Stay Awake: a murder suspect with no memory of the crime

Stay Awake  by Megan Goldin is a psychological thriller as Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no clue how she got there or where she was. When she is dropped off at her New York City brownstone, a stranger answers and informs her she no longer lives there. As she leaves, she realizes she doesn’t have her phone and her hands are covered in black ink. Messages scribbled like graffiti telling her to STAY  AWAKE.  Her last memory is from two years ago when she was living with her best friend, Dr. Amy Decker, dating a new man, Marco, and has a thriving career as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now she’s lost, disoriented and unsure where to turn and who to trust. At the same time, police detectives are investigating the brutal murder of an unknown man and their lone clue is the fuzzy security camera image of a woman leaving the building. Is Liv connected to the murder? Is there someone who is trying to make sure she doesn't remember anything? 

After reading Ms. Goldin’s The Night Swim (2020), I was excited at the chance to read Stay Awake. Right away, Stay Awake reminded me of Christopher Nolan’s cult classic movie, Memento (2000) and the memory loss of 50 First Dates (2004). Told between the present and the events from two years ago, the reader is taken on a roller coaster of twists and turns. It was a fast paced story as Liv is an unreliable narrator as she can’t remember anything from the last two years and she is afraid to fall asleep. I enjoyed Detective Darcy Halliday who wasn't ready to make snap judgments. She knows there’s something about the evidence that doesn’t make sense. Stay Awake wasn’t as thought provoking as The Night Swim but it was as attention gripping. About two-thirds into the story, I had a feeling about who the killer was and even though I had a clue, the reveal was thrilling. Overall, I enjoyed Stay Awake and look forward to future books by Megan Goldin. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, I recommend Stay Awake. 

Stay Awake is available August 9, 2022 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Gone Girl: secrets and lies

Gone Girl is a 2012 best seller by Gillian Flynn which was turned into a 2014 film starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry. The book explores to the two sides to every story. Told in three parts, the story gives the present day events as well as flashback leading to the present as told in Amy’s diary.

Nick Dunne wakes on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary and soon discovers that his wife, Amy, is missing. He finds the house ransacked and chores left in process of being completed. He calls the cops and waits for them. When the cops arrive, they find his behavior suspicious as he doesn’t try to contact any of their friends or family looking for his wife. Through Amy’s diary entries, we see how they met and their early marriage in New York City until layoffs and family illness takes them to Nick’s hometown in Missouri. Nick soon discovers blue envelopes with clues written by Amy, at first he thinks it’s some sort of romantic anniversary scavenger hunt but as the evidence mounts against Nick, he realizes that something more sinister is at work. Did Nick kill Amy? Where did she go? Is someone playing a sick game of cat and mouse? Will Amy ever return home?

Gone Girl is definitely a different story of who done it. As the book progresses, I started to question Nick’s innocence then I didn't then back and forward. When the truth behind Amy’s disappearance is revealed it was a big shock! It had a nice twist which left me feeling sad and angry at Nick and Amy at the same time. It is a story about secrets, lies and revenge. I can’t really reveal too much for those who haven’t read it. I would ruin the shocking twist. However, I highly recommend Gone Girl for those who love a mystery which leave you turning the pages to discover the truth. I am also looking forward to seeing the film to see have it compares to the book.