking for an actress for his latest project.

Betty has no acting experience, but Anthony offers her the lead role in his new mysterious film. She doesn’t know much about it, only that he was apparently loosely inspired by Cape Fear and that he wants her character’s name to be Lola.

A group of 5 people, Betty included, go to a private island off the coast of Maine to film the movie. There are cameras everywhere, and she soon realizes that she has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.

She never anticipated actual danger...

Sounds intriguing, right? In a way, it is. I was entertained throughout the read, and never bored. However, severe suspension of disbelief was required.

First of all, Betty knows basically nothing about this film, and Anthony avoids giving her more information multiple times, and yet she willfully goes on the journey to Maine. Granted, her friends are going too, and Anthony is paying her $40,000, but once I knew what the point of his film was, I was like, “What? Why is she still participating?”

The point of the film, once revealed, is the biggest problem I had with it. Obviously, I can’t go into details...but to me, it’s one of those things where I said to myself, “All of THIS because of THAT?” Nothing about the plot and the goings on are very realistic. Despite this, I still felt that the story was interesting. I just couldn’t wrap my head around why any of the plot was happening in the first place.

The unrealistic scenarios continue through the denouement, and I just couldn’t get fully on board. While Betty is an interesting, multi-dimensional character, she is also a bit of a dunce.

This is a fast read, and shows promise for a debut novel. The writing itself has a great flow, with some wonderful atmosphere (especially as a squall rolls in). I liked it enough, but there was potential for a much more sinister storyline. I’ll be interested to read the author’s next book. I think others may enjoy it more, so please do check it out if it sounds interesting to you.

One last thought: How gorgeous is that atmospheric cover?!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This will be published on: 6/15/21.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview SHUTTER by Melissa Larsen.
This book has a good plot - An actreess, Bettt, who had some bad things happen in her life and wants and needs a change desperately.
An aspiring director offers her a role in an upcoming film - changes her name - sends her off to an island - very little information, but Betty takes the job. Soon Betty starts to realize that this may not have been a great idea and she is suddenly realizes that she knows very little about her employer the director, or anything about the movie she is going to be making. Things don't look so promising for Betty and she realizes that maybe this wasn't a very good idea.
This was a quick read - characters were not very interesting and the plot was not what i had expected.
3 stars.

Thanks NG publisher and author for this great debut novel!
This was an intense book! And I was intrigued from get go.
The writing was amazing! As well as the story bad me in its grip!

A young actress takes a role from an indie filmmaker and soon learns she's really a pawn to be used by two men.

Betty moved to New York after her father's death to escape her past and the trauma from it. Her childhood best friend helps her get a role with unconventional independent film maker, Anthony, on his next project. And his next project, entitled Fear, will star she and Mads, the lead from his last movie, filming on a small island at Anthony's family home. Betty doesn't know much about the project, but is smitten with Anthony, and takes it. She soon learns he wants to change her look and wardrobe and have her "act" authentically as Lola, living with Mads and being filmed by cameras all day. When a person from Anthony's past shows, up Betty/Lola soon learns what the real story is behind the project and how she is being used for revenge. And then violence ensues...

This is a bit of a strange story. Betty made odd decisions, especially in light of being told nothing about the film or her part, just that the director wants her to go to an island with him and his actor, which all seems a bit sketchy immediately. When the real story comes to light, it is interesting and kept me involved. I just wish I had liked or understood the main character.

This is an impressive debut, the writing is flawless and the plot is perfectly structured. Betty has lost her father and is trying to change her life by moving to NY and becoming an actress. She doesn’t seem too committed but a dream role lands on her lap when Anthony Marino, the famous director, offers her a movie. They move to a creepy island to film and nothing goes as planned. Now, I normally dislike novels with a lot of internal dialogue and characters who talk about their feelings, but Betty’s background is part of the plot, so it helps propel the action. Imbued with a creepy atmosphere, you can almost feel the mist fogging up the windows. All the characters are complex and consistent, and the pacing makes it impossible to put down.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group - Berkley Publishing Group!

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this story? It’s the type of story where you look up in the sky with questions in mind. At least, that’s how I’m feeling at the time of writing this review. I didn’t dislike the story, but I’m not exactly sold on it either. I’m a bit confused as to how I should feel and perhaps that’s exactly the reaction the author was seeking? “Shrug” – Not sure?

But anyhoo, I will do the best I can to sum up the gist of this novel. Betty Roux recently lost her father and given the circumstances in which her father died, carries a great deal of weight for her. Instead of facing her demons head on and trying to decipher her own feelings about her father’s death, she runs away from her mother and ex-boyfriend to none other than New York City. That’s the absolute best place to run and hide when trying to outrun your mind. (chuckle). A good friend lets her crash on the couch while she tries to figure out her life. While she’s sorting things out mentally, she’s given a rare opportunity of a lifetime. She’s going to audition for a role in a movie. What better way to sort out your life and feelings than auditioning for a movie role? Hmm?

