Six Days

by Kelli Owen

Jenny Schultz wakes trapped in a pitch-black basement with no recollection of how she got there. With no outside stimuli, Jenny naturally turns inward and revisits her guilt-ridden past, desperate to figure out which wronged person would be angry enough, evil enough, to do this to her.

She must survive her own demons, and then time itself when she finds remnants of previous captives—a plate, a tooth, a bone. Scratched hashmarks in the stone walls around her, leave her to wonder what happens next.

What happens after six days?

Genres: Horror, Ebooks

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Kelli Owen writes dark fiction, thrillers, and suspense that explore characters, consequences, and the uneasy shadows of everyday life. Her novels dig into psychological tension, while her short fiction has earned her a reputation for sharp, character-driven storytelling in bite-sized doses of dread.

She has been a reviewer, editor, podcaster, and indie film producer, and has spoken at countless conventions and events, including the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA about the craft and field of writing. Her work has appeared in anthologies and magazines alongside authors such as Stephen King, Robert McCammon, F. Paul Wilson, and Josh Malerman, and in multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated collections.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Kelli now lives in the dark woods of Pennsylvania. For news, updates, and the occasional ramble, visit www.kelliowen.com

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. First off, there was something wrong with the Kindle version, as the pages stopped progressing after 220. And the book is marked as being that long, but is more like 250-260 pages. And, unfortunately, that made Jenny’s journey here quite a bit longer than it needed to be. The premise is absolutely amazing. Jenny wakes up in an almost completely sensory-deprivated area. No idea how she got there, where she is, who would want to put her there, and, worst of all, has no idea if she’ll get out. So she plunges into her mind, reflecting on extremely painful memories of her separation and its disastrous effects on her son, her mother’s death, etc. And the story just uses the same formula of going from reflecting to present moment, which was fun for awhile, but needed to be a bit more abbreviated. Some of the memories felt a bit out of place, and I questioned how much they actually contributed to the story. I supposed it gave Jenny some extra depth, but you already felt terrible for what she had been through in her life up to this point, so it was a bit overkill. I also saw some other reviews about the ending being a bit obvious, but I didn’t feel that way. You need to do a bit of foreshadowing, and it was fine here. But the writing is good, it’s a very unique concept, and it’s a pretty darn good psychological thriller.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, will round up on Amazon.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the premise of this story. Jenny Shultz finds herself suddenly in a completely dark, underground room of some sort, with no idea of how she got there/who would put her there. The complete absence of sight would be a traumatizing event all on it's own, but the looking back over her life--trying to figure out who could hate her enough to do this to her--added a psychological depth and emotional impact that really made this a compelling read for the first 2/3 or so of the book.

It was about that time that I felt I knew what had happened. Although that in itself wouldn't have been enough for me to take away much from the rating, the ending struck me as a little too predictable and anticlimactic considering the tremendous buildup beforehand.

I've really been enjoying stories from Kelli Owen lately, and have already bought a couple more to start on.

Recommended.

[Frank Errington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year ago, I had never heard of Kelli Owen. Now, I can honestly say she is my favorite female horror writer. Is that a sexist thing to say? God, I hope not, because it's the truth. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of strong contenders for that title, but there is something about a Kelli Owen story that set's it apart from the rest of the field. Remarkable prose and at the same time she can make you cringe without going over the edge. All this from someone who used to hide her work, apparently as a result of some misguided fear of rejection.

Six Days was Owen's first full length novel and was a part of the 1st signed, limited collection from Thunderstorm Books new line, Maelstrom, headed by Brian Keene.

In the story, Jenny awakes thinking she's gone blind. It's beyond dark. The kind of dark where you can't see your hand in front of your face. The author skillfully helps you to see, or actually to not see, the world through Jenny's eyes.

As Jenny struggles to understand what's happened and how she may have come to be in this situation we are treated to dreams, memories and the like to help us learn more about the captive. What we learn through these snippets is that Jenny is not all sugar and spice, she has skeletons in her closet, but none of that matters right now. What matters is escape and getting home to her 10 year old son, Alan. What must he be thinking at this point?

Six Days is a wonderfully written novel, especially the flashback scene in the hospital room the day after the "surprise" party for Jen's best friend Beth. Some of the best writing I've read in quite some time. I was drained when I finished the passage and actually had to take a break from reading for a bit. Congratulations to the author.

