Review - Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

Title:  Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

Author:  Lisa Unger

Publisher:   Park Row

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Audio ALC

Narrator:  Vivienne Leheny

Length:  11 hrs 34 mins

No. of Pages:   384

Date of Publication:   February 25, 2025

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

An extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this riveting new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger

When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?

Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was intended to be.

Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

A reality show unlike any other unfolds. A million dollars awaits the winner of an extreme hide-and-seek game. Amidst the game of survival, the contestants face not only each other but also a brutal snowstorm.

Among the players is Adele, a single mother of two teenagers, abandoned by her husband, a man who stole millions, and bankrupted her family and countless others. Maverick Dillon, an extreme adventurer, should be a formidable opponent. However, they soon discover that things are not as they seem.

Danger and unexpected twists challenge the contestants, pushing them to the brink of life and death. It remains uncertain whether all the players will emerge victorious. Several other players resort to any means necessary to win, even crossing moral boundaries.

Vivienne Lehaney’s narration brings this fast-paced story to life, although careful listening is required when the point of view shifts. Mav’s exceptional survival skills make the challenges captivating as he faces Adele and the other contestants.

As a fan of reality shows of this nature, I found Lisa Unger’s latest book to be a riveting read. 

Many thanks to Park Row and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of seventeen novels, including THE STRANGER INSIDE. With millions of readers worldwide and books published in twenty-six languages, Lisa Unger is widely regarded as a master of suspense. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations, an honor held by only a few writers including Ruth Rendell and Agatha Christie. The Edgar-nominated UNDER MY SKIN is also a finalist for the prestigious Hammett Prize, and the Macavity Award for Best Novel. And the original short story THE SLEEP TIGHT MOTEL is a #1 bestselling single.

Unger's critically acclaimed books have been voted "Best of the Year" or top picks by the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, IndieBound and many others. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

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