Look Closer

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 7,885 ratings

Price: 2.99

Last update: 07-09-2024


About this item

“Wildly entertaining.”—New York Times Book Review

From the bestselling and award-winning author comes a wickedly clever and fast-paced novel of greed, revenge, obsession—and quite possibly the perfect murder.

Simon and Vicky couldn’t seem more normal: a wealthy Chicago couple, he a respected law professor, she an advocate for domestic violence victims. A stable, if unexciting marriage. But one thing’s for sure: absolutely nothing is what it seems. The pair are far from normal, and one of them just may be a killer. 

When the body of a beautiful socialite is found hanging in a mansion in a nearby suburb, Simon and Vicky’s secrets begin to unravel. A secret whirlwind affair. A twenty-million-dollar trust fund about to come due. A decades-long grudge and obsession with revenge. These are just a few of the lies that make up the complex web... and they will have devastating consequences. And while both Vicky and Simon are liars, just who exactly is conning who? Part Gone Girl and part Strangers on a Train, Look Closer is a wild rollercoaster of a read that will have you questioning everything you think you know.

Top reviews from the United States

Lori B
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
This book is a masterclass in how to write a thriller. It's propulsive and twisty as hell. Absolutely unputdownable. The plot is so incredibly intricate, so many threads, and the whole thing comes together perfectly at the end. When I have time, I plan to go back and reread this so I can see how David pulled it off.
Melissa Ammons
4.0 out of 5 stars Look Closer
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
I breezed through this in two days flat. Could’ve been one day, but …
This is a very twisted tale that involves Lauren, Conrad (though he is quite a superficial character), Vicky, Simon, Christian, Gavin, Jane (the police detective) and her partner, Andy. We have a diary, some text messages, and an event that happened on Halloween, because what better day could there be than the one where you can dress up and no one will recognize you or what you are up to?
This book is written in the present-day timeline which includes the investigation and the months leading up to the fateful day. This is a writing style that I tend to like to read. I liked the fact that my head was kind of spinning throughout the telling of this tale, thinking oh it’s … no, maybe not. I did begin to figure out the whodunnit, but not the reason behind it. This is rather a long tale at 448 pages, but I think it had to be so the ending was not rushed and the connections between all the whys could come together cohesively in the end.
Deanna Martinez
5.0 out of 5 stars stayed up way too late reading!
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
I couldn’t put it down. What a crazy - in the best way - story of intricately woven plot lines. Just when you think you know - you have no idea! I read it in less than 24 hours and will be going on to read the rest of his works
The Fictional Housewife
4.0 out of 5 stars Had me running in circles
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2022
I recently read Look Closer by David Ellis. This is the story of a wealthy married couple, Simon and Vicky. The book opens with Lauren, dead, hanging by the neck in her house and Simon fleeing from the scene. As the police try to piece together how Lauren died, they discover some interesting clues indicating this may be much more complicated than a simple suicide. As they try to build a case, the reader is sent back a few weeks to discover what really happened. Simon and Vicky both have secrets of their own, which are starting to unravel.

This book is a monster, at 464 pages, it literally hurt my hands to hold. Every bit of future arthritis inducing pain it caused was worth it. Despite its length, this novel reads in a breeze, don't be intimidated, you'll swear it's only 200 pages. The writing is pleasant and easy to follow. The story is complicated, yes, I'm using that word yet again. It's all the mayhem going every which way that makes this story so interesting. David Ellis is a master of misdirection. He will have you looking one direction then the other, and you'll still miss what is actually going on. I considered rigging up one of those maps on a wall, with the topics and people attached to each other with string. This book is so good, I'd end up trapped against the wall like a giant spider's web. While this is more mystery than thriller, if you like trying to figure books out...beat the author....I promise you'll never win against David Ellis. So fun!
Felice Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars So long... so many characters
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2024
Wasn't as great as I thought...
So many characters to follow... so long and drug out. Needed a little more suspense.
David W Putnam
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023
Look Closer by David Ellis

This could easily be the most complicated crime novel I’ve ever read and yet I was never confused. A testament to the author’s superior writing craft/skill. The story is in four points of view all of them first person present. This book is another solid five. I was truly amazed at the story and character development that carried me right along. When I put the book down, I found myself thinking about what might happen next. An author can’t ask for more out of a book. I quit counting the number of twists. Which also took me right to the edge of thinking there may have been one too many... but stopped short just in time. Another sign of a brilliant craftsman at work.
What makes the story work is the attention to detail without it, the complicated plot would easily fail falling into a mish-mash of olio.
There is a thing in writing called MAR, motivation, action, reaction. Something has to be motivated in the proper way or the action and reaction can fall short and or turn into melodrama. The author here walks a very fine line. In order to make such a complicated story work the two protagonists have to step dangerously close to the line without crossing over into being unredeemable characters. It works well here but that line is clearly visible. The motivation for what ultimately happens is thin in places. There is also a huge Point of View cheat which is not uncommon in thrillers and mysteries. When a reader picks up a book there has to be a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The difficulty in writing one of these is saving up this suspension of disbelief and only using when absolutely necessary. That’s what happens here, the author needed it to facilitate the story so for me it worked very well. Loved it. But I know some readers who might throw the book across the room.
Easily a five-star review and this author goes on my hardcover list where I buy the hardcover as soon as it comes out. I highly recommend.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson and Dave Becket series.
Barbara KAy
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2024
I wanted a book you can't put down and this was it! Great story
Peyton
4.0 out of 5 stars Decent
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024
Was a good plot twist but the book was kinda slow. Not the most exciting

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