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Call Me Evie
In this propulsive, twist-filled, and haunting psychological suspense debut perfect for fans of Sharp Objects and Room, a seventeen-year-old girl struggles to remember the role she played on the night her life changed forever.
For the past two weeks, seventeen-year-old Kate Bennet has lived against her will in an isolated cabin in a remote beach town--brought there by a mysterious man named Bill. Part captor, part benefactor, Bill calls her Evie and tells her he's hiding her to protect her. That she did something terrible one night back home in Melbourne--something so unspeakable that he had no choice but to take her away. The trouble is, Kate can't remember the night in question.
The fragments of Kate's shattered memories of her old life seem happy: good friends, a big house in the suburbs, a devoted boyfriend. Bill says he'll help her fill in the blanks--but his story isn't adding up. And as she tries to reconcile the girl she thought she'd been with the devastating consequences Bill claims she's responsible for, Kate will unearth secrets about herself and those closest to her that could change everything.
A riveting debut novel that fearlessly plumbs the darkest recesses of the mind, Call Me Evie explores the fragility of memory and the potential in all of us to hide the truth, even from ourselves.
For the past two weeks, seventeen-year-old Kate Bennet has lived against her will in an isolated cabin in a remote beach town--brought there by a mysterious man named Bill. Part captor, part benefactor, Bill calls her Evie and tells her he's hiding her to protect her. That she did something terrible one night back home in Melbourne--something so unspeakable that he had no choice but to take her away. The trouble is, Kate can't remember the night in question.
The fragments of Kate's shattered memories of her old life seem happy: good friends, a big house in the suburbs, a devoted boyfriend. Bill says he'll help her fill in the blanks--but his story isn't adding up. And as she tries to reconcile the girl she thought she'd been with the devastating consequences Bill claims she's responsible for, Kate will unearth secrets about herself and those closest to her that could change everything.
A riveting debut novel that fearlessly plumbs the darkest recesses of the mind, Call Me Evie explores the fragility of memory and the potential in all of us to hide the truth, even from ourselves.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published December 27, 2018
459 people are currently reading
15882 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Pomare
12 books1,387 followersJ. P. Pomare is a New Zealand author who lives in Melbourne, Australia.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,152 reviews
March 14, 2019
“Which is the true nightmare, the horrific dream that you have in your sleep or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?” ― Justin Alcala
Reading Call Me Evie is like watching a magic trick. While you are focused on magician’s moves, the real trick has already happened, right in front of your eyes. The clues were all there but you failed to pick them up.
The story starts with Evie being held captive in an isolated cabin ins a remote beach town in New Zealand. Evie looks to escape but before that she must discover why she is here or even who she really is.
Call Me Evie pulls you in right from the start. For the first few chapters, it’s difficult to understand where the story leading you. But if you remain patient, you will be rewarded as the story moves forward. Told in two timelines; The Past & Present; the story seamlessly shifts between each timeline without ever getting confusing. As the mystery is slowly revealed, the fog starts lifting and things which looked bleak become clear all of a sudden.
Pomare’s writing is sharp and his characters perfectly fleshed out. There are many layers and twists to this story and they are revealed with perfect precision. The story is a bit slow, especially in the middle, but as you keep reading you get hooked to story and the characters. Some readers may find the lack of clues frustrating but the clues are all there, if you pay attention. Towards the end of the book, all loose ends are tied up very well. The ending especially is well written as it delivers the final twist.
Overall, Call Me Evie is a thrilling debut novel and a gripping, this psychological suspense novel that will keep you guessing till the last page (literally).
If you love psychological thrillers, you will surely enjoy this one. 4.5/5
Many thanks to the publishers Penguin Publishing Group & G.P. Putnam's Sons, the author JP Pomare and Edelweiss for the ARC.
Reading Call Me Evie is like watching a magic trick. While you are focused on magician’s moves, the real trick has already happened, right in front of your eyes. The clues were all there but you failed to pick them up.
The story starts with Evie being held captive in an isolated cabin ins a remote beach town in New Zealand. Evie looks to escape but before that she must discover why she is here or even who she really is.
Call Me Evie pulls you in right from the start. For the first few chapters, it’s difficult to understand where the story leading you. But if you remain patient, you will be rewarded as the story moves forward. Told in two timelines; The Past & Present; the story seamlessly shifts between each timeline without ever getting confusing. As the mystery is slowly revealed, the fog starts lifting and things which looked bleak become clear all of a sudden.
Pomare’s writing is sharp and his characters perfectly fleshed out. There are many layers and twists to this story and they are revealed with perfect precision. The story is a bit slow, especially in the middle, but as you keep reading you get hooked to story and the characters. Some readers may find the lack of clues frustrating but the clues are all there, if you pay attention. Towards the end of the book, all loose ends are tied up very well. The ending especially is well written as it delivers the final twist.
Overall, Call Me Evie is a thrilling debut novel and a gripping, this psychological suspense novel that will keep you guessing till the last page (literally).
If you love psychological thrillers, you will surely enjoy this one. 4.5/5
Many thanks to the publishers Penguin Publishing Group & G.P. Putnam's Sons, the author JP Pomare and Edelweiss for the ARC.
March 7, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
“Doubting what you see is a very odd experience. And doubting what you remember is also a pretty odd experience, because some memories come with a very compelling sense of truth about them, and that happens to be the case even for memories that are not true ”. - Daniel Kahneman
Originally from Melbourne, seventeen-year-old Kate Bennet is far from home. Currently living in a remote cabin with a man she calls Uncle Jim. He calls her Evie. This man who asks so many questions about the night that changed her life. He wants to know if she remembers what happened. Does he really want her to remember?
She feels like she can’t trust herself. She can’t tell the difference between memory and dreams. She doesn’t know whether to believe what he tells her. She has fragments of memory but so many things just don’t make sense. Jim makes all the decisions. He claims he’s doing what he has to in order to keep her safe. “They could be anywhere. They could be watching us right now”
Can she trust him?
Is he her Captor or Savior?
Can she trust herself? If ONLY she could remember!
The story is told in two timeframes…before and after. The “before” chapters slowly reveal what led Evie and Jim to where they are now. We learn about Evie/Kate’s past, early childhood, and her resent relationships with family and friends.
So what really happened that night? The night that EVERYTHING changed.
This was quite an intense read! From the first page, I was hooked. I wanted to know what was going on and how things were going to turn out. Things were revealed slowly, so I definitely had to be patient (patience is not one of my strong suits). I had my ideas and wanted to see if I was right. I was even tempted to flip to the end of the book (but I didn’t). Although I did guess a couple of things, for the most part, I was surprised. I did feel a little bit like the ending snuck up on me, but that could have been because I was reading fast, wanting to find out what happened.
Entertaining and gripping, this psychological suspense novel kept me guessing right up to the very end.
I think this could be a great book club read as it touches on so many different topics relevant in our world today.
A terrific debut novel about anger, revenge, betrayal, and memory that has me anxiously awaiting more from J.P. Pomare.
I'd like to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
“Doubting what you see is a very odd experience. And doubting what you remember is also a pretty odd experience, because some memories come with a very compelling sense of truth about them, and that happens to be the case even for memories that are not true ”. - Daniel Kahneman
Originally from Melbourne, seventeen-year-old Kate Bennet is far from home. Currently living in a remote cabin with a man she calls Uncle Jim. He calls her Evie. This man who asks so many questions about the night that changed her life. He wants to know if she remembers what happened. Does he really want her to remember?
She feels like she can’t trust herself. She can’t tell the difference between memory and dreams. She doesn’t know whether to believe what he tells her. She has fragments of memory but so many things just don’t make sense. Jim makes all the decisions. He claims he’s doing what he has to in order to keep her safe. “They could be anywhere. They could be watching us right now”
Can she trust him?
Is he her Captor or Savior?
Can she trust herself? If ONLY she could remember!
The story is told in two timeframes…before and after. The “before” chapters slowly reveal what led Evie and Jim to where they are now. We learn about Evie/Kate’s past, early childhood, and her resent relationships with family and friends.
So what really happened that night? The night that EVERYTHING changed.
This was quite an intense read! From the first page, I was hooked. I wanted to know what was going on and how things were going to turn out. Things were revealed slowly, so I definitely had to be patient (patience is not one of my strong suits). I had my ideas and wanted to see if I was right. I was even tempted to flip to the end of the book (but I didn’t). Although I did guess a couple of things, for the most part, I was surprised. I did feel a little bit like the ending snuck up on me, but that could have been because I was reading fast, wanting to find out what happened.
