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The Cage
Only One of Them Gets Out Alive
On a cold, misty Sunday night, two women are alone in the offices of fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International. One is the company's human resources director. Impeccably dressed and perfectly coiffed, she sits at her desk and stares somberly out the window. Down the hall, her colleague, one of the company's lawyers, is buried under a pile of paperwork, frantically rushing to finish.
Leaving at the same time, the two women, each preoccupied by her own thoughts, enter the elevator that will take them down from the 30th floor.
When they arrive at the lobby, one of the women is dead. Was it murder or suicide?
An incredibly original novel that turns the office thriller on its head, The Cage is a wild ride that begins with a bang and picks up speed as it races to its dramatic end.
On a cold, misty Sunday night, two women are alone in the offices of fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International. One is the company's human resources director. Impeccably dressed and perfectly coiffed, she sits at her desk and stares somberly out the window. Down the hall, her colleague, one of the company's lawyers, is buried under a pile of paperwork, frantically rushing to finish.
Leaving at the same time, the two women, each preoccupied by her own thoughts, enter the elevator that will take them down from the 30th floor.
When they arrive at the lobby, one of the women is dead. Was it murder or suicide?
An incredibly original novel that turns the office thriller on its head, The Cage is a wild ride that begins with a bang and picks up speed as it races to its dramatic end.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2022
438 people are currently reading
19232 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Kistler
10 books403 followersBonnie Kistler is the author of SHELL GAMES (on sale November 19, 2024); HER, TOO; THE CAGE; and HOUSE ON FIRE.
A former trial lawyer, she was born in suburban Philadelphia and educated at Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
After law school, she decided to seek adventure in Alaska––or at least as much adventure as she could manage while toiling away as a junior lawyer in a law firm. Perhaps her greatest adventure there was meeting her husband, coincidentally also a Philadelphian. She soon moved with him to Arkansas, and a few years later, full-circle back to Philadelphia. Having endured three different states' bar exams in four years (!), she decided to stay put.
Bonnie spent the remainder of her law career in private practice with major Philadelphia firms. She specialized in corporate litigation and successfully tried cases across the country.
But her love of writing eclipsed all else, and ultimately she left the law behind to become a full-time author.
She and her husband now live in Southwest Florida and the mountains of western North Carolina.
A former trial lawyer, she was born in suburban Philadelphia and educated at Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
After law school, she decided to seek adventure in Alaska––or at least as much adventure as she could manage while toiling away as a junior lawyer in a law firm. Perhaps her greatest adventure there was meeting her husband, coincidentally also a Philadelphian. She soon moved with him to Arkansas, and a few years later, full-circle back to Philadelphia. Having endured three different states' bar exams in four years (!), she decided to stay put.
Bonnie spent the remainder of her law career in private practice with major Philadelphia firms. She specialized in corporate litigation and successfully tried cases across the country.
But her love of writing eclipsed all else, and ultimately she left the law behind to become a full-time author.
She and her husband now live in Southwest Florida and the mountains of western North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 773 reviews
February 15, 2022
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say this cage is unlocked.
If you read the publisher synopsis, you may think this is a locked room mystery. Two women enter an elevator together, but only one comes out alive. That’s just the first chapter - of 34 - though. What follows is a roller coaster of a plot that at times reminded me of The Firm (which the synopsis also references), Orange is the New Black, and a hundred psychological thrillers with possibly-unreliable first-person female narrators.
Above all, this is a LEGAL thriller. There is a lot of legal talk. A lot of legal paperwork. A lot of legal situations. Legal legal legal. If these sentences bored you, your eyes will gaze over for a good half of this book.
Despite the plot being much broader and all over the place than I anticipated, I did find author Bonnie Kistler’s writing to be a cut above her peers. Some sections were so insightful that they felt more literary fiction than thriller, so I am looking forward to seeing what she writes next.
I had fun buddy reading this with some of my Goodreads pals (Jayme & Holly), and I think we all agree that a strong start got a little sluggish and convoluted as the pages turned. The epilogue was a nice surprise though!
3.5 stars
My thanks to the author and Amelia at Harper for the gifted copy to review via NetGalley. Now available.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
If you read the publisher synopsis, you may think this is a locked room mystery. Two women enter an elevator together, but only one comes out alive. That’s just the first chapter - of 34 - though. What follows is a roller coaster of a plot that at times reminded me of The Firm (which the synopsis also references), Orange is the New Black, and a hundred psychological thrillers with possibly-unreliable first-person female narrators.
Above all, this is a LEGAL thriller. There is a lot of legal talk. A lot of legal paperwork. A lot of legal situations. Legal legal legal. If these sentences bored you, your eyes will gaze over for a good half of this book.
Despite the plot being much broader and all over the place than I anticipated, I did find author Bonnie Kistler’s writing to be a cut above her peers. Some sections were so insightful that they felt more literary fiction than thriller, so I am looking forward to seeing what she writes next.
I had fun buddy reading this with some of my Goodreads pals (Jayme & Holly), and I think we all agree that a strong start got a little sluggish and convoluted as the pages turned. The epilogue was a nice surprise though!
3.5 stars
My thanks to the author and Amelia at Harper for the gifted copy to review via NetGalley. Now available.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
February 15, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Two women get into an elevator on the 30th floor. Only one gets out of the elevator at ground level…
...because the other woman is dead.
Both women work in a Manhattan highrise at Claudine de Martineau International (CDMI). One is the human resources director. The other is one of the company’s lawyers.
Was the death in the elevator caused by murder? Or suicide?
There is an abundance of reasons to speculate, but it’s best to go in blind.
What I will say is that I was not expecting to LOVE this office/legal thriller as much as I did. I found it unputdownable and compelling, with more depth than I expected. It is smartly written by Bonnie Kistler, a former lawyer. The characters are multifaceted and interesting. I flew through this one because I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
This is definitely not a locked room mystery, so don’t go into it expecting to spend the whole time in the elevator with these characters. The book goes way beyond that, and into many different directions.
Sure, there were some moments that seemed far fetched, but overall I found The Cage to be riveting, taut, eloquently written, and scary in the sense that it seems feasible that most of the plot points in the book could really happen.
Suspenseful and easy to get lost in all the way through the revealing epilogue. This would also make a great movie!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Harper for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/15/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Two women get into an elevator on the 30th floor. Only one gets out of the elevator at ground level…
...because the other woman is dead.
Both women work in a Manhattan highrise at Claudine de Martineau International (CDMI). One is the human resources director. The other is one of the company’s lawyers.
Was the death in the elevator caused by murder? Or suicide?
There is an abundance of reasons to speculate, but it’s best to go in blind.
What I will say is that I was not expecting to LOVE this office/legal thriller as much as I did. I found it unputdownable and compelling, with more depth than I expected. It is smartly written by Bonnie Kistler, a former lawyer. The characters are multifaceted and interesting. I flew through this one because I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
This is definitely not a locked room mystery, so don’t go into it expecting to spend the whole time in the elevator with these characters. The book goes way beyond that, and into many different directions.
