“One of my favorite books of the year.” –Lee Child “Cancel all your plans and call in sick; once you start reading, you’ll be caught in your own escape room–the only key to freedom is turning the last page!” –Kirkus Reviews (starred) “A sleek, well-crafted ride.” –The New York Times In Megan Goldin’s unforgettable debut, The Escape Room, four young Wall Street rising stars discover the price … The Escape Room, four young Wall Street rising stars discover the price of ambition when an escape room challenge turns into a lethal game of revenge.
Welcome to the escape room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.
In the lucrative world of finance, Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are at the top of their game. They’ve mastered the art of the deal and celebrate their success in style–but a life of extreme luxury always comes at a cost.
Invited to participate in an escape room challenge as a team-building exercise, the ferociously competitive co-workers crowd into the elevator of a high-rise building, eager to prove themselves. But when the lights go off and the doors stay shut, it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary competition: they’re caught in a dangerous game of survival.
Trapped in the dark, the colleagues must put aside their bitter rivalries and work together to solve cryptic clues to break free. But as the game begins to reveal the team’s darkest secrets, they realize there’s a price to be paid for the terrible deeds they committed in their ruthless climb up the corporate ladder. As tempers fray, and the clues turn deadly, they must solve one final chilling puzzle: which one of them will kill in order to survive?
more
The Escape Room is one hell of a ride. It’s a corporate, psychological thriller set in the ruthless, cut-throat, greedy world of Wall Street. Four finance high-flyers and co-workers, Vincent, Jules, Sylvie and Sam, find themselves in a bizarre team-building exercise where they have to escape a locked elevator. Things go horribly wrong during the exercise, dark secrets are revealed, and loyalties (if there were any) are tested.
I must say, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like The Escape Room because I absolutely have no interest in reading books about Wall Street but this book sucked me right in. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than two days. There were some great twists, even if they were not entirely believable, and the ending was very satisfying. I would definitely recommend The Escape Room to all the thriller fans.
I received an arc copy of this book in return for my honest opinion and reviews. This is my first time ever reading the author but it is definitely not going to be my last one a very well-written book with great characters and storyline. I was so excited to keep reading to find out the ending in what was going to happen I mean how would you like it if you are stuck in an elevator and somebody would after you most definitely a heart-pounding book
The Escape Room starts with a hair-raising prologue followed by a bit of a slow start as the characters are introduced, but don’t let that little bit of a lag deter you. This one quickly develops into a sharp thriller. The chapters alternate between the present in the escape room and the past with one character’s story As the story unfolds it’s not hard to figure out what’s going on and at least some of the why, but that doesn’t diminish the thrill at all. There are still plenty of great twists in this one and lots to ponder as the tension builds. It turns out that four people trapped in an escape room may have more secrets than they thought, and the close quarters may be more than they can handle. All in all, a solid debut from Megan Goldin, and I will certainly be watching for whatever she does next.
4 STARS
Upon reading the premise of author, Megan Goldin’s, “The Escape Room, I was super excited to delve between the pages of what promised to be an exciting psychological thriller. And while I did enjoy this novel, overall, it did fall a bit short of my expectations.
The story unfolds by alternating between past and present, and while the execution isn’t perfect, it is nonetheless, addictive. And how could it not? The very concept of four (albeit, vile) coworkers trapped in an elevator under the guise of an Escape Room for a team building exercise is simply brilliant! So, despite the fact that I abhorred each of these characters, and I could poke numerous holes in this story, I found myself enthralled from start to finish.
This book was a pleasant surprise from other popular thrillers I’ve been reading and totally NOT what I expected in the best way! Engrossing from the beginning, Author Megan Goldin opens the doors and completely traps you in the dramatic rise and fall of her characters! A fantastic fast-paced cleverly designed plot!
4 There’s More than Meets the Eyes Stars
This is a great debut for Ms. Goldin. I was immediately captivated by this story from the moment I started The Escape Room. When I read the synopsis I was drawn to the story and I needed a change wanting to read something that was truly suspenseful and this book fit the bill perfectly.
There’s quite a few moving parts in this book as it shifts POV and between past and present and Ms. Goldin did a great job on keeping all the pieces together. Sara Hall is our Heroine in this book and there’s really not a hero because she’s the main focus of this story. She’s a young woman that’s got a brand new MBA and is trying to find her place on Wall Street. I loved how the author gave us a real look at reality especially with the timeline of this book and what was happening in the finance world and how nepotistic and narcissistic that world can be.
