אל תביטי לאחור

by Gregg Hurwitz, גרג הורביץ

איב הארדוויי, אם יחידנית לילד קטן, יוצאת לחופשה שעליה חלמה שנים רבות – טיול אתגרי בלב הג'ונגלים של אוֹאָחקה, מקסיקו. הטיול הפסטורלי מקבל תפנית מסוכנת, כאשר איב סוטה מהמסלול יום אחד ומבחינה מרחוק בגבר מפחיד למראה, המתגורר בבקתה מבודדת בתחתיתו של ערוץ עמוק. כשהיא נסוגה בחזרה אל קבוצת המטיילים, היא נתקלת במצלמה שבורה שהשם תרזה המילטון מסומן עליה. לאחר בדיקה היא מגלה שתרזה הייתה מטיילת כמוה שנעלמה בנסיבות לא ברורות, ושהאדם המסתורי מתחתית הערוץ נושא עמו סוד שעליו הוא מגונן בחייו. ביחד עם שאר חברי הקבוצה איב מוצאת עצמה לכודה בג'ונגל בחברת צייד אכזרי וחסר רחמים, ועליה לשרוד בכל דרך אפשרית, אם ברצונה לחזור הביתה אל בנה.

גרג הורביץ חוזר במותחן חדש ומסחרר מתמיד. ספריו בסדרת פרויקט x וכן המותחנים אתה הבא בתור, השורד ואל תשקר לי, שיצאו אף הם בהוצאת "דני ספרים", הפכו לרבי מכר ענקיים בכל העולם, והציבו אותו בראש כותבי ספרי המתח של ימינו. הורביץ הוא בוגר אוניברסיטאות הרווארד ואוקספורד, והוא מתגורר עם משפחתו בלוס אנג'לס, שם הוא כותב גם תסריטים לקולנוע ולטלוויזיה.

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

464 pages, Unknown Binding

First published August 19, 2014

About the author

Gregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 20 novels, including OUT OF THE DARK (2019). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.

He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Glenn Sumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many Goodreads friends have been raving about Gregg Hurwitz's latest novel, Orphan X, which was bought up by Hollywood (apparently Bradley Cooper is going to star in it) before it even hit bookstores.

I intend to get to that book soon. But when I saw Hurwitz's previous thriller at the library, I decided to read it first. How could I resist the synopsis: Single mom whose husband has left her for a younger woman goes on an eco vacation in the jungles of Mexico, stumbles across something sinister, then has to flee for her life. Surviving by one's wits in the jungle? Yes! Sign me up! It seemed like just the kind of cheesy thriller to get me through one of the most intense work periods of the year.

Well, it did the trick. But this isn't just an ordinary thriller. Hurwitz takes his time establishing the exotic setting, and fleshes out the other characters, who include the guides, Indigenous workers and the other eco tourists. If Eve and the others are going to be running and swimming all over the place trying to escape this dangerous guy, we better know the terrain. And we do.

Hurwitz also spends lots of time giving us the background of the villain, and why he is such an indomitable force.

Once everything has been set up, it really is thrilling to watch the cat and mouse game play out. Eve, insecure about herself before the trip (the vacation was supposed to be an anniversary for her and her husband), learns to find the warrior within, motivated by her love of her son. The way Hurwitz shifts POV adds some nice twists to the narrative. And the final third really is impossible to put down.

I have some problems believing that the villain would be living so close to what he must have realized was some sort of tourist spot. But other than that, Don't Look Back is an involving, heart-pounding read.

Oh, and if I never see a swarm of sweeper ants in my life, I will be happy.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of "Don't Look Back" by Gregg Hurwitz from the publishers, St Martin's Press via netgalley in return for an honest review. This is my first Gregg Hurwitz book, but I'll definitely be reading more. DON'T LOOK BACK is a super thriller with non-stop action and suspense. One novel you will not be able to put down, and will have you looking over your shoulder.

Eve Hardaway, a single mother, makes a decision to take a trip of a lifetime , a rafting and hiking tour through the jungles and mountains of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico, after her ex moved to Amsterdam with a younger woman. But Eve finds a camera with disturbing pictures on a jungle trail. The camera belonged to a previous guest who is missing. Soon the man in the pictures knows she has the camera. Eve and her fellow guests are now prey.

