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Try Not to Breathe

Holly Seddon (Goodreads Author)

3.91 · Rating details · 14,615 ratings · 1,724 reviews

For fans of Lianne Moriarty, Paula Hawkins, and Tana French, an arresting debut novel of psychological suspense: a young journalist struggles to keep the demons of her alcoholism at bay as she finds her purpose again in tackling the mystery of a shocking headline-making crime, still unsolved after fifteen years.

Amy Stevenson was the biggest news story of 1995. Only fifteen ...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages

Published February 23rd 2016 by Ballantine Books

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Jan 14, 2016 Deanna rated it really liked it

Try Not to Breathe is Holly Seddon's debut novel. A really good psychological suspense novel that pulled me in right from the start.

***Although I always try my best there may be minor spoilers***

Alex Dale is a young journalist whose focus is mostly on trying to maintain her alcoholism. She rides the line between serious drinker and functioning alcoholic. After losing her job and her husband she's barely hanging on.

Then Alex comes across Amy Stevenson....

While writing an article about a doctor ...more

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Dec 02, 2015 Chelsea Humphrey rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

I'd like to thank Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Well, I'm a bit disappointed as all the hype around this book had me expecting more. I should have learned by now that hype tends to destroy reads for me.

Things I liked: many aspects of the plot were very unique and intriguing. I found the idea of a victim of a horrific crime left in a "vegetative state" interesting and a strong theme to build an excellent thriller on. Also, the research of the symptoms of various ...more

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Sep 19, 2015 Gary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved this book from start to finish.
This psychological thriller is about a journalist, Alex Dale who when visiting a hospital notices a face from the past. A young girl, Amy Stevenson was attacked 15 years ago and the crime was never solved is lying in a hospital bed, the journalist feels a compulsion to seek out the truth. The book shifts from present to past as the story and the truth unfold. Well paced and strong believable characters that had me reading it at every opportunity. An ...more

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Sep 17, 2015 Sue rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, net-galley, kindle, thriller, suspense

TRY NOT TO BREATHE the debut novel of British author Holly Seddon, is an outstanding psychological tale of suspense. It is really hard to believe that this is a debut novel, as it is so good. I am sorry I took so long to read this novel, but I recently had eye surgery and was restricted with my activity. This character-driven novel involves the reader right from the beginning…the story of two women that connect and become friends.

The first woman, Amy Stevenson, is a hospital patient in a TRY NOT TO BREATHE the debut novel of British author Holly Seddon, is an outstanding psychological tale of suspense. It is really hard to believe that this is a debut novel, as it is so good. I am sorry I took so long to read this novel, but I recently had eye surgery and was restricted with my activity. This character-driven novel involves the reader right from the beginning…the story of two women that connect and become friends.

The first woman, Amy Stevenson, is a hospital patient in a vegetative state. Fifteen years ago in 1995 when she was only fifteen years old, she made a poor choice, which changed her whole life. She had a boyfriend, Jake but craved more excitement! On her way home from school, she went with a man who had sex with her, attacked her, and left her for dead. Her attacker was never identified and her face was splashed across every paper and nightly news program.

Now Amy is in a vegetative state, trapped in her own body but unable to communicate. She remains in a confusing state, still thinking she is fifteen, unaware that time has moved on. She doesn’t realize that she is now thirty years old.

The second woman, Alex Dale, a reporter, staggers across her while researching a routine story on vegetative patients.

And then Alex saw a patient in a bed. She knew this woman-Amy. She had to help solve this case!

But both women have their problems. Alex is a functioning alcoholic that had cost her both her reputation and her marriage. Alex’s ex-husband, Matt, is a police officer, and has moved on and remarried and has a baby on the way.

Alex begins a dangerous investigation, suspecting someone close to Amy.

The novel is set in Kent, England, and this story is written in two time periods. The present versus flashbacks to the time of Amy’s attack. This was a very enjoyable read, and I recommend it to all my Goodread friends. So hard to believe that this is a debut novel!

I’m looking forward to Holly Seddon’s next novel!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

...more

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Jan 27, 2016 Christine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I wish to thank Holly Seddon, Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of Try Not to Breathe in exchange for an unbiased review.

Try Not to Breathe, the debut novel of British author Holly Seddon, is an excellent psychological tale of suspense. It follows the story of Alex Dale, a disgraced journalist who is struggling to regain not only her respectability, but also her life, which she essentially lost to the ravages of the bottle. Alex is working on a freelance investigative article I wish to thank Holly Seddon, Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of Try Not to Breathe in exchange for an unbiased review.

