I absolutely cannot rave enough about Tell Me My Name! This is a 5 star for sure. I was hooked from the first page and could not get enough. Just when you think the story has reached its peak, it drags you back in.
The book opens to a terrifying scene. A woman tied to a bed, a man looming over her claiming to know her. Her husband bound to a chair on the floor. All he wants is one simple thing. For her to tell him his name. The consequences if she doesn’t? Her husband starts losing body parts. But how can you say the name of someone you don’t remember let alone recognize?
The book follows Ellie and her husband Neil, as well as Ellies captive, Clive. It flashes back to their earlier lives, giving insight on how they ended up where they are today. It really added depth and understanding to the plot and allowed an ease of relate ableness to the characters.
The characters actions are what you would expect from someone in their predicaments, with the exception being the captor himself. You want to feel sorry for him, to an extent, but want to hate him also. He flashbacks to his childhood, and you can tell by the way he was raised, why his mental health is where it is. It doesn’t explain everything, such as his obsession with Ellie.
The husband, Neil, made calls that made me shake my head and said why? What were you thinking? Ellie remained strong and brave and never quite fighting. I do think that the detective and the police presence could have been stronger, especially given the nature of the crime and the situation. They were more of an after thought it seemed, as if they need to be there, but they weren’t quite up to par.
As you near the ending, secrets start coming out. Things start getting tied together. I won’t spill any spoilers, but I was pleasantly surprised, as I am usually pretty good at guessing the twists. I highly recommend Tell Me My Name and look forward to reading more from Erin Ruddy.
I want to thank the author, Erin Ruddy, the publisher Dundurn Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
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