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Hairpin Bridge
From the author of the “full-throttle thriller” (A. J. Finn) No Exit—a riveting new psychological page-turner featuring a fierce and unforgettable heroine.
Three months ago, Lena Nguyen’s estranged twin sister, Cambry, drove to a remote bridge sixty miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped two hundred feet to her death. At least, that is the official police version.
But Lena isn’t buying it.
Now she’s come to that very bridge, driving her dead twin’s car and armed with a cassette recorder, determined to find out what really happened by interviewing the highway patrolman who allegedly discovered her sister’s body.
Corporal Raymond Raycevic has agreed to meet Lena at the scene. He is sympathetic, forthright, and professional. But his story doesn’t seem to add up. For one thing, he stopped Cambry for speeding a full hour before she supposedly leapt to her death. Then there are the sixteen attempted 911 calls from her cell phone, made in what was unfortunately a dead zone.
But perhaps most troubling of all, the state trooper is referred to by name in Cambry’s final enigmatic text to her sister: Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic.
Lena will do anything to uncover the truth. But as her twin’s final hours come into focus, Lena’s search turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival—one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister and herself...
Three months ago, Lena Nguyen’s estranged twin sister, Cambry, drove to a remote bridge sixty miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped two hundred feet to her death. At least, that is the official police version.
But Lena isn’t buying it.
Now she’s come to that very bridge, driving her dead twin’s car and armed with a cassette recorder, determined to find out what really happened by interviewing the highway patrolman who allegedly discovered her sister’s body.
Corporal Raymond Raycevic has agreed to meet Lena at the scene. He is sympathetic, forthright, and professional. But his story doesn’t seem to add up. For one thing, he stopped Cambry for speeding a full hour before she supposedly leapt to her death. Then there are the sixteen attempted 911 calls from her cell phone, made in what was unfortunately a dead zone.
But perhaps most troubling of all, the state trooper is referred to by name in Cambry’s final enigmatic text to her sister: Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic.
Lena will do anything to uncover the truth. But as her twin’s final hours come into focus, Lena’s search turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival—one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister and herself...
306 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2021
About the author
Taylor Adams
5 books4,715 followersTaylor Adams is the author of several acclaimed thrillers including No Exit and Hairpin Bridge. No Exit has been published in 32 languages and was recently released by 20th Century Studios as a Hulu Original Film. Adams lives in Washington State.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,099 reviews
June 15, 2021
Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams
This is my third Taylor Adams book and really, his books are way to gruesome, gory, and violent for me and that's with me enjoying some pretty violent thrillers. Adams does a great job of putting you right in the midst of the situation, no treating us with kid gloves when it comes to all the bad stuff that can happen. I'm glad this book wasn't any longer because I couldn't have taken more and I mean that in a good way. Despite my grimacing the entire time, Hairpin Bridge had me wanting to know what happens next, what is really going on, who really did what. This story seemed to have a whole lot of lying and major denial going on and it was hard to tell the truth from the falsehoods.
"Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic."
That was the last message Lena Nguyen’s estranged twin sister sent to her three months ago, right before she jumped off Hairpin Bridge. Since then Lena has been researching everything she can find out about her sister's death and Officer Raycevic. Lena dives into her mission to avenge her sister's death...she refuses to believe her sister committed suicide. Now Lena is following Officer Raycevic to the scene of her sister's death so she can hear his version of the story, since he was the last person to see her alive and since Camry mentioned his name in the last text she ever sent.
The story is told in a variety of ways. We get Camry's version which is really just Lena's imagining of how things happened. There are Lena's blog excerpts and her admission (already set up to be published after the fact) to her reasons for meeting with Officer Raycevic. At times we get to be privy to Raycevic's thoughts, too. Who can we believe and just how much is each person fooling themselves with their justifications for the things they do and the reasons they are doing them?
Thank you to Scene of the Crime, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is my third Taylor Adams book and really, his books are way to gruesome, gory, and violent for me and that's with me enjoying some pretty violent thrillers. Adams does a great job of putting you right in the midst of the situation, no treating us with kid gloves when it comes to all the bad stuff that can happen. I'm glad this book wasn't any longer because I couldn't have taken more and I mean that in a good way. Despite my grimacing the entire time, Hairpin Bridge had me wanting to know what happens next, what is really going on, who really did what. This story seemed to have a whole lot of lying and major denial going on and it was hard to tell the truth from the falsehoods.
"Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic."
That was the last message Lena Nguyen’s estranged twin sister sent to her three months ago, right before she jumped off Hairpin Bridge. Since then Lena has been researching everything she can find out about her sister's death and Officer Raycevic. Lena dives into her mission to avenge her sister's death...she refuses to believe her sister committed suicide. Now Lena is following Officer Raycevic to the scene of her sister's death so she can hear his version of the story, since he was the last person to see her alive and since Camry mentioned his name in the last text she ever sent.
The story is told in a variety of ways. We get Camry's version which is really just Lena's imagining of how things happened. There are Lena's blog excerpts and her admission (already set up to be published after the fact) to her reasons for meeting with Officer Raycevic. At times we get to be privy to Raycevic's thoughts, too. Who can we believe and just how much is each person fooling themselves with their justifications for the things they do and the reasons they are doing them?
Thank you to Scene of the Crime, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for this ARC.
December 1, 2022
Why each time I read a new Taylor Adams book, my entire body hair stands up ? Brrr! I’m tenser than the relationship between Meghan Markle and Royal Palace! I’m out of cushions! I bit them all! I’m spitting out feathers! It feels like rewatching Deer Hunter’s Russian Roulette scene over and over again!
This book is a long duel! A powerful revenge, a twisty cat and mouse and mind bending hunter becomes prey as prey becomes villain of the story! So mind blowing, heart throbbing, engaging, binge read worthy, extremely exciting wild ride!
The story is about estranged twin sisters: the wild one called Cambry decides to hit the road, driving through the states, stealing gas, getting odd jobs, meeting with useless dipshits as boyfriends. But three months ago, she hits the gas and drives through Hairpin Bridge: taking its name from the architectural anomaly because it looks like giant metal hairpin with its odd shape where is located outside of Missoula, Montana.
According to the police report : she stopped the car, leaving her engine running, door ajar. She walked to the bridge’s edge, she gripped the guardrail with both hands, hoisted herself from the railing one leg at a time and she jumped two hundred feet to death.
Lena, the reliable, responsible , introvert twin sister has her own doubts because getting the cryptic suicide text message from her sister before she jumps already haunted her soul! Her sister is unpredictable, suffering from mental health issues, she’s unreliable, irresponsible, restless, but she never had suicide tendencies!
Lena arranges a meeting with highway patrolman named Raymond R. Raycevic who found her sister at the scene and who also stopped her from speeding an hour ago. Cambry already made 16 calls to 911! She couldn’t connect with the officers! If a girl wants to end her life why the hell she keeps calling to the officers!
Lena knows in her guts there are so many loopholes about her sister’s suicide story. She is the one who will fill the missing pieces whether she gets herself into dangerous cat and mouse game, being chased by this highway patrolman who is hiding something from her!
Lena picks up her recorders, documenting everything, writing last moments of her sister but what if things are so different she’d ever imagined.
Get ready to be shocked and hold still because at any second the rug may be pulled out from under you! Because there’s nothing as it seems at this full throttle, breathing, high tension story! It was better than watching action packed- extremely disturbing thriller movie!
I loved No Exit! I was waiting for so long to read another brilliant, surprising, heartbreaking, psychological thriller of Taylor Adams! I’m so happy I got what I expected! Such a astonishing, earth shattering, mind bending thriller!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
This book is a long duel! A powerful revenge, a twisty cat and mouse and mind bending hunter becomes prey as prey becomes villain of the story! So mind blowing, heart throbbing, engaging, binge read worthy, extremely exciting wild ride!
The story is about estranged twin sisters: the wild one called Cambry decides to hit the road, driving through the states, stealing gas, getting odd jobs, meeting with useless dipshits as boyfriends. But three months ago, she hits the gas and drives through Hairpin Bridge: taking its name from the architectural anomaly because it looks like giant metal hairpin with its odd shape where is located outside of Missoula, Montana.
According to the police report : she stopped the car, leaving her engine running, door ajar. She walked to the bridge’s edge, she gripped the guardrail with both hands, hoisted herself from the railing one leg at a time and she jumped two hundred feet to death.
Lena, the reliable, responsible , introvert twin sister has her own doubts because getting the cryptic suicide text message from her sister before she jumps already haunted her soul! Her sister is unpredictable, suffering from mental health issues, she’s unreliable, irresponsible, restless, but she never had suicide tendencies!
Lena arranges a meeting with highway patrolman named Raymond R. Raycevic who found her sister at the scene and who also stopped her from speeding an hour ago. Cambry already made 16 calls to 911! She couldn’t connect with the officers! If a girl wants to end her life why the hell she keeps calling to the officers!
Lena knows in her guts there are so many loopholes about her sister’s suicide story. She is the one who will fill the missing pieces whether she gets herself into dangerous cat and mouse game, being chased by this highway patrolman who is hiding something from her!
Lena picks up her recorders, documenting everything, writing last moments of her sister but what if things are so different she’d ever imagined.
Get ready to be shocked and hold still because at any second the rug may be pulled out from under you! Because there’s nothing as it seems at this full throttle, breathing, high tension story! It was better than watching action packed- extremely disturbing thriller movie!
