Close My Eyes

by Sophie McKenzie

It's been eight years since Gen Loxley lost her daughter, Beth: eight years of grief in which nothing's really moved forward, for all that her husband, Art, wills it to. Gen, once a writer of novels, has settled in to a life of half-hearted teaching, while Art makes his name and their fortune - and pressures her into trying IVF once again. For Gen, it seems a cruel act of replacement; life without Beth is unthinkable, unbearable - but still it goes on. And then a woman arrives on Gen's doorstep, saying the very thing she longs to hear: that her daughter was not stillborn, but was spirited away as a healthy child, and is out there, waiting to be found...So why is Art reluctant to get involved? To save his wife from further hurt? Or something much more sinister? What is the truth about Beth Loxley?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Contemporary

391 pages, Paperback

First published July 9, 2013

About the author

Hey there! Welcome to my Goodreads page where you can keep up with all my stories - both the ones that are already published and the works in progress!!

I write mostly teen thrillers - plus some teen romance, books for younger children and four adult psychological thrillers.

I'm really excited right now because of...

Boy, Missing, my £1 book for World Book Day and Truth or Dare, my new teen thriller. (UK)


For more info on these and my other books, check out my website: www.sophiemckenziebooks.com

Reviews

[Clumsy Storyteller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deals with the most painful, intense type of grief which is "losing a child shortly after birth". Geniver Loxley lost her daughter eight years ago a profound sense of loss weighed on her, she was still grieving her daughter when a woman ( nurse from the hospital) shows up claiming that Gen's baby had been born alive and was taken away by the doctor and given to someone else, and her husband was well aware of the whole situation, Gen didn't trust the woman at first, but her hope for the nurse's confession to be true got the best of her. so she start digging in her husband's office, she doesn't know what to look for exactly, or how, all she does is keep digging into her husband's paperwork, money transfert,illega deals.... anything !! and what she finds is going to rock her world upside down ! a very enjoyable Dark psychological thriller, I highly recommend.

[Emily May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie McKenzie hasn't strayed too far from the young adult style she's used to with this adult book that was an entertaining distraction but ultimately too ridiculous and unbelievable to deserve a higher rating. No one will see the twists coming because they are more than a little too "out there" to be believed. But it is entertaining. McKenzie knows how to create tension with every page and her cliffhanger chapter endings guarantee you won't be putting the book down any time soon. And the ending is suitably eerie, it tells us that this story may be over, but simultaneously gives life to the characters so we believe they carry on living after the last page.

The story is about Geniver Loxley who gave birth to a stillborn daughter eight years ago. Despite trying to throw herself into work, turn to friends and have another baby, Geniver remains haunted by the ghost of the little girl she lost. Then one day a woman arrives at her door. This woman's sister just passed away but, the woman claims, she made a strange and horrifying confession on her deathbed. While working as a nurse in the hospital, she witnessed the delivery of Geniver's healthy baby and was paid to keep quiet as it was whisked away and replaced with a stillborn. And even worse than all that, Art - Geniver's husband - was in on it.

Geniver angrily turns the woman away at first. But, as she goes home and thinks over everything that happened eight years ago, she begins to realise how many little things just don't quite add up. And suddenly she begins to wonder how well she knows the man she sleeps next to, whether her child could really be out there somewhere, and if perhaps she is simply losing her mind. This latter question becomes the central focus of the book and I love psychological mysteries that make you question the very sanity of the protagonist. Everyone thinks she's dealing badly with grief, even Geniver starts to wonder too, and so the reader also finds themselves questioning it.

Geniver's sadness, fear, anger and frustration over her loss, then her obsession with this new possibility, then the disbelief of her friends, is told in a very compelling way. This is one of those books that can make you feel a little suffocated inside the protagonist's head, but I mean that in the best way possible. It's easy to get so far into her life that you experience each emotion Geniver does. It's really a shame that the plot and twists of the mystery fail to deliver when I found the psychological aspect so appealing.

