OFFICIAL DISCUSSION: SOPHIE MCKENZIE'S COSE MY EYES

Hello everyone and welcome to the official discussion thread for Sophie McKenzie's CLOSE MY EYES. I'll be posting questions to keep the discussion going as we go along, but I would love to hear your thoughts at first! Later on, Sophie herself will be answering your questions, so I've created a separate thread for that so no one feels like they have to constrain themselves here.

I'll start with a question that's pretty general in case not everyone has finished reading yet. (I REALLY want to discuss the last page, but I feel like we should wait before getting into spoilers that extreme and that far along!)

Have you read any of Sophie's other work? How do you think this is different or similar?

Put "Blood Ties" and "Blood Ransom" on my TBR..This is my First By"Sophie McKenzie"

It was my first, too, Vt.

This one is really interesting, I think, in tone and stuff. I am not so used to first-person thrillers!

Was looking forward to receiving Close My Eyes today,at the PO.Delivery Tomorrow..Trying to think of a First Person Thriller that I might have read..A few maybe come to mind...But not positive,thinking ;)

I can't really remember any world-sized first-person thrillers, but a few smaller worlds blowing apart, I can. The kind of personal "You've got ten minutes before your family is killed" psycho revenge thing.

Of course, this one isn't really like that at all--no ticking clock, per se--so is it a thriller in your view? I can see it both ways.

This is my first Sophie McKenzie read. I will finish today/tonight. I am so anxious to find out what is going on!

"Three Seconds" Roslund & Hellstrom
Could Be Considered First Person Thriller...Any Thoughts?

This will be my first book by the author. Always fun to find new authors.

@VTcozy didn't read Three Seconds, but just went to look at the description. 2 main male characters are mentioned there--is it mainly in one of their points of view the whole time, or does it switch from 1st to 3rd?

What did you guys think of the relationship between Geniver and Art? Did it seem realistic? What kind of picture do you get of the way their lives were going before the strange woman showed up at the door?

Well, since Gen was in sort of a state of suspended animation, it seemed fine. Until the lady at the door gave her a nudge awake...

Just getting started - enjoying it so far. First book by this author.

My first book by SOPHIE MCKENZIE. I really enjoyed it although I saw part of the ending coming.

I think they were like a lot of married couples who seeem to go on auto-pilot after a few years. Such a huge betrayal of trust though. I think Art felt he was "protecting" Gen but that was no excuse for the deception. If there is no trust in a relationship it is doomed.

I kinda thought they were on their way to a breakup. I mean...how far from her does he have to be not to notice that she doesn't want to do the IVF thing all over again...or he doesn't care that she doesn't? She talks a lot about how much they love each other, but it doesn't seem to show up in their actions.

Anyone can ask questions, too..don't limit it to just my questions!

But here are a couple of things I'll toss out --

I found her relationship with Hen a little hard to understand (is Hen's real name ever mentioned? I might have missed it but it seemed such an odd nickname to me!) because they're supposedly best buddies and yet Hen doesn't come clean about the loan, which is so trivial, even though she knows it's upsetting Gen. What did you think of "Hen and Gen?" Do you have friends you feel this way about?

I was also troubled about Gen's relationship with Morgan--and that's before all the stuff that gets revealed later on! It definitely seems as if Morgan's goal is to make Gen feel like a frump. I do understand not wanting to make trouble with the in-laws (oh, boy do I understand that!) but I wonder if that's all that's at work in their friendship. Does Gen maybe *like* being poked at? Do you think she feels guilty about things in her life and so may encourage Morgan's poor treatment?

This is my first Sophie McKenzie book, and I will definitely be reading more of her books. And all I can say about the last page is WOW! It was obvious that Gen and Art had drifted apart over the years. I think causing the two to be blind to the other''s faults, wishes, transgressions, and so on. I wasn't too pleased with Gen's friends, but on the other hand if Gen let her relationships slide to the side just like her marriage then it's not surprising the way Hen behaves. And Morgan gave me an uneasy feeling from the beginning.

I wasn't lucky enough to sign up in time to get a book. But I will be getting the book when it comes out and be able to discuss details. But in the meantime I will be following the discussion.

Hi Clare2e...For me Piet Hoffman was 70% of his POV in the First Person of Course..And Just as Crucial Is Detective Inspector Ewert Grens. Very Intense Book..And Very Current considering most of the events are still taking place...I hope you get to read 3 Seconds..I am still waiting for Close My Eyes to Arrive...Too late to sign up...Did find an ARC online...Very excited that CE is doing this and hopefully Other BookClubs in the future...

This was the first book by Sophie that I've read. I would try some of her other work.

It did seem like their marriage was like walking on egg shells. Jen really did not seem to be actively engaged in the marriage and Art seemed to have lost himself in his work and his company.

I found the first person pov interesting. From the time Lucy O'Donnell showed up at the door - I found myself putting my self in Jen's shoes and asking myself what would I do? How would I handle the situation/clue?

