Overboard

by Ivy Ngeow

Thailand. An epic storm. A shipwreck. A white man has been found alive.

But who is he? Suffering horrific injuries and burns, he is taken to a local hospital. He is mute. Everything is a blank. They tell him his name. That is all he knows. When his Chinese wife arrives, he has no choice but to return to London to her family. He starts getting better with care and more surgery until one day… he’s assaulted. And he knows why.
The blow brings back a dangerous memory. But he’s crippled, disfigured and penniless… and he’s living the life of the man they think he is. What will he risk to uncover the truth?

If you like a compelling, suspenseful thriller with witty dialogue and taut, dark storytelling, you'll love Ivy Ngeow's Overboard.

388 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2020

About the author

Ivy Ngeow was born and raised in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. She holds an MA in Writing from Middlesex University, where she won the 2005 Middlesex University Literary Press Prize out of almost 1500 entrants worldwide. The American Boyfriend, published by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia in 2023, was longlisted for the Avon x Mushens Entertainment Prize for Commercial Fiction Writers of Colour 2022 and the winner of the Singapore Book Awards 2024 for Best Marketing Campaign. Her debut, Cry of the Flying Rhino (2017), was awarded the International Proverse Prize in Hong Kong. Her novels include Heart of Glass (2018), Overboard (2020) and White Crane Strikes (2022). She is the commissioning editor of the Asian Anthology New Writing series. In Safe Hands was shortlisted for the Joffe Books Prize 2024. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overboard starts with a shipwreck and there’s only one survivor. A man with amnesia.

Phoebe is told her husband is alive, but horrifically injured and disfigured.

Dominique is told her husband died in a boating accident.

Przemek is working for both women.

and then there is You…telling their side of the story.

I can’t say much more for fear of spoilers, but I can say this is a compelling thriller, told from four very different characters and their perspectives. It builds gradually as it all starts to link together towards the final reveal.

Overboard is a masterpieces of character building and plotting. It’s sharp, witty dialogue mixed with a tension filled tale makes this a stunning, almost poetic thriller. I love Ivy Ngeow’s writing and her use of language just sparkles. I loved it.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a special thank you to Ivy Ngeow for a copy of the book (and the sparkly cloud!). This is my honest, unbiased review.

[Stephen Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I read a novel I cant help but step into the story and become an observer and thereby placing myself in the thick of things to get a better experience from the book. This habit of mine was massivly amplified in this great phsycological, culture crossing, and quite complex story that contained many twists and turns. I wont give anything away but will just add that Overboard is a very inteligent story with more than a hint of satire. I somehow got the sense that Ivy Ngeow is an incredibly intelligent person who has some almost magical ability to impart some of that inteligence to the reader through the fantastic twists and fascinating turns of her work. I know Ivy Ngeow has an additional book called "Heart of Glass" and I was going to give that a miss but after reading Overboard I may have to rethink my choice, and give that book a look too in order to get another taste of the authors great story writing ability. For anyone who likes phsycological thrillers this is a must read that culminates in a superb twist. Thats all I am going to say.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jayne Southern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am furious - I started to read Overboard, was distracted (how did I allow that to happen?) and took AGES to get back to it ... and once between the covers, I didn't want to come out. The characters alone entrance - a Twenties-loving Polish plumber with a passion for a python as a pet, a sacked, sexy, shopaholic lawyer with more money than sense, a distant daughter and an even more distant husband, a scientist who sells secrets, a wife (and obedient daughter) questioning who and what her husband is, and oh, so much more.
Ivy Ngeow's words dip, spin, prance, pirouette and tango across the page - articulate, incisive, observant, darkly and sneakily funny. The plot is artfully constructed, immaculately researched, delivered almost without fault - I confess I wasn't gripped by the first chapter but beyond those few pages, committed doesn't capture how much I enjoyed this book. Oh, to be as talented as Ms Ngeow.
Now cogitating on who would be the best actors for the film version ... which MUST be made.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A completely new author for me so I had no idea what to expect. This is a very different thriller which follows various characters, in different locations, and a further character ‘You’ written in the second person narrative. The author writes in a very flowing and descriptive manner which goes into great detail. Maybe a bit more than I needed at times. However, she is clearly a talented writer and the further into the book I got the more enthralled I was with it.

Briefly, ‘You’ is rescued on the coast of Thailand following a storm at sea. He is barely alive and is identified by his watch and distinctive ring. When his wife comes to take him back to London he is still barely able to speak, with little memory of the past and badly disfigured. Meanwhile, the body of his friend he was sailing with is found and his former wife is eager to sort out his will so she can get on with her hedonistic lifestyle...

There are twists and turns in the book that I didn’t foresee and interwoven lives that add to the story. I did enjoy this book and would read this author again. A solid 4*.