Entertaining and gripping, this psychological suspense novel kept me guessing right up to the very end.
I think this could be a great book club read as it touches on so many different topics relevant in our world today.
A terrific debut novel about anger, revenge, betrayal, and memory that has me anxiously awaiting more from J.P. Pomare.
I'd like to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2020
Call Me Evie by J.P. Pomare is a 2019 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.
Inventive approach to the domestic/psychological thriller!
This book is a real page turner! Kate is living in New Zealand with her Uncle Jim. She has been led to believe she must change her name to ‘Evie’ and leave her home and everything she holds dear behind for her own protection, because, evidently, she’s done something truly terrible.
Soon she realizes that the entire community thinks she has psychological problems, and with each passing day, Jim becomes more controlling, keeping her locked in her room, and away from computers and the internet. But Kate/Evie is determined to discover the nature of her crime, as she examines the bits and pieces of her past which provide possible clues as to how her life suddenly spiraled out of control.
Did she really commit a heinous crime or is there something more sinister going on?
This novel is very cleverly constructed, keeping the reader absolutely in the dark, wondering who can be trusted, if anyone. Kate’s voice leaves no doubt that she is in sheer terror, unable to figure out if she is guilty or not, and afraid of Jim, who is constantly removing any possible escape route Kate might have worked out for herself.
Kate’s background tells us that her mother has died, leaving Kate in the care of her very over- protective father. But, eventually, Kate reaches the age where she's interested in dating, but has her ease her father into that idea. But it's her best friend who has decided to interfere, leading to a showdown in which something apparently went horribly awry. Could Kate has caused someone’s death? Was it an accident or is she a murderer?
Once I started reading this book, I was totally invested in it. The suspense is taut from beginning to end and left me with tingle running down my spine!!
This is a dark and edgy story I found impossible to put down. There are so many thrilling twists and secrets, I could never let my guard down! If you like psychological thrillers, this one has your name on it! Very impressive debut!!
Inventive approach to the domestic/psychological thriller!
This book is a real page turner! Kate is living in New Zealand with her Uncle Jim. She has been led to believe she must change her name to ‘Evie’ and leave her home and everything she holds dear behind for her own protection, because, evidently, she’s done something truly terrible.
Soon she realizes that the entire community thinks she has psychological problems, and with each passing day, Jim becomes more controlling, keeping her locked in her room, and away from computers and the internet. But Kate/Evie is determined to discover the nature of her crime, as she examines the bits and pieces of her past which provide possible clues as to how her life suddenly spiraled out of control.
Did she really commit a heinous crime or is there something more sinister going on?
This novel is very cleverly constructed, keeping the reader absolutely in the dark, wondering who can be trusted, if anyone. Kate’s voice leaves no doubt that she is in sheer terror, unable to figure out if she is guilty or not, and afraid of Jim, who is constantly removing any possible escape route Kate might have worked out for herself.
Kate’s background tells us that her mother has died, leaving Kate in the care of her very over- protective father. But, eventually, Kate reaches the age where she's interested in dating, but has her ease her father into that idea. But it's her best friend who has decided to interfere, leading to a showdown in which something apparently went horribly awry. Could Kate has caused someone’s death? Was it an accident or is she a murderer?
Once I started reading this book, I was totally invested in it. The suspense is taut from beginning to end and left me with tingle running down my spine!!
This is a dark and edgy story I found impossible to put down. There are so many thrilling twists and secrets, I could never let my guard down! If you like psychological thrillers, this one has your name on it! Very impressive debut!!
February 7, 2019
4.5*
Oh my gosh! This book was fabulous! It will keep you on the hook, guessing all the way to the very last page!
Kate is seventeen years old who currently finds herself on the run with Jim. He’s hiding her in a small community in New Zealand! He says it’s for her own protection. But what exactly is he protecting her from? And why is she feeling more like a prisoner every day?
Told in two timelines.
The past: Young Kate growing up in Australia with her father. Balancing her time between her best friend Willow and her new boyfriend Thom.
The present: Hidden away in New Zealand. Trying to remain safe. But who can she trust? Most important, will she ever be able to go home?
J.P. Pomare writes a deliciously, thrilling tale that will keep you glued to your kindle! There are so many hidden secrets that are slowly and cleverly revealed, providing an abundance of shocking moments. (What more could we want?!) I’d seen so many great reviews for this book and I couldn’t agree more with every one of them! Wonderful!
I was shocked to discover this was a debut by J.P. Pomare! I cannot wait to see what he cooks up next! I am already standing in line!
A fantastic buddy read with Susanne that had us furiously texting back and forth till the wee hours of the night putting the pieces together!😱
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and J.P. Pomare for an ARC to read and review
Oh my gosh! This book was fabulous! It will keep you on the hook, guessing all the way to the very last page!
Kate is seventeen years old who currently finds herself on the run with Jim. He’s hiding her in a small community in New Zealand! He says it’s for her own protection. But what exactly is he protecting her from? And why is she feeling more like a prisoner every day?
Told in two timelines.
The past: Young Kate growing up in Australia with her father. Balancing her time between her best friend Willow and her new boyfriend Thom.
The present: Hidden away in New Zealand. Trying to remain safe. But who can she trust? Most important, will she ever be able to go home?
J.P. Pomare writes a deliciously, thrilling tale that will keep you glued to your kindle! There are so many hidden secrets that are slowly and cleverly revealed, providing an abundance of shocking moments. (What more could we want?!) I’d seen so many great reviews for this book and I couldn’t agree more with every one of them! Wonderful!
I was shocked to discover this was a debut by J.P. Pomare! I cannot wait to see what he cooks up next! I am already standing in line!
A fantastic buddy read with Susanne that had us furiously texting back and forth till the wee hours of the night putting the pieces together!😱
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and J.P. Pomare for an ARC to read and review
May 16, 2019
4 twisted stars for J.P Pomare's suspenseful psychological thriller Call Me Evie
Evie is having trouble remembering her recent past. She has figments of memories, moments she fleetingly recalls but everything is hazy. What she does know is that she is being kept far from her home in Melbourne, in a remote cabin by a man she calls Uncle Jim. Why is she so far from home? Is Jim helping her or are his motives more sinister?
Evie is an unreliable narrator. She cannot tell the difference between memories, dreams and Jim's suggestions. She in a constant struggle to fight the fog and holes in her memory and we are along for the ride. J.P. Pomare had me second guessing everyone - including myself!
The story is told in two alternating timeframes - before and after. Things are revealed slowly, almost teasingly. I devoured this book because I had to know what really happened the night everything changed. The night that was the precipice to Evie's current situation.
This book was a wild ride of secrets and suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading what Pomare writes next.
Evie is having trouble remembering her recent past. She has figments of memories, moments she fleetingly recalls but everything is hazy. What she does know is that she is being kept far from her home in Melbourne, in a remote cabin by a man she calls Uncle Jim. Why is she so far from home? Is Jim helping her or are his motives more sinister?
Evie is an unreliable narrator. She cannot tell the difference between memories, dreams and Jim's suggestions. She in a constant struggle to fight the fog and holes in her memory and we are along for the ride. J.P. Pomare had me second guessing everyone - including myself!
The story is told in two alternating timeframes - before and after. Things are revealed slowly, almost teasingly. I devoured this book because I had to know what really happened the night everything changed. The night that was the precipice to Evie's current situation.
This book was a wild ride of secrets and suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading what Pomare writes next.
February 22, 2019
JP Pomare debut is a chillingly oppressive psychological thriller that is incredibly well constructed and so well written. In a remote and isolated cabin in the coastal town of Maketu in New Zealand, 17 year old Aussie Kate Bennet is Evie. The novel opens with her hair being chopped off, but Evie is clueless about herself, her memories are shot to pieces, and she is being cared for by 'Uncle Jim', a man determined to protect her from horrific events that occurred in Melbourne, Australia. A drugged and bewildered Evie is not sure that she can believe Jim, she feels more prisoner that someone being protected. She plots her escape from a beautiful place but where the locals are rather strange and odd. In a story that pieces together the mystery of Evie, the narrative goes back and forth in time with a focus on 'before' and 'after'.
