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Synopsis (From Netgalley):
What if the nightmares are actually memories?
It's been a year since Poppy's husband, Jack, was brutally murdered during his morning run through Manhattan's Riverside Park. In the immediate aftermath, Poppy spiraled into an oblivion of grief, disappearing for several days only to turn up ragged and confused wearing a tight red dress she didn't recognize. What happened to Poppy during those lost days? And more importantly, what happened to Jack?
The case was never solved, and Poppy has finally begun to move on. But those lost days have never stopped haunting her. Poppy starts having nightmares and blackouts--there are periods of time she can't remember, and she's unable to tell the difference between what is real and what she's imagining. When she begins to sense that someone is following her, Poppy is plunged into a game of cat and mouse, determined to unravel the mystery around her husband's death. But can she handle the truth about what really happened?
Review:
A few years ago, quite by accident, I read another Lisa Unger book called, Ink and Bone. I was actually looking for a book with the same title by a different author (Rachel Caine), requesting an e-book version. I was going to return the book, but thought I should read a chapter, just to see what that book was about... And I was hooked!
Under My Skin, Lisa Unger's latest book, is a thrilling trip into the mind of a woman who may, or may not, know why her husband was murdered. Through the haze of alcohol and prescription drugs, Poppy must sort through which of her dreams are fantasy, paranoia, or memories. This book was a wild ride, and I willingly called shotgun!
What I Liked:
Characters:
Poppy is a wonderful character who is unsure of her reality. Far from a perfect person, her life is so painful she is often tempted to lose herself in drugs, alcohol, or mindless hookups. Everyone keeps telling her to accept that her husband's murder was a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But she has a strong feeling that something doesn't feel right. I love how she realizes that she is being manipulated and that she finds a way to regain control of her life.
Meanwhile, every time life presents a problem, well-meaning childhood friend, Layla, throws money around to solve it. At first she seems like an obnoxious, pampered lady who lunches. But when we find out about her past of abuse and poverty, we can understand why security is so important to her.
Noah is one of the men that Poppy meets through online dating. Is he the sweet guy that he appears to be, or a stalker who obsesses over women. And did Poppy actually get with him before her husband's death?
Narrative Style:
This was a wonderful example of the unreliable narrator. Is Poppy a depressed widow, an unfaithful spouse who's lover murdered her husband, a woman losing her mind to a steady diet of drugs and alcohol? There are missing days and weeks that Poppy can't account for. Part of the mystery is Poppy trying to piece together what happened to her, so she can understand what happened to her husband. Right up to the end, we don't know know the whole story.
Easter Egg:
If you are a fan of the author's other books, there is a passing reference to The Hollows, the setting of several of her other novels. While this book is a stand alone work, it seems as though it does take place in the same universe as Ink and Bone! When I realized this I squealed in delight!
What I Was Mixed About:
Although the ending is very exciting, it is dependent on the reader believing that Poppy has no sense of self-preservation. Throughout the book, she seems to have a death wish, putting herself in potential danger again and again. While the author does show us a pattern of "inviting the dark", it's hard to believe anyone could be so reckless. Rating:
Release Date: October 1st, 2018
Author: Lisa Unger
Publisher: Park Row Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Page Length: 304 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A page-turning mystery with lots of twists and turns.
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