Review: “Left For Dead”
This is the first book in awhile that I didn’t get from an ARC program or personal review request! I saw it in a newsletter and after an excellent thriller I recently read, I was in the mood for another dark thriller so I grabbed this one.
The Premise
Tired of the corporate grind at her New York law firm, Amelia chucks it all and heads for a solo trek along the California Coastal Trail — a trip she’d planned for years before finally deciding to take the plunge. But things take a swift turn for the worst when she is kidnapped by a stranger and taken into the wilderness. Attacked and left for dead, can she find her way out of the woods — both the physical woods, as well as the darkest corners of her own mind?
The Pros
This was a swift, vicious psychological thrill. I realised it would be a short book, and still — the kidnapping came far too sudden, and it was disturbingly vivid. As Amelia and her kidnapper Rex get to know each other, I could feel the chills along my spine. As she developed a kinship with a wild animal, I was left wondering if the animal was real or part of her imagination. The descriptions were well done, taking you right to the scene of the crime, and the psychological twist with her interwoven memories of the past was shocking.
The Cons
While I enjoyed this novella, it was so short that it felt unfinished. I know it’s meant to be a series starter, but the ending was really rushed. While maybe this feeling of “unfinished” is the point (as you’re meant to purchase the next book in the series), some of the plot points left holes that made it confusing. I was also concerned that the main character didn’t seem like she had prepared enough to live for months in the wilderness; it could have used some fleshing out in that aspect of character-building.
Conclusion
The simplicity of the story made an interesting premise, as it goes to show just how unsafe it is to be a woman travelling alone. This was a swift thriller with believable characters that leaves you thinking and feeling unsettled, which is how a psychological thriller should be. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to others, and I look forward to picking up the other books in the series so that I can find out what happens next.
