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Eyes Wide Open

by Andrew Gross (Goodreads Author), Christian Hoff

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 1,321 ratings · 268 reviews

A horrible family tragedy that may not be what it seems . . .

A past encounter with an infamous killer turns deadly today . . .

An ordinary man must risk his own family to find the truth.

Jay Erlich's nephew has been found at the bottom of a cliff at Morrow Bay. It's all just a tragic suicide, until secrets from the past begin to rear up again. Did a notorious killer, jailed...more

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Published July 12th 2011 by HarperAudio (first published January 1st 2011)

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Apr 04, 2013 Lilian Cheng rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ugh. I picked up Eyes Wide Open because I was hoping for the same non-stop action, heart-pounding page-turner that was 15 Seconds, which I enjoyed this past summer. Unfortunately, Eyes Wide Open was not that book. The unoriginal plot not only was messy and extremely repetitive. Pace was frustratingly slow. The characters were not only unlikable, but confusing. The villains defied logic. And the police are useless. However, there were some wonderful suspenseful moments. I also applaud Gross for u...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Marvin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Andrew Gross is quickly becoming my favorite mainstream thriller writer. His Ty Hauck series are tight suspense mysteries set in a Wall Street setting, making them a little out of the ordinary for this genre.

Yet Killing Hour is different. This time, Gross sets up a more intimate setting with no economic under-currents. It is his most personal work to date as you find out from his afterword. A deeply troubled young man kill himself and his uncle, a successful doctor, comes to California to suppor...more

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May 04, 2013 Virginia Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, fiction, suspense, thriller

"Eyes Wide Open" is a keep-reading thriller from author Andrew Gross. Once you start the story, you'll read it right through to the end--or is it the end? When New York physician Jay Erlich receives word of his young nephew's apparent suicide in California, he heads west to help his brother Charlie cope with the loss. Charlie and his wife, Gabby, are both bipolar, as was their son, Evan. After a long history with substance abuse and mental health issues, they are wards of the state, living off g...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Lizzie Hayes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

‘Eyes Wide Open’ by Andrew Gross
Published by William Morrow, July 2011. ISBN: 978-0-06-165596-8

Dr Jay Erlich is a happy man, married with two teenage children he is celebrating his twentieth wedding anniversary with his wife Kathy, when he receives a call from his elder half-brother Charlie that his son twenty-one-year-old Evan has died. Whereas life for Jay has worked out well, for Charlie, a child of the sixties things just went from bad to worse. Always trying to make it in the music business...more ‘Eyes Wide Open’ by Andrew Gross
Published by William Morrow, July 2011. ISBN: 978-0-06-165596-8

Dr Jay Erlich is a happy man, married with two teenage children he is celebrating his twentieth wedding anniversary with his wife Kathy, when he receives a call from his elder half-brother Charlie that his son twenty-one-year-old Evan has died. Whereas life for Jay has worked out well, for Charlie, a child of the sixties things just went from bad to worse. Always trying to make it in the music business, his penchant for drugs and alcohol not helping, Charlie has frequently hit bad times. Jay has over the years provided financial support on many occasions for Charlie his wife Gabriella and their son Evan who was bipolar.

When Jay arrives in California it is to find both Charlie and Gabby in a bad way – angry that the hospital where Ewan was taken after a violent episode should just a few days later send him to a place that let him walk out on his own, and finish up dead at the bottom of the cliff. Recorded as a suicide, Charlie asks Jay to take on the hospital who so badly let down their son.

As Jay seeks to discover the truth of Evan’s death he finds that despite being a doctor himself he is stonewalled by the doctor who was treating Evan, and the mental health social worker. The only person from whom he gets any cooperation is Detective Sherwood from the Coroner’s office. Then a number of oddities have him suspecting that Evan’s death may not have been suicide, but that the answers to today’s tragedy are locked in Charlie’s head back in the past.

Jay’s quest for the truth takes him on a horrific journey as he delves into his own families past and uncovers the secrets that Charlie has kept for thirty-five years. This is a chilling and macabre story that takes Jay into the evil of a 1960’s cult. And soon Jay himself is in danger, and those he loves are at risk. Just how far do the tentacles of this cult stretch? Who will help him but more important who will believe him?

