Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
William Morrow Paperbacks (2018), 365 pages
Description
"Late one night in the quiet Hudson Valley town of Havenkill, a distraught woman stumbles into the police station--and lives are changed forever. Aimee En, once a darling of the '80s pop music scene, claims that a teenage boy stole her car, then ran over another young man who'd rushed to help. As Liam Miller's life hangs in the balance, the events of that fateful night begin to come into focus. But is everything as it seems? The case quickly consumes social media, transforming Liam, a local high school football star, into a folk hero, and the suspect, a high school outcast named Wade Reed, into a depraved would-be killer. But is Wade really guilty? And if he isn't, why won't he talk?"--Amazon.com.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Twink
If I Die Tonight is Alison Gaylin's newest release. This was a first read of this author for me, but it won't be the last.
Small town USA. An aging pop star who goes by the name Amie Em stumbles in the local police station, saying she was carjacked by a teenaged boy. Another boy named Liam tried to
Gaylin mirrors today's society- much of the case is debated online in various social forums. The presumption of innocent until proven guilty doesn't figure into the diatribe.. A young man's life is irrevocably changed and the injured teen becomes a downed hero to the town.
But is Wade guilty? He refuses to speak about that night. His mother Jackie knows he is not capable of such an act. Or is he? Gaylin tells this story through many points of view, giving the reader options as to what the outcome might be. I felt for Jackie as she struggled to clear her son's name. Gaylin's depictions of her emotions and relationships with her sons was well done. But my favourite supporting character was Officer Pearl Maze. She has her own issues, but was the clearest thinking character for me. (And I'd really like to see her in another book.)
Gaylin provides red herrings and alternative outcomes along the way to the final whodunit. I admit to having my suspicions about one character, who was just a little too calm and helpful for me. And yes, they did figure into the final reveal. But, that in no way detracted from my enjoyment of If I Die Tonight. A n entertaining read and I will be picking up Gaylin's next book.
Small town USA. An aging pop star who goes by the name Amie Em stumbles in the local police station, saying she was carjacked by a teenaged boy. Another boy named Liam tried to
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stop the theft and was critically injured. But her story keeps changing and there are gaping holes in her recounting of the crime. The finger is inevitably pointed at Wade - a high school outcast.Gaylin mirrors today's society- much of the case is debated online in various social forums. The presumption of innocent until proven guilty doesn't figure into the diatribe.. A young man's life is irrevocably changed and the injured teen becomes a downed hero to the town.
But is Wade guilty? He refuses to speak about that night. His mother Jackie knows he is not capable of such an act. Or is he? Gaylin tells this story through many points of view, giving the reader options as to what the outcome might be. I felt for Jackie as she struggled to clear her son's name. Gaylin's depictions of her emotions and relationships with her sons was well done. But my favourite supporting character was Officer Pearl Maze. She has her own issues, but was the clearest thinking character for me. (And I'd really like to see her in another book.)
Gaylin provides red herrings and alternative outcomes along the way to the final whodunit. I admit to having my suspicions about one character, who was just a little too calm and helpful for me. And yes, they did figure into the final reveal. But, that in no way detracted from my enjoyment of If I Die Tonight. A n entertaining read and I will be picking up Gaylin's next book.
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LibraryThing member flying_monkeys
This is the first book by Gaylin I've read. The experience was enjoyable and what I've come to expect from modern-day thrillers, crime and mystery novels. What I think Gaylin does really well is depict a (mostly) realistic story that sheds light into the dark corners of the private world inhabited
However, the big reveal aka climax takes less than five pages, 324-328 of a 353-page novel. So it's all wrapped up neat and tidy in the blink of an eye. And the culprit won't surprise anyone, but I don't think it was meant to, if that makes sense.
The point, for me, is the insidious effects of groupthink in today's culture and the rampant presumption of guilt, often based on little to no facts. Instead of pitchforks and torches, mobs use hateful words, leaked videos and private pictures - easily and instantly delivered through social media, with little to no consequences for those "sharing" and "liking" what's tantamount to harassment and bullying. Scary stuff.
3 stars
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by today's teenagers. Especially for those adults who are still living in the 20th century.However, the big reveal aka climax takes less than five pages, 324-328 of a 353-page novel. So it's all wrapped up neat and tidy in the blink of an eye. And the culprit won't surprise anyone, but I don't think it was meant to, if that makes sense.
The point, for me, is the insidious effects of groupthink in today's culture and the rampant presumption of guilt, often based on little to no facts. Instead of pitchforks and torches, mobs use hateful words, leaked videos and private pictures - easily and instantly delivered through social media, with little to no consequences for those "sharing" and "liking" what's tantamount to harassment and bullying. Scary stuff.
3 stars
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Review of Advance Reader’s Edition
A woman stumbles into the police station claiming that she was carjacked and that the carjacker ran over the young man who tried to assist her.
After rushing Liam Miller to the hospital, the hunt is on for the hit-and-run carjacker. The townspeople are quick to
Well-drawn but flawed characters populate this character study that focuses a spotlight on the damage social media can perpetrate. Jackie, Connor’s and Wade’s mother, is a champion at making “too dumb to live” decisions and, although she spends far too much time chugging Xanax and wine, she defends her son when accusations begin to fly. Policewoman Pearl, with her complicated backstory, is an intriguing character whose efficient handling of the situation strengthens the narrative.
Unexpected reveals keep the tension high in the unfolding story although astute readers will anticipate the reveal that comes late in the narrative. The effect of social media and gossip-turned-truth in the minds of the townspeople in this well-drawn small town gives the story its chilling undertone and keeps the pages turning.
Recommended.
A woman stumbles into the police station claiming that she was carjacked and that the carjacker ran over the young man who tried to assist her.
After rushing Liam Miller to the hospital, the hunt is on for the hit-and-run carjacker. The townspeople are quick to
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speculate; social media erupts with conjecture and threats. But what if things aren’t exactly as they seem? Media posts quickly proclaim Liam a hero, but label an unpopular classmate as the would-be killer. Is he really the guilty carjacker? Do the accusers care?Well-drawn but flawed characters populate this character study that focuses a spotlight on the damage social media can perpetrate. Jackie, Connor’s and Wade’s mother, is a champion at making “too dumb to live” decisions and, although she spends far too much time chugging Xanax and wine, she defends her son when accusations begin to fly. Policewoman Pearl, with her complicated backstory, is an intriguing character whose efficient handling of the situation strengthens the narrative.
Unexpected reveals keep the tension high in the unfolding story although astute readers will anticipate the reveal that comes late in the narrative. The effect of social media and gossip-turned-truth in the minds of the townspeople in this well-drawn small town gives the story its chilling undertone and keeps the pages turning.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member alg951
Awful. It has adult themes but is written with 7th grade English. The social media references already feel uncomfortably dated, like they were written by someone who is very far removed from how teenagers interact. The plot is okay, but nothing compared to a Gillian Fylnn or Paula Hawkins novel.
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The characters felt shallow and unrealistic. Was hoping for a thriller that I couldn't put down, but ended up with one that I read very quickly just to get it over with. Show Less
LibraryThing member kbranfield
4.5 stars.
Opening with a heart wrenching prologue, If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin is a spellbinding mystery about a carjacking that leads to the hit and run of a popular high school student.
Jackie Reed is a single mom raising her two sons, seventeen year old Wade and thirteen year old Connor, in
Police Officer Pearl Maze is on duty the night Amy Nathanson, a washed up musician, reports her vintage Jaguar has been carjacked. She is also a witness in the accident in which Liam was struck by the car thief, but Pearl has doubts about her story. When Pearl uncovers information that proves her intuition is correct, Amy revises her explanation, but is she telling the truth?
Jackie's belief in Wade is never shaken but she is frustrated by his refusal to tell her where he was the night of Liam's accident. She is already concerned by a puzzling text that was sent to him but she also wants to respect his privacy. But as the situation becomes more dire since everyone in town is out of blood and Wade is the easiest target, will Jackie try to find answers to the questions that are troubling her about her son?
Younger brother Connor is also deeply affected by the unfolding events. The antipathy toward Wade spills over onto Connor and he is forced to deal with bullies and out of control gossip fueled by social media. He wants to protect his brother and when he becomes a social pariah, Connor makes a decision that he immediately regrets but is unable to take back.
Written from multiple points of view, If I Die Tonight is a slow burning yet incredibly engrossing mystery. The characters are richly developed and multi-dimensional. The storyline is quite riveting and realistic. While some elements are somewhat easy to figure out, Alison Gaylin does an outstanding job keeping the truth about who is responsible for what happened to Liam and the perpetrator's identity cleverly under wraps until the novel's conclusion. A suspenseful and fascinating novel that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
Opening with a heart wrenching prologue, If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin is a spellbinding mystery about a carjacking that leads to the hit and run of a popular high school student.
Jackie Reed is a single mom raising her two sons, seventeen year old Wade and thirteen year old Connor, in
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the small town of Havenkill, NY. Over the past several months, Wade has drastically changed and he is now secretive and a bit of a loner. Despite these changes in her son, Jackie has complete confidence her son would not do anything to harm anyone. However, suspicion falls on Wade following the carjacking that leaves her son's classmate, popular and well-liked Liam Miller in a coma. Jackie never wavers in her faith that Wade has nothing to do with what happened to Liam, but the other people in their small town are not as willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.Police Officer Pearl Maze is on duty the night Amy Nathanson, a washed up musician, reports her vintage Jaguar has been carjacked. She is also a witness in the accident in which Liam was struck by the car thief, but Pearl has doubts about her story. When Pearl uncovers information that proves her intuition is correct, Amy revises her explanation, but is she telling the truth?
Jackie's belief in Wade is never shaken but she is frustrated by his refusal to tell her where he was the night of Liam's accident. She is already concerned by a puzzling text that was sent to him but she also wants to respect his privacy. But as the situation becomes more dire since everyone in town is out of blood and Wade is the easiest target, will Jackie try to find answers to the questions that are troubling her about her son?