If you didn't get a chance to pick up this one in it's signed, limited edition release, there's good news. It's now available in e-book format from Amazon.com and if you happen to be a Prime Member you can get it for free as one of your monthly selections from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

If you enjoy getting a bit unnerved while immersed in a good story. You might want to check out Six Days. Enjoy.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a very mixed bag.

First, the good. For the most part, the book is well written. The prose is strong and neither flavorless nor wordy.

I liked the basic story, and thought the parallels of Jenny exploring her dark imprisonment and her dark past was excellent. I think the author does an excellent job of keeping things reasonable as far as what the character might know or not know without her vision.

Unfortunately, the bad is pretty strong, too.

First, this book badly needs an editor. The author has problems with homophones, the most glaring had to be the main character working at a paper called the "Harold." There were also a few content issues, such as the time the character throws something out of her reach and then has it again 2 paragraphs later without explanation.

The identity of the kidnapper is telegraphed heavily. It was disappointing to realize who it as 2/3 of the way through the book, after only one real clue.

I felt like the author severely underestimated the impact of dehydration on the character as well. She spends six days in captivity, is given no liquids and only fed once. By the time six days came, she should have been extraordinarily weak, possibly to the point of death, fainting easily, and hallucinating. It's doubly disappointing that this problem would easily have been fixed - there were multiple instances where she could have been fed and watered without giving away the identity of the captor.

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eine Frau wacht in völliger Dunkelheit auf und findet heraus, dass sie nicht die erste ist, die in jenem unterirdischen Verlies gefangen gehalten wird. Sechs Tage, länger scheint niemand überlebt zu haben. Doch was passiert an Tag sieben? Und wird sie es vorher schaffen zu fliehen?

Ich muss sagen, dass ich eine sehr ambivalente Meinung zur Geschichte habe.

Zum Einem haben wir hier eine flüssig geschriebene, recht spannende Geschichte, die sich im Bereich Thriller einordnen lässt. Die Protagonistin Jenny versucht einerseits mit den Zuständen in völliger Dunkelheit, ohne Nahrung und Wasser zurechtzukommen, andererseits blickt sie zurück auf besondere Momente ihres Lebens, auf Schicksalsschläge und in ihre eigenen Abgründe. Gerade in der ersten Hälfte des Buches hatte ich hier das Gefühl, dass die Autorin ihre Protagonistin in einem Zwielicht darstellen wollte, wohingegen die zweite Hälfte der Geschichte eine typische kämpfende Mutter beschreibt, die zurück in ihre Familie möchte. Einerseits ist dies mitunter ganz spannend, andererseits hatte ich hier das Gefühl, dass die Autorin ihre handelnde Person nicht wirklich gefunden hat. Ich denke, man hätte hier einen Weg durchziehen sollen.

Jenny Schultz, wie die Protagonistin heißt, empfand ich als sehr naiv und dumm. Nicht unbedingt klischeehaft, aber auch nicht gut ausgearbeitet. Es gab Momente, die mich mitreißen konnten, die ich mochte, es gab aber auch durchaus Momente, wo ich nur mit dem Kopf geschüttelt habe und das Handeln von Jenny nicht verstehen konnte.

Kelli Owen hat es generell nicht geschafft das Martyrium in diesem dunklen Verlies plausibel zu beschreiben. Hunger und Durst hätten eine viel größere Rolle spielen müssen, seelischer Verfall ist kaum passiert. Ich denke einfach, dass ein Mensch in einer solchen Situation komplett anders agieren und denken würde, als Jenny es letztendlich getan hat. Man fühlte sich so, als ob sie dort 6 Stunden eingesperrt war und nicht sechs Tage.

Die Rückblicke in ihr Leben haben mir gut gefallen. Auch hier ist nicht alles immer logisch gewesen, dennoch konnte mich die Geschichte an diesen Stellen abholen und begeistern.

Das Ende war für mich zwar einerseits voraussehbar und absolut nicht überraschend, andererseits mochte ich den letzten Satz, mit welchem das Buch schließt und die Message, die es damit ausdrückt.

