{"id":2106,"date":"2025-02-26T11:56:48","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T11:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2106"},"modified":"2025-02-26T11:56:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T11:56:48","slug":"close-your-eyes-and-count-to-10-by-lisa-unger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2106","title":{"rendered":"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lisa Unger\u2019s latest thriller, \u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10,\u201d delivers a masterful exploration of how quickly the line between games and reality can blur when stakes are raised and motives are murky. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a fictional Falc\u00e3o Island in the middle of the Atlantic, this tense narrative skillfully weaves multiple perspectives into a layered story of deception<\/a>, survival, and the consequences of our digital lives bleeding into reality.<\/p>\n

The novel follows a diverse cast of characters brought together by social media sensation Maverick Dillan for an extreme game of hide-and-seek with a million-dollar prize. At the center is Adele Crane, a single mother of two teenagers who sees the competition as her chance to rebuild her life after her husband\u2019s disappearance and alleged financial crimes left her family struggling. What begins as a simple challenge quickly spirals into something far more sinister as a powerful storm descends, secrets emerge, and contestants find themselves fighting not just for the prize but for their lives.<\/p>\n

Strength Through Structure and Pacing<\/h2>\n

Unger demonstrates remarkable skill in managing multiple POV characters through her innovative structure. The novel unfolds in four distinct parts\u2014\u201dClose Your Eyes,\u201d \u201cReady or Not,\u201d \u201cThe Game,\u201d and \u201cHome Base\u201d\u2014creating a rhythmic progression that mirrors the childhood game at its center while steadily increasing tension.<\/p>\n

The author employs varied narrative techniques, including:<\/p>\n

Traditional third-person chapters following key characters
\nLivestream transcripts that capture the performative nature of social media
\nPrivate video diary entries revealing hidden motives
\nPodcast segments that fill in crucial backstory<\/p>\n

This structure not only keeps the narrative fresh but serves the thematic exploration of how stories are framed and consumed in our digital age. Particularly effective are the livestream segments that include viewer comments, showing the disconnect between audience perception and unfolding danger.<\/p>\n

Characters That Resonate Beyond Archetypes<\/h2>\n

One of Unger\u2019s greatest strengths lies in her character development<\/a>. Rather than relying on thriller stereotypes, she builds complex individuals whose motivations feel authentic:<\/p>\n

Adele Crane<\/strong> embodies resilience and maternal determination without being one-dimensional. Her journey from abandoned wife to fierce competitor is both convincing and inspiring.
\nMaverick Dillan<\/strong> represents the hollow center of influencer culture\u2014charismatic yet deeply flawed, constantly performing even when cameras are off.
\nAngeline Alba<\/strong>, as Maverick\u2019s business partner and love interest, struggles with her complicity in his schemes while harboring her own complex motivations.
\nBlake and Violet<\/strong>, Adele\u2019s teenage children, provide emotional stakes and surprising agency rather than serving as mere plot devices.<\/p>\n

Even secondary characters like Wild Cody and Malinka receive thoughtful development that defies initial expectations.<\/p>\n

Thematic Depth Beyond the Thrills<\/h2>\n

While \u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10\u201d delivers the requisite twists and turns expected of a thriller, its exploration of contemporary themes elevates it above genre conventions:<\/p>\n

The performative nature of social media and influencer culture
\nThe blurred boundaries between virtual and physical realities
\nThe lengths parents will go to protect their children
\nThe nature of truth in a world where everything is curated<\/a>
\nThe impossibility of truly escaping one\u2019s past<\/p>\n

A particularly compelling thread examines how humans have become passive observers through social media. As one character pointedly asks: \u201cIf you hate me for who I am, then ask yourself this: Who are you for watching me? Who are you for making me who I am?\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Atmospheric Setting as Character<\/h2>\n

Falc\u00e3o Island serves as more than backdrop\u2014it becomes a character in its own right. Inspired by Unger\u2019s visit to the Azores, the fictional island contains:<\/p>\n