The action scenes were so vivid that I was totally "there" in the jungle with protagonist Eve, and rooting for her all the way to escape.
A trip of a lifetime , turns into a nightmare!

Don't Look Back, is a terrifying fast-paced thriller that will keep you in suspense until the very last page. I could not put it down.

[Tim The Enchanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca

An Adrenaline Rush! - 4 Stars

Be warned. Don't Look Back is not for the faint of heart. Gregg Hurwitz has written an action/suspense/thriller that gets the heart pumping and the juices flowing right out of the gate. The author wastes little time and begins to build suspense in the first 50 pages. Regardless of what anyone says about this book, the action does not slow down long enough to let you get bored.

Plot summary

Eve Hardaway, a mother of one, finds herself separated from her husband months short of their ten year anniversary. A big trip to the jungles of Mexico had been planned and instead of turning the tickets in, she decides to use that time to find herself and enjoy the experience. Soon after checking into the jungle lodge with her small tour group, she finds herself absorbed with the mystery of a previous guest who had gone missing and a mysterious and deadly man living in the jungle. Eve finds herself faced with terror as she and her group have caught the attention of the killer. The chase is on! Does Eve have the fortitude to endure the days ahead and will anyone survive their encounter with the man in the jungle.

The Good

The suspense in the novel is palpable. The author does a wonderful job on keeping you on the edge of the action. The tension builds with a nice mix of psychological elements and a generous helping of action based tension. If you enjoy the "cat and mouse game" type of thrillers, this one will be right up your alley.

I especially enjoyed the pacing of the book. Gregg Hurwitz has taken a page from the Matthew Reilly's handbook - put your foot on the gas and don't take it off unless you are going to slam the brakes, throw your passengers through the windshield and proceed to run them over.

The author has also written what I would consider to be some light message fiction. I found this element to be surprising. It has been my experience that writers of this type of fiction tend to leave the proselytising to the literary fiction folk. Generally, the waft of message fiction sends me running. It tends to drag the story down. In this case, the author does an excellent job of posing questions about terrorism, the tactics used to fight them and the views held of the Muslim world. Don't let this frighten you away, it is presented as a two sided argument and leaves the reader to draw their own conclusion. I appreciate the author allowing me to make up my own mind on the issues as opposed to telling me what I should be thinking.

The Bad

While the pace was breakneck, it did become tiring by the end. Just as our character was fighting exhaustion from her never ending run from danger, I started to tire of the tension. This is not a major complaint but I found the story to be a little too drawn out for my taste.

There are a couple of other elements I also tired of in the novel. One of the biggest annoyances was the over usage of foreshadowing. All to often the characters would stop to observe something in the surroundings and it quickly became clear that those elements would play a role in the story at a later time. As the story progressed, I found myself being able to guess how a character was gong to escape a situation based on what was foreshadowed earlier in the story. Too much of the plot was telegraphed to the reader and it made some elements of the plot a mild disappointment.

Final Thoughts

With a great mix of action and tension, this will appeal to Thriller and Action Adventure fans alike. While there were a few elements that were disappointing, the majority of the novel entertained and the was carried by strong writing. Although this is my first novel by Gregg Hurwitz, Don't Look Back has ensured it will not be my last.

Audiobook Notes

There are two narrators in the book. Each to follow the to points of view. The female protagonist was voiced by an excellent narrator although the child voices were a tad grating. The antagonist was voiced by Scott Brick. I have listened to audiobooks simply because he was the narrator. His voice plays well for these type of novel he does an excellent job as always.

Content Advisories

It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.

Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest

Sex - 2

There is one sex scene. It is not graphic and cuts away without much description of the action. The characters allude to some rapes that have occurred in the village.

Language - 3

While the mild obscenity usage was low, the use of the f-word was low/moderate. A bit more than the average.

