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Wednesday, January 16, 2019

No Exit

No Exit

No Exit was my first read of 2019 and wow! Did it deliver. This was a solid five star for me- I was pretty much hooked from the beginning and had to race through it, literally. Darby is a college student headed home to Utah to be with her dying mom over the Christmas break- she's trying to beat the weather but it doesn't look good, she's in the mountains of Colorado and pulls over at a rest stop. She doesn't really have a choice due to the weather and has a tremendous amount of guilt that she may not make it home in time. Right off the bat we sense that things are not right between her and her mom, and she's desperate to get home and make amends. 

Unfortunately that's the least of her problems as she soon discovers a child being held in a van in the parking lot. There's four people inside- but who's the kidnapper? Meanwhile a blizzard has closed the highway and the road crews aren't expected to reach them until morning. Yup, they are stuck. And one of them is a kidnapper. What happens from there is a dizzying race against time as Darby throws herself into a struggle to save a little girl- and herself- against an insidious opponent.  

This novel had me on the edge of my seat. Can I just say Darby is amazing? Totally a normal person but she keeps her cool when she has to and she never gives up- I loved that about her. The kidnapper meanwhile is horrifyingly evil and yet nuanced as well- the backstory we get just adds to the horror but at the same time you get the sense that there are people like that out there- and that may be the scariest part of all. A cat and mouse game develops between the kidnapper and Darby, and to say there are twists I didn't see coming would be an understatement. 

The rest area itself and the weather play a huge role as do the other people at the rest stop. And the little girl is no wilting flower either- she plays a surprisingly large role. There were a couple times I imagined maybe Darby was in the clear, but then something would happen and I'd be like noooo. This is literally a breakneck race against both time and weather, and I loved it every step of the way. I also liked that it was mostly realistic- it can be a fine line in stories like this where things can go off the rails really quick but here I felt everything worked from a realism standpoint. 

The author really threw me for a loop with the ending too, and it kinda bugged me because I didn't see it coming but all in all I'm really happy with the way it turned out. This is a total thrill ride- so much suspense- and I'll probably have a book hangover after this. Not just a hangover but more like a blackout- the kind where you wake up with your face half in a puddle and can't remember the last two days. This book is a tough act to follow.   

32 comments:

  1. I could really use a fun thriller about now so I may check this out. Thanks!! And Happy New Year :)
    Jen Ryland Reviews

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  2. This sounds amazing! I've seen this book around but didn't know what it was about. Love it when I don't want to put a book down, and this sounds like a nail-biter too! Wonderful review, Greg!

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  3. Oh WOW. Okay, this is definitely got to come up soon for me after your review and description of Darby!!

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  4. I'm not reading the review yet as I plan to read the book! It sounds like you loved it so I'm even keener to read it!

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  5. Nothing like starting the new year with a bang! I give 5 stars very, very rarely but strangely enough I almost always seem to have a five star read in January. Weird but I’m not questioning it! I just imagine the tension becoming almost unbearable in this one. Love the sound of Darby!

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    1. Right? And same here- I give very few 5 stars, but this one- no question!

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  6. How brilliant that your first book of the year was so brilliant. I can imagine this would be an incredibly tense thriller!

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    1. It was very tense! Wow I think I was on edge of my seat the whole time!

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  7. so glad your first read was a good one! This is a new author to me and I love the cover! Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Great review! I'm glad you enjoyed your first read of the year. I love books that keep me sat the edge of my seat as well. I will definitely be adding this to my TBR.

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    1. Than you! It's such a good thriller- and Darby is awesome. Hope you get a chance to read it

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  9. I can't wait to read this one!

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  10. You've sold me on this one! It sounds like a read and I love books that I just have to race through!

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  11. Sounds great! So glad you got to kick off 2019 strong!

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  12. It's so great when your first book of the year is amazing! I've already had a few DNFs, which is disappointing, but January has been a rough month in general. Our computer crashing has me so behind! I hope all of your books are as good as this one. :)

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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  13. Wow, this sounds fantastic! I'm glad your first book of the year was such a big hit.

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  14. That sounds really good. I love an ending like that.

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  15. Wow, a solid five star! I know you don't hand those out lightly. Now I'm really glad I added this one to my to-read list.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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  16. Why oh why didn't I know about this book before?! Sounds like a heart-stopping mystery/thriller/suspense and I've been loving reading these kind of books lately. Thanks for putting it on my radar. :)

    Jennilyn @ Rurouni Jenni Reads

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  17. I'm very into thriller this year! Must be because of all the audible daily deals are thrillers?? LOL Glad to hear this one is an "edge of the seat" one :)

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  18. WOW obviously I need this in my life. I LOVE when an ending is shocking, and the fact that you didn't want to put it down ever is a big deal too- I need a book like that! I am reading a "thriller" that isn't particularly thrilling at the moment, so I absolutely must read a good one. Great review!

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  19. Wow, what a great way to start the year! 5-star read right off the bat!

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  20. I love when the first book of the year ends up being such a hit. From what you've said about it this sounds like a rollercoaster ride and I would love it. On the edge of my seat both over if she makes it home in time but also to find out what happens with the little girl.

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  21. My first book of the year was a one star. 😝

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  22. Oooh, you know I've been in the thriller mood. Now I want this.

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  23. YAY---HAPPY DANCE!!! I am soooo happy this is as good as I thought it would be. Now to find the day to read it. That is my biggest problem right now. I can't wait. Great review and now you have me wanting to read this like now, now.

    Mary

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  24. AWESOME review! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it! I LOVED this as well! I could not stop reading!!!

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