But the climax is laughable. The culprit is not so hard to guess in a book like this where there's not so many possibilities, but one of my favourite parts of mystery books is the "whys", not the "whos". And the "whys" here were far-fetched and unconvincing. There is no gradual build to it, you don't look back and see how that makes any sense, it feels like it flew in out of nowhere. It was the book's major flaw. There were other minor flaws too, like eyebrow-raising thoughts Geniver had. One that springs to mind is how she couldn't possibly believe Art was having an affair, she dismissed that immediately, but she could believe he was responsible for kidnapping their daughter and claiming she was dead. Okaaaaay.

I would have also liked this book to be a touch more adult. There was a tameness to it which reminded me constantly that McKenzie normally finds herself writing young adult books. McKenzie attempts a sex scene at one point and the best she can manage is a heated kiss before the fade to black. Not that I'm expecting erotica or anything, but it all felt a little too PG for the older audience McKenzie was targeting.

[STEPH · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated everyone in this book. So so bleak! The main character is annoying, weak and pathetic. The twist? Ridiculous.

I watched someone on Youtube gushed over this book and it got me interested. I expected something incredibly shocking but it fell short and I was left with utter dismay. I want my 12 hours back!!!

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: When Geniver Loxley lost her daughter at birth eight years ago, her world stopped… and never fully started again. Mothers with strollers still make her flinch; her love of writing has turned into a half-hearted teaching career; and she and her husband, Art, have slipped into the kind of rut that seems inescapable.

But then a stranger shows up on their doorstep, telling Gen the very thing she’s always wanted to hear: that her daughter Beth was not stillborn, but was taken away as a healthy infant and is still out there, somewhere, waiting to be found. It’s insane, unbelievable. But why would anyone make that up? A fissure suddenly opens up in Gen’s carefully reconstructed life, letting in a flood of unanswerable questions. Where is Beth now? Why is Art so reluctant to get involved? To save his wife from further hurt? Or is it something more sinister? And who can she trust to help her?

Ignoring the warnings of her husband and friends, Gen begins to delve into the dark corners of her past, hopeful she’ll find a clue to her daughter’s whereabouts. But hope quickly turns into fear and paranoia, as she realizes that finding the answers might open the door to something even worse than not knowing. A truth that could steal everything she holds close – even her own life.

My Review: I won this book in an email giveaway from St. Martin's/Minotaur Books' e-newsletter, Criminal Element. Whee! Thanks guys!

Sophie McKenzie is one to watch out for. She can tell a story that, when you realize the underlying conceit of it, only makes the story she's crafted more interesting, sharpens the poignancy of it, and makes the ending both inevitable and sharply, horribly shocking.

Oh dear. That doesn't sound like something one would necessarily want to read, does it.

Um.

You see, there is a layer of the story that I, Mr. Get-Over-It about spoilers, don't want to give away in advance. The dawning realization about the underpinning of the story McKenzie is telling you is one of the most satisfying pleasures of the novel. There's really no Big Reveal, no Moment of Truth, in this realization. It's a dawning awareness of a resonance, a few details that catch on a thorn of memory, unraveling a strand in the plot that..."OH! I get it now!" And that wonderful moment is what I don't want to deprive you of.

So! How's the weather where you are? I can't review the book too closely, you'll get it and that'll just blow it all. I had curry-toast with sharp cheddar for lunch today. We're out of chutney, though, darn it. I had some olives, luckily, and they were tasty with the curry-cheddar spicytart flavors. Much like the novel I'm not discussing. The narrative's complexity of savor is there, just needs to be experienced.

Hell's bells. Buy the darn thing and read it. Suspense novel readers won't see new ground broken, but a very good and carefully crafted story is a generous reward for your eyeblinks. Even if the underpinning of the story isn't obvious to you until the last page, the reward is a solid, suspenseful story of one woman's path out of the featureless gray fog of depression. Like any journey, it has antagonists and it has guides and it's not always clear who is what to whom.

And that, my friends, is the fun of reading a suspense novel, isn't it? Savor. Enjoy. Smile knowingly early on or slap your forehead and shout "of course!" at the end...no matter, you're in for a treat.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

First posted at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.