The story is setup and moves quite rapidly and I literally devoured this book staying up way too late into the night. But it was so worth it. There’s a plot twist that’s really diabolical in nature and I didn’t expect it, which to me, is a great sign of a suspense book.
Overall, this book is definitely a must read if you like a story that’s fast moving, suspenseful, intriguing and engaging. I’m so looking forward to reading more for this author!
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin, I really liked this book! It held my attention and I did not want to put this down till I had it figured out and finished. Great characters that you can picture in your head a good storyline and enough background on everything so it all flows naturally. Four Wall Street brokers are in an elevator doing an Escape Room challenge, or so they think…who will survive…….almost sounds like it could be the beginning of a joke doesn’t it?! Nothing about this game turns out to be a joke though, far from it! A big thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this ARC book and give my honest opinion.
Favorite Quotes:
He was a sharp-faced lawyer from the risk and regulatory team, who needled me until I felt like a pincushion.
Two men followed me into the elevator, deep in conversation. “There’s no way that I’m getting married until I’m forty. Between you and me, my future wife is probably still in elementary school,” said the guy with short blond hair while looking at my ass as if he were analyzing a financial chart.
Jules was a gossip. He loved getting information and then spreading it around to see what would happen. Jules was like a kid poking a stick into an ant nest to see how the ants responded.
“You’re not very good at hearing the word no, are you?” I said, pushing his hand off Sylvie. “She was trying very politely to let you down easy. You’re not her type. You’re at least ten years too old and thirty pounds too heavy. Plus, you’re at least two inches too short. Probably in more than one department.”
My Review:
What a nest of vipers! I grew to deeply despise 95% of these characters – they were vile and among the worst humanity has to offer. This was a tautly written and slowly evolving tale of greed, corruption, fraud, murder, and the ultimate revenge and retribution. Written in multiple POV and sliding timelines, it took me a few beats to catch on to Ms. Goldin’s unique yet compelling writing style. Her storylines were populated with intriguing and original characters that weren’t at all endearing yet they held and provoked my curiosity and demanded my attention. I may need to start burying cash in the backyard, as I want to pull all my investment accounts, pronto!
An insane, fast-past read that you simply want to devour. !0 stars, easily!
Sara Hall is an intelligent, hard-working, newly graduated financier. She has been struggling for months to find a job, to no avail. Due to a chance meeting, she is hired by one of the biggest finance firms in New York. She is tough as nails even while learning the quirks and hierarchy of the firm. Follow as she overcomes hunger, exhaustion, chipped self-esteem, biting co-workers and odd employees while fighting for her place in the firm.
Vincent, Jules, Sylvie and Sam all work for Stanhope and Sons, as well. They are summoned to a mandatory meeting on a Friday night. Shortly after arriving, the group learn that they are going to perform an escape room game. It doesn’t take long to discover that the room is actually an elevator. At time and tempers increase, dark secrets are revealed in attempts to answer the clues in the game. When will they be released? Do they get to ask for clues? Who is operating this game? Are bonuses and avoiding layoffs the goals of the game or is it something more sinister? One of the questions is that will baffle the reader throughout is: What happened to Sara Hall?
This book was so unexpected. It was clear that it was going to be an escape room game but nobody could predict the twists, surprises and plot changes this book undergoes. It is extremely well written and the reader is sucked in from the first page. It, simply, cannot put it down from that point on. The characters are so relatable. Each of us has been them at one time or another or knows someone who has. Even so, you will not expect the ride you will take. It is like a roller coaster in the dark. You do not know which way you will turn or be ready for the next twist.
I received an ARC from St. Martin Press through NetGalley and Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.
Really I’m shocked that this book has a cumulative review score of 3.97 on Goodreads. It’s honestly the best thriller that I’ve listened to in months! It isn’t exactly a suspenseful book since the reader pretty much knows what is happening… we don’t know the how or the entire why. It also isn’t exactly believable but I didn’t mind that. Revenge is sweet and that is what this book is all about. I feel like that is what really makes this book relatable. I mean, how many of us have wanted to get some revenge on someone who has wronged us?
So here we are… cut throat investing in New York. We have co-workers who undermine and screw each other over to try and get to the top before the others, or even sabotaging others so they look better. This group of co-workers is more than cut throat… they are literally cut throat capable. I picture a group of kids in business attire all trying to climb a literal ladder on top of the other… you see this, right? Poor Sara didn’t stand a chance in that place. She was too kind, too considerate.