Zum Schluss sei noch erwähnt, dass der Schreibstil zwar sehr flüssig, leicht und schnell zu lesen war, für mich aber deutlich zu weiblich ausfiel. Dies ist jedoch, noch mehr als meine vorausgegangene Meinungsäußerung, meine persönliche Präferenz. Ich mag typisch weibliche Schreibstile nicht, wo sich die Damen Sorgen um abgebrochene Fingernägel machen, wenn sie doch eigentlich gerade ums Überleben kämpfen (um es mal sehr überspitzt darzustellen, wobei dieser Umstand im Buch durchaus vorkam).

Zusammenfassend kann ich sagen, dass "Sechs Tage" kein schlechter Thriller ist, aber durchaus noch einiges Luft nach oben lässt. Es gibt spannende, mitreißende Szenen, aber ich hab ebenso auch mal den Kopf geschüttelt und geseufzt, da mir gewisse Passagen gar nicht lagen. Ein ganz nettes Buch, nicht mehr, aber auch nicht weniger.

[Richard Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debut novels can be clunky things, full of good ideas let down by inexperienced execution. The problems are predictable, and usually inevitable. Somehow, perhaps by spending years writing and celebrating writing before committing to her own first novel, Owen has sidestepped most of this. Where it remains in traces is in the occasional dialogue, which doesn't scan as naturalistically as speech does. Fortunately, there's not a lot of dialogue to be going on with. The story opens with the character Jenny's eyes, as she wakes in blackness, entombed somewhere cold and dark, with no memory of how she got there. The novel functions as a thriller as she tries to escape, as a whodunnit as she flashes back over those who might have cause do to her harm, and as a character study as she recalls critical moments in her life that made her the woman she has become. It's a gripping read, and my only complaint is that I felt cheated by the ending. While it might be realistic, for me it wastes the strength of the woman who has been fleshed out over the previous pages. Still, it's a powerful debut, and I'm off to see if I can get hold of Owen's latest novella.

[Dave Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What's in YOUR darkness?" The first time I met Kelli Owen at the Horrorfind convention a few years ago, this is how she inscribed my copy of SIX DAYS. These four words perfectly summarize the plight of Jenny Schultz, the protagonist and apparanent victim of a random kidnapping...or was this whole thing planned out and perpetrated by someone Jenny knows, someone she trusts? These are but a few of the questions Jenny faces as she finds herself trapped in a dark, dank basement where at least one other prisoner was kept for six days. But what happens on the seventh day?

The brilliance and suspense of this novel is derived not from the present situation, but from specters of Jenny's past: A bout of crippling depression. An unexpected pregnancy. A divorce. A horrific car accident. A mysterious new boyfriend with a clouded past. As Jenny confronts these demons in her memory, trying desperately to figure out who would want her to endure the suffering and torture in the basement, with seemingly no hope of escape, time is running out.

Call it psychological horror, call it a first-rate thriller. I'll just call it one of the best first novels I've ever read, and I think you will too.

[Nikki C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was claustrophobic, which means Kelli Owen told the story well. The ending was somewhat unexpected - I kinda figured out who put Jenny in the basement, but I didn't predict the actions that would close the story.

This books had some really strong points for me. The feeling of being trapped and the less traditional ending being two of them. The chapter about Beth was also very difficult to process (I mean this in a good way). The high of the party vs. the low of the accident vs. the entire hospital scene left me feeling a mix of shock and grief afterward.