Evie is your classic unreliable narrator that is central to the genre of psychological thrillers. Her background is slowly revealed, the bath incident that left her scarred as a child, the death of her mother, being raised by her sports father, her friendships, her boyfriend and more. It explains how her past resulted in shaping the Evie we now see, and how the events in Melbourne occurred. This is a novel of love, lies, secrets and contemporary teen life. This is a fast paced read, packed with twists in its slow reveals, that centres on a troubled and damaged young woman, such a compelling character. Pomare provides a great sense of location, and a story that is so well plotted that the reveals and twists have impact. I found this an entertaining and very engaging read that fans of psychological thrillers will most likely enjoy immensely. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Evie is your classic unreliable narrator that is central to the genre of psychological thrillers. Her background is slowly revealed, the bath incident that left her scarred as a child, the death of her mother, being raised by her sports father, her friendships, her boyfriend and more. It explains how her past resulted in shaping the Evie we now see, and how the events in Melbourne occurred. This is a novel of love, lies, secrets and contemporary teen life. This is a fast paced read, packed with twists in its slow reveals, that centres on a troubled and damaged young woman, such a compelling character. Pomare provides a great sense of location, and a story that is so well plotted that the reveals and twists have impact. I found this an entertaining and very engaging read that fans of psychological thrillers will most likely enjoy immensely. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
February 2, 2019
4 Stars
One Crazy Thriller
When “Evie” wakes up groggy, she realizes that she has been kidnapped and is being held captive in New Zealand by a man named Jim. She was once known as Kate and she lived in Melbourne. Jim swears he took her to protect her - from herself and from what she did. “Evie” can’t help but wonder however if he is the guilty party. “Don’t Trust Him” she thinks.. and yet, is her mind playing tricks on her? What went down in Melbourne? What happened with her boyfriend Thom? If only she could remember!
Better yet, who is Evie? Can she be trusted? Ha. Time will tell.
“Call Me Evie” is a fast paced thriller that grabbed my attention instantaneously. Though I had my suspicions early which were in fact confirmed, none of that took away from my enjoyment of this fantastic thriller. It is wild and crazy and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group - G.P. Putnam’s Sons and to J. P Pomare for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 2/2/19.
One Crazy Thriller
When “Evie” wakes up groggy, she realizes that she has been kidnapped and is being held captive in New Zealand by a man named Jim. She was once known as Kate and she lived in Melbourne. Jim swears he took her to protect her - from herself and from what she did. “Evie” can’t help but wonder however if he is the guilty party. “Don’t Trust Him” she thinks.. and yet, is her mind playing tricks on her? What went down in Melbourne? What happened with her boyfriend Thom? If only she could remember!
Better yet, who is Evie? Can she be trusted? Ha. Time will tell.
“Call Me Evie” is a fast paced thriller that grabbed my attention instantaneously. Though I had my suspicions early which were in fact confirmed, none of that took away from my enjoyment of this fantastic thriller. It is wild and crazy and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group - G.P. Putnam’s Sons and to J. P Pomare for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 2/2/19.
March 8, 2019
I was intrigued by the story of Evie, who couldn't remember her past and was in the custody of "Uncle Jim", a person who told her that he was protecting her from those who wanted to get her for the bad thing that she had done. Jim and Evie are holed up in a small town by the beach, Jim is feeding Evie smoothies, to get her weight up, and making sure she takes pills that are supposed to help her. There doesn't seem to be a sexual element to Jim keeping Evie captive but it's hard to know if he might be grooming her for later.
Jim is definitely trying to manipulate Evie's thoughts and memories but even without that going on, Evie seems to be an unreliable narrator. I'm not always sure of what Evie doesn't remember and what she may be lying about to us. Evie is confused and that leaves us confused about so many things. We don't know who might be looking for Evie, who might be willing to hurt Evie, or why Jim cares.
Toward the end of the book, we get all the answers and I want to thank the author for revealing what had happened rather than leaving us without answers. I know I felt so much tension while reading the book but I oddly, I felt more concerned about what was going on with Jim than with Evie. I think both Evie and Jim seemed unstable but we had no idea of why they were in the circumstances they were in so I wasn't sure if they had a valid reason be be pursued by whoever was after them.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC.
Jim is definitely trying to manipulate Evie's thoughts and memories but even without that going on, Evie seems to be an unreliable narrator. I'm not always sure of what Evie doesn't remember and what she may be lying about to us. Evie is confused and that leaves us confused about so many things. We don't know who might be looking for Evie, who might be willing to hurt Evie, or why Jim cares.
Toward the end of the book, we get all the answers and I want to thank the author for revealing what had happened rather than leaving us without answers. I know I felt so much tension while reading the book but I oddly, I felt more concerned about what was going on with Jim than with Evie. I think both Evie and Jim seemed unstable but we had no idea of why they were in the circumstances they were in so I wasn't sure if they had a valid reason be be pursued by whoever was after them.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC.
February 18, 2019
This was such a page turner!!!
Kate Bennett is your average Australian teenager until she finds herself held captive in New Zealand with a man named, Jim, and Jim says that she is to go by the name Evie from now on and that it's for her own protection. He claims that she did something back in Melbourne that have the authorities looking for her and that he is only looking out for her best interest and to keep her safe. Kate can not conjure up her memories of the night in question. She doesn't know who or what to believe without any access to her phone or the internet. Should she believe Jim or should she run?
I had so many theories running through my head while reading this. Who the hell is this guy? What did she do? And why is everyone in this town they move to so damn creepy? My mind was just just reeling.
This book was 5 stars all the way until the final denouement. I had to knock a star because I didn't quite buy how it all wrapped up. That being said, this book is twisty and fun and incredibly entertaining. Psychological thriller aficionados should walk away from this one feeling satisfied. 4 head-spinning stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and J.P. Putnam's Sons for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kate Bennett is your average Australian teenager until she finds herself held captive in New Zealand with a man named, Jim, and Jim says that she is to go by the name Evie from now on and that it's for her own protection. He claims that she did something back in Melbourne that have the authorities looking for her and that he is only looking out for her best interest and to keep her safe. Kate can not conjure up her memories of the night in question. She doesn't know who or what to believe without any access to her phone or the internet. Should she believe Jim or should she run?
I had so many theories running through my head while reading this. Who the hell is this guy? What did she do? And why is everyone in this town they move to so damn creepy? My mind was just just reeling.
This book was 5 stars all the way until the final denouement. I had to knock a star because I didn't quite buy how it all wrapped up. That being said, this book is twisty and fun and incredibly entertaining. Psychological thriller aficionados should walk away from this one feeling satisfied. 4 head-spinning stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and J.P. Putnam's Sons for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 30, 2019
Held my interest for the first half of the book, and then I began preparing myself for a lackluster ending. But thankfully, I was way off base as things really heated up in the final chapters of the book. Not a perfect read, but one I definitely recommend reading if you get the chance.
The author chose to use alternating timelines to tell the story. Right off the bat you can't help but feel scared for Evie as she is being held captive by a man named Jim. Her memory is a bit fuzzy and she is told something terrible happened back when she lived in Australia. The book goes back and forth between this present day storyline and the past which you get to see everything that led to this current situation. So the chapters featuring the present day have more of a thriller aspect to it while the past is a mystery that is slowly revealed.
So the story grabbed me from the start but eventually I started losing faith in the author and was already mentally preparing myself for a fairly boring and unoriginal ending. I was wrong though and the author still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Even though I got bored a bit especially with some of the middle to late chapters involving the present day storyline, what happens in the last few chapters really saved the book for me and is the reason I ended up giving this 4 stars rather than 3. I'm not saying it is the most mind blowing ending you ever saw, but it was pretty darn good in my opinion.
A strong debut novel by the author and I look forward to reading more from him in the future. Definitely recommend if you like psychological thrillers.
The author chose to use alternating timelines to tell the story. Right off the bat you can't help but feel scared for Evie as she is being held captive by a man named Jim. Her memory is a bit fuzzy and she is told something terrible happened back when she lived in Australia. The book goes back and forth between this present day storyline and the past which you get to see everything that led to this current situation. So the chapters featuring the present day have more of a thriller aspect to it while the past is a mystery that is slowly revealed.
So the story grabbed me from the start but eventually I started losing faith in the author and was already mentally preparing myself for a fairly boring and unoriginal ending. I was wrong though and the author still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Even though I got bored a bit especially with some of the middle to late chapters involving the present day storyline, what happens in the last few chapters really saved the book for me and is the reason I ended up giving this 4 stars rather than 3. I'm not saying it is the most mind blowing ending you ever saw, but it was pretty darn good in my opinion.
