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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
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More reviews like this one can be found on my blog, CoffeeCocktailsandBooks
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Review
I want to preface my review by saying, I didn’t read the synopsis. I seldom do for thrillers as I never want to risk anything being given away.
That being said, I was distinctly disappointed at the lack of escape room from this book. I LOVE escape rooms and I thought the movie from earlier this year was *okay,* but I was really excited to see this trend brought into the book world. Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the story, but it just didn’t go ANYTHING like what I thought I was getting into.
—>characters<—
Sara Hall – The fresh face of Stanhope learning the politics of the office.
Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam – Highly competitive members on Stanhope willing to put just about everything on the line for their success.
–>plot<–
Told in dual perspectives, this book follows Sara as she is acclimated to the Stanhope and thrust into the competition. Sara finds herself financially stable, yet working insane hours to meet the demand of the location. Sara befriends Lucy, a socially awkward girl (later learning that she’s on the ASD spectrum) who is the brains behind the Stanhope team. Lucy and Sara are not to disclose their friendship at work, due to Lucy not wanting it out in the open. As the book goes on, Sara learns more about the cost of the job than she expected.
The other perspective is that of Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam in the elevator. They are told they must attend a team-building workshop and arrive at a worksite after hours. All hesitant to participate, the four agree to show up as they think it’s what’s needed to advance their careers. Once in the elevator, they’re brought to the 70th floor before the elevator’s lights turn off, heat is cranked, and all cell reception is non-existent. With nothing but a cryptic clue as to why they’re there, the four must solve the clues and take some skeletons out of their closet to survive.
Like I said, this book did not do what I was expecting it to do at all, but boy was I on the edge of my seat. Learning more about the slimy underbelly of this corporate company and watching these characters throw their peers off the rungs to climb the ladder was so compelling. As someone that’s currently strapped for cash, watching people literally kill themselves for 6-figure bonuses is quite compelling.
This book does discuss some dark topics including suicide, murder, sexual assault/harassment, drug use, death of a parent, chronically ill parent, if any of these topics are things you’ve experienced, go into this book with caution.
Final Thoughts
Escape room was not about an escape room. However, it was a raw look at the skeezy side to corporate jobs and how much people really will give up to be on top. While I thought the ending was a bit lack-luster, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book and it is one I will still recommend to others. It just missed the 4-star mark for me but was a wild ride and quick read nonetheless. Oh and the audiobook is a great way to consume this story! It really adds to the suspense!
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More reviews like this one can be found on my blog, CoffeeCocktailsandBooks
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*Huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.*
Review
I want to preface my review by saying, I didn’t read the synopsis. I seldom do for thrillers as I never want to risk anything being given away.
That being said, I was distinctly disappointed at the lack of escape room from this book. I LOVE escape rooms and I thought the movie from earlier this year was *okay,* but I was really excited to see this trend brought into the book world. Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the story, but it just didn’t go ANYTHING like what I thought I was getting into.
—>characters<—
Sara Hall – The fresh face of Stanhope learning the politics of the office.
Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam – Highly competitive members on Stanhope willing to put just about everything on the line for their success.
–>plot<–
Told in dual perspectives, this book follows Sara as she is acclimated to the Stanhope and thrust into the competition. Sara finds herself financially stable, yet working insane hours to meet the demand of the location. Sara befriends Lucy, a socially awkward girl (later learning that she’s on the ASD spectrum) who is the brains behind the Stanhope team. Lucy and Sara are not to disclose their friendship at work, due to Lucy not wanting it out in the open. As the book goes on, Sara learns more about the cost of the job than she expected.
The other perspective is that of Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam in the elevator. They are told they must attend a team-building workshop and arrive at a worksite after hours. All hesitant to participate, the four agree to show up as they think it’s what’s needed to advance their careers. Once in the elevator, they’re brought to the 70th floor before the elevator’s lights turn off, heat is cranked, and all cell reception is non-existent. With nothing but a cryptic clue as to why they’re there, the four must solve the clues and take some skeletons out of their closet to survive.
Like I said, this book did not do what I was expecting it to do at all, but boy was I on the edge of my seat. Learning more about the slimy underbelly of this corporate company and watching these characters throw their peers off the rungs to climb the ladder was so compelling. As someone that’s currently strapped for cash, watching people literally kill themselves for 6-figure bonuses is quite compelling.
This book does discuss some dark topics including suicide, murder, sexual assault/harassment, drug use, death of a parent, chronically ill parent, if any of these topics are things you’ve experienced, go into this book with caution.
Final Thoughts
Escape room was not about an escape room. However, it was a raw look at the skeezy side to corporate jobs and how much people really will give up to be on top. While I thought the ending was a bit lack-luster, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book and it is one I will still recommend to others. It just missed the 4-star mark for me but was a wild ride and quick read nonetheless. Oh and the audiobook is a great way to consume this story! It really adds to the suspense!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're going in expecting escape room action, don't bother. There's just enough to keep you hooked along but never quite sticks the landing it seems to be slowly drifting towards.
I was really wanting more from this book, but it just didn’t come together for me. It’s told from differing POVs, the elevator victims and Sara’s. I was always looking forward to reading the Elevators POV, but it just didn’t get that exciting. Sara had a great backstory and I enjoyed reading her chapters. The plot is unique but the execution is lacking.
The other characters were all horrible, but I’m pretty sure that’s what the author wanted. They made me so angry that I was looking forward to seeing them being “stuck” in the elevator.
The downfall of this book was the ending for me. It was really unbelievable. Sara went through so many life changes in the last 30 pages that it wasn’t realistic. I also thought the author could have played a bit more with the “escape room” plot.
Read if you like
The other characters were all horrible, but I’m pretty sure that’s what the author wanted. They made me so angry that I was looking forward to seeing them being “stuck” in the elevator.
The downfall of this book was the ending for me. It was really unbelievable. Sara went through so many life changes in the last 30 pages that it wasn’t realistic. I also thought the author could have played a bit more with the “escape room” plot.
Read if you like
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.75/5
I have heard nothing about this and no one talking about it, and I don’t know why!!!! I didn’t expect most of these twists and I was flipping invested to the very end!!! I didn’t know I needed a corrupt business style escape room story (with a lot of character backstories), wow!
I have heard nothing about this and no one talking about it, and I don’t know why!!!! I didn’t expect most of these twists and I was flipping invested to the very end!!! I didn’t know I needed a corrupt business style escape room story (with a lot of character backstories), wow!
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin is a slow-burn thriller I really enjoyed. The book is strongly character-based which allows the simple plot to show the depth of each character, Vincent, Jules, Sam, and Sylvie, who the reader comes to despise even while rooting for them.
The story is one of revenge, deception, backdoor deals, Wall Street intrigue in a world many hope to inhabit because of its wealth and decadence, but one I find distasteful.
The construction of the novel with its dual time lines and alternating POV kept me engagd solidly from beginning to end and made me want to know more, even when I thought I had it figured out.
I recommend The Escape Room for lovers of thrillers and revenge stories. They will not be disappointed.
The story is one of revenge, deception, backdoor deals, Wall Street intrigue in a world many hope to inhabit because of its wealth and decadence, but one I find distasteful.
The construction of the novel with its dual time lines and alternating POV kept me engagd solidly from beginning to end and made me want to know more, even when I thought I had it figured out.
I recommend The Escape Room for lovers of thrillers and revenge stories. They will not be disappointed.