[Frank Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this child switched at birth, abducted, sold in the black market, unreliable narrator, or is this a big scam??? All thoughts that were going through my head when I first got into this story!
This started off really well and I was intrigued almost instantly. I thought it might end in a variety of different ways but never did I see the actual ending coming! It was so far-fetched and unrealistic it ruined the book for me a little bit, unfortunately. could have been a four-star plus read but I'm giving it a 3-star read because of the crazy ending. I'm still a fan of this author - her writing is great, but I will exercise more caution moving forward! I'm curious to see how her other books end. Was this an exception, as far as crazy endings go? One way to find out, I will have to look for any other books she's got out there!

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often I give a book 5 stars, but WOW! This was a completely compelling psychological mystery thriller. I had to read this over 4 days due to being busy with work, but this is one of the hardest books I've ever had to put down, and I found myself thinking about it throughout the day, even squeezing in a few pages while cooking. I was reading into the early hours every night, and found myself laid awake wondering what was going to happen next.

This book had me feeling paranoid, trusting no one, and every time I'd convinced myself I knew the outcome, something would happen to change my view. Very cleverly written, easy to follow, not too many characters to keep track of. Amazing, and I will be recommending this to all my bookworm friends too!

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 but rounding up to 2 for the sake of generosity

I received my ARC from St. Martin's Press via Goodreads First Reads and though I'm grateful that I was chosen to preview the book early, this story about a wife who lost her stillborn baby, only to be told by a stranger that the baby was actually born alive and had been stolen from her, failed to truly grab my attention. The back cover of this book has quotes from readers who had something good to say about what they had read. One person in particular, Vivian from West Virginia, claimed that "the off-beat psychological nature of the book brings to mind Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl." Having read both books, I wonder what version of Gone Girl dear Vivian had read, because Close My Eyes doesn't even compare...not even close.

I must clarify that even though I had seen that quote, I had no expectations whatsoever when I started reading this. I try very hard not to buy into the hype of anything, whether it's a film, book, music, TV show, etc., so the Gone Girl comparison was not a factor in my disappointment. Ultimately, it is this: for a psychological thriller/mystery, the story failed to thrill and mystify me. The fact that I could read only one or two chapters a day without the need to stop myself from continuing ("Just one more chapter and I'm going to bed, I swear!") means the story is not compelling. There was no sense of urgency propelling me to turn the pages, driving me to find out who the culprit is.

The protagonist and narrator, Geniver, is bland and weak. I felt compassion for her at first, but before long she grew to be incredibly annoying. As much as she wanted answers, she seemed to keep withdrawing from the issue, somewhat placated by the half-baked explanations she was getting while I only became more frustrated by her unwillingness to uncover the truth. For the sake of remaining spoiler-free I can't list specific incidents, but rest assured that I rolled my eyes more than once at her decisions and actions.

The book's title seems a little generic, as if a random phrase generator was used and whatever combination of words that sounded remotely evocative of a mystery was chosen. The red herrings were completely obvious and therefore easily dismissed. The attempt at romance was transparent and completely unnecessary; to me it seemed like the only purpose for this is to give Geniver a man in her life to help her solve this mystery. I mentioned the lack of urgency above; this is partly due to the way the characters are around each other. There is just not enough anger or tension or curiosity. For example, a confrontation with the protagonist and the perpetrator later on in the story felt so damn leisurely and conversational that the only things missing were tea and biscuits.

So you're probably wondering by now why I'm giving this two stars instead of rounding down to one after all the negative things I've written about it. Well, the plot itself is intriguing, just not executed properly, in my opinion. I might like it better if another author took a stab at it. The ending was somewhat interesting, although wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes. And the writing isn't totally awful. Simply put, just because this particular book isn't for me doesn't mean it won't satisfy someone else. But would I recommend it to anyone? Probably not.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pesar de ser una historia un tanto inverosímil, he de decir que me ha encantado. Es de esos libros que cuesta soltar. He dudado de muchos personajes pero he logrado adivinar el verdadero culpable. Es una buena opción para pasar el rato en estos días que pasamos tanto tiempo en casa.

