Helpful Score: 5
Sylvie, Sam, Jules, and their boss, Vincent, receive a generic meeting invite to an escape room challenge on the eightieth floor of a large building. All come with little question, as they have a slavish devotion to their firm, Stanhope and Sons. They make a lot of money for the firm--and in turn, they make a lot of money for themselves. But lately, their team has failed to secure two major deals in a row, both of which have gone to a key competitor, who had inexplicably undercut them each time. The team is trouble. Their revenue is lower than it has been in years. They know their jobs are in trouble, and bonuses are being issued next week (along with notices). However, it quickly becomes clear this may be more than a typical team-building escape room challenge. The group solves a clue related to Sara Hall, a former analyst on the team who died. Locked together in an elevator, the competitive quartet starts to turn on each other.
"There was only the message on the television monitor. 'Welcome to the escape room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.'"
This was a really fun, bizarre read that I very much enjoyed. I had no idea where it was going for much of the book, but that was totally okay. It's told in very short, quick alternating chapters between members of our elevator group and then Sara Hall herself, back when she was alive and well and working at the firm. The result is a fast-paced read, as you wonder what on earth happened to Sara, whom actually seems like a human being compared to the four others. Our four trapped analysts, however, range across various levels of despicable--liars and cheaters all devoted to making money at any cost.
Truth be told, you can only feel so sorry for them to be trapped in this elevator in the dark, at the mercy of a screen doling out clues. Once in the dark, they turn violent at times: empowered against their boss, Vincent. You realize that they've sacrificed so much for their company that they basically have nothing left on the personal front.
It's a fascinating, gripping tale of what people will do to succeed, for revenge, and what they'll do when pushed to the brink. It's a really fast read. Is it a plausible story? Probably not. Is it fun, enjoyable, and full of twists and turns? Oh yeah. I could see this one as a movie, for sure. Definitely just a thrilling read to get lost in a for a couple of hours, especially if you enjoy the dark and twisted world of finance. 4+ stars!
I received a copy of this novel from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for a honest review.
"There was only the message on the television monitor. 'Welcome to the escape room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.'"
This was a really fun, bizarre read that I very much enjoyed. I had no idea where it was going for much of the book, but that was totally okay. It's told in very short, quick alternating chapters between members of our elevator group and then Sara Hall herself, back when she was alive and well and working at the firm. The result is a fast-paced read, as you wonder what on earth happened to Sara, whom actually seems like a human being compared to the four others. Our four trapped analysts, however, range across various levels of despicable--liars and cheaters all devoted to making money at any cost.
Truth be told, you can only feel so sorry for them to be trapped in this elevator in the dark, at the mercy of a screen doling out clues. Once in the dark, they turn violent at times: empowered against their boss, Vincent. You realize that they've sacrificed so much for their company that they basically have nothing left on the personal front.
It's a fascinating, gripping tale of what people will do to succeed, for revenge, and what they'll do when pushed to the brink. It's a really fast read. Is it a plausible story? Probably not. Is it fun, enjoyable, and full of twists and turns? Oh yeah. I could see this one as a movie, for sure. Definitely just a thrilling read to get lost in a for a couple of hours, especially if you enjoy the dark and twisted world of finance. 4+ stars!
I received a copy of this novel from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for a honest review.
Helpful Score: 3
Working on Wall Street is definitely not a job for the timid. Many try to make it but few are successful. For four of these individuals, Vincent, Sam, Jules and Sylvia, success will come at a high price. After a year of more failures than successes, they each receive an email one Friday directing them attend a team-building exercise known as an âEscape Roomâ that weekend. Attendance is mandatory, according to the email. It is on the way up in the elevator that the nightmare begins. They are trapped, with no way out and no way to call for help. Because of the cutthroat world in which they work, each of them begins to suspect the motives of the other and the tension only worsens when the lights go out and the heat comes on. As the hours pass, they each begin to wonder if they are able to do what it takes to get out alive.
The Escape Room by Megan Goldlin is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Although it does not appear connected to the upcoming movie, the plots are remarkably similar. This book is a study of human behavior, examining how far someone will go to gain an advantage, even against someone they are close to. The story alternates between past and present, something that is essential to understanding how the main characters ended up where they did and to how the novel concludes. It also presents what I find to be a very realistic picture of how a group of people who routinely compete against one another will be have in a situation requiring cooperation. I have read few novels as well-written as this one and for that reason, I give it 5/5 stars.