Sure, there were some moments that seemed far fetched, but overall I found The Cage to be riveting, taut, eloquently written, and scary in the sense that it seems feasible that most of the plot points in the book could really happen.
Suspenseful and easy to get lost in all the way through the revealing epilogue. This would also make a great movie!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Harper for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/15/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
March 7, 2022
Admission: John Grisham's The Firm is one of my all time favorite books. I love the way he formulated that legal thriller. Bonnie Kistler's latest has strong Firm vibes and I was all in.
This story is best experienced when going in blind. The main character, Shay, might or might not have done a thing. She's hiding a lot, but she's also incredibly smart and clever. I totally loved how everything unfolded with this book, the revelations about the past and the present are strategically placed in the book to keep the reader engaged and interested.
There were a few parts where the author discusses legal proceedings (with contracts and class action suits and the like) where I was completely lost. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on with the legal end of things, but overall that didn't matter because it isn't about that when it comes right down to things. The author is an attorney, so the authenticity of the legalese enhances the story and makes it more compelling, even if I didn't really get it.
I went to an author event featuring Ms. Kistler yesterday, and she discussed how she wanted to leave the ending ambiguous so that the reader didn't really know what happened in the elevator. Her editor talked her out of it, and I am very glad, because the epilogue answers all of the reader's questions and gives a perfect cap to the story.
If you're looking for a fast paced surprising legal thriller, then I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book and carving out a few hours because you won't want to put it down until you discover what happened and why.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This story is best experienced when going in blind. The main character, Shay, might or might not have done a thing. She's hiding a lot, but she's also incredibly smart and clever. I totally loved how everything unfolded with this book, the revelations about the past and the present are strategically placed in the book to keep the reader engaged and interested.
There were a few parts where the author discusses legal proceedings (with contracts and class action suits and the like) where I was completely lost. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on with the legal end of things, but overall that didn't matter because it isn't about that when it comes right down to things. The author is an attorney, so the authenticity of the legalese enhances the story and makes it more compelling, even if I didn't really get it.
I went to an author event featuring Ms. Kistler yesterday, and she discussed how she wanted to leave the ending ambiguous so that the reader didn't really know what happened in the elevator. Her editor talked her out of it, and I am very glad, because the epilogue answers all of the reader's questions and gives a perfect cap to the story.
If you're looking for a fast paced surprising legal thriller, then I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book and carving out a few hours because you won't want to put it down until you discover what happened and why.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 31, 2021
As the blurb says, this one started off with a BANG - both literally and figuratively!
Two women, Lucy Barton-Jones, head of HR, and Shay Lambert, a newly hired corporate lawyer for fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International, or CDMI, step into an elevator together on the 30th floor one cold February night. On the trip down, the lights go out, the elevator stalls, trapping both women, and at some point a shot rings out. Only one woman eventually emerges and the other is either a victim by her own hand … or the other woman’s.
What’s the truth? Well, you have a fifty-fifty chance of being right, so the fun is less about that answer and more about the path that gets you there. I felt the book makes enough intimations of where it’s heading that I wasn’t surprised by the ending.
For me, the typically burning question of the “who” wasn’t what was driving me through the pages. It was “why” and the “how” - the mystery and motive - behind CDMI’s bigwigs and why they were trying to frame one of these women for the other’s death. That, as my husband likes to say, is “the spicy meatball” that made this so enjoyable for me.
After hearing friends say that there was a lot of legalese and corporate talk in this, I was already expecting to have to No-Doze my way through this (no offense to my legal and corporate friends!) I’m not saying I didn’t struggle with the legal lingo, and I’m completely out of my depth when it comes to understanding the white collar world, but despite that I found this to be very engaging. It started strong, got a little bogged down and slow in the middle, then really ramped up the tension and intrigue in the final third.
Author Bonnie Kistler is a former lawyer, so her legal knowledge shines and adds authenticity to the story. If you like a slow-burn legal mystery/thriller with global intrigue, where you have to figure out who’s playing who, with an ever-changing upper hand, you might have fun with this. As a bonus, it has a clever epilogue that actually works!
Thanks to Harper Publishing, NetGalley and author Bonnie Kistler for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. It’s due for publication on February 15, 2022.
★★★ ½ (rounded to 4)
Two women, Lucy Barton-Jones, head of HR, and Shay Lambert, a newly hired corporate lawyer for fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International, or CDMI, step into an elevator together on the 30th floor one cold February night. On the trip down, the lights go out, the elevator stalls, trapping both women, and at some point a shot rings out. Only one woman eventually emerges and the other is either a victim by her own hand … or the other woman’s.
What’s the truth? Well, you have a fifty-fifty chance of being right, so the fun is less about that answer and more about the path that gets you there. I felt the book makes enough intimations of where it’s heading that I wasn’t surprised by the ending.
For me, the typically burning question of the “who” wasn’t what was driving me through the pages. It was “why” and the “how” - the mystery and motive - behind CDMI’s bigwigs and why they were trying to frame one of these women for the other’s death. That, as my husband likes to say, is “the spicy meatball” that made this so enjoyable for me.
After hearing friends say that there was a lot of legalese and corporate talk in this, I was already expecting to have to No-Doze my way through this (no offense to my legal and corporate friends!) I’m not saying I didn’t struggle with the legal lingo, and I’m completely out of my depth when it comes to understanding the white collar world, but despite that I found this to be very engaging. It started strong, got a little bogged down and slow in the middle, then really ramped up the tension and intrigue in the final third.
Author Bonnie Kistler is a former lawyer, so her legal knowledge shines and adds authenticity to the story. If you like a slow-burn legal mystery/thriller with global intrigue, where you have to figure out who’s playing who, with an ever-changing upper hand, you might have fun with this. As a bonus, it has a clever epilogue that actually works!
Thanks to Harper Publishing, NetGalley and author Bonnie Kistler for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. It’s due for publication on February 15, 2022.
★★★ ½ (rounded to 4)
November 5, 2021
Wrong place, wrong time?
The last two women at work that night enter the elevator on the 30th floor. One is Lucy, the HR director of CDMI - a fashion corporation. The other is Shay, a newly hired lawyer.
Something happens on the ride down to the lobby, when the doors open, one of them is dead.
This sets up the plot line for the novel. Who is responsible and what was their motive?
I was going a bit cross-eyed with all the legal jargon - mergers, law of unintended conquences, Wall Street, documents, contracts, etc. This was about as exciting as shuffling papers and then alphabetizing them!
I was expecting more of a twisty, tension filled read and while there are secrets revealed and motives divulged, all the legal eagle talk slowed the overall pace.
I did enjoy the beginning and the set-up, the first 25% drew me in and made for some good theories of what happened on that elevator. A fun buddy read with Jayme and Regina that gave me some early insight.
If you like a legal drama with some unsavory characters, this may be for you. Others have been thrilled with it, so check out all the reviews.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early review copy! OUT February 2022
The last two women at work that night enter the elevator on the 30th floor. One is Lucy, the HR director of CDMI - a fashion corporation. The other is Shay, a newly hired lawyer.