[Blair · Rating 1 out of 5]

Geniver Loxley has been struggling through life since her baby, a daughter she named Beth, was stillborn eight years ago. While her husband Art has built a successful business and become something of a minor celebrity, Geniver has been unable to move on, devastated at the loss of Beth and the fact that she has been unable to get pregnant again. Her world is turned upside down when an unfamiliar woman knocks on her door and tells her that Beth is, in fact, alive. Art dismisses the claim as the lie of a desperate stranger who is trying to get money out of the Loxleys. But for Geniver, the possibility of Beth's survival is both a dream come true and her worst nightmare, and she can't stop herself investigating further. However, what she finds leads her further and further into an unimaginably complex conspiracy.

From my holiday notebook: I'm always saying I'm going to stop reading these chick-lit-slash-crime books, and I think this one might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. A completely uninspiring, bog-standard mystery with a subplot that is SO obviously a red herring I couldn't take it seriously whatsoever, a ridiculous and totally unbelievable twist at the climax, and then another, entirely predictable, one at the end. I mean COME ON, AS IF it's remotely believable that Art would have done ANY of that, for ANY reason?! Who the fuck would let their WIFE believe that her own baby was born dead (this was apparently okay because he assumed she would be able to get pregnant again soon after - ????), and then allow said baby to be taken and raised by a deranged woman who was obviously capable of murder?? Absolutely bloody ridiculous! And that's without even getting into the patronising, wish-fulfilment romance in which the protagonist - who's constantly described as plain, frumpy and a mess - is somehow the dream woman of a handsome, womanising actor. I'm struggling to think of anything good to say about this, other than that it kept me reading, but that was only really because it was an easy sun-lounger read and to be honest, I couldn't really be bothered to stop. That anyone could ever find this plot at all believable is unfathomable to me. I'm actually quite angry I wasted a precious Moroccan afternoon on this rubbish. At least I got a bit sunburnt.

Additional notes: Every holiday I go on, there always seems to be one awful book that I'd normally throw aside after one chapter, but end up continuing with and finishing, seemingly just because I'm on holiday. I think it's something to do with the cliché of wanting/needing/having to read 'light' books while you're away, and it's certainly the case that I didn't really feel like reading anything that would have challenged me a great deal intellectually, but this really was so bad that it couldn't even be considered a half-decent brain-turned-off read. But I'm quite glad I read it, because that means I can warn other people away from it. If you feel like reading a trashy thriller, there are hundreds that are ten times better than this. Thinking about how bad it was actually makes my blood boil a bit. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geniver Loxley felt she was moving under water, only partially connected to the world she was living in. Eight years ago she was so happy, her husband Art and her were expecting their first child. Her pregnancy had progressed well, at seven months along she was no longer experiencing morning sickness. When she went for a scan with Dr Rodrigez, her specialist, the shock and horror of Beth having died in utero was devastating. Her immediate C-section to have Beth, a stillborn daughter, plus the days leading up to the funeral were all a blur to her. She found, even now, eight years later, she couldn’t stop thinking and dreaming about Beth.

Art had moved on, his business was extremely successful, they didn’t want for anything. Art’s hours were long, and Gen’s days were boring. She taught creative writing part time, as she was a published author, though she had written nothing since Beth’s death. So the morning a stranger knocked on her door, announcing that Beth hadn’t died eight years ago, that she was still alive out there somewhere, set Gen on a crazy, frantic and unrelenting course to find her daughter.

Her friends and family thought she was losing it; Art was very patient with her, but even he was sure she was paranoid plus he was determined to make her see a counsellor again. But as she dug deeper into the events of eight years ago, she found strange happenings, things which didn’t make sense. Suddenly she didn’t know who she could trust. Art seemed to disbelieve everything she said; he didn’t want to become involved in her search and she couldn't work out why.

As her investigation escalated, dangers she didn’t expect seemed to close in on her….was she going to be able to find out the truth? Was Beth out there, or was it just a cruel and sadistic joke?

I absolutely loved this book! What a gripping, page turning thriller! At times I had to put it down to take a breath, but then I had to keep reading to find out more! I have no hesitation in highly recommending this book to all suspense/thriller lovers out there!

