In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
A Novel
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4.1 • 423 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
"[A] mordant debut novel....examines what it means to covet the lives of others, no matter the cost."—The New York Times
"Tense, twisty, and packed with shocks."—Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Survive The Night
Six friends.
One college reunion.
One unsolved murder.
Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to her southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent. Not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather Shelby's murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she'd been closest to since freshman year.
But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather's murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years' worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.
Told in racing dual timelines, with a dark campus setting and a darker look at friendship, love, obsession, and ambition, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is an addictive, propulsive read you won't be able to put down.
"Beautiful writing, juicy secrets, complex female characters, and drumbeat suspense—what more could you want from a debut thriller?"—Andrea Bartz, author of Reese's Book Club pick We Were Never Here
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
This twisted thriller takes the craziness of college life to a whole new level. It’s been a decade since a group of students at Duquette University were traumatized by the brutal murder of one of their own. As she prepares for the upcoming 10-year reunion, Jessica hopes the tragedy that haunted her and her friends a decade ago will stay in the background—but the victim’s brother is attending, and he has other plans. Ashley Winstead’s tense novel is not only suspenseful but packed full of fascinating themes that surround the dark side of ambition—and just how far some will go to achieve what they want. It’s both enthralling and creepy to watch as Winstead slowly peels back the layers of narcissism, jealousy, and rage that lurk behind the oh-so-perfect veneer of this former friend group. Once you set foot on Duquette University’s campus, you won’t want to leave until every dirty secret has been spilled onto the manicured lawn.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Successful if depressed New York City consultant Jessica Miller, the narrator of Winstead's captivating debut, decides to attend her 10th reunion at North Carolina's Duquette University, despite the risk of reopening old wounds surrounding the stabbing murder of Heather Shelby, who belonged to a clique known as the East House Seven, which also included Jessica and Jack Carroll, Heather's ex-boyfriend. Of the seven, only Jack declines to go, as every other member of the clique, except for Jessica, believes he killed Heather (the murder weapon was found in his room), though he wasn't convicted of the crime. At the reunion, Heather's brother, Eric Shelby, who works in the alumni office, takes the opportunity to interrogate Jessica and the others, certain one of them is the murderer. Flashbacks to their undergraduate days reveal deceit and disloyalty as well as Jessica's romantic and financial struggles. The tension rises as Eric refuses to let the group leave until the truth is uncovered. Winstead does an expert job keeping the reader guessing whodunit. Suspense fans will eagerly await her next.
Customer Reviews
See AllInsanely addictive read
I really enjoyed reading this one because it just kept me so engaged the entire time. I loved the suspense and the plot twist was crazy.
Wow….
Not only is Ashley’s writing beautiful, but her story is spectacular as well. This was the first book I’ve ever read written by her and it remains my favorite due to the characters and the general plot. Jessica was a train wreck, but one you couldn’t look away from. She’s very raw, and while I can’t say she’s the best person in the world, I believe she’s very human. The romance was a wonderful added touch as well. I adore Coop’s character and find him to be very real and human as well. This was just an absolutely wonderful read.
Daddy issues..
3.5 stars…not my fav but fun to read. Kind of annoyed me how badly she needed to make her dad proud but the ending was a twist I didn’t expect.