I loved No Exit! I was waiting for so long to read another brilliant, surprising, heartbreaking, psychological thriller of Taylor Adams! I’m so happy I got what I expected! Such a astonishing, earth shattering, mind bending thriller!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
December 18, 2021
This started off so strong and I was really invested! I love stories that follow sisters and I really enjoyed this authors previous book No Exit, so I had high hopes. I’m the beginning, I was so invested in this mystery of what really happened to Lena’s sister. Her sister supposedly jumped off this Hairpin Bridge and killed herself, but she doesn’t think it was suicide. This story alternates between Lenas POV in the present and her sisters POV in the past. The way this story was told just did not work for me at all, I kept getting the two timelines mixed up because the sisters read exactly the same! There is so much action in this book, which should’ve been fun, I really enjoyed the way the first car chase was written, but after a while it got so repetitive and boring 😭 This just ended up being quite a disappointment.
August 30, 2024
Lena Nguyen's twin sister, Cambry, is dead.
While on a solo road trip, Cambry stopped 60-miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped from a bridge; she chose to end her life.
The problem is, Lena doesn't believe that's true. A number of things about the official version just don't add up.
There's the state trooper, Corporal Ray Raycevic. He found Cambry's body, but had also pulled her over in a traffic stop just an hour before she died.
After the traffic stop, there's the 16-attempted 911-calls from Cambry's cell; unfortunately, she was in a dead zone, so it's never been determined what sort of assistance she was seeking.
Lastly, and most troubling to Lena, is the fact that Cambry mentioned Corporal Raycevic by name in her final, cryptic text message to her sister. This text is believed to be her suicide note.
Why would she mention the name of an officer she had only met once, in a reportedly brief, traffic stop? It just doesn't make sense.
Lena is going to get to the bottom of it. Driving her sister's old car, armed with a tape recorder, Lena heads off to Montana to confront Officer Raycevic.
This book kicks off with a bang and really never lets up. As Adams did with No Exit, he is able to steadily build and hold the level of intensity throughout.
There's never a lull in his stories. You are in it, gripping your seat until the very end.
Taking place over the course of just a few hours, this narrative is quite focused in its scope. I think it would translate very well to the big screen.
There are some fantastic stand-off moments, chase scenes, fierce cat-and-mouse moments; it had a lot going for it.
Unfortunately, there were also some aspects that didn't fit well for my tastes. I found the format to be a tad wonky and towards the end, as the pace increased, it became a disjointed and slightly difficult to follow.
For example, I had to keep looking back a bit to give myself a reminder as to who's perspective I was currently reading from. Out of context, this comment probably won't make sense to you, but if you read it, you may find you encounter the same issue.
Additionally, while there were a few interesting revelations, there were also some that toed the line of eye roll territory. A very hard territory to work your way back from.
With this being said, this is an entertaining story. I have a feeling there will be mixed reviews, but as always, it all comes down to personal taste. It's subjective; certain tropes work better for some Readers than others.
There's a book for every Reader and a Reader for every book. While I won't be marking Hairpin Bridge down as a new personal favorite, I still had fun with it and am glad I gave it a shot!
Thank you so much to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion and look forward to picking up more from Taylor Adams!!
While on a solo road trip, Cambry stopped 60-miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped from a bridge; she chose to end her life.
The problem is, Lena doesn't believe that's true. A number of things about the official version just don't add up.
There's the state trooper, Corporal Ray Raycevic. He found Cambry's body, but had also pulled her over in a traffic stop just an hour before she died.
After the traffic stop, there's the 16-attempted 911-calls from Cambry's cell; unfortunately, she was in a dead zone, so it's never been determined what sort of assistance she was seeking.
Lastly, and most troubling to Lena, is the fact that Cambry mentioned Corporal Raycevic by name in her final, cryptic text message to her sister. This text is believed to be her suicide note.
Why would she mention the name of an officer she had only met once, in a reportedly brief, traffic stop? It just doesn't make sense.
Lena is going to get to the bottom of it. Driving her sister's old car, armed with a tape recorder, Lena heads off to Montana to confront Officer Raycevic.
This book kicks off with a bang and really never lets up. As Adams did with No Exit, he is able to steadily build and hold the level of intensity throughout.
There's never a lull in his stories. You are in it, gripping your seat until the very end.
Taking place over the course of just a few hours, this narrative is quite focused in its scope. I think it would translate very well to the big screen.
There are some fantastic stand-off moments, chase scenes, fierce cat-and-mouse moments; it had a lot going for it.
Unfortunately, there were also some aspects that didn't fit well for my tastes. I found the format to be a tad wonky and towards the end, as the pace increased, it became a disjointed and slightly difficult to follow.
For example, I had to keep looking back a bit to give myself a reminder as to who's perspective I was currently reading from. Out of context, this comment probably won't make sense to you, but if you read it, you may find you encounter the same issue.
Additionally, while there were a few interesting revelations, there were also some that toed the line of eye roll territory. A very hard territory to work your way back from.
With this being said, this is an entertaining story. I have a feeling there will be mixed reviews, but as always, it all comes down to personal taste. It's subjective; certain tropes work better for some Readers than others.
There's a book for every Reader and a Reader for every book. While I won't be marking Hairpin Bridge down as a new personal favorite, I still had fun with it and am glad I gave it a shot!
Thank you so much to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion and look forward to picking up more from Taylor Adams!!
March 17, 2023
I really liked No Exit, I thought it was exciting and surprising. Hairpin Bridge, unfortunately, was a huge disappointment.
My main problem is the way the story is told. There are multiple narrators and it's difficult to tell sometimes whose perspective you are in at any given time. There are a couple of decent surprises, but overall this is a VERY repetitive tale. Back and forth, back and forth, lots of car chasing, and most of the story is just a loooooong confrontation between the Lena and Raycevic. I found myself getting alternately bored and confused, and there's so much information that Lena shouldn't know but somehow she knows? Maybe I missed something.
I'll give Adams another try, because I really did like No Exit. Hopefully the next one will be a little different. Small quibble: Adams is from Washington so he should know better, but when Lena is musing about visiting someone (grandparents?) in "East" Oregon when every single person in Oregon and Washington calls it Eastern Oregon. Maybe some editor changed it from his original manuscript, I sure hope so.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
My main problem is the way the story is told. There are multiple narrators and it's difficult to tell sometimes whose perspective you are in at any given time. There are a couple of decent surprises, but overall this is a VERY repetitive tale. Back and forth, back and forth, lots of car chasing, and most of the story is just a loooooong confrontation between the Lena and Raycevic. I found myself getting alternately bored and confused, and there's so much information that Lena shouldn't know but somehow she knows? Maybe I missed something.
I'll give Adams another try, because I really did like No Exit. Hopefully the next one will be a little different. Small quibble: Adams is from Washington so he should know better, but when Lena is musing about visiting someone (grandparents?) in "East" Oregon when every single person in Oregon and Washington calls it Eastern Oregon. Maybe some editor changed it from his original manuscript, I sure hope so.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 27, 2021
This book launched out of the starting blocks with a bang! And… I was all in! Then the bottom fell out, rapidly losing steam. It veered off in another direction (in fact many directions) and I truly had trouble following along.
Lena’s twin Cambry is discovered dead after an apparent suicide. Lena absolutely refuses to believe that Cambry would take her own life by jumping off a bridge.
Lena arranges a meeting with the officer who was the last to have contact with Cambry prior to her death. She demands answers and he is precisely the person to give them to her.
As previously mentioned, the storyline drifted off in so many directions, making it difficult to keep track of what the twins were living, dreaming, or imagining. And which twin was telling which story.🤪
My first read by Taylor Adams and just wasn’t a good fit for me.
A buddy read with Susanne that left us both dazed and confused!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
Lena’s twin Cambry is discovered dead after an apparent suicide. Lena absolutely refuses to believe that Cambry would take her own life by jumping off a bridge.
Lena arranges a meeting with the officer who was the last to have contact with Cambry prior to her death. She demands answers and he is precisely the person to give them to her.
As previously mentioned, the storyline drifted off in so many directions, making it difficult to keep track of what the twins were living, dreaming, or imagining. And which twin was telling which story.🤪
My first read by Taylor Adams and just wasn’t a good fit for me.
A buddy read with Susanne that left us both dazed and confused!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
June 21, 2021
2.5 stars. Pulse-pounding tension and suspense.
Lena doesn’t believe that her twin sister committed suicide by jumping off Hairpin Bridge. She is on a mission to seek revenge and find answers as she believes her sister was murdered.
This book was intense! The first third had me nervously holding my breath, sitting on the edge of my seat while flipping the pages as fast as possible. My heart was racing from the intensity and nerve-wracking tension. This author does a phenomenal job building suspense and worry. I was immediately immersed within Lena’s story and curious to find out what would happen. I enjoyed the blog element that was included in the storyline.
Unfortunately after 40%, the narrative lost its grip on me and became repetitive. I also found the perspective changes were confusing at times. I remained intrigued and curious but not as deeply as I was at the start. Once the story reached halfway, the plot became too far-fetched for me to buy into. I have to believe storylines are plausible in order to truly connect and I just couldn’t get there with the last half of this book. Suspension of disbelief is needed which took away from my enjoyment.
This was my first experience with this author. While the storyline wasn’t for me, the writing was excellent and drew me in strongly. I look forward to reading his previous release, No Exit, to see if I have the same intense connection to the writing and hopefully a better connection to the storyline.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Lena doesn’t believe that her twin sister committed suicide by jumping off Hairpin Bridge. She is on a mission to seek revenge and find answers as she believes her sister was murdered.
This book was intense! The first third had me nervously holding my breath, sitting on the edge of my seat while flipping the pages as fast as possible. My heart was racing from the intensity and nerve-wracking tension. This author does a phenomenal job building suspense and worry. I was immediately immersed within Lena’s story and curious to find out what would happen. I enjoyed the blog element that was included in the storyline.
