Fast paced with lots of clever twists, this has absolutely put me off escape rooms - at least for the next little while!

The puzzles are so clever and well thought out, I would have been in terrible trouble - although I do know a tiny bit of Morse code! I found it difficult to tell the characters apart at first, but that's typical for me, and they were different enough to tell apart once I got a bit further in.

There is some violence and gore, so be aware of that as you're reading. It's not too graphically described, but it is there. Also (and I'm reading a proof so it's probably fixed in the final version) there is a point where the main character is addressed by the wrong name.

This is a great, heart pounding, quick read that you won't want to put down until the very last twist on the very last page.

‘The Escape Room’ by L.D. Smithson is an unsettling, fast-paced and gripping thriller set on a remote fortress in the middle of the sea with an intriguing cast and mind-bending puzzles.

Bonnie, our main character, wasn’t even supposed to be a contestant on ‘The Fortress’ - a mysterious new reality TV show commissioned by Channel 5 - but after her sister Clara got injured after winning a place, the opportunity to compete for a £100k prize was too appealing to pass up. She is joined by seven other people, all desperate for the money or for TV exposure (or both!) and thrust into problem solving challenges. But nothing is as it seems… suddenly the stakes become much higher and teamwork turns into a fight for survival!

I liked the diversity of the characters and their different skill sets… and secrets. I also really enjoyed trying to figure out some of the riddles and word games myself and learning about the fortification. The podcast scenes interspersed across the narrative were a fantastic way to tie the story together and reflect on the horrors faced by the participants.

As twist after twist hit towards the end, I did feel quite overwhelmed and think the ending should have been fleshed out a bit more rather than being so sudden. Some characters’ motivations could have been explored more to make the final pages more satisfying.

This was a four star book for me - not quite the perfect thriller, but a nightmarish and captivating read that you’ll find difficult to put down and which might make you reflect on how far reality TV should go in its quest to entertain… If you enjoy escape rooms and were addicted to ‘The Traitors’ this book is definitely for you!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Random House, Transworld via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Really engaging book with lots of surprises. Read it in one sitting.

The Escape Room was a fantastic thriller that really built on its captivating concept.

I make no secret that I am obsessed with the TV series The Traitors and have been devouring thrillers with similar concepts recently. This was a stellar thriller that was beyond brilliant in its pacing, tension and suspense. Smithson takes the always tantalising premise of reality TV gone very wrong and weaves into it an exploration of true crime and trauma. Throughout the book, there are podcast excerpts with the survivor and this instantly sets the stakes for what is coming your way. You know things will end tragically and yet you become deeply invested in these characters.

They fit some standard tropes of that form of media, but have hidden complexities and motivations. Bonnie is our protagonist and forms the heart of the novel - only in this situation to help her sister. She is smart, determined and driven, but also sometimes too guarded and mistrusting. You know from the start she’s there under a false premise, which makes you question everything and everyone else around her too. There are just so many layers to this mystery and I loved unpicking them. Smithson’s plotting is exquisite and the twists were next level too. I was left with my mouth agape at two distinct points in the book. They were just completely overwhelming and hit both character and plot wise.

I am also a sucker for a good puzzle and Smithson has plenty with jigsaw boxes aplenty. There is often a hidden undercurrent to these as well, which adds a new dimension to the mystery. I loved the social commentary about the price of fame and its fleeting nature, particularly in an age of social media and rapidly rising and falling shows.

The Escape Room is a rip-roaring, completely immersive thriller that does not let you out of its grasp.

I was attracted to 'The Escape Room' by its fabulous tag-line, Squid Games meets the Traitors. With these being two of my favourite TV shows recently, I had high expectations for the book -and was very satisfied with it, grabbed by the fast paced storyline from beginning to end.

Sisters Bonnie and Clara are in desperate need of money to pay bills after the sad loss of their mother. Clara spots an ad for The Fortress', a new reality TV show which could be the answer that they've been looking for with a mega cash prize of £100,000. She can't find out much more information but figures that the secrecy must be part of the game.