A strong debut novel by the author and I look forward to reading more from him in the future. Definitely recommend if you like psychological thrillers.
April 22, 2019
FOUR STARS
CALL ME EVIE will have you questioning everything and EVERYONE in this well-written TWISTY thriller!
Set in Australia and New Zealand, the story of Evie is different than the usual thriller. “Evie” is 17 years old with a bit of a murky past.
At the beginning of the book, Evie is undergoing a head shaving at the hands of her abductor all the while enduring a raging panic attack. For most of the book, you will be focused on finding out who the kidnapper is and what exactly is going on. Sometimes, Evie seems to care deeply for her abductor, and other times she is plotting her violent escape.
As you, the reader, begin going through the possible abductors (Evie’s dad, boyfriend, her friend’s dad or some rando character!) and focus on what the heck happened to make Evie and her abductor flee from Australia to New Zealand, your mind will change a hundred times before the final REVEAL!
This is a tough one to figure out and I found it very addictive to read.
CALL ME EVIE will have you questioning everything and EVERYONE in this well-written TWISTY thriller!
Set in Australia and New Zealand, the story of Evie is different than the usual thriller. “Evie” is 17 years old with a bit of a murky past.
At the beginning of the book, Evie is undergoing a head shaving at the hands of her abductor all the while enduring a raging panic attack. For most of the book, you will be focused on finding out who the kidnapper is and what exactly is going on. Sometimes, Evie seems to care deeply for her abductor, and other times she is plotting her violent escape.
As you, the reader, begin going through the possible abductors (Evie’s dad, boyfriend, her friend’s dad or some rando character!) and focus on what the heck happened to make Evie and her abductor flee from Australia to New Zealand, your mind will change a hundred times before the final REVEAL!
This is a tough one to figure out and I found it very addictive to read.
March 10, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up!
Kate, aka Evie, is a seventeen year old girl and she finds herself hiding out with her "uncle" Jim in a small town in New Zealand. He tells her everyday that she has done something bad and that he is just protecting her so they don't take her away. Kate tries to piece back the memories of what happened but only remembers bits and pieces. She knows it had something to do with her then boyfriend, Thom, but Jim won't tell her exactly what happened, just that she did something bad.
This story is told between two timelines: before the accident and after they've reached their new hideout space. As the story goes on, Kate starts to piece together the events from Before but she still struggles if this is a dream or real. Can she trust herself and the thoughts that she is having? What could she have really done that was SO bad that she deserves the treatment that she is getting. Time will tell for Kate.
This was Jp Pomare's debut novel and I was so happy that this was so strong for being a debut! Before this book I had picked up a few thriller/suspense novels but nothing was keeping me engaged. Once I started Call me Evie, I read it within a day and wanted to know what happened. Was I totally shocked by everything? No, but it still had the right amount of suspense and excitement to keep me reading at a quick pace.
Overall, I really enjoyed this debut Thriller by JP Pomare and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers/suspense. It does have some violence and verbal abuse in it, but nothing too harsh that I couldn't get through it. I will definitely be reading the next one by JP!
Thank you to Putnam for my ARC of this book!
Like I said, the skin remembers, the fingertips remember. The gritty bite of the brick. The crack of the bone. The memory is like something physical, a scab I can worry, something I can make bleed again.
Kate, aka Evie, is a seventeen year old girl and she finds herself hiding out with her "uncle" Jim in a small town in New Zealand. He tells her everyday that she has done something bad and that he is just protecting her so they don't take her away. Kate tries to piece back the memories of what happened but only remembers bits and pieces. She knows it had something to do with her then boyfriend, Thom, but Jim won't tell her exactly what happened, just that she did something bad.
This story is told between two timelines: before the accident and after they've reached their new hideout space. As the story goes on, Kate starts to piece together the events from Before but she still struggles if this is a dream or real. Can she trust herself and the thoughts that she is having? What could she have really done that was SO bad that she deserves the treatment that she is getting. Time will tell for Kate.
This was Jp Pomare's debut novel and I was so happy that this was so strong for being a debut! Before this book I had picked up a few thriller/suspense novels but nothing was keeping me engaged. Once I started Call me Evie, I read it within a day and wanted to know what happened. Was I totally shocked by everything? No, but it still had the right amount of suspense and excitement to keep me reading at a quick pace.
Overall, I really enjoyed this debut Thriller by JP Pomare and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers/suspense. It does have some violence and verbal abuse in it, but nothing too harsh that I couldn't get through it. I will definitely be reading the next one by JP!
Thank you to Putnam for my ARC of this book!
May 29, 2020
I have heard so much about Call Me Evie by JP Pomare and going into I had reservations that it wouldn't live up to the hype. I needn't have though as this book is everything you have heard and so much more. Still reeling over this story that I finished earlier today. Can't believe that this is a debut novel. Really looking forward to seeing what comes next for this writer. I love books that are set in Australia and this one certainly had me hooked from the very beginning.
Evie is 17 and has fled her home in Melbourne with her Uncle Jim to the isolated town of Maketu in New Zealand. She has been lead to believe that she has done something terrible and that the police are after her. She has no memory of the incident and is scared. As her memory starts to return she starts to wonder if she is in fact being held prisoner by Jim, who is not really her uncle. Trying to put all the pieces together we hear the story of Evie now and before. Is Jim protecting her or himself and will she ever get home to Melbourne?
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK Sphere and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Evie is 17 and has fled her home in Melbourne with her Uncle Jim to the isolated town of Maketu in New Zealand. She has been lead to believe that she has done something terrible and that the police are after her. She has no memory of the incident and is scared. As her memory starts to return she starts to wonder if she is in fact being held prisoner by Jim, who is not really her uncle. Trying to put all the pieces together we hear the story of Evie now and before. Is Jim protecting her or himself and will she ever get home to Melbourne?
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK Sphere and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
January 14, 2019
Call Me Evie by J.P. Pomare is a psychological thriller that starts with a slow building story only to pick up the pace as the twists and turns begin. The story is told from the point of view of a young girl who is being held as she struggles to remember the past.
Seventeen year old Kate Bennet has been being held in a remote cabin by a man who calls himself Jim. Jim has been telling Kate that he is doing what he is only to protect her and if he were to let her go the police would be after her.
Kate has no memory of what happened before she arrived at the cabin with Jim but as each day goes by more and more begin to come back to her. She knows Jim has been drugging her and without the pills she hopes to regain her knowledge of what happened and whether there is any truth to Jim's side of the story.
I have to admit that a lot of Call Me Evie was one of those books that I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. The story was a slow burner in the beginning but truthfully that didn't bother me as much as just questioning events as it went along. Then on the other hand when the paced picked up bringing a reader to the conclusion actually thought it went a bit too fast that it was in danger of being confusing. Overall it's not a bad story but being a bit up and down I decided to give this one 3.5 stars myself.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Seventeen year old Kate Bennet has been being held in a remote cabin by a man who calls himself Jim. Jim has been telling Kate that he is doing what he is only to protect her and if he were to let her go the police would be after her.
Kate has no memory of what happened before she arrived at the cabin with Jim but as each day goes by more and more begin to come back to her. She knows Jim has been drugging her and without the pills she hopes to regain her knowledge of what happened and whether there is any truth to Jim's side of the story.
I have to admit that a lot of Call Me Evie was one of those books that I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. The story was a slow burner in the beginning but truthfully that didn't bother me as much as just questioning events as it went along. Then on the other hand when the paced picked up bringing a reader to the conclusion actually thought it went a bit too fast that it was in danger of being confusing. Overall it's not a bad story but being a bit up and down I decided to give this one 3.5 stars myself.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 6, 2019
Twisted, Good Crazy, Wickedly Outstanding is the first words that spring to mind.
Then I’d say.....you love a twisted thriller? I recommend this one!
I saw my book buddy Ludwig reading this, read his review and bumped this up my TBR list. He was absolutely correct in what his reviews says.
The timeline changes from past to present. It’s not confusing at all, what it is though is like a revelation you are being fed morsel by morsel. Drip, drip, drip, that spins your thoughts and brain whirling at speed.
My jaw dropped to the floor as I got toward the end. I kid you not, I literally gasped and raised my head in amazement. Not once, not for one mini second did I think of that. then it threw in something else, another honesty.