Well crafted and cleverly plotted this is a thrilling read. Unable to put it down, I read it in one sitting. You will too.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
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Aug 20, 2012 Michele rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was my first stab (no pun intended) at one of Gross's books outside his co-writing with James Patterson. Sorry, but I have a serious bone to pick: if you're going to write a book about Charles Manson, then write a book about Charles Manson. Some of the details in this book about the cult at the center of the storyline and the murders they committed were SO derivative of the real-life circumstances that I actually shouted "Oh, come ON!" out loud more than once. If you are familiar enough wit...more

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Aug 01, 2012 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross
This is a mystery that will put you on edge, particularly if you are old enough to remember the whole Charles Manson saga.
Jay Erlich has a perfect life. He is successful and happy. The superficial gloss is only marred by a dysfunctional family history. Take a moment and consider your friends. If you are close to them you are aware that the majority of the people you hold closely have skeletons of some sort in their collective closets.
Almost everyone has a crazy au...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Best Crime Books rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had high expectations for this as I have loved his other books. I have to be honest and say I wasn't as thrilled as I thought I would be. The story itself was okay, but just that, okay.

We meet Dr Jay Handler who is living happily with his wife and children when he receives a desperate phone call from his brother Charlie. Charlie's son Evan has committed suicide. Jay decides to fly to visit them and help Charlie and his wife through this difficult time whilst grieving for Evan. What he doesn't...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Bonnie Brody rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was drawn to this book because of its described theme - a mystery dealing with a cult-like group in the 1960's very much like the Manson Family. The book turned out to be a quintessential thriller and page-turner, just right for the beach or the plane. While repetitive in parts, it held my interest and was a good read.

The novel is about Jay Erlich, a successful Westchester doctor who finds out that his bi-polar nephew, Evan, has taken his own life. Jay flies out to California to be with his br...more I was drawn to this book because of its described theme - a mystery dealing with a cult-like group in the 1960's very much like the Manson Family. The book turned out to be a quintessential thriller and page-turner, just right for the beach or the plane. While repetitive in parts, it held my interest and was a good read.

The novel is about Jay Erlich, a successful Westchester doctor who finds out that his bi-polar nephew, Evan, has taken his own life. Jay flies out to California to be with his brother Charlie and his sister-in-law Gabby in order to provide them with emotional support. Shortly after his arrival, he begins to have suspicions that Evan did not commit suicide but was murdered. The murder draws Jay in and as he investigates further and further, he realizes that it has to do with the Houvnanian cult with which his brother hung out for a while during his youth.

Like his son Evan, Charlie is bi-polar and has never had much in life. He and his wife Gabby live in relative squalor with occasional financial help from Jay. They live pretty much off the radar as well. As Jay pieces together the puzzle of Evan's death, it all leads back to Houvnanian and other members of his cult. Along with help from the police, Jay is determined to find out what really happened to Evan and to the string of murders that follow in his wake and all seem to be connected.

This novel is a quick read and has a lot of good information about bi-polar disease and serious mental illness. The parts about hallucinations and delusions were quite realistic and the author appears to really know his stuff in this area. As a clinical social worker, I was impressed at his knowledge. The book is relatively hardcore and there are some painfully realistic scenes that are horrific. I enjoy hardcore thrillers so it was no problem for me but be advised - if you're not a fan of this genre, this book will likely not work for you. This is a book that you can read in a couple of days. It is not likely a novel you will remember for your whole life but it is one that you will enjoy reading and the time you spend on it will be entertaining. (3.5)
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Sep 17, 2011 Neil Mudde rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first book I read by Andrew Gross was "The dark Tide" and I was hooked,exiting, turnpager, potboiler, you name it, now I have just completed reading "Eyes Wide Open" and I am sorry to say it did not "grab" me as much as his first book I read.
I understand Mr Gross is drawing on two real life experiences from the past, the relationship between the brothers is a bit confusing,the Father, etc., ad to this the wives, one the wife of the Doctor who come across as upstanding citizens the other the...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Comments: “An energetic story with brisk action and a personal tale about a family gone awry .. vivid story-telling makes each aspect of EYES WIDE OPEN creepily realistic, including the chilling ending. ” (Miami Herald )

We have a dysfunctional family -- a young man who is bipolar and perhaps a bit schizophrenic that makes him suicidal. His parents are down and out -- his dad is an old stoner who couldn't make it as a success in the music biz. His uncle is a Doctor and is the only one in the fam...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, supense-thriller-fiction

Jay Erlich is a prominent vascular surgeon in New York. He has what most would call a dream life, a wife, kids and the ability to go where he would like without really worrying about money. His marriage is solid with his wife, Kathy, a veterinarian with a busy practice. If you ask Jay, he considers himself lucky. Not by the standards we would expect, but because he didn't wind up like his brother Charlie.