Try Not to Breathe, the debut novel of British author Holly Seddon, is an excellent psychological tale of suspense. It follows the story of Alex Dale, a disgraced journalist who is struggling to regain not only her respectability, but also her life, which she essentially lost to the ravages of the bottle. Alex is working on a freelance investigative article looking into the story of Amy Stevenson, a young woman left in an apparent vegetative state after being attacked and raped in 1995. The novel takes place over a 15-year time frame. The POV alternates amongst several voices as the timeline flips back and forth between the present and various periods in the previous decade and a half (not confusing to the reader). Alex struggles with her addiction to alcohol and her self-shame as she strives to bring some closure to Amy’s ordeal and simultaneously some meaning to her own life, by finding out what really happened the night Amy was abducted.

Looking at some of the previous reviews, it appears some readers did not care for Alex. Though she is certainly flawed, I liked her. I think what drew me to her was her determination to salvage whatever she could from her shambled life. Despite others giving up on her, she was not going to give up on herself. I do wish there had been a bit more back history that would have helped explain how she fell so low. I also cared a great deal for Jacob, Amy’s high school sweetheart, though some of his decision-making was frustratingly questionable.

The story grabbed me right away and the ongoing suspense led me to turn the pages quickly. The plotline is fairly complex and I was making mental notes of all the curious “maybe clues” that came on a regular basis. I have to say I was a little disappointed when the identity of the baddie was revealed. I cannot say why, however, without spoilers. On the other hand, I was very pleased with the rest of the ending. It was not “Hollywood”, but more like what would happen in the real world.

Overall, I was very entertained by Try Not to Breathe. I read it faster than most books I read, which is always a good sign. I recommend this tale to all lovers of mystery and suspense. I will definitely be looking out for Ms. Seddon’s next book, which I hope will arrive sooner rather than later.
...more

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Sep 19, 2015 Jan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, mystery

I would never have guessed this was a debut book for author Holly Seddon...I'm super impressed!

Well thought-out and engaging characters along with a storyline that was fast paced and compelling.

More of a who-dunnit than a psychological thriller, but this still kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing along the way.
I thought I had the antagonist figured out early on, then oops-I realized I was wrong and settled on my next suspect.
That carried me for a bit until I switched gears and decided ...more

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Dec 11, 2015 Lo Bookfrantic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-review-ng

LIVE ALERT
AMAZON US

4.5 "Killer Secret" Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Shifting
Publication Date: February 23rd, 2016

“I played tennis again. I played tennis and I won.”

This was definitely one of those books where you open it and you just can't put it down...you try to sleep but you can't stop thinking about what is going to happen next, You try to guess who the bloody killer is and finally you reached the end and you can breathe again without even realizing you LIVE ALERT
AMAZON US

4.5 ★★★★"Killer Secret" Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Shifting
Publication Date: February 23rd, 2016

“I played tennis again. I played tennis and I won.”

This was definitely one of those books where you open it and you just can't put it down...you try to sleep but you can't stop thinking about what is going to happen next, You try to guess who the bloody killer is and finally you reached the end and you can breathe again without even realizing you were holding your breath the entire time. At the beginning it was a bit slow start for me with so many characters POV to keep track of; however soon I got to know each character and I wanted more of them.

We meet Amy Stephenson who at only 15 years old had a secret and that secret will hunt the entire world. She left school one day and never made it home. Now 15 years later she finds herself in a hospital and with no recollection of what had happened in past. Her mind is still of a 15yr old inside a body of a 30yrs old in a bed with no ability to speak of feel or move. However; in her head she is still in high school with her boyfriend Jake and her best friends Jenny and Becky and there are still signs of movements in her brain.

Alex Dale; a thirty year old female journalist who was dealing with life crisis. She lost her mother, her child, her job and lastly; her husband left her due to her alcohol addiction. Alex was writing a profile piece for a weekend supplement on the work of Dr. Haynes, a scientist researching brain scans that picked up signs of communication in patients. She came across Amy while at the hospital interviewing Dr. Haynes and took a deeply interest in her case and she just wanted to know more about her.
“Once we establish a number of different parts of the brain and how to generate a response in those, we can start to ask question and…”

Jacob aka Jake who was Amy's boyfriend fifteen years ago; was struggling with the past and with his wife and soon to be child. He wanted a happy life but keeping things from his wife Fiaona was almost causing him his marriage. However; he meets Alex and he knew it was a dangerous line considering his marriage was on the line but he wanted to help Alex find answers to what really happened to Amy. He joined the journey with Alex to finding answers as to what happened to Amy and try to get to the bottom of it.