I’m not hyping this book, I’m telling you what effect it had on me personally as a reader.
One of my top 10 this year in thrillers for sure.
Then I’d say.....you love a twisted thriller? I recommend this one!
I saw my book buddy Ludwig reading this, read his review and bumped this up my TBR list. He was absolutely correct in what his reviews says.
The timeline changes from past to present. It’s not confusing at all, what it is though is like a revelation you are being fed morsel by morsel. Drip, drip, drip, that spins your thoughts and brain whirling at speed.
My jaw dropped to the floor as I got toward the end. I kid you not, I literally gasped and raised my head in amazement. Not once, not for one mini second did I think of that. then it threw in something else, another honesty.
I’m not hyping this book, I’m telling you what effect it had on me personally as a reader.
One of my top 10 this year in thrillers for sure.
March 5, 2019
2.5/5
Hmm this was a weird read for me, not sure how I feel so I’ll just sort of think out loud with my review and try to process my thoughts and feelings about this with you guys!
This is told in two timelines, before and after and nothing is very clear throughout, especially at the beginning. Evie narrates and all you know is that she’s being held captive, but her captor isn’t hurting her, he says he’s protecting her. You have no idea from who or what exactly they’re hiding from and neither does Evie. It’s all very vague and there are so many questions and while I usually like unknown factors I was annoyed by how little is revealed and how painfully slowly things do end up coming out. When things do finally come to a head I just felt like it was all sort of stupid and weird. It didn’t make a ton of sense for me and there were also several secondary characters that seemed to serve no purpose in the story in the end. I was left thinking, but why about most things about this one. It was all just messy and clunky for me and left me going, what??? and not in a good way.
To end on a positive note, one aspect I did like was the idea of memory and how that can be manipulated or changed throughout time and for various reasons. I’m gonna say no more on that but just that it was an angle I hadn’t exactly seen before and I always appreciate a fresh approach. I seem to be in the minority on this one, there are several glowing reviews on Goodreads that show this may be a me problem because plenty of people loved this so keep that in mind!
Hmm this was a weird read for me, not sure how I feel so I’ll just sort of think out loud with my review and try to process my thoughts and feelings about this with you guys!
This is told in two timelines, before and after and nothing is very clear throughout, especially at the beginning. Evie narrates and all you know is that she’s being held captive, but her captor isn’t hurting her, he says he’s protecting her. You have no idea from who or what exactly they’re hiding from and neither does Evie. It’s all very vague and there are so many questions and while I usually like unknown factors I was annoyed by how little is revealed and how painfully slowly things do end up coming out. When things do finally come to a head I just felt like it was all sort of stupid and weird. It didn’t make a ton of sense for me and there were also several secondary characters that seemed to serve no purpose in the story in the end. I was left thinking, but why about most things about this one. It was all just messy and clunky for me and left me going, what??? and not in a good way.
To end on a positive note, one aspect I did like was the idea of memory and how that can be manipulated or changed throughout time and for various reasons. I’m gonna say no more on that but just that it was an angle I hadn’t exactly seen before and I always appreciate a fresh approach. I seem to be in the minority on this one, there are several glowing reviews on Goodreads that show this may be a me problem because plenty of people loved this so keep that in mind!
November 6, 2024
What I know about the human skull, I learned because of him.
4.5 stars. I DEFINITELY have some opinions on this, most of which are positive. I have an enormous amount of thoughts and feelings.
The unreliable narrator has been queen in the mystery/thriller genre for quite a while now. And when executed well, it's a fantastic trope. Call Me Evie will definitely have you questioning the reliability of the narrator (Kate aka Evie) as well as those who surround her. Who can you trust? What can you believe?
Call Me Evie chucks you headfirst into the story. From page one, paragraph one; there's no exposition, just a scene with an emaciated girl in front of a mirror, scissors in hand and clumps of hair all around. The reader is instantaneously immersed into Kate's terror and confusion. I had zero idea what was going on, but finding out along the way was delightful.
And this will likely bother some readers. There's no real exposition or build up, combined with two different timelines, before and after the event, and a first person narration. Personally, it really worked or me, but it won't for everyone.
Extreme emotions - rage, bliss, grief, ecstasy, agony - are amber; they preserve memories whole.
The story plays heavily with memory and trauma. Why can't Kate remember the night in question, aside from snippets that only serve to confuse and terrify her? Why is this man she calls Jim (although based on the blurb, his name in the final copy has been changed to Bill) keeping her stashed away in another country? Are there really people after them? Can she trust Jim? Can she trust her own memories?
J.P. Pomare creates a lot of fun (if you consider tense, mysterious thrills fun - WHICH I DO!) mixing classic Chekhov's gun scenarios, piles of secrecy, and questioning each and every character. There's also a good bit of teen drama in the 'before' chapters. But shockingly, it didn't bother me. It felt natural, highlighting the emotional turmoil and underhanded viciousness of those early teen years.
There was one big thing that didn't come together for me at the end.
The truth doesn't change but memories do.
Overall, Call Me Evie is a fun, easily readable thriller with some good twists thrown in as well. I had a really good time reading it, and hopefully tons of other people will too!
*Big thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss for the review copy!*
all quotes taken from proof copy and subject to change prior to publication
4.5 stars. I DEFINITELY have some opinions on this, most of which are positive. I have an enormous amount of thoughts and feelings.
The unreliable narrator has been queen in the mystery/thriller genre for quite a while now. And when executed well, it's a fantastic trope. Call Me Evie will definitely have you questioning the reliability of the narrator (Kate aka Evie) as well as those who surround her. Who can you trust? What can you believe?
Call Me Evie chucks you headfirst into the story. From page one, paragraph one; there's no exposition, just a scene with an emaciated girl in front of a mirror, scissors in hand and clumps of hair all around. The reader is instantaneously immersed into Kate's terror and confusion. I had zero idea what was going on, but finding out along the way was delightful.
And this will likely bother some readers. There's no real exposition or build up, combined with two different timelines, before and after the event, and a first person narration. Personally, it really worked or me, but it won't for everyone.
Extreme emotions - rage, bliss, grief, ecstasy, agony - are amber; they preserve memories whole.
The story plays heavily with memory and trauma. Why can't Kate remember the night in question, aside from snippets that only serve to confuse and terrify her? Why is this man she calls Jim (although based on the blurb, his name in the final copy has been changed to Bill) keeping her stashed away in another country? Are there really people after them? Can she trust Jim? Can she trust her own memories?
J.P. Pomare creates a lot of fun (if you consider tense, mysterious thrills fun - WHICH I DO!) mixing classic Chekhov's gun scenarios, piles of secrecy, and questioning each and every character. There's also a good bit of teen drama in the 'before' chapters. But shockingly, it didn't bother me. It felt natural, highlighting the emotional turmoil and underhanded viciousness of those early teen years.
There was one big thing that didn't come together for me at the end.
The truth doesn't change but memories do.
Overall, Call Me Evie is a fun, easily readable thriller with some good twists thrown in as well. I had a really good time reading it, and hopefully tons of other people will too!
*Big thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss for the review copy!*
all quotes taken from proof copy and subject to change prior to publication
October 25, 2021
You are the puppet & someone else is pulling the strings wowza this was one creepy eerie read that i just could not down. Call Me Evie had me a bit confused at the start but quickly i grasped the proseit was compelling captivating intense & well written loved the character of Kate in the before & after timelines, trying to remember something horrible from her past .
Kate ends up in an isolated beach town in New Zealand Kate was only 17 when she was held captive by a man called Jim in a house in the town of Maketu , she is kept in a room only let out for meals hardly sees sunshine. Jim is being the puppet master pulling the strings & Kate does what he says , BUT IS HIS DEMEANOR ABOUT TO CHANGE!!
Kate is hiding a dark secret that is deep in her memory but cannot remember so she starts to write down things bit by bit . In the before Willow her best friend & Thom her boyfriend in Australia she is spending her time with her father& friends but who can she trust & will she ever come home.
I enjoyed this one it gave me the heebee jeebees at times I was shocked at the ending didn't see that coming at all. i would recommend this for readers who like a creepy enjoyable read.
Kate ends up in an isolated beach town in New Zealand Kate was only 17 when she was held captive by a man called Jim in a house in the town of Maketu , she is kept in a room only let out for meals hardly sees sunshine. Jim is being the puppet master pulling the strings & Kate does what he says , BUT IS HIS DEMEANOR ABOUT TO CHANGE!!
