Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions shared are mine.
Have you visited an escape room in your town? We have several different options near us, so we’ve been to a game in Bristol and one in Kingsport. In fact, my daughter chose to have her birthday party at one last year. It’s scary to think about being trapped, and the time limit definitely adds to the pressure, but it’s super fun and challenging! I was excited to read The Escape Room by Megan Goldin because it related to that thriller-esque theme. This one takes place in an actual elevator. You already know that isn’t going to end well!
The story is kind of like an episode of The Office gone wrong. Imagine a group of ruthless ladder-climbers who are all accustomed to being in control. Now, take away their sense of entitlement and privilege. Being trapped inside an elevator with no hope of escape is pretty much as vulnerable as they get!
By describing the scene in the elevator so vividly, Goldin created a dark and sinister mood. Her chapters alternated with a narration from Sara Hall, a young up-and-comer in the high-stakes business world. I must admit that I’ve been overwhelmed at times in the teaching profession; state testing and grading stacks of essays can do that to a person. However, I have never experienced the type of job-related stress that Sara described. It was mesmerizing and suffocating, even from my outsider perspective. There were a few moments of disbelief. I mean, there are people who actually get bonuses in the five or six digit range?! I haven’t had a bonus in years, and when I did, it was $250 at most.
I couldn’t help but relate to Sara. Feeling responsible for family, trying to eek out a living, and hoping for better things — it all comes with being a child from poverty. Even middle class poverty like Sara’s background can be hard to overcome.
The ending was perfect. Goldin gave a bit of background to explain how it all came together, and things wrapped up just the way I’d hoped. The Escape Room was just the book I needed for a day in pj’s.
About the Book:
For fans of JP Delaney’s The Girl Before and Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10 comes this hair-raising novel of deception and revenge that will blow readers away.
Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are ruthlessly ambitious high-flyers working in the lucrative world of Wall Street finance where deception and intimidation thrive. Getting rich is all that matters, and they’ll do anything to reach the top.
When they are ordered to participate in a corporate team-building exercise that requires them to escape from a locked elevator, dark secrets of their team begin to be laid bare.
The biggest mystery to solve in this lethal game: What happened to Sara Hall? Once a young shining star—now “gone but not forgotten”.
This is no longer a game.
They’re fighting for their lives.
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