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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Confessions on the 7:45
4 Stars
A chance encounter with a stranger on a train changes Selena Murphy's life forever. After the woman, Martha, confesses to an affair with her employer, Selena reciprocates and explains that she suspects her husband of sleeping with the nanny. The women part ways and Selena puts the episode behind her until the nanny disappears. As the police investigate, the façade of Selena's perfect life begins to crumble, and she is forced to confront the truth about her past and her future.
The narrative is presented from the perspectives of several different characters, but mainly those of Selena, Anne aka Martha, and Pearl - a teenager whose connection to the women on the train is slowly revealed as the story progresses. The twists revolving around her identity are particularly compelling.
In what appears to be a trend with domestic thrillers, none of the characters are particularly appealing. Selena is cold and self-absorbed, Anne is cunning and manipulative, and Pearl is strange and aloof. The male characters aren't much better. Graham, Selena's husband, is a liar and a cheat; Hugo, Anne's boss, is whiny and pathetic; and Charlie, Pearl's surrogate father, is more than a little creepy. Nevertheless, as the details of the various characters' lives are exposed, the desire to piece the connections together and uncover the truth keeps the pages turning.
Lisa Unger's writing is suspenseful overall, although there is some unnecessary repetition of internal motivations and angst that slows the pacing. That said, the eventual climax and resolution are exciting and satisfying.
All in all, a solid psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing.
4 Stars
A chance encounter with a stranger on a train changes Selena Murphy's life forever. After the woman, Martha, confesses to an affair with her employer, Selena reciprocates and explains that she suspects her husband of sleeping with the nanny. The women part ways and Selena puts the episode behind her until the nanny disappears. As the police investigate, the façade of Selena's perfect life begins to crumble, and she is forced to confront the truth about her past and her future.
The narrative is presented from the perspectives of several different characters, but mainly those of Selena, Anne aka Martha, and Pearl - a teenager whose connection to the women on the train is slowly revealed as the story progresses. The twists revolving around her identity are particularly compelling.
In what appears to be a trend with domestic thrillers, none of the characters are particularly appealing. Selena is cold and self-absorbed, Anne is cunning and manipulative, and Pearl is strange and aloof. The male characters aren't much better. Graham, Selena's husband, is a liar and a cheat; Hugo, Anne's boss, is whiny and pathetic; and Charlie, Pearl's surrogate father, is more than a little creepy. Nevertheless, as the details of the various characters' lives are exposed, the desire to piece the connections together and uncover the truth keeps the pages turning.
Lisa Unger's writing is suspenseful overall, although there is some unnecessary repetition of internal motivations and angst that slows the pacing. That said, the eventual climax and resolution are exciting and satisfying.
All in all, a solid psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing.
mysterious
Brilliant read with lots of twists and turns!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a 4.5 ✨ for me! I definitely recommend reading this twist of a thriller.
It is told by “multiple” pov ‘s or so I thought……
Selina and Graham seem to have it all, working late one night she finds Graham having an affair on the nanny cam with the nanny, which appears to be a pattern with him and one Selina grew up in with her father having multiple affairs.
Then the nanny ends up missing…..who did it? Selina? Graham? Or someone else
And who is Martha and why does she keep reaching out to Selina…..
I enjoyed the twists that kept coming right till the end
It is told by “multiple” pov ‘s or so I thought……
Selina and Graham seem to have it all, working late one night she finds Graham having an affair on the nanny cam with the nanny, which appears to be a pattern with him and one Selina grew up in with her father having multiple affairs.
Then the nanny ends up missing…..who did it? Selina? Graham? Or someone else
And who is Martha and why does she keep reaching out to Selina…..
I enjoyed the twists that kept coming right till the end
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping
Moderate: Infidelity