02/15/2016
…brilliant…The wrong kind of ambiguity in a crime novel can be fatal. Abbott judges it impeccably here. The murder mystery component of the story has all the essential ingredients: clues, red herrings, twists and an answer, in the end, that leaves no room for doubt about who did what and why. It's only every other element that grows increasingly bewildering as the narrative progresses. There's a stroke of genius in this: The reader appreciates the satisfaction of the solution, which is simple, shocking and perfect. At the same time, the purpose of solving the mystery is, arguably, to undermine the idea that mysteries can ever be solved in a meaningful way. When the murder is committed…it appears to take place in a familiar landscape populated by people we know. We imagine we have our bearings, and then the murder knocks us off course. Then with each new fact that emerges, a piece of what we thought we knew is dislodged, leaving in its place a mystifying blank patch. By the end of the novel, everything apart from the events specifically surrounding the killing is an unanswerable question. All of this Abbott pulls off with breathtaking skill.
The New York Times Book Review - Sophie Hannah
What Megan Abbott knows, as so many maestros of the heebie-jeebies do, is that it's not strangers who are scary; it's the people you think you know and love…Abbott…is in top form in this novel. She resumes her customary role of black cat, opaque and unblinking, filling her readers with queasy suspicion at every turn…You Will Know Me revisits some of the author's favorite themes—community hysteria, the chaos of adolescent sexuality—but with a slight twist. Usually, teen-girl misanthropy and anxiety figure prominently into Ms. Abbott's novels. Here, the author is far more interested in the way adults recapitulate teenage behaviors, fretting and sniping and stirring the pot.
The New York Times - Jennifer Senior
PRAISE FOR YOU WILL KNOW ME:Jennifer Senior , New York Times Sophie Hannah , New York Times Book Review Kim Hubbard , People The Omen ."—Leigh Haber , Oprah.com You Will Know Me such a standout...Abbott steadily commands our attention with a suspense plot that unexpectedly somersaults and back flips whenever a landing seems in sight."—Maureen Corrigan , Washington Post You Will Know Me takes swift, unsettling, apparently effortless flight."—Annalisa Quinn , NPR.org Charles Finch , USA Today Entertainment Weekly Daneet Steffans , The Boston Globe Tom Nolan , Wall Street Journal Oline Cogdill , Associated Press You Will Know Me is a terrific accompaniment to this summer's Olympic frenzy. It's an all-around winner."Maureen Corrigan , NPR's Fresh Air You Will Know Me deftly transports the reader to the hyper-competitive arena of gymnastics where the dreams and aspirations of not just families but entire communities rest on the slender shoulders of one teenage girl. Exceptional."—Paula Hawkins , author of The Girl on the Train You Will Know Me hits that rarefied sweet spot between unnerving psychological suspense and a family drama with heart, inducing equal parts dread and unease, empathy and warmth. The pages couldn't turn fast enough...Luscious writing, a timely and unique premise, and an ending that will haunt you all summer long."—Jessica Knoll , New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive You Will Know Me continues her formidable winning streak. This story of an ordinary family with an extraordinary child is gorgeously written, psychologically astute, a page-turner that forces you to slow down and savor every word. And yes--please forgive me--she totally sticks the landing."—Laura Lippman , New York Times bestselling author of Hush Hush You Will Know Me comes barreling at you with all the power and urgency of a high-speed train, as Abbott asserts herself as one of the greatest crime writers of our time."—Mary Kubica , New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl You Will Know Me takes you into the dark heart of family, a journey that feels more menacing with every page. Abbott cranks the tension up in this disturbing tale of exactly what we are prepared to do for our children--I was reading compulsively into the night. A beautifully written, gripping read that feels unshakably real."—Kate Hamer , The Girl in the Red Coat Lucie Whitehouse , author of Before We Met You Will Know Me is powerful and unsettling, a portrait of a family where tenderness can mean pain as well as love. Megan Abbott is exceptionally good at teasing out telling moments to reveal deeply buried truths."—Jane Casey , author of The Missing You Will Know Me is Megan Abbott's best novel to date. A triumph."—Paula Daly , author of The Mistake I Made You Will Know Me ."—Erin Kelly , author of The Poison Tree Fiona Barton , author of The Widow You Will Know Me . Three weeks after finishing it, I still pick it up again, to re-experience the delicious pleasure I felt, devouring it." Joyce Maynard , New York Times bestselling author of Under the Influence The Fever ) takes a piercing look at what one family will sacrifice in the name of making their daughter a champion...Abbott keenly examines the pressures put on girls' bodies and the fierce, often misguided love parents have for their children."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Dare Me (2012) brought a Fight Club intensity to cheerleading, and her she captures ripped palms and the muscle-bound physiques that attract the cruel taunts of classmates. But this equally dazzling tale is set not in the teens' world but rather in the adult boosters' strange tribe, exploring the agony and urgency of their desire, the unknowability of others, and the burden of expectations laid on the gymnasts. It's vivid, troubling, and powerful--and Abbott totally sticks the landing." Booklist (Starred Review) Library Journal (Starred Review) Entertainment Weekly
11/01/2016
Lauren Fortgang gives this gripping audiobook a supple and quietly dazzling performance. Every character has a recognizable and appropriate voice. When a 16-year-old appears in a flashback, you recognize her voice, but it’s younger. (Wow.) Fortgang shifts fluidly from female to male, old to young in this high-stakes family drama set in the world of competitive gymnastics. Abbott delivers an education about “amateur” sports in America and the hidden costs of ambition. It’s the backdrop for a deeply involving plot in which a violent death shatters a community. Her characters are vivid, human, and real, and with perfect control, Abbott drops small jagged fragments of the picture into place as in a kaleidoscope until you see, finally and devastatingly, what really happened. B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
★ 2016-05-05
