“But why? Why would you do this? This is kidnapping. You can’t just hold me here against my will.”

[★ 1.0]

mari is an author struggling with her addiction and the pain of losing her family. she gets the opportunity of a lifetime; a film producer wants to meet and talk about possibly working with her in the future. little does mari know this man is her obsessed “number one fan” and she will now have to fight her way out of his grasp.

after seeing how many people rated it high, i was excited to read it… but mannn i was not a fan of this at all. maybe it was more of the writing than the story? like i don’t feel it was executed very well. it wasn’t suspenseful or a thriller to me either because you could predict what was going to happen almost every time. i did not connect with the main character mari at all. it also felt like the story kept dragging and the exact same things were happening each time. the end did have a little twist that i didn’t see coming, but it didn’t really make a difference to the overall story.

thank you to netgalley and dreamscape media for this arc.

As an author of thrillers, Mari finds herself a character in one of her own stories.

This was a short and fast-paced audiobook, with the narrator keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It really did its job by creeping me out! I enjoyed how the story wrapped up, twist and all. One aspect I didn’t enjoy however, was that although abducted, the main character kept assuming she could ask for things (e.g. new bed sheets, shower, and so on). IRL I don’t think that would have been the case. Overall, a suspenseful audiobook that you can listen to in one sitting. This book features major triggers. To name a few: abduction, stalking, abuse, substance abuse, assault.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Advance Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

Review is scheduled to be posted on Instagram January 2, 2024; review posted to Goodreads today, December 16, 2023.

So creepy, probably Kiersten's most creepiest book I've listened to. You know the twists were twisty as ever and it was great! I freaking loved the whole story!!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this ALC

4.5/5

This thrilling book kept me hooked with its fast pace and suspense. I really liked the short chapters, and Mara Wilson's narration was excellent in bringing out the tension in the story. I listened to it while driving home, and the unexpected twists had me reacting out loud with "How? Huh?" Despite not being easily surprised, the ending left me wide-eyed.

I was excited to read my first book by Kiersten Modglin, and this has exceeded my expectations. The writing pulled me into the story, and Mara Wilson's narration added to the experience.

Beyond a thrilling story, Modglin explores themes of grief, resilience, and facing fears. I was rooting for the main character, Mari, to succeed after everything she went through. The book also talks about how social media can be both good and risky, giving us connections but also exposing us to dangerous situations.

In short, Do Not Open is not just a thrilling book but also makes you think about emotions and the challenges of our connected world. Kiersten Modglin's storytelling and Mara Wilson's narration make it a must-read for fans of suspenseful fiction with depth.

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC.
This was a masterfully performed audiobook.
The book is a great locked room plot, where Mary, an author is kidnapped by a deranged fan, and forced to deal with her alcoholism and her fears.
The novel focuses on her survival. I didn't love this. I definitely found it engaging and I was engrossed in this plot focused novel. However, the "twists" were a bit ridiculous.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kiersten Modglin, and Dreamscape Media for an advanced reader copy of the audiobook, Do Not Open!

This was a super quick listen. The audiobook runs for just under 6 hours and Mara Wilson does a fantastic job narrating!

Do Not Open jumps right into the plot. We get very little background information on Mary, the main character, but since the action begins right away, the reader is hooked immediately. As the story progresses we get little tidbits of information and clues for regarding the background of Mary and our antagonist, Owen, until the big twist at the end which, I will admit, I did not see coming! The breadcrumbs led to an interesting reveal, but I ultimately felt like we needed more information interspersed throughout to make the reveal truly mindboggling.

I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters, but I thought the pacing of the book was fast enough that I stayed interested. With that being said, I do think this story could have been a bit longer and some plot elements and character arcs could have been clearer in their explanation.

Overall I though the book was ok. It kept me entertained and it is a good book to read in one sitting.

3 out of 5 stars.

Book Title: Do Not Open:
Author: Kiersten Modglin
Narrator: Mara Wilson
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date December 26, 2023
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages: 206

When thriller writer Mari Morgan gets an email from producer Owen Doyle, She immediately believes it is a con. Even though he suggests she check his web site. She finally decided she would check him out after all authors are good at research – right?
She was surprised and is actually impressed and decides that meeting him just may result in an opportunity of a lifetime.
At first he suggested meeting at a restaurant but then decides it would be more informal as well as more comfortable. Again she checks out his home and is delighted that it is a mansion on Sullivan Island.

When she goes to his home, he tells her his wife is disappointed as she got called into a meeting but hopes they still have a pleasant afternoon.
He soon finds herself unconscious locked in a room. The man who says he is producer Owen Doyle declares -”Mari, I am your Number One fan”,
Yikes! I still remember " Misery' by Stephen King and that saying certain has a very
special meaning!</i>
The #1 Fan has following the tragedy in her personal life and knows she lost her husband Declan and their seventeen year old son Liam which left her in such a states she also lost her ability to write.
This Number One Fan claims he can save her by helping her get back to writing the best-selling thrillers she once wrote.