Something happens on the ride down to the lobby, when the doors open, one of them is dead.
This sets up the plot line for the novel. Who is responsible and what was their motive?
I was going a bit cross-eyed with all the legal jargon - mergers, law of unintended conquences, Wall Street, documents, contracts, etc. This was about as exciting as shuffling papers and then alphabetizing them!
I was expecting more of a twisty, tension filled read and while there are secrets revealed and motives divulged, all the legal eagle talk slowed the overall pace.
I did enjoy the beginning and the set-up, the first 25% drew me in and made for some good theories of what happened on that elevator. A fun buddy read with Jayme and Regina that gave me some early insight.
If you like a legal drama with some unsavory characters, this may be for you. Others have been thrilled with it, so check out all the reviews.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early review copy! OUT February 2022
February 15, 2022
Human Resources director of CDMI, Lucy Barton Jones, and a new legal associate, Shay Barton, enter an elevator on the 30th floor of the Marketplace Towers, after hours on a Sunday evening.
Power is lost and a frantic call is made to 911.
But, when the elevator car reaches the lobby-one of the women is DOA.
MURDER or SUICIDE?
I expected a locked room mystery when I downloaded this title, based on that synopsis but although this story is SUSPENSEFUL, it is anything but the locked room mystery, I was expecting…and hoping for!
What it is-a GREAT fit for readers who enjoy the RISE and FALL, of players in a corporate setting-characters who strive to outsmart and outmaneuver their opponents with no regard to who they might take down as they strive to make their way to the top.
Though clever, I found it a bit difficult to keep track of the names and titles of those in upper management of CDMI and those they surrounded themselves with to keep the status quo, and I found the legalese and Corporate shenanigans a bit too detailed for my taste at times, which created an uneven pace, bogging down the middle.
But, the story DID move in a SURPRISING direction in the second half and actually had a very ENLIGHTENING epilogue. I am not always a fan of books wrapping up that way, but it definitely worked here.
This was a fun buddy read with Regina and Holly-be sure to check out their “always terrific” reviews to see how they felt!
I would like to thank Amelia at HarperCollins Publishers for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley.
It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Available now!
February 15, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Murder or Suicide?
“It was just as Mrs. Casco taught me: wear the face you want the world to see, and that’s the way the world will see you.”
Shay Lambert barely survived the stock market crash of 2008. She lost her high powered job as an attorney, affluent lifestyle, and her marriage is in trouble. However, she refuses to lose the the fantastic life she visualized for herself and made a reality long ago. When she lands a job in the legal department at CDMI, a mega fashion house, she can’t believe her good fortune. She visualizes making a name for herself again and digging her way out of poverty.
One night after staying late at the office, Shay makes her way to leave the building. She and Lucy Barton-Jones meet at the elevator, but only one will make it out alive.
The Cage is a well-plotted legal thriller that will have you guessing until the very last page. This is my first Bonnie Kistler book and it did not disappoint! I was not expecting this much legalese, but despite my lack of knowledge, I was able to grasp the essential plot points. Kistler is a former trial lawyer, and her expertise in this area is evident. Those who are more attuned to this genre might find this aspect of the book more riveting.
While I was glued to the pages, I was able to easily predict the plot twists. At times, I also found certain elements to be very coincidental and difficult to believe. However, it did not negatively effect my enjoyment. I had fun with this book and was willing to look past these incidents. Shay Lambert is a terrific strong female protagonist and it is easy to root for her success.
Bonnie Kistler is a new author to me, and I am looking forward to reading more of her thrillers.
4/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Cage in exchange for an honest review.
Murder or Suicide?
“It was just as Mrs. Casco taught me: wear the face you want the world to see, and that’s the way the world will see you.”
Shay Lambert barely survived the stock market crash of 2008. She lost her high powered job as an attorney, affluent lifestyle, and her marriage is in trouble. However, she refuses to lose the the fantastic life she visualized for herself and made a reality long ago. When she lands a job in the legal department at CDMI, a mega fashion house, she can’t believe her good fortune. She visualizes making a name for herself again and digging her way out of poverty.
One night after staying late at the office, Shay makes her way to leave the building. She and Lucy Barton-Jones meet at the elevator, but only one will make it out alive.
The Cage is a well-plotted legal thriller that will have you guessing until the very last page. This is my first Bonnie Kistler book and it did not disappoint! I was not expecting this much legalese, but despite my lack of knowledge, I was able to grasp the essential plot points. Kistler is a former trial lawyer, and her expertise in this area is evident. Those who are more attuned to this genre might find this aspect of the book more riveting.
While I was glued to the pages, I was able to easily predict the plot twists. At times, I also found certain elements to be very coincidental and difficult to believe. However, it did not negatively effect my enjoyment. I had fun with this book and was willing to look past these incidents. Shay Lambert is a terrific strong female protagonist and it is easy to root for her success.
Bonnie Kistler is a new author to me, and I am looking forward to reading more of her thrillers.
4/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Cage in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
February 20, 2022Dnf the audiobook at Chapter 11. The narrators are excellent and probably the only reason I got this far.
The story starts out strong and goes steadily downhill from there. So much backstory that was all tell, no show and made my eyes glaze over.
Don’t believe the description as a legal thriller. It is not. Especially the thriller part.
The story starts out strong and goes steadily downhill from there. So much backstory that was all tell, no show and made my eyes glaze over.
Don’t believe the description as a legal thriller. It is not. Especially the thriller part.
February 14, 2022
A lawyer and a Human Resources Manager at Claudine de Martineau International both enter an elevator but only one will leave. Was it murder or was it suicide?
Bonnie Kistler takes us on a wild journey to find out what exactly happened and what is discovered is shocking.
I'll admit I was nearly going to sit this one aside in defeat. Kistler is a practicing trial lawyer that knows all the ins and outs of lawyering. Me, not so much, so this books legalese was a little heavy handed in my opinion. It is meticulously written but for the average Joe or Jane you will be inundated in details that are nearly incomprehensible to those not in the know. When you have no idea what it is that your reading it can become frustrating but then...something started to click. Once we got behind the scenes of what was actually happening at CDMI I was riveted to the page. I really enjoyed the character of Shay Lambert. She's whip-smart, calculating, and yet vulnerable in her own way. She was an easy character to root for and I'm not so sure what that says about me. I found the ending satisfying and I especially enjoyed the last few sentences! The cherry on the sundae, if you will! 🍒 If you can wade through the law jargon you will be rewarded with an intricate mystery that is worthy of your time. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for my complimentary copy.
Bonnie Kistler takes us on a wild journey to find out what exactly happened and what is discovered is shocking.
