In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: A Novel

"[A] mordant debut novel....examines what it means to covet the lives of others, no matter the cost."--The New York Times

"Tense, twisty, and packed with shocks."--Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Survive The Night

Six friends.

One college reunion.

One unsolved murder.

Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to her southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see--confident, beautiful, indifferent. Not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather Shelby's murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she'd been closest to since freshman year.

But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather's murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night--and the years' worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.

Told in racing dual timelines, with a dark campus setting and a darker look at friendship, love, obsession, and ambition, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is an addictive, propulsive read you won't be able to put down.

"Beautiful writing, juicy secrets, complex female characters, and drumbeat suspense--what more could you want from a debut thriller?"--Andrea Bartz, author of Reese's Book Club pick We Were Never Here

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Average rating: 7.15

315 RATINGS

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16 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

bookshelf.at.tiffanys
Dec 19, 2024
10/10 stars
WHAT did I just read?!

I was hooked from the very first page, stayed up all night to finish it. The character development in this book was spot on. You see everything from Jessica's POV, but you learn so much about the other characters along the way. The 6 main characters were all unlikeable in their own way, some more than other :cough: COURTNEY :cough:. The story does go back and forth from past to present. I don't always enjoy those type of books, but this one was incredibly well done!

Another book that kept me guessing through the majority of my read. Definitely gave me vibes of playing a game of CLUE. You're trying to figure out who did it, and what their motivation was. This was a perfect psychological thriller and I see why it's so hyped up! It DID NOT disappoint. Oh, and if you were a part of Greek Life in college, this gives a glimpse into some of that life too - and not necessarily the good parts.

TW: murder, suicide, adultery, depression, emotional abuse, rape
Anonymous
Nov 28, 2024
8/10 stars
It felt so good to dive into a mystery book again after having read one just a while ago that came short of satisfaction. It was slow to start; I have to say that I nearly wanted to drop it. The beginning of this story was very peculiar and completely not what I expected. But once the six friends met, and the whole past was revealed once more to fish out the murderer, it became very, very exciting. Just like that, everyone's secret came out little by little. It was so addictive, reading everything about it. And the thing was, even though these group of friends were considered close, they didn't even know of all these secrets that came out only ten years later. Bravo.

I have to say, though, that reading this story in the perspective of Jessica's was very, very tiring. Not because of the writing style, not because of the way the author executed this story (because it was all brilliant), but because of her very flawed personality. Her, always striving for perfection, always wanting to be on par with the rest of her 'rich' schoolmates, and always wanting to be part of the popular people. It wasn't because of superficial reasons. This was why I was able to be sympathetic about her situation.

The ending left me shocked. I could never place who the murderer was. And even after that, there were more secrets to be revealed.
Briahna Hynes
Aug 18, 2024
6/10 stars
PHENOMENAL! Had me hooked until the very end, unpredictable, kept me on my toes.
CharleyB
Feb 26, 2024
5/10 stars
Eh? It had potential but I wasn’t compelled to finish. Took me over a week. 5/10
Fahim abbas
Jan 19, 2024
7/10 stars
It was tens but well written

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