[Janice Staines · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story that is set both in Europe and Asia with the characters slipping easily between the two cultures in these pre-pandemic days. It was nice to see well drawn and developed modern, multicultural characters operating outside their own cultural comfort zones, although it took some getting used to as the narrative jumped quickly and seamlessly between worlds.
AND, what a great twist to the story at the end. I was sort of expecting one, but not the one that actually happened. Great story written from the viewpoint of each of the central, characters. My favourite being the handsome Polish plumber and his magnificent snake!
On the downside, this is a self-published novel and, if things like typos, missing punctuation etc bother you, you may find this novel ‘challenging’. I would have given it 5 stars if this hadn’t been such a big problem

[D.H. Schleicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Ngeow’s Overboard is a smart, witty, satirical, dark, complex, twisting globe-hopping psychological thriller about an amnesiac who survives a tragic boating accident. The brilliance of the writing is in the shifting POVs, the observations on human behavior, and the modern twists on the classic hidden identity suspense yarn. I don’t want to give anything away and will say no more, except that…

Overboard is a modern, novel masterpiece. An absolute must-read.

Check out a more in depth review @TheSchleicherSpin.com

https://theschleicherspin.com/2020/07...

[Sue Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Ngeow certainly puts her readers through it. This taut and complex multi-perspective thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat, your brain a-buzz with possibilities, your senses overwhelmed by experiences. It can be raw and hard-hitting one minute, romantic and lyrical the next. It’s beautifully constructed and gorgeously well written. The characters - each one distinctive and memorable - range convincingly across generations, continents and backgrounds. I wasn’t able to guess the twists and turns of this roller-coaster of a book and I bet you won’t either. Enjoy the ride!

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overboard is a psychological thriller focusing on multiple characters including Phoebe, Dominique, and Pryemek who are involved in complex relationships. The plot is twisted and suspenseful which weaves a number of different interwoven stories together. This well written book is an intriguing read with unexpected twists and turns.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[David Arrowsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn but brilliant

This is a wonderful novel. Beautifully written with great characters and real depth. It's a slow burn, lighter on the action and heavy on character development and subtle intrigue. I really enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended.

[Samantha Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overboard is a interesting and compelling thriller with a rather complex storyline. This is multi-perspective novel that follows very different characters in various locations throughout the world. Each voice is depicted brilliantly. Ivy Ngeow creates easily distinguishable characters that are both very real and definitely somewhat flawed. The characters - each one distinctive and memorable - range convincingly across generations, continents and backgrounds. I especially liked Przemek. This taut and complex multi-perspective thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat, your brain a-buzz with possibilities, your senses overwhelmed by experiences. It can be raw and hard-hitting one minute, romantic and lyrical the next. It’s beautifully constructed and gorgeously well written. I pride myself on predicting twists and turns, but this book had me guessing right until the very end. I must mention that I received this free copy from Voracious Readers Only and I am rather happy I did. If you enjoy a rollercoaster of a book where you struggle to guess the twists and turns you will definitely enjoy this one.

[Helen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning i was sceptical i would enjoy due to the book being wrote in a 'you' narrative, which i usually don't like. Once i got further into the book it worked well with the suspense. The book was wrote from four POV which gave different insights. Some great twists along the way.

[Joni Truex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overboard by Ivy Ngeow
This book had interesting shifts. An edge of the seat start, followed by slower sections. The book flips between the characters and their lives. Flashbacks help the story unfold.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A free book from Voracious Readers thank you

A different story of characters who lives are interwoven by tradgedy and greed.

[K.E. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-written thriller is a gripping tale that surpasses every expectation. The attention grabbing story is witty and dark in all the right ways. I enjoyed the well developed characters and unexpected plot. This book kept me entertained for hours. It's difficult to find such masterfully written stories these days, but Overboard did not disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dineen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Ngeow has a voice I would describe as polished, quick-witted and well developed. Truly an international sound you could say. And Overboard is a perfect representation of her talent. The story is clever and well written!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eva Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time at first with this book. I knew it needed to go back and forth, but it took me a while to really enjoy it.

[Sam Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via voracious readers only, in exchange for an honest review.
A fascinating tale told with wonderfully detailed characters and surroundings. The story starts with the sole survivor of a yacht which sunk during a terrible storm, badly burnt with no memory of who he is, he then starts on the journey of recovery. Cleverly intwined within his story are the stories of 4 other people. Many ingenious twists and turns on this rollercoaster of a ride which cleverly knits all the stories to one tragic conclusion.

[Katy Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how this story is told from multiple narratives. kept my interest from page one and i love books that have twists you don’t see coming. overall a great read

[Michael Eidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this author's previous book, Heart Of Glass, I was a fan, and have since followed her on Twitter and had some interesting conversations with her. Perhaps knowing an author as a little more than a name makes one more interested in their works. But I constantly found myself comparing Overboard to Heart of Glass, which worked against Overboard in some regards, because Heart of Glass is so awesome. I often felt with Overboard that it strayed too far from the plot line I was most interested in. I also felt that the plot line I was most interested in became too predictable because of the access I had to other information from other points of view. So Heart of Glass remains champion for me, and judging Overboard on its own merits is admittedly a bit difficult. But for me, Overboard could have been better if it had narrowed its focus, but then it would also have been shorter, and not as appealing to those looking for a novel-length read. If you particularly enjoy mysteries that give you multiple angles to view what's happening, then give Overboard a try. Ivy Ngeow is quite imaginative, and I'll certainly be reading her next book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Ngeow has done it again! Her stories always include characters who remind me of those in Moliere’s stories and Overboard is no exception. The novel starts with a shipwreck and a white man is the sole survivor. Greg recovers but suffers terrible amnesia. The story takes place in different locations around the world and includes characters from even broader backgrounds. Although it’s not central to the story, the presence of technology and social media gives the characters that sense of the absurd.