I'll admit I was nearly going to sit this one aside in defeat. Kistler is a practicing trial lawyer that knows all the ins and outs of lawyering. Me, not so much, so this books legalese was a little heavy handed in my opinion. It is meticulously written but for the average Joe or Jane you will be inundated in details that are nearly incomprehensible to those not in the know. When you have no idea what it is that your reading it can become frustrating but then...something started to click. Once we got behind the scenes of what was actually happening at CDMI I was riveted to the page. I really enjoyed the character of Shay Lambert. She's whip-smart, calculating, and yet vulnerable in her own way. She was an easy character to root for and I'm not so sure what that says about me. I found the ending satisfying and I especially enjoyed the last few sentences! The cherry on the sundae, if you will! 🍒 If you can wade through the law jargon you will be rewarded with an intricate mystery that is worthy of your time. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for my complimentary copy.
November 26, 2021
On a late Sunday, two women entered an elevator at work.
Lights go off.
When the power returns and the elevator gets down to the ground level, only one of them is alive.
Did Shay kill Lucy or did Lucy commit suicide?
This is the question The Cage is based on.
Shay Lambert can't believe what just happened to her. She is a lawyer who was working late. The dead woman's name was Lucy. She was the head of Human Resources. Shay tells the police, Lucy had a gun and Shay was trying to take the gun away so Lucy wouldn't hurt herself.
Is Lucy speaking the truth?
Read it to find out.
It was fun trying to figure out what was really happening. Was Shay an unreliable narrator or was she being set up?
I liked Shay. She was down on her luck, with a marriage that was pretty much done and she was just trying to survive. I began rooting for her and wanting her to win even if she was guilty (where was my conscience?).
I usually stay away from legal thrillers but this one kept my attention throughout.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Harper via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Lights go off.
When the power returns and the elevator gets down to the ground level, only one of them is alive.
Did Shay kill Lucy or did Lucy commit suicide?
This is the question The Cage is based on.
Shay Lambert can't believe what just happened to her. She is a lawyer who was working late. The dead woman's name was Lucy. She was the head of Human Resources. Shay tells the police, Lucy had a gun and Shay was trying to take the gun away so Lucy wouldn't hurt herself.
Is Lucy speaking the truth?
Read it to find out.
It was fun trying to figure out what was really happening. Was Shay an unreliable narrator or was she being set up?
I liked Shay. She was down on her luck, with a marriage that was pretty much done and she was just trying to survive. I began rooting for her and wanting her to win even if she was guilty (where was my conscience?).
I usually stay away from legal thrillers but this one kept my attention throughout.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Harper via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
February 18, 2022
The Cage's brilliant premise was ultra-compelling:
Two executive women walk into an elevator on the 30th floor. When the elevator doors open on the ground floor, one woman is dead.
WHAT HAPPENED? Was the dead woman murdered or did she commit suicide?
Unfortunately, as soon as this dead woman was discovered in the first chapter, this book died, too.
WHY? The author went off on waaaay too many tangents. The end result? This "thriller" simply lacked the thrills that I was expecting.
Many GR reviewers categorized this book as a "legal thriller" and complained that the author (who is an attorney) used too much legal jargon.
I did not view this book as a "legal thriller". Instead, I viewed this book as an unsuccessful attempt to write a "corporate thriller", a genre that writers Joseph Finder and Megan Goldin have mastered.
Megan Goldin's "The Escape Room" began with an elevator, too. "The Escape Room" was a 5-star read. "The Cage" was not.
"The Cage" went "down" as soon as those elevator doors opened.
I listened to the audiobook. I always love it when books have multiple narrators. Piper Goodeve, the female narrator did a superb job. Chris Andrew Ciulla, the male narrator, was borderline-annoying.
1.5 stars, rounded up.
Two executive women walk into an elevator on the 30th floor. When the elevator doors open on the ground floor, one woman is dead.
WHAT HAPPENED? Was the dead woman murdered or did she commit suicide?
Unfortunately, as soon as this dead woman was discovered in the first chapter, this book died, too.
WHY? The author went off on waaaay too many tangents. The end result? This "thriller" simply lacked the thrills that I was expecting.
Many GR reviewers categorized this book as a "legal thriller" and complained that the author (who is an attorney) used too much legal jargon.
I did not view this book as a "legal thriller". Instead, I viewed this book as an unsuccessful attempt to write a "corporate thriller", a genre that writers Joseph Finder and Megan Goldin have mastered.
Megan Goldin's "The Escape Room" began with an elevator, too. "The Escape Room" was a 5-star read. "The Cage" was not.
"The Cage" went "down" as soon as those elevator doors opened.
I listened to the audiobook. I always love it when books have multiple narrators. Piper Goodeve, the female narrator did a superb job. Chris Andrew Ciulla, the male narrator, was borderline-annoying.
1.5 stars, rounded up.
March 23, 2022
The blurb for The Cage touts this as having
"...the psychological complexity of The Silent Patient..."
. No no, don't do that. Comparing books to recent hits in the blurb seems to always result in disappointment.
I enjoy locked room thrillers, and have always been drawn to plots with characters stuck in an elevator. It's just really hard to pull off (loved the 2010 film Devil). Surprisingly, the mystery surrounding the elevator and what transpired is really good. HOWEVER, it wasn't enough to fill all the pages of a novel.
So what we get is a convoluted second half with multiple subplots that spanned all across the globe - a much different vibe from the locked room setting I was expecting.
Overall, this is truly a 3.5-star read for me and I debated on a round up or down. The writing here is solid but I believe Kistler will lose people with all the legalese. Kistler is a practicing lawyer and her knowledge is on full display. I work in the finance world and was tracking with everything she was talking about but it wasn't interesting to get that far into the weeds.
Although the writing was good, Kistler's handling of some Asian and African American characters was off-putting.
3.5 stars, rounding down. Cheers!
I enjoy locked room thrillers, and have always been drawn to plots with characters stuck in an elevator. It's just really hard to pull off (loved the 2010 film Devil). Surprisingly, the mystery surrounding the elevator and what transpired is really good. HOWEVER, it wasn't enough to fill all the pages of a novel.
So what we get is a convoluted second half with multiple subplots that spanned all across the globe - a much different vibe from the locked room setting I was expecting.
Overall, this is truly a 3.5-star read for me and I debated on a round up or down. The writing here is solid but I believe Kistler will lose people with all the legalese. Kistler is a practicing lawyer and her knowledge is on full display. I work in the finance world and was tracking with everything she was talking about but it wasn't interesting to get that far into the weeds.
Although the writing was good, Kistler's handling of some Asian and African American characters was off-putting.
3.5 stars, rounding down. Cheers!
dnf
February 20, 2022DNF at page 100. The minutiae in this book was making my eyes glaze over. A promising start that fizzled out quickly.
February 12, 2024
Smart. Tense. Page-turning twisty who-dunnit and what and why did this happen and I know who the bad guy is, but why kind of a book.
The advertisement alone is enough to get you started…
‘Two women walk in to an elevator, only one leaves it alive – is it suicide or homicide?’
And...
Don't think you know everything – not even until the last page will everything be clear!
So...
Stay with it, it has a lot of moving parts!
The advertisement alone is enough to get you started…
‘Two women walk in to an elevator, only one leaves it alive – is it suicide or homicide?’
And...
Don't think you know everything – not even until the last page will everything be clear!
