Review: Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie

• Hardcover: 400 pgs
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (July 9, 2013)
• ISBN: 9781250033895
• Source: Publisher

Geniver Loxley’s world ended when her daughter died at birth eight years ago. Formerly a successful writer, her career has now evolved into a teaching career.  She and her husband, Art, have tried to conceive with medical assistance for years to no avail. Their marriage is in a rut, the stress at their inability to conceive taking all semblance of romance out of their relationship. Despite Geniver’s reluctance to continue the treatments Art continues to pressure her to continue, almost obsessed with conceiving another child.

One day, a stranger shows up at her doorstep and delivers the most unfathomable news: Geniver’s daughter Beth did not die, but was taken away and is still alive out there somewhere. Unable to accept this information as false, Geniver begins a lengthy investigation into that fateful day eight years ago, despite warnings from Art and her close friends, all of whom assume she’s spiraling into a pit of mental illness and depression.  She must delve deep into the past, unveiling a host of dark secrets kept hidden from her. Soon, she doesn’t know who she can trust and must rely on the most unlikely of advocates to assist her in her trek to find her child.

With slow, yet steady pacing, McKenzie has crafted a chilling psychological thriller. Anyone who is a parent can sympathize with the loss Geniver must be experiencing. Quickly, however, the reader begins to question her reliability and sanity.  The journey the reader takes to learn to trust Geniver as a character parallels Geniver’s own journey to discover who she can trust.

The “big revelation” is one that I do not believe anyone could have predicted. Completely shocking and slightly disturbing, this climax served as quite the intense leap in the pacing of this novel. The usual cliches are unavoidable with this novel, for it is truly an intense, heart-pounding, thrill ride of a read. Highly recommended.

Sophie McKenzie, award-winning, bestselling author of numerous children’s and teen novels, discusses her motivations and inspirations behind writing her first psychological thriller for adult readers.