Unfortunately after 40%, the narrative lost its grip on me and became repetitive. I also found the perspective changes were confusing at times. I remained intrigued and curious but not as deeply as I was at the start. Once the story reached halfway, the plot became too far-fetched for me to buy into. I have to believe storylines are plausible in order to truly connect and I just couldn’t get there with the last half of this book. Suspension of disbelief is needed which took away from my enjoyment.
This was my first experience with this author. While the storyline wasn’t for me, the writing was excellent and drew me in strongly. I look forward to reading his previous release, No Exit, to see if I have the same intense connection to the writing and hopefully a better connection to the storyline.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
May 5, 2021
In all fairness, I was one of those minority island castaways that did not love Adams's first book, No Exit, but I hate to write off an author after one book, so I gave it a shot. After reading this one, I feel pretty confident that Adams and I are just not a match made in heaven, and it's time to move on without belaboring the point. That being said, take my review with a grain of salt, as you may love this one.
As with No Exit, this entire book takes place over a period of hours with a superwoman protagonist, who defies all odds stacked against her and overcomes evil - no matter how many bullets are aimed her way. In this one, Lena Nguyen is seeking the truth about the apparent suicide of her twin sister, Cambry; and the book revolves entirely on Lena's meeting with the police officer, Raymond Raycevuc, whom she believes responsible for her sister's death. It all takes place at the Hairpin Bridge where her sister allegedly jumped, but what follows is a long stand-off between the two (and I do mean long!), in which the past events are oddly revealed - by Lena's blogs, by way of Officer Raycevuc, and by some super odd flashbacks from Cambry's perspective, which appear though to have been penned by Lena as her theories of what might have happened? I honestly found them disjointed and rather confusing, and for me, they didn't do the back story justice.
What I really didn't enjoy though were the extremely repetitive action scenes (how many freakin' car chases can there be in one story?!), and soooo many things are thrown into the mix that it all felt very unbelievable, including Cambry and Lena's face-offs with the "bad guys." Also, the longer the story went on and the more I learned about Cambry, the more I stopped caring about what really happened to her.
Things did pick up at the end and there were a couple of surprising moments that I was not expecting (which I thought were cleverly done!), so for that, I gave it an extra star. Overall, it was an entertaining read that I finished in one sitting, and I think most readers will probably love this one. For me though, it was just a bit too simplistic in its formula when it came to setting, characters, and dialogue. I was all set to give it an unenthusiastic 2 stars, but then then ending was significant enough that I bumped it up to a slightly-more-enthusiastic 3 stars.
As with No Exit, this entire book takes place over a period of hours with a superwoman protagonist, who defies all odds stacked against her and overcomes evil - no matter how many bullets are aimed her way. In this one, Lena Nguyen is seeking the truth about the apparent suicide of her twin sister, Cambry; and the book revolves entirely on Lena's meeting with the police officer, Raymond Raycevuc, whom she believes responsible for her sister's death. It all takes place at the Hairpin Bridge where her sister allegedly jumped, but what follows is a long stand-off between the two (and I do mean long!), in which the past events are oddly revealed - by Lena's blogs, by way of Officer Raycevuc, and by some super odd flashbacks from Cambry's perspective, which appear though to have been penned by Lena as her theories of what might have happened? I honestly found them disjointed and rather confusing, and for me, they didn't do the back story justice.
What I really didn't enjoy though were the extremely repetitive action scenes (how many freakin' car chases can there be in one story?!), and soooo many things are thrown into the mix that it all felt very unbelievable, including Cambry and Lena's face-offs with the "bad guys." Also, the longer the story went on and the more I learned about Cambry, the more I stopped caring about what really happened to her.
Things did pick up at the end and there were a couple of surprising moments that I was not expecting (which I thought were cleverly done!), so for that, I gave it an extra star. Overall, it was an entertaining read that I finished in one sitting, and I think most readers will probably love this one. For me though, it was just a bit too simplistic in its formula when it came to setting, characters, and dialogue. I was all set to give it an unenthusiastic 2 stars, but then then ending was significant enough that I bumped it up to a slightly-more-enthusiastic 3 stars.
July 15, 2021
Another incredibly enjoyable read by Mr. Adams! This 4.5-Star (rounded up!) tale of revenge gave me all of the 'feels' Adams' previous novel No Exit did, and then some, and I can now proudly say I'm a HUGE fan!! Just like in No Exit, Hairpin Bridge centers itself around a strong female protagonist, named Lena Nguyen, who has recently lost her twin sister to suicide...or did she? Although the sisters have been estranged, surely Lena would know if Cambry was suicidal, right?! At least that's what Lena thinks as she investigates her untimely death and makes plans to meet up with Officer Raycevuc, who suspiciously pulled her sister over less than an hour prior to her death on the remote Hairpin Bridge, also known as Suicide Bridge. He was the last person to see her alive after all, so there just has to be more to this story! Events jump back and forth prior to Cambry's death and after, as Lena meets 'Officer Ray Ray' at the remote and desolate country bridge and questions him, cumulating in an action-packed novel that really had me wondering what to believe to the extent I was literally at the edge of my seat until the very end. I wasn't sure what to expect, but gosh darn it did this one contain pretty much every critical element I personally need in a phenomenal thriller! Suffice to say, Mr. Adams sure knows how to write incredibly flawed, realistic and insanely brave female leads, and I'm not mad at him for it!! I connected and empathized with the characters, was intensely captivated with the mystery element, and got spine-tingling chills by the incredibly creepy and sinister Plastic Man. And that incredible ending....let's just say it really pulled everything together, in a very touching way, almost bringing me to tears! Folks, this is definitely one you can't miss, and I would recommend it to fans of pretty much any genre. I simply can't wait to go out and purchase his next release ASAP!
November 24, 2021
I became a fan of Taylor Adams after reading 2019’s NO EXIT. The intense story to the relentless pacing and multiple twists and turns made it one of the best thrillers I have ever read. So I was expecting a lot from Adams and his new novel, HAIRPIN BRIDGE
HAIRPIN BRIDGE is a story of twin sisters Cambry & Lena. Cambry Nguyen was wrapping up a year-long journey across America when highway patrolman Raymond Raycevic found her dead beneath the Hairpin Bridge, a derelict structure off a now-closed road 60 miles from Missoula, Montana. Unconvinced by the verdict of suicide, Cambry’s identical twin, Lena, drives from her home in Seattle to Montana. Raycevic reluctantly leads Lena to the bridge and begins to answer her increasingly pointed questions. Was it a coincidence that Raycevic pulled Cambry over for speeding only an hour before her death? Lena will do anything to uncover the truth. But as her twin’s final hours come into focus, Lena’s search turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival—one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister and herself.
Taking place over the course of just a few hours, this narrative is quite focused in its scope. This book feels like a chess game. When you think one side is finally in control, one move and the entire game changes. It’s a story of revenge, a twisted game of cat and mouse, of getting closure. The storyline is an intense, mind-blowing, engaging wild ride full of stand-offs, chase scenes, shootouts, and some; it had a lot going for it.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE is a story that played out over a few hours with just 4 characters. To create a full-fledged story with a minimalistic setting and cast of characters was never going to be easy but Adams manages it really well. The short time frame makes it for a gripping experience where the reader really feels like being right there in the middle of the action. The twin timelines of Cambry and Lena unfolding just a little part of mystery with each chapter really keeps you hooked till the end.
The narrative switches sometimes get confusing especially when it also switches back and forth in time with Lena's blog entries appearing throughout the book, which made the story really disjointed. Some of the twists and events towards the end of the book didn't add much to the story but made the story more confusing. One major twist, in particular, contradicted everything we had read in the story so far and was really confusing. Around the last third of the book, the narrative just lost steam and the action really died down. I found the storylines hard to connect which took away from my enjoyment of the book. The emotional bonding between Cambry and Lena failed to connect as a reader.
Having said that this book ticks most of the boxes as an exciting thriller. From excellent writing, a unique story, and some great character, Adams has added all the ingredients to make it a page-turner. Overall, HAIRPIN BRIDGE is a fast-paced thriller, full of twists and turns. If you love thrillers, car chases, and lots of action, then you will probably love this book. Three and a Half Stars.
Many thanks to the publishers Joffe Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE is a story of twin sisters Cambry & Lena. Cambry Nguyen was wrapping up a year-long journey across America when highway patrolman Raymond Raycevic found her dead beneath the Hairpin Bridge, a derelict structure off a now-closed road 60 miles from Missoula, Montana. Unconvinced by the verdict of suicide, Cambry’s identical twin, Lena, drives from her home in Seattle to Montana. Raycevic reluctantly leads Lena to the bridge and begins to answer her increasingly pointed questions. Was it a coincidence that Raycevic pulled Cambry over for speeding only an hour before her death? Lena will do anything to uncover the truth. But as her twin’s final hours come into focus, Lena’s search turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival—one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister and herself.
Taking place over the course of just a few hours, this narrative is quite focused in its scope. This book feels like a chess game. When you think one side is finally in control, one move and the entire game changes. It’s a story of revenge, a twisted game of cat and mouse, of getting closure. The storyline is an intense, mind-blowing, engaging wild ride full of stand-offs, chase scenes, shootouts, and some; it had a lot going for it.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE is a story that played out over a few hours with just 4 characters. To create a full-fledged story with a minimalistic setting and cast of characters was never going to be easy but Adams manages it really well. The short time frame makes it for a gripping experience where the reader really feels like being right there in the middle of the action. The twin timelines of Cambry and Lena unfolding just a little part of mystery with each chapter really keeps you hooked till the end.
The narrative switches sometimes get confusing especially when it also switches back and forth in time with Lena's blog entries appearing throughout the book, which made the story really disjointed. Some of the twists and events towards the end of the book didn't add much to the story but made the story more confusing. One major twist, in particular, contradicted everything we had read in the story so far and was really confusing. Around the last third of the book, the narrative just lost steam and the action really died down. I found the storylines hard to connect which took away from my enjoyment of the book. The emotional bonding between Cambry and Lena failed to connect as a reader.