Alex developed an obsession to figure this case out and she didn’t stop until she got to the bottom of it. However her addiction was going to be the end of her; she was struggling with the alcohol addiction that will kill her in a year if she didn’t stop. This book had me intrigued and I was deeply interested not only because I wanted the mystery of the killer to be solved but I was also very intrigued on Amy’s brain case I found myself thinking what if that was me or someone I knew of laying on that bed for so long?!. Alex felt the same and while she got to the bottom and ended up cracking the case which was a total mind fuck she ended up finding herself as well because of Amy. I love this story so much, it was much more than what I expected.

There were many suspects, so many questions; the events that happened had me biting my nails. I wanted answers like Alex and Jacob; everyone seems a suspect and it was a nerve wrecking thrilling ride. This book is one I will recommend to all thriller readers. If you are looking for a good mystery/thriller you have found it. Any fans of Cold case files TV will really enjoy this book. This is a new author for me and I can tell you, I love this writing style and I will be reading more of this writer in the future.

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Nov 04, 2015 Zoeytron rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, new-fangled-e-reader

For fifteen years Amy has lain comatose as a result of a horrific beating, the case never solved. Jake was Amy's boyfriend at the time of the attack. Riddled with guilt and loss, he has had a great deal of difficulty moving forward with his life. Alex is a washed up journalist who is slowly and methodically killing herself with booze. She seizes upon this cold case and begins the slow climb from rock bottom, vowing to find out who is responsible for the crime. The line between consciousness and ...more

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Jan 04, 2016 Elyse (retired from reviewing/semi hiatus) Walters rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Amy is still alive - with a paralyze body - in a hospital bed - fifteen years later.
As readers, we have questions about this. For fifteen years a boyfriend - Jacob continues to visit her. A little odd??? ( even 'if' he feels love or guilt). Fifteen years is a long time - when you are only a teenage boy from the start.

Alex has experienced more loss in her life than she can handle -and is a heavy daily drinker. At one time she had a successful career as a journalist ....
but now seems closer to Amy is still alive - with a paralyze body - in a hospital bed - fifteen years later.
As readers, we have questions about this. For fifteen years a boyfriend - Jacob continues to visit her. A little odd??? ( even 'if' he feels love or guilt). Fifteen years is a long time - when you are only a teenage boy from the start.

Alex has experienced more loss in her life than she can handle -and is a heavy daily drinker. At one time she had a successful career as a journalist ....
but now seems closer to killing herself. A doctor told her there was a good chance she would be dead in a year with the amount of alcohol she drinks each day.
In 'trying to take steps in cleaning up her life, Alex begins freelance work as a reporter. She is writing a paper about a neurologist who is making advances with patients who are in a coma in being able to communicate with them. This part of the
story was fascinating to me in itself---( besides who attacked Amy and put her in this condition).
I've always been curious about how much 'coma' patients hear -think- and comprehend about themselves - past & present. If they wake up -- does memory get loss in the awakening transition?
When Alex discovers Amy is one of the patients...she immediately remembers the story about the tragic unsolved crime mystery fifteen years prior. She wants to solve the mystery and bring closure to Amy!

The story goes back and forth in time. The three main characters, Alex, Amy, and Jacob alternate in narrating. Amy never seems to age... (seems to always be 15 years old since the day of this crime against her... even though she is now 30 years of age)..... but it makes sense. It's realistic. Her character feels despondent and gloomy.... yet there is a quiet sweetness to her too.

Alex is an interesting character ...she has so many things she is up against -
She's been shattered once too many times. She pulls her boot straps up -- then they fall down again. We're hoping that she doesn't lose fight ...as we would love to see Alex recover from so her past wounds...as we kinda fall in love with her -flaws and all.

Good story! Did I figure out 'who' Dunn-It? ....I was pretty sure, but not completely ....
I was definitely doing my guessing!

Thank You Random House, Netgalley and Holly Seddon!

...more

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Feb 12, 2018 j e w e l s rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-bejeweled, audio

Holly Seddon came up with a great story idea: A news reporter investigates the story of a young woman named Amy she has stumbled upon in a convalescent home. Amy has been in a coma for many years due to a violent act she endured at the age of 15. The person responsible for this crime has never been apprehended and the reporter embarks on a dangerous mission to expose the perp.

The reporter, Alex Dale is a drunken, hot mess of a main character in TRY NOT TO BREATHE. This is my second novel to ...more

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Sep 01, 2017 Suzanne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: overdrive-browser

Such an original premise. A young girl is attacked and ends up in a coma. A woman is increasingly falling apart becomes obsessed with the case. They were the same age, the case so highly known at the time. Amy was only 15 when attacked and Alex, 15 years later tries her best to work out what happened all those years ago. Alex is in such a mess of her own, a failed marriage and a terrible alcohol addiction. Can she even maintain focus for a day to work out what went wrong? The internal dialogue ...more

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Jan 04, 2016 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-pub-giveaways, own

MY BLOGS: Melissa Martin's Reading List

I cried at the end of this book, but it was a good cry. It was a somewhat happy ending....

