The Never List by Koethi Zan
Genre: Crime
For years, best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the “Never List”: a list of actions to be avoided, for safety’s sake, at all costs. But one night, against their best instincts, they accept a cab ride with grave, everlasting consequences. For the next three years, they are held captive with two other girls in a dungeon-like cellar by a connoisseur of sadism.
Ten years later, at thirty-one, Sarah is still struggling to resume a normal life, living as a virtual recluse under a new name, unable to come to grips with the fact that Jennifer didn’t make it out of that cellar. Now, her abductor is up for parole and Sarah can no longer ignore the twisted letters he sends from jail.
Finally, Sarah decides to confront her phobias and the other survivors—who hold their own deep grudges against her. When she goes on a cross-country chase that takes her into the perverse world of BDSM, secret cults, and the arcane study of torture, she begins unraveling a mystery more horrifying than even she could have imagined.
My Thoughts:
I’ve had this book on my bookcase for a long time now and had been told to read it because it’s brilliant. They were the words a friend said. But there was something about the blurb that put me off. It seemed too dark for me and I just didn’t want to go there, so it sat there and it sat there some more, until one day I was stood looking at my books trying to choose my next read when I decided it was time to take it off the shelf. You know you have to be in the mood to read some books.
Well, imagine my surprise when it wasn’t as dark as I expected. It is brilliantly written and is written in first person narrative from Sarah, after she has escaped this hell-hole she was contained in for years. She is obviously a different person and has her issues, but the book wasn’t what I’d expected. Especially when on my copy there is a blurb from Tess Gerritson saying it is “One of the scariest thrillers I’ve ever read.”
The journey starts because Sarah is visited by the FBI agent that was involved in her case as the offender’s parole board hearing is due. With him he brings a letter from him and from there the story really starts. Sarah is wonderfully three-dimensional character in a sad kind of way. She’s scared and changed, but brave and clever. And she sets out to right some wrongs and finds that it wasn’t all as she remembered it to be.
The writing is clean and sharp and intelligent. I couldn’t help but keep picking this book back up and reading on.
The only time I found it difficult was when Sarah recounted some of the trauma she had gone through at the hands of her abuser. Because the story is told in first person it is very raw and hard to read. You have no distance from it and you are reading it knowing she was a young college girl at the time. It was really uncomfortable and I don’t think we needed quite so much detail.
Zan has crafted a brilliant story though and if you have the stomach for it, I can highly recommend it.
Cathy746books says
I have this on my Kindle and I’ve been putting it off for the same reasons are you had! I’ll have to give it a go, it sounds really good.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think you’ll be surprised by it. Let me know what you think!
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Thanks as always for your thoughts. I’ve not read this one for exactly the same reasons you held off. It’s good to hear that you thought it really was (for the most part) very well-written and worth reading. I have to admit I’ll probably wait to read it, but I’m glad you found it better than you expected.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think it had been made to sound scarier than it was, but as I say, there are parts that, because she’s reliving it in first person, can feel a little close to the sensitivity bone.
Prashant C. Trikannad says
Rebecca, this sounds a lot like the real life story in America I read a few months, where a similar abductor was put to death. I don’t mind reading this book if it is written brilliantly.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think it was based on that very story Prashant. Or rather inspired by. I may be mistaken, but I’m sure I read that somewhere. And yes, it really is extremely well written.
cheriereich says
Thanks for the review, Rebecca! This does sound like a type of book you have to be in a particular mood to read, but I’m glad to hear it wasn’t grim the whole way through.
Rebecca Bradley says
It really wasn’t that grim all the way through, there are lots of it where she is chasing up leads etc. But yes, like many books, this is one you do have to be in a mood to read.
Jacqui Murray says
It does sound dark, but a fascinating not-overdone topic. What a horrid experience. I hope the ending is uplifting.
Rebecca Bradley says
I can’t really give the ending away now can I? 🙂 But I think you would probably enjoy it Jacqui. It is dark in area’s, but in others, it is a really well written crime book where she is chasing leads to find out what she wants to know.
FictionFan says
I loved this one. Dark and disturbing definitely but I though she held back from being too graphic for the most part. I’ll certainly be looking out for her next book.
Rebecca Bradley says
Those are the words Fiction Fan “For the most part.” There were just those small sections where I squirmed a little. But yes, I’d completely agree that I thought this a great book and I would read her next one.
alison345 says
Great review, Rebecca!
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you Alison!
crimeworm says
I’m the same, it’s been sitting for ages as seemed a bit graphic. Think I’ll be following your lead too!
Rebecca Bradley says
I would read it, but when you’re ready, you know when you don’t know what you fancy reading next, just pick it up and start it and you’ll be surprised how far you’re into it before you realise you’re enjoying it. (As a great book.)
Carol Balawyder says
A few months ago I attended a reading of The Never List by Koethi Zan, I had a short conversation with her and she told me that,”(F)or a whole year before writing this book I read nothing but crime fiction, in particular the Scandinavian crime writers.”
If anybody is interested in reading more on this, here’s the link:
http://carolbalawyder.com/2014/05/12/crime-night/
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Carol, I’ve just read it. How sweet was she?! “Everyone thinks this.” It’s true as well, I’ve heard Harlen Coben say the same thing that he never thinks his work is good enough every time he is writing a new book.
Her writing is amazing which is why I do recommend the book, just with a slight warning about the first person descriptions near to the end.