Fiction | Book Chatter

You Can’t Catch Me
By Catherine McKenzie
Lake Union Publishing, 9781542019033, June 2020, 335pp.

The Short of It:

If you enjoy cat and mouse type games, then this might be a good one for you. Not sure I was in the right mood to read it.

The Rest of It:

Jessica Williams escaped a cult more than a decade ago. She attributes her rescue to a detective with whom she still keeps in contact with. This is convenient because at an airport bar, while waiting for her flight, a young woman sits next to Jessica and asks her if she wants to play a game. Why not? Enjoy a few drinks, a little bit of banter. Whatever helps the time pass.

Except, this young woman is also named Jessica Williams and shares the same birth date as Jessica #1. Weird, right? Once they finish their drinks and part ways, Jessica #1 quickly learns that all her money has been taken from her bank accounts. That game that they played pretty much told Jessica #2, everything she needed to know to go online and wipe her out.

When Jessica #1 shares this information with her long-time detective friend, they decide to go after her and find that she’s left other victims in her wake.

This story was just too convenient all around. No one would be that gullible. Okay, Jessica #1 was in a cult once so perhaps she was the level of gullible needed to play a 20 questions like game that pretty much tells the world who you are. But it seemed all together too easy.

There is a lot of chasing fake Jessica around. I quickly tired of this because I just didn’t buy the story as a whole. It wasn’t suspenseful in the way I expected it to be. Overall, it was disappointing. Instead, I recommend her other book, Fractured.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Invisible Girl
By Lisa Jewell
Atria Books, 9781982137335, October 13, 2020, 368pp.

The Short of It:

There are a few side stories going on which normally distract me but they came together very nicely here.

The Rest of It:

The “Invisible Girl” in the title is not necessarily the main character of this novel which is interesting in and of itself. Saffyre Maddox is seeking treatment for self-harm. Her therapist, Roan Fours has been very good for her but after three years, he’s ready to cut her loose, feeling that she’s addressed her main reason for therapy. But Saffyre’s real reason is the abuse she suffered as a young child and she hasn’t even gotten to that part yet. Feeling abandoned, she becomes slightly obsessed with Roan and follows him around only to discover that he is hiding something from his family.

Owen Pick, is a neighbor across the street from Roan Fours. He lives with his aunt at the age of thirty and doesn’t know how to act around women. His awkwardness has caused numerous issues, including a workplace harassment case at the college he has been suspended from. His accidental interaction with Saffyre becomes a problem when she goes missing.

There are basically three main players in this story: Saffyre, Owen, and Roan. Other characters add to the complexity of what is going on, but don’t play major roles in what goes down. Jewell handles this quite well. I mean, no one seems “extra” just for the sake of being there. They all serve a purpose to propel the story forward in some way.

I’ve heard some say that there is a lot going on in this story. This is true but I felt that it was deftly navigated and had just the right pace for me to keep picking it up. Plus, Jewell is very good at characterization. I cared about these characters and wanted them to be okay, except for the ones who didn’t deserve it of course.

Overall, a solid read with a nicely wrapped up ending.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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