Liv Reese finds herself in a taxicab heading to her apartment in Brooklyn. When she arrives, hoping to find her roommate Amy, there are strangers living there. She has no phone, handbag or wallet - only a wad of cash. And Liv is in possession of a bloody knife which she disposes of. She falls asleep in a park and then heads to her office where she is a writer for a trendy magazine. Things are not the same as when Liv left the office the day before. And on her knuckles reads in pen: "STAY AWAKE". Below it reads: "WAKE UP". When a man is found stabbed the night before, his murder is all over the news and Liv wonders if perhaps she is to blame. Even though she has no memory of anything that happened before she woke up.
Told in the present and two years in the past, Stay Awake is a highly enjoyable and satisfying thriller. Author Megan Goldin has skillfully created a harrowing reality for Liv, who loses her short-term memory every time she falls asleep. Liv can't trust anyone and soon the police are looking for her including detective Darcy Holliday, a very appealing character who I hope pops up in a future book. This is such a clever and creative story - fast-paced and filled with suspense. And I loved that it took place throughout New York City. A strong follow up to The Night Swim, which was another solid read.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Stay Awake in advance of its publication.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Mystery / Thriller.
Publication Date: August 9, 2022.
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