"The Survivor" by Andrew Reid

 

"The Survivor" by Andrew Reid is an explosive thriller that will keep readers gripped to the last page. Told in third-person POV, the story alternates between timelines and protagonists, weaving together a pulse-pounding narrative full of twists and rising suspense.
 
Ben Cross suffers from acute claustrophobia due to a traumatic past. Fired on his first day at a new job in New York City, he boards the subway—only to start receiving text messages from an anonymous killer warning him not to turn off his phone or get off the train. Otherwise, people will die. There’s already one victim, and the body count is rising.

Meanwhile, NYPD detective Kelly Hendricks—assigned to the transit police as a punishment—tries to figure out what’s really going on. Is Ben the victim or the perpetrator? The plot thickens when the train is hijacked and the demands escalate. As the story unfolds, we discover the reasons behind it all, along with the protagonists.

I enjoyed the book and was immediately pulled into the story. This is one subway ride you won’t forget! The action keeps you riveted, and the twists keep you guessing. I love a good twisty thriller where the reader is left in the dark just as much as the characters, and we get to piece together the puzzle right alongside them.

The book started off a bit slow, but once the action begins, it doesn’t stop. The pacing is like a train ride—there are brief stops along the way, but once it picks up speed, it doesn’t let up. Some passages require a suspension of disbelief, and I did think Ben could have avoided all the hassle with one simple act, but you need to understand his psyche to understand his choices.

Overall, it’s a well-crafted and engaging thriller that builds the right atmosphere to carry off the tale. My opinion of Ben changed frequently, and I didn’t guess the identity of the killer—which genuinely surprised me. If you like your characters flawed yet understandable, realistic yet fascinating, you’ll love this. If you like a book to surprise you, you’ll love this. And most of all, if you enjoy a frantic roller coaster of a novel—then you’ll absolutely love this.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Survivor" by Andrew Reid