Title: The Blackout
Author: Sarah Goodwin
Publisher: Avon Books
Synopsis:
You can’t outrun the past… Summer, 2022. When Meg and Cat are forced to take a dangerous shortcut home one night, they notice two men silently following them. Suddenly running for their lives, they scramble into an abandoned building to hide and wait for help. …for what’s done in the dark will come to light…
One year later. Attempting to escape the horrors of that fateful night, Meg barricades herself into a safehouse at the edge of a crumbling sea cliff. As a storm rages outside, a blackout plunges the house into darkness. But Meg’s not alone. …and someone wants revenge.
My review:
The Blackout is a gripping and fast-paced thriller, though it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. The narrative opens by introducing Meg and her closest friend Cat as they embark on a night out. A seemingly innocent shortcut through a housing estate transforms the evening into a horrifying ordeal. Fast-forwarding a year, Meg now resides in an isolated cottage on the edge of a cliff, raising questions about the danger she is trying to evade…
The narrative reveals shocking revelations that intensify the suspense, gradually unearthing the events of the past year and the current peril Meg faces. The blackout that takes place in the present-day timeline creates an eerie atmosphere. It’s so vividly depicted that I could almost feel Meg’s suffocating sense of panic through the prose.
The novel’s inclusion of dual timelines is a notable strength, not only revisiting events from a year ago but delving even further into history to explain the characters’ current predicaments. This adds a compelling extra layer to the story.
However, it does feel like something is missing. We find out some key information fairly early on which takes away the element of intrigue, whilst for me the conclusion lacked impact. The characters failed to resonate with me, too, lacking the depth needed for them to be genuinely likeable or unlikeable. As a result, I felt a little detached from them.
In conclusion, The Blackout is an easy read suited for those wanting a fast-paced thriller. Unfortunately, it didn’t make much of an impression on me, but it remains a worthwhile choice for readers looking for a quick, energetic read.
My rating: 3/5
The Blackout is released in the UK on 31 August.
Many thanks to the publisher, Avon Books, for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest review.
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