Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger - Starting April 10th 2025

[Dannii]

An extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this riveting new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger

When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?

Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was intended to be.

Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[The first chapter introduces the reader to Adele, who I immediately liked and empathised with. We know her husband, Miller, is on the run but we don't yet know what for. It seems suspicious that she has been given the opportunity to compete in a hide and seek contest when that it literally also what her husband is doing!

Maverick doesn't come across as unlikeable but I certainly didn't warn to him as much. He clearly has his own secrets, despite being a famous influencer. I wonder why Angeline was advised to save herself from him? (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - The first chapter introduces the reader to Adele, who I immediately liked and empathised with. We know her husband, Miller, is on the run but we don't yet know what for. It seems su..."

Yeah Adele seems fine, but also (view spoiler)[ why did she get accepted into this? I feel like it said something about how everyone that was in this was influencers and I know she's got her thing, but it didn't seem to be super big yet? So idk if they thought this would be a chance for her to grow or what? (hide spoiler)]

Maverick on the other hand... (view spoiler)[ idk he just gives the vibes of being rather horrible? The vibes are truly just the young influncer who thinks that nothing can touch me, so I can do whatever and it's fine? So... we'll see if my opinion of him changes, but everything really is leading to him being really careless. (hide spoiler)]

I also kinda hate how many POVs we're getting.

[Dannii]

Yes lots to unpack about both of them! Im hoping to carry on with this one tomorrow

[Karen]

Forgot I'd bought this! Think it'll make a change from my last read.

[Karen]

Up to ch5. All the participants seem to have something to prove. Not sure how they are going to cope once the game is underway.

[Lee]

63%
(view spoiler)[I know this is pretty common in thrillers, but I really think everyone could greatly benefit from therapy here lol.

Angelina talking about how she's not even sure she likes Mav, but she knows that he needs her so she stays. I really hope she comes around to doing what is best for her and not him.

Also finding Alex and Mav being like "welp we better hide the body for now because we aren't calling the cops" just.... sir what is your deal?? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Karen wrote: "Up to ch5. All the participants seem to have something to prove. Not sure how they are going to cope once the game is underway."

It is going to make for some tense reading, as all are going to be equally as fierce competitors.

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I actually feel sorry for Maverick. He is clearly responsible for some bad things going down but seems to be under a lot of pressure. I wonder what happened to Chloe and if someone else might be the villain of the story after all. Angeline seems to love him and worry for him but I don't much more about her, other than the care she has for him. Not enough to stop her cheating, however. Could she be plotting his downfall or stopping anyone but her get close to him? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Ooh now Alex has died and we're still no closer to learning who is behind these attacks or exactly what connects them all. I'm enjoying the fast pace and the mystery. Wild Cody seems like a good guy... so far! I'm worried for Adele's kids too. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Lee wrote: "63%
..."

(view spoiler)[Angelina is such a confusing character. She seems to care for him one moment and have little regard for him in the next. I'm wondering if the moments when she seems to care for him, it is just for his money or legacy and not the person he truly is? I don't know about her... (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[The ending was a little underwhelming and I thought there would have been more Miller included. I did enjoy this book and it was fast-paced but not my favourite thriller. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Second quarter. The shifting view means we’re not privy to what is - I’m guessing - going to be problematic later on.

[Lee]

Dannii wrote: "Lee wrote: "63%
..."

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I can't decide if it's that or like... them having been in a relationship for so long that it's hard to actually break away? Or because of information we just don't have yet and she's afraid how he would react? I can't figure it out. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Lee wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Lee wrote: "63%
..."

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Agreed. For me, this is where the most amount of mystery and tension was created in the novel. So many questions!

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - The first chapter introduces the reader to Adele, who I immediately liked and empathised with. We know her husband, Miller, is on the run but we don't yet know what for. It seems su..."

(view spoiler)[ Definitely felt as if we were being given rather big warning signs about some of the characters in the early stages. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Lee wrote: "63%
I know this is pretty common in thrillers, but I really think everyone could greatly benefit from therapy here lol.

Angelina talking about how she's not even sure she likes Mav, but she knows..."

(view spoiler)[ I know they have their reasons for keeping quiet, but they went right down in my estimation at this point. Nothing is worth that much, is it? (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The alarm bells are ringing regarding whoever her son is spending time with. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Karen wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Definitely! I worried for both her kids with her gone.

[Lee]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Well... that was something lmao. I do agree that the ending was underwhelming.

I'm also a little baffled on Miller coming back for like 2 seconds only to be like "oh he's in prison but is trying to make amends. I feel there either should have been more there or he just still been on the run because that just felt... idk. I think that is something that didn't have to really be tied up?

Idk man. I literally just finished so I don't have many thoughts beyond that. This wasn't my favorite really. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Karen wrote: "Lee wrote: "63%
I know this is pretty common in thrillers, but I really think everyone could greatly benefit from therapy here lol.

Angelina talking about how she's not even sure she likes Mav, b..."

AGREED! Nothing is worth it at that point!

[Dannii]

Lee wrote: "Finished
Well... ..."

(view spoiler)[I felt pretty much the same. We had a whole backstory built only for his character to be a misdirection so it just all felt a little pointless. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Dannii wrote: "Lee wrote: "Finished
Well... ..."

[spoilers removed]"

Definitely felt like this could have been added to/used in a different way.

[Karen]

Finished. Review on home page. Not awful, but not quite what I expected.

[Dannii]

Karen wrote: "Finished. Review on home page. Not awful, but not quite what I expected."

Same here!

[Johanna]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[I really liked the beginning: relatable MC who has to take part of the game for the money. But it sounds like the organizers would have money problems and no one is going to get the prize... There is someone sending messages, is that the same person who sent warnings to Adele? The abandoded tent is of course intriguing but it's highly unlikely it would belong to Adeles ex who has disappeared. I am most intrigued by the person who disappeared during the last game. What happened? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 5
[spoilers removed]"

I did love how many questions this gave us all, so early on!