Lisa Unger’s Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 takes readers to the edge of a storm-battered island and into the dark corners of human ambition. Part survival thriller, part psychological drama, this novel asks one crucial question: how far will people go for fame, money, and redemption?
The story opens with Maverick Dillan, a charismatic daredevil known for his viral stunts, inviting contestants to a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island. What begins as a social media spectacle quickly transforms into a deadly game of survival. A violent storm isolates the group, and as the cameras roll, so do the lies, manipulations, and growing fears.
At the heart of the chaos stands Adele, a single mother desperate to rebuild her life after being abandoned by her fugitive husband. Struggling financially, she joins the competition for the million-dollar prize, hoping to secure a better future for her children. But when the game takes a sinister turn, Adele must rely on her instincts and courage to stay alive. Her fierce love for her family becomes both her weapon and her weakness as the line between the virtual and the real dissolves into a nightmare.
The novel thrives on atmosphere. The ominous setting of Falcao Island, shrouded in storm clouds and superstition, sets a perfect stage for paranoia. Unger paints the landscape vividly thick forests, crashing waves, and a sense that something unseen is always watching. The isolation and danger heighten the tension, creating a constant feeling that the next page could bring disaster.
While the book introduces several points of view, Adele’s perspective anchors the emotional core. She is not a typical action heroine but a relatable mother caught in extraordinary circumstances. Her vulnerability and resilience give the story weight, grounding the spectacle in something deeply human. Maverick, on the other hand, embodies the toxic allure of online fame a man who mistakes danger for meaning and audience applause for validation.
Readers looking for nonstop action might find the pacing slower than expected, particularly in the first half. The shifting perspectives can sometimes blur the narrative focus, leaving you unsure whose story is truly being told. Yet once the storm breaks and the disappearances begin, Unger’s storytelling sharpens into a taut, breathless race for survival. The final hundred pages deliver what thriller fans crave: tension, revelation, and emotional payoff.
Beyond the suspense, the novel carries a timely critique of social media culture. It exposes how the hunger for views and validation can twist human morality and turn tragedy into entertainment. Unger invites readers to reflect on the blurred line between performance and reality, where even survival becomes a form of spectacle.
In the end, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is not just a story about danger on a remote island. It is about trust, exploitation, and the masks people wear when the world is watching. Though not without its flaws some loose ends and uneven pacing it remains an engaging, atmospheric thriller that lingers in your mind long after you close the book.
If you enjoy survival stories with a psychological edge and a strong emotional core, Lisa Unger’s latest will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
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