Do Not Open by Kiersten Modglin
Published: October 31, 2023
Kiersten Modglin
Genre: Domestic Thriller
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kiersten Modglin is an Amazon Top 10 bestselling author of psychological thrillers and a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Kiersten is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix’s Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine’s Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. She grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston terriers: Cedric and Georgie. Kiersten’s work has been translated into multiple languages, and readers across the world refer to her as ‘The Queen of Twists.’ A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes superfan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.
The message—simple yet utterly life-changing—offers a glimmer of hope to her dismal existence. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and if she takes it, it could change everything.
Mari’s immediate sense of unease is eclipsed only by her curiosity—elicited from the supposed fan on the other end of the email. Unsatisfied despite doing her due diligence, and with no way to discern the legitimacy of the sender, Mari takes a leap of faith and replies.
What harm could come from one innocent message?
Soon, as she comes face to face with her ‘number one fan,’ it’s all too clear things are not what they first appeared. Now trapped by a villain far more sinister than she could’ve crafted herself, the fate awaiting her is inspired by the darkest depths of the monsters in her own novels.
In order to escape and survive, Mari must use the strength of the heroines she’s spent years writing about. But this villain has spent years inside her worlds, too.
How will she defeat an evil who has learned from the best?
“I’m your number-one fan.”
HOLY HELL IN A HAND-BASKET. This was the most intensely scary, psychologically twisted, and devastatingly heartbreaking KMod novel to date.
I want to hug Mari. She was such a fantastic character. The way she fought and played the cat and mouse game- whew.
The way this story unraveled was wild. There were odes to Misery, which I loved. I also got Saw vibes- Do you want to play a game? NO THANK YOU. I DO NOT.
I could not put this book down. This is the best storytelling, scene-building, and use of emotion I’ve read from KMod. And that is a massive feat because all of her books are excellent.
This is the perfect spooky season read. Everything was brilliantly done. The buildup was anxiety enduring, the fear was palpable, and the end was near.
With twists you will never see coming, and that hits you like a train (I gasped and said something quite colorful), this is the best book I have read so far in 2023, and for the first time, I am giving a book ten out of five stars- it is that good.
The way Kiersten writes such powerfully emotional scenes that are so relevant is beautifully devastating. The weight of grief, guilt, anger, hurt, confusion, and fear is so palpable you feel it settle in your chest.
This was the most devious plot, filled with so much humanity- with all sides represented. The saying goes, never meet your heroes for fear they may disappoint you. Or worse.