A review by literarygadd
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

5.0

Holy $H!T that was INTENSE! To the VERY LAST PAGE my anxiety was roiling in the pit of my stomach, not wanting it to end, fearing how it might end, “Please, gawd, will this ever end?!” It’s been so long since I’ve read such a thriller that kept me glued to the pages, that didn’t make me scream at the characters for their irritating and banal introspection. FINALLY, a balanced narrative, enough internal conflict to make a story, but not excessive to the point of indifference at the conclusion because you’re ready to be finished with the story, regardless of how it ends.

Mina and Adam are relatable characters with semi-relatable problems, past traumas that haunt them but don’t keep them from moving forward, or at least to a crippling degree. However, it still catches up with them, and just as everything personally is coming to a head, well, professionally, it’s about to get interesting. Both are equally represented, the good and the bad, neither coming out looking rosier than the other and I appreciate the equity. The wild card, Sophia, manages to be a challenging child but not one that you wish wasn’t there, she makes it interesting, she adds the flair.

The multiple and separate accounts from various characters throughout the book keep the perspective fresh, the tension high, and the wheels in your head turning as you try and piece together everyone’s part, they’re role, where they fit into the whole of the story. Even if you begin to think you have it all figured out, I guarantee, there will still be a few surprises waiting in the wings.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.