Kristina A. reviewed on 2/23/2016 + 1528 more book reviews

Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon is supposed to be a novel of suspense. Amy Stevenson was fifteen years old in 1995(this is where the story starts) went she disappeared on her way home from school. She was found a few days later severely beaten. Fifteen years later Amy is still alive (sort of). Amy is in a persistent vegetative state and living on the Bramble Ward at Tunbridge Wells Royal Infirmary. Amy has some brain function, has cycles of asleep and awake, and can breathe on her own. But she has yet to come awake. The police have never found who did this to her. Who did this to Amy?

Alex Dale is a freelance journalist (it is now September of 2010) who was at Tunbridge Wells Royal Infirmary doing research for a story on Dr. Peter Haynes (who is researching if people in vegetative states can communicate). Alex saw Amy on the ward and remembers her story. Alex and Amy are the same age. Alex starts digging into it hoping for a big story. Alex could use a break. Alex has ruined her career and life with alcohol. She refuses to get treatment, however, she cannot work past noon because she has to start drinking. Alex is hoping this story will help her career. Will Alex be able to discover what happened to Amy? Will killer try to stop Alex from writing her story?

Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon was an extreme disappointment. It was a slow paced novel that had no suspense or mystery. The culprit was extremely obvious. I compare this novel to waiting for water to boil. You know how you sit there and wait and wait and wait. That is this novel. It goes on and on and on. There were no surprises or a great twist. Alex is an extremely unlikeable character (she drinks voraciously, acts idiotic, wets her bed). The story is told from different points-of-views which makes it harder to get into the story and it also goes back and forth in time. I give Try Not to Breathe 1 out of 5 stars. I just did not enjoy Try Not to Breathe.

I received a complimentary copy of Try Not to Breathe from First to Read and NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.

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