So...
Stay with it, it has a lot of moving parts!
February 27, 2023
3.5 stars. A good thriller that had me very intruiged to learn what happened and all that. But I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. As I felt it had one of those "shock value" endings.
January 5, 2022
Two women are working late one night at their office in a large fashion conglomerate company. One woman is working in the human resource department and the other is one of the company’s attorneys. They both end up leaving work at the same time and share an elevator ride down 30 floors. When they arrive at the ground floor only one woman is alive?!
Legal thriller fans take notice, THE CAGE could be right up your alley! This is my first Bonnie Kistler book and now I will be on the hunt for more. I really enjoyed this story, it was entertaining and fast paced. I read it quickly and it kept my interest the entire time. It shows that the author is a former lawyer, which added significantly to the plausibility of the plot. Check out THE CAGE for a fun legal thriller you won’t soon forget!
Many thanks to Harper for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Legal thriller fans take notice, THE CAGE could be right up your alley! This is my first Bonnie Kistler book and now I will be on the hunt for more. I really enjoyed this story, it was entertaining and fast paced. I read it quickly and it kept my interest the entire time. It shows that the author is a former lawyer, which added significantly to the plausibility of the plot. Check out THE CAGE for a fun legal thriller you won’t soon forget!
Many thanks to Harper for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
May 1, 2022
Well, at least I can say I finished it! Unfortunately that might be the only real positive I took away from this experience.
Don't get me wrong, the writing was above average, and this book had a stellar beginning. A stunning murder mystery that I just knew wasn't what it seemed at first, and the mystery of whodunit really had me engaged. The first quarter of the book was solid, the initial character development of our protagonist was impressive and the struggling lawyer trapped in a nightmare situation with all odds against her really had me invested in the character and how she might possibly get herself out of the conundrum she was in. Unfortunately, then all the extensive back and forth legal talk ensued, added with an ever-growing cast of characters I couldn't quite keep straight and it just lost me. At that point everything felt so convoluted and I just wanted to get through it so I could say I finished it. It almost felt as though the author took a break, perhaps and extended break, between the initial third, and when she picked it back up the rest of the novel had starkly different vibe. Perhaps it was just me?! The ending didn't do a whole lot to redeem the overall story, so I will give it 3 disappointing Stars :-(
I'm very hesitant to post anything below stellar when I write my reviews, but I feel I have to be honest here because this book was very hyped, many comparing it to Grisham's The Firm, which I didn't get at all whilst reading. I suppose this book could very well appeal to a different reader, unfortunately it just didn't work out for me in the end.
Don't get me wrong, the writing was above average, and this book had a stellar beginning. A stunning murder mystery that I just knew wasn't what it seemed at first, and the mystery of whodunit really had me engaged. The first quarter of the book was solid, the initial character development of our protagonist was impressive and the struggling lawyer trapped in a nightmare situation with all odds against her really had me invested in the character and how she might possibly get herself out of the conundrum she was in. Unfortunately, then all the extensive back and forth legal talk ensued, added with an ever-growing cast of characters I couldn't quite keep straight and it just lost me. At that point everything felt so convoluted and I just wanted to get through it so I could say I finished it. It almost felt as though the author took a break, perhaps and extended break, between the initial third, and when she picked it back up the rest of the novel had starkly different vibe. Perhaps it was just me?! The ending didn't do a whole lot to redeem the overall story, so I will give it 3 disappointing Stars :-(
I'm very hesitant to post anything below stellar when I write my reviews, but I feel I have to be honest here because this book was very hyped, many comparing it to Grisham's The Firm, which I didn't get at all whilst reading. I suppose this book could very well appeal to a different reader, unfortunately it just didn't work out for me in the end.
February 3, 2022
Thank you to Harper Books and Bonnie Kistler for my copy of The Cage. I can honestly say this book was both not what I was expecting and not like anything I’ve read before. This book was about two woman who work for the same company. They both are working late, they both enter the same elevator, and only one comes out alive. The story is what follows and leads the reader down a rabbit hole of corporate greed, mystery, and intrigue.
Thoughts: I loved the different aspects of this book. It was part thriller, part mystery, part legal thriller, part courtroom drama, and all fun. The book is fast paced from the beginning and leads the reader down a rabbit hole. I recommend going in blind like I did, because it made the book extra interesting. I hated all the characters, but they were the type it was fun to hate. The narrator wasn’t necessarily reliable, which was part of the fun.
This was a locked room mystery with only two suspects. It was fun to try to figure out who did it and why. There was quite a bit of legal jargon so be prepared for that. I didn’t like that some things just didn’t make sense with the story. For being a strong character, Shay put up with way too much while lots of things just conveniently fell in her lap. There were so many moments she just got lucky that of course had to work for the story, but it didn't necessarily make sense to me. In the end I really enjoyed the book- 4 stars.
Thoughts: I loved the different aspects of this book. It was part thriller, part mystery, part legal thriller, part courtroom drama, and all fun. The book is fast paced from the beginning and leads the reader down a rabbit hole. I recommend going in blind like I did, because it made the book extra interesting. I hated all the characters, but they were the type it was fun to hate. The narrator wasn’t necessarily reliable, which was part of the fun.
This was a locked room mystery with only two suspects. It was fun to try to figure out who did it and why. There was quite a bit of legal jargon so be prepared for that. I didn’t like that some things just didn’t make sense with the story. For being a strong character, Shay put up with way too much while lots of things just conveniently fell in her lap. There were so many moments she just got lucky that of course had to work for the story, but it didn't necessarily make sense to me. In the end I really enjoyed the book- 4 stars.
October 7, 2021
This was just kind of a mess. SUCH an interesting premise, the beginning had me absolutely consumed and intrigued. I couldn't wait to see what would happen. And then it just sort of...fizzled out.
There were random segues and endless rambling and unnecessary details and so.much.legalese. The author is a former lawyer so that explains the lonnnnggg legal descriptions.
It was just a miss for me.
Thanks to Harper for a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
There were random segues and endless rambling and unnecessary details and so.much.legalese. The author is a former lawyer so that explains the lonnnnggg legal descriptions.
It was just a miss for me.
Thanks to Harper for a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 29, 2022
In the prologue, two women work late on a Sunday night on the 30th floor of their firm. One is HR director Lucy Carter-Jones and the other is recently hired lawyer Shay Lambert. They get on the same elevator to leave. The power goes out. A 911 call is placed. When the door opens, one of the women is dead of a gunshot wound. The other says it was suicide. What are the police going to believe?
I'll call this book a legal thriller with no courtroom scenes. The story became more complex in the second half. Throughout the book, I wondered what really happened in that elevator so I was glad to see the epilogue tell readers the truth. I prefer authors to tell me straight out what they mean. I don't like to guess.
I'll call this book a legal thriller with no courtroom scenes. The story became more complex in the second half. Throughout the book, I wondered what really happened in that elevator so I was glad to see the epilogue tell readers the truth. I prefer authors to tell me straight out what they mean. I don't like to guess.