With thanks to The Reading Room and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel burns like a New Mexico fire, slow and steady, tearing through trees and leaves once the winds change, licking at the tips, spreading rapidly and with reckless abandon before the firefighters and volunteers can snuff it out. And it crept up on me, unassuming, inconsequential even, like a kitten with rabies that lashed out at my pant leg once my back was turned. But unlike the fire and rabid kitten, I happened to enjoy the process, the slow and steady progress toward the climactic conclusion. There are no cheap resolutions here, as I CLOSE MY EYES and try to end the nightmare, the harsh reality that has taken over for the beating of my pulse.

Like the novel itself, the characters play out in ritualistic fashion, until I realized Gen, Hen, Art, and Morgan all had secrets that were better left unsaid. The demons boiling underneath that needed an audience and a voice to be heard. Before the voices shattered my world and turned it upside down. The buildup is there, the slow, steady climb to the top, but the ride felt a bit too leisurely at times, before the train really started to pick up speed heading toward the home stretch and crashing into the station, bricks and mortar flinging out in every direction.

With characters that accentuate with time and pages accumulated, a plot that burns like a cigarette that has been blown out and then applied to bare skin, and enough untold truths and hidden lies to fill a closet, there’s more here than I first realized. And I found the ride enjoyable.

If you like a little psychological, possibly even a bit crazy, in your world, then this may be one train you want to follow out of the station.

I received this book for free through NetGalley.

[Lisa B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were planning to catch up on some sleep in the near future, do NOT read this book. If you believe that truth is an immutable absolute, do NOT read this book. And, if you believe that the people in your life are the sum total of what you think you know about them, do NOT read this book. However...if you enjoy a book that grabs your attention in the first paragraph and never lets go of it, you should definitely read this book!

This is a twisting, turning storyline which provokes a visceral reaction. I often found myself holding my breath and biting my nails. And often, at the end of a chapter, I realized that I had scrunched myself into a tiny ball on the couch as I read. I most appreciated that all the twists are the result of a story slowly and skillfully being revealed - not the tossing in of red herrings. Every time I thought I had it all figured out (and there were many of these times), I discovered I was wrong (you'd think I would have learned sooner).

So, even if you are behind on your sleep, DO read this book!

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard good things about this author, and was excited when my copy of CLOSE MY EYES arrived. My expectations, I am happy to say, were far from being disappointed!
CLOSE MY EYES is a cleverly constructed book, with a plot that gripped me from the first few pages and a protagonist I truly felt for. The book is written in first person present tense, which I use in my writing as well, so I obviously enjoyed it:-) McKenzie has a very fluid style of writing, and I zipped through this book far too quickly, and now must wait for my copy of her book YOU CAN TRUST ME to arrive:-(
I found twists and turns the story took to be very clever, and though I had my suspicions, I was never certain, and so felt quite pleased the the ending.
This is definitely an author fans of Tana French, Jane Casey, Samantha Hayes, and Nicci French should keep an eyes on, as will I!

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Jacqie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - I haven't read a psychological thriller this good in a while. This book went so deep and kept me turning the pages. I couldn't figure out who did what, which I LOVE, and the plot kept changing with new twists and turns. I also love that the ending wasn't rushed, and she made time to explain exactly who, what, where, and why. Definitely recommending!

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. I didn't see the ending coming at all. A great story. Loved all the twists and turns. Never thought Morgan would have done what she did.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of "Close My Eyes" by Sophie McKenzie through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest. This was such a gripping psychological thriller that had you hooked right from the beginning, and wouldn't let you go until you reached the end. I was first intrigued with the cover, and then when the story started...I couldn't let go.

Geniver Loxley, a writer and husband, Art, a online trader, lost their daughter, Beth who was stillborn. What followed was terrible years of pain and grief, after Beth and six failed IVF attempts. Now they were her again, at the infertility clinic, one year later to see Mr. Tom. Tam suggests they try something new, ICSI, by injecting sperm directly into the egg. Gen isn't so convinced she wants to go through everything again. She can't think in terms of "replacing Beth".