I'd say this could be a 4.5 but I ultimately went with a 4 due to one thing that bothered me. I felt that Jenny's thoughts were too clear for someone that has had only a bit of food to eat and no water at all in 6 days. I expected her thoughts to lose their coherence but it never felt that way. It would be more believable, to me, if her time as a captive was reduced or she received some amount of water (at least) while imprisoned.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific new edition of Kelli Owen's debut novel! The book rests heavily on a brilliant premise: Jenny, a divorced mother of a ten-year-old boy, wakes up suddenly in total darkness, in some kind of basement, clueless how she came to be there. The novel is told through her eyes, going through her painful memories, her nightmares, her dreams, almost as if she's speaking from somewhere beyond life and death. The author has put her female character inside a tomb of ambiguity, despair, and regret. But Jenny wants to survive: she tries to understand, to find an exit, to feel her way through the dark and the cold. There's very little dialogue, but the story's brimming with emotion, self-discovery, the need to escape from literally everything. She finds out she has six days. No water, almost no food. But this is not merely a psychological thriller type of book. The strength of the novel lies in Owen's skills of internal narration: I could deeply feel Jenny's need to get past her problems, her need to survive; her hopelessness, as if she's stuck in a cavern, struck blind for no reason, with no explanation. Her walls. Bit by bit the character started breathing through the page, her thoughts mapping themselves onto such a dark life (trigger warnings: suicide, abuse, postpartum depression) that twice I had to put the book aside and reflect on something lighter. I wish I'd read this sooner! Recommended, with thanks to Cemetery Dance for the review copy.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Days is chilling standalone horror novel by author, Kelli Owen. This author was new to me. The horrifying synopsis sold me on this one. Jenny wakes up in the dark, in an unfamiliar place with no recollection of how she got there or who has done this to her. The book showcases the human survival instinct and paints a nightmarish situation that you can’t help but consider what you would do if faced with the same fate. Its easy to empathize with Jenny’s despair, hopelessness and her will to survive. I found that I enjoyed Jenny’s backstory which is told through her memories as she tries to piece together how and what has happened to her. These scenes really fleshed out her character and made you empathize with her all the more. I felt invested in Jenny’s struggle and turned page after page wanting to know what happened and the truth behind her situation. I found the authors writing very strong and easy to be immersed in. I read it in one sitting. Highly recommend this one. Thank you to Cemetery Dance Publications for a copy for review. I loved it so much I purchased a copy from Amazon straight after reading.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ultimate character study. You come to, injured, alone, and in complete darkness. You have no memory of how you got there, or even where you are.
As Jenny feels around, exploring her whereabouts and putting together her future, she relives her questionable past.
This story makes you question what you would do if you found yourself in a similar predicament. It is chilling as you try and figure things out along side Jenny.

[Mike Kazmierczak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very gripping book. It grabs your attention and won't let go. Fortunately you don't want to let go either as you are carried through the story all the way to the equally gripping ending.

Jenny Schultz wakes up trapped in a basement. A pitch-black basement. No light to show her where she is or what is around her. Instead she must feel her way around the room to find a door or an opening or even a weapon. While she searches the room, Jenny must also look inside for the strength to continue and to survive. She relives her life in an effort to determine who trapped her here and why. Until she can find a way to escape.

In my mind, the theme of the novel is survival, finding the strength and hope to fight to survive. As Jenny is reliving her life, she keeps remembering the hard parts. All the times where life was beating her up and where she was losing. But then each of those memories always end with Jenny getting past the troubles and surviving. Exactly what she is trying to do in the basement. The details of the past are slowly revealed while giving us hope for the future. I absolutely found myself hoping and caring for Jenny as she went through her struggles. They were very real to me. Well, being locked in a lightless basement with no memory of how I got there might be a bit harder to accept but the rest of her life provided reality. It's what made her current situation that much more dire. And in this case, the story stays true all the way to the very end, making a great book even better. Highly recommended.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman wakes up in a pitch black cavern with no memory of when or how she arrived. She feels her way around her bleak surroundings in search of clues, escape, hope, but instead encounters an ominous omen. Scratched into the wall she finds six hash marks... six days to live. Using senses other than sight, she is forced navigate this physical prison and the prison in her own mind in hopes of finding an escape before the seventh day arrives.

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/07/16/six-days/

Six Days by Kelli Owen is a relentless tale of terror. It’s gripping and suspenseful and wonderfully written.

Kelli Owen is known for vivid, engaging characters, and that talent is evident in this story. We get to know Jenny through her intense memories as she tries to figure out who put her there, her thoughts at each new discovery and horror in that dark place, and the decisions she makes as the story progresses. And as the story progresses, you can’t help but consider how you would feel there in the dark, in that place. In this way, Six Days is as relentless a psychological horror for the reader as it is for Jenny.

The story moves at a steady pace, and the suspense builds steadily with it. But this is not a light read. It fully engages your mind and emotions, and then the ending is like a sucker punch to the face.

