Before I Go to Sleep

A Novel

By: S. J. Watson

Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy

New
York Times Bestseller

“An
exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the
last page.” –Dennis Lehane, New York Times bestselling
author of Shutter Island

“Imagine
drifting off every night knowing that your memories will be wiped away by
morning. That’s the fate of Christine Lucas, whose bewildering internal world
is rendered with chilling intimacy in this debut literary thriller. . . .
You’ll stay up late reading until you know.” — People (4 stars)

Memories
define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name,
your identity, your past, even the people you love–all forgotten overnight. And
the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story. Welcome to
Christine's life. Every morning, she awakens beside a stranger in an unfamiliar
bed. She sees a middle-aged face in the bathroom mirror that she does not
recognize. And every morning, the man patiently explains that he is Ben, her
husband, that she is forty-seven-years-old, and that an accident long ago
damaged her ability to remember.

In
place of memories Christine has a handful of pictures, a whiteboard in the
kitchen, and a journal, hidden in a closet. She knows about the journal because
Dr. Ed Nash, a neurologist who claims to be treating her without Ben’s
knowledge, reminds her about it each day. Inside its pages, the damaged woman
has begun meticulously recording her daily events—sessions with Dr. Nash,
snippets of information that Ben shares, flashes of her former self that
briefly, miraculously appear.

But as the pages accumulate, inconsistencies begin to
emerge, raising disturbing questions that Christine is determined to find
answers to. And the more she pieces together the shards of her broken life, the
closer she gets to the truth . . . and the more terrifying and deadly it is.

Nail-biting story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! For a first novel, this book is gripping and a little bit terrifying. I couldn't put it down.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I didn't really have a favorite character, but I had a least favorite (towards the end, anyway).

Have you listened to any of Orlagh Cassidy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first for Orlagh, but it won't be my last!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending had me in tears. I felt so happy and sorry for Chrissy.

Any additional comments?

Don't plan to get any sleep!

Depressing

I had no problem with sound quality or an "echo"

I found this book a depressing slog of buildups and disappointing anticlimaxes. A roller coaster ride with long, drawn-out, hauls to the top followed by disappointing drops; leading nowhere, except to more incessant whining, few if any tangible clues as to what is real and what is not, and failures; all along, to validate clues and ground the reader.

I found the characterization of the husband annoying and unpleasant, which made me wonder if the author intended him to be really unpleasent or if the reader was misreading him.

All in all I found this a frustrating and depressing read.

Wasn't bad but wasn't great

It was unnecessarily slow and drawn out. There was only one line, written in the characters journal that kept me listening or I would've stopped and never finished it. The story wasn't bad but wasn't great. Worth it if it comes around on Daily Deal or you've exhausted all your other choices.

new favorite

I think I have a new favorite to add to my collection. Great story line. with a surprise ending

Great read! Well great stort

Loved the twist at the end. I was in suspense the whole time. The reader was very into character