March 23, 2024
Well i really wanted to like this one cause i loved her other book "her, too" But alas, this has turned out to be a snoozefest and im dnf'ing it
February 26, 2022
4⭐
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTIOᑎ = 😍 (ᗩᙏᗩᘔIᑎᘜ)
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTᙓᗪ ᙖY 🎙️ᑭIᑭᙓᖇ ᘜOOᗪᙓᐯᙓ & ᙅᕼᖇIS ᗩᑎᗪᖇᙓᙎ ᙅIᙀᒪᒪᗩ
TᖇY TᕼIS Iᖴ YOᙀ ᗩᖇᙓ Iᑎ Tᕼᙓ ᙏOOᗪ ᖴOᖇ
A Legal/Psychological Thriller
Mystery with light suspense
Twists, plot shifts & some intriguing surprises
I was not liking this at first and I considered bailing on it. But I stuck with it and it takes an unexpected turn about a third way in, after that shift, it becomes considerably better. And that epilogue was surely the cherry on top of this okay-ish cake.
TOTᗩᒪ SᙅOᖇᙓ 7.71/❿
OᑭᙓᑎIᑎᘜ ￫ 6.5 ᙅᕼᗩᖇᗩᙅTᙓᖇS ￫ 7.5 ᑭᒪOT/ᙖᙓᒪIᙓᐯᗩᙖIᒪITY ￫ 8 ᗩTᙏOSᑭᕼᙓᖇᙓ/TOᑎᙓ ￫ 8 ᙎᖇITIᑎᘜ STYᒪᙓ ￫ 7.5 ᙓᑎᗪIᑎᘜ ￫ 8.5 Oᐯᙓᖇᗩᒪᒪ ᙓᑎᒍOYᙏᙓᑎT ￫ 8
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTIOᑎ = 😍 (ᗩᙏᗩᘔIᑎᘜ)
ᑎᗩᖇᖇᗩTᙓᗪ ᙖY 🎙️ᑭIᑭᙓᖇ ᘜOOᗪᙓᐯᙓ & ᙅᕼᖇIS ᗩᑎᗪᖇᙓᙎ ᙅIᙀᒪᒪᗩ
TᖇY TᕼIS Iᖴ YOᙀ ᗩᖇᙓ Iᑎ Tᕼᙓ ᙏOOᗪ ᖴOᖇ
A Legal/Psychological Thriller
Mystery with light suspense
Twists, plot shifts & some intriguing surprises
I was not liking this at first and I considered bailing on it. But I stuck with it and it takes an unexpected turn about a third way in, after that shift, it becomes considerably better. And that epilogue was surely the cherry on top of this okay-ish cake.
TOTᗩᒪ SᙅOᖇᙓ 7.71/❿
OᑭᙓᑎIᑎᘜ ￫ 6.5 ᙅᕼᗩᖇᗩᙅTᙓᖇS ￫ 7.5 ᑭᒪOT/ᙖᙓᒪIᙓᐯᗩᙖIᒪITY ￫ 8 ᗩTᙏOSᑭᕼᙓᖇᙓ/TOᑎᙓ ￫ 8 ᙎᖇITIᑎᘜ STYᒪᙓ ￫ 7.5 ᙓᑎᗪIᑎᘜ ￫ 8.5 Oᐯᙓᖇᗩᒪᒪ ᙓᑎᒍOYᙏᙓᑎT ￫ 8
March 6, 2022
‘The Cage’ by Bonnie Kistler was a disappointment for me. Partially it was because I couldn’t really connect with any of the main characters who were mostly lawyers. The lawyers are somewhat similar to the people in HBO’s Succession series, except ‘The Cage’ is not funny nor about a family. Basically the lawyers all overreach in their ambitions, moving into gray areas of legality, with some going beyond the red lines of illegality. I thought the writing seemed a bit flat, too, maybe due to an almost procedural style the author uses in various behind-the-scene legal maneuvers.
The cover blurb promises an excitement I didn’t feel:
”Combining the propulsive narrative drive of The Firm with the psychological complexity of The Silent Patient, a gripping and original thriller about two professional women—colleagues at an international fashion conglomerate—who enter an elevator together . . . but only one is alive when they reach the ground floor.
On a cold, misty Sunday night, two women are alone in the offices of fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International. One is the company’s human resources director. Impeccably dressed and perfectly coiffed, she sits at her desk and stares somberly out the window. Down the hall, her colleague, one of the company’s lawyers, is buried under a pile of paperwork, frantically rushing to finish.
Leaving at the same time, the two women, each preoccupied by her own thoughts, enter the elevator that will take them down from the 30th floor.
When they arrive at the lobby, one of the women is dead. Was it murder or suicide?
An incredibly original novel that turns the office thriller on its head, The Cage is a wild ride that begins with a bang and picks up speed as it races to its dramatic end.”
For me, none of the above was true except for the brief synopsis about the death mystery in the elevator. Instead the book reminded me of many novels that are the first in a series from a new author with obvious promise of better books to come. Kistler definitely knows about legal firms from the inside. Her biography explains she was a trial lawyer, and I liked the insider reveals about how a legal firm works! However, for me, the characters were barely two-dimensional, the plot was not propulsive nor was there psychological complexities.The lawyers were primarily narcissistic to different degrees. Their narcissism and desires for power and wealth cause their difficulties. But, perhaps the main character, lawyer Shay Lambert, will be headlining a series which gets better and better, as how many do eventually? She became a stronger and wiser person from her problems, and she gradually grew on me. A little bit.
I was reminded of the early books of Marcia Muller about the private detective Sharon McCone (start here: Edwin of the Iron Shoes), which I liked very much by book four.
Two-and-a-half stars.
The cover blurb promises an excitement I didn’t feel:
”Combining the propulsive narrative drive of The Firm with the psychological complexity of The Silent Patient, a gripping and original thriller about two professional women—colleagues at an international fashion conglomerate—who enter an elevator together . . . but only one is alive when they reach the ground floor.
On a cold, misty Sunday night, two women are alone in the offices of fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International. One is the company’s human resources director. Impeccably dressed and perfectly coiffed, she sits at her desk and stares somberly out the window. Down the hall, her colleague, one of the company’s lawyers, is buried under a pile of paperwork, frantically rushing to finish.
Leaving at the same time, the two women, each preoccupied by her own thoughts, enter the elevator that will take them down from the 30th floor.
When they arrive at the lobby, one of the women is dead. Was it murder or suicide?
An incredibly original novel that turns the office thriller on its head, The Cage is a wild ride that begins with a bang and picks up speed as it races to its dramatic end.”
For me, none of the above was true except for the brief synopsis about the death mystery in the elevator. Instead the book reminded me of many novels that are the first in a series from a new author with obvious promise of better books to come. Kistler definitely knows about legal firms from the inside. Her biography explains she was a trial lawyer, and I liked the insider reveals about how a legal firm works! However, for me, the characters were barely two-dimensional, the plot was not propulsive nor was there psychological complexities.The lawyers were primarily narcissistic to different degrees. Their narcissism and desires for power and wealth cause their difficulties. But, perhaps the main character, lawyer Shay Lambert, will be headlining a series which gets better and better, as how many do eventually? She became a stronger and wiser person from her problems, and she gradually grew on me. A little bit.