I think we’ve all had that time in our life where we’ve thought about revenge… we might have even given a bit of revenge ourselves. But Vincent, Jules, Sam, and Sylvie all give pettiness and greediness a whole new meaning that I found myself understanding and perhaps even agreeing. I really think Megan Goldin did a fantastic job of making the reader question their own ethics. Is the culprit even guilty for what happened in there? I mean, if we lock a group of people in a room are we to blame if they kill each other? I think this book will make you question what is right and what is wrong when we’re pushed and pushed passed our limit!
As the first book I’ve read of Megan Goldin, I can confidently say I will be watching for more books from this author. She writes with a confidence that made me unable to stop listening to this story. I was nearly as obsessed as the ones going after their paydays. I found it completely fascinating that I was so in love with a story that had no real mystery. We are told the story kind of in a backwards double narrator style. It really worked for me. I found the revenge thoroughly enjoyable, utterly compelling!
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through Netgalley.
I read The Escape Room in about 24 hours! I was very intrigued by the concept of this book. The idea of being mislead to believe you’re participating in a typical escape room challenge, only to discover it’s very real, was a terrifying one. Other reviewers have noted that most of the characters were very unlikeable, which was very true, but I also felt like that was kind of the point. It was still compulsively readable, allowing the reader into the cutthroat world of the upper echelons of Wall Street.
This story starts off pretty intense. The prologue of the book did everything it could to suck me in and then the roller coaster ride began. After that it was up and down all the way to the shocking end.
Throughout the whole book, we follow two timelines. First there is the story of the four people trapped in the elevator, presumably to maneuver through a corporate version of an escape room. The other timeline is that of Sara, a former co-worker who disappeared.
The puzzle for the reader is to figure out how and where these two timelines intersect. Or do they? And what is the final clue that will get the people out of the elevator?
The Escape Room is a wonderful, exciting, race-to-the-end kind of story that you will not be able to put down once you start it. And trust me, you do not want to miss it!
If you’re like me and you love psychological thrillers, but have grown tired of the alcoholic or amnesiac female lead character floundering around as she tries to make sense of the confusion surrounding her, have no fear! This book is completely unique, intensely woven, and a definite thrill read for summer!
“My mother used to tell me that the best revenge is to live well.”
Alternating between two timelines, two settings, and multiple points of view, this story reads like a fast-paced roller coaster, up and down, around and around until you slam to a stop with the full and glorious knowledge of what has actually transpired. Fair warning though, this book is so hard to put down! I found myself reading as much as I could in between the short and sporadic moments in my day when my kids were engaged. Then I would binge read at night until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer! One night, my husband took us to a rock concert where I would read between sets because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen!
“Everything we did was to project the impression of vigor. Inside, we were withering.”
Based on the synopsis, you have a sense that due to the power driven and affluent nature of these successful Wall Street rising stars, there are going to be discussions centered on greed, sexism, manipulation, and materialism; however, nothing can prepare you for the full impact of what this story has to say. By the very nature of the genre, it’s better to step into the pages knowing very little other than the fact that things are definitely not what they seem!
Lured into a team building challenge inside an escape room, these morally bankrupt individuals must finally confront their awful pasts. And what could possibly go wrong? A lot.
This was unlike any thriller I have previously read and highly recommended! I can’t wait to read the author’s next book, which can’t come out soon enough!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher. This is my honest and thoughtful review.
Four coworkers are called together to perform a team building exercise. The exercise is a game of escape room….in an elevator! This exercise turns into a deadly game of revenge.
This book moved like lightening. I never knew who I was supposed to trust. And when I thought I had it figured out, it twisted again!
There is not a single like-able character in this book. Every single one of them are greedy and so competitive you just want to “Gibbs slap” them all. You have to give the author credit! Anyone who can create a bunch of BAD characters like this…needs a high five. Plus, she kept a small elevator as her main focus and kept the reader entertained.
Need a fast-paced read….THIS IS IT!
The story started out slow for me and I was a little bored. I thought about stopping, but I was intrigued enough to continue. There were times when the pace picked up, but I found myself skimming a lot. The story goes between past and present, leading up to current events and tying everything together. While the story did come together, the ending was somewhat disappointing. I don’t feel that we were given a satisfying conclusion…there was only partial closure.
The Escape Room was impossible to put down. Sadly, I had to (although I seriously contemplated canceling my Saturday night plans to finish this story).
The concept was brilliant.
The writing was excellent.
And considering the concept, I related more to the cast of characters than I care to admit. I am sure it also helped that went to two escape rooms with my colleagues, and I worked in a very high stress environment..
