The Never List by Koethi Zan

The Never List by Koethi Zan 

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

Publishing Date: July 16, 2013

ISBN13: 9780670026517

320 Page

Synopsis 

For years, best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the "Never List": a list of actions to be avoided, for safety's sake, at all times. But one night, against their best instincts, they accept a cab ride with grave, everlasting consequences. For the next three years, they are held captive with two other girls in a dungeon-like cellar by a connoisseur of sadism. 

Ten years later, at thirty-one, Sarah is still struggling to resume a normal life, living as a virtual recluse under a new name, unable to come to grips with the fact that Jennifer didn't make it out of that cellar. Now, her abductor is up for parole, and Sarah can no longer ignore the twisted letters he sends from jail. 

Finally, Sarah decides to confront her phobias and the other survivors - who hold their own deep grudges against her. When she goes on a cross-country chase that takes her into the perverse world of BDSM, secret cults, and the arcane study of torture, she begins unraveling a mystery more horrifying that even she could have imagined. 

My Review 

I received this ebook from the NetGalley review program in exchange for an honest review. Zan's first novel is incredibly fast-paced and intriguing. I had a hard time putting this book down and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. The beginning of the book made me laugh a little because of the list that Sarah and Jennifer wrote; a list of things that they would never do. When I first met Sarah as an adult, I thought she was a little crazy, but understandably so. She suffered through a very tragic ordeal that I can't even imagine. We don't learn much about the time in the cellar until she has flashbacks and describes what took place there. Through these flashbacks, a sadistic and lonely world emerges. Four girls struggle to cope with being held captive in this cell. Sarah is basically a recluse; she lives in New York City, surrounded by millions of people, but never leaves her apartment, unless necessary, which she has found is not very often. However, every time she made a little progress, I would find myself cheering for her and proud that she could take little steps in her recovery. 

Zan throws you in to a twisty plot and you never know what is going to happen. I can't believe this is her first novel! If this is an example of how her other books will be, I can't wait to read them! I highly recommend this book. The characters are easy to identify with and you feel so bad for what they have gone through.

This book is being released July 16, 2013 - mark it on your calendars to get a copy!