I was reminded of the early books of Marcia Muller about the private detective Sharon McCone (start here: Edwin of the Iron Shoes), which I liked very much by book four.
Two-and-a-half stars.
May 26, 2022
Wow! This book jumps right into the thick of it and the twists keep coming till the very last page.
June 14, 2024
3.5 stars.
Here’s the thing, I love legal thrillers, if they’re written simple enough for me to follow and smart enough that they unfold gradually over the course of the book.
This story was smart and mostly easy to follow, except for a couple of elements that felt disconnected( to me)
1- The palmer case, I honestly do not understand what the hell was going on there, who is who and who did what and how was it wrapped up.
Potential spoiler:
2- Shay: The sudden flip in personality is disconnecting, she was brainy and persistent from the get go, but suddenly she’s outwitting corporate lawyers and scheming a company takeover ? It felt like another person was brought to play the character.
I am curious about the author’s other books, and will most likely explore another one.
Here’s the thing, I love legal thrillers, if they’re written simple enough for me to follow and smart enough that they unfold gradually over the course of the book.
This story was smart and mostly easy to follow, except for a couple of elements that felt disconnected( to me)
1- The palmer case, I honestly do not understand what the hell was going on there, who is who and who did what and how was it wrapped up.
Potential spoiler:
2- Shay: The sudden flip in personality is disconnecting, she was brainy and persistent from the get go, but suddenly she’s outwitting corporate lawyers and scheming a company takeover ? It felt like another person was brought to play the character.
I am curious about the author’s other books, and will most likely explore another one.
December 16, 2024
The Cage features some tense moments of "WTH happened?" but the outdated technology doesn't do the story any favors. This book was published in 2022 but takes place in 2014, and the AI tech alone is fairly ridiculous (at once clunky and futuristic).
I knew where the book was going a few chapters in. I love law dramas, all the procedurals and depositions and documents, but take heed: If you don't, stay clear because there's paperwork galore, and all of it matters.
Shay Lambert, the protagonist, is kickass - smart, focused, and savvy.
And that elevator scene - well, we find out what really happened in the epilogue, which was a smart move by the author.
The plot dragged a bit. I found myself skimming here and there.
Also, the secondary characters are cookie-cutter for the most part.
Standard Grisham, and that's not necessarily a compliment.
I knew where the book was going a few chapters in. I love law dramas, all the procedurals and depositions and documents, but take heed: If you don't, stay clear because there's paperwork galore, and all of it matters.
Shay Lambert, the protagonist, is kickass - smart, focused, and savvy.
And that elevator scene - well, we find out what really happened in the epilogue, which was a smart move by the author.
The plot dragged a bit. I found myself skimming here and there.
Also, the secondary characters are cookie-cutter for the most part.
Standard Grisham, and that's not necessarily a compliment.
February 21, 2022
I had high hopes - the beginning was suspenseful, the middle was a bit muddy. I do not understand and/or appreciate the author’s stereotype of BIPOC characters. As an avid reader of many genres, I have been fortunate to not experience such disturbing and offensive depiction of BIPOC characters. The author’s description of BIPOC characters’ and the written dialogue is horrific. There are many ways to depict characters of race that is done respectfully and eloquently!
March 18, 2022
I really liked this! The audio was great. I was guessing through a lot of the first part until we are told what was going on. These are very flawed characters that are hard to defend. Talk about a prime disgusting male character in here…he was a piece of work. I really enjoyed it and thought the ending was great.
*Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an early copy to read!
*Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an early copy to read!
January 13, 2022
I love a good mystery. If you want to read a intriguing mystery you need to read The Cage. Bonnie Kistler is such a wonderful writer who keeps the story flowing. I didn't want to put this book down.
A gripping and original thriller about two professional women who work at an international fashion conglomerate and who enter an elevator together but only one is alive when they reach the ground floor. One is the human resources director. The other is one of the company’s lawyers. This book will give you guessing and playing detective. Waiting for your next great book Bonnie Kistler.
LISTS WITH THIS BOOK
My Wife Is Missing by D.J. PalmerThe Paris Apartment by Lucy FoleyThe Golden Couple by Greer HendricksThe Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. JamesNine Lives by Peter Swanson
Mystery & Thriller 2022
81 books — 111 voters
The Paris Apartment by Lucy FoleyNine Lives by Peter SwansonThe Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. JamesA Flicker in the Dark by Stacy WillinghamThe House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
Most anticipated 2022 thriller books
51 books — 37 voters
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Michael David
Oct 04, 2021Michael David rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Two women get into an elevator on the 30th floor. Only one gets out of the elevator at ground level…
...because the other woman is dead.
Both women work in a Manhattan highrise at Claudine de Martineau International (CDMI). One is the human resources director. The other is one of the company’s lawyers.
Was the death in the elevator caused by murder? Or suicide?
There is an abundance of reasons to speculate, but it’s best to go in blind.
What I will say is that I was not expecting to LOVE this office/legal thriller as much as I did. I found it unputdownable and compelling, with more depth than I expected. It is smartly written by Bonnie Kistler, a former lawyer. The characters are multifaceted and interesting. I flew through this one because I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
This is definitely not a locked room mystery, so don’t go into it expecting to spend the whole time in the elevator with these characters. The book goes way beyond that, and into many different directions.
Sure, there were some moments that seemed far fetched, but overall I found The Cage to be riveting, taut, eloquently written, and scary in the sense that it seems feasible that most of the plot points in the book could really happen.
Suspenseful and easy to get lost in all the way through the revealing epilogue. This would also make a great movie!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Harper for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/15/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com (less)
flag137 likes · Like · see review
Kat (on semi-hiatus for a bit)
Dec 30, 2021Kat (on semi-hiatus for a bit) rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: crime, fiction, mystery, power-dynamics, psychological-thriller, suspense
As the blurb says, this one started off with a BANG - both literally and figuratively!
Two women, Lucy Barton-Jones, head of HR, and Shay Lambert, a newly hired corporate lawyer for fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International, or CDMI, step into an elevator together on the 30th floor one cold February night. On the trip down, the lights go out, the elevator stalls, trapping both women, and at some point a shot rings out. Only one woman eventually emerges and the other is either a vic ...more
flag115 likes · Like · 74 comments · see review
Regina (new photo, new year!)
Nov 04, 2021Regina (new photo, new year!) rated it liked it
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say this cage is unlocked.
If you read the publisher synopsis, you may think this is a locked room mystery. Two women enter an elevator together, but only one comes out alive. That’s just the first chapter - of 34 - though. What follows is a roller coaster of a plot that at times reminded me of The Firm (which the synopsis also references), Orange is the New Black, and a hundred psychological thrillers with possibly-unreliable first-person female narrators.