Having said that this book ticks most of the boxes as an exciting thriller. From excellent writing, a unique story, and some great character, Adams has added all the ingredients to make it a page-turner. Overall, HAIRPIN BRIDGE is a fast-paced thriller, full of twists and turns. If you love thrillers, car chases, and lots of action, then you will probably love this book. Three and a Half Stars.
Many thanks to the publishers Joffe Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
May 24, 2021
Holy Shooty Balls this was one riveting, action-packed, and an absolutely unputdownable page-turner!
After reading NO EXIT and absolutely loving it, I knew that I just HAD to read this book. And oh my goodness I’m so thrilled to say that HAIRPIN BRIDGE was just as amazing. Also, my review is probably going to sound pretty similar too.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE by TAYLOR ADAMS is a dark, highly entertaining, engrossing and high-octane thrill ride that was quite the intense and twisty psychological thriller. The storyline and the chilling setting of this tale immediately drew me in and held me captive right to the very end. I found that the storyline was so darn nightmarishly exciting that literally had me holding my breath and kept me on the edge of my seat making this one totally immersive read.
TAYLOR ADAMS delivers a rapid-paced, suspenseful, gripping, well-written and perfectly executed read here that was such a vivid portrayal that I thought I was actually watching a thriller movie unfold rather than just reading it. A few scenes definitely creeped me out just a tad bit with how detailed and graphic they were but I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was overly graphic though. They lasted just long enough to let me forget and move on without me dwelling on it too much. That is pretty good storytelling to be able to totally immerse me in every little scary vivid detail as I am definitely not always a visual reader.
I absolutely loved how this story was told, the blog post, and how all the many brilliant details sprinkled throughout all made sense in the end. This just kept me glued to the pages right to that perfect resolution.
This was pretty much the perfect thriller for me and one that totally blew me away. Yup landing into my favourite 2021 reading shelf!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, HarperCollins Canada, and Taylor Adams for my review copy.
After reading NO EXIT and absolutely loving it, I knew that I just HAD to read this book. And oh my goodness I’m so thrilled to say that HAIRPIN BRIDGE was just as amazing. Also, my review is probably going to sound pretty similar too.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE by TAYLOR ADAMS is a dark, highly entertaining, engrossing and high-octane thrill ride that was quite the intense and twisty psychological thriller. The storyline and the chilling setting of this tale immediately drew me in and held me captive right to the very end. I found that the storyline was so darn nightmarishly exciting that literally had me holding my breath and kept me on the edge of my seat making this one totally immersive read.
TAYLOR ADAMS delivers a rapid-paced, suspenseful, gripping, well-written and perfectly executed read here that was such a vivid portrayal that I thought I was actually watching a thriller movie unfold rather than just reading it. A few scenes definitely creeped me out just a tad bit with how detailed and graphic they were but I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was overly graphic though. They lasted just long enough to let me forget and move on without me dwelling on it too much. That is pretty good storytelling to be able to totally immerse me in every little scary vivid detail as I am definitely not always a visual reader.
I absolutely loved how this story was told, the blog post, and how all the many brilliant details sprinkled throughout all made sense in the end. This just kept me glued to the pages right to that perfect resolution.
This was pretty much the perfect thriller for me and one that totally blew me away. Yup landing into my favourite 2021 reading shelf!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, HarperCollins Canada, and Taylor Adams for my review copy.
June 3, 2021
4.75 heart-stopping stars
This one made my heart race and was jam-packed with tension! A tale of revenge and getting to the truth.
We meet Lena Nguyen as she is trying to process her grief for her twin sister. Cambry Nguyen was on a year-long road trip and ended up jumping off a bridge in rural Montana to end her life. Lena doesn’t buy into that theory though!
That’s where the heart-stopping tension starts with this one. Lena is convinced she knows what really happened and she’s dead set on getting a confession. Lena is convinced that the officer who pulled her sister over an hour before her death knows a lot more than what he’s saying.
Lena convinces Corporal Raymond Raycevic to meet her on the fateful bridge so that she can see exactly where her sister took her life.
There are some great blog entries that help fill out the story and I liked that story telling technique.
This one had so many twists and tense moments and everything was up in the air for how it would end. Would Lena figure out what really happened? Will she survive the encounter with Raycevic or does she have it all wrong?
Thank you to Scene of the Crime/William Morrow/Custom House and NetGalley for the copy of this one to read.
This one made my heart race and was jam-packed with tension! A tale of revenge and getting to the truth.
We meet Lena Nguyen as she is trying to process her grief for her twin sister. Cambry Nguyen was on a year-long road trip and ended up jumping off a bridge in rural Montana to end her life. Lena doesn’t buy into that theory though!
That’s where the heart-stopping tension starts with this one. Lena is convinced she knows what really happened and she’s dead set on getting a confession. Lena is convinced that the officer who pulled her sister over an hour before her death knows a lot more than what he’s saying.
Lena convinces Corporal Raymond Raycevic to meet her on the fateful bridge so that she can see exactly where her sister took her life.
There are some great blog entries that help fill out the story and I liked that story telling technique.
This one had so many twists and tense moments and everything was up in the air for how it would end. Would Lena figure out what really happened? Will she survive the encounter with Raycevic or does she have it all wrong?
Thank you to Scene of the Crime/William Morrow/Custom House and NetGalley for the copy of this one to read.
October 14, 2021
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Joffe, and Taylor Adams for an ARC of this book!! Now available as of 6.15!**
"Here's your book, sis. At long last. I'm so, so sorry that it's fifteen years late. And that you die at the end."
So begins Adams' latest thriller, Hairpin Bridge. Lena, devoted twin sister, is desperate to find out the truth about what happened to sister Cambry. Yes, she breathed her last at a now infamous suicide spot, Hairpin Bridge, and an incriminating text sent by Cambry at the end certainly points to this conclusion. However, Cambry mentions an Officer in her final note to Lena, and Lena suspects her free-wheeling sister would never choose this end for herself. She finds the Officer in question, and armed with an inquisitive mind (and potentially more), she begins a quest for the truth and won't quit until she gets every last answer. But is someone out to silence Lena...for good?
Adams' No Exit was a pleasant surprise for me: a page-turning, adrenaline-fueled ride that seemed like a story ripped out of today's headlines. I was so sure Hairpin Bridge would read in much the same way, and it did...to an extent. At first, I was drawn in by the mystery surrounding Cambry's death and Lena's stalwart determination to get to the bottom of things. I soon realized, though, that this one reads a lot more like an action movie...an incredibly repetitive action movie.
Without giving too much away, there is FAR too much discussion of firearms for my liking. The model one character has in particular was mentioned ad nauseum, and as someone who isn't a fan of guns, I just didn't care. Adams also compared his narrative (from the perspective of his characters) to a movie or television show over and over and over. Maybe he was hoping to demonstrate adaptation potential, but for me, it was just a reminder of how unrealistic most of the novel actually was and that it felt more like an action movie already than a fully-fleshed out narrative. The 'twists' weren't anything too shocking, at least for me, and even though the events of the novel took place over a relatively short period of time, the book felt as though it went on forever. I was hoping at least the conclusion of this one would leave me satisfied, but I was underwhelmed.
While I feel that Adams hit a home run with No Exit, for me Hairpin Bridge felt more like a very long standoff at the OK Corral that just left me wanting more!
3.5 ⭐️
"Here's your book, sis. At long last. I'm so, so sorry that it's fifteen years late. And that you die at the end."
So begins Adams' latest thriller, Hairpin Bridge. Lena, devoted twin sister, is desperate to find out the truth about what happened to sister Cambry. Yes, she breathed her last at a now infamous suicide spot, Hairpin Bridge, and an incriminating text sent by Cambry at the end certainly points to this conclusion. However, Cambry mentions an Officer in her final note to Lena, and Lena suspects her free-wheeling sister would never choose this end for herself. She finds the Officer in question, and armed with an inquisitive mind (and potentially more), she begins a quest for the truth and won't quit until she gets every last answer. But is someone out to silence Lena...for good?
Adams' No Exit was a pleasant surprise for me: a page-turning, adrenaline-fueled ride that seemed like a story ripped out of today's headlines. I was so sure Hairpin Bridge would read in much the same way, and it did...to an extent. At first, I was drawn in by the mystery surrounding Cambry's death and Lena's stalwart determination to get to the bottom of things. I soon realized, though, that this one reads a lot more like an action movie...an incredibly repetitive action movie.
Without giving too much away, there is FAR too much discussion of firearms for my liking. The model one character has in particular was mentioned ad nauseum, and as someone who isn't a fan of guns, I just didn't care. Adams also compared his narrative (from the perspective of his characters) to a movie or television show over and over and over. Maybe he was hoping to demonstrate adaptation potential, but for me, it was just a reminder of how unrealistic most of the novel actually was and that it felt more like an action movie already than a fully-fleshed out narrative. The 'twists' weren't anything too shocking, at least for me, and even though the events of the novel took place over a relatively short period of time, the book felt as though it went on forever. I was hoping at least the conclusion of this one would leave me satisfied, but I was underwhelmed.
While I feel that Adams hit a home run with No Exit, for me Hairpin Bridge felt more like a very long standoff at the OK Corral that just left me wanting more!
3.5 ⭐️
June 14, 2021
4.5 ⭐ One helluva ride!
No need for a notepad to keep track of the cast. Hairpin Bridge is my kind of book, with characters you can count on one hand. Yet, you still wonder who did what, why and how! The story is told in two timelines, three months apart with two POVs, as Cambry's story and Lena's, the Nguyen twin sisters.
Cambry's story or the chase is nail-biting and very tense. With time ticking away, literally, it is absolutely gripping and pulse-racing.
