Holly Seddon

Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon is a 2016 Ballantine Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Often times I roll my eyes at the cliché’s like “stunning debut”, because it’s been applied to so many sub-par books that are attempting to latch onto a popular trend. Currently, the psychological thriller is all the rage, and this book has been likened to the work of Tana French and Paula Hawkins, which is show more something that is becoming a bit of a pet peeve with me, since comparisons like these give the reader expectations that are not fair, are unrealistic, and paints the new author into a preconceived corner. So, I didn’t jump in with both feet expecting great things from this book, but instead approached it warily.

Thankfully, this book is one of those rare occurrences where the book actually lived up to the hype., but the book stands on its own merits, and doesn’t need to depend on comparisons the writing styles of other authors.

One small nitpick thing I feel compelled to point out, is that while the story does have an atmosphere conducive to a psychological thriller, it comes up a little short in that area. The sharper focus is more sharply on solving what amounts to a cold case. What makes this one stand out, is the unlikely way the case suddenly finds itself under so much scrutiny by introducing us to Alex, a journalist, a woman hanging on by a thread, a raging alcoholic, close to drinking herself to death, who latches onto Amy’s situation like a lifeline.

Fifteen years ago, Amy and Jacob were a couple, but Amy went missing, and is later found half dead. All these years, Amy has lain in a coma, but is now breathing on her own, showing promising signs of brain activity. When Alex comes to the hospital on an assignment, she recognizes Amy, and feels compelled to find out who is responsible for putting her in this condition.

Alex deals with having thrown away her marriage, her career, and her health, all while making some kind of connection with Amy, which leads to Jacob who still visits Amy every chance he gets.

Jacob is struggling with his marriage to Fiona, who is eight months pregnant and totally in the dark about Jacob and Amy. In order for Jacob to embrace his future completely with Fiona, he must put the demons of the past to rest once and for all.

Thus begins the unlikely partnership between Alex and Jacob, who team up to find Amy’s attacker after these years. The layers of the onion begin peeling back as Amy’s father, stepfather and old high school friends are questioned, and Jacob begins to realize things were never the way he remembers them, and that he didn’t know Amy, or anyone else, as well as he thought…

The characters in this novel are well drawn, realistic, and compelling. Alex, in particular, is portrayed in such a raw and emotional way, highlighting the all too real struggles of an alcoholic and all that this woman lost as a result of this disease. Naturally, it’s up to Alex to either live or die, fight or give up, and is so many ways Amy’s case is her saving grace.

Jacob is an enigma, keeping secrets from his wife, making me worry about why he felt the need to do that. How did he come to this junction in the road, and why isn’t he fighting harder to live in the here and now?

The case is a puzzler, with many suspects, lots of dark secrets and lies, and unsavory characters. I have to confess, though, that I did have the whodunit part figured out, by three quarters of the way through, but, I didn’t understand the whys and wherefores, and I was so emotionally invested in the characters I could hardly stand to put the book down.

The story became more than just a mystery, it was about restitution, retribution, and finding peace, a purpose, and freedom from the strain of guilt and regret.

Overall, this is an impressive, deeply compelling, and powerful story, moving and intense, and okay… it was a stunning debut.

4.5 stars show less

I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the unexpected protagonist/heroine. Alex is a former newspaper columnist whose alcoholism has gotten the better of her. I don't (just) mean she drinks too much; this is not a charming quirk at which the reader is encouraged to smile indulgently.

As I'm writing this, I'm reminded of the protagonist in [b:The Girl on the Train|22557272|The Girl on the Train|Paula Hawkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421709869s/22557272.jpg|41107568], who also show more had a fairly cripping alcohol problem that had cost her a spouse and a job. But where TGotT's protagonist passively slipped along in an alcoholic haze, riding the train back and forth twice daily simply because she had nothing better to do, Alex's struggle in this book is, well, much more of a struggle. She has to get all of her work done (she's freelance, now) in the morning hours because she starts drinking at noon--and doesn't stop until she passes out. But she's practical about the consequences of her drinking; she always starts with a glass of mineral water so she doesn't get dehydrated, and she has to change her sheets nearly every morning. (How many books have you read where the main character has to struggle with incontinence?) Her alcoholism isn't sexy or funny or anything like the rueful party-and-hangover memories of college. It's ugly. And against the backdrop of that ugliness, Alex's desire to learn more about Amy -- a girl in a sort of persistent vegetative state following an abduction many years before -- takes on a luminous, inspiring quality. Though the plot is superficially about uncovering the identity of Amy's attacker, it's Alex's stubbornness, her need to finish this story, that kept me riveted. It was Alex I was rooting for.

I don't want to short the mystery, though. It was nicely developed, with a sprinkling of realistic suspects and motives that kept me guessing, and an ultimate solution that was perfectly tailored. And the interstitial chapters from Amy's perspective -- Amy, who doesn't fully realize what's going on -- were unlike anything I've read before. They could easily have veered off-course and become maudlin or worse, but instead seemed realistic and sensitive.

In short, this is well worth a read if you like mysteries with a bit of thrill and a lot of human interest.


I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Exepcted publication 2016. show less

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. This did not effect my opinion of the book, or the review itself.

Amy Stevenson has been in a coma for fifteen years, the result of a vicious attack that occurred when she was a teenager. The perpetrator was never caught, and though Amy's scans still register brain activity, she has not been able to communicate any information about what happened to her.

Alex Dale is a reporter who has fallen from grace. show more Marriage over, job gone, she discovers Amy in a hospital ward while there to interview a doctor.

Alex begins to investigate, sitting by Amy's bedside hoping for discernible responses, tracking down the people from Amy's past. But can she possibly hope to bring a suspect to justice when the victim is trapped in silence?

The thing I loved most about this book was how it kept me guessing. I kept thinking I had it solved, and then kept being proved wrong. I never correctly guessed the ending, and Seddon had me on a roller coaster ride throughout the entire story.

The amount of different characters who get their own chapters, as well as the back and forth of what year the action takes place, can get a bit confusing, especially in an ebook format. But Seddon more than makes up for that with a gripping, well-written psychological thriller that packs a punch. show less

You’re chilling in South England, wine in hand, when your phone blares—
“Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.”

That’s the wild, ticking-clock energy that “59 Minutes” flings in your face!

Carrie is in full-on mama bear mode, all adrenaline and heartache, and you can feel the desperation pulsing off the page. Frankie is out there trying to survive a vacation from hell with a baby on board. And then show more there’s the mysterious matriarch. She’s basically a survival ninja, pulling every move to keep her teenage daughter safe. These women are fierce and unforgettable.

The plot zips by like your heart after a few espressos, but it’s the emotional gut-punches that really hooked me. What would you do if you had an hour left? I’d totally panic. My brain would probably short-circuit. I’d be lucky to find my shoes, let alone hatch a survival plan.

Some moments are a little much, but I was having way too much fun to care. Seddon keeps you guessing and checking the clock, even if you’re just curled up on your couch.

This book yanked me out of my comfort zone. I hope I never live through anything like this, but OMG, I loved reading about it! 4.5 stars from me.

First Holly Seddon book for me. Now I’m eyeing her backlist.

Thanks to the author and Atria Books for providing this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#59Minutes #HollySeddon #AtriaBooks #NetGalley #CapCut show less