The Passenger

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

This is a page-turner in the most traditional sense. It's full of twists and turns, danger lurking around every page. I couldn't shake the distinct feeling that this story has been done before, and has been done with more skill and character, but it's hard to deny the addictive quality of The Passenger. I liked the email format that showed up every now and then, it added a genuine mystery to the MC's past. I wish I had a better sense of who our protagonist was, something that made her an interesting character beyond the needs of the plot. At the same time, the “blank slate” vibe I got from the character could have very well been intentional.

This is a solid 3.5, bumped to a 4 because it held my interest and stuck the landing with its ending.

The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via NetGalley)

It took me a until about the halfway point of the book to really get into it. From there, the pace was fast enough that I didn't really have the option to put it down. I had to know the outcome.

Based off the description, I was expecting there to be more appearances from Blue. Out of all the main characters, I felt that Blue had the most depth and you had a better grasp of who she was. Tanya/Amelia/etc changed herself, both physically and mentally, so often to fit her new identity that I feel like I never really got to know her.

Overall, it wasn't a bad story once the pace picked up and twists were revealed.

this was gripping from the first chapter - it really draws you in quick and piques your interest. as it went on, i didn't feel like there was really a point to some of the personas she was adopting and things that happened while she was pretending to be certain people. the big secret she was running from was also a real let-down unfortunately

4/5 stars
* I won this book through GoodReads first reads program. (This book comes out March 1, 2016)*
This book was so good!
I don't read a lot of thrillers; so I'm not an expert but this was really, really good.I read it in one sitting! I just couldn't put it down!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers or mysteries. I was taken on such a thrilling journey and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

“You can never see anything clearly when you're running.”

Holy smokes - this book is a page-turner! It was such a fun read, twisty and turny, with surprises along the way that didn't feel contrived or forced. I loved the balance between the action-packed suspense of her present with teases to a backstory through email (though the identity of the senders of these emails remains a mystery until the end). The book is broken up into sections based on the alias in use at that time, which I very much enjoyed. It helped frame Tanya's journey and experiences in a way that she herself must have felt a she shed identity after identity. I loved her voice, too. It was unique and raw and felt really honest, even as she lied through her teeth to everyone else.

Once we finally got some answers, though, the plot started to fall apart. It's hard to go into too much detail without spoiling the story, but there were times when the reason behind the actions of the characters either don't make sense or they're just not enough to justify their behavior. Also disappointing was the fact that, by the end of the book, I never felt as though I knew Tanya or understood her choices. Whether this is a result of her constantly changing identity or poor character development, I don't know, but I would have liked to have gotten a better idea of who she was as a character. A weird, romantic story-line was kind of tucked in here and there along the way that was completely unbelievable and nonsensical. As I was reading I found myself wondering what was wrong with this guy. I can't say more but, if you read it, you'll know what I mean. Thankfully, this was a small part of the overall story.

This book was a lot of fun with great pacing and a unique voice. I'd definitely give Lutz another chance. This was her first foray into suspense and I think it was an overall success.

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
—

I tried to look calm and collected as I gathered my things under Ruth's watch, but I could feel this all-over shiver, a constant vibration of nerves that I had a hard time believing no one else could see.

“You in some kid of trouble?” Ruth asked.

“No trouble, I said. “I just found a place to stay, long-term.”

“Don't fool yourself,” she said. “It's all temporary.”

very

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The Passenger

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What an incredible ride of a book.

I'd tell you about the main character but which identity should I share with you? Our main character takes on and drops off identities like most of us change apartments. Every change is in reaction to her pursuit by unknown people. People die. People appear from nowhere and shoot to kill. People flee. More mysteries.

What a ride!