Lena's story is about seeking the truth. What happened to Cambry? She travels from Washington to Montana to find answers. I like the switch between the two POVs as this one is mellow where I can take a breather. Then halfway through, Lena's story becomes just as harrowing as Lena's if not even more so!
Great mystery and thrills. This is my first book by Taylor Adams and I'll be looking forward to more.
Thank you, Joffe Books, and Netgalley for my ARC.
Publish date June 15, 2021.
No need for a notepad to keep track of the cast. Hairpin Bridge is my kind of book, with characters you can count on one hand. Yet, you still wonder who did what, why and how! The story is told in two timelines, three months apart with two POVs, as Cambry's story and Lena's, the Nguyen twin sisters.
Cambry's story or the chase is nail-biting and very tense. With time ticking away, literally, it is absolutely gripping and pulse-racing.
Lena's story is about seeking the truth. What happened to Cambry? She travels from Washington to Montana to find answers. I like the switch between the two POVs as this one is mellow where I can take a breather. Then halfway through, Lena's story becomes just as harrowing as Lena's if not even more so!
Great mystery and thrills. This is my first book by Taylor Adams and I'll be looking forward to more.
Thank you, Joffe Books, and Netgalley for my ARC.
Publish date June 15, 2021.
June 16, 2021
Taylor Adams sure knows how to grab my attention with the promise of a great plot. A twin (Lena) trying to find out the truth about her sister Cambry's suicide that she suspects is actually murder and may involve a police cover-up? Sign me up. Unfortunately, similarly to his breakout hit No Exit, I didn't love the book the way I wanted to.
The positives: Both in this as well as No Exit, the majority of the action takes place over a few hours. I don't read a lot of books that utilize this short of a time frame and it makes for a gripping experience where the reader really feels like they are right there in the middle of the action. I absolutely tore through this book wanting to see what happened next.
I also really enjoy that Taylor Adams writes badass female characters who don't shy away from rough and tumble sequences worthy of an action movie. (However, I didn't love how often male characters pointed out or were surprised by this)
The not so positives: I was confused quite often while reading because the narrative switches POVs sometimes clearly announced and other times with no warning. Lena's blog entries appear throughout the book, mid chapter, and then we jump back into the story, sometimes from a new character's perspective. It often took me a few paragraphs to get my bearings, which took me out of the otherwise intense page-turning reading experience.
Also, Cambry's narrative just didn't work for me. Early on, we're told it is Lena imagining what Cambry must have been doing and thinking. Maybe it's just me, but with all of the switching between various characters and timelines I often forgot this was just a (possibly unreliable) guess at what happened, versus following Cambry in real time like we were following along with Lena.
Too much suspension of disbelief was required for me. Having a character sigh along with me with an "oh, come on..." after every every implausible twist doesn't really help to alleviate my own eye rolls. Some of the more ridiculous twists and events didn't add much to the story anyway, which made them even more frustrating.
Overall this is a quick, fun read, but wouldn't be high on my list to recommend. I do think people who are more into intense, fast-paced action movies and books would enjoy this much more than I did though. If you're into car chases, buckle up, because this book is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The positives: Both in this as well as No Exit, the majority of the action takes place over a few hours. I don't read a lot of books that utilize this short of a time frame and it makes for a gripping experience where the reader really feels like they are right there in the middle of the action. I absolutely tore through this book wanting to see what happened next.
I also really enjoy that Taylor Adams writes badass female characters who don't shy away from rough and tumble sequences worthy of an action movie. (However, I didn't love how often male characters pointed out or were surprised by this)
The not so positives: I was confused quite often while reading because the narrative switches POVs sometimes clearly announced and other times with no warning. Lena's blog entries appear throughout the book, mid chapter, and then we jump back into the story, sometimes from a new character's perspective. It often took me a few paragraphs to get my bearings, which took me out of the otherwise intense page-turning reading experience.
Also, Cambry's narrative just didn't work for me. Early on, we're told it is Lena imagining what Cambry must have been doing and thinking. Maybe it's just me, but with all of the switching between various characters and timelines I often forgot this was just a (possibly unreliable) guess at what happened, versus following Cambry in real time like we were following along with Lena.
Too much suspension of disbelief was required for me. Having a character sigh along with me with an "oh, come on..." after every every implausible twist doesn't really help to alleviate my own eye rolls. Some of the more ridiculous twists and events didn't add much to the story anyway, which made them even more frustrating.
Overall this is a quick, fun read, but wouldn't be high on my list to recommend. I do think people who are more into intense, fast-paced action movies and books would enjoy this much more than I did though. If you're into car chases, buckle up, because this book is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2021
I wish to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read Hairpin Bridge in return for an honest review. I was excited to obtain the ARC, as I had read No Exit by Taylor Adams, which I thought was a brilliant, riveting thriller. In fact, it was one of my favourite suspense stories the year I read it. However, I regret this one was a disappointment for me. I believe many readers will find this a compelling read and enjoy its non-stop action, but it didn't work for me.
Lena has been grieving for her estranged twin sister, Cambry since she committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. They were estranged, and the introverted Lena had not seen her twin for a long time before her tragic death and didn't know her well. The more outgoing Cambry had some mental health issues, left home, and was on the road, living out of her car and surviving by her wits. Unfortunately, she had a history of involvement with terrible men. Their grief-stricken mother is a very religious woman who believes Cambry is in Hell as punishment for suicide. The story contains gore, with some described through Lena's nightmares and imagination. There is also violence and implausible action scenes.
Cambry's body was found by a Montana highway patrolman, Corporal Raymond Reycevic. By coincidence, he issued her a speeding ticket an hour before she arrived on the fatal bridge and jumped. His name was mentioned on a vague, cryptic suicide note. Lena refuses to believe that her sister committed suicide and is obsessed with the suspicion that the police officer is involved in her death.
She plans to meet him at the bridge and question him about what he knows, hoping to record a confession for his part in Cambry's death.
Car chases and shoot-outs often add to the intensity and thrills of a book. Unfortunately, I found them repetitive and thought they went on far too long. What should have been gripping and exciting became far-fetched, redundant and boring for me.
There were details I found unnecessary, and the format was confusing. Abrupt transitions from Lena's encounter with Reycevic and Cambry's story containing facts and Lena's speculation and guesses about her sister's thoughts and experiences often came without warning and made the story seem disjointed. There were also selections from Lena's past and future blog, furthering the switches between perspectives. I was unable to invest in the characters on an emotional level, finding none likeable nor sympathetic. A suspension of disbelief was essential as I found the drama too over the top and far-fetched. Many may like how Lena's quiet, withdrawn personality changed her into a forceful, vengeful woman.
There were some good twists, especially the final, which I was expecting. However, I would read the next book by Taylor Adams based on how much I enjoyed No Exit, rather than my disappointment and misgivings with Hairpin Bridge.
Lena has been grieving for her estranged twin sister, Cambry since she committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. They were estranged, and the introverted Lena had not seen her twin for a long time before her tragic death and didn't know her well. The more outgoing Cambry had some mental health issues, left home, and was on the road, living out of her car and surviving by her wits. Unfortunately, she had a history of involvement with terrible men. Their grief-stricken mother is a very religious woman who believes Cambry is in Hell as punishment for suicide. The story contains gore, with some described through Lena's nightmares and imagination. There is also violence and implausible action scenes.
Cambry's body was found by a Montana highway patrolman, Corporal Raymond Reycevic. By coincidence, he issued her a speeding ticket an hour before she arrived on the fatal bridge and jumped. His name was mentioned on a vague, cryptic suicide note. Lena refuses to believe that her sister committed suicide and is obsessed with the suspicion that the police officer is involved in her death.
She plans to meet him at the bridge and question him about what he knows, hoping to record a confession for his part in Cambry's death.
Car chases and shoot-outs often add to the intensity and thrills of a book. Unfortunately, I found them repetitive and thought they went on far too long. What should have been gripping and exciting became far-fetched, redundant and boring for me.
There were details I found unnecessary, and the format was confusing. Abrupt transitions from Lena's encounter with Reycevic and Cambry's story containing facts and Lena's speculation and guesses about her sister's thoughts and experiences often came without warning and made the story seem disjointed. There were also selections from Lena's past and future blog, furthering the switches between perspectives. I was unable to invest in the characters on an emotional level, finding none likeable nor sympathetic. A suspension of disbelief was essential as I found the drama too over the top and far-fetched. Many may like how Lena's quiet, withdrawn personality changed her into a forceful, vengeful woman.
There were some good twists, especially the final, which I was expecting. However, I would read the next book by Taylor Adams based on how much I enjoyed No Exit, rather than my disappointment and misgivings with Hairpin Bridge.
July 6, 2021
Action-packed throughout! That is one thing I truly liked about this book was the intensity from start to finish.
However, I did leave this book feeling underwhelmed by it. I think there were supposed to be twists? But none seemed all that surprising and definitely didn’t pack a punch.
This might be a ‘me thing’, but I know absolute jack about guns and I felt like 30% of this book was gun lingo that I didn’t understand.
The POVs were driving me crazy because it changed so often and so frequently that I found myself getting bored and distracted so easily.
Trigger warning: There are a handful of really intense, gory and graphic scenes as well as a lot of talk about suicide.
However, I did leave this book feeling underwhelmed by it. I think there were supposed to be twists? But none seemed all that surprising and definitely didn’t pack a punch.
This might be a ‘me thing’, but I know absolute jack about guns and I felt like 30% of this book was gun lingo that I didn’t understand.
The POVs were driving me crazy because it changed so often and so frequently that I found myself getting bored and distracted so easily.
Trigger warning: There are a handful of really intense, gory and graphic scenes as well as a lot of talk about suicide.