Charlie has been diagnosed with being bi-polar and lives a meager existence on the coast of...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Lisa added it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fiction

Jay Erlich is a physician with a loving wife and two successful kids; his brother Charlie, however, is a mentally disturbed former hippie and a ward of the state. When Charlie’s son and Jays’ nephew, Evan, seemingly commits suicide, Jay flies out to California to help out his brother. Charlie insists Evan could not have jumped to his death; as Jay looks into his Nephew’s death, he realizes Charlie may in fact be right.

Eyes Wide Open is a bit uneven, with the first third of the novel essentially...more Jay Erlich is a physician with a loving wife and two successful kids; his brother Charlie, however, is a mentally disturbed former hippie and a ward of the state. When Charlie’s son and Jays’ nephew, Evan, seemingly commits suicide, Jay flies out to California to help out his brother. Charlie insists Evan could not have jumped to his death; as Jay looks into his Nephew’s death, he realizes Charlie may in fact be right.

Eyes Wide Open is a bit uneven, with the first third of the novel essentially serving as a cathartic experience for the author following a similar family tragedy. Jay spends these initial chapters uncovering a series of mistakes by Evan’s caregivers that led to a mentally disturbed young man being released early and allowed to go for a walk on his own. Most of the novel, however, is devoted to a part of Charlie’s past that may be coming back to haunt him. While Jay focused on his education, Charlie became a vagrant musician and child of the sixties, eventually settling on a ranch led by a Charles Manson-like figure. Although Charlie evidently had nothing to do with the gruesome murders, it seems former followers may be tormenting him, starting with Evan’s death.

There is a good story here, but it is unfortunately hampered by the writing. Gross falls into the common thriller trope. Sentence fragments are suspenseful. And jerky. They build tension. Annoy readers.

Important points should also be set aside for emphasis.

The author also feels the need to reiterate important facts repeatedly throughout the story, as though the reader is incapable of keeping track of them on her own. There are also redundant portions of redundancy, such as when a sheriff character learns of an important discovery about a suspect; this character then proceeds to repeat the details to Jay about two chapters later almost word for word. Such repetition is unnecessary and often holds the story back.

Eyes Wide Open is a different kind of thriller and can be very good at times, but the awkward writing leads to a limited recommendation.

A review copy provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.(less)

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Jun 10, 2011 Jacqui rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller-mystery

Eyes Wide Open (William Morrow 2011) is the first book I've read by NYT and international best seller, and James Patterson co-author Andrew Gross. It is the unique story of a manic-depressive boy named Evan who commits suicide by jumping from the top of the famous Morrow Bay Boulder--or so the police believe. His poverty-stricken parents, who suffer the long-term effects of drug use and their own bouts with manic-depressive disorders, considered Evan their second chance at life and don't believe...more

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May 15, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-book-challenge, first-reads

I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program, so not being familiar with the author I was not sure what to expect when I began to read it. What I discovered was a fast-paced exciting read. Jay Elrich is celebrating his anniversary with his wife when he gets the call: his nephew, son of his half-brother Charlie, is dead, likely a suicide. He flies from New York to California to help his brother and sister-in-law cope with their loss. What he discovers, instead, are deeply buried...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was so excited when I heard I was the winner of an ARC of this novel, since I've enjoyed a few books by Mr. Gross in the past. Choosing to start it off with a quote from the brilliant Bruce Springsteen wasn't the only thing done right here.

I first heard of Andrew Gross through his work with James Patterson, a big favorite of mine. They have a few good things in common - they're great storytellers, and they keep their chapters short! :) All a short chapter does for me is make me want to read m...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Terri Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mystery-suspense-thrillers

Have you ever driven past a run down trailer park or cheap housing for working class or poor families , glanced at it, and smugly thought you were glad you didn't live there? Have you ever looked down at the people who did in a superior way? This book will smack that smug look right off of your face.