Clara is outgoing, bubbly, a great team player and fantastic at quizzes and escape rooms, so she knows she's in with a shot. But when she injures herself and can't go to the audition, she persuades her much more straight-laced sister B0nnie to go in her place. 'Clara' (who is actually Bonnie) wins a place in the final show - and joins 7 other contestants sailing out to the middle of the English Channel. The game is going to take place in an abandoned seafort, a solid fortification that has been there for a hundred years.

The contestants are a great mix of characters, there's the jock, the pretty girl and other characters that we're used to seeing on TV shows, but also some players who are there for the love of the game.

As soon as the contestants enter the fort, the games begin, with clues and red herrings scattered everywhere. Bonnie hasn't really paid much attention to escape rooms before and has to dig deep to try and find a way through, in a bid to win the money and secure their futures.

The story was gripping and all-consuming, I didn't want to stop reading until I had found out what was going to happen next. The abandoned sea-fort is a brilliant setting for a story like this; it already has horror-undertones just by its location and its purpose, and when the contestants try and break their way out, it is clear that it is so solidly built that there's no way out unless the show producers want them to escape.

I thought that the 'real-time' response from the show's audience was an inspired addition too, it is easy to forget that all TV is manipulated and edited for the audience, and what is being shown on the TV is not necessarily what is happening in real life.

'The Escape Room' was a fantastic locked room mystery with a modern twist - highly entertaining!

This was a fast, compelling easy read that once started I really didn't want to put down.

Eight strangers all of them successful applicants for a new reality show meet each other for the first time at Portsmouth harbour before heading out to sea, their destination a sea fortress off the south coast. Their goal to eliminate the other contestants in a series of complex challenges and claim the prize.

Surrounded by cameras and with no production team on site their only outside communication is a large screen that displays a live feed of comments made on social media by those watching the show and who will be taking part in the next challenge based on the viewer vote. Alliances are formed but as the true realisation of what they've let themselves in for becomes clear, there can only be one winner and alliances mean nothing.

Great characterisation and a good plot, this one moved at a good pace with plenty of tension and drama. A vivid, well written and often thought provoking look at reality TV and the damaging psychological effects of social media posts. A good read, definitely recommended.

My Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the advance copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

Live on Goodreads now, up on the blog on 11 March:

Eight contestants. One killer. Are you ready to play? With that tagline, that cover and that blurb? Hell yes, I was! And what fun I had!

Let’s be frank, none of the components of The Escape Room is terribly novel. It’s a locked room mystery in essence. Then we have the reality TV angle that has become quite popular recently, presumably under the influence of shows like The Traitors, as well as a puzzle element: contestants are locked up in an old sea fort and have to solve puzzles to escape (what could possibly go wrong…). And there’s also a podcast angle, which I’m sure you’ll agree has been popping up a lot lately.

Then why should you pick up The Escape Room? Because the combination of these elements and the execution as a whole is in fact rather novel and manages to pleasantly surprise even the most jaded reader (i.e. me)!

In all honesty, I’ll never get bored of locked room mysteries, but The Escape Room gets bonus points for being set in an atmospheric old sea fort surrounded by nothing but waves and with no means to escape.
The reality TV angle works like a charm because you can just feel something is horribly off but the contestants don’t realise it until it’s too late. And I as the reader didn’t fully grasp the sheer evilness of the game either, not until the end of the book.
The puzzles reminded me of Janice Hallett’s books, but way WAY darker. If you are so inclined, you can puzzle along with the candidates.
The podcast angle is valuable because it allows the reader to process and learn more after the facts. Kinda like when contestants on reality shows are interviewed separately and get to explain their actions and decisions. And there is another important side to this angle, which I am not at liberty to disclose right now, but you should just find out for yourself.

I had a fantastic time with The Escape Room. It’s a fast-paced and dark thriller that’s both character-driven and plot-driven. I don’t know if it’s entirely plausible throughout, but I do know I couldn’t care less. I would happily recommend it to fans of the genre.