Violence - 4

There is plenty of violence throughout. There are multiple deaths with non gory elements of torture. The theme of violence is pervasive. It is moderate graphic at times but not gory.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What A Rush!
Gregg Hurwitz's latest novel, Don't Look Back, takes us on a terrifying adventure through the jungles and mountains of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico.
Eve Hardaway, a member of a tour group, wanders off the trail while hiking and stumbles across a gruesome scene. In the distance a frightful man is throwing machetes at a human-shaped target. Eve quickly discovers items belonging to a woman who has disappeared and the man in the woods is after whoever spotted his secret hideaway. This quickly becomes a game of cat and mouse involving the tour group and the dangerous predator. Their target is survival in the midst of a madman.
With the gruesome murders and all of the nauseating creepy crawlies (which made my skin crawl) this novel is high on my EEW! list.
A perfect, unputdownable thriller for October!

[Skip · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gregg Hurwitz should go back to writing about Tim Rackley. This book was pretty bad, like the last one I read. An Arab terrorist is living off the grid in Mexico, planning disaster for the U.S. A single mother, reeling from the perfidy of her husband, goes on an ecotour there and becomes Rambo, stretching credulity way too far even for a dedicated fiction enthusiast like me. The political ramblings of the terrorist were grossly biased and contrived that they were hard to stomach. Read Deliverance instead.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Look Back is a stand-alone action thriller published in 2014 by the author of the Orphan X series, about a single mother who becomes the target of a remorseless killer on a holiday in Mexico. I was given this by a friend and bumped it up the TBR because I liked the premise and needed something new for the Book Club bag. Let’s just say I didn’t get much done that day - this was a fast paced action romp with a likeable heroine and a scary villain.

American nurse Eve Hardaway goes alone on the jungle adventure holiday she was supposed to take with her cheating husband, joining a mixed group of tourists in a remote Oaxacan eco-lodge. Finding items left behind by a previous guest, who then disappeared, she is suspicious of a strange man she spots living deep in the forest, but he really doesn’t want to be identified…

Despite being the third book I’ve read this year with this basic plot, (resourceful female is chased through a forest by an seemingly unstoppable enemy) I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s not as accomplished a thriller as any of the Orphan X books - some of the traps were quite predictable, the plot preposterous, and the chase went on just a bit too long, but I was happy with how it ended and who survived.

[Jane Stewart]

I wanted to buy the audiobook, but when I listened to the sample, I could hear the narrator's breaths which drove me crazy. Cassandra Campbell is the narrator. She should have used software to edit out her breaths.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good read kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end will read more of this Author

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young-ish divorced woman takes the trip of a lifetime to Oaxaca Mexico to tour the ruins, and look at jungle. She finds a camera belonging to a woman who went missing at the resort a few weeks ago. The missing woman took a picture of someone who wanted to stay hidden.

The man starts stalking the people at the resort.

Something like a Lifetime Channel movie, only with better production values.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0 out of 5 stars -- Adventure in the wild gone wrong!

Depressed and recently divorced from her cheating husband, Eve Hardaway leaves the comfort and familiarity of home behind to head off to Oaxaca in Mexico and some whitewater rafting and other activities in the isolated jungle and mountain area there. She accidentally gets herself involved in a mystery -- it seems that a woman who was recently a guest at the resort, and who had stayed in Eve's same assigned hut, left a few things behind in the room when she packed up and left -- including a camera with some strange pictures of a machete-throwing man on it that Eve also manages to find on the jungle floor when she momentarily leaves her fellow tour members behind while wandering off the trail. All these items belonged to Theresa Hamilton and the owners of the resort aren't forthcoming and merely say that she left in a hurry.

I could barely force myself to finish this book and must say it didn't hit the mark as a thriller for me. The unbelievable peril and survival in the jungles of Mexico theme stretched my credulity way too far. It was assumed from the start that our plucky, nearly Rambo-like heroine, Eve, a nurse and single mother, would survive and outwit the bad guy but the sheer relentless description of how she managed this almost made me scream and throw the book at the wall. There were a lot of predictable grisly deaths of humans and animals. Antipathy too strong? The villain here was so ridiculously evil and the political ramblings so biased and contrived that I could barely get past it. This was definitely not what I was expecting when I read the synopsis.