Not only does Betty get an opportunity to play a leading role, but she’s being asked to be in indie filmmaker, Anthony Marino’s latest venture. Betty doesn’t have any idea what type of film it will be, all she knows is that she wants to make sure she’s a part of it. When she’s finally offered the role, of which she’s elated, she learns that she will be staying in a small cabin in a sleepy-town off the coast of Maine for about a month or so. But before she leaves for her latest quest, her mother reached out to her to advise that she didn’t think Betty should be a part of this film. Something about the way she described the whole concept didn’t sit right with her. Of course, Betty didn’t think her mother made any kind of sense and so she said her good-byes and headed off to Maine with Anthony and his few movie crew members. It will soon become apparent even before Betty makes it to the cabin that something about this movie just wasn’t all she had imagined. She was beginning to think her mother’s advice was the correct one. In spite of all Betty’s misgivings and butterflies in the stomach, she forged on with Anthony’s original plan. So, when Anthony advised he wanted to change her identity and her name, Betty knew she was in deep trouble. And if that wasn’t strange enough, when she meets a man named Sammy, who personally knows Anthony, that, readers, is where this story really takes on a different type of vibe.

Wow, that’s quite a bit to absorb, but I have to say this story was quite interesting! For starters, Betty Roux angered me a great deal. She was smart in some ways and then very dumb in others. The more she inquired about the type of film Anthony Marino was going to be filming, she just took his ideas and excuses for face value. She wanted to escape her former life that bad that she was willing to put herself out there for what? That’s the interesting part, readers. When you learn why Betty did the things she did, it will either leave you shocked or scratching of one’s head. For me, I felt a little of both, which is why I started my review as I did. I most certainly cannot say I didn’t enjoy this story because I did, but I wasn’t in love with it, if that makes any sense. At the end of the day, you just have to read it and see for yourself and perhaps then you’ll understand where I’m coming from.

The story was well written and quite engaging. It was a little too long for my reading tastes, but at least it wasn’t boring and it kept me turning the pages and terrified with each swipe of the Kindle. If you’re looking for suspense, oh Shutter definitely brings the heat!

I can honestly say that I didnt know what to expect when it came to Shutter. The description intrigued me which led to my request.

The book tells the story of Betty Roux, an aspiring actress escapes to New York after her father's suicide. For the most part she has been hanging out on her friend's couch making money by walking dogs. Her life changes when she meets Anthony, an up and rising filmmaker looking for his lead actress for his new film.

Of course as expected Betty becomes the choice for his lead actress. Not everything is as it seems though. An unscripted film becomes a plan for revenge that ends in death. Despite all red flags that Betty acknowledges (changing her look and name) she continues as this is an opportunity to reinvent herself.

Betty later comes to discover the film is a focus to get back at a boy that Anthony grew up with, Sammy. Betty doesnt agree with the act of revenge but she goes along with it because of her growing feelings for Anthony.

The story was interesting and had potential to be so much more. The characters were intriguing but I honestly feel they could have been fleshed out more. Some things were done without full explanation or reason. Anthony justifies all his acts of revenge with his excuse of being bullied while Betty does whatever she wants all for the sake of liking Anthony.

Some of the character actions and general acceptance of things happening around them left me asking myself "why?". I mean I would hate to think that these characters are so easily forgiving or swayed just because they like someone or call them friend.

I honestly was hoping for more. Bettys actions at the end have no reasonable explanation or justification besides her reasoning of protecting her own and circling back to her father's suicide. If the author had given her characters more meat and bone and explanation for their actions this book would have been so much better. Still it was a decent read

Thank you so much to Berkley Press, Melissa Larsen, and Netgalley for my ARC of Shutter that comes out June 15! This book is about a woman struggling to find her place. When she meets a filmmaker and agrees to be part of his latest project, she doesn’t have much to lose. When he tells her she has to live in a cabin on a private island for a month, she jumps at the chance. She is running from her past and thinks it is a great opportunity. But when the director turns her into a whole new person, she isn’t sure where this film is going. Then, as he slowly reveals the point of his film, she isn’t sure what is acting and what is real danger.

Thoughts: I loved the way this story built throughout the chapters. It’s like each layer piled on top of the next to create a creepy and mysterious story. This book is a psychological thriller, and you find yourself inside Betty’s mind for most of the story. It is a very slow build up and I think that was so the reader could feel like they were trapped there on the island.