Thanks to Bantam (Random House UK, Transworld Publishers) for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

4.5

It might only be the middle of February, but I think I've already found one of my top books of the year!

The Escape Room was SO good. That good, I read it in two sittings, and could NOT put it down.

I highly recommend adding it to your TBR or pre-ordering.

It's kind of like if Saw wasn't as gruesome; you're typical locked box thriller with just that little bit more oomf. Amazing!

After losing their mother, sisters Bonnie and Clara are struggling financially.  With the risk of losing their home, they need to raise some money, and fast.  Clara sees an opportunity – an escape room game show, the winner gets £100,000.  It’s gotta be worth a shot right?  What’s the worst that could happen?  Nope, don’t ask that question!
 
When Clara is injured, she persuades (manipulates?!) Bonnie into taking her place, pretending to be her.  Again, what’s the worst that could happen?  Still, no.  At first things seem ok, her biggest struggle is navigating her way through the diverse set of competitors she’s to spend the next five weeks with.  That is, until a challenge goes wrong and a man is left to die.  Surely something has gone tragically wrong, this can’t be intentional, right?  I’ll let you read it to find out!
 
A great debut – gripping from the first to the last page.  I really enjoyed the riddles and clues and spent way too long failing to work them out. So cleverly written.  I really enjoyed the very first season of Big Brother, the idea that us as the viewers, were watching a live psychological experiment – this was similar, viewed from a voyeuristic lens.  We watch as the dynamics change, alliances are made and broken, before people turning on each other.  You’ll know I love to hate a character, I was not disappointed.
 
I’ve seen lots of TV show comparisons – but not the following, which felt right to me.  It’s like the Crystal Maze meets Big Brother, but really really dark!  The addition of podcast elements and tweets adds an extra layer, showing the diverse and, at times, extreme perspectives.
 
If you’re looking for a  great locked room psychological thriller, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!  I’m excited to see what’s next from L. D. Smithson.
 
Huge thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

Eight strangers arrive at a secluded fort off the coast of England, the first contestants on a brand new television show, The Fortress. With a huge cash prize on offer, which of them will emerge victorious from the ultimate escape room? Sounds like fun until the first of the contestants is found dead and the realisation of what is really at stake kicks in. Only one will win, only one will live…

As a fan of escape rooms, this book appealed instantly. The concept within the book is a strong one and is something that I am sure real television executives are working on as we speak! Told mainly from the perspectives of sisters Bonnie and Clara, I also liked how some of the story was told via interviews and tweets, giving the book a very ‘real’ feel.

This is one of those books where you just want to read one more chapter before you put it down and, as I result, I raced through it, desperate to see who managed to escape the twisted individual who had set up the whole premise. It is action-packed from beginning to end and is full of twists that will keep you guessing throughout.

I found the psychological aspect fascinating as we see the contestants begin to turn on each other in acts of self-preservation. This aspect will definitely appeal to fans of the recent BBC show, The Traitors.

The Escape Room is an exciting, fast-paced read with moments I was not anticipating. I just hope that the next escape room I participate in is nothing like this!

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for a copy of “ The Escape Room” for an honest review.

As a “ Traitors” and “ Squid Games” fan I was drawn to read this .. I’m also partial to a puzzle so that added to my expectations with the book.
I found it entertaining and gripping .I couldn’t give it 5 stars as I must admit I struggled with all the characters at the beginning and didn’t really warm to them.I have also recently read a book very similar to this one .
Nevertheless I would still recommend this to others

Eight contestants, One Killer. Are you ready to play?

Eight strangers apply for a tv game show where the only aim is to escape. They soon realise this isn’t a game though and the consequences of not escaping are worse than they could imagine.

I was so excited by the blurb on this one. I’ve lost count of how many escape rooms I’ve done and I love puzzles so it grabbed me straight away. The setting reminded me of Fort Boyard and I could really picture it. I feel I built this book up too much in my mind and it didn’t quite live up to what I wanted it to be. Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read and good luck to the author on its release.

Publication Date - 29/02/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheEscapeRoom
#LDSmithson

Bonnie & Clara are skint and so they enter a competition that has a cash prize .

