“Two Years Ago. What she would never remember: their broken screams starting with I love… and I hate…, the sudden wrenching pull, the oh-no-this-is-happening-this-can’t-be-happening feeling of falling as the SUV rocketed off the road, the horrifying downward slope of the hillside in the headlights, his hands tight over hers on the steering wheel, the smashing thunder of impact, the driver’s-side airbag exploding in her face, the rolling, the lights dying, the unforgiving rock, and then the blow to the head that undid her and wiped her clean and made her new.”
Blame
By Jeff Abbott
An electrifying opening for a novel with plenty of twists. Jane Norton is driving with her friend when their car runs off a cliff. David doesn’t survive and Jane has lost all memory of the accident. Immediately following the accident everyone is sympathetic to Jane’s injuries but when a note is discovered, in Jane’s handwriting, stating that she wanted to die, the wave of sympathy turns and Jane is ostracized from the community.
Jane still lives next door to David’s parents but it is clear from any interactions she has with the family that they wish she didn’t live there and her high school friends have turned their backs on her. Jane wishes she could remember the details of the accident and what led to them being out on the road at night. She can’t imagine writing the note and much less wanting David to die.
As if that weren’t enough she is now being harassed by someone online claiming they know what happened and that someone will pay. Who is this poster calling themselves Liv Danger and what do they know? If only Jane could remember but she has her hands full trying to maintain her sanity.
Good pacing in this novel that made you want to keep turning the pages. There were a lot of characters that weren’t trustworthy but kept the reader guessing as to what their agenda could be. The only thing that detracted me a bit from the story line was that this story was set in Austin, Texas. Being that I live in Austin, made up streets and places stood out to me and seemed a bit jarring.
Source: Advance review copy
I enjoy books with an element of memory loss because it’s so relatable, isn’t it? Also, I love reading books set in Toronto when authors choose house numbers that don’t exist on streets that do exist. Because on occasion I do go looking (when it’s a convenient neighbourhood)! It’s the right combo of ficton/reality for me. Or, when they say apartment building at a known street corner with several buildings. Then I tend to think of that character/scene when I pass that area.
Untrustworthy characters always keep me guessing. Even if some streets are fictional, it pays to have recognizable locations. There is a certain pleasure of recognition and verisimilitude added to fictional stories in real places.
I’m with Jenclair regarding having a recognisable locations. Although I don’t mind a fictional name, it certainly adds some realism to the story especially if they’re so close to home.
This sounds so familiar … I am glad you enjoyed it! I find myself trying to track events in a novel when they take place somewhere very familiar to me. I remember reading one book that said it took an hour (driving) to get from one place to another when I know it takes six hours. A minor point, but it bugged me.
This sounds so good! I don’t know Austin well enough to be annoyed with the flaws you mention, so I’ll have to see about getting a copy of this.