I can't believe this is the author's debut novel. I loved it so much and it really touched me. Sometimes (or a lot of times) when we are young, we do some really stupid things. Amy did a stupid thing, but she didn't deserve what happened to her.

This book tells different points of view. You have Alex, Jacob, Amy, and a little bit from Sue.

Alex is was a journalist ...more

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Jan 17, 2017 Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-books

As far as psychological thrillers go, this is the best I have read for some time. Try Not to Breathe comes from debut author Holly Seddon. The inspiration for this gripping tale came to Seddon while she was listening to a radio show discuss patients in vegetative states. Amy Stevenson, the main character who is in a coma for the bulk of Try Not to Breathe, formed in Seddon’s mind after listening to this show. Seddon has also conducted extensive research through the Royal Hospital for As far as psychological thrillers go, this is the best I have read for some time. Try Not to Breathe comes from debut author Holly Seddon. The inspiration for this gripping tale came to Seddon while she was listening to a radio show discuss patients in vegetative states. Amy Stevenson, the main character who is in a coma for the bulk of Try Not to Breathe, formed in Seddon’s mind after listening to this show. Seddon has also conducted extensive research through the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability to inform her first novel.

Try Not to Breathe is a book told in shifting time frames, moving from 1995 to 2010. It is also a narrative that shifts perspectives between the main players in the novel. In 1995, Amy Stevenson is fifteen years old and has her whole life ahead of her. Despite this, she is focussed on one thing, losing her virginity. Instead of waiting to lose her virginity to her patient and gentle long term boyfriend Jake, she makes the fatal decision to go with an older man. This older male figure has his way with her and then brutally attacks her, leaving Amy for dead. Amy somehow manages to survive the attack, but it leaves her in catatonic state and some 15 years later, Amy is still in a coma. Although Amy has limited brain activity, it seems she is somewhat aware of her surroundings. In 2010, Alex Dale enters the hospital where Amy has resided since her attack. Alex is a disgraced journalist, having once held a high ranking position at The Times. Now a freelance journalist, after battling the bottle, Alex has lost everything that she held dear. Alone and searching for a defining story to resurrect her career, Alex feels compelled to reinvestigate Amy’s case. Together with Amy’s high school boyfriend Jacob, who has never really let his old girlfriend go, the two work together to get to the bottom of who attacked Amy, as a perpetrator has never been arrested.

Try Not to Breathe is a book that falls into the category where it draws comparisons to Gone Girl. I have to agree with the cover quote from bestselling author Tess Gerritsen that ‘Not since The Girl on the Train have I been so captivated’. This book is a fantastic debut novel, the subject matter was definitely different and compelling. It was fascinating to read a fiction novel based around the research into those suffering from neuro disability. Through Amy’s story, I was able to glean information about the limits, as well as the abilities of these patients.

Part of my strong connection to this book lies in the time frame, setting and the characters. I too was a teenage girl in 1995, just like Amy, living in a similar region. I grew up appreciating the same music and fashion as Amy. I could understand the focus on losing your virginity at that age and the inevitable competitions, as well as school gossip that arose around this subject. This enabled me to feel a deep connection to Amy, allowing me to easily put myself in her place in 1995. It lead me to question – would I have made the same decision as Amy?

The shifting style of narration of this book, definitely adds another dimension to the reading of Try Not to Breathe. The reader is able to get inside the mind of Amy both in 1995 and 2010, as well as Alex and Amy’s boyfriend Jacob. As a result, the characterisation is strong. At many points the book became emotional and heartbreaking. Especially the sections focussed on Amy in 2010, where she knows she is not herself, but she fails to make sense of the state she exists in. However, I did take messages of hope in the book. The unlikely friendship that forms between two lost souls, Amy and Alex, is a shining feature in this novel.

Try Not to Breathe is one of those books that despite the dark subject matter, still compels you to continue to flick the pages, to solve the mystery as to who left Amy in this way. The plotting in the book is methodical, despite Alex, the main investigator, being a flawed character who is struggling to battle her own personal demons throughout the novel. I did have a changeable list of suspects as to who was involved in Amy’s attack, my suspicions though close, were proved wrong. Seddon presents the reader with a cleverly devised plot, that will have you guessing and reeling until the end.

It is very early on in the year, but Try Not to Breathe takes the title so far as the best psychological thriller I have read for some time. A mesmerising thriller, about a young woman attacked in her prime and another young woman redeeming herself, through giving her new found friend the justice she deserves. A worthy five star rating, from an author I am keen to read more from very soon.
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Nov 20, 2015 Larry H rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I'd rate this 3.5 stars.