February 22, 2021
After No Exit, I'll read pretty much anything Taylor Adams writes, and Hairpin Bridge doesn't disappoint. Taylor has a knack for dark characters and grim settings, and just like in his prior work, there were multiple chapters that had me holding my breath. The story within a story angle was pretty brilliant, too, as was the resolution. If you love high-octane thrillers with unexpected twists, you'll definitely love this one.
June 2, 2021
That was intense! Edge of your seat and nail biting stuff. Three months after her twin sister Cambry apparently threw herself off Hairpin Bridge, to plunge to her death 200 ft below, 24 year old Lena Nguyen is in Montana to find out what really happened. Lena and Cambry were very different people and were not particularly close but Lena feels she somehow let her sister down and she is positive that she would not have killed herself. There is no mobile (cell) reception at the bridge but Cambry’s last sms to Lena was sent the day after she died as the phone in her pocket found reception on the way to the morgue. How it survived the fall is anyone’s guess. The message mentioned Officer Raycevic, a Montana state trooper so Lena has a starting point.
Lena is a smart cookie and leaves nothing to chance. She has referenced all the relevant paperwork relating to her sister’s death and is convinced that Raycevic killed her and that he also sent the message (which may explain how the phone survived). The message is definitely not in Cambry’s ‘voice’. Lena’s plan is to get Raycevic to take her to the bridge - ostensibly to just see where her sister died as some of closure but she actually plans to elicit and record his confession. She has also made some other preparations. This is one smart and crazy brave lady. Lena does not know if she will survive the day but she is fully committed to her plan.
The story is told from the POV of Lena in the third person, excerpts from her blog post and excerpts from a story she is writing about what she thinks happened to Cambry and most of the action takes place on or around the bridge. And what an epic piece of action it is - Die Hard on steroids! Raycevic insists he didn’t throw Cambry off the bridge and tells Lena some things that make her question her assumptions. What really happened? I really don’t want to say more as it is better to go in cold. Thriller and action fans will be delighted with this dark and fast paced story. There is much, much more involved than a simple fall from a bridge! I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lena is a smart cookie and leaves nothing to chance. She has referenced all the relevant paperwork relating to her sister’s death and is convinced that Raycevic killed her and that he also sent the message (which may explain how the phone survived). The message is definitely not in Cambry’s ‘voice’. Lena’s plan is to get Raycevic to take her to the bridge - ostensibly to just see where her sister died as some of closure but she actually plans to elicit and record his confession. She has also made some other preparations. This is one smart and crazy brave lady. Lena does not know if she will survive the day but she is fully committed to her plan.
The story is told from the POV of Lena in the third person, excerpts from her blog post and excerpts from a story she is writing about what she thinks happened to Cambry and most of the action takes place on or around the bridge. And what an epic piece of action it is - Die Hard on steroids! Raycevic insists he didn’t throw Cambry off the bridge and tells Lena some things that make her question her assumptions. What really happened? I really don’t want to say more as it is better to go in cold. Thriller and action fans will be delighted with this dark and fast paced story. There is much, much more involved than a simple fall from a bridge! I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 20, 2023
3.5 stars
What is going on between the covers
Lena's sister, Cambry, supposedly drove to a remote bridge and jumped off, but Lena is convinced that's not what happened. She is determined to find out what really happened and goes to Hairpin Bridge to meet Officer Raycevic, who found her sister's body, to get answers.
My two cents
Hairpin Bridge is a heart-pounding, cinematic cat-and-mouse game with plenty of suspense and tension that kept me on the edge of my seat with plenty of twists and turns that had me wondering who the cat was and who the mouse was. The stakes are high for Lena when she faces off with Officer Raycevic, and she is willing to risk everything to find out what happened to her sister. Taylor Adams creates doubt with layers of uncertainty, and I went back and forth with who I was rooting for. Lena makes for an intriguing underestimate, resource opponent in this cat-and-mouse game.
The story is told through two separate timelines as we follow Lena facing off with Raycevic as he tries to convince her Cambry died by suicide, along with Cambry's timeline leading up to her death. We see the discrepancies between what Lena is being told and what we already know, and it could be interpreted differently after seeing each timeline, creating doubt in both timelines.
Overall, Hairpin Bridge is an entertaining, thrilling story with characters you don't know who to root for to keep you on your toes. The pacing could be a bit better, as to much time is spent going back and forth between Lena and Raycevic. The ending comes together well with a rewarding payoff, making it a satisfying read.
I received a copy from the publisher on EW.
What is going on between the covers
Lena's sister, Cambry, supposedly drove to a remote bridge and jumped off, but Lena is convinced that's not what happened. She is determined to find out what really happened and goes to Hairpin Bridge to meet Officer Raycevic, who found her sister's body, to get answers.
My two cents
Hairpin Bridge is a heart-pounding, cinematic cat-and-mouse game with plenty of suspense and tension that kept me on the edge of my seat with plenty of twists and turns that had me wondering who the cat was and who the mouse was. The stakes are high for Lena when she faces off with Officer Raycevic, and she is willing to risk everything to find out what happened to her sister. Taylor Adams creates doubt with layers of uncertainty, and I went back and forth with who I was rooting for. Lena makes for an intriguing underestimate, resource opponent in this cat-and-mouse game.
The story is told through two separate timelines as we follow Lena facing off with Raycevic as he tries to convince her Cambry died by suicide, along with Cambry's timeline leading up to her death. We see the discrepancies between what Lena is being told and what we already know, and it could be interpreted differently after seeing each timeline, creating doubt in both timelines.
Overall, Hairpin Bridge is an entertaining, thrilling story with characters you don't know who to root for to keep you on your toes. The pacing could be a bit better, as to much time is spent going back and forth between Lena and Raycevic. The ending comes together well with a rewarding payoff, making it a satisfying read.
I received a copy from the publisher on EW.
June 22, 2021
Expect The Unexpected!
Cambry and Lena are uniquely different although they are identical twin sisters. Cambry is an adventurous free spirit while Lena is a serious-minded introvert until one day in June when Cambry takes her own life and jumps off Hairpin Bridge. Three months later Lena will meet Officer Racevic the policeman who discovered Cambry's body on Hairpin Bridge to learn all the details of her sister's death because in her heart she knows Cambry could never have committed suicide and this man is the only one who can help her find the answers she needs to make peace with her sister's death. Unbeknownst to Lena and Officer Racevic this meeting will unfold a shocking and harrowing story of pain, violence, lies and murder while Lena learns that she didn't really know her sister at all and wishes that she never set up this meeting because anyone who is on this bridge today will be fighting for their sanity as well as their lives.
This is a dark and harrowing psychological thriller that left me speechless by the end of the book. Fantastic, descriptive storytelling, where at times I was just holding my breath throughout the story. I almost gave five stars but I found it a little slow going until the 40 percent mark and then (WoW), it really took off and it was so action packed with so many twists that I never saw coming and would say "what the ......." ? I really couldn't believe where the story was going and I loved it. What a wild ride! This book was brutal with violence and the unexpected. Great writing by Taylor Adams! This was my first book that I have read by this author but I'm am excited to read more by him. (IMO) this a book that men will enjoy, maybe even more than some women because it is not sweet or wholesome in any way just a great down and dirty full of action and some shocking surprises none too pleasant. I can only say "I just want more and more!"
I want to thank the author Taylor Adams and the publisher "Joffe Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific thriller and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this dark story and give a rating of 4 1/2 DISTURBING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
Cambry and Lena are uniquely different although they are identical twin sisters. Cambry is an adventurous free spirit while Lena is a serious-minded introvert until one day in June when Cambry takes her own life and jumps off Hairpin Bridge. Three months later Lena will meet Officer Racevic the policeman who discovered Cambry's body on Hairpin Bridge to learn all the details of her sister's death because in her heart she knows Cambry could never have committed suicide and this man is the only one who can help her find the answers she needs to make peace with her sister's death. Unbeknownst to Lena and Officer Racevic this meeting will unfold a shocking and harrowing story of pain, violence, lies and murder while Lena learns that she didn't really know her sister at all and wishes that she never set up this meeting because anyone who is on this bridge today will be fighting for their sanity as well as their lives.
This is a dark and harrowing psychological thriller that left me speechless by the end of the book. Fantastic, descriptive storytelling, where at times I was just holding my breath throughout the story. I almost gave five stars but I found it a little slow going until the 40 percent mark and then (WoW), it really took off and it was so action packed with so many twists that I never saw coming and would say "what the ......." ? I really couldn't believe where the story was going and I loved it. What a wild ride! This book was brutal with violence and the unexpected. Great writing by Taylor Adams! This was my first book that I have read by this author but I'm am excited to read more by him. (IMO) this a book that men will enjoy, maybe even more than some women because it is not sweet or wholesome in any way just a great down and dirty full of action and some shocking surprises none too pleasant. I can only say "I just want more and more!"
I want to thank the author Taylor Adams and the publisher "Joffe Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific thriller and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this dark story and give a rating of 4 1/2 DISTURBING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
April 24, 2021
3.8
A fast-paced thriller with a tantalizing build in suspense but without a surprise ending. With my adrenaline flowing, I'm not sure what I expected. It kept me interested and held me enough to want to finish it.
Lena's sister, Cambry, was found dead after jumping from Hairpin Bridge with a suicide note found nearby. An incomplete text never sent from Camby's phone incriminated someone else may be involved. Cambry had also attempted to call 911 sixteen times. Lena vowed to find justice while writing about it in her blog. Her thoughts and every move in her investigation are displayed for everyone to read that a police officer who found her sister was to blame for her death. He was the last person to see her on that quiet abandoned road.
Officer Raycevic agreed to meet Lena at Hairpin Bridge to interview him about her death. Events begin to spiral out of control becoming a mind bending day of terror for Lena.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A fast-paced thriller with a tantalizing build in suspense but without a surprise ending. With my adrenaline flowing, I'm not sure what I expected. It kept me interested and held me enough to want to finish it.
