The Blackout

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an audiobook copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This book is really captivating as an audiobook. I found myself not wanting to stop listening as I desperately needed to know that Meg, the main character, was okay. Throughout the first half of the book, I had no idea where the different timelines were leading to plot wise and Sarah Goodwin did a great job of not revealing anything too soon. The book did drag on a bit after the big reveals about 2/3 through with the cat and mouse aspect becoming a bit repetitive.

The blurb of the book poorly describes this book. The plot line referred to isn’t the main plot of the book, and actually takes place before the majority of the book.

I really enjoyed this thriller (although the description says it's a locked room thriller and it absolutely isn't) which has some mystery elements to it, but is mostly a chase/escape story that relies heavily on action to keep the pace up and drive the story forwards. I think Sarah Goodwin writes this sort of peril storyline very well - I really enjoyed her novel Stranded too - but the more psychological thriller elements didn't really work so well for me. Without giving too much away, I couldn't really see how the first incident in the book had happened, or why - I never felt that it was properly explained and it didn't make much sense to me. But I really liked the cat-and-mouse chase elements of the story where Meg was attempting to outwit and escape the people who came for her.

I thought the narrator of the audiobook was very good too.

Really enjoyed this Audio book
It had lots of twists which is what I like in a good psychological thriller
When Meg and Cat are stranded after a night out they decide to walk home I don't want to spoil the story line but after listening to this you realise you need to be careful who you trust.

Slow to start with but picks up pace. I will certainly look out for more by this author .

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audio book.

The Blackout made an engaging audiobook that was easy to listen to and provided much appreciated entertainment and distraction from the daily grind!.

The story has 3 distinct timelines, the first starts with a girls night out - one of the women is drowning her sorrows on the anniversary of a close bereavement. The night out gets out of hand as the women have too much to drink and find themselves in danger, having no option other than to walk home....

It then cuts to the second timeline, this woman is living a secluded life in a remote and rural location, she has changed her identity and has a preoccupation with anonymity and personal safety.

As the book progresses we experience the fusion of these 2 timelines as we hear the full extent of what happened on that fateful night. A 3rd timeline comes into play, making everything that bit more clear, dark and twisty!

A good story, the book has elements of a 'cat and mouse' pursuit alongside a very decent backstory. The author does a good job of executing the district timelines to make the story easy to follow and flow well. The narrator brings the story to life with skill and certainly adds something to the work.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

The story line is brilliant no boring parts and kept me guessing to the end. Can't wait for the next one!'⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Blackout
Sarah Goodwin

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I loved this atmospheric, dark and twisty thriller which I just couldn't put down and raced to the end.

We follow Meg's story over a few different timelines which I thought added to the mystery.
It's clear that something from the past is haunting her and as the storylines unfold, things get more and more complex and it gets harder to work out who to trust.

First of all, I loved the setting and the atmosphere this created. Meg is staying in a ramshackle cottage on the edge of a cliff which has clearly seen better days and this really had me wondering why.
It was clear she was running from her past or hiding out and I really felt sorry for her.
When the storm hits and the blackout follows this really added to the tension and was a perfect fit for what was happening within the plot.

I spent the whole book chopping and changing whether I liked Meg or not. I can't really explain this too much as that would definitely give some major spoilers - but I absolutely loved this because it's not often I feel like this about a character - I'm generally a pretty good judge but as pieces of the story are revealed, my opinion changed. Even right up until the last page, the twists kept coming.

Even in the epilogue at the end we are left wondering - due to name changes and it being set many years later, it's unclear about who the narrator is and what happens next....

The audio narrator did a brilliant job at creating the right atmosphere and relaying the different personalities of the characters - it was a joy to keep coming back to listen during the day.


There were so many twists and "wow!" moments that made this a gripping and exciting read and I can't wait to explore more books by this author.



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Meg and Cat end up walking home after a night out they notice they are being followed by 2 men forced to run for their lives they hide in an abandoned house until the police show up to rescue them. They think that's it the night is over, but things are about to get much worse !
I enjoyed this story and wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I love an isolated setting and dual timeline, and this is delivered on the creepy factor. This would have been a 5 star for me, but the ending left me a bit confused. Maybe that's me being dumb. Definitely recommend for a fast thriller read.
Would also definitely recommend the audio. I listened to this on audio more than reading physical book as I found it engaging and easy to listen to.
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK Audio, Avon Books, and Sarah Goodwin for an advance copy of this book and audio in exchange for an honest review.

This is a standalone physiological novel set during a bkackiut. The atoey is told over multiple timelines which cime together nicely. The interwoven story compells you to carry on listening as you want to find out how things turn out
The narrator does q good job of different characters in places lacks la bit of emotion and tension which took me out of the story.. some of the plot feels a bit too far fetched but its essence is reality.
A good solid l4 star listen really quick

I listened to this as an audiobook and finished it within a few days - it really kept me interested and was full of suspense.

Meg and Cat are on a night out in Bristol when they run out of money to get home and are followed. Sally is living in Norfolk and keeping everyone at arms length when a storm causes a blackout. What happened on that night a year ago, and who is trying to find Sally in the blackout?

The narrative skips from a year ago to the night of the blackout, and I was kept guessing what would happen next. The blackout sections were hugely atmospheric and had Home Alone meets Scream vibes for part of it. The author did a great job at making me hate one of the characters and I liked that the main character was flawed too.

Dropped a star due to the ambiguity of the ending as I needed closure here!

My first Sarah Goodwin book, and I would definitely pick up another in the future.

I love a good stress-inducing novel and this was way up there in my list of hold-your-breath, heart in mouth books.
There seems to be a fashion at the moment for authors drip feeding the back story to the reader, and this is one of those books. A couple of twists along the way lead to your brain having to rework the information it has been given then a final twist shakes it all up again. A good stressful read.

My thanks to Netgalley for my opportunity to listen to the audio version of The Blackout. The narrator was great and there was only one occasion when I wasn't sure if Meg or Scarlet was talking.
With regards to the plot I think this at times went further than a psychological thriller and I almost gave up because I found it too bleak.
I persevered and I mostly found the story line gripping but I can't say I 'enjoyed' it. I found a lot to be too far fetched especially the police aspect, not because they are so respected but the fact this pair supported each other over multiple situations and 'got away' with so much. Craig's response to his crimes was chilling in the extreme and yet sadly, probably true in a world where women ao rarely feel safe.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending too. However, whilst I found the storyline very difficult I do find Sarah Goodwin's writing style excellent, her descriptions of the action were so good the scenes almost played out before my very eyes, which is probably why I found it such a difficult listen.
Overall if you love a thriller and are braver than me, you'll love The Blackout.

An extremely heartbreaking story of a young girl, from her pre-teen days through college to her life up to The Blackout. I know heartbreaking is an unusual way to describe a thriller, but it is truly what I felt throughout the story. The main character, Meg who narrates the story, is mourning the loss of her brother and hiding from life, throwing herself into work cutting hair and hanging out with her best friend, Cat. Meg's lack of nurturing from her mother makes her completely dependent on her brother, so his death is a prominent part of the story. Told through alternating timeframes with each one equally interesting, heartbreaking and scary! You can totally see all this really happening to someone in real life. The author wrote the plot in such detail that I felt like I was there seeing it all unfold, like watching a movie. The description of the crumbling sea cliff cottage makes you feel like you have seen it before.
I loved this book. Some may find it very descriptive, but I felt like it made the story so much better. If you are a fan of Simone St James, you will love this.
Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted ARC copy. All opinions are my own.