In her latest psychological thriller, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, Lisa Unger expertly blurs the boundaries between the online world and physical reality, creating a tension-filled narrative that keeps readers on edge until the final page. Set against the backdrop of a remote island in the Atlantic, Unger weaves a tale of deception, survival, and redemption that raises important questions about our social media-obsessed culture.
What begins as an extreme game of hide-and-seek orchestrated by internet sensation Maverick Dillan quickly devolves into a fight for survival as contestants find themselves trapped by a storm, facing not only the elements but also hidden dangers that lurk within the abandoned hotel where the game takes place. As the line between game and reality dissolves, so too do the masks worn by each character, revealing the complex motivations and dark secrets that drive them.
A Mother’s Determination: Characterization That Resonates
At the heart of the novel is Adele Crane, a single mother struggling to provide for her two teenagers after her husband’s disappearance and alleged financial crimes. Adele stands out as Unger’s most compelling character—a woman who has rebuilt herself from devastation, training her body and mind to become stronger while dealing with the aftermath of her husband’s betrayal.
Unger masterfully portrays Adele’s internal conflict: her desperate need for the prize money versus her instinct for survival and protection of her children. This nuanced portrayal elevates her beyond the typical thriller protagonist, making her journey both relatable and inspiring. When faced with the opportunity to save herself or help another contestant, Adele’s choices reveal her true character—a testament to Unger’s skill at creating authentic, multi-dimensional characters.
The surrounding cast is equally well-crafted:
- Maverick Dillan – The charismatic but damaged influencer whose need for attention drives increasingly dangerous stunts
- Angeline Alba – Maverick’s grounding force who has her own demons to battle
- Malinka Nicqui – A young climber whose public persona masks deep insecurities
- Wild Cody – A former television star seeking redemption after a fall from grace
Each character serves as a reflection on different aspects of fame, authenticity, and the price of living a life online. Even secondary characters like Violet and Blake (Adele’s children) feel fully realized, with their own struggles and growth arcs that parallel their mother’s journey.
Structure and Pacing: A Masterclass in Tension
Unger employs a multi-perspective narrative structure that brilliantly heightens suspense throughout the novel. By allowing readers into the minds of different characters, she creates dramatic irony—we often know more than any individual character, which amplifies the tension as we watch them make decisions based on limited information.
The novel is divided into four parts:
- Close Your Eyes – Setting up the game and introducing the players
- Ready or Not – The game begins as danger mounts
- The Game – Reality fractures as survival becomes paramount
- Home Base – Aftermath and consequences
This structure creates natural escalation, with each section raising the stakes. Particularly effective is Unger’s use of “flash-forward” scenes at key moments, giving glimpses of chaos to come while withholding crucial details—a technique that keeps readers frantically turning pages.
However, the pacing occasionally falters in the middle sections when some character development passages feel repetitive. A tighter edit might have maintained the breakneck momentum established in the opening chapters.
Setting as Character: The Atmospheric Island
Falcão Island itself emerges as a character in the novel—a moody, atmospheric presence with agency and malevolence:
“The trees and foliage seemed in constant motion, shifting, whispering in the wind, frequent scurrying in the underbrush.”
Unger’s description of Enchantments (previously Esperança), the abandoned hotel where much of the action takes place, creates a haunting backdrop that amplifies the characters’ isolation and vulnerability:
“Enchantments loomed behind her, its windows like so many watching eyes.”
The setting’s symbolism is effective—a once-grand structure built on hubris, now crumbling and dangerous, much like the facades constructed by the various characters. The weather patterns mirror the emotional turbulence of the story, with the approaching storm serving as both literal danger and metaphorical cleansing.
Themes That Resonate: Identity in the Digital Age
What elevates Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 beyond a simple thriller is Unger’s exploration of relevant themes that resonate in our connected world:
- The performative nature of online identity
- The blurred boundaries between reality and fabricated personas
- The price of fame and the toll of constant scrutiny
- How trauma shapes our choices and perceptions
- The power and potential toxicity of parental influence
Particularly poignant is Maverick’s climactic monologue near the novel’s end:
“I am only exactly what you all want me to be. I do the things you’re afraid to do. I live the way you all wish you could live. I break myself to make you laugh…
…If you hate me for who I am, then ask yourself this: Who are you for watching me? Who are you for making me who I am?”
This meta-commentary on audience complicity makes readers uncomfortable participants in the spectacle, forcing us to question our own relationship with influencer culture.
Where the Novel Falls Short
Despite its considerable strengths, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 isn’t without flaws. Some plot developments rely too heavily on coincidence, particularly how Blake connects with Hugo on Red World and how this relationship becomes crucial to the climax. This coincidence strains credulity, though Unger’s otherwise tight plotting makes it easier to forgive.
Additionally, the mystery surrounding Alex Tang’s death is resolved somewhat anticlimactically, with the revelation coming as reported news rather than being experienced directly by the protagonists. This distance diminishes the emotional impact of this key plot point.
The novel also introduces several intriguing secondary characters—particularly Petra and her mercenary force—who ultimately feel underutilized. Their mysterious presence creates tension, but their motives and background remain somewhat underdeveloped by the story’s conclusion.
Unger’s Evolution as a Thriller Writer
Fans of Lisa Unger’s previous work will recognize her signature blend of psychological depth and page-turning suspense. Those who enjoyed The Stranger Inside and Last Girl Ghosted will find similar themes of identity and technology here, though Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 pushes further into examining our relationship with social media.
The novel showcases Unger’s evolution as a writer; her prose has become more assured and atmospheric, with particularly strong dialogue that reveals character through subtle interactions. Her writing style balances literary description with propulsive action—a difficult balance that many thriller writers struggle to achieve.
Comparable Works and Position in the Genre
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 sits comfortably alongside contemporary psychological thrillers that explore the darker aspects of technology and social media, such as:
- No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield
- Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
What distinguishes Unger’s work is her refusal to offer simple villains or heroes. Every character, even those who commit terrible acts, is granted humanity and understandable motivation. This moral complexity elevates the novel above more formulaic entries in the genre.
Final Verdict: A Compelling, Timely Thriller
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 succeeds as both an entertaining thriller and a thought-provoking examination of our digital age. Unger has crafted a novel that entertains while asking important questions about authenticity, connection, and the consequences of our online obsessions.
While not without minor flaws, the strength of the characterization—particularly Adele’s journey—combined with the atmospheric setting and relevant themes makes this a standout entry in Unger’s impressive body of work. The novel’s conclusion manages to satisfy while leaving readers with lingering questions about redemption and responsibility that will remain long after the final page.
For readers seeking a thriller that balances adrenaline-inducing suspense with psychological depth, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 delivers a reading experience that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. In a genre often criticized for sacrificing character development for plot twists, Unger demonstrates that the most affecting thrillers are those that keep us invested in the people at their center.