I agree - -Morgan also had me thinking from the beginning - there is more here than what Jen is seeing.

Definitely! I agree that it seemed Gen did not want to "rock the boat" with Morgan but it would be a little disturbing to me if my husband allowed his family to treat mein a similar manner!

It must have been very difficult to be around Jen - and even though whenever anyone mentioned something that was a trigger for "upsetting" her - Jen was quick to say it was alright. Do you think that Jen had a different self-image of herself to others than how others saw her?
Do you think that Hen kept up her "friendship" because Art would "pressure" her and Hen felt guilty?
I know many times she thought how pitiful she was but there were times when she tired to appear "like everyone else."

They say the subconscious mind works in funny ways - do you think that Jen's dreaming and constant thoughts of "Beth" was her mind telling her that her child was alive? Do think that subconsciously she might have overheard/remembered something during the birth and immediate aftermath that triggered her having the dreams/thoughts?

I assume that Hen is short for Henrietta.

I enjoyed this book. In tone it reminded me a lot of Sophie Hannah. It also reminded me of Sophie Hannah in that none of the characters seemed to be able to communicate with each other. I don't know if it is part of the whole "stiff upper lip" thing, or if it just lends itself to suspense.

#24 by @bookmuse56> I totally agree that it would be hard to be around Jen. But you would think people would relax a bit after eight years! I mean, I know she kept trying to have a kid, but doesn't it seem like she would at least have learned how to fake it a bit better?

I don't know about Hen and Jen's friendship. They didn't seem to be very close, for all Jen kept saying Hen was her best friend.

This is the first book of hers' that I have read

They were just going through the motions as it were. Many relationships don't survive a still birth, especially if they don't get pregnant quickly. They were still together, which speaks to a strong love match, but Gen was not happy and Art was busy.

It seemed to me that Gen was not dealing with life anymore. She wanted her baby, and the depression the reported death caused remained untreated until Lucy and her husband later shook up her world. They feed her reported delusion. By this time, most everyone else had written Gen off as "touched" and unbalanced.
I didn't like Morgan. She is one of those "perfect" people who is always judging everyone else by some high standards, which of course no one meets. That she turns out to be just as crazy as Gen is seen as is the way these unbending souls end up. I am sad with the way poor Ed got twisted in all this. Morgan was not a nice person.

Oh, of course, Henrietta! I am such a dunderhead. I should have figured that one out.

#31 by @susanbeamon> Yeah, I felt sorry for Ed. Although I didn't think he was portrayed particularly realistically--maybe it was just because i didn't see enough of him? I'd have liked to spend more time with that part of the family.

I totally agree that Morgan is very judgmental. I think there's "one like that" in every family. Don't you?

#21 by @bookmuse56>

"I found myself putting my self in Jen's shoes and asking myself what would I do? How would I handle the situation/clue?"

What would you have done differently, do you think? Would you have taken the same paths she did? I don't think I could have resisted going to meet Lucy. It would have been too tempting, no matter what people said to me. But I might have insisted on dragging someone else along.

I'm not sure I would have gone nearly 8 years as numb as Gen is described as being. She went to therapy briefly, but it seems that it was a bad fit and she never tried again. Since the stillbirth effected her enough to make her stop writing, I'm surprised no one kept on her about it. Instead she is almost abandoned by everyone, and left vulnerable to a potential con artist. Lucy could have been somebody out to capitalize on a tragedy. It's a sign of just how alone Gen feels that she met with Lucy by herself.

While I understand Jen was in a horrible suspended state for the past 8 years - I too could not resist meeting with Lucy but my cynical side says I would have hired a private investigator.

OK, so let's talk about the end. What did you think of the epilogue? C'mon, give!

I am not sure about anyone else but I was not surprised about the ending. While the short italicized excerpts were few - there were definite hints that the child was being brainwashed/trained to do harm to anyone who harmed his "mother".

I thought it was a WOW way to end it, but I didn't take it as being as menacing as it was sad.

I thought the ending was punchy, but I wasn't sure I believed that a kid of that age would be so influenced. Do you think it would last all those years?

I read the first chapter and was in shock at the last page. What a great first chapter!

Just got my book today and I am finished two chapters and I am looking forward to finding out what is going on with Gen and Art and what happened to their baby, Beth. Back to my reading because I really don't want to see any spoilers!

While I have mentioned that the ending was not a surprise to me - one of the "disturbing" lingering thoughts for me is how what seemed like an innocent act during teenage years had a lasting effect and destroyed and/or played havoc in so many lives.

I read more today. I just got to the part where Gen watched the video with Lorcan. Such a fast paced read.

Pen, it really does go quickly!!

#43 by @bookmuse56> I think that although it might have seemed innocent, there are such strong societal taboos against incest that even if the characters weren't already a little damaged--and it seems clear that she already was a bit nuts--the act would weigh heavily on the mind as you aged. Does that make sense?