Dr. Jay Erlich is a New York surgeon who hurries to California when he hears that his older brother Charlie and his wife Gabriela's 21 year old son Evan has committed suicide by jumping from a high l...more Have you ever driven past a run down trailer park or cheap housing for working class or poor families , glanced at it, and smugly thought you were glad you didn't live there? Have you ever looked down at the people who did in a superior way? This book will smack that smug look right off of your face.

Dr. Jay Erlich is a New York surgeon who hurries to California when he hears that his older brother Charlie and his wife Gabriela's 21 year old son Evan has committed suicide by jumping from a high ledge after walking away from the low security (unsecured, actually) halfway home he had been moved to after police had to carry him away from a domestic violence dispute where he attacked his family. Charlie, Gabriela, and Evan lived on disability and public assistance, all of them suffering from bipolar disorder. While they may be poor, they love their son and are devastated by this loss.

It is to be a short visit but when Jay discovers that it is likely that Evan was murdered and it made to look like a suicide, he manages to pull a coroner's detective who has had a liver transplant that isn't going well in to investigate. At first Detective Sherwood resists, thinking he is making a mountain out of a molehill- until the evidence piles up that leads to Charlie's old days living on a ranch in California with a crazed and charismatic Charles Manson type leader who led his "family" to murder. It looks like Charlie is hiding something- something from his past that can lead to death for him, Gabby, and even Jay.

There are many spine-tingling moments and details here. I like how the poor couple are shown to be sympathetic characters and not just bums. Even the character of Jay, comparing his life as a doctor with the good life, realized Charlie was just a husband and dad who loves his wife and kid, just like him, and that money or lack of money does not make a person more or less important except in the eyes of those who worship money and what it buys.

Jay can't let go, even when Charlie urges him to leave and return home. Charlie always tried to protect Jay when they were young and he is still trying. It broke my heart to see how what happened at that ranch, what was caused by that crazy cult leader who had been locked away for decades, ruined lives ad is still causing death and destruction caused by his followers.

This is a riveting story. Read it with the lights on and the doors bolted and maybe, just maybe, you will be safe (oh dear, is that the sound of a window being broken that I hear? You better quit reading this and go check.).(less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Sheila Beaumont rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, mysteries-suspense-thrillers

Andrew Gross' suspense novels just keep getting better and better! This dark psychological thriller has an added dimension, an emotional intensity inspired by a real-life event, the sudden death of the author's troubled, bipolar young nephew two years ago. All the people in this story are very real, portrayed with remarkable depth. These are not the sort of characters you find in the typical thriller.

The tale begins with Jay Erlich, a successful surgeon and family man who lives in New York, rece...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Charlie Erlich spent his youth stoned and playing music, but there’s a darker side to what happened all those years ago and it just caught up with him with deadly force when his son Evan is found dead at the bottom of a canyon, at first glance it’s a slam dunk suicide but sometimes things aren’t as simple as they look.
Jay Erlich is the good brother to Charlie’s screw-up and it’s no different in adulthood, Jay is used to getting phone calls for help from Charlie and his dysfunctional family but t...more Charlie Erlich spent his youth stoned and playing music, but there’s a darker side to what happened all those years ago and it just caught up with him with deadly force when his son Evan is found dead at the bottom of a canyon, at first glance it’s a slam dunk suicide but sometimes things aren’t as simple as they look.
Jay Erlich is the good brother to Charlie’s screw-up and it’s no different in adulthood, Jay is used to getting phone calls for help from Charlie and his dysfunctional family but this time it’s different when the call is to report Jay’s nephew’s death. Jay rushes to his brother’s aide leaving his own family and career. As Jay investigates the supposed suicide it begins to look more and more sinister and it looks to be connected to Charlie’s youth and a horrible crime that was committed by members of a cult that he was involved with. Who will be safe and who will be sorry and who will have their “Eyes Wide Open “.
Andrew Gross may have started out as a co-author with James Patterson but with the sale of his first solo novel his masterful storytelling has become more and more evident, this one takes us away from Ty Hauck his protagonist from the last few novels, but have no fear because he introduces us to some memorable new ones. His plot is filled with dangerous twists and murderous turns so you lovers of dark thrillers will be happy with all the mayhem. His narrative is easy to read and follow and flows smoothly from start to finish with dialogue that describes and reflects on his characters and his scenes. His characters are remarkable from the smallest part to the biggest role and Mr. Gross does an outstanding job giving each one their individual voice that readers will be able to hear loud and clear. The brothers Jay and Charlie will definitely get under your skin with their polar opposite personalities and actions, from Charlie’s bipolar, ex-hippy self to Jay’s by the book, upstanding citizen, surgeon self.
If mystery, murder and dark plots are your cup of tea, have a cuppa this because you won’t find a better roller coaster ride than the one you’ll climb on here. If you like characters with character, you’ll find them between the pages of this novel. If you just like an unforgettable story, you’ll remember this one for a long time.
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Mar 11, 2013 Kat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. just started it this morning, i like it a lot so far. takes place so far in grover beach, moro bay, the boy died off moro rock, there is a cover up with the police and mental health dept. the uncle is a dr from out of state, who came to help his brother, the boys father. the boys parents are poor and no one but the husbands brother is trying to help find out what happened. from hints it sounds like soemeone from the fathers past killed the son and everyone is covering up.