I did wish that there was more to the story. I kept waiting for a big twist to come, and when it did, it wasn’t all that shocking. I enjoyed the characters, but only two had any depth or backstory. The rest were one dimensional and really there just to prop up the two main characters. I did enjoy the parallels to classic Hollywood films, and the writing was very easy to read and get immersed in. While the plot was fantastic, the story line needed more. 3-stars

This is a fun read that I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in horror and/or indie filmmaking. Betty is a really interesting character, and I enjoyed reading her flirtation with Anthony. However, I found the villain a bit lackluster and they didn't show up until about halfway through the book. The story is more driven by character than it is horror, and it's good for what it is.

I was captivated by this dark, slow-burning, psychological tale filled with creeping dread.

Betty Roux, at first glance, seems to be your typical small-town girl who leaves to make it big as an actress in New York. But Anthony sees something different in her. Anthony Marino is a newly famous, acclaimed film director renowned for his realism and his gritty films full of improvisation. Like something out of a Hollywood dream, Anthony chooses Betty for the leading role in his next movie. Anthony won’t tell Betty much about the move, except that there is no actual script and she will have to live it. So they’re headed to a secluded cabin to shoot. Oh, and by the way, it’s called FEAR. What could possibly go wrong?

Things to know going into this book: it’s not your typical throwaway mystery or thriller with numerous murders and whodunnits. It’s not really something you can tear through without thinking, or read like a normally plotted mystery. Instead, it’s a pretty heavy psychological portrait of several very intriguing characters. And the writing is lovely and far more literary than most in this genre. The writing will pull you in. I was completely pulled into Betty’s complicated, dark world.

Shutter is a love poem to dark, classic Hollywood films. I felt the influence of Vertigo, Mulholland Drive, Of Mice and Men and of course, Cape Fear. I was totally immersed in the story throughout, just as Anthony’s actors were immersed in the film to its harrowing conclusion.

My only negative note is that the ending neglected to explain one crucial issue. It’s clear this was done by design, and it’s effective, but I still wanted a particular resolution. Nevertheless, this doesn’t take much away from the fantastic reading experience.

Melissa Larsen is a beautiful writer and a standout in the psychological drama genre. This book was totally unique - it’s been a long time since a book took such hold of me and made me leave the world behind. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

4.75 stars. Thanks to Berkeley, NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this compelling and immersive story.

Choo choo choo! This is the sound of my approaching disappointment train! I hear it when I read a book which doesn’t fit with my high expectations.

I was so invested in this story and after reading the blurb about a film crew chooses movie location which gives us cabin in the woods meets Friday 13th series and Blair witch project, I was expecting to read something terrifying, earth shattering which will force me sleep with entire lights of my house on !

But... yes this book is definitely psychological thriller-ish, slow burn, semi-claustrophobic but mostly it was bumpy road with wavering direction of the story which loses its aim at several times!

The beginning was so promising. We’re introduced Beth Roux who leaves her hometown and directly moves to NYC, camping at sofa bed in her best friend’s apartment she shares with her boyfriend. We realize she’s grieving her father who recently passed away ( actually he committed suicide) and Beth’s mother acts like neurotic and controlling who tries to find where her daughter disappeared.

Beth meets with tempting and ultra rich director Anthony Marino with help of her friends. She’s enchanted by his charisma. She’s obsessed with his artsy movie he’s made but she acts like she hasn’t watched it. And now dear Anthony needs an actress urgently to cast for his latest movie. He asks her for the audition, taking her to dinner and kisses her goodbye which means she got the part!

It seems like too good to be true. She’ll compensated 40K for her role, spending her in a secluded cabin which is located on a private island off the coast of Maine with five person cast and crew. There’s no script and the idea of working on improvised project is more challenging than working on another Terry Gilliam movie.

The cameras are located in everywhere around the house. And Beth’s only clue about movie is it will have resemblances with famous Cape Fear movie starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum ( Mitchum is out of jail, blaming on Peck who put him behind the bars, planning to avenge him by harassing his family including his innocent young daughter)

Beth thinks some outer player will involve in their holiday at cabin! This outer player might be the wild car of the movie as well!

But she has no idea what Anthony’s real intention to force her cut and dye her hair and rename her as Lola! Is she just a pawn of his master plan? Is his real intention to shoot a movie? Or is he planning something more dangerous?

I waited too long for some exciting incidents happen during my read. Only last %10 of the book was faster and interesting but the rest of it was mostly about Beth’s grieving, Anthony’s mysterious manners ( he pushed him so hard to look like mysterious man but actually the reason behind gathering those crew to make movie at the cabin is so simple and immature. )

The final twist is okay! Actually entire reading is okay but not so good or heart pounding kind of whirlwind thriller! Both Beth and Anthony are irritating characters who seem lost from the beginning. I didn’t quite get the real reason why they fall too hard for each other. Ben and Mads were the most tolerable characters. I was so sorry for they were dragged into this mess!

I’m giving my three solid stars. The idea and starting point of the story was intriguing and promising but the execution could have been better! The characters were not much connectable but at least they are not punchable or dislikable characters.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing For sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.