Noelle Ihli's Reviews > Do Not Open

Oh. My. Gosh. This just might be my favorite K-MOD yet. It's darker than anything I've read by her previously, but that only made me love it more. It's like Stephen King's Misery had a baby with the Hulu limited series THE PATIENT (if you're looking for comps). But even that doesn't do this story justice. Kiersten is a master storyteller, and even the book's bleakest, most unflinching moments are treated so carefully that I always felt brave enough to keep reading.

I related to protagonist Mari Montgomery on a deep level. She's a thriller author who is dealing with unimaginable personal loss and the accompanying writer's block. When she gets an unexpected email from an admirer with ties to a film production company, it seems like her life might change for the better. But her decision to meet up with him (a decision I could see myself making) throws her into a nightmare straight out of one of her novels. While Modglin doesn't delve into gratuitous details, the horrifying scenes are heavy, chilling, and dark. A few scenes left me open-mouthed, shocked by the sheer audacity of the plot turns. But beneath the adrenaline and suspense, DO NOT OPEN is a story of resilience and healing. It's also a poignant reminder of how much social media has changed everything about the way we interact with each other. Yes, it connects us. But it also isolates us and can make us vulnerable to predators.

I could not put this book down. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this absolute gem of a thriller. But remember, sometimes it's wiser to leave some doors unopened.