i like the local referen...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Merri rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love this author- another amazing book you can't put down

Jay Erlich's nephew has been found at the bottom of a cliff at Morrow Bay—a tragic suicide, it appears, until secrets from the past rear up again.

Years ago, Jay's older brother, Charlie, a wayward child of the sixties, fell under the sway of a charismatic but deeply disturbed cult leader in California—a mesmerizing human monster who set a nightmare of violence into motion. Charlie moved on and raised a family, but the demons that nearly de...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Kevin Allmaras rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read a couple of Andrew Gross's books and his style is to base the story line on a real event. Such as the case in Reckless and here on a suicide within his own family. I thought the first hundred pages were very slow then it started to build up very quickly. By the last fifty pages you couldn't put the book down or read it fast enough. I sometimes find it hard to follow a lead character who just keeps stumbling through the story running into clues that are to obvious to miss. Reminds me of...more

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Nov 24, 2011 Ray Palen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After getting his start co-writing with James Patterson (or completely writing?), Mr. Gross has graduated into one of the top thriller novelists working today.

In his latest stand-alone thriller, EYES WIDE OPEN, he has created a tale of secrets, lies, murder and family ties that keeps surprising right up to the final pages. NY Attorney Jay Erlich goes out to spend time with his older brother Charlie and wife Gabby, both of them former CA flower-children from the 60's. The reason for the trip is n...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Graeme Stokes rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story, the premise, the past, regret, drugs, redemption and oh yes the copy cat writer.
Sorry there was just something missing with the writer/story.
Having read previous books by Andrew Gross I could just not get my head around the fact that maybe, just maybe, Andrew did not write this book, well not completely on his own.
For any one who has read the life story of James Patterson they will know what I mean.
Marketing a book a story and maybe even a writer(s).
Look the story was just so clo...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Paul Pessolano rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Eyes Wide Open" comes very close to the true story of Charles Manson and the book "Helter Skelter". The main character, Russell Houvnanian is a very Manson like figure. He is obsessed with himself, has the ability to control people, uses music as a media to promote his philosophies, and predicts a coming catastrophic event.

Jay Erlic, a New York doctor, is summoned to California by his older brother, Charles, because his son Evan has died. It is considered a suicide but Charlie thinks he may hav...more

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May 02, 2011 big hiker 2 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads free giveaway program. Thank you very much! =)

Andrew Gross certainly knows how to tell a great story! It all begins when Dr. Jay Erlich, a surgeon in NYC, receives a call from California, where his brother Charlie and his wife live with their 21-yr.-old son, Evan. Evan is dead, an apparent suicide. Bipolar just like his father, Evan has jumped off a cliff. Jay flies out to CA the very next day to be with his brother in this difficult time, but as...more