Perhaps other readers will love this adventure in the wild gone wrong, but it definitely did not appeal to me. I've read other titles by this author and may give him another try.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

“Don’t Look Back” by Gregg Hurwitz features Eve Hardaway, a mother and wife, who purchases vacation tickets to an ecolodge in Mexico so she and her husband can get away from the hectic events of everyday life. However, her husband, Rick has other plans. He is separating from Eve and by the end of chapter one, Rick is with a new girlfriend in Amsterdam. Eve continues to slog through life and decides to begin her new life sans husband Rick by taking that adventurous trip to Mexico. When Eve reaches the ecolodge, she finds evidence of the previous tourist who stayed in her hut. This information propels Eve to find out more about Theresa Hamilton and so begins her unintended nightmare in the Mexican jungle.

This is an action-packed adventure and the pages flew by as I tried to keep up with the twists and turns of Eve’s ‘vacation’. Until, about two-thirds through the book, when the constant jungle descriptions as the characters kept running around the jungle from the bad guy seemed to be a bit long. Also, the “bad guy” in this story was a bit unbelievable for me. Now, this is only my opinion and I have read a good many action adventures lately, so maybe my review is off and anyone reading this review might love this book. So take my review with a grain of salt but I can only mildly recommend this book.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Linda Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute humdinger of a story! I was on the edge of my seat right up to the end! Thirty something nurse, Eve, has planned an adventure holiday in Mexico to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary. When her husband leaves her for another woman, she decides to go on her own anyway. Everything starts well. She is staying in a lodge on the edge of the jungle with a group of fellow travellers. The owners of the lodge, a married couple, organise exciting activities for the group. However, a chance glimpse of a strange man starts off a chain of events with horrific repercussions. Who is he, and why is he intent on killing everyone in the group? The tension builds rapidly and soon Eve is involved in a deadly cat and mouse game in the jungle. She is determined to survive to get home to her 7 year old son.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down, although you need a strong stomach at times! This is the first book by Gregg Hurwitz that I've read, but I'll certainly be looking at his other novels. Read this - it's great!!

[Jaye Rothman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this book 5 stars why? I couldn't put it down. Eve is an ordinary woman, with an ordinary life and a young son. Until her husband announces he's going to leave her for another woman, who is younger and more "elegant" than she is. Eve decides to go on a holiday to Mexico that she had originally booked with her husband.She joins a tour group and they head to the jungles of Oaxaca, Mexico.
By page 33 (print copy) you know something really, really bad is going to happen. And it does! The stroy moves at a cracking pace.
My only complaint is the back story of the antagonist - I thought this unbelievable. At this point I nearly gave up reading. So pleased I didn't!
The story reminded a little of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, if you liked that you probably will enjoy this. The book is broken down to days of the week - to crank up the tension.
I loved the protagonist Eve - she was believable and most women could be able to identify with her. I did.

Highly recommended.

[Pj Gamm · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love this author, but I really did not like this book. I double checked to make sure I had the right author. The detail in the jungle, chapter after chapter, became cumbersome. I found myself glossing over many paragraphs mid-way through the book because I just wanted to finish the book. I also found the villain to be too over the top. The plot continually twisted in his favor, somehow he can cover the same terrain in 1/4 of the time, and every effort Eve makes is met with frustration. Just went way over the top for me. And the rest of the characters were caricatures: Harry and Susan are brave enough to venture to the remote jungle but then suddenly become cowardly, the hosts let the guests take charge of the crisis at their lodge in their country? And one by one the villain takes many victims. I can't believe this is the same author of other books I've loved.

[Gail Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never, ever, not in this lifetime, take a trip to the jungles of Mexico to get out of my "comfort zone". I'm very happy here in my rut (otherwise known as MY comfort zone), thank you very much. :)

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

אל תביטי לאחור / גרג הורביץ
Don’t Look Back / Gregg Hurwitz, 2014

ז'אנר: מתח
464 עמודים | הוצאה: דני ספרים הוצאה לאור | תרגום: דפנה לוי | עריכת התרגום: חגי ברקת | שנת הוצאה בארץ 2022

אני מאמינה שלכולנו יש רשימת יעדים לבקר בהם אשר בראשה ישנו היעד האולטימטיבי. עבור איב הארדווי, זה טיול בג'ונגלים של אואחקה שבמקסיקו. לי זה נשמע מושלם! מדינה יפה, נופים מדהימים וטבע שיד אדם טרם הרסה, אינכם מסכימים?

