Before I Wake started of a little slow for me. But before you know it, I couldn't out it down. Susan is a 40ish married mother of two. Her biological daughter Charlotte is laying in the hospital in a coma. She stepped in front of a bus. Throughout the book, Susan is trying to learn why. Even after everyone else has their own explanations as to what would drive Charlotte to do such a thing, Susan knows better. She's read her daughters diary and there is a line that seems to lead to it not being an accident. Susan and her husband Brian are going through a strained patch. She is somewhat over him cheating on her. But, he's behaving oddly in the beginning of the book. A red herring, obviously. Through diary flashbacks we learn that she was once in a horribly abusive relationship with a man named James. The journal entries were dead on. How victims of domestic violence alienate their real friends and family and are isolated by their abuser, etc. As Susan gets closer to why her daughter tried to kill herself, she starts getting sinister "gifts". They all point to James. The only problem I had with the book (besides the ending) was Susan's behavior in her quest for the truth. Most parents would do anything possible to help their child. But acting crazy never gets you anywhere. Or so I think? I would just think that people thinking you're crazy kind of ruins your credibility? Her own husband and stepson thought she was crazy. There probably is a sane way to go about getting the answers you want. The ending was... Maybe not predictable exactly. But how did I know that Susan would be somehow incapacitated when James attacked? Plus, his breaking Charlotte's bones was a little unnecessary. I also found it odd that there was all this stuff going on in a hospital. All in all though, very good. It really does build suspense.