The Only Way Out Is Death by Varun Gwalani

Overview

Finished reading- 10/15/24   Platform- Kindle Unlimited

I did not have high expectations with this book, but it surely proved me wrong. This locked room thriller had me addicted from the start. It successfully mixed in the suspense of an Agatha Christie novel and the horrific game concept of Squid Games. It is about 12 people who were kidnapped and placed in a high-end hotel, with no way out. (I definitely would not mind being trapped in a high-end hotel for a week. LOL) The catch is a Saw-esque device attached to their legs, promising mutually assured destruction if they try to escape or break their way out of the hotel. The Mastermind assures them that they can go free, but only if they kill one of their fellow captives and get away with it.  The only other option is suicide. One of my favorite things when I'm reading a book is the 'Who Dunnit."  The suspense of not knowing and following along with the characters as the clues gradually surfaced was captivating. This book had me utterly convinced at one point about the identity of the kidnapper, only to have the next page make me completely reconsider everything. I think something I would change about this book would be to dial it back a bit with the Covid references. I feel that it takes me out of the book. I understand that it was a very relevant and tragic event, but I feel that it played too much into it. I absolutely love how the book explores the dark side of human nature and raises questions about morality, survival, and the choices people make when pushed to their limits. It is told from the perspective of Kiriaki, a young, strong-willed lawyer who must try to balance between trusting her fellow captives and trying to figure out who is going to try to kill her next. From a doctor to a police officer, a rich boy player to a business Mogel, they must figure out what they all have in common and try to survive this terrifying version of Big Brother. 

STOP HERE AND READ THE BOOK IF YOUD LIKE. THE NEXT PART CONATAINS SPOILERS. OR BE A LITTLE REBEL LIKE I KNOW YOU ARE AND READ ON.

****SPOILERS****

The fact that the kidnapper was amongst them the whole time and was in fact 2(!) of them as well, blew my mind. Anders was the main mastermind. He set it all up and controlled it all with his stupid pen. He roped in Dr Ashwini for the manufacturing of the virus. Mailk was tasked to helping Dr Ashwini getting away with killing Anders so they could leave the game.  But my tough as nails, smarter than them all, Kiriaki, foiled their plan. She was able to deduce that Anders wasn't really dead and that he planned it all. I got say at this point I audibly cheered out loud.  Kiriaki dying in the end, absolutely broke my heart. I really felt like I connected to her. As happy as I am that Preston made it though, I just wish it was her. She worked so hard to figure it all out, like she channeled her inner Detective Poirot. She thwarted the masterminds plan only to die and never step foot out of the wretched hotel. The fact that the connection they all had in the end was Covid and the part they played in it all, I feel it Just wasn't the reason I wanted. Maybe I'm being too harsh. Covid affected all of our lives in many ways but when I read, I want to escape it all not be reminded of everything we went through.  In the end this book had the twists and turns I crave. The locked-room suspense and the constant search for "Who-Dunnit", had me flying through this book in a matter of a couple days. I give this book a positive 4/5-star review.