DK In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: A Novel

This was one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it after seeing some bookstas raving enthusiastically about it.I have to say that I was not disappointed.If you love academic thrillers, you can't miss out on this one.I loved the dual timeline which is very well done in this book as we follow the reunion of former college friends (minus a dead one) today and the story of what really happened ten years ago.First of all thank you @mariesembar for buddy reading this with me and explaining everything I needed to know about sororities and US colleges. I would have been lost without you. We follow Jessica Miller who is determined to steal the show from everyone at her reunion with her once closest friends at the elite Duquette University. Today she is a successful woman, well dressed and nothing like the lost girl she once was when her roommate Heather was murdered and her life sealed forever.At the time, everyone was sure that Jack, Heather's boyfriend, was responsible for the murder, but the police could never find any evidence. When the group is unexpectedly confronted by Eric, Heather's brother, who is still looking for answers, it quickly becomes clear that each of them had the means and motives to kill poor Heather. So, if Jack is innocent, what really happened that night?I wouldn't classify it as a locked-room mystery, but even without Eric's accusations, it's clear from the start that one of these 7 people must be Heather's killer. Trying to figure out who is telling the truth and who is weaving a lie is what sucks the reader in.I couldn't quite give it 5 stars because the characters' voices seemed very childish to me. Even though they were now in their thirties, their voices and behaviour felt more like that of a teenager.But a part from that, this was a solid thriller which I can only recommend.

Six Friends.One college reunion.One unsolved murder.😱 😱 😱In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is a debut by Ashley Winstead that seriously packs a punch! This book had all the elements which I love and I was completely absorbed and devoured it. But not too quickly because I wanted to savour all the juicy details 😉. The college setting/reunion, dual time lines and characters which you kind of hate but love at the same time, plus an unsolved murder = winner for me. As with all “hyped” books I avoided reading reviews or the synopsis when I got the book and just went in blind so I had no expectations. And I loved it! If you’re a fan of dark academia, plenty of drama and a layered story which peels away beautifully with each page, give this a read.I seriously had a book hang over after this one.This was a perfect summer read!!!!!

When six close friends reunite at their ten year collage reunion, hosted by the brother of one of their friends who was brutally murdered back in their college days, relationships and loyalties are tested, old flames reignite, and everyone’s secrets are exposed.A character driven dark academia thriller that combines multiple timelines and POVs for an intense, hard to put down read that has you wondering… just how far will one go to get everything they ever wanted?This is a book you just have to read. It’s wonderfully written and so full of twists and turns you won’t want to put it down.

5 stars!For fans of THE SECRET HISTORY, THE RETURN, or THE LIKENESS.I was so excited to get a chance to read an early copy of this book. The description caught my interest immediately—I love books about dark academia, fractured friendships, secrets, and, of course, murder mysteries.My favorite authors in this genre are Tana French and Donna Tartt because of their ability to combine psychological insight with gorgeous prose and a tightly unwinding plot. Winstead is right up there with them—I couldn’t put this book down. I also kept highlighting sentence after beautiful sentence.If you love:-ambitious, flawed heroines who make a lot of mistakes-slowly unfolding secrets-murder mysteries that keep you guessing-dark academia vibes-a will-they or won’t-they romance…then IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE is for you.I will definitely be re-reading, and I can’t wait to read everything else Winstead writes.

All the characters are slightly unlikable which I loved. I was very surprised with the killer. I didn’t see that coming at all! The story is told in a dual past/present timeline and I enjoyed the way it all came together.I read this book in two days after being in a major slump. This is a solid debut by Ashley Winstead and a perfect summer thriller!CW: Physical and Sexual Violence.