A review by amandasbookreview
No Exit by Taylor Adams

challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
“The difference between a hero and a victim? Timing.”

NO EXIT
I have seen Taylor Adams all over Bookstagram and I just never had a moment to pick up one of his books. However, No Exit by Taylor Adams was just adapted into a movie for Hulu, so it was pushed to the top of my TBR. We are introduced to Darby who is rushing home to see her dying mother. The weather has taken a turn for the worst and she finds herself at a rest stop in a snowstorm with four other people. Darby is desperate for a signal on her phone and walks outside to try to contact her sister when she notices some movement in a van. There is a young girl, locked in a cage. This child has been kidnapped and Darby knows she has to do something. There are four people in that rest stop and one of them is the kidnapper. But without service and no way out, how will Darby get this little girl to safety?

What a wild ride! When I say there is no dull moment, I say that without exaggeration. The suspense is nonstop. There are moments when I was physically tense while reading this book. I found out that this author is a screenwriter and it made so much sense. But be prepared. This is not an easy read. Every trigger warning you can think of… is in this book. There is kidnapping, violence, torture, sex trafficking, cancer, death, and probably more that I am missing. But overall, the suspense and tension are palpable.

That brings me to the characters. Darby is a rockstar. She is flawed. She knows she was wrong in her relationship with her mom. I did appreciate how the author went into the complexities of parent/child relationships. But when she saw that little girl, there was nothing that would stop her from helping that little girl. Darby shows so much courage in the face of so much danger. Not many people would do what Darby does in this book. Overall, I enjoyed this read and I can’t wait to watch the movie! 4 out of 5 stars


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