איב היא אמא לילד קטן המתמודדת עם בגידתו של בן זוגה והחלטתו לעזוב אותה ואת בנו ולחיות עם אהובתו החדשה. היא דחתה את הנסיעה הזו פעם אחר פעם כי תמיד היה משהו חשוב יותר. פעם זו העבודה, פעם הבית, פעם הילד, עד שנגמרו התירוצים. הגיע הזמן לצאת לחופשה הזו בתקווה שבמרחבי הג'ונגל, היא תתאפס על עצמה, תמלא מצברים ותחזור הביתה אישה מחוזקת.

באחד הטיולים היא סוטה מהמסלול ואז נתקלת בבקתה מבודדת ולא רק זה, אלא שהיא רואה גבר מפחיד למראה שמזרה בה אימה. מפוחדת, היא מחליטה לסגת לאט ולחבור לקבוצה שלה בחזרה. בדרך, היא נתקלת במצלמה עם שם "תרזה המילטון" מסומן עליה. אין זמן להעיף מבט ולחפש את אותה תרזה, אז היא אצה בחזרה לקבוצה.

בעלת המצלמה לא מניחה למחשבותיה של איב וכשהיא מנסה לברר, נאמר לה שתרזה הייתה מטיילת משוגעת שברחה חזרה למקסיקו סיטי. התשובה לא מספקת אותה ותחקיר נוסף חושף בפניה מידע אחר לחלוטין.

תשאול לגבי האיש המפחיד נפטר באגביות שהוא בלתי מזיק ושהוא חי בשלום בסביבה. זה לא עובר לאיב בגרון ואז היא והקבוצה מוצאים את עצמם מול סדרה של אירועים מטלטלים המעמידים את כולם בסכנת חיים. כדי לשרוד, עליהם להתלכד ולהתנהל כיחידה אחת מגובשת. האומנם?

מה עלה בגורלה של תרזה המילטון?
מיהו אותו איש מפחיד מהג'ונגל ומדוע הוא מסתתר שם?
האם ברשות מישהו מהמקומיים קיים מידע שיכול לשפוך אור על הפרשה?
האם הקבוצה תצליח להישאר מאוחדת?
מה יקרה כשרצונות שונים מתנגשים?
האם יצאו מהג'ונגל בשלום?

הסיפור מובא בגוף שלישי והעלילה מתפרסת על פני חמישה ימים בהם הקבוצה "שוהה" בג'ונגל. מודה, לקח לי זמן להרגיש שהעלילה מתניעה ועוטה גוונים אפורים וכהים של מתח. המחצית הראשונה של הספר הרגישה לי כמו ספר פרוזה עם הרבה מידע, בחלקו מיותר, ותיאורים שלא כל כך תרמו לבנית המתח והציפייה אך מרגע שהדברים התחילו להתדרדר, העלילה תפסה תאוצה ורמת הדריכות שלי גברה מפרק לפרק. זה לחלוטין הפך להיות "סרט" אקשן שקראתי בנשימה עצורה.

דמותה של איב בהתחלה הייתה אנמית בעיני, אולם כשהעניינים הסתבכו והיה צורך במנהיג, במישהו שיודע שאם לא יקח על עצמו את האחריות ולהוביל, כולם יהיו בצרה, איב שינסה מותניים ומתוכה פרצה הלביאה שהסתתרה בפנים.

אהבתי את הדמויות שהורביץ בנה לנו החל מדמויות שקטות וכלה בדמויות נרגניות ודומיננטיות. המארג המגוון הזה שנאלץ להילחם יחדיו על חייו, היה מדהים ומעורר השראה. היצרים הבסיסיים בהישרדות לצד האופי האנושי החומל, המוכנות להסתכן בשביל האחר והצורך לחזק את חברי הקבוצה נפשית ולדרבן אותם, היה מדהים בעיניי.

