Dream Girl

 

Author: Laura Lippman

Publisher: William Morrow Books

Year: 2021

Happy publication day to Dream Girl! Let me tell you, this is a dream of a book! 

I’ve been a Laura Lippman fan since the early days of her Tess Monaghan series. Since then,  she’s gone on to write a number of outstanding stand-alones. Her latest offing, Dream Girl, is a dark, slow burning, and enthralling puzzle full of twists that you will never see coming. 

Gerry Anderson is a successful novelist who recently returned to his hometown of Baltimore to care of his aging mother. After his mother’s death, Gerry has an accident and is confined to a hospital bed in his high-rise apartment. He is dependent on his assistant Victoria and the night nurse Aileen for everything. As Gerry slowly recovers from his injuries, he starts getting mysterious phone calls from a woman claiming to be the real life inspiration for Aubrey, the main character of his breakout novel. Gerry had always insisted Aubrey was purely a product of his imagination and not based on anyone. Gerry considers who could be behind the calls. He has three ex-wives and a girlfriend he just ditched so there are numerous suspects. 

As his isolation from the outside world grows, Gerry begins to question his own sanity and reflects on his own life and relationships. As his story unfolds, we see another side of Gerry- one that he doesn’t want his fans and admirers to see. And it’s at this point when Lippman really starts playing mind games! 

This is a totally character driven psychological horror story. Lippman does credit Stephen King’s Misery for the inspiration. Her writing is sharp and the whole book is masterfully plotted. 

You all know I’ve gotten tired of the psychological thriller genre. But like Flynn’s Gone Girl and Hawkins’ Girl on the Train, Lippman elevates the genre to new heights with Dream Girl. Make this one of your reads this summer! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the digital review copy! 

What’s your most anticipated book this summer? 

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