How Do You Solve Your Own Murder? Everyone believes Alex is in a coma, unlikely to ever wake up. As his family debate withdrawing life support, and his friends talk about how his girlfriend Bea needs to move on, he can only listen.
But Alex soon begins to suspect that the accident that put him here wasn't really an accident. Even worse, the perpetrator is still out there and Alex is not the only one in danger.
As he goes over a series of clues from his past, Alex must use his remaining senses to solve the mystery of who tried to kill him, and try to protect those he loves, before they decide to let him go.
A stunning edge-of-your-seat debut novel with an unforgettable narrator.***
[She still smells of sleep]***
(Harvill Secker, 11 January 2018, ebook, ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed)
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I loved the concept of If I Die Before I Wake but it just didn't work for me.
The book is narrated by Alex, in a coma since a 'hiking accident' two years before. He is awake, can hear and feel everything around him, but in unable to move or speak. Doctors have long given up on him.
The book offers an interesting POV but I had major issues with this.
This slows down the pace at times to a snail's pace which quickly became frustrating.
I found it hard to believe the various tests carried out did not show any brain activity for Alex. Really? I'm not a doctor so maybe this is possible but I just didn't buy it. I've read books where people have what's known as Locked-In Syndrome but as far as I'm aware they still register as having some brain activity.
I just found the POV very awkward at times, with Alex's thoughts in italics and reading part conversations of various people who visit him. This didn't work for me.
There are some good twists and turns in If I Die Before I Wake when Alex finds out what really happened to him. However, the awkward POV spoiled the whole book for me. It would have worked better to have the POV of other characters as well.
