Book Review: First Date by Sue Watson

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First Date by Sue Watson is an extremely interesting and readable psychological thriller. The book releases today and I can't stress enough that if you are a reader with a special place in your heart for mystery/ thrillers, you must get to it ASAP. 

Book Blurb

First Date is the story of Hannah who has done everything to make sure her life is safe and secure. A long way from her unstable childhood growing up in foster care, she’s content with her sweet, little, messy apartment and her satisfying job as a social worker. She quietly worries that, aged 36, she might never fall in love. But otherwise her life is where she wants it to be.

Until, encouraged by her best friend to join a dating app, she

meets Alex who is irresistibly handsome, loves the same music as her and the same food as well. Both of them would love to own a Labrador one day. It’s like he’s made for her. It’s like he’s too good to be true.

Hannah’s friends aren’t so sure about him. But Hannah thinks he’s perfect.

Which is good. Because Alex knows she’s perfect for him too. In fact, she’s exactly the girl he’s been looking for…

And nothing Hannah’s done to make her life safe will ever be enough now.

My take on First Date

I could have read the book in one sitting if I had not been distracted by common things like feeding two kids and cleaning the house! Yes, the book even with its flaws (Perfect is a myth, no?) is an engaging read. Hannah isn't exactly the person I would like to be but then she, the heroine of our story is a girl whose heart is at the right place. She has suffered an ass of a boyfriend and when encouraged by her best friend, joins a dating app and finds the perfect guy within minutes. Sounds surreal, doesn't it? 

Believe you me, as a seasoned thriller reader, as I read the book I could see almost all the red flags which Hannah chooses to ignore (throughout) and thought to myself I must really change the genre preference or maybe attempt writing a book or two myself. I smugly thought,"Oh, I know where this is going!" Its a given that this is a thriller and some nasty things are bound to happen. But soon after nothing that I predicted worked out.The book surprised me with its progression and welcome change in pace as we delve deeper into Hannah's and Alex's affairs. 

The writing is charged with electricity and why not! Watson was a TV producer with BBC and in my opinion uses her experience of the moving picture quite well in creating imageries with her words. I could almost feel Alex's presence or see in my mind all of Hannah's colleagues and her office as well. 

The ending is just what it should have been and I am not going to spoil it by telling you just what it is, but trust me you are in for a shock and a surprise as you near the finishing line. 

So my dear reader, pick this pacy, psychological thriller at the earliest and I am sure you will not regret it.

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