Review: I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
Published by Gallery/Scout Press on June 14th, 2016
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Pages: 224
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You will be scared. But you won’t know why…

I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.”

And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here.

In this deeply suspenseful and irresistibly unnerving debut novel, a man and his girlfriend are on their way to a secluded farm. When the two take an unexpected detour, she is left stranded in a deserted high school, wondering if there is any escape at all. What follows is a twisted unraveling that will haunt you long after the last page is turned.

In this smart, suspenseful, and intense literary thriller, debut novelist Iain Reid explores the depths of the human psyche, questioning consciousness, free will, the value of relationships, fear, and the limitations of solitude. Reminiscent of Jose Saramago’s early work, Michel Faber’s cult classic Under the Skin, and Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is an edgy, haunting debut. Tense, gripping, and atmospheric, this novel pulls you in from the very first page…and never lets you go.

 

Lisa’s Review:  WTF!! What a crazy trip!! The blurb for this book says, “You will be scared. But you won’t know why….” and this is SO true. Simply brilliantly written.

The only thing I can say about the book is that it begins with the main character, Jake, and his girlfriend, who is unnamed. They are going on a road trip to Jake’s parents. The girlfriend is unsure about her relationship with Jake and there is a lot of inner monologue. Then things go someplace dark and unnerving.

If I say anything else about the book or characters I’ll end up spoiling it all.

There were some places throughout the book where I had to backtrack and reread because things took me by total surprise. This was especially needed in the last twenty pages. I was totally blown away and am still processing it all.

This book may not be for everyone but if you enjoy psychological thrillers which keep you on your feet you HAVE to read this. It’ll take you on one crazy trip.