5 stars for this intense read. Highly recommended.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was full of suspense and I didn’t have it figured out to the very end. So good! I cannot wait to read more from her!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy.
What a ride! Jenny wakes up to find herself in complete darkness with no memory of how she got there. There is nothing for her to do but try to figure out the dimensions of the place she's being held captive and reflect back on her life to figure out who she's being held by. This is a gripping psychological horror novel. I love reading about people's messy lives, and Jenny has quite a story to tell. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent read. The terror I felt at being in the space with Jenny is indescribable. I could feel the texture of the floor. I could feel the empty space as she tried to discover how big was her prison. When she climbed the ladder, I could feel her desperation as she hoped to find an exit. The complete fear Jenny experienced was unnerving. Yet I could also feel those slivers of hope. She heard various voices in her head from loved ones that she felt were guiding her toward an escape route. I have so many feelings about the ending but that would mean spoiling the book for others. Let me just write this; read this book for a gripping horror thriller.

[Sandra8811 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wie kam ich zu dem Buch?
Ich habe das Buch bei einer Buchverlosung gewonnen.

Cover:
Das Gesicht der Frau und die dämonischen Hände, die ihr den Mund zuhalten wirkt gruselig. Auch ist es sehr düster und ich konnte es gleich als Thriller erkennen.

Inhalt:
Jenny wacht in einem Keller auf. Es ist stockdunkel und sie weiß weder wer sie hingebracht hat, noch warum sie hergebracht wurde. (Wie) Kann sie entkommen?

Meine Meinung:
Allein als ich den Klappentext gelesen habe, habe ich mich schon in das Buch verliebt. Leider ebbte das ganze schnell ab. Das Buch ist durchzogen mit Rückblenden, die oft sehr langatmig und unbedeutend für ihre aktuelle Situation waren. Die Rückblenden überwogen die aktuelle Situation. Ich finde man hätte mehr auf den Hunger, den Durst und generell das Gefühl eingehen können, wenn man sich in einem abgeschlossenen lautlosen Raum befindet. Gab es nicht aktuelle Studien, die belegen, dass man dann Pfeiftöne hört, da der Kopf Geräusche simuliert?! Die Situation im Keller hätte besser ausgearbeitet und in den Vordergrund gerückt werden können. Das Ende war dann etwas besser geschrieben, leider konnte es den Rest des Buches nicht retten…

Jenny ist eine Person, die übermäßig viele Schicksalsschläge erlebt hat. Sie nimmt die Situation in ihrem Gefängnis übermäßig gut auf und gerät so gut wie garnicht in Panik (zumindest ist es nicht spürbar). Mit der Zeit flacht ihr Stolz und ihre Selbstsicherheit ein wenig ab, kommt aber schnell wieder. Ihre Gefühle und Gedanken in den Rückblenden wurden besser ausgearbeitet als die in der Gegenwart. Ich konnte mich leider nicht wirklich in sie hineinversetzen.

Schreibstil:
Die Autorin hat Potential Situationen gut zu beschreiben. Leider kam dies bei Sechs Tage nur bedingt rüber. Das Hauptaugenmerk lag auf den Rückblenden, die sehr detailreich beschrieben wurden. Leider wurde das Ganze dadurch langatmig und wenig spannend. Die Gefühle und Gedanken in der Gefängnis-Situation wurden nur wenig beschrieben und somit konnte es mich wenig mitreißen. Es kamen spannende Situationen, diese flachten aber gleich wieder ab. Wenn das ganze Buch im Stil der letzten 2 Kapitel geschrieben gewesen wäre, wäre es besser gewesen. Das Ende war spannend und mitreißend, der Schreibstil hier kam mir anders vor als der Rest des Buches… Hier gab es Nervenkitzel, den es zuvor nicht gab.

Persönliche Gesamtbewertung:
Super Story, aus der leider nicht wirklich was gemacht wurde… Die psychischen und physischen Belastungen während der Gefängnis-Situation hätten besser recherchiert und ausgearbeitet werden müssen… Leider konnte mich das Buch nicht ganz überzeugen, auch wenn die Idee dahinter super war. Wegen des guten Endes gibt’s 2 von 5 Sternen, ich würde das Buch (wenn überhaupt) Thriller-Neulingen empfehlen, da es nur wenige Nervenkitzel-Momente enthält. Das Buch enthält gefühlt mehr Drama-Bestandteile als Thriller-Elemente…

[William M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelli Owen's debut is certainly an impressive one. Some might feel details are overwritten here and there, but her consistency and restraint kept me hooked throughout. The narrative uses the Lost television show's technique of constantly flashing back to fill in the holes and build a fully formed main character. This was a smart choice and a much needed touch away from the oppressive darkness where most of the story takes place. This psychological tale is fairly unique due to its minimalistic approach. Without giving anything away, lets just say there are very few characters in the present day storyline, a refreshing change to what I've read before.