Argh!! Dumb stuff - I 'misplaced' my password and then couldn't get back to this discussion page! Will catch up on the comments~~

"First"and Foremost..Even The slightest hint would not be fair to post if you read 3 Seconds..I hope you do...

CME Friends...Your thoughts have not Spoiled Anything for me...Late to The Party...Susan

Well, I just purchased the book so I am way behind - I will start tonight and see if I can catch up. Looking forward to being part of this book discussion group.

I finished the book and loved it. It was a page turner. I tried not to rush through it. Lots of twists and turns.

Yes, I agree that there is much societal taboos against incest which is why the two were never able to resolve/talk about the issues they had with it. When I said what seemed innocent I meant that because they were not "full" brother and sister and did not grow up as such that they were exploring their attraction but then reality set in. But yes, she was a little crazy. I often say that the hardest job in the world is being a parent and raising your child as it was their father that greatly shaped how they turned.

Well, I am up to Chapter 8 and liking it so far. I was blown away at the revelation at the end of Chapter 1!! The relationship between Art and Gen doesn't ring true to me.....it seems like they are just going through the motions. Not a fan of Morgan, something not quite right there, I'm thinking.

Now, Lorcan has entered the picture. I do find him interesting and I like the interaction currently going on between him and Gen. Finally, a relationship that seems genuine, at least on the surface.

Eager to see what is going to happen......

Chatty_Cathie,
I agree Chapter 1 had quite an ending. It really hooked me into the book. Eager is a good description of how I felt while reading this book.

#53 by @Chatty_Cathie>
More than anything else, the fact that she grabs on to Lorcan so quickly showed me how much her marriage had deteriorated.

I finished the book! Wow, that was some twisted tale. I did figure out that Morgan was the "bad guy" and that she appeared to have more than sisterly love for Art but, wow, I did not see that whole twisted plot coming. She was some kind of crazy - the way she shaped that poor little boy, who she supposedly loved was heart wrenching. The ending was so disturbing - and the way it was left, I was wondering if there will be another book with these characters.

Okay, just read a very interesting review by Pop Culture Nerd of the title, and her observations may be spoiler-y, but she's definitely onto something BIG. Something so clear that now I see it, I'm kicking myself for not seeing it!

http://popculturenerd.com/2013/07/29/book-review-close-my-eyes-by-sophie-mckenzi...

Yes, wondering also! That is why is good to "discuss" books.

Agree the review by Pop Culture Nerd was very interesting. The premise and the beginning of the book were intriguing, so I initially couldn't stop reading. However, events were predictable and I was disappointed in it overall. I kept waiting for either something unexpected to happen or for the characters to develop more depth, but that did not happen. I have not read any of the author's previous works, but know this is her first adult novel. Ultimately I felt that although the subject matter was not appropriate for young adults, the level of writing and story development were.

I think more people need to be open that YA/Adult Novels Now have a Very fine line between the so called 2 Genres...I like that New Younger Authors that are so talented are taking that Leap...Only on Chapter 4 had some other books to finish,Impressed with Sophie's writing and Subject

On Chapter 10,Disturbing is A Sign for me that I will be reading more of Sophie McKenzie. At this rate I should finish this week..Started a Rhys Bowen book for Balance,a Fine Writer as well..

Rhys Bowen is great...and definitely not as weird as Mackenzie, so a nice balance. I like to have a couple books going at once myself.

Definitely need the Balance as you know..Going to continue with "The First Grave on The Right" Series Darynda Jones Author...Need a little UF/Para.Loved the 1st book..

I haven't read those! I keep meaning to. So many books, so little time.

The Darynda Jones books are great. I haven't read Rhys Bowen. I do like to have a mix of books to read.

Now I am wondering,excited to find out more Chapter18.Playing out scenarios in my head..I read early AM..Looking over my Books and Nook..Which one to read next..We are fortunate to have so many choices, Thinking maybe "Necessary Lies" Diane Chamberlain or "Raylan" Really Miss "Justified" Elmore Leonard..And "The Wrong Girl"Hank Phillippi Ryan in Sept...

I miss Justified, too! Love that show. Have you read the Longmire books by Craig Johnson?

I love Justified and Longmire. I read the first Longmire book by Craig Johnson and enjoyed it.

I too am looking forward to reading "The Wrong Girl".

CME was Wonderful.Very glad you introduced us to Sophie McKenzie.Will be reading her books again..Especially since I read she has a new Book Coming out...Looking Forward to The Next CE Book Club...

I have one Longmire Book "A Serpents Tooth" TBR Book.Excellent Show...

Hi...Do I need to read "The Other Woman" First?

Some "Justified Spoilers" out there..I just delete them...Of Course Laura knows The Scoop ;) pen 21

Wanted to say Hi to Muse..I remember you from FirstLook..