“A human voice was as unique as a fingerprint. It was more important to get his voice back than his appearance. Phoebe knew that it was the key to getting Greg back, if not his heart, soul or mind, then at least his voice. This was a security issue too. A voice is more secure than a password or passcode. Soon, when he was better, he could have his bank account back and use Alexa.”

The story moves quickly and the characters are as rich as their cultures.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read.

[David E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of: Overboard
This is another of Ivy Ngeow’s intense and complex plots with very diverse characters across different cultural and economic levels of society
How these diverse characters are woven into the intricate tapestry of this story is what drives the narrative forward to its final reveal. The author does this with unrelenting tension and real-life drama which places you, the reader, right there in the domestic and international scenes that unfold. She does this with stunningly descriptive and elegant prose.
The opening chapter of a luxury yacht that founders on the coast of Cambodia is, by itself, a masterpiece of descriptive literature which makes you feel that you are a victim of the tempest yourself.
Phoebe, an Asian who lives in London with her parents and husband, and who after a prolonged period, receives word her husband Gregg is alive but badly injured in hospital. She is warned he is heavily disfigured and she may not even recognize him. She prepares to bring him back to London.
Dominique, a highly strung and excitable lawyer with a repressed sexual appetite receives word her husband has died in a boating accident off the coast of Cambodia. She receives this news on the day she is made redundant from her very senior position in the law firm. She learns from her husband’s attorney that significant foreign properties and riches she knew nothing about and a foreign mystery partner.
Without either of them being aware, the lives of the two women become inextricably involved. The catalyst for this enjoining is an unwitting immigrant Polish plumber who becomes engaged in their respective homes to repair their facilities. The fact that Dominque becomes attracted to the plumber’s sensuality brings with it a cascade of circumstances which will keep the reader glued to every page.
As a reviewer, when I refer to the tale that is woven like a tapestry, I also look for the golden thread that sometimes an author uses to bring an element of redemption to certain protagonists which allows a reader to experience a degree of compassion to the character. I am pleased to say this author does that exceedingly well.
If you have never read Ivy Ngeow before now, then I urge to do so for which you will be well rewarded.

[Amelia B. Kyazze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overboard is a fast-moving, atmospheric thriller. Ivy Ngeow is an expert at crafting novels that grow from very interesting settings: Thailand, Cambodia, the Caribbean, as well as different corners of London. Her characters are diverse and distinct, bringing unique perspectives that weave into the fabric of the story. I really enjoyed this pacey read, and the twist is unexpected and well-executed. I’d recommend it to fans of Sophie Hannah or Joss Stirling. 4*s

[howsoonisnow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Compelling characters, I remained intrigued throughout the entire narrative, particularly in relation to the mysterious "You" which details the point of view of an enigmatic man of whom you know nothing about except that he has been severely disfigured through burns sustained from an accident. The narrative is told from the point of view of four main protagonists, and it was interesting watching their stories unfold and intertwine with each other i.e. it was highly enjoyable when one character would meet with another. I enjoyed most of all, the narrative of Dominique, a wealthy 40-something cougar with an insatiable taste for a young foreign plumber. What was highly disappointing was the resolution of the narrative, which was lackluster. Lots of build up to anticlimax. Not to mention that this book, whilst marketed as a crime thriller, felt more like reading a romance-drama. Overall, spritely prose with engaging characters, but with a dithering and anti-climatic storyline.

[Sylvia Petter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well plotted and well researched by what I would call a "renaissance" woman writer. I loved the different characters and found the 2nd person usage clever. Although I did guess who that character might be, the story had me to the end. Settings were intriguing and the intercultural mix of memory and identity just my thing. And there was suspense and intrigue and an ending that fitted the star well.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adventure with a diverse cast

I love a good adventure novel, and Overboard delivered. But it has the added bonus of containing elements of suspense and thriller too. The characters were diverse (as are the passers by on Oxford St in London at any time of day) and this makes me feel like Ngeow has captured the soul of London life - though the book is set across the world. Or maybe it’s modern life in any cosmopolitan town? I enjoyed the twist, which made perfect sense, though I didn’t see it coming. Highly recommend.

[Jane Dunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so engrossed in this fantastic book from the start.
I loved getting to know all the different characters, and their stories.
I’m so sad that I’ve finished it.
Definitely recommend, give it a go.

[Isham Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever plot, won't reveal spoilers.

[Hilda Baard]

A very different, but good thriller I enjoyed.

[Marina Osipova · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! Brilliant.

Smart. Suspenseful. Scary at times.

Couldn’t put it down. Unforgettable.

Loved it.