4.5 stars.

Before I Wake is an intriguing psychological thriller about a mother's frantic search for answers about the reason for her fifteen year old daughter's suicide attempt. This compelling novel is full of unexpected twists and turns and the skillful use of an unreliable narrator by C.L. Taylor adds another layer of mystery to the unfolding drama.

What would induce Susan "Sue" Jackson's young, pretty and vibrant daughter Charlotte to deliberately walk in front of a bus? Haunted by this question and the certainty that fear is keeping Charlotte in a comatose state, Sue's search for answers begins with Charlotte's dairy. One line reverberates over and over in Sue's mind and convinces her to continue digging for the truth. She uncovers a shocking web of lies and deceit that lead her to frightening suspicions about the people in Charlotte's life. But as she delves into her daughter's personal life, it soon becomes clear that the secrets from Sue's haunting past may not be buried as deeply as she believed.

In the beginning, Sue seems like any ordinary middle-aged wife and mother. Her anxiety over Charlotte's health is reasonable but allusions to a past "episode" coupled with her growing paranoia raise doubts about her mental state. Diary entries from a previous relationship years earlier provide valuable insight into a recent event in Sue's life and they also explain her growing panic about mysterious packages and brief but terrifying of glimpses of someone from her past. Wild accusations and increasingly erratic behavior lead everyone to mistrust her assertions but Sue doggedly pursues the truth until she uncovers a horrifying and quite possibly, deadly plan.

Before I Wake is a clever and perplexing debut novel by C.L. Taylor. The characters are multi-faceted with all too human flaws and frailties. The intricately plotted storyline is incredibly complex and frighteningly realistic. A series of red herrings and misdirects coupled with the increasing doubts about Sue's reliability effectively obscure the truth and the story culminates with a highly dramatic and adrenaline filled ending.

This is story of a woman who tries to find out why her daughter has ended up in a coma. Her relationship with her husband is put at risk and the past she is trying to escape appears to be returning.

This is slow building book and at times looses it's way as you begin to wonder if it is all in her imagination. It's not an action packed book but still a good thrilling read. It's good that there are no happy ever after endings for this story. At times though I was frustrated by the beginning of chapters leaving you in the dark as you try to figure out what is happening. This style of writing frustrates me as it throws a spanner in the flow of the story.

But still, it's entertaining.

Was good. Kept me entertained, not the most amazing book i've read but did the job.

3.5 stars. The plot is very interesting and keeps you hooked. I came into this novel thinking it was young adult, but some of the scenes are very morbid and hard to swallow. I think it would have been better to know that going into the book. Some of the characters are very shallow and unlikeable, and sometimes the writing can be a bit juvenile. Overall though, it kept my interest and I did like it.

Reviewed for Library Journal in the Jun 1, 2014 issue.