Then a stranger shows up at their house, telling Gen that her daughter, Beth, was not stillborn...but was taken away and is still alive. The stranger says her name is Lucy O'Donnell and her sister, Mary Duncan died last year. Her sister was a nurse, and was at the hospital when Gen had Beth. Mary had told her sister that the baby was born alive and well. The doctor took her away from Gen, while she was under anesthesia, and lied to her. And Lucy tells Gen the final shock...Art knew about this!

Gen wants so desperately to believe her daughter is alive, and she confronts Art, and relays the story, but doesn't mention anything to him about his possible involvement. He just says it is all a con, and forget about it.

But Gen cannot forget about what Lucy had told her...she needed to know the truth. So she starts to investigate, and piece the bits of the puzzle together, and later gets help from another person.

This mystery deepens and builds, with twists and turns all along the way. It is a novel based on lies and deceit, friends and traitors, and horrendous pain and suffering. But there is a common thread, the inner strength of the enduring love of a mother to find her child, and be at peace.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I think this book has got such high marks as the story is pretty explosive and drags you along by the seat of your pants! Top marks for going somewhere I never expected and the ending was great.

The reason I didn't really enjoy this one is because the characters are vapid and completely unbelievable. I realise Gen has been through a lot but she is so irritating and she just couldn't convince me that her situation would be plausible.

I don't want to give anything away as the best part of this book is the plot but that just wasn't enough for me this time.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have closed my eyes before
I selected CLOSE MY EYES.

But I didn't.

This book has to be one of my top nominees for the book with the most far-fetched, unrealistic, implausible, distasteful, and bizarre ending that I have ever read.

Eight years ago, a woman is told that the little girl she gave birth to was stillborn. The woman is still in mourning when she is told by a complete stranger that her baby really wasn't stillborn and that her husband was in on the scam.

Should she believe the stranger or her husband?

This book starts off strong with a compelling premise before it completely disintegrates.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good but not great.

One nice thing to say about this book: I liked the cover!

Two stars rounded up.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

Eight years ago, Gen's baby daughter Beth was tragically stillborn and Gen has been treading water ever since. A writer by profession, her creativity has left her and she now works half-heartedly as a writing teacher. Her husband Art runs a thriving business and financially they want for nothing. He's been the driving force behind them trying for another baby, and after natural methods failed, they had several unsuccessful attempts at IVF. Art now wants to try one more time, but Gen just can't put herself through another round of hope and despair. What she really wants is Beth, just Beth.

Then out of the blue, a woman knocks at Gen's door with the most shocking claim: not only was Beth was born alive and well, she was sold on by her doctor, and even worse, Art was involved in this cruellest of deceptions. Gen's already delicate world crashes around her, but Art dismisses the claims as the work of a business rival, begging her to finally let go of the past and look to the future. But Gen can't do that. If there's a chance that Beth is out there, she'll stop at nothing to find her, whatever the personal cost. Her desperate questions and growing paranoia begins to alienate her best friend Hen as well as Art, but shady newcomer Lorcan is on hand to support her as she searches for the truth.

I loved this. Tightly plotted, the tension slowly builds, deeper and creepier; suspect everyone, trust no-one. Many books are described as page-turners, but this one truly is; it's impossible to do 'just one more chapter,' and I held my breath on more than one occasion, my heart racing as I tried to figure out what the hell had happened. The story is interspersed by a child's narration which becomes more disturbing as the book progresses. Is it lost Beth, or are they the vengeful memories of one of the adults? As with most psychological thrillers the big reveal gets a little melodramatic, reducing an up till then 5 star read to 4.5, but one final twist means the tale ends on a gasp. An addictive read.

[Clarifina ~Books Are My Drugs~]

Isn't this the exact same cover as this but with a different font:. 0

Come on! Compare them!

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What really happened to Gen's stillborn child 8 years ago? Is she really still alive and has her husband anything to do with the mystery? A good tale, kept me guessing but so far fetched and way over the top!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geniver Loxely has been left devastated by the loss of her daughter, and every day since, all she has thought about is Beth. Gen is married to her husband Art, who is very business-orientated and has a successful company, Loxley Benson. Art is also very driven and determined both in business and in life. Gen had a few novels published, and enjoyed writing, but has found it difficult to put her thoughts into words ever since Beth.