*A copy of the ebook is the only compensation received in exchange for this review.*
The Escape Room by Megan Goldlin is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Although it does not appear connected to the upcoming movie, the plots are remarkably similar. This book is a study of human behavior, examining how far someone will go to gain an advantage, even against someone they are close to. The story alternates between past and present, something that is essential to understanding how the main characters ended up where they did and to how the novel concludes. It also presents what I find to be a very realistic picture of how a group of people who routinely compete against one another will be have in a situation requiring cooperation. I have read few novels as well-written as this one and for that reason, I give it 5/5 stars.
*A copy of the ebook is the only compensation received in exchange for this review.*
Helpful Score: 3
Oh, such a clever, clever tale. I loved the ending!
Helpful Score: 2
This book sucked me in from page one continuing to the very satisfying end! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see where it was going next. So many extraordinary twists on this sensational ride I didn't want to end. There is nothing like revenge that makes an ending so sweet .
This is now on one of my favorites of the year.
This is now on one of my favorites of the year.
Helpful Score: 2
I really thought that a book about Wall Street would bore me, but the title intrigued me enough to give it a try. I'm sure glad that I did! This book had me hooked from start to finish. I even found myself trying to decipher the clues along the way. I can sometimes figure out plot twists, but this one was fairly clever. I will admit that I don't think the story is very believable necessarily, and many times that can weaken a plot for me, but not with this book. While it was a bit far-fetched, it still had me trying to figure out what would happen next. If you're looking for a book that will make you want to stay up all night to finish it, this may just be the one for you.
Helpful Score: 1
WOW! This is one of the best books I've read in a long time! I finished it in one days time it just keeps you glued to the pages!
Helpful Score: 1
This is by far one of the best books that I have ever read. I sure hope she keeps writing books of this quality.
I agree with all of the other reviews. This is a easily a five star.
I agree with all of the other reviews. This is a easily a five star.
Helpful Score: 1
What a great book! I could hardly put this book down and the characters were very believable. 4 coworkers are supposedly sent on a team building exercise to an escape room. The escape room turns out to be an elevator and it definitely lasts for more than an hour. There comes to be a lot of distrust and paranoia and their situation is totally out of control. I hope her next book is just as good or better. This was the author's first novel and what a great one it was!
Helpful Score: 1
So many twists! I loved the whole book. I read it so quickly just to see what would happen next! Couldn't put it down.
Four employees of Stanhope & Son, a Wall Street Financial Firm, have been summoned to a New York City building to participate in a compulsory team building event. Team leader Vincent, along with Jules, Sylvie, and Sam, are to participate in an escape room. As their elevator ascends to their destination, it suddenly stops and the lights go out leaving them in the dark. While the interior of the elevator becomes hotter and hotter, they must solve a series of puzzles in order to get out. As the hours tick by, the people inside realize that this is no ordinary escape room.
I've done a couple escape rooms and have always had a good time. You can't say the same for the people in this book. This story is told in two points-of-view. We get the third person POVs of the people in the elevator trying to solve the clues. As the temperature in the elevator goes up and they realize that they can't get out, tempers flare. The other part of the story is told in first person POV by Sara Hall, a former member of Vincent's team who died several months ago.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by January LaVoy and Ramon de Ocampo who both did a fantastic job with some very unlikeable characters. My favorite part of the book was trying to solve the clues before we were given the answers. The story was just a plus. My rating: 4 Stars.
I've done a couple escape rooms and have always had a good time. You can't say the same for the people in this book. This story is told in two points-of-view. We get the third person POVs of the people in the elevator trying to solve the clues. As the temperature in the elevator goes up and they realize that they can't get out, tempers flare. The other part of the story is told in first person POV by Sara Hall, a former member of Vincent's team who died several months ago.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by January LaVoy and Ramon de Ocampo who both did a fantastic job with some very unlikeable characters. My favorite part of the book was trying to solve the clues before we were given the answers. The story was just a plus. My rating: 4 Stars.