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May 10, 2011 Gretchen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I enjoyed this novel - it kept my attention, and while some of the twists where not that surprising, I still enjoyed the plot development and the character development. The story is told mostly from the main character's persepective, Jay Erlich, and he goes to California (from NY) to help his brother and sister-in-law when their son (Jay's nephew) commits suicide - or at least that is how it seems. Turns out things are not what they seem, and Jay gets drawn into his brother's past as secrets sta...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Joyce rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An East Coast Physician gets a call from his West Coast older brother letting him know that his son has died in a fall from some rocks at Morro Bay and it is suspected suicide. He and his wife ask the physician (Jay Erlich) to come to California and help them deal with the situation. He goes and in the process of dealing with the suicide reports decides that it wasn't suicide at all and that his brother's sixties past is finally catching up with him. This leads to his involving himself with the...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you haven’t read an Andrew Gross novel or just not gotten to this one yet, put it on your list of novels to read or get it in your hands a.s.a.p.; this novel rocks. It is a story that was actually based on real life circumstances of the author and he used it in ways that will have you gripped to the pages, whether they are virtual on the e-reader or just the plain paper. The way he was able to constantly ramp up the tension and move the story forward so quickly is just flat out fun and amazin...more If you haven’t read an Andrew Gross novel or just not gotten to this one yet, put it on your list of novels to read or get it in your hands a.s.a.p.; this novel rocks. It is a story that was actually based on real life circumstances of the author and he used it in ways that will have you gripped to the pages, whether they are virtual on the e-reader or just the plain paper. The way he was able to constantly ramp up the tension and move the story forward so quickly is just flat out fun and amazing! The story is fast paced, heart wrenching and emotionally charged. Not being totally invested in this novel is not an option; it just sucks you in. To double your pleasure, save the link I am dropping in from my blogtalk show ,The G-ZONE, and after you read it ,listen in to the conversation and see if some of the questions you may have had about the novel were answered for you. Here you go:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
Here is the synopsis of the novel:
“A horrible family tragedy that may not be what it seems . . .
A past encounter with an infamous killer turns deadly today . . .
An ordinary man must risk his own family to find the truth.
Jay Erlich's nephew has been found at the bottom of a cliff at Morrow Bay. It's all just a tragic suicide, until secrets from the past begin to rear up again. Did a notorious killer, jailed for many decades, have his hand in this?
Years ago, Jay Erlich's older brother, Charlie, a wayward child of the sixties, set out for California, where he fell under the sway of a charismatic but deeply disturbed cultlike figure. Tragedy ensued and lives were destroyed, but as the decades passed, Charlie married and raised a family and lived a quiet, secluded life under the radar. Yet the demons that nearly destroyed him never completely disappeared.
When Jay heads out west to help his grieving brother, he is pulled back into Charlie's past—and begins to suspect that his nephew's suicide may not have been that at all. With eyes wide open, Jay puts his own life at risk to uncover the truth, a quest that goes beyond the edge of madness and a family haunted by a secret past . . . and into the depths of evil.
Drawing on two real-life experiences from his own past, Gross has crafted a richly personal, yet utterly terrifying tale of two brothers, one successful, one wayward, trying to bridge the gap of what tore them apart.
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Aug 18, 2012 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, thriller

This thriller really didn’t do it for me. While the writing is fine the characters were as wooden as wooden can be and the “thriller” aspect did not engage me at all. I didn’t care to find out what really happened. There is a Charles Manson-esque bent, which is interesting I guess, but whatever, the real story is more captivating than a Manson ripoff. It’s based on the death of the author’s own nephew so maybe this had something to do with the too linear and bland plot.

Side note, this author ha...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It took me a long time to get into this book, maybe because I didn't love the characters, and maybe because of the editing mistakes. One would think that after four previous bestsellers, Gross would be able to hire a better editor. Glaring mistakes like the character driving in CA and "heading east to the coast", or using the word "site" where "sight" was correct, etc, just distract me from the story. About 2/3 of the way in, though, I became more interested in the story as the suspense picked u...more

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About Andrew Gross

hubby, cook, dad, thriller writer (The Blue Zone, The Dark Tide, Don't Look Twice, and coming soon... Reckless). Love to hear from and meet my fans! Hope you enjoy the newest release RECKLESS, coming April 27, 2010.

Looking forward to sharing my bookshelf with you all, and hoping to get some new reading suggestions!

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avg rating	preview: Eyes Wide Open Goodreads rating: 3.64 (1321 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12251859-eyes-wide-open?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347781086l/12251859.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12251859-eyes-wide-open?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross[/url]

Eyes Wide Open

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