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for making it available!

Here's a question: does anyone else, when they read mysteries, find themselves suspecting everyone, and whenever a new character is introduced you try to determine whether that person is the culprit? I don't believe I'm alone in that behavior, but it's difficult to disengage the "detective" I'd rate this 3.5 stars.

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for making it available!

Here's a question: does anyone else, when they read mysteries, find themselves suspecting everyone, and whenever a new character is introduced you try to determine whether that person is the culprit? I don't believe I'm alone in that behavior, but it's difficult to disengage the "detective" part of my brain!

Holly Seddon's tense debut novel, Try Not to Breathe definitely had me entertaining lots of possibilities in my mind. When Amy Stevenson was 15 years old, she disappeared from home. While the police tried to tell her parents she ran away, they knew that wasn't something Amy would do. And when she was found shortly thereafter, her body severely beaten, no one could figure out what happened and who assaulted her—and Amy, who was in a persistent vegetative state, couldn't tell.

Fifteen years later, Alex Dale, a reporter whose career and personal life had both seen better days, was researching a story on advances being made by a local neurologist, who boasted of some success "communicating" with some patients in a persistent vegetative state. When Alex comes upon Amy in the hospital, she remembers the case that captivated the area for some time, and the turmoil it brought to many whose lives were turned upside down.

Alex is determined to stand up for Amy, to try and find out the truth once and for all. Solving a cold case is never easy, but Alex has an extra burden as she is a barely functioning alcoholic whose life, career, and health have been destroyed by her addiction. But the more Alex digs into the case, interviewing those who were closest to Amy, she knows that there are answers amid the mystery, and it is up to her to try and bring some closure for Amy's sake, while Amy remains conscious but mostly unaware of where she is and what has transpired in her life since the assault. Mostly being the operative word...

I thought this was a really interesting concept for a book, and enjoyed the way Seddon teased out the story despite my best efforts to figure it all out before she was ready to divulge details. Alex's character in particular was really fascinating, and I felt Seddon did a terrific job giving voice to Alex's alcoholic existence and her continued decline despite the regrets she carried with her. While not all of the characters were as fleshed out as I would have liked, Alex drives the story, and she is so appealing (while being so flawed) that I really was invested in her quest. The tension level rises and rises as the plot moves forward, and for the most part, I really liked the direction Seddon took the story in.

For a debut novel, this is a pretty self-assured book. So many mysteries fail as they try too hard; Try Not to Breathe will captivate fans of the genre.

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo.... ...more

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Dec 01, 2015 Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede rated it liked it

Shelves: read-2016

Amy Stevenson was attacked 15 years ago and have ever since been in a coma. No one has been caught for the brutal attack. Alex Dale was once a loving wife, a mother to be and a brilliant journalist. Now she has nothing left. But, then she does an interview with a doctor about coma patients and meets Amy. They are close in age and grew up close by, but they never met. Amy remembers the case and the more she investigates about it the more obsesses is she to solve what happened to Amy. But, how to Amy Stevenson was attacked 15 years ago and have ever since been in a coma. No one has been caught for the brutal attack. Alex Dale was once a loving wife, a mother to be and a brilliant journalist. Now she has nothing left. But, then she does an interview with a doctor about coma patients and meets Amy. They are close in age and grew up close by, but they never met. Amy remembers the case and the more she investigates about it the more obsesses is she to solve what happened to Amy. But, how to solve a crime when the only witness can't talk?

I was intrigued by the blurb, about a coma patient being the only witness to a crime. Alex Dale is an alcoholic who drank away her marriage and career. She is now trying to put her life together, which isn't that easy and it's especially hard for her to learn that her ex-husband has moved on with his life. So, Amy Stevenson becomes in many ways her lifeline, something to focus on while she tries to sort of her life. We also have Jacob, who is a sitter. He sits by the coma patients and keeps them company talking. But, he seems to have a special connection to Amy.

I had some trouble getting into the story; I found the story a bit trying sometimes. Not so much the storyline with Amy, but with Jacob. I was sometimes quite frustrated with him and his secrets and even though I often found his wife Fiona a bit annoying do I understand her frustration with Jacob. He should have come clean to her years ago.

I found it not that hard to figure out the identity of the attacker. Sure, I was not completely sure, but I had a gut feeling of whom it would be. There were some clues scattered in the book that made me more and more sure during the progress of whom it would be. Still, the confrontation scene towards the end of the book was intense, there is always a possibility that I could be wrong. But, I was right. However, I did enjoy the book, despite having a suspicious feeling about who the attacker was. Sometimes half the fun with a whodunnit book is trying to find out who the attacker is and see if you have the right person at the end.

