The Never List by Koethi Zan

Ten years ago Sarah and her best friend were abducted and imprisoned in a cellar already containing two other victims. Now, Sarah lives with the guilt of having escaped when Jennifer didn’t. News that the convicted abductor may be released prompts Sarah to contact the other survivors and set out on a search she hopes will lead to information about the whereabouts of Jennifer’s body but may lead her right into a trap.

This book scared me straight out of my pants! Fair warning, it turned out to be something of a difficult read, not because it was terribly graphic, but because the author was so good at describing just enough for your imagination to take over and create some very dark places. The first half or so of the book is suspenseful, building relationships and understanding of the Sarah and the other victims. But as the Sarah starts to put the pieces together, surprises fall one right after the other…into a black hole that will make the calmest of readers feel chills.

My one small issue is that, despite the fact that Sarah and Jennifer had always been overly cautious, even creating a “never list” of things they would never do to ensure they stayed safe, Sarah continued to put herself in dangerous situations. I’m not sure someone who’d been through what she had would do that, but then, who knows what anyone would do after having been abducted and tortured.

The Never List is a creepy thriller that will have readers reading all night…and wishing there was daylight.