An abandoned luxury hotel crumbling into disrepair
\nA mystical elder with a private army protecting the land
\nDense forests and volcanic terrain that become increasingly treacherous
\nSymbolic buzzards circling overhead, representing death and transformation<\/p>\n

The approaching storm provides both literal and metaphorical pressure, while the deteriorating hotel (tellingly named \u201cEsperan\u00e7a\u201d or \u201chope\u201d in Portuguese) offers a perfect physical manifestation of failed ambition and decay.<\/p>\n

Where the Novel Sometimes Loses Its Way<\/h2>\n

Despite its many strengths, \u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10\u201d isn\u2019t without flaws. The complex web of relationships and motivations occasionally becomes convoluted, particularly in the third act as revelations pile upon revelations. Some readers may find the sheer number of twists sacrifices plausibility for shock value.<\/p>\n

The Chloe Miranda storyline, while providing crucial backstory, sometimes feels overly elaborate compared to the more immediate tension of the island events. Additionally, certain characters\u2019 decisions in the final act stretch credibility, even within the heightened reality Unger has established.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most significantly, the resolution leaves several ethical questions uncomfortably unaddressed. While this ambiguity may be intentional\u2014mirroring the messy reality of life versus the neat conclusions of games\u2014some readers may find it unsatisfying rather than thought-provoking.<\/p>\n

Comparison to Unger\u2019s Previous Works and Genre Contemporaries<\/h2>\n

Fans of Unger\u2019s previous novels like \u201cLast Girl Ghosted\u201d and \u201cSecluded Cabin Sleeps Six\u201d will recognize her talent for psychological suspense and complex female protagonists. \u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10\u201d continues her exploration of technology\u2019s darker implications while amplifying the action elements.<\/p>\n

The novel brings to mind contemporaries such as:<\/p>\n

Ruth Ware\u2019s \u201cThe It Girl\u201d in its exploration of complicated female relationships
\nRiley Sager\u2019s \u201cLock Every Door\u201d for its isolated setting and escalating danger
\nLiz Moore\u2019s \u201cLong Bright River\u201d in its nuanced portrayal of family dynamics
\nTaylor Adams\u2019 \u201cNo Exit\u201d for its trapped-by-weather survival scenario<\/p>\n

Unger distinguishes herself through her particularly insightful examination of social media\u2019s impact on identity and moral responsibility.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict: A Compelling Thriller with Substance<\/h2>\n

\u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10\u201d successfully delivers the page-turning tension thriller readers expect while offering thoughtful commentary on contemporary issues. The novel shines brightest when examining how our digital and physical lives have become inextricably intertwined, often with dangerous consequences.<\/p>\n

While the plot occasionally sacrifices plausibility for dramatic effect, Unger\u2019s prose remains assured throughout. Her skill at building atmosphere, developing complex characters, and maintaining suspense across multiple timelines and perspectives demonstrates why she remains a standout voice in contemporary thriller fiction.<\/p>\n

The novel\u2019s final message\u2014that we can never truly escape the consequences of our actions, regardless of how far we run\u2014resonates beyond the final page. For readers seeking a thriller that balances action with insight, \u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10\u201d offers a compelling game well worth playing.<\/p>\n

Strengths:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Innovative structure incorporating multiple media formats
\nComplex, well-developed characters
\nAtmospheric setting that enhances the tension
\nThoughtful exploration of contemporary themes<\/p>\n

Weaknesses:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Occasionally convoluted plot developments
\nSome credibility stretches in the final act
\nCertain ethical questions left unresolved<\/p>\n

For readers who enjoy psychologically complex thrillers<\/a> that examine the darker side of our digital lives, Unger\u2019s latest offers a satisfying and thought-provoking journey into a game where the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lisa Unger\u2019s latest thriller, \u201cClose Your Eyes and Count to 10,\u201d delivers a masterful exploration of how quickly the line between games and reality can blur when stakes are raised and motives are murky. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a fictional Falc\u00e3o Island in the middle of the Atlantic, this tense narrative skillfully weaves […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2106"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2106\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}