This may not be the best thriller I have read, but still, it was a good one and I quite liked Alex Dale and wouldn't mind reading more books by the author.

I want to thank the publisher for proving me with a free copy for an honest review. ...more

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Sep 10, 2015 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, 2016, mystery, reviewed

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I liked this one a lot. The story kept me very interested and I really had a hard time putting it down at times. I am not always a fan of multiple points of view but I think that it worked wonderfully in this book. As the book unfolded, I wasn't quite sure where things were going. I had a couple of guesses about who was responsible for what happened to Amy but I wasn't quite sure until it came out in the story. I do love it when I can't figure This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I liked this one a lot. The story kept me very interested and I really had a hard time putting it down at times. I am not always a fan of multiple points of view but I think that it worked wonderfully in this book. As the book unfolded, I wasn't quite sure where things were going. I had a couple of guesses about who was responsible for what happened to Amy but I wasn't quite sure until it came out in the story. I do love it when I can't figure out which way a mystery is going.

The characters in this book were somewhat unique. Alex is a writer and is trying to get a story published. Alex is also an alcoholic who uses many different techniques for controlling her drinking. She is barely functioning as a result of her alcoholism and has lost many things as a result including her marriage. When she happens upon Amy in the hospital while working on a story, she feels compelled to find out what happened to her all those years ago. I thought that Alex's alcoholism added an interesting side to the story and I did think that it was well done. Her life is anything but glamorous and her thoughts really showed how much she struggles every day.

Jacob was Amy's boyfriend at the time of her disappearance. He is now married and his wife, Fiona, is due to have their first child very soon. He has never really moved past what happened to Amy and spends a lot of time visiting her in the hospital. I felt poorly for Jacob for much of the story. He really seemed to have a lot of guilt over Amy and it has had a big impact on his life.

Amy is in what is considered a vegetative state by many but she does have some awareness. Amy has been in this condition ever since she disappeared back in 1995. Nobody knows what really happened to Amy and nobody has been punished for the crimes committed against her. I found the parts of the book that were from Amy's perspective to be the most powerful. As soon as Amy's point of view started showing up in story, I really had a hard time putting this book down. Both her awareness of things going on now and her memory of the past were incredibly well done.

I thought everything came together to tell a really interesting story. I wanted to know what happened to Amy just as much as Alex and Jacob did. I thought the book shared new information at exactly the perfect moments to really keep my interest level high. As each new piece of information was learned, I found myself being pulled deeper into the story. The pacing of the well done and nicely balance with the development of the characters.

I would recommend this book to others. I think mystery fans who like flawed and interesting characters will enjoy this one. I am somewhat amazed by the fact that this is Holly Seddon's debut novel and I look forward to reading future works by this talented author.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Initial Thoughts
I liked this one. The story kept me interested and I actually liked the multiple POVs. For much of the book, I wasn't really sure what direction things were going. Once I had a guess, I had to find out if I was right. I don't know how realistic everything was but it was definitely entertaining. ...more

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Mar 16, 2016 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: psychological-thrillers

I loved this book from the very first page It got me hooked & i kept turning the pages, Holly Seddon is an accomplished writer with a lot of promise.

This book is set in Kent Amy Stevenson is a young 15 year old girl who has a boyfriend Jake & her best friends Becky & Jenny they have a secret that they are hiding about Amy but wont tell.

Suddenly Amy is attacked in a park & left for dead she ends up in hospital in a comatose state unable to talk about who attacked her then Alex who ...more

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Apr 15, 2017 Jill McGill rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller

Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon is a well-written and fast moving novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!
It's very hard to believe that this was her debut novel - great job!!!

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Nov 13, 2015 Brenda rated it really liked it

Recommended to Brenda by: Helen Goltz

Shelves: arc, 2016-release, net-galley, thriller, suspense, read-on-kindle, own-read

4.5s

Amy Stevenson was only fifteen years old when it happened; her abduction in 1995 was the talk of the town and headlines in the newspapers for a long time afterwards. But Amy had been found alive much to her family’s delight. That was short-lived though when it was realised that Amy would never be the same again – completely unable to communicate and in a vegetative state, the horror of what had happened was intensified by the fact that Amy’s attacker was never found.

Fifteen years later ...more

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Dec 16, 2016 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-absolute-favourites

Wow!! What a fantastic book! I really enjoyed this one. 'Try Not To Breathe' is Holly Seddon's debut novel and I cannot wait to read her next one (Just discovered I will have to wait until July 2017!).

The characters are so captivating and after finishing the novel I still want to know more about them. Alex is a semi-functioning alcoholic and I had no idea how strong this addiction could be. The lengths Alex goes to, to try and live a normal life are really quite disturbing.