Lena's sister, Cambry, was found dead after jumping from Hairpin Bridge with a suicide note found nearby. An incomplete text never sent from Camby's phone incriminated someone else may be involved. Cambry had also attempted to call 911 sixteen times. Lena vowed to find justice while writing about it in her blog. Her thoughts and every move in her investigation are displayed for everyone to read that a police officer who found her sister was to blame for her death. He was the last person to see her on that quiet abandoned road.
Officer Raycevic agreed to meet Lena at Hairpin Bridge to interview him about her death. Events begin to spiral out of control becoming a mind bending day of terror for Lena.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 11, 2021
“Listen responsibly. It might contain my murder.”
When Lena Nguyen’s twin sister Cambry dies, it is officially ruled a suicide. However, Lena doesn’t believe that her sister would throw herself off Hairpin Bridge and end her life. She decides to embark on a mission to meet the cop that found her sister and discover the truth behind what really happened that fateful night.
Taylor Adam’s is known for his on the edge of your seat thriller, No Exit. That book is absolutely terrifying and keeps you frantically turning pages to see what will happen next. Hairpin Bridge is similar, in that it takes place on the road and all in one day’s time, but it is written in a different format. It is one part blog post, another part Lena’s book about what happened to her sister, and a third part what is actually happening in the present. It also changes perspectives quite frequently and can be confusing at first. As you keep reading, it gets easier to figure out who is speaking. However, all of the changes definitely slow down the action a bit, so it winds up not being as terrifying as it could be. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to ever meet The Plastic Man on a dark highway, but the format definitely stilts the action.
This book also contains a lot of guns, gun talk, and a bloody gory scene that is super long and descriptive. I think if this scene was edited down, it would have been easier to get through. I’m not really into guns, so all of the gun talk went over my head and didn’t really further the plot. I enjoyed the story of the two Nguyen sisters and am glad that there is a different type of ending to this book, as that is the only place where No Exit let me down.
Overall, Adams’ sophomore thriller is a scary ride with lots of clever twists that will absolutely spook you. I am excited to see what this this author will write next!
4/5 stars
When Lena Nguyen’s twin sister Cambry dies, it is officially ruled a suicide. However, Lena doesn’t believe that her sister would throw herself off Hairpin Bridge and end her life. She decides to embark on a mission to meet the cop that found her sister and discover the truth behind what really happened that fateful night.
Taylor Adam’s is known for his on the edge of your seat thriller, No Exit. That book is absolutely terrifying and keeps you frantically turning pages to see what will happen next. Hairpin Bridge is similar, in that it takes place on the road and all in one day’s time, but it is written in a different format. It is one part blog post, another part Lena’s book about what happened to her sister, and a third part what is actually happening in the present. It also changes perspectives quite frequently and can be confusing at first. As you keep reading, it gets easier to figure out who is speaking. However, all of the changes definitely slow down the action a bit, so it winds up not being as terrifying as it could be. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to ever meet The Plastic Man on a dark highway, but the format definitely stilts the action.
This book also contains a lot of guns, gun talk, and a bloody gory scene that is super long and descriptive. I think if this scene was edited down, it would have been easier to get through. I’m not really into guns, so all of the gun talk went over my head and didn’t really further the plot. I enjoyed the story of the two Nguyen sisters and am glad that there is a different type of ending to this book, as that is the only place where No Exit let me down.
Overall, Adams’ sophomore thriller is a scary ride with lots of clever twists that will absolutely spook you. I am excited to see what this this author will write next!
4/5 stars
June 1, 2021
2.5/5 rounded down to 2 stars.
Format
The format gets very distracting and it's told in third person so sometimes I have to reread to confirm who’s mind I’m in. Here are all the different perspectives:
- Current/main timeline: Lena, Ray and their respective thoughts
- Lena’s blog
- Camry’s notebook (mostly just at the start)
- Lena’s recount/story of what she thinks happened to Cambry, with Lena’s thoughts weaved in there
Plot
Imagine you are watching an action thriller movie and the whole 2 hours is essentially focused around the epic showdown climax. That is exactly this book with the above perspectives weaved in there. It's exciting at first and hard to put down but it gets a bit much as it's so drawn out and repetitive to the point where it feels like fillers. For example there were too many car scenes and the blogs rambled. Every single chapter is like this so I had to skim.
The extra information or reveals we get from the different perspectives felt insignificant, they didn’t add much to the overall story and I didn’t feel like I learned a lot about the characters so I didn’t connect with any.
The twist was decent. All the different perspectives really lead you to a certain theory which made the twist have a bigger impact.
Characters
Overall I found the focus is more on the action and tension than the characters. Ray was kind of interesting, but the focus is on the sisters.
I don’t understand Lena’s desperate need to sacrifice her life to find out the truth about Cambry. There was a focus/highlight on their relationship but the events about their past didn’t paint a strong enough picture as it wasn’t enough to make me understand them and empathise.
Alternate Ending
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Format
The format gets very distracting and it's told in third person so sometimes I have to reread to confirm who’s mind I’m in. Here are all the different perspectives:
- Current/main timeline: Lena, Ray and their respective thoughts
- Lena’s blog
- Camry’s notebook (mostly just at the start)
- Lena’s recount/story of what she thinks happened to Cambry, with Lena’s thoughts weaved in there
Plot
Imagine you are watching an action thriller movie and the whole 2 hours is essentially focused around the epic showdown climax. That is exactly this book with the above perspectives weaved in there. It's exciting at first and hard to put down but it gets a bit much as it's so drawn out and repetitive to the point where it feels like fillers. For example there were too many car scenes and the blogs rambled. Every single chapter is like this so I had to skim.
The extra information or reveals we get from the different perspectives felt insignificant, they didn’t add much to the overall story and I didn’t feel like I learned a lot about the characters so I didn’t connect with any.
The twist was decent. All the different perspectives really lead you to a certain theory which made the twist have a bigger impact.
Characters
Overall I found the focus is more on the action and tension than the characters. Ray was kind of interesting, but the focus is on the sisters.
I don’t understand Lena’s desperate need to sacrifice her life to find out the truth about Cambry. There was a focus/highlight on their relationship but the events about their past didn’t paint a strong enough picture as it wasn’t enough to make me understand them and empathise.
Alternate Ending
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
October 27, 2021
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/JjxUgl4QAAc
I'm gonna say it with my chest: This book is bad.
Plain and simple.
How can a shoot out last over 100 pages?
I'm gonna say it with my chest: This book is bad.
Plain and simple.
How can a shoot out last over 100 pages?
June 28, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect from this thriller given it was my first time reading a book by this author. Hairpin Bridge turned out to be a solid read that held my interest. Will definitely check out more books written by Taylor Adams.
Less is more is my motto when it comes to providing a synopsis for a thriller or mystery. The gist of the story is Lena Nguyen is investigating the death of her twin sister, Cambry. Authorities say Cambry jumped to her death off a remote bridge in Montana. Lena isn't buying it and is determined to find out what happened to her sister. Armed with a tape recorder, she interviews the local police officer who found Cambry's body. Buckle up kids, it's going to be a wild ride!
Part of the fun in reading a book with mystery elements is floating around different theories in your head. I thought the author did a good job of keeping things off balance for the reader. I was never too confident in where the story was headed and there were a few things that caught me completely off guard.
I'll admit, the last quarter or so of the story, I wasn't exactly thrilled with how things were playing out. However, before I had even finished the book, I came around on that opinion. I did end up enjoying the action packed, one thing after another conclusion. It's an out there ending, but hey, points for creativity! The story is crazy but in a fun, popcorn eating type way.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy as part of #WMTastemakers. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Less is more is my motto when it comes to providing a synopsis for a thriller or mystery. The gist of the story is Lena Nguyen is investigating the death of her twin sister, Cambry. Authorities say Cambry jumped to her death off a remote bridge in Montana. Lena isn't buying it and is determined to find out what happened to her sister. Armed with a tape recorder, she interviews the local police officer who found Cambry's body. Buckle up kids, it's going to be a wild ride!
Part of the fun in reading a book with mystery elements is floating around different theories in your head. I thought the author did a good job of keeping things off balance for the reader. I was never too confident in where the story was headed and there were a few things that caught me completely off guard.
I'll admit, the last quarter or so of the story, I wasn't exactly thrilled with how things were playing out. However, before I had even finished the book, I came around on that opinion. I did end up enjoying the action packed, one thing after another conclusion. It's an out there ending, but hey, points for creativity! The story is crazy but in a fun, popcorn eating type way.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy as part of #WMTastemakers. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
April 9, 2021
“Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic.”
That is the last anyone hears from Cambry Nguyen- her suicide note. Three months ago Lena Nguyen’s twin sister drove to a remote bridge in Montana and jumped off. Or at least that is what the police say. Lena isn’t buying it, and armed with a tape recorder she heads out to Montana to see the “haunted” bridge for herself. She meets the same Officer Raycevic from the suicide note at the crime scene, hoping she will be able to figure out more details about her sister’s death.
When she finds out Raycevic stopped Cambry for speeding just an hour before her death, she wants more information from the last person to see her alive. There are many suspicious things about her death, including 16 calls to 911 in a dead zone and the fact that Cambry kept extensive journals, most of which seemed to have disappeared. Lena is not one to give up easily, and she promises herself she won’t go home until she finds out what really happened. Thank you to William Morrow and Taylor Adams for my ARC of this book that comes out on June 15, 2021.
Thoughts: Taylor Adams creates a heart-pounding masterpiece in Hairpin Bridge. From the first page to the last, this book had my complete attention. I didn’t want to stop reading for a second, and every chapter ended on a cliffhanger that made me want to read “just one more page”. The story is fast-paced, with twists and turns coming constantly. Lena is such a strong main character and I rooted from her from the beginning.
