Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.
She never arrives at her destination.
Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle occurs: she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.
But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.
And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.
The Crash is a locked-room style thriller that keeps readers on edge from beginning to end. The story centers on Tegan, a 22-year-old woman who, eight months pregnant and having turmoil with the baby’s father, decides to visit her brother for refuge. Her journey takes a dangerous turn when she crashes her car and gets injured in a blizzard. Rescued by a couple, Hank and Polly, Tegan is offered shelter in their home. However, as time passes, Tegan begins to suspect that something is terribly wrong with her hosts. What starts as a lucky rescue quickly spirals into a fight for survival for herself and her unborn child.
Similar to McFadden’s other books, the novel is fast-paced and engrossing, with short chapters that makes the book very bingeable. The remote, snowed-in cabin setting enhances the claustrophobic feel of the story, and many have compared this book to Stephen King’s “Misery.” The real strength of this book is its tension—readers will feel the frustration and desperation of the characters coming right off the pages!
The story toggles between the POVs of Tegan and Polly, allowing readers to explore the unfolding drama from different angles. Tegan is an emotional and impulsive character. Unfortunately, some of her decision-making is far-fetched (and infuriating!), detracting from the overall suspense. Despite her flaws, it’s easy to empathize with her—she’s had a very difficult life, and the situation she finds herself in here makes everything so much worse. Polly is a fascinating character with a Jekyll and Hyde type personality. As a former nurse she has a compassionate nature, but her obsession with being a mother leads her to become dangerously unhinged. Her disturbing past also plays a part in her decision-making, adding additional layers of suspense.
The story intensifies in the second half and features several twists—some are predictable, but there are also unexpected ones at the very end! McFadden’s epilogues always have something for readers to ponder, and this book is no exception. When compared to McFadden’s best books, this one isn’t as complex or thought-provoking overall, but it’s still one readers can devour in a single sitting.
In summary, The Crash is a highly bingeable book with a high-stakes plot and lots of tension. Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and survival stories will enjoy this book but may find the twists predictable. Narrator Leslie Howard, who has voiced several other of McFadden’s books, delivers an addictive and highly entertaining listening experience from start to finish, immersing readers fully into the deliciously contrasting and dramatic perspectives of Tegan and Polly. If you enjoy fast-paced survival thrillers with multiple twists and unhinged FMCs, then add this one to your list!
