The Woman in Seat 13 – ARC Book Review

Quick Review–overall, the story is poorly executed, pacing was slow and there is lack of suspense in the book

Rating:- 2.5/5

I survived. He died. And now someone wants me to pay…

When I spot I’m in row 13 on the flight, I barely notice. I’m not superstitious. But then I am offered the window seat by a stranger with melting brown eyes and no wedding ring. As we begin to chat, I find myself drawn to him. I never imagined that just half an hour later, I’d be clutching his hand, passengers screaming around us as our plane plummets terrifyingly through the night sky…

Months later I’m trying to make a fresh start as the only survivor of the crash. My brand-new apartment should feel like a haven for me but I’m still jumping at every noise, frightened to confide in my new neighbors. My therapist tells me this is normal, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not alone in my new home.

Then the notes begin. Notes that say It should have been you. You weren’t meant to survive. I think back to the stranger on the plane, who seemed to be just a nice, uncomplicated man. I remember his last words, lost under the roar of the failing engines. ‘There’s something I need to tell you. Look out for—’

If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive. But is he the reason I am in terrible danger now?

A completely gripping and unputdownable thriller that will have you turning pages deep into the night. Fans of The Silent Patient and Jeneva Rose will be completely hooked on The Woman in Seat 13.

When I saw Ellie Midwood is writing a new psychological thriller, I was surprised and immediately want to read it. I have read Ellie Midwood books before and most of them are historical fiction and I love reading her historical fiction novels as I just enjoy her writing style and how she makes people engage into the story. I was having high hopes in this books, thinking maybe this would live up to my expectations.

But the book did not actually live up to my expectations.

The story starts with Jessie boarding a plane, excited for the vacation. When one of the passengers refuse to allow Jessie’s dog to sit with her, a business class passenger Leonardo asks Jessie to come to business class to sit with him. But then the joy is short lived and the plane crash occurs and Jessie is the only survivor in the plane. Now months later, Jessie is trying to move on with her new life–she has bought a new apartment, she is seeing a therapist and she is running a therapy office with her friend Mira. But then Jessie starts receiving notes–threatening her, saying that Jessie should have died in that plane crash. Jessie remembered Leandro was going to tell her something but Jessie couldn’t actually remember what it was. Someone wants Jessie dead.

The plot was great and unique. However, I didn’t like how the story was executed. The pacing overall was slow, the quiet frankly, there is lack of suspense in the book, despite being a psychological thriller. No twists or turns like you would expect in a thriller, and it’s as if the whole story is like Jessie is sweet and nice and the author was too busy portraying Jessie as a nice and sweet person instead of building tension. Ellie Midwood is a great writer as I have read her books before but this book I hate to say wasn’t her greatest. Maybe, she should instead write historical fiction.

Anyway, the book is OK and worth 2.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The rview is based on my honest opinion only.