And Amy, poor Amy... ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Tim The Enchanter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, thriller, 5-stars, mystery, favorite-books-of-2016, debut-author

Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca

Pretention vs. Enjoyment - 4 vs. 5 Stars

4 Stars or 5 Stars. 4 Stars or 5 Stars. 4 Stars or 5 Stars. Choosing my rating tends to be an easy choice. The pretentious reviewer in me thought I should go with 4 stars. The down to earth guy who loves a good yarn thought this was worth all 5. In this case, enjoyment won out over pretention and 5 stars rule the day.

Plot Summary

The story follows Alex, a down and out journalist. Her life is controlled by serious ...more

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Dec 09, 2015 Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it

Shelves: emotional-warfare, highly-recommended, books-for-my-soul, received-via-netgalley, top-psychological-thriller

**4.5 stars**

Try Not To Breathe was a wonderfully engaging and intense story – one to watch in early 2016 I have a feeling it is going to be a huge hit..

Amy had a secret – and her secret nearly killed her. Years later Alex Dale is fighting a losing battle with alcoholism and trying to reboot her journalistic career. Whilst on a story about vegetative and locked in patients she stumbles across a case she remembers well and decides it is time to try and find justice for Amy. Amy meanwhile is not **4.5 stars**

Try Not To Breathe was a wonderfully engaging and intense story – one to watch in early 2016 I have a feeling it is going to be a huge hit..

Amy had a secret – and her secret nearly killed her. Years later Alex Dale is fighting a losing battle with alcoholism and trying to reboot her journalistic career. Whilst on a story about vegetative and locked in patients she stumbles across a case she remembers well and decides it is time to try and find justice for Amy. Amy meanwhile is not gone – just forgotton.

The storytelling in Try Not To Breathe is of a really brilliant standard – Holly Seddon draws you into Amy’s world, via Alex and others and even Amy herself…it is beautifully done and emotionally resonant throughout. There is a strong theme of redemption running in the narrative, for Alex, for Amy and beyond, that makes YOU hold your breath, waiting to see if they can all come out the other side intact.

The mystery element is underneath all that – the author weaves a web of relationships old and new – Jacob, Amy’s boyfriend at the time who has allowed this horrific act to impact on his marriage is a very sympathetic character although I did want to kick him at times. Alex herself is so realistically flawed that no part of the story is unbelievable – as for Amy, locked in her own head, struggling to understand, her occasional appearances underneath the external happenings just complete this so well and give it a depth of emotion that you feel in every bone.

As for what happened to Amy – well that part of the tale is drip fed in stunning style, leading you ever closer to a resolution you may not expect, one that you need as much as Alex does in order to move on. It has a psychological thriller element that feeds into the character driven portions pitch perfectly, making this a real page turner. Try not to breathe – this one may hit you unexpectedly.

Overall a great read. One of those that you know you’ll think about, imagining what might happen next. There is a completeness to it, but also speaking solely as a reader, I hope to meet Alex again – we’ll see. If wishing made it so…

Highly Recommended. ...more

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Sep 11, 2015 Monnie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

She's earned chops at other forms of writing, but this is the author's first at-bat with a novel. And by golly, she's hit a home run with the bases loaded. Put another way, WOW!

The book begins in England in 1995 with a peek into the life of 15-year-old Amy Stevenson - a young girl with a few good friends, a mother and stepfather she adores (well, most of the time - she's 15, after all), a sweet boyfriend - and a big secret. Fast-forward 15 years and we see Amy again; this time, we learn she's She's earned chops at other forms of writing, but this is the author's first at-bat with a novel. And by golly, she's hit a home run with the bases loaded. Put another way, WOW!

The book begins in England in 1995 with a peek into the life of 15-year-old Amy Stevenson - a young girl with a few good friends, a mother and stepfather she adores (well, most of the time - she's 15, after all), a sweet boyfriend - and a big secret. Fast-forward 15 years and we see Amy again; this time, we learn she's been in a coma for all those years, the victim of a vicious assault. Her secret , it seems, still is safe.

Now, though, that could change. Amy is unable to communicate, but freelance reporter Alex Dale is chomping at the bit to do a human-interest story on comatose patients and zeroes in on Amy. Alex, though, comes with secrets of her own; she's got an ex-husband she still loves (a cop), a former but once-promising career as a journalist and an addiction she just can't sweep under the rug. But as she begins to dig into what really happened to Amy - police investigated the case back then but found no conclusive evidence - Alex becomes more determined each day to get to the truth and, at least in some measure, bring closure both to herself and to Amy.