One day whilst Art is away on a business trip, there is a knock at the door. Standing in front of Gen is a woman she doesn’t know, who says she has come with some important news and information. She tells Gen that Beth is actually alive, living and breathing, and out there somewhere… But surely this can’t be true? She was sure that she’d lost Beth? Is she really out there? And if so, who has her? And who can Gen really trust?

Wow. One huge wow! I have not stopped thinking about this story ever since I turned the last page! I absolutely loved this book, I was gripped from the first page and I was racing through the book because I was so eager to see where it would take me and what would happen next. I was even sat up in bed at night reading…though in hindsight that wasn’t the best idea because some parts of the book are actually quite creepy, and so that night I was constantly looking over my shoulder!

Sophie McKenzie has done a brilliant job of making you think as you read this. Throughout the book my head was constantly buzzing with questions. Was Beth really alive? If so, where had she been all these years? And who has her? Is the stranger at the door really telling the truth? Can we actually trust anybody? I was desperate to find out!

I really love a good mystery and thriller, and like many others, I really enjoy trying to pick up clues along the way and guess what is happening. At many times throughout the book I thought I’d guessed it right, only for a complete shocker to land on the page and throw all my ideas up into the air again, by the end of it I was suspicious of so many people and I still didn’t get it right! The twists and turns in this book are SO impressive, it took my breath away.

The characters were fantastically written. They all had their own background stories and were actually very complex. I loved Gen straight away, as it is told from her perspective I warmed to her from the first page. I really felt for her for what she had been through with Beth, and I desperately wanted her to discover the truth. As a reader, we learn about and unravel the situations at the same time as Gen does, and my heart was pounding as I read on, I was so scared for Gen but at the same time I was willing her on because I wanted to know the truth about Beth as much as she did.

My favourite part though was that when I reached the end, I thought I had been truly shocked by the result. But nothing prepared me for the final bit that the book threw at me, to say it was chilling is an understatement! The book was brilliant but the last parts of the book where everything picks up pace was absolutely outstanding. I really cannot recommend this book enough!

Close My Eyes is powerful, it is intense and it is so frightening that it is brilliant. This is a seriously chilling read that will have you turning the pages and staying up late at night to read more! With an incredible plot line and lots of tension, this is THE book to read this summer!

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Available now from Simon and Schuster.

Source: Purchased copy.

It’s been eight years since Gen Loxley lost her daughter, Beth: eight years of grief in which nothing’s really moved forward, for all that her husband, Art, wills it to. Gen, once a writer of novels, has settled in to a life of half-hearted teaching, while Art makes his name and their fortune – and pressures her into trying IVF once again. For Gen, it seems a cruel act of replacement; life without Beth is unthinkable, unbearable – but still it goes on. And then a woman arrives on Gen’s doorstep, saying the very thing she longs to hear: that her daughter was not stillborn, but was spirited away as a healthy child, and is out there, waiting to be found…So why is Art reluctant to get involved? To save his wife from further hurt? Or something much more sinister? What is the truth about Beth Loxley?

So another of my very favourite kind of books, those twisty turny psychological thrillers – this one had been languishing on my shelf for a while due to the ever growing to be read mountain, but finally it was time and it was a darn good read.

Gen drifts through life, still grieving, having never really moved on from losing her baby. When a woman turns up one morning and tells her that Beth is still alive somewhere, a chain of events are set in motion that will see Gen’s world turned completely upside down.

This was another utterly addictive read for me – helped along by a terrifically compelling character, Gen, who you immediately get emotionally involved with and by her Husband Art, an enigmatic and driven man who may well be hiding some horrific secrets. Much of the brilliance in this story for me came within the relationship of these two, cleverly drawn, keeping you wondering about the true nature of it througout. Is Art lying? Or could it be genuine concern for Gen’s welfare? In a lot of ways, as well as being a fascinating mystery story this is also very much a tale of a marriage and just how well you can know a person even after many years together.