Regardless of your work history, this story has everything. Suspense., secrets and lies, manipulation, lovable characters, and characters you want to punch.
I enjoyed this book. While I wasn’t overwhelmed with the characters, the action kept you guessing and wanting to continue reading. I hadn’t read Ms. Goldin before but I will definitely be keeping her on my radar. Especially when I’m looking for an absolutely unbelievable but compelling read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
3.5 stars
I was excited to read THE ESCAPE ROOM and expected a taut, tightly wound psychological thriller. Instead, I found a somewhat unsatisfying look at the lives of high roller investment bankers. Readers who enjoy finance and the fast paced, often corrupt, world of Wall Street will enjoy this much more than I did.
Four undermining coworkers think they have been called to a required escape room-esque team building exercise, but it quickly becomes apparent to Vincent, Jules, Sam, and Sylvie that this is no game. Over the course of thirty-four hours readers see the relationships of these narcissists fall apart and their secrets revealed. The characters are all unlikeable. In fact, I hate, a term I do not use lightly, these people. Goldin does give each of the characters a bit of background information, but it is not enough to save their shallow, personas. Their greed leaves a terrible taste in my mouth.
The tale is told in alternating chapters of time and perspective, one focusing on the hours in the elevator, and the other telling the story of Sara’s rise and fall on Wall Street. Sara’s story is by far my favorite, but we need all of the insight from both threads to appreciate Goldin’s storytelling. It shines a light of the terrible side of human nature. To me, the book’s pace is never brisk enough to be thrilling, and it lacks the urgency it needs for the trapped-in-an-elevator scenario. I just never felt invested in either the characters or to tale.
Though THE ESCAPE ROOM is not the perfect book for me, overall I did enjoy it. I am sure other readers will love it.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. The opinions I express here are fully my own. #EscapeRoomBook
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Escape Room” by Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press, July 30, 2019
Megan Goldin, Author of “The Escape Room” has written an intense, captivating, riveting, intriguing, edgy and suspenseful novel. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The Genres for this story are Psychological Thriller, Mystery, and Suspense. There are betrayals, lies and secrets and twist and turns. The author describes her dramatic characters as twisted, vengeful, greedy, ambitious, intelligent, dysfunctional, complex and complicated.
Four major players of a Wall Street top firm, that are used to manipulation, and deception are summoned to an emergency meeting. The company they work for is extremely wealthy and competitive. Vincent is supposedly the leader, Sam, Sylvie and Jules all meet for what they think is a team exercise. They find themselves in a locked elevator, which they have to escape from.
Clues are left for the characters. The first is letters when unscrambled spell Sara Hall. Who is Sara Hall??? “Once a shining star— now gone but not forgotten”.The lights go out, and the heat goes on. This is not a game of Escape, this is now a dangerous and deadly game, of who will live and who will die. More clues turn up and turn each character against each other. Who will get out alive??
This story is uber intense and extremely edgy! This Psychological thriller is suspenseful and scary at times. I would highly recommend this novel. Pay attention to the clues, and the information that is given to you.
Escape Room is a psychological financial thriller set around greed and ambition on corporate Wall Street. In a nutshell, it’s the story about 4 young competitive coworkers who are forced to play an escape room challenge in an elevator. They soon find out the game is more than just for fun, it’s a game of revenge and of survival, filled with puzzles revealing terrible secrets the team has kept hidden for the chance at success. As tempers flare and accusations fly, things start to turn deadly.
Well, I devoured this book in one sitting. It was a quick and fun read, and Megan Goldin kept me wondering. I did figure out all the puzzles, and I was quite proud of myself for that (super sleuthing skills and all). Solving them does not effect the book whatsoever, so don’t worry. I also had a pretty good idea of who the culprit was, and that hunch was correct. Even though I figured some of the main parts of the book out, there is still so much that you ‘don’t know’ that keeps you reading well into the night. Losing sleep over this one was worth it because I just had to know how it ended.
Megan Goldin did a great job with her debut novel. It kept me interested, the writing was fluid, and most importantly I did not want to throw the book across the room in anger when I was finished. (Thats huge with me…… and its a GOOD thing Megan, trust me, a VERY GOOD thing). The characters were annoying enough for me to enjoy them being stuck in an elevator, and the ending is as savory as a prime cut of steak. I’m walking away from this one happy. This one gets a solid 4 stars for me. I enjoyed the read, and I look forward to what Ms. Goldin has for us in the future.
Thank you to @megangoldinauthor @stmartinspress @macmillanusa @this_is_edelweis #partner for the advanced copy of this book for an honest and unbiased review.