Younger brother Connor is also deeply affected by the unfolding events. The antipathy toward Wade spills over onto Connor and he is forced to deal with bullies and out of control gossip fueled by social media. He wants to protect his brother and when he becomes a social pariah, Connor makes a decision that he immediately regrets but is unable to take back.
Written from multiple points of view, If I Die Tonight is a slow burning yet incredibly engrossing mystery. The characters are richly developed and multi-dimensional. The storyline is quite riveting and realistic. While some elements are somewhat easy to figure out, Alison Gaylin does an outstanding job keeping the truth about who is responsible for what happened to Liam and the perpetrator's identity cleverly under wraps until the novel's conclusion. A suspenseful and fascinating novel that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
Quick, easy read. This is a book about a hit and run, and a subsequent death, with people pointing to a loner boy as the suspect. I knew all along that all was not as it appeared to be on the surface, there were too many things pointing to the suspect. Also, the victim seemed to be too wholesome,
#IfIDieTonight #AlisonGaylin
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something had to be amiss there. However, I was surprised at the ending. I didn’t suspect who T was, and why Wade was with her, nor did I see the cop angle. Both surprising. The novel really exposed how easy it is to get caught up in rumors and false information on social media. This needs to be a message that all read, it is dangerous and harmful to attack people, especially without knowing facts, and details can easily be misconstrued. I enjoyed this novel and will look for more books from this author.#IfIDieTonight #AlisonGaylin
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
Wade Reed, high school outcast, posts a message on Facebook saying he has killed himself and everyone will be better off with him gone. It gets hundreds of likes.
An ‘80s has-been pop star stumbles into a police station claiming she was carjacked and, in the commission of the crime, the driver
What really happened the night of the crime? Was the pop star really carjacked or is she hiding her own culpability? And what is Reed’s link, if any to the crime? Everyone seems to take a side in this but Police officer Pearl Maze is determined to maintain her objectivity as she searched for the answers to these questions hidden within all the conflicting statements and evidence.
If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin is a slower paced but compelling mystery.Told from multiple points of view, the story slowly unravels as the characters reveal bits and pieces of what really happened, ramping up the suspense while creating a puzzle in which all of the pieces don’t always seem to fit or at least now where you think they do. What I found most interesting is how the event became fodder for the court of public opinion and the effect this had on the characters. Well worth the read.. I received this book from Edelweiss+ and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
An ‘80s has-been pop star stumbles into a police station claiming she was carjacked and, in the commission of the crime, the driver
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drove over and killed a young man who had tried to come to her aid.What really happened the night of the crime? Was the pop star really carjacked or is she hiding her own culpability? And what is Reed’s link, if any to the crime? Everyone seems to take a side in this but Police officer Pearl Maze is determined to maintain her objectivity as she searched for the answers to these questions hidden within all the conflicting statements and evidence.
If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin is a slower paced but compelling mystery.Told from multiple points of view, the story slowly unravels as the characters reveal bits and pieces of what really happened, ramping up the suspense while creating a puzzle in which all of the pieces don’t always seem to fit or at least now where you think they do. What I found most interesting is how the event became fodder for the court of public opinion and the effect this had on the characters. Well worth the read.. I received this book from Edelweiss+ and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Enid007
The reason I gave this a 4 star rating instead of 5 star rating is personally it is a bit of a slow burn for my taste and many parts fully frustrated me. I mean in part it was a good frustration because the author had me completely reeled in but at the same time an annoying frustration. The book
This book touched on a lot good real life topics such as bullying, suicide, and teenage high school stress that gives you a perspective most people tend to brush under the rug and ignore. As a parent I can imagine and understand the frustration Jackie must have felt when it comes to her boys in this story, it is a lot to swallow.
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definitely has it shares of twist that I absolutely did not see coming and what I was imagining wasn't even close. I would still highly recommend this book to anyone that loves to read thrillers. This book touched on a lot good real life topics such as bullying, suicide, and teenage high school stress that gives you a perspective most people tend to brush under the rug and ignore. As a parent I can imagine and understand the frustration Jackie must have felt when it comes to her boys in this story, it is a lot to swallow.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
Seldom do I love or even like, all the main characters in a story, but I did in this one. I have never read this author, but I have to say that she did a fantastic job of writing both the adult and the teen characters...all were very well-developed. The mystery was well-paced, keeping the tension
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high, and holding my interest. There were other surprising reveals along the way, some that related to the main crime, and others that didn’t. All the storylines were handled competently and wrapped up nicely. This novel dealt with a wide range of issues that affect both the adults and the teens...single parenting, past trauma, grief, bullying, isolation and social ostracization, and how easily what we say on social media has the power to ruin lives. I thought the quote that I read concerning this book sums it up very well, "It takes the gulf that naturally develops between teenagers and their families and stocks it with sharks. Show Less
LibraryThing member thekellyfamily
The book was not what I expected and was even better. First time reading this author and I like her writing style. Truly makes you look at a situation in a different way -- great character development and plausible storyline. I will be reading her books in the future.
Awards
Language
Original publication date
2018-03-06