Call Me Evie

By: J. P. Pomare

Narrated by: Olivia Mackenzie-Smith

A seventeen-year-old struggles to remember the tragic night that changed her life forever in this twist-filled debut novel of psychological suspense for fans of Sharp Objects and The Last Time I Lied.

Evie and her uncle Jim have just moved to an isolated cabin in a remote beach town--a far cry from their hometown of Melbourne. But Evie isn't her real name. And Jim isn't really her uncle.

Jim tells Evie she did something terrible back home, that he's hiding her to protect her. But Evie can't remember anything about that night--for all she knows, he's lying. As fragments of her memory return, she starts to wonder if Jim is really her savior...or her captor.

In a riveting novel that fearlessly plumbs the darkest recesses of the mind, J.P. Pomare explores the fragility of memory and the potential in everyone to hide the truth--even from themselves.

Critic reviews

Winner of the Ngaio Marsh Award for best first novel
A Macavity Award nominee

“Absorbing, engrossing, and intriguing are just a few descriptors for this book. Pomare keeps readers on the edge of their seats right up to the surprising conclusion…With a story line that hooks readers immediately and twists and turns galore, this impressive debut is highly recommended for fans of Gillian Flynn and those who enjoy well-written psychological suspense tales.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“[An] outstanding debut...the final pages stun with their gallows-drop plot surprises. Almost nothing will turn out as it initially appears in this devastating novel of psychological suspense.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This debut novel by Pomare sets him up as a writer to watch…Pomare's writing is so crisp and his characterizations so spot-on…Readers looking for a page-turner will be happy, but so, too, will those looking for a work with deeper resonances, in this case about gaslighting and the ruthless world of teenagers. Read this one with the lights on, and keep Pomare on your radar.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Literary psychological suspense as dark and fresh as midnight in winter. A corkscrew plot, prose that crackles like kindling, that merciless twist-of-the-knife finale — one of the most striking debuts I’ve read in years and years.”—A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

“A tight, compulsive, beautifully written thriller with echoes of Gillian Flynn, with characters that keep you guessing and a plot that keeps you turning the page.”—Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child

“I felt pure dread reading this book. Enjoyable, exquisite dread. A great read. There are so many layers and twists to this story and they are revealed in the most masterful way.”—Sarah Bailey, author of The Dark Lake

“Call Me Evie is more than a taut, intelligent psychological thriller: at its core is the story about the way family, control, and love shapes our choices and who we are. Pomare has written a mesmerizing and heart-stopping novel.”—Sarah Schmidt, bestselling author of See What I Have Done

5 star slow burn suspense

One of the best suspense novels I have read in years. Richly imagined with complex characters. I loved this book from the
very beginning.

slow read

story line is good, could have cut out about 6 chapters. story moves to slow for my liking.

It's about Jim, not Evie

I started this book before reading any of the reviews. As others point out, the "surprise ending" was obvious, but it was obvious to the point where I felt like the reader should know while the main character does not. I could sympathize with Jim throughout the majority of the story, and could feel the frustration and hopelessness building. I thought it was very well done.

Wow

This book kind of reminded me of Good Me Bad Me at the end. I really thought I knew where it was going but there were many twist and turns. I love a book that goes back and forth from past to present day. Love it! Great Narrator too.

A vicarious scare

The words used to convey the taut fear of the main narrator, were so very well used, that I physically felt anxious while listening to this.

I wish we had half stars instead of taking a whole one off as my only issue is that the story was a bit too long, which is what kept it from being perfect.

Having said all of that, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to be in the middle of a psychological thriller and totally engrossed by it.