Kate is hiding a dark secret that is deep in her memory but cannot remember so she starts to write down things bit by bit . In the before Willow her best friend & Thom her boyfriend in Australia she is spending her time with her father& friends but who can she trust & will she ever come home.
I enjoyed this one it gave me the heebee jeebees at times I was shocked at the ending didn't see that coming at all. i would recommend this for readers who like a creepy enjoyable read.
April 3, 2019
So then, just call me confused, perplexed, whiplashed, and boggled.
Call Me Evie is gonna do that to you.
J.P. Pomare begins this strange novel with an infusion of convoluted memories. A young girl of seventeen sits on the bathroom floor while a man known as "Uncle Jim" glides hair clippers across her head. His movements are shaky as he leaves irregular knicks across her scalp. He refers to her as "Kate". She has only one thought that keeps parading around inside her head. "I want to go home."
But home is back in Melbourne. And they can never return there. Something bad, very bad, happened back there and returning is not an option. New Zealand now provides a refuge for Jim and for Kate. Beneath her newly shaved head is a storehouse of darkness and jagged memory pieces. Kate now answers to the name of Evie. And yet she doesn't know why.
Pomare spins the stage in this one. Time is denoted as Before and After. We, as readers, seem to exist in that darkened corner of Evie's mind as well. Pomare doles out only bits at a time. He makes it difficult to construct a solid image of what exactly is happening here. We only know that there is constant terror within this character of Evie. Page after page will be filled with Evie's reactions to her confinement in a small cabin near a beach town.
The character of Uncle Jim leaves heavy uncertainty throughout the novel. Jim insists that he is keeping Evie safe from what happened in Melbourne. Evie's behavior and resistance states otherwise. Pomare injects so many unreliable situations that we don't know which character is telling the truth. But as the story unfolds, we will continue to get a great sense of something very wicked happening within these pages.
Call Me Evie is based on wavering memories and disconnected truths. As the storyline expands, we will come to know more of Evie's past. Pomare's writing provides a foggy atmosphere throughout until it lifts will quite the jolt at the end. And, believe me, the birds will come home to roost.....
Call Me Evie is gonna do that to you.
J.P. Pomare begins this strange novel with an infusion of convoluted memories. A young girl of seventeen sits on the bathroom floor while a man known as "Uncle Jim" glides hair clippers across her head. His movements are shaky as he leaves irregular knicks across her scalp. He refers to her as "Kate". She has only one thought that keeps parading around inside her head. "I want to go home."
But home is back in Melbourne. And they can never return there. Something bad, very bad, happened back there and returning is not an option. New Zealand now provides a refuge for Jim and for Kate. Beneath her newly shaved head is a storehouse of darkness and jagged memory pieces. Kate now answers to the name of Evie. And yet she doesn't know why.
Pomare spins the stage in this one. Time is denoted as Before and After. We, as readers, seem to exist in that darkened corner of Evie's mind as well. Pomare doles out only bits at a time. He makes it difficult to construct a solid image of what exactly is happening here. We only know that there is constant terror within this character of Evie. Page after page will be filled with Evie's reactions to her confinement in a small cabin near a beach town.
The character of Uncle Jim leaves heavy uncertainty throughout the novel. Jim insists that he is keeping Evie safe from what happened in Melbourne. Evie's behavior and resistance states otherwise. Pomare injects so many unreliable situations that we don't know which character is telling the truth. But as the story unfolds, we will continue to get a great sense of something very wicked happening within these pages.
Call Me Evie is based on wavering memories and disconnected truths. As the storyline expands, we will come to know more of Evie's past. Pomare's writing provides a foggy atmosphere throughout until it lifts will quite the jolt at the end. And, believe me, the birds will come home to roost.....
March 14, 2019
Call Me Evie is definitely one of my favourite psychological thrillers of the last couple of years – I devoured it, the sense of place is stunning, the whole thing descriptively beautiful and the central story utterly compelling.
It sounds like a tale you’ve read before and it does have a familiar central theme, especially if like me you read widely in this genre. However Call Me Evie stood out for me, not only because of it’s brilliantly insightful characterisation but because the plotting was taut and unpredictable with an edgy, ever growing sense of unease.
Exploring memory and trauma, the lies we tell ourselves and each other, the ties that bind family and friends, Call Me Evie is a taut, genuinely fascinating piece of storytelling that will linger long after you’ve turned the final page and the whole truth is revealed.
Highly Recommended.
It sounds like a tale you’ve read before and it does have a familiar central theme, especially if like me you read widely in this genre. However Call Me Evie stood out for me, not only because of it’s brilliantly insightful characterisation but because the plotting was taut and unpredictable with an edgy, ever growing sense of unease.
Exploring memory and trauma, the lies we tell ourselves and each other, the ties that bind family and friends, Call Me Evie is a taut, genuinely fascinating piece of storytelling that will linger long after you’ve turned the final page and the whole truth is revealed.
Highly Recommended.
October 29, 2018
When 17 yr old Kate awakes confused and groggy in a New Zealand cabin with a man named Jim, she wonders how she got there. He concocts a story claiming that he is her "uncle" and her name is "Evie" and they are on holiday, but the truth is just out of reach, an itch she can't quite scratch. While she is kept sedated and nearly locked up daily, Kate is desperate to unveil the meaning behind her dreams and vague memories of a possible crime that she may have committed back in Melbourne. This debut psychological thriller, with its unreliable narrator, is for anyone who has enjoyed Gone Girl or Girl on a Train.
March 21, 2020
This has lingered too long on my kindle which is entirely my fault! This is a really good, tense thriller that is well written and keeps you guessing until the end. ‘Jim’ is in New Zealand trying to keep himself and ‘Evie’ hidden. They have run from something that occurred in Melbourne, Australia and for a long time you have no idea what. You also have no clue for a long time how Jim is connected to Evie. Evie is the principal storyteller and it backtracks to events in Melbourne and what occurs in NZ and the truth emerges a bit at a time. The setting is excellent, the characters are really good and the story unfolds well. I’ll definitely read more by this author.
March 27, 2019
A twisted page-turner with an unreliable narrator that kept me flipping for more.
I really enjoyed this book. It follows a 17-year-old Kate and her “Uncle” Jim. Something terrible happens and Kate is now known as Evie to hide her real identity and Jim has found themselves in a remote beach town of Maketu New Zealand. The story has two timelines, the before and after and as we follow the characters through the twist and turns we uncover what really happened and not what we think happened.
I thought this was well done. I think some people have problems with how many twists this book took. I personally liked it, it kept me hooked and entertained and thinking enough about the book that I kept coming back. I blew through the pages I was enjoying it that much.
The ending I thought had it figured out was still well done and even a bit heartbreaking.
My only real issue here was the dog and I deducted from the book and almost gave it 3.5 stars because I felt like the author didn’t need to hurt an animal to add to the story, it was good enough as is and the entire thing could have been completely cut and avoided.
I liked the authors writing and storytelling. I found the book exciting despite the animal issue and was glad the author did not go as far with it as he could have, but I still felt like the entire thing could be avoided. In the future, I will be looking forward to more of his writing and what he might have in store for us next.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I really enjoyed this book. It follows a 17-year-old Kate and her “Uncle” Jim. Something terrible happens and Kate is now known as Evie to hide her real identity and Jim has found themselves in a remote beach town of Maketu New Zealand. The story has two timelines, the before and after and as we follow the characters through the twist and turns we uncover what really happened and not what we think happened.
I thought this was well done. I think some people have problems with how many twists this book took. I personally liked it, it kept me hooked and entertained and thinking enough about the book that I kept coming back. I blew through the pages I was enjoying it that much.
The ending I thought had it figured out was still well done and even a bit heartbreaking.
My only real issue here was the dog and I deducted from the book and almost gave it 3.5 stars because I felt like the author didn’t need to hurt an animal to add to the story, it was good enough as is and the entire thing could have been completely cut and avoided.
I liked the authors writing and storytelling. I found the book exciting despite the animal issue and was glad the author did not go as far with it as he could have, but I still felt like the entire thing could be avoided. In the future, I will be looking forward to more of his writing and what he might have in store for us next.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
February 11, 2019
4 stars!
I've been holding off reading Call Me Evie for the longest time ever, but I just kept seeing it's beautiful cover staring back at me. Every morning when I'm leaving the house, I keep seeing the striking cover's eyes peeking at me; questioning why it wants me to call her Evie! Well, my iron will (or lack thereof) finally devoured JP Pomare's debut suspense/psychological thriller novel this weekend, and I must say—I'm impressed!