הייתה בספר גם אנקדוטה פוליטית שכל אחד מאיתנו יכול להזדהות איתה בכלל, והאמריקאים בפרט. כמו כן, דמותה של איב הייתה בגדר מראה לאנשים המתקיימים במקום לחיות, אנשים שחשוב להם לשדר לעולם תמונות של מושלמות שאינה קיימת רק כדי להראות שאצלם הכל בסדר. איב, האישה הנבגדת, האמא היחידנית והאישה העובדת, במעבי הג'ונגל, מוצאת את עצמה.

זהו ספר שונה מאוד מספריו הקודמים של הורביץ שתורגמו ועם זאת, לא פחות טוב מהם. העלילה מעידה על יצירתיות ויכולת לצאת מהתבנית המוכרת המייחדת את כתיבתו של הורביץ, וזה דבר הראוי לציון ולהערכה. לדעתי, העלילה הזו תהיה שובר קופות רציני אם תעובד לסרט.

אתם לא צריכים ללכת לאיבוד בג'ונגל כדי למצוא את עצמכם. אושר בעיניי טמון בדברים הקטנים הנמצאים בהישג יד.

קריאה מהנה.

לעותק מודפס: https://bit.ly/3IDi8dl
לעותק דיגיטלי: https://bit.ly/3sAF4UM

מוזמנים לעקוב אחר סקירותיי:
Aya's Reviews - הסקירות של איה

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always really liked this author but if I had known who the mystery man was I would not have read it. It did nothing but make me very angry and it was far fetched. I can count my two star reviews on one hand because I usually will not finish a book if it’s that bad. I did skip parts. A Muslim terrorist set on killing innocent American infidels.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into it and even then it was in and out. It had OK moments but to me it dragged on too much and way over the top. Not only was this guy a major Terrorist but a super bionic villain. It felt like this book went down a lot longer than it really was.

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what I expected but this book was different than what I thought it would be. It's a real good book with an extremely fast pace - it's a page turner. I won't get political but I did not like the religious aspect of the killer. To portray a terrorist as being so religious and yet so hateful doesn't really sit well with me. I do get it though, Christianity also had its dark days but in this day and age the hole religious aspect just does not sit well with me.
To explain a bit about myself I am a political science major and I have studied the Mideast since I was in grade 8. I subscribed to the Economist and Time magazine at that time. I was always fascinated with the politics of the Mideast and understood the Arabic point of view. I also knew that by adding religion into what was then (I will date myself late 70's early 80's) basically a political struggle against Israel and the West that the whole Mideast situation was a powder keg about to explode. Well that explosion finally and in my mind unfortunately exploded as the situation has been manipulated to portray itself as a religious matter and we are where we are today.
The above paragraph is to illustrate where I come from and that I understand the situation. This book is not political at all though a few points are brought up and need to be brought up to explain the hate the killer has. Again I kind of wish this aspect was not touched upon as true justice to the situation was not given in enough detail by the author. It would have been nicer in my opinion to just have a killer who likes to kill for killing's sake.

[AH · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, here's the thing: I didn't love this book, nor did I hate it. I'm a bit ambivalent at this point. I had a few problems with the plot and even more problems with the villain.

You see, a bunch of people go on an Eco-tour of Mexico. All's fun until our central character Eve makes a discovery. Then we are reading a book that is very similar to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, only it takes place in an isolated part of the Mexican rain forest.

The villain - he is ruthless and relentless and still fighting a jihad even though his best bud Osama is no longer of this world.

The writing was OK and the last third of this book was where the pacing picked up and I was actually rooting for Eve to get away.

I won this book in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book the characters had no feeling I felt the book went on and on about nothing and nothing in particular nothing interesting happened within three or four chapters

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best thriller I’ve read. It’s action-packed and fast-paced despite the constant themes of cat and mouse. It’s a unique story and written beautifully. The characters are well-developed and very distinct and the setting is well-researched. Some parts also made me sooooo anxious like my heart was racing. Would also make for very good TV lmao. Rate it.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 3 out of 5]

: I am a huge fan of Gregg Hurwitz and always look forward to reading his books. However this latest release proved to be something of a head scratcher for me. I picked it up and started reading about Evie who is struggling with her day to day life and responsibilities following the breakup of her marriage. She decides to give herself a break and take part in a hiking and rafting tour in Mexico.

