You Will Know Me
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3.6 • 16 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
"Almost unbearably tense, chilling and addictive ... Exceptional." Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
Katie and her husband Eric have made their daughter Devon the centre of their world. Talented, determined, a rising gymnastics star, Devon is the focus of her parents' lives and the lynchpin of their marriage. There is nothing they wouldn't do for her.
When a violent hit-and-run accident sends shockwaves through their close-knit community, Katie is immediately concerned for her daughter. She and Eric have worked so hard to protect Devon from anything that might distract or hurt her. That's what every parent wants for their child, after all. Even if they don't realize how much you've sacrificed for them. Even if they are keeping secrets from you...
A mother knows best... doesn't she?
MORE PRAISE FOR YOU WILL KNOW ME
"Stunning. ... Nothing should be taken at face value in this jealousy-and hormone-soaked world except that Abbott is certainly our very best guide." Kirkus
"hits that rarefied sweet spot between unnerving psychological suspense and a family drama with heart ... The pages couldn't turn fast enough" Jessica Knoll, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive
"comes barreling at you with all the power and urgency of a high-speed train, as Abbott asserts herself as one of the greatest crime writers of our time." Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Thriller Award winner Abbott (The Fever) takes a piercing look at what one family will sacrifice in the name of making their daughter a champion. For Katie and Eric Knox, nothing is more important than ensuring that their 16-year-old daughter, Devon, has everything she needs to pursue a possible Olympic berth in gymnastics, from round-the-clock training with coach Teddy Belfour at BelStars Gym to a plethora of high-performance leotards and hand grips. Despite a childhood foot injury, Devon is the obvious star of the gym, something the other parents both appreciate (because it raises BelStars's profile) and quietly resent (because it makes their own daughters look second-rate). When an unexpected death rocks the gym community, Katie is determined not only to shield her daughter from the fallout but also to make sure that Devon's elite trajectory doesn't falter. But she can't help being inexorably drawn to the tragedy and the young man who died, and in the process Katie learns that what she thought she knew about Devon only scratches the surface. Abbott keenly examines the pressures put on girls' bodies and the fierce, often misguided love parents have for their children.
Customer Reviews
Verbal gymnastics
Author
American with a big following. She’s heavily into noir fiction and writes her own with a strong female twist. This was her eighth novel.
Plot
Central characters include 15-year-old star gymnast Devon, her overindulgent parents Eric and Katie, and her long suffering younger brother Drew. The family endures considerable burdens, both emotional and financial, to support their daughter. Eric, in particular, seems to be living his life vicariously through her: his ticket to fame. This approach is encouraged by coach Teddy, who waxes lyrical about Devon’s prospects for the National titles, the Olympics, whatever. A rich gym parent named Gwen eventually lends a hand financially. The narrator Katie is tiring rapidly of the constant strain, and feeling guilty about neglecting her undemanding younger child. I had already learned more than I ever wanted to know about the world of elite gymnastics by the time the author then spiced things up with a fatal hit-run accident. The victim was an early twenties, hot-bodied, pretty-faced, if none too bright, all round good guy much lusted after by all the perpetually pre-pubescent gymnasts, not to mention some of the mothers: Katie for instance. Mystery surrounds the hit-run as suspicion falls on the vic's GF, who is also the coach’s niece and has a checkered past.
Writing
'You Will Know Me' is a story of passion versus obsession at several levels. The prose is reasonably crisp, but it was obvious to me from an early stage who did it. When Katie, the most interesting character, finally overcomes her denial about family matters, she becomes brutally judgemental, which I found unconvincing.
Bottom line
If you liked Megan Abbott’s previous work, you’ll probably like this. Having never read any of her oeuvre previously, I was not tempted to explore it further.