Kate Bennet is being held against her will in a remote part of New Zealand. For the last couple of weeks, a random man that she's nicknamed Jim has been holding her hostage, but she has zero understanding why. She is confused to what Jim's intentions are with her—he's not hurting her, he's taking care of her, and he's telling her that they're in hiding because of an accident that recently happened. After the duo is on the move and deeper into hiding, he refers to Kate as Evie to others, and tells her to adopt this pseudonym going forward for protection. Kate doesn't trust Jim, but her memories are struggling to return back to her. Kate had a great life before being in captivity—a beautiful home, a father who was successfully and endearing, loyal friends, and a boyfriend who not only loved her, but provided her confidence that she needed. As Kate tries to investigate what has happened to her, she will uncover dark, deep rooted demons that she will have to overcome, but is she ready for it?
Call Me Evie will polarize readers for sure; both by it's storyline, and it's pace. The setting alternates between "before" and "after"; providing a peek into what Kate's life before captivity was, and what it is now. At first, I really didn't know where Pomare was taking us, and figured that this story would follow the same route as many psychological thrillers have in the past, but I was wrong. After a slow start, we are knee-deep in suspense, and I was here for it! I imagine those who pick up Call Me Evie will stay up late until the story plays out, just like I did, because it's just too addictive not to.
I've been holding off reading Call Me Evie for the longest time ever, but I just kept seeing it's beautiful cover staring back at me. Every morning when I'm leaving the house, I keep seeing the striking cover's eyes peeking at me; questioning why it wants me to call her Evie! Well, my iron will (or lack thereof) finally devoured JP Pomare's debut suspense/psychological thriller novel this weekend, and I must say—I'm impressed!
Kate Bennet is being held against her will in a remote part of New Zealand. For the last couple of weeks, a random man that she's nicknamed Jim has been holding her hostage, but she has zero understanding why. She is confused to what Jim's intentions are with her—he's not hurting her, he's taking care of her, and he's telling her that they're in hiding because of an accident that recently happened. After the duo is on the move and deeper into hiding, he refers to Kate as Evie to others, and tells her to adopt this pseudonym going forward for protection. Kate doesn't trust Jim, but her memories are struggling to return back to her. Kate had a great life before being in captivity—a beautiful home, a father who was successfully and endearing, loyal friends, and a boyfriend who not only loved her, but provided her confidence that she needed. As Kate tries to investigate what has happened to her, she will uncover dark, deep rooted demons that she will have to overcome, but is she ready for it?
Call Me Evie will polarize readers for sure; both by it's storyline, and it's pace. The setting alternates between "before" and "after"; providing a peek into what Kate's life before captivity was, and what it is now. At first, I really didn't know where Pomare was taking us, and figured that this story would follow the same route as many psychological thrillers have in the past, but I was wrong. After a slow start, we are knee-deep in suspense, and I was here for it! I imagine those who pick up Call Me Evie will stay up late until the story plays out, just like I did, because it's just too addictive not to.
June 27, 2019
This puzzling and intriguing debut is packed with secrets. It’s told in past and present tense...with two main characters—Kate AKA Evie and Jim (although it looks like Jim became Bill in the final book 😂 ).
It instantly pulled me, but it took a bit to get settled into the story. Once I did, I was swept away in all the suspense and wild mystery. Trying to figure out what was going on!! The author keeps us in the dark about a lot of things, but we know that Jim snuck Kate out of Melbourne and changed her name to Evie in order to protect her...at least that’s what he told her. Now they’re hiding away in a remote area. Evie feels more like she’s in prison than being protected. He locks her in her room at night; he doesn’t allow her access to the computer/internet; and he makes secret phone calls. It drove me crazy trying to figure out who Jim was! Can he be trusted? Is he really looking out for Evie or does he have heinous intentions?
The chapters in the past tense lead us up to an accident in Melbourne, involving Evie and her boyfriend. She claims she has no memory of the incident, so she relies on Jim to help her remember. But she’s convinced that he’s manipulating her memories and hiding information from her. Is he...and why?
Who do we believe? At times Evie seemed reliable and I thought Jim was sneaky and unstable, but then the dynamics would shift. So many different scenarios ran through my mind, as I impatiently read to the finish. This ending stunned me. It was clever, tidy and incredible!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons and JP Pomare for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: March 5th 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 368
Excerpts:
It instantly pulled me, but it took a bit to get settled into the story. Once I did, I was swept away in all the suspense and wild mystery. Trying to figure out what was going on!! The author keeps us in the dark about a lot of things, but we know that Jim snuck Kate out of Melbourne and changed her name to Evie in order to protect her...at least that’s what he told her. Now they’re hiding away in a remote area. Evie feels more like she’s in prison than being protected. He locks her in her room at night; he doesn’t allow her access to the computer/internet; and he makes secret phone calls. It drove me crazy trying to figure out who Jim was! Can he be trusted? Is he really looking out for Evie or does he have heinous intentions?
The chapters in the past tense lead us up to an accident in Melbourne, involving Evie and her boyfriend. She claims she has no memory of the incident, so she relies on Jim to help her remember. But she’s convinced that he’s manipulating her memories and hiding information from her. Is he...and why?
Who do we believe? At times Evie seemed reliable and I thought Jim was sneaky and unstable, but then the dynamics would shift. So many different scenarios ran through my mind, as I impatiently read to the finish. This ending stunned me. It was clever, tidy and incredible!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons and JP Pomare for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: March 5th 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 368
Excerpts:
“There is a stranger inside everyone, an animal that doesn’t think but responds only to its instincts and impulses. Some people will let the stranger take over once, possibly twice in their entire life. It’s only afterward, when your body has cooled down and your mind has returned, that you realize you had no control, that you realize something else took you over.”
March 19, 2019
Okay, so you know when you have a book and it's compulsively readable and you just never want to put it down, but at the same time savor it and make it last as long as possible? That's exactly how this book was!! This book caught my attention almost immediately, the first paragraph in fact, and the rest is history. It was written so that there were really never any dull moments and you wanted to keep reading to figure out what the heck was going on, and that's exactly what I did. Any break I got at work, my lunch break, any spare few moments at home I got I picked this book up until I finished it!!
I will say, now having finished it, I was a little let down by the ending! I pretty much only read psychological thrillers, or occasionally some other type of fiction novel, so it's very hard for me to be impressed anymore but I felt like the ending was fairly predictable. Just how could it not be, it only could possibly end one of two ways! I guess I just thought maybe there would be a huge out-of-this-world twist at the end of this one like only a scarce few thrillers have done lately, but alas, not in the cards for this one. And that's ok, that does not take away from this book being a great reviting read and I'm still sticking to my guns that the experience overall was great! I cared for all of the characters and really wanted to get down to the bottom of our protagonist's issue! don't get me wrong, there was a twist at the end but it was fairly minor in the grand scheme of things and so I wasn't very 'gagged' by it unfortunately.
I'm so excited that we have yet another GREAT new writer in this genre and I will keep my eye out for anything else he writes. In fact, I'm pretty sure he just made my auto-buy ($$$!!) list!! It's a very coveted list of about 10 authors. Anyway, I'd recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a deeply psychological mystery such as, Girl On The Train, Sometimes I Lie, etc. Remember, this is just my opinion, many others may actually be completely shocked by the ending! You won't know unless you check it out!
I will say, now having finished it, I was a little let down by the ending! I pretty much only read psychological thrillers, or occasionally some other type of fiction novel, so it's very hard for me to be impressed anymore but I felt like the ending was fairly predictable. Just how could it not be, it only could possibly end one of two ways! I guess I just thought maybe there would be a huge out-of-this-world twist at the end of this one like only a scarce few thrillers have done lately, but alas, not in the cards for this one. And that's ok, that does not take away from this book being a great reviting read and I'm still sticking to my guns that the experience overall was great! I cared for all of the characters and really wanted to get down to the bottom of our protagonist's issue! don't get me wrong, there was a twist at the end but it was fairly minor in the grand scheme of things and so I wasn't very 'gagged' by it unfortunately.