I really enjoyed Owen's decision to allow Jenny's character to make believable choices and not what you might expect from a horror movie bimbo or to serve a predetermined cliched plot point. The choices and thought process she makes are what I imagine a real survivor might go through. Totally believable and utterly convincing. 99% of this novel is quite excellent, but I did have an issue with the incredibly abrupt ending. I even went back three or four times to make sure I had not accidentally skipped a page or two. The way the ending was written was just not consistent with the pacing and tone of the rest of the book. But regardless, this strong debut will have me seeking out more of Owen's work.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the past twelve months I've started to read more books by Kelli Owen after finding her books easy to read but with plenty of originality in the stories. This is now the fifth book I've read of hers; although this is actually her debut novel now released to the masses in e-book form.

The story is about Jenny Shultz, the victim of a kidnapper, who wakes up surrounded by darkness in a small, unknown room. It's up to her to work out where she is, who took her, and look for a way of escaping. The darkness not only hinders her quest for answers forces but her to look inwards at herself and the people in her life. The feeling of claustrophobic has been written well into the book and it helps the reader to feel what it is like to be in such a frustrating and dangerous situation - whilst a series of flashbacks help flesh out Jenny's character as well as her family and friends.

I really enjoyed how the book took such a simple concept like a kidnapping and turned it into something much more psychological than most stories and has enough quality to pull you along for the ride that Jenny takes.

One of the best debut novels I've ever read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

It may have taken me awhile to finish this book but that was not the author or the stories fault, it was my own. I wish i had put more time into reading it all in one chunk.

But even after reading it off and on I very much enjoyed the over all darkness that it brought.

The details in the dark let me picture my own prison and yet walk in Jenny's shoes with Beth, Alan and Dan, Among others.

Id rather not go into crazy detail or ruin anything about this story but i must say i wasnt too happy about the over all end as it seemed like it was pretty much something I had seen before but that still did not ruin my enjoyment that Kelli brought me.

Now I must sleep...

[Matt McRoberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good story overall. I enjoyed the read for the most part. A couple of the flashbacks went on a little longer then i think they should have, but otherwise it was real good. The ending could've been a little longer too i guess. I was kind of caught off guard when it just went "The End". I was expecting more to happen.

Overall i liked it. I'll be sure to read more by Kelly Owen in the future.

[Oskar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the debut novel by this author and is a very solid debut.Very good prose and
character and story development.The story is focused in the main character and at the end we know her very well,this is a dark and asphyxiating thriller.Very recom-
mended.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the main story and was kept in suspense throughout, but I didn't much care for the flashbacks. I kept skimming through those and just kept to the main story which I really liked. The twist at the end was surprising and suspenseful.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great suspense novel with a nice mystery. There was some very creative storytelling here with the main setting being in pitch blackness and our protagonist having to rely on all her other senses to deal with her situation. Great ending on top of all that!

[antony adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

after reading it again...... it was ok

[Jim Morey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing first novel.

[Karl]

This is copy 41 of 260 signed and numbered copies.

This is book 3 of 3 (Plus a chap book) of Brian Keene’s Maelstrom Series 1.

[Daniel DeLappe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book . Nice pacing. Great mechanics and a great story. Detailed and claustrophobic. Looking forward to reading this author again in the near future.

[Lisa]

Never would have guessed!

I bet you don't guess her captor! I'm usually pretty good about figuring out the ending in this type of book (which really spoils it for me!), but not only did I not guess the ending, but I also didn't guess her captor! I never would have seen either of those coming in a million years.

To go any further would, I'm afraid, require spoilers, and that would ruin the whole "Owen experience" for you. Let me just say that I've added this author to my "Follow" list after this and one other of her books (Picket Fences) because her mind is twisted enough to write some really great books.

I hope she adds more full length novels to her library though, as I've found that most author's, no matter how good they are, can't develop the characters properly in novellas. They all end up "sounding" the same, and without the author actually telling us who they are, or who is speaking, we don't know. With a good author, you know just by how the character speaks or acts.