The chapters of what is happening in the present alternate between chapters written on how Lena imagined Cambry’s last hours went. It is based on police evidence, eyewitness accounts, and just how Lena imagined it would have gone. There are many details sprinkled throughout the story that don’t make sense, but you later realized played a part in the story. Like Adam’s book No Exit, this book has action-packed suspense and gory details.
This book was the first time in a long time I couldn’t put a book down. My heart was pounding, my hands were sweating, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Right when you think you know what is going on, it turns out you have no idea. Bump this book to the top of your list; it’s one you’re not going to want to miss! 5 stars!
First available on mysteryandsuspense.com
That is the last anyone hears from Cambry Nguyen- her suicide note. Three months ago Lena Nguyen’s twin sister drove to a remote bridge in Montana and jumped off. Or at least that is what the police say. Lena isn’t buying it, and armed with a tape recorder she heads out to Montana to see the “haunted” bridge for herself. She meets the same Officer Raycevic from the suicide note at the crime scene, hoping she will be able to figure out more details about her sister’s death.
When she finds out Raycevic stopped Cambry for speeding just an hour before her death, she wants more information from the last person to see her alive. There are many suspicious things about her death, including 16 calls to 911 in a dead zone and the fact that Cambry kept extensive journals, most of which seemed to have disappeared. Lena is not one to give up easily, and she promises herself she won’t go home until she finds out what really happened. Thank you to William Morrow and Taylor Adams for my ARC of this book that comes out on June 15, 2021.
Thoughts: Taylor Adams creates a heart-pounding masterpiece in Hairpin Bridge. From the first page to the last, this book had my complete attention. I didn’t want to stop reading for a second, and every chapter ended on a cliffhanger that made me want to read “just one more page”. The story is fast-paced, with twists and turns coming constantly. Lena is such a strong main character and I rooted from her from the beginning.
The chapters of what is happening in the present alternate between chapters written on how Lena imagined Cambry’s last hours went. It is based on police evidence, eyewitness accounts, and just how Lena imagined it would have gone. There are many details sprinkled throughout the story that don’t make sense, but you later realized played a part in the story. Like Adam’s book No Exit, this book has action-packed suspense and gory details.
This book was the first time in a long time I couldn’t put a book down. My heart was pounding, my hands were sweating, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Right when you think you know what is going on, it turns out you have no idea. Bump this book to the top of your list; it’s one you’re not going to want to miss! 5 stars!
First available on mysteryandsuspense.com
June 15, 2021
A harrowing, page-turner of a thriller
Lena Nguyen arrives in Montana to figure out what happened to her twin sister, Cambry. Three months ago, Cambry supposedly committed suicide on Hairpin Bridge, but Lena simply cannot believe it's true. Now she's at the bridge, driving her sister's abandoned car, to find out what really happened. She's meeting Corporal Raymond Raycevic, the highway patrolman who found the body, at the scene itself. He seems apologetic and straightforward. Still, Lena remains suspicious. Records show Raycevic pulled Cambry over for speeding just a hour before her death. And what about the sixteen attempted 911 calls she made in the dead zone? Or the fact that Raycevic's name appears in the final text Lena ever received from Cambry? Despite the fact the sisters were basically estranged, Lena needs to know what happened to Cambry. But the more she digs, the more Lena's own survival may be in jeopardy out there on Hairpin Bridge.
"I have to know. What happened to you, Cambry?"
I actually read Adams' NO EXIT not that long ago and that book totally stressed me out. This one did the same, though thankfully a kid wasn't full and center. Goodness, he excels at writing at tense, action-packed books. This thriller certainly keeps you guessing--I was never exactly sure what was real or what was truly happening or had happened.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE, crazily enough, mostly takes place on a bridge (who knew?), but it alternates between the past and present. It's told in snippets, with Lena and Raycevic's perspectives in the here and now, and then pieces of Lena's blog, as well as what seems to be Cambry's past flashbacks, but could be Lena's own interpretation of what happened. This part was the hardest for me, as that was incredibly confusing. The idea is to keep you off-balance and prevent you from knowing what was really happening, but sometimes I felt a bit too confused.
This thriller feels more like a movie than a book at times, with its dramatic tension and constant "what on earth can happen next" feel. Lena comes across like an action hero in moments, and I often wondered what else Adams could throw at us. (Oh, he could come up with more insanity, don't worry.) The result is a book that's dark, action-packed, and sometimes completely horrifying. It's incredibly dramatic, but wow, does it keep you turning the pages. I know I finished this one in less than 24 hours. I absolutely had to find out what happened to Cambry, Lena, and Raycevic.
As I felt with NO EXIT, I'm not sure I really enjoyed this book. It's more that I survived it. I admire its structure, and it's great having a page-turner to fly through. I would have liked being a little less confused, but there were some great, terrifying twists here. If you don't mind a graphic and dark thriller, I recommend this one. 3.75/4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from William Morrow / Custom House and Netgalley and the Scene of the Crime Early Read program in return for an unbiased review.
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Lena Nguyen arrives in Montana to figure out what happened to her twin sister, Cambry. Three months ago, Cambry supposedly committed suicide on Hairpin Bridge, but Lena simply cannot believe it's true. Now she's at the bridge, driving her sister's abandoned car, to find out what really happened. She's meeting Corporal Raymond Raycevic, the highway patrolman who found the body, at the scene itself. He seems apologetic and straightforward. Still, Lena remains suspicious. Records show Raycevic pulled Cambry over for speeding just a hour before her death. And what about the sixteen attempted 911 calls she made in the dead zone? Or the fact that Raycevic's name appears in the final text Lena ever received from Cambry? Despite the fact the sisters were basically estranged, Lena needs to know what happened to Cambry. But the more she digs, the more Lena's own survival may be in jeopardy out there on Hairpin Bridge.
"I have to know. What happened to you, Cambry?"
I actually read Adams' NO EXIT not that long ago and that book totally stressed me out. This one did the same, though thankfully a kid wasn't full and center. Goodness, he excels at writing at tense, action-packed books. This thriller certainly keeps you guessing--I was never exactly sure what was real or what was truly happening or had happened.
HAIRPIN BRIDGE, crazily enough, mostly takes place on a bridge (who knew?), but it alternates between the past and present. It's told in snippets, with Lena and Raycevic's perspectives in the here and now, and then pieces of Lena's blog, as well as what seems to be Cambry's past flashbacks, but could be Lena's own interpretation of what happened. This part was the hardest for me, as that was incredibly confusing. The idea is to keep you off-balance and prevent you from knowing what was really happening, but sometimes I felt a bit too confused.
This thriller feels more like a movie than a book at times, with its dramatic tension and constant "what on earth can happen next" feel. Lena comes across like an action hero in moments, and I often wondered what else Adams could throw at us. (Oh, he could come up with more insanity, don't worry.) The result is a book that's dark, action-packed, and sometimes completely horrifying. It's incredibly dramatic, but wow, does it keep you turning the pages. I know I finished this one in less than 24 hours. I absolutely had to find out what happened to Cambry, Lena, and Raycevic.
As I felt with NO EXIT, I'm not sure I really enjoyed this book. It's more that I survived it. I admire its structure, and it's great having a page-turner to fly through. I would have liked being a little less confused, but there were some great, terrifying twists here. If you don't mind a graphic and dark thriller, I recommend this one. 3.75/4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from William Morrow / Custom House and Netgalley and the Scene of the Crime Early Read program in return for an unbiased review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
June 19, 2023
I am reminded by reading one of my Friends reviews of this book - that it is time for me to put up my review of this book that I have already read.
What happens when you find out that your twin sister has committed suicide? Do you believe it?
In this case, Lena doesn't and decides to investigate on her own.
No matter who she talks to, no matter how professional they seem, something always feels off to Lena. Why can't she believe anybody?
Lena is desperate. She will do anything to uncover the truth. But, as we always seem to find, in a lot of these twisted tales, something weird is about to happen.
As Lena comes to put her sister's final hours in focus, her search turns into her own fight for survival - one that will put everything she thought she knew about her sister into question.
What happens when you find out that your twin sister has committed suicide? Do you believe it?
In this case, Lena doesn't and decides to investigate on her own.
No matter who she talks to, no matter how professional they seem, something always feels off to Lena. Why can't she believe anybody?
Lena is desperate. She will do anything to uncover the truth. But, as we always seem to find, in a lot of these twisted tales, something weird is about to happen.
As Lena comes to put her sister's final hours in focus, her search turns into her own fight for survival - one that will put everything she thought she knew about her sister into question.
June 13, 2021
I think I'm the only reader that hasn't read No Exit haha.
Taylor Adams.... wow he definitely knows how to write a suspense novel. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't turn those pages fast enough.
A young woman learns that her twin sister has died on the "Harpin Bridge" (a highway known to have supernatural activity)... so she decides to drive to the bridge to find out what actually happened.
Adams presents an intense action packed thriller with heart pounding moments and those pure fun twists and turns.
One of my fav quotes for this one " You came all this way, and now you're running?" "I'm not running, motherfu****."
4/5 stars
Thank you so much to William Morrow for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 6/15/21
Taylor Adams.... wow he definitely knows how to write a suspense novel. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't turn those pages fast enough.
A young woman learns that her twin sister has died on the "Harpin Bridge" (a highway known to have supernatural activity)... so she decides to drive to the bridge to find out what actually happened.
Adams presents an intense action packed thriller with heart pounding moments and those pure fun twists and turns.
One of my fav quotes for this one " You came all this way, and now you're running?" "I'm not running, motherfu****."
4/5 stars
Thank you so much to William Morrow for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 6/15/21
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