Offset by some great supporting characters – Gen’s best friend Hen, Art’s utterly absorbing Sister Morgan and various others, Ms McKenzie weaves a web of deception and intrigue around them that will have you often holding your breath, at other times wanting to knock heads together and with some very emotional and heartfelt moments. As a whole I found this difficult to put down – I always wanted to know just one more thing about these people and what exactly happened eight years ago…

If I had any downsides at all they were slight – I did have to suspend disbelief on one or two occasions about the action (or lack thereof) that certain characters took at certain times, well you know these were the “knocking heads together” moments for me – and one of the characters in my head was a little too moustache twirly (sorry can’t put it better than that!) but overall this was absolutely terrific – and the ending blew my mind and gave me a sinister creepy feeling that didnt go away for a good few hours. Impressively achieved!

Definitely recommended highly for fans of the mystery genre. Top notch.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 4 out of 5]

My View:
A stunning read – once I started reading I did not put down till I finished! I had to know what going on, was Gen unstable, trapped in a spiraling web of grief or was there something more sinister and incredible happening? And what was the relevance of the seemingly random addition of the child like voice that punctuated the narrative so disturbingly?

McKenzie writes a great psychological thriller, plenty of twists and turns, a few red herrings thrown in just to keep you guessing, and a topic that is so sensitive and emotive to so many; the death of child and IVF. Add to this a disturbing child like second voice that is somewhat innocent yet menacing at the same time- creepy!

The characters are well developed and Gen is particularly empathetic, she is vulnerable, grieving, and slipping further into depression or is she? That is a question the reader is forced to ask themselves over and over, every time you think there is a logical reason for an event or a disclosure there is an equal illogical but tantalising option – Gen might not be imagining things, Gen isnt dwelling in a morose place, Gen isn't drawing her own conclusions, making the story fit her own desires, or is she? The see saw ride of doubt is persistent and credible and adds to the dramatic tension; Gen even has doubts herself about her conclusions.

McKenzie keeps the tension high, the pages turn fast. Towards the end I felt the story line became a little complicated and messy however the sign of a great read is the reader’s ability to suspend their disbelief and go along with the story no matter what– and I was hooked and engaged! The last few pages were brilliant! I did not see that coming.

[Celina Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a toss up between a two and a three star review for Close My eyes. The good points are very good: the story tackles a difficult subject with sensitivity and insight and it really is a gripping read - like many reviewers I found myself racing towards the end. There is also great skill in making what is actually quite a wildly implausible plot pretty convincing

The bad points: I'm afraid I clocked who the villain was almost as soon as they were introduced as a character which meant the big reveal at the end didn't come as any kind of surprise at all. The plot hinges on a piece of evidence that doesn't really make sense if you think about it. The book is written in the present tense which is one of my pet hates although I appreciate for a thriller it does keep up a sense of urgency.

A good read though and I'll definitely keep an eye out for more by this author.

Oh and a note for publishers: PLEASE stop putting those ridiculously patronising `Reading Group Notes' in the back of your books. Your readers are not still at school.

[Marissa Farrar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!
This book was a solid four stars up until the last 75%. The loss of the main character's baby eight years earlier seems pretty straightforward until a strange woman shows up at her door and tells her that her baby is still alive. Then her whole life unravels, with numerous secrets exposed.
I found the final part of the book hard to believe and found myself getting annoyed with the main character and the numerous idiotic steps she takes. I won't go into them as they'd be spoilers, but I did find myself going 'what???!' a number of times while reading.
I also really disliked the ending and the 'reveal' of the child narrator. I'd already guessed who it was fairly early, but the final bit was really the thing that killed this book for me. I can't imagine a child ever truly thinking that way.

[Roisin Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic book. I couldn’t put it down and before I knew it, it was 3am and I had finished the book.

[Navem · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this in a Good Reads Giveaway.

I am flabbergasted at the high ratings this book has pulled in so far. I am trying to figure out what it was about the story line and characters that drew people in? You could tell from
The get go that all was not well in Art and Gen's marriage. It wasn't hard to figure out that Morgan was off as well. I just found this book to be slow, and not surprising. It played out like a Lifetime movie. Predictable. I am very disappointed with it. I would not recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just fantastic! I loved every moment and the ending was superb! It's because of books like this that I am reminded about why I love to read.