The story opens with Bonnie telling their story to a local podcaster and what she divulges is not for the faint hearted .

The competition they entered was called the escape room where 8 contestants go to an isjsnd and the last one is the winner .

They quickly realise that it’s not just about winning but it’s about survival !

Creepy chilling charismatic if not a little sandy to sone movies already out there that said superb book .

Thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for the opportunity to read the arc

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Escape Room is a fast paced, edge of your seat read perfect for fans of twisty, locked room thrillers. I devoured this book in two sittings, and it kept me up all night reading with bated breath!
We follow eight contestants as they compete on a reality TV programme held at an abandoned Fortress. The games begin as soon as they are dropped off on the island and have to work out how to enter the Fortress. As they scramble to outwit each other, build small teams, and work under pressure to work out each puzzle and complete it, they soon come to realise that something isn't quite right. When they are suddenly in a race not only to win but to literally survive; alliances change, and no one can be trusted.
I've always wanted to do an escape room, and so this book called to me. The twists are sharp, sudden, and clever and make you question everything and everyone from start to finish. I loved the way it all pieced together at the end and was left slightly open to possibly have a sequel.

I love escape rooms. I love puzzles. I love mysteries. So, I should have really loved this book. But, for some reason it just didn't quite grab me. I wasn't excited enough to pick it up.

I enjoyed the whole storyline of it. A reality show set on a sea fortress. A perfect locked room thriller. There was casualties along the way. There was a collective bunch of characters for us to root for. But, the main character Bonnie, I just didn't gel with her at all. And, because of that I just couldn't gel with the story. I wasn't fussed either way what her fate would be.

I liked the whole Director narrative and not really knowing who they were. I had figured out a few lot twists along the way.

All in all it was a good read, a great plot for a story. A fantastic setting, but it just fell a little flat for me.

An intriguing and gripping story, I loved the characters and can't wait to read more by this author.

If you're a fan of reality TV shows, such as The Traitors or if you liked Fort Boyard back in the day, I have a feeling you will want to check this book out. It also reminded me a bit of the recent Escape Room movies, in a good way.
I appreciated how tense and shocking this was at times and it had me gripped the whole way through.
I also thought interspersing the podcast interview as the action unfolds, as we start to work out what's going on, was really well done too.
My only gripe was that there were that many characters at the beginning, which I understand why there obviously were, but I had to physically take a note of everyone's names and who they were to keep referring back to when I started reading.
That definitely removed me from enjoying getting fully absorbed in the story.
So I think that the way that the characters were introduced could have been done better.
But I still enjoyed this and I really liked the concept.
I can't wait to see what this author does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for the copy of The Escape Room by L. D. Smithson. Eight strangers with secrets.An isolated location. A televised escape room competition. A podcast. I wasn’t expecting to be completely immersed in this book right from the start and it was so good I sped right through it. There are plenty of shocks, and it’s better if you read this without knowing too much about it so you can experience the surprises! If you want a perfectly paced, well-written book with memorable characters and an unforgettable story, read this one! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

4.5/5 ⭐️
Eight contestants go to a remote fortress to compete in a reality TV competition relating to escape rooms. However, once there, they soon realize there is someone nefarious behind the scenes and that only one is supposed to get out alive.

I really enjoyed this one! It kept me hooked, and I just had to know whodunit. I’d say the one thing that took me out a little was the religious fanaticism aspect of the motive (ish - it’s more complicated than straightforward that). I think if the people chosen had been related to the true motive/event it would have been an even more interesting twist. But overall, a good thriller with a few twists and turns at the end!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Eight strangers are locked in a remote sea fort off the coast of England. It’s a classic escape room where the need to solve puzzles to ‘escape’ and for one person to he crowned the winner. But all us kit as it seems, everyone seems to have their own secrets and plenty to hide. A great thriller that kept me intrigued, fast paced and with some great twists. It’s dark, atmospheric and compelling. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK Transworld Publishers and the author for the chance to review.