If I Die Before I Wake

I was totally hooked from the start a fantastic book that I couldn't put down. Written entirely from the mind of Alex who was in a coma after a climbing accident ( or was it ) a truly brilliant read with a very emotional ending, thought provoking from start to finish.

This was such an interesting and captivating story. The plot is definitely unique, and I think this is why I enjoyed it so much. I also like a novel that is thought provoking, and there were a number of times in this book where I stopped to think about things. Emily Koch has done an amazing job with this wonderful piece of writing, and she has certainly captured my attention. Alex loved his rock climbing more than anything, but after a terrible accident, he ended up in hospital in a coma. However this wasn’t a normal coma, as Alex could hear and feel everything. He just couldn’t talk or move any part of his body. At one point he would have welcomed death, as he found it quite tough living in limbo. Alex had questions that he needed answers to, and it plagued him that he couldn’t remember how his accident happened. He didn’t know how long he had though, as the doctors were discussing with his family the possibility of stopping his treatment. If they decided to disconnect his feeding tube, then there really wasn’t much he could do about it. Hand down, this is a book worth adding to your reading list.

So pleased to have had the opportunity to read this edge of your seat novel! So refreshing to read a crime thriller that is totally different to any other.

This was a very thought provoking novel. A novel whereby Alex is in hospital after a climbing accident and is in a coma (PVS), on life support. The story is told through the mind of Alex, who can hear and feel others who are around him. A clever story whereby Alex pieces together a puzzle as to what happened whilst out climbing, who he could trust, his past and where did Bea who he loved, fit into this puzzle.

As i got nearer to finishing the book, I did start to wonder how it would all end. All i will say it had a wonderful ending.

It is hard to believe that this was a debut novel and cannot wait to read more. I highly recommend this book to all, especially if you enjoy this genre.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for sending me a copy of 'If I Die Before I Wake' and this is my honest review.

Still a fair few to go in my “Ones to Watch in 2018” feature and next up we have a tense and brilliantly edge of the seat psychological thriller – If I Die Before I Wake by Emily Koch.

Now this is one of those books that grips you from the outset to the point that you ignore everything else until you are done. Told entirely from the point of view of Alex, in a coma with everyone believing he is to all intents and purposes gone, he is still in there and can hear what’s going on around him and feel what is happening to him. He has had an accident – or was it? As we get drip fed snippets of information from those around him we come to realise that all is not as it seems. Possibly not even Alex himself..

What I loved about this one was the very strong emotional core Emily Koch brings to the storytelling, really digging into the trauma Alex suffers and how it affects his psyche. Torn between wanting to die and wanting to live, all the while trying to work out what the heck happened to him and why, you really feel for him, lying in that bed, unable to communicate – and even worse realising that the danger has not passed.

You also get a real feel for the characters around him – his Sister, Father, close friends and most of all his girlfriend Bea who is fighting a battle of her own – should she remain loyal or move on – as things progress you get to know them all well, even though you are only getting random snapshots.

The mystery element is brilliantly imagined and the plotting is excellent – there are twists along the way, emotional resonance to the haunting sense of loss and an ending that absolutely kills – one of those that will keep nagging at the edges of your mind for a long time afterwards.

Overall a really excellent, often nail biting, always engaging read and a page turning addition to the genre.

Recommended.

This was an incredibly addictive novel that I could not put down once started. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a thrilling page turner with fantastic characters