Evie is determined to do something new and thoroughly enjoy herself before returning home to her son. However, when she discovers a camera belonging to a previous visitor she begins to have her doubts. These doubts rack up in intensity when she discovers the woman is missing. What follows is Evie’s own journey along with the other people attending the same trip. There wasn’t any one thing that I can put my finger on but from the very start this book seemed like a bit of a struggle. Maybe it was the setting that put me off, or maybe it was just the characters I’m really not that sure. I never really cared all that much for Evie, and just felt entirely indifferent towards her as a charcter.

I continued on with the knowledge that sometimes books like these surprise you, however I continued to struggle with this to the very end. For me this latest GH release just didn’t compare with his others. It certainly seemed to have all the right things available, but the end result just didn’t grab me. I found the story sometimes felt like it was being dragged out, and at other times I felt like there was too much about other characters that didn’t seem to hold any value to the main storyline.

Towards the latter half of the book it picked up a bit and I felt more like I was reading a Hurwitz novel, but by the end I just felt a little disappointed. I think I may well be in the minority with my opinion, but for me this novel just lacked something. I think the setting for me just didn’t seem real and it was all a bit pushed together. On the other hand maybe I am being over critical? I’m really not that sure. I think overall it was an average book, however as I am quite a fan maybe I just expect more? I’m hoping that his next book fits the bill a bit more for me.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a page turning survival-adventure story set in the jungles of Mexico (so deadly insects, plants, and crocodiles not to mention weather that disrupts communication and tears out roads) with a group of ordinary tourists stalked by a terrorist, this is your book! Great escape--and I think better in audio, as Cassandra Campbell as heroine Eve Hardaway and Scott Brick as the vicious terrorist and male characters are simply splendid. Alternating readers and points of view dramatizes the story in ways the printed word really can't. Their voices, mostly understated which only amps up the tension, create a harrowing tale of survival set against the backdrop of a verdant but treacherous jungle. There's a little too much political backstory on our terrorist, but the stalking and the cat-and-mouse chase make for great listening. I'm certainly not planning a Mexican vacation any time soon.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

A can't catch your breath, dangerous, tension-filled, suspenseful thriller set in what is to many of us an."exotic" location, the Oaxaca province of Mexico. Eve, recently single and mother of a child with celiac disease, decides to persevere with her long-planned "anniversary" vacation, simply because Oaxaca is reputedly the safest region in Mexico, free of the violence, terrorism, and drug-culture elsewhere. However, she could not have expected a covert megalomaniac, nor stumbling into the mystery of a missing, possibly "disappeared, " Ameican tourist. "DON'T LOOK BACK" is a can't put down winner

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-galley free from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you both for the opportunity!

I love Gregg Hurwitz's books and this one definitely does not disappoint. The story opened with a little history and then, bam! You find yourself on a roller coaster heading up towards the top. The ride is a fast one with lots of hills. Just when you think there is no way the characters are going to get out of their predicament, bam! The ride turns a curve and you start all over again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. I think it's one of his best ones yet! I gave it 4 1/2 stars on The Reading Room.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced, action filled thriller by Gregg Hurwitz. It kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. The characters were great, Some, like the main female, Eve, as well as Jay and Will, were very likable, and others, including Sue and Harry, added depth to the story even though they weren't at all sympathetic. Then, there was the antagonist. He came across as pure evil, and very scary. The storyline was interesting, and filled with danger and adventure. Hurwitz really made the setting come alive with all of the natural perils of the jungle, plus a fanatical killer. This is a great book, and a compelling survival story.

[Jason Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A taut thriller that keeps the suspense and anxiety high right through to the end. A strong female protagonist without her being an unexplained ninja. And a well researched Mexican jungle thriller. Recommended.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a mess of a story. I got halfway into it. Then I said no more!. Just a horrible story from the first page. There are a few reviews agreeing with my assessment of this train wreck. Unbelievable so don't go there.