Chapters of the book, which for the record I received for review from the publisher via Netgalley, shift from present to past - a technique that works perfectly here for a couple of reasons. First, each chapter is subtitled with the year and name of the character whose perspective is showcased; that alone alleviates the confusion I've experienced in other books over who's who and what's what. More importantly, each chapter reveals just enough information to compel me to keep going. In fact, I read this book over two days, setting it down with great reluctance and telling my very hungry husband, "Just one more chapter, honey" so often that he finally rolled his eyes, picked up the phone and ordered a pizza.

There's a lot more I'd love to say, but because the layers of truth are peeled back slowly in successive chapters (very skillfully, I might add), doing so would spoil things for other readers. But one thing I'll shout from the rooftops: This is one of the best books I've read in a while. Highly recommended!
...more

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Feb 11, 2019 Frank Phillips rated it it was amazing

4.5 Stars rounded up here! I cannot believe this is a debut novel from this author! It had all the elements that I hope for in a thriller and the ending shocked me with the reveal and got me all emotional with how touching it was at the same time. That in itself set it apart from most other solid Thrillers I have read recently! This is a book about assault, illness, disability and comebacks, which I personally have experienced recently. a great read and I would recommend it to pretty much ...more

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Sep 17, 2015 Fictionophile rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: psychological-thrillers, netgalley-read, debut-novels, england, ballantine

https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/2...

First off I have to say that this character driven novel contains all the twists, secrets, guilt, misery, and mystery inherent in all of the best psychological thrillers available today. It does NOT read like the debut novel it is. Well done Holly Seddon!

Simplistically this is the story of two damaged women who become friends.

The first, Amy Stevenson, is very damaged indeed. She is a hospital patient in a vegetative state. Fifteen years ago when she was ...more

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Nov 05, 2015 Lee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This story revolves around two view points, Alex and Amy's. Alex is a journalist who likes to drink a lot, but is still capable of functioning at work. She is visiting a hospice to research coma victims when she sees a girl that she recognises as Amy Stevenson. Amy has been lying in a coma for 15 years after suffering a brutal attack, the culprit yet to be found. Alex becomes fascinated with Amy's story, she visits regularly, holding Amy's hand, talking to her and in her own way, develops a bond ...more

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Sep 19, 2015 Elle's Book Blog rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: murder-mystery, suspense, thrills-and-chills, crime, standalones, domestic-drama

:: 6 Marvelous Stars ::

I received an ARC of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU!
This book will be available on February 23rd 2016. You can preorder it NOW!

WOW. This book is amazing. Fans of mystery, thrillers, and suspense NEED to read this book. I was literally hooked from page one. I was gripping my kindle for dear life. And I constantly felt a need to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely loved this book. For a debut, it’s utterly perfect. I haven’t ...more

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Aug 16, 2018 Miriam Smith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed "Try Not To Breathe" by Holly Seddon, I was gripped from the start and flew through it in a couple of days.
I loved the layout of the story, quick intriguing chapters from the different characters points of view, especially Amy's, knowing the medical state she was in.
This was a really well thought out and researched story, well written with compassion and emotion yet keeping the crime mystery still at the forefront.
I'd happily recommend this book and easily award it 5 stars! ...more

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Feb 03, 2016 Liz Lazarus rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed this novel - fascinating story and very well written.
The point of view from Amy was so well done and the author's imagery is superb:
"It's hard to describe how I feel at the moment. I guess it's like being stuck very far down a well, being able to see a bit of sunlight out of the top, but being too far from it to be heard. I feel warm, cocooned but separated."
The portrayal of Alex's struggle with alcoholism felt authentic. Was reminiscent of Rachel in The Girl On The Train - ...more

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Nov 04, 2015 Tracy Fenton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am not a big fan of comparing books and especially lumping psychological thrillers together under the next "Girl on a Train" genre which is how this book is being hyped. The only similarities I found were several unreliable narrators and 1 barely functioning alcoholic.

Taking all that into account.... I loved this book. I was gripped from the start to to very end and devoured it within 2 days (even waking at 4am this morning to read more). With short chapters it was a case of.. Oh just one ...more

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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Thriller (?)/Alcoholic journalist, girl in coma, takes place in London (?) [s]	4	30	Oct 14, 2017 11:31AM
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Play Book Tag: Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon- 4 Stars	1	18	Jul 16, 2016 12:22PM

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About Holly Seddon

Holly Seddon

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Holly Seddon is the international bestselling author of TRY NOT TO BREATHE, DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES and LOVE WILL TEAR US APART. AFTER DARK will be published in early 2021.

After growing up in the English countryside obsessed with music and books, Holly worked in London as a journalist and editor. She now lives in Amsterdam with her family and writes full time.

Alongside fellow author Gillian ...more