Day: February 23, 2022

If She Wakes by Erik Therme is billed as a standalone, and as a thriller, I will say that is mostly accurate.

However, I will also say that you absolutely want to read the first book in the series if you have any hope of understanding all of the twists, turns, and relationships.

I understand that the author needs to “lay the scene” so to speak so that anyone who didn’t read the first book has an inkling about where this is starting.

But I will be honest and say that my head was spinning trying to keep everything in the first chapter straight. It was a bit of a push to get through it, but I am glad that I did.

This is a very strongly plotted book that has plenty of interesting moments. It finally did catch my attention and held it.

It really made me wish I had read the first book first. So, don’t make my mistake – definitely check them out in order.

One thing that I gather is the theme throughout (so far) is the question of how far a person would be willing to go to protect their family. Tess has to answer this question several times.

There is plenty of well-written action. In fact, sometimes it almost seems fraught.

I like a bit of realism with my thrillers, but I kept thinking that no way would a woman (or anyone) be able to handle everything Tess goes through without needing serious therapy – or a drink or seven. There were times that it felt a bit much.

However, once I realized the author’s goal, I was able to just sit back and go along for the ride. And that is definitely the best way to approach this book.

So, definitely read the first one and then read If She Wakes.  Erik Therme is obviously building something, and your enjoyment will be multiplied by reading it the way it is crafted.

Author Bio
Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he is cheering on his youngest daughter’s volleyball team, or watching horror movies with his oldest. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa—one of only twenty-eight places in the world that UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature.