Have you ever found yourself trapped in an elevator, heart racing, palms sweating, wondering if you’ll ever see daylight again? Now imagine that elevator ride from hell is actually a twisted team-building exercise gone horribly wrong. Welcome to the world of “The Escape Room” by Megan Goldin.
I stumbled upon this gem of a thriller during one of my late-night writing sessions. As an aspiring novelist myself, I’m always on the lookout for books that can teach me a thing or two about crafting suspense. Little did I know that cracking open “The Escape Room” would be like opening Pandora’s box of corporate greed, revenge, and nail-biting tension.
From the moment I read the first page, I was hooked. Goldin’s premise is deliciously simple yet ripe with potential: four Wall Street sharks trapped in an elevator, forced to participate in a deadly escape room challenge. It’s like “The Apprentice” meets “Saw,” and I couldn’t get enough.
What struck me most as I devoured the pages was Goldin’s masterful use of dual timelines. We alternate between the claustrophobic tension of the elevator and flashbacks that reveal how our protagonists ended up in this predicament. It’s a technique I’ve been toying with in my own writing, but Goldin elevates it to an art form, doling out revelations and twists with expert precision.
The characters, while not particularly likable, are fascinatingly complex. Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are the epitome of Wall Street excess – greedy, ambitious, and morally bankrupt. Yet, as their facades crumble under the pressure of their dire situation, I found myself oddly compelled by their struggles. It’s a testament to Goldin’s skill that she can make such despicable characters so engaging.
One passage that particularly resonated with me was when Sara Hall, the outsider thrust into this world of high finance, reflects on her first days at the firm:
“We didn’t realize we were being wooed for a long, heady love affair with greed.”
It’s a simple line, but it encapsulates the seductive allure of power and wealth that drives the entire narrative. As someone who’s always been fascinated by the psychology of ambition, this exploration of how good people can be corrupted by their environment was both chilling and thought-provoking.
That’s not to say the book is without flaws. At times, the puzzles our trapped protagonists face seem a bit too on-the-nose, lacking the cleverness I’d expect from a high-stakes escape room. And while the pacing is generally breakneck, there were a few moments in the middle where the tension sagged slightly.
However, these minor quibbles are easily overshadowed by the sheer entertainment value of the story. Goldin has a knack for creating visceral, edge-of-your-seat moments. I found myself holding my breath during one particularly tense scene where the elevator cables begin to fray, the characters’ panic mirroring my own racing heart.
As a writer, I couldn’t help but admire Goldin’s craftsmanship. Her prose is lean and effective, every word serving a purpose. She expertly balances exposition and action, revealing just enough about the characters’ backgrounds to keep us invested without bogging down the narrative. It’s a skill I’m still honing in my own work, and “The Escape Room” provided a masterclass in how to do it right.
Perhaps what impressed me most was how Goldin managed to weave larger themes into what could have been a simple thriller. The book offers a scathing critique of toxic corporate culture, exploring how the pursuit of success at any cost can erode one’s humanity. It’s a theme that’s particularly relevant in today’s world, and it added a layer of depth that elevated the book beyond mere entertainment.
By the time I turned the final page, I felt both exhilarated and exhausted, as if I’d been through the ordeal alongside the characters. “The Escape Room” isn’t just a thrilling read; it’s a masterclass in suspense writing. It’s the kind of book that makes me want to push myself as a writer, to craft stories that grip readers and don’t let go until the very end.
Would I recommend “The Escape Room”? Absolutely. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller with a dash of social commentary. Just be warned: you might want to take the stairs for a while after reading it.
As I closed the book and leaned back in my chair, my mind was buzzing with ideas for my own novel. Megan Goldin had reminded me why I fell in love with writing in the first place – the power to transport readers to another world, to make their hearts race and their minds whirl. “The Escape Room” may be about a game gone wrong, but for this aspiring author, it was nothing short of inspirational.
So, if you’re looking for a book that will keep you up all night, make you question your career choices, and possibly give you a newfound fear of elevators, “The Escape Room” is the perfect escape. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself eyeing your coworkers suspiciously at the next office party. After all, in the world of high finance, it seems the most dangerous game might just be the climb to the top.