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A review by alookinsideri
Fool Me Once by Mark Gillespie
5.0
Fool Me Once opens with Kate’s seemingly ordinary night taking a chaotic turn when a car crash rattles her sleepy street. The eerie atmosphere builds immediately as Kate, hungover and confused, witnesses a car lose control and slam into her neighbors' fence. But when her neighbors and even her fiancé, Tommy, seem to deny what she clearly saw, reality begins to slip. From the outset, the novel plunges readers into a spiral of paranoia and suspense that doesn’t let up.
Mark Gillespie crafts a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers questioning what’s real and who can be trusted. Kate’s growing sense of unease is palpable as she struggles to make sense of the strange events that follow the crash. A man stalks her after work, her home becomes the target of break-in attempts, and she can't shake the feeling that everyone, including her neighbors, is hiding something sinister. The tension between Kate’s perception and the world around her is expertly maintained, drawing readers deeper into her unraveling psyche.
The plot is fast-paced and layered with enough twists and red herrings to keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing. Gillespie uses small-town boredom and the mundanity of suburban life as a stark backdrop for the mounting dread, making the bizarre occurrences all the more jarring. Kate is a well-drawn, relatable protagonist whose flaws—her tendency to drink alone, her complicated relationship with Tommy—make her an unreliable narrator, amplifying the suspense.
What makes Fool Me Once especially compelling is how Gillespie plays with the theme of gaslighting. Kate’s growing isolation as those around her dismiss her experiences taps into a deep fear of being disbelieved. This makes the mystery not just about the car crash but about Kate’s own sanity. Readers are left questioning whether Kate is the only one seeing the truth or if she’s spiraling into delusion.
For fans of psychological thrillers like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, Fool Me Once offers an edge-of-your-seat experience, full of unexpected twists and dark secrets. Gillespie’s skillful storytelling ensures that the novel’s final revelations will leave readers reeling long after the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mark Gillespie crafts a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers questioning what’s real and who can be trusted. Kate’s growing sense of unease is palpable as she struggles to make sense of the strange events that follow the crash. A man stalks her after work, her home becomes the target of break-in attempts, and she can't shake the feeling that everyone, including her neighbors, is hiding something sinister. The tension between Kate’s perception and the world around her is expertly maintained, drawing readers deeper into her unraveling psyche.
The plot is fast-paced and layered with enough twists and red herrings to keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing. Gillespie uses small-town boredom and the mundanity of suburban life as a stark backdrop for the mounting dread, making the bizarre occurrences all the more jarring. Kate is a well-drawn, relatable protagonist whose flaws—her tendency to drink alone, her complicated relationship with Tommy—make her an unreliable narrator, amplifying the suspense.
What makes Fool Me Once especially compelling is how Gillespie plays with the theme of gaslighting. Kate’s growing isolation as those around her dismiss her experiences taps into a deep fear of being disbelieved. This makes the mystery not just about the car crash but about Kate’s own sanity. Readers are left questioning whether Kate is the only one seeing the truth or if she’s spiraling into delusion.
For fans of psychological thrillers like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, Fool Me Once offers an edge-of-your-seat experience, full of unexpected twists and dark secrets. Gillespie’s skillful storytelling ensures that the novel’s final revelations will leave readers reeling long after the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.