Confessions on the 7:45 #BookReview #confessionsonthe745 @parkrowbooks @lisaunger #thrillers #bookworm

Synopsis from HarperCollins:

From master of suspense Lisa Unger comes a riveting thriller about a chance encounter that unravels a stunning web of lies and deceit.

Be careful to whom you tell your darkest secrets…

Selena Murphy is commuting home from her job in the city when the train stalls out on the tracks. She strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat, and their connection is fast and easy. The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.

But days later, Selena’s nanny disappears.

Soon Selena finds her once-perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover.

Expertly plotted and reminiscent of the timeless classic Strangers on a Train, Confessions on the 7:45 is a gripping thriller about the delicate facades we create around our lives.

About: Confessions on the 7:45 is a psychological thriller written by Lisa Unger. It was recently published on 10/6/2020 by Park Row Books, an imprint of Harlequin and HarperCollins, paperback, 368 pages. The genres are psychological thriller, mystery thriller, adult contemporary, and fiction. According to the publisher’s website, “A boutique line of thought-provoking fiction and nonfiction, Park Row Books publishes a variety of genres with a special focus on fresh voices, original stories, and books that celebrate authenticity and empowerment.” Please see below for more information about the author and publisher.

My Experience: I started reading Confessions on the 7:45 on 10/6/2020 and finished it on 10/22/2020. This book was a fantastic read! I can relate to Selena when confronting someone. She went in directly instead of beating around the bushes. I liked Anne. She reminded me about not being able to control things and that people are unpredictable. I loved all things her Pop taught her. I enjoyed the mentioned of social media, how only the happy parts of the family were captured for others to see while the unhappiness were kept behind the scenes to endure alone. I’m loving this read because each chapter has some pieces of information to surprise me. Some chapters ended with a mini cliffhanger that was so hard to wait for. I’m enjoying how realistic and relatable the stories of each character and his/her thoughts. The detective’s grudge on cold case makes sense. I can understand how it’s not easy to let an unsolved case go silent.

This book started with a prologue following a woman stalking a married man. She caught him doing many things but she stayed rooted where she was. Then the story began following Selena, married to Graham with 2 boys. She got hung up at work and missed her 5:40 train. She will have to catch the 7:45 home. While on the train, she met a woman and confessed her personal problems. The second view was Anne, 28. She has been having an affair with her married boss. Anne was clever and often rehearsed what her Pop taught her to stay sharp and ahead. The third view was Geneva, 25, Selena’s nanny. Being a nanny is tough when all the husbands want more from her than just watch his kids. The fourth view was Pearl, 15. She’s used to being invisible until her mom’s latest boyfriend, Charlie noticed how smart and clever she was. The fifth view was Oliver, Selena’s older son. He’s observant and knew adults lie. The day the nanny got fired was the last day anyone saw of her. The sixth view was Hunter, retired detective investigating Pearl’s mom’s murder among others. A surprised seventh view near the end.

Confessions on the 7:45 was well written and a fast paced read! I’m aware of the multiple books the author has, but omg, I loved how suspenseful her story was. Thank you, Lisa, you have just made my TBR list a bit longer after I add in all of your previous books! I loved reading about people conning other people and people being conned. It definitely takes cleverness to con someone. I’m surprised how people can be emotional detached when they do intimate things with others. Selena’s love story between the two men was good. Looks like I chose the safe road. I like Oliver’s view. The author did an excellent job in writing him. I can feel a kid’s voice when I read his chapters. I enjoyed reading the whole book and the ending too. I was able to figure out some but others was best when it ended in a surprise. I highly recommend everyone to read this book!

Pro: fast paced, page turner, suspense, surprises at every turn, mini cliffhangers, clever characters

I rate it 5 stars!

Buy it here for free shipping: Book Depository or HarperCollins’ website

About the Author:

Lisa Unger is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author. With books published in twenty-six languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is widely regarded as a master of suspense. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Hammett Prize, Macavity, Thriller Award, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations, an honor held by only a few authors, including Agatha Christie. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family. (Photo and info obtained from the author’s website https://lisaunger.com/bio/)

More Information About Park Row Books

https://www.harlequin.com/shop/pages/brand-landing.html | Instagram: www.instagram.com/parkrowbooks | Twitter: www.twitter.com/parkrowbooks

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Park Row Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,

Jasmine