This story is indeed a tale of obsession and eventual survival. Have to admit there were times I was having a hard time with the story – I am not a fan of nasty language and true there were nasty things going on so I understand but I didn’t like it.
But I love and trust this author so was sure “the Queen of Twists’ would come through!
Yes! I liked the ending!!!

This is my twenty-ninth Kiersten Modglin thriller.
Yep I am a fan and a member of the K-Mod squad.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 26, 2023.

Another great book by Kiersten! This book is a suspenseful drama with a couple of twists.
I can see many folks reading this in one sitting.
The narrator of the audiobook was great and I would recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was ok. I liked the end of how everyone was connected. They did a good way of making it seem like one thing was truth even though it wasn’t.

If Misery and YOU had a baby, this would be it,... and yet somehow a bit different. This is a fast and suspenseful read about an author spiraling with depression after a tragic loss. When a glimmer of hope presents itself, it's hard to say no and stay away. Unfortunately, things aren't as they seem and well... I guess you'll have to read it to know what happens. Mara Wilson did an outstanding job with the narration. Thank you NetGalley, Kiersten Modglin, and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Kiersten does it again!! Absolutely love her writing. The narrator for this audiobook did a very good job. The story itself is fantastic-heavy Misery vibes and I love that she mentions it in the story. The twists though-what we all know and love about Kiersten is that her novels are going to have a twist you didn’t see coming. Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this in advance.

I really enjoyed this one! The narrator and the story had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

What some people aren't capable of...

Mary is an author and has recently been through unspeakable trauma. Down in the dumps, she agrees to a meeting with someone who she hopes may offer a glimpse of hope. It all goes very seriously downhill from there. Not something I'd like to experience, it's a bit frightening to think there really are people like this out there.

Great narration (the WEWA WEWA was brilliantly atmospheric), and a good storyline. I liked (and never saw coming) the twist at the end, it made me stop and think. After all, it has to be someone's child.

3 and a half stars, rounded down to 3.

Thanks to the publisher for my advance copy.

☆ Book Review ☆
Do Not Open | Kiersten Modglin | Thriller | 4.5 ⭐️
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☆ Thoughts ☆
Wow, this audiobook got me instantly hooked. I definitely enjoyed the way the narrator narrated the story, and the book itself was fast-paced and eerie. The story follows a writer who gets an offer to make her book into a movie, and she decides to meet the producer, but then that's when everything goes wrong. The plot twist, I did not see that coming at the end, and it definitely got me shook. Definitely a must-read, but check TWs! I'll be reading more books by Kiersten!
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☆ Appreciation ☆
Thank you netgalley and Kiersten and Dreamscape media for this audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review!

For fans of Misery, YOU, and Behind Closed Doors, million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin brings us a haunting tale of obsession and survival in the form of a writer’s worst nightmare come to life.

Another fast paced and action packed book by KMod! Expect Modglin’s typical twisty, suspenseful drama. A story of toxic relationships, obsession and one that will keep you on your toes.
I flew this audiobook, it was brilliantly narrated and highly entertaining. Pub date 26 December.

This was absolutely wild. It’s a mix of psychological thriller suspense, and a little bit of horror. It’s one of Kiersten’s darker reads but it’s just as binge worthy. I finished this in one sitting.

Mari Montgomery is a writer, yet she hasn’t written since she lost her family. She’s drinking too much and isolating, then she suddenly gets a life-changing email that seems too good to be true. And her decision to respond to it will completely uproot the path of her life; as the saying goes, “curiosity killed the cat.”

🗣️ Calling all Misery and YOU fans!! This one is right up your alley! With only 206 pages, this book jumps straight into things. I finished this in one sitting! The tension, the action, the emotional backstory that we got snippets of throughout… this read like a thriller movie! There was never a moment that wasn’t filled with worry and dread. I was rooting for Mari every second of the way.
This fast paced, short, popcorn thriller is a great read to break any slump!

** Thank you Kiersten Modglin, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this copy! 🫶🏼 **

I really enjoyed this book! Kiersten is a great writer and this story caught my attention quickly. This book seems similar to the book Misery. This book is quick but offers suspense and is fast paced. Mara Wilson is a great narrator for this book too! Great read.

I enjoyed the narration of this book, and it was a quick and easy listen. I listened at 1.75x speed which was perfect. The narrator has a nice voice to listen to.

Overall it felt like a very surface level locked room/kidnap thriller, and if you've read one you've read them all. If that is your jam, you will like this one. I felt the storyline did not add a whole lot of excitement until the very end. I will say that the FMC was ballsy and I thought for sure she was going to make it out- never doubted that.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
This was a fast paced binge worthy book with non stop action and several twists I did not see coming (especially the last one!). I was completely engaged from the beginning, even though I was honestly screaming at Mary from the beginning of the story just like I do during a scary movie when the people do silly things like choose to hide in a basement lol
The audio book was pretty short so I was able to finish it in one sitting, but it was also very interesting and I just had to find out what was going to happen next. If you're looking for a short, fast paced thriller with at least one twist that will surprise you, you should definitely check out this book!