Above ...more
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Holly B
Nov 04, 2021Holly B rated it liked it
Shelves: read-in-2021, net-galley, a-bit-bored-with-it, mystery, slow-burner
Wrong place, wrong time?
The last two women at work that night enter the elevator on the 30th floor. One is Lucy, the HR director of CDMI - a fashion corporation. The other is Shay, a newly hired lawyer.
Something happens on the ride down to the lobby, when the doors open, one of them is dead.
This sets up the plot line for the novel. Who is responsible and what was their motive?
I was going a bit cross-eyed with all the legal jargon - mergers, law of unintended conquences, Wall Street, documents, contracts, etc. This was about as exciting as shuffling papers and then alphabetizing them!
I was expecting more of a twisty, tension filled read and while there are secrets revealed and motives divulged, all the legal eagle talk slowed the overall pace.
I did enjoy the beginning and the set-up, the first 25% drew me in and made for some good theories of what happened on that elevator. A fun buddy read with Jayme and Regina that gave me some early insight.
If you like a legal drama with some unsavory characters, this may be for you. Others have been thrilled with it, so check out all the reviews.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early review copy! OUT February 2022 (less)
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Jayme
Nov 04, 2021Jayme rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: influencer-program, psychological-thriller, netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
Human Resources director of CDMI, Lucy Barton Jones, and a new legal associate, Shay Barton, enter an elevator on the 30th floor of the Marketplace Towers, after hours on a Sunday evening.
Power is lost and a frantic call is made to 911.
But, when the elevator car reaches the lobby-one of the women is DOA.
MURDER or SUICIDE?
I expected a locked room mystery when I downloaded this title, based on that synopsis but although this story is SUSPENSEFUL, it is anything but the locked room mystery ...more
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Sheyla ✎
Nov 23, 2021Sheyla ✎ rated it really liked it
Shelves: netgalley, thriller, arc, fiction, 2021, buddy-reading, publisher
A gripping and original thriller about two professional women who work at an international fashion conglomerate and who enter an elevator together but only one is alive when they reach the ground floor. One is the human resources director. The other is one of the company’s lawyers. This book will give you guessing and playing detective. Waiting for your next great book Bonnie Kistler.
LISTS WITH THIS BOOK
My Wife Is Missing by D.J. PalmerThe Paris Apartment by Lucy FoleyThe Golden Couple by Greer HendricksThe Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. JamesNine Lives by Peter Swanson
Mystery & Thriller 2022
81 books — 111 voters
The Paris Apartment by Lucy FoleyNine Lives by Peter SwansonThe Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. JamesA Flicker in the Dark by Stacy WillinghamThe House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
Most anticipated 2022 thriller books
51 books — 37 voters
More lists with this book...
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
Showing 1-30
Average rating3.70 · Rating details · 50 ratings · 30 reviews
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Michael David
Oct 04, 2021Michael David rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Two women get into an elevator on the 30th floor. Only one gets out of the elevator at ground level…
...because the other woman is dead.
Both women work in a Manhattan highrise at Claudine de Martineau International (CDMI). One is the human resources director. The other is one of the company’s lawyers.
Was the death in the elevator caused by murder? Or suicide?
There is an abundance of reasons to speculate, but it’s best to go in blind.
What I will say is that I was not expecting to LOVE this office/legal thriller as much as I did. I found it unputdownable and compelling, with more depth than I expected. It is smartly written by Bonnie Kistler, a former lawyer. The characters are multifaceted and interesting. I flew through this one because I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
This is definitely not a locked room mystery, so don’t go into it expecting to spend the whole time in the elevator with these characters. The book goes way beyond that, and into many different directions.
Sure, there were some moments that seemed far fetched, but overall I found The Cage to be riveting, taut, eloquently written, and scary in the sense that it seems feasible that most of the plot points in the book could really happen.
Suspenseful and easy to get lost in all the way through the revealing epilogue. This would also make a great movie!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Harper for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/15/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com (less)
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Kat (on semi-hiatus for a bit)
Dec 30, 2021Kat (on semi-hiatus for a bit) rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: crime, fiction, mystery, power-dynamics, psychological-thriller, suspense
As the blurb says, this one started off with a BANG - both literally and figuratively!
Two women, Lucy Barton-Jones, head of HR, and Shay Lambert, a newly hired corporate lawyer for fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International, or CDMI, step into an elevator together on the 30th floor one cold February night. On the trip down, the lights go out, the elevator stalls, trapping both women, and at some point a shot rings out. Only one woman eventually emerges and the other is either a vic ...more
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Regina (new photo, new year!)
Nov 04, 2021Regina (new photo, new year!) rated it liked it
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say this cage is unlocked.
If you read the publisher synopsis, you may think this is a locked room mystery. Two women enter an elevator together, but only one comes out alive. That’s just the first chapter - of 34 - though. What follows is a roller coaster of a plot that at times reminded me of The Firm (which the synopsis also references), Orange is the New Black, and a hundred psychological thrillers with possibly-unreliable first-person female narrators.
Above ...more
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Holly B
Nov 04, 2021Holly B rated it liked it
Shelves: read-in-2021, net-galley, a-bit-bored-with-it, mystery, slow-burner
Wrong place, wrong time?
The last two women at work that night enter the elevator on the 30th floor. One is Lucy, the HR director of CDMI - a fashion corporation. The other is Shay, a newly hired lawyer.
Something happens on the ride down to the lobby, when the doors open, one of them is dead.
This sets up the plot line for the novel. Who is responsible and what was their motive?
I was going a bit cross-eyed with all the legal jargon - mergers, law of unintended conquences, Wall Street, documents, contracts, etc. This was about as exciting as shuffling papers and then alphabetizing them!
I was expecting more of a twisty, tension filled read and while there are secrets revealed and motives divulged, all the legal eagle talk slowed the overall pace.
I did enjoy the beginning and the set-up, the first 25% drew me in and made for some good theories of what happened on that elevator. A fun buddy read with Jayme and Regina that gave me some early insight.
If you like a legal drama with some unsavory characters, this may be for you. Others have been thrilled with it, so check out all the reviews.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early review copy! OUT February 2022 (less)
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Jayme
Nov 04, 2021Jayme rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: influencer-program, psychological-thriller, netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
Human Resources director of CDMI, Lucy Barton Jones, and a new legal associate, Shay Barton, enter an elevator on the 30th floor of the Marketplace Towers, after hours on a Sunday evening.
Power is lost and a frantic call is made to 911.
But, when the elevator car reaches the lobby-one of the women is DOA.
MURDER or SUICIDE?
I expected a locked room mystery when I downloaded this title, based on that synopsis but although this story is SUSPENSEFUL, it is anything but the locked room mystery ...more
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Sheyla ✎
Nov 23, 2021Sheyla ✎ rated it really liked it
Shelves: netgalley, thriller, arc, fiction, 2021, buddy-reading, publisher
March 20, 2022
Great premise. Not anything else. Law and corporate minutia enough to make my eyes glaze over. Even the ending was as obnoxious as the characters. Do not recommend this one to anybody.
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