BOOK REVIEW: The Escape Room by Megan Goldin @megangoldin @stmartinspress #theescaperoom #psychologicalthriller

Megan Goldin’s The Escape Room is the type of book that more than deserves every glowing review, every reader who calls it “unputdownable”, and every list who identifies it as a top-thriller of 2019. I absolutely could not tear myself away from this book despite the long list of things I had to do (work, sleep, eat, clean)! Truly, this is a book that you should not skip!

I love the way the book opens in the present time, with a glimpse of where the shocking, twisty story leads us. It was quite an opening scene—I was drawn right into the story! All I will say is the book opens with a security guard watching as an elevator in the building he thought he was alone in descends and the doors open. Chills!

About the Book

Told in alternate timelines, we weave towards finding out exactly what he might have seen when that elevator opened. In one timeline, four colleagues at prestigious financial firm Stanhope arrive for a meeting late in the day Friday. Distracted by outside life events, they get in the elevator hoping for a quick meeting. But when the elevator freezes and a chilling message comes up on the screen, the four realize that they are trapped in an escape room, and the only way to survive is to solve all of the clues.

In the other timeline, young Sara Hall is desperately searching for a job after graduating from her masters degree. As Sara begins work at Stanhope, we see her work insane hours, learn to dress the part, and fight for respect from her teams members. But how do you know who to trust in a place like Stanhope?

Back in the current time, the people in the escape room begin trying to solve the clues. But when they solve the first one, they realize their mistake. They did some bad things. Sara Hall may be dead, but someone knows that they did. And it may cost them their life if they don’t solve all of the clues.

How did Sara Hall die? What does it have to do with the escape room? And who knows their secret?

Reflection

I want to be careful with what I talk about so I don’t spoil this! My favorite chapters were the ones Sara narrated. It was fascinating to see Stanhope through her eyes and as she grew more engrained in the company culture. Sara was really a great character, and I found myself wondering how she died since we find out about it upfront! I always thing that technique works so well in books—we know the what but not the how.

I also wondered about each of the four in the elevator. We get to learn a lot about them from the events in the elevator, but also from Sara’s story. I kept wondering if they were always rotten or whether the highly competitive and cutthroat work environment made them that way? There’s another member of their team who you will meet as you get a bit further in the story and that is also a fascinating character! I won’t spoil it either way, but you’ll know who I mean when you start reading.

I want to cut this off before I spoil anything. Let’s just end with saying this book had me GLUED to the pages as I read. I couldn’t wait to keep reading, but I also didn’t want it to end! Make sure you add this to your summer reading list—it is phenomenal!

Thank you to St Martins Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.