Second Life

A Novel

By: S. J. Watson

Narrated by: Susan Lyons

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of Before I Go to Sleep, a sensational new psychological thriller about a woman with a secret identity that threatens to destroy her.

How well can you really know another person? How far would you go to find the truth about someone you love?

When Julia learns that her sister has been violently murdered, she must uncover why. But Julia's quest quickly evolves into an alluring exploration of her own darkest sensual desires. Becoming involved with a dangerous stranger online, she's losing herself...losing control...perhaps losing everything. Her search for answers will jeopardize her marriage, her family, and her life.

A tense and unrelenting novel that explores the secret lives people lead - and the dark places in which they can find themselves - Second Life is a masterwork of suspense from the acclaimed S. J. Watson.

©2015 S. J. Watson (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Not what I thought

I read an article that said this was one of the top new books to read; filled with twists and turns. However I found it to be more about adultery... With the twists coming at the very end. Not bad but not what I expected.

FanTASTIC Book, Flawlessly Performed

If you could sum up Second Life in three words, what would they be?

"You won't guess."

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot is incredibly good. I got to what felt like a major point and then realized the book was only 1/5 over. Amazing. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, even when I was shouting at Julia not to be so blind, couldn't she see?? I was still wrong in the end.

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

I haven't, but she's astonishingly good. I have really high standards for audiobook performances and have often returned books after just 10 minutes. She was perfection.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

You only know what you're told.

Any additional comments?

If you liked Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, or While I'm Sleeping, you will love this book.

Interesting and thrilling

Believable, well written, well read. Strong character development along with a compelling storyline makes for a great book!

Played Like A Movie

This book was so vividly presented and described that it felt like I was listening to a movie rather than a book. I enjoyed it, though the ending felt a bit rushed.

Pretty average

What did you like best about Second Life? What did you like least?

Had high hopes for S.J. Watson's second novel. Her first had me hooked all the way through. This one? Not so much. Great ending, but all the middle stuff is pretty lame. Julia, the main character, is lame - half the time I wished she was sitting in front of me so I could knock some sense into her.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Less predictable in the middle - you see things coming a mile away.

Inside an Addictive Brain

Any additional comments?

At first I was going to give this 3 stars as a so-so story -- a protagonist who is self absorbed, often stupid, incapable with technology, and incapable of making good choices. Very maddening. However, herein lies the brilliance of the story. The author takes us into the mind of an addictive personality and lets the story unfold there. We are trapped like the protagonist in a mind that does not engage the world completely but is always wrestling with compulsions and uncontrolled desires. Very well done and a very good performance.

Really good

What did you like best about this story?

The main character did bother me from time to time but the action was pretty non stop

Which scene was your favorite?

The last 45 minutes

Twisty and Twisted

You don't like her but you can't resist staying until you find out. Really compelling!

Disappointed

I loved Before I Sleep (the first book) by this author. Sad to say I found the main character in this book tedious. If I knew her, I would want to shake her.

Here's hoping SJ Watson gets back in the groove.

Good but leaves you hanging

The story is an attention grabber and is hard to put down. The performance is great! The last line of the book will drop your jaw and leave you hanging in a way that you both love and hate at the same time.