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The story follows a core group of seven(ish) characters, all keeping one, if not more, big secrets from each other during their time at Duquette University. There is also a second major timeline which follows the characters through a college reunion – and, of course, they’re still keeping secrets from each other, though they are arguably not as big this time around (minus the secret of the murderer, lol). The reader learns the barest details about each of the characters throughout the story, and from those details you can easily predict what secrets they’re keeping from the rest of the group (particularly during the earlier timeline), primarily because the characters are, in my opinion, not very original and we’ve seen these types of characters with these types of secrets many times before – in all kinds of media. The clearest examples of this, in my opinion, are Frankie, the star football player, and Courtney, the mean-girl. Also, Courtney being frenemies with them was so confusing. Like, they put up with her and act like they want her around but then also think she's a huge b*tch (because she IS) and like secretly hate her. So why hang out with her? They don't have to. She has other friends. I'm confused. Each of the East House Seven carries some form of guilt over Heather’s death. Compare the ways they manage that guilt. Besides the murderer, do you think any of them should be blamed? Booklist “[An] edge-of-your-seat academic thriller...Taut and atmospheric, with scenes from Jessica's childhood and college years interposed with the dramatic events of the present day, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife will keep readers guessing until the very last moment. Perfect for fans of dark academia, the well-drawn characters will remind many of their own college days. In My Dreams I Hold a Knife is a twisty, literary thriller not to be missed.”
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife is whatever you're looking for: a mystery, broken hearts, very deep secrets and unbearable truths. But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette 10 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. ICYMI: Our Mortal Editions are Exclusive Editions for YA and Adult contemporary books and can include any books that do not fall under the fantasy genre. They were called the “East House 7”—a group of popular best friends at Duquette University. They were always in the public eye, and they had inseparable bonds. But near the end of senior year one of them was murdered and another was accused, and things were never quite the same between them.
Advance Praise
Plain jane Jessica Miller always felt like an outsider in their group, not good enough. Even though she dated one of the most popular guys at school, she felt like a fake. Now she is an Upper East Side girl named partner at one of the most sought after positions at a consulting company in NYC. She can't wait for reunion day...to show them all what she has made of herself....no matter what it took...she made it to the top...did the others? I already talked enough. Giving my five blazing stars! I truly more books of the author. She did amazing job! In My Dreams I Hold a Knife is Winstead’s debut book. She followed that with The Last Housewife (2022) It looks like she’s also publishing romance, including Fool Me Once (2022). I guess she likes balancing the light with the dark when it comes to writing.
After my pre-writing, I wrote an extremely meticulous outline, chapter by chapter, where I color-coded the different storylines so I could literally visualize the plots weaving together.sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs: 10 ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ɪs ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴄᴀᴍᴘᴜs, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴɪɴɢ sɪx ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀsᴛ ʜᴏᴜsᴇ sᴇᴠᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀᴍᴘᴜs ғᴏʀ ʜᴏᴍᴇᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛs ᴀs ᴀ ʀᴇᴜɴɪᴏɴ, ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴀ ᴡʜᴏᴅᴜɴɴɪᴛ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴄᴛɪᴍs ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀʟsᴏ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴs ʜᴇʟʟ ʙᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ғɪɢᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪs sɪsᴛᴇʀ. I was invested in the story throughout even though I really didn't like any of the characters. They all had some twisted motivations and dark things they are hiding. At one point or another I suspected pretty much everyone, so the ultimate revelation definitely came as a surprise to me. A college reunion turns dark and deadly in this chilling and propulsive suspense novel about six friends, one unsolved murder, and the dark secrets they’ve been hiding from each other—and themselves—for a decade. Texas Lifestyle Magazine “With her ability to weave multiple, distinct characters into a thoroughly well-crafted mystery that is absolutely full of twists, turns, and surprises, Winstead is without a doubt an author to keep an eager eye on.” And, if I recall correctly, the bisexual character was the first to be revealed as cheating so yet again feeding into a stereotype (a harmful one too, even though the inclusion of multiple cheating characters makes me feel a little less annoyed about it)
Balance is not something I’m known for, actually. I could probably use some advice from my dear readers on how to reach it. I tend to become consumed by ideas or goals; I expect a lot from myself, and I’m very impatient about next steps, achievements. But I’ve made peace with this. I am an intense, ambitious woman. New York Journal of Books “[A] captivating debut...Winstead does an expert job keeping the reader guessing whodunit. Suspense fans will eagerly await her next.” The East House Seven are legends. Their college years were full of fun, parties, friendship, and memory making moments…until someone stabbed Heather Shelby seventeen times in the chest with a pair of scissors. You know, Amber Van Swann didn’t deserve an ounce of what happened to her. Neither did Heather, of course, though she wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, either. I’d shield those two. Everyone else either bought their trouble or needed a wake-up call. I wanted to reread this book as soon as I finished. That feeling almost never happens these days. I could not put this book down and resented when I had to; this book is that good. And that ending! Wow! For a second I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but then I thought how it made sense with the breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout. I loved it. Obviously.And they would have done that if secrets wouldn't tear them apart. If one of them wouldn't murder another one. Now, five of them are returning to Duquette for their 10-year reunion. But as much as they’d like to put the past behind them and show off their current selves—no one more than Jessica, who felt she didn't ever get all she deserved—someone is determined to unmask the real killer from among the remaining friends and won’t stop until they do This dark campus tale is told in dual timelines and is taut as a bowstring. It really delves deep into how far one would go to achieve everything they have ever wanted. Ashley Winstead excellently shows the dark side of ambition, obsession and love. The characters were so well-developed, their heart’s desires and flaws were laid bare for all to see. Ten years after graduation, Jessica plans to return in triumph for a class reunion. She has a secure job, but not the one she craved. She has had a beauty makeover, dresses better, and presents herself as more self-assured. She is determined to stand out and make people notice and envy her as never before.
I say: the character development is mind blowing, surprisingly honest and deeply layered. The pace is well balanced, intriguing. Haunting One college reunion, six friends, and one unsolved murder. This book kept us up reading late at night, and is perfect for those looking for a heart racing thriller!I buddy read this with a friend and we discussed our opinions of Jessica. At first we thought that she was annoying, but decided, no, she was completely insufferable. There is a plot twist I called in chapter 2 and was so annoyed when it was revealed because DUH. Like 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ We are so thrilled to present to you the . . . ‘In My Dreams I Hold a Knife’ Exclusive Mortal Edition, brought to you in collaboration with @ ashleywinsteadbooks and @ bookmarked!
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