I'm so excited that we have yet another GREAT new writer in this genre and I will keep my eye out for anything else he writes. In fact, I'm pretty sure he just made my auto-buy ($$$!!) list!! It's a very coveted list of about 10 authors. Anyway, I'd recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a deeply psychological mystery such as, Girl On The Train, Sometimes I Lie, etc. Remember, this is just my opinion, many others may actually be completely shocked by the ending! You won't know unless you check it out!
December 27, 2018
I'll be honest and say what initially drew me to this book was the fact that my name is in the title. However, I wasn't disappointed. Call Me Evie was a quick psychological thriller which kept me hooked from start to finish.
This haunting suspense story begins with seventeen-year-old Kate waking up in an isolated cabin in New Zealand. The man holding her captive, Jim, concocts a story claiming he's her uncle and that she now must go by the name of 'Evie.' Although drug-induced and confused, Kate is certain he's not telling the truth.
The story thus follows Kate as she attempts to solve the puzzle of what her role truly was during the crime committed in Melbourne. She's left with nothing but nebulous memories and vague dreams from the incident. Sedated and locked up, she is determined to discover the truth.
With her hazy memory, Kate is an unreliable narrator who left me second guessing various incidents throughout the plot. There are a plethora of well-developed characters in this small bleak New Zealand town. Is Kate being held captive or protected? Who can I trust? Moreover, who is Jim and what are his true motives? These questions kept me turning the pages as I itched to unveil their answers.
Although predictable at parts, Call Me Evie was drenched with satisfying twists which kept me hooked from the first page. 2019 is already looking to be another incredible year for new releases.
This haunting suspense story begins with seventeen-year-old Kate waking up in an isolated cabin in New Zealand. The man holding her captive, Jim, concocts a story claiming he's her uncle and that she now must go by the name of 'Evie.' Although drug-induced and confused, Kate is certain he's not telling the truth.
The story thus follows Kate as she attempts to solve the puzzle of what her role truly was during the crime committed in Melbourne. She's left with nothing but nebulous memories and vague dreams from the incident. Sedated and locked up, she is determined to discover the truth.
With her hazy memory, Kate is an unreliable narrator who left me second guessing various incidents throughout the plot. There are a plethora of well-developed characters in this small bleak New Zealand town. Is Kate being held captive or protected? Who can I trust? Moreover, who is Jim and what are his true motives? These questions kept me turning the pages as I itched to unveil their answers.
Although predictable at parts, Call Me Evie was drenched with satisfying twists which kept me hooked from the first page. 2019 is already looking to be another incredible year for new releases.
October 19, 2019
Totally addictive book that kept me desperately turning the pages until late into the night!!
Kate is living with Jim in a remote cabin in New Zealand. Jim is protecting her from a tragedy that happened in Melbourne but drugged Kate does not know what memories are real or imagined. Is Jim her saviour or captor. Kate’s real name is Evie and at times she is close to Jim but other times desperate to run away. Even the locals are strange and scary. Who can Evie trust?
The story alternates between the present day and Evie growing up. We discover that a childhood accident left her scarred and afraid of baths. We explore her growing up with her dad and the friends she had, slowly finding out what happened in Melbourne.
I was hooked from the start, I had a gut instinct that Jim had ulterior motives for keeping Evie. I thought I had it all worked out, but there was more to come. I kept changing my mind out who Jim was (was it her dad, boyfriend or a random man?) it certainly had me guessing!!
I will definitely be reading J.P Pomare’s next book. This was a chilling debut that I highly recommend reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Kate is living with Jim in a remote cabin in New Zealand. Jim is protecting her from a tragedy that happened in Melbourne but drugged Kate does not know what memories are real or imagined. Is Jim her saviour or captor. Kate’s real name is Evie and at times she is close to Jim but other times desperate to run away. Even the locals are strange and scary. Who can Evie trust?
The story alternates between the present day and Evie growing up. We discover that a childhood accident left her scarred and afraid of baths. We explore her growing up with her dad and the friends she had, slowly finding out what happened in Melbourne.
I was hooked from the start, I had a gut instinct that Jim had ulterior motives for keeping Evie. I thought I had it all worked out, but there was more to come. I kept changing my mind out who Jim was (was it her dad, boyfriend or a random man?) it certainly had me guessing!!
I will definitely be reading J.P Pomare’s next book. This was a chilling debut that I highly recommend reading.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
March 3, 2019
Kate, a teenager, is living in a remote cabin with Jim. She has no memory of why she is being kept in the cabin, or who Jim is. She only knows that something terrible has happened. Jim says he's trying to help her, but she's not sure she can really trust him.
Told with alternating timelines - before and after. In the before timeline, Kate has some disturbing things from her past, but also some pretty normal teenage problems. In the after timeline, it's clear something bad has happened, but the details are slowly revealed.
A story that combines memory loss and kidnapping into an entertaining psychological thriller. The main character is a teenager, and this book does read a lot like a young adult story rather than adult. Good for fans of YA thrillers. Suspenseful story of secrets and lies.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Told with alternating timelines - before and after. In the before timeline, Kate has some disturbing things from her past, but also some pretty normal teenage problems. In the after timeline, it's clear something bad has happened, but the details are slowly revealed.
A story that combines memory loss and kidnapping into an entertaining psychological thriller. The main character is a teenager, and this book does read a lot like a young adult story rather than adult. Good for fans of YA thrillers. Suspenseful story of secrets and lies.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2019
Kate Bennet is only seventeen years old when she finds herself held captive by a man named Jim. He swears he is only trying to protect her from herself, but Kate does not believe him. All Kate wants is to go back home to Melbourne. Jim tells Kate her new name is Evie and no one can ever find out who she truly is. The police are looking for her as something terrible has happened back home, something Kate can’t even remember. Is Jim really trying to help Kate? Or does Jim have an ulterior motive in keeping Kate locked away from the truth?
These are just some of the questions that will go through your mind as you immerse yourself in this explosive psychological suspense by debut author, J.P Pomare. Call Me Evie is a gripping slow burn story with many twists and turns. There are many questions unanswered and little by little Pomare teases you with the truth surrounded by many many lies. I could not even wrap my head around trying to figure out what really happened, but Pomare gives us glimpses through the past and present as the story moves along. When the reveal finally presents itself it is utterly shocking.
I have to say the characterization in Call Me Evie is spot on. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Kate as she finds herself being held against her will. But, then I slowly began to wonder is Kate is whom she seems. I was totally drawn into her story and I kept going back and forth with my feelings for her. Pomare really does such a fantastic job keeping you guessing about Kate. What I also liked most about Kate is she is such an unreliable character and you can’t help but wonder what parts of her narrative are true and which are false. Jim is a spectacular character as well. I kept wondering who Jim really was and with some secondary characters, Pomare really throws you off in figuring out who he really is almost straight way to the end. Is Jim really trying to help her or is he someone more sinister than he seems? Wow! Such brilliant fleshed out characters. Not only are Kate and Jim fantastic characters, but there are also people in the town where Kate is being held captive that really add to the mystery.
If you are a fan of slow burn, twisty psychological thrillers than Call Me Evie will be right up your alley. Prepare to be drawn right in right from the beginning. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from J.P. Pomare. I am definitely a fan!
These are just some of the questions that will go through your mind as you immerse yourself in this explosive psychological suspense by debut author, J.P Pomare. Call Me Evie is a gripping slow burn story with many twists and turns. There are many questions unanswered and little by little Pomare teases you with the truth surrounded by many many lies. I could not even wrap my head around trying to figure out what really happened, but Pomare gives us glimpses through the past and present as the story moves along. When the reveal finally presents itself it is utterly shocking.
I have to say the characterization in Call Me Evie is spot on. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Kate as she finds herself being held against her will. But, then I slowly began to wonder is Kate is whom she seems. I was totally drawn into her story and I kept going back and forth with my feelings for her. Pomare really does such a fantastic job keeping you guessing about Kate. What I also liked most about Kate is she is such an unreliable character and you can’t help but wonder what parts of her narrative are true and which are false. Jim is a spectacular character as well. I kept wondering who Jim really was and with some secondary characters, Pomare really throws you off in figuring out who he really is almost straight way to the end. Is Jim really trying to help her or is he someone more sinister than he seems? Wow! Such brilliant fleshed out characters. Not only are Kate and Jim fantastic characters, but there are also people in the town where Kate is being held captive that really add to the mystery.
If you are a fan of slow burn, twisty psychological thrillers than Call Me Evie will be right up your alley. Prepare to be drawn right in right from the beginning. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from J.P. Pomare. I am definitely a fan!
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