Review – Blink

Blink by K.L. Slater

Published February 16, 2017

Bookouture

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first read from K.L. Slater and after reading the description of Blink, I thought it sounded like a book I would enjoy.

I was right. The book pulled me in right from the start.

PRESENT DAY

A patient is in what appears to be a vegetative state. The doctors and nurses don’t realize that she can hear everything around her. She’s hoping this is the day they will notice something that will make them see that she’s not gone. Inside her head she’s screaming “Look at Me”. But as she lay there all she can do is think of is how she’s all to blame…but for what?

THREE YEARS EARLIER (Toni)

After the death of her husband, Toni Cotter and her five-year-old daughter Evie have just moved to Nottingham. It is affordable, but the area makes Toni a bit uncomfortable, especially after she meets the neighbors. Toni is struggling and finding it hard to get through each day and she’s been relying more on a “crutch” she keeps hidden from everyone. She promises she will fix things in her life soon. Evie will be starting school at St. Saviour’s Primary. Toni’s mother is a big help, and will pick up Evie from school most days. Her mother can be quite indulgent with Evie, which causes conflict between Toni and her mom.

THREE YEARS EARLIER (The Teacher)

Harriet Watson is the teachers assistant at St. Saviour’s Primary, but with her background and 19 years of experience she considers herself a proper teacher. Harriet likes to take some children under her wing and help to give them insight and guidance in this difficult world. She picks the children she “helps” very carefully.

THREE YEARS EARLIER (Toni)

For once luck is on her side and Toni finds a job almost immediately. Unfortunately, one of her bosses takes an immediate dislike to Toni and does everything she can to make the work environment difficult. Toni is becoming increasingly overwhelmed. Evie is suddenly not wanting to go to school, her mother is criticizing her, and her job is challenging to say the least. She loves her daughter so much and just wants to do right by her. But more and more she finds herself leaning on her “crutch”.

But things are about to get so much worse. After a particularly horrible day, Toni is on her way to pick up Evie from school but she’s running late.

When she finally gets to the school her nightmare really begins…

Phew! This book was intense!

There were so many ways that things could go. I was sure I had things figured out and then something would happen that would send me into another direction. Although there were a few plausibility issues, they really didn’t bother me all that much.

A clever story with an intriguing plot. The multiple perspectives, the Before, Three years earlier, and Present day were easy to follow. It all added to the story. I think it’s a testament to the author’s skill as a writer because even with all of the time frames and point of views, it was easy to keep things straight. Although, I was happy with how everything came out in the end, I would have liked to have known a little more of what happened afterward.

BLINK is a good psychological thriller. An easy and pleasurable read and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.

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