Under My Skin

By Lisa Unger

From New York Times bestselling author and master of suspense Lisa Unger comes an addictive psychological thriller about a woman on the hunt for her husband’s killer.

What if the nightmares are actually memories?

It’s been a year since Poppy’s husband, Jack, was brutally murdered during his morning run through Manhattan’s Riverside Park. In the immediate aftermath, Poppy spiralled into an oblivion of grief, disappearing for several days only to turn up ragged and confused and wearing a tight red dress she didn’t recognise. What happened to Poppy during those lost days? And more importantly, what happened to Jack?

The case was never solved, and Poppy has finally begun to move on. But those lost days have never stopped haunting her. Poppy starts having nightmares and blackouts — there are periods of time she can’t remember, and she's unable to tell the difference between what is real and what she’s imagining. When she begins to sense that someone is following her, Poppy is plunged into a game of cat and mouse, determined to unravel the mystery around her husband’s death. But can she handle the truth about what really happened?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781489267351

Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger is a NYT and internationally bestselling author. Her books are published in 32 languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations, an honor held by only a few writers including Agatha Christie. Her work has been named on "Best Book" lists from Today, People, GMA, EW, Amazon, IndieBound and many others. She has written for the NYT, WSJ, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives in Florida with her family.

Reviews for Under My Skin

[lostinalibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Poppy's husband, Jack, was brutally murdered. After the funeral, she had disappeared for four days, only to reappear at her friend's home with no memory beyond occasional flashes of what happened during those days. Now, it's a year later and, despite counselling, she is still having problems distinguishing what is real and what is just the result of the drugs and alcohol that she has been using to dull her grief. She is not sure, for instance, whether she is being stalked or she is just imagining the man in the black hoodie who seems to always show up wherever she goes.Under My Skin is a well-written, well-plotted psychological thriller by Lisa Unger. A bit confusing at times trying to distinguish between Poppy's reality, flashbacks, and drug-induced hallucinations but, of course, that was the intent. Overall, a real page-turner, one that kept me up at night trying to guess who dunnit it.Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[fhudnell-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher, but I wound up listening to the audio book. That was definitely one of my problems with the book. The breathless, overwrought narration was unbearable from the very beginning of the book. However, my larger problem was with the first person, present tense narration by the whiny protagonist. I took an immediate dislike to her and didn’t care what happened to her. Also the jumping back and forth between her reality and a dream state/flashback/drug hallucination was confusing. This was my first experience with this author. I abandoned this book and I doubt that I will try another one by her.

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It feels like I haven't finished a book in weeks. Under My Skin had the unfortunate luck of being read during my reading slump and busy work month. This may have contributed to my lackluster feelings about the book; I'm not sure. I do know that I struggled with the first half of the book, and I found part of the ending a little over the top, but overall it was an enjoyable read.I have an issue with books that use insomnia or pill popping to make an unreliable character. I'm just not a fan of that manic, hazy, is-this-or-isn't-this real frame of mind. When we first meet Poppy she is in the middle of this crazed state, one year after the murder of her husband. No one knows who killed him, and Poppy can't remember anything about the days following his funeral, so the majority of the time she is running around trying find out what happened all the while dealing with the effects of being doped up and sleep deprived. There are plenty of times when you are left questioning reality right along side Poppy.Once everything started coming together I felt that pacing picked up and I became more invested in the outcome. I will say that the whole story-line with Noah was very odd to me and also the villain monologue at the end seemed cheap and unnecessary. I can see a lot of people liking this more than me as it is well-written and contains a certain amount of thrill. I just prefer my thrillers more steeped in reality over the dream-like state of Poppy's.

[carmenere_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first, I thought, Oh, for goodness sake! Here we go again with another mystery involving a female, suffering from repressed memories and an addiction to sleeping pills and liquor. Add to that she is also suffering from Hypnagogia and some sort of amnesia and you've got yourself one unreliable narrator. the likes your may have seen in The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Girl on the Train. Her name is Poppy and understandably she's in a state as her husband, Jack, was murdered while out for a jog. The murderer was never found and she feels if only she could piece together the fabric of her memory she would discover who it was that changed her life forever, ruined her hopes and dreams. For better or worse, she is surrounded by a support group of old and new friends who may or may not be all that helpful to her. Who may or may not be the murderer.What separates Poppy from all the other self-inflicted victims of literary renown is the author, Lisa Unger. Somehow, she enables me to sympathize with Poppy and care about her well being. The reader wants Poppy to find the answers even though they could lead her to herself. A well written who done it which puts Unger on my must read list. 3.5/5Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin - Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read and review this selection.

[bonnie.franks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an amazing read. Lisa Unger is a familiar author to me and I went into this believing that it would be a good read. I was not wrong, this is her best yet in my opinion.I was entranced with the main character and wanted her to find her answers without further pain. Lisa Unger is a magician, don't be fooled thinking she is exclusively an author. Distraction, sleight of hand...and I fell for all of them. I solved this mystery (incorrectly) several times over.Good solid read, good solid characters, I just can't ask for anything more from a book. It had me from page one and kept pulling me in deeper. Read it! You'll love it. This book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

[jfe16 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Poppy Lang can’t escape the anguish enveloping her. The sudden death of her husband, Jack, murdered during an early morning run, leaves Poppy in a fragile state, struggling to recover from a nervous breakdown. Her memory’s a black hole of somnolence and forgotten days, she’s consumed by strange dreams and tormented by inexplicable fleeting images. And now someone is following her. Is it paranoia, born of an exorbitant amount of pills and far too much liquor, or is Poppy’s life truly in danger? Can she find a way to distinguish between reality and imagination? Can she move past the tragic loss of her husband and put her life together again?After far too many episodes of pills and booze, the missing pieces of Poppy’s days following her husband’s murder slowly unfold. She’s “stuck” at all the “what-if” scenarios she can conjure up; they form the obsession that she cannot relinquish. The characters are well-drawn; the writing, first-rate. As Poppy struggles to define what is real and what is imaginary, readers wrestle with the same dilemma. But the time Poppy spends inhaling pills and liquor feels as if it takes up too much space in the telling of the tale. As a result, the narrative tends to drag as readers muddle through these episodes and it becomes more and more difficult for them to continue to empathize with the grieving widow. The pace . . . and the tension . . . ramp up significantly in the second part of the story. Astute readers may identify the murderer before the big reveal, but there are enough twists and turns here to keep those pages turning rapidly. Overall, this is a solid story and readers are likely to be pleased with the resolution.I received an e-copy of this book from Harlequin-Hanover Square Press/Park Row and NetGalley.#UnderMySkin #NetGalley

[carole888fort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Previously, I have had the pleasure of reading Lisa Unger novels. As usual, all the elements that make this read enjoyable are there. Under my Skin combines a love story with a terrible loss, flawed characters who are interesting and intriguing, a murder mystery which appears to be unsolvable. Jack and Poppy are a happily married young couple. During his morning jog, Jack is brutally killed. Poppy, under the weight of terrible grief, uses sleeping pills and other drugs with alcolhol for a year, leaving her in a state where she cannot tell reality from bad dreams. During this confused period of time, she is looking for the murderer of her husband. She is helped by her childhood friend Layla and a dedicated detective who does not want to give up. All in all, this is a page-turner of a mystery. I would recommend this to readers who want something different in their thriller booklist. Thank you to Park Row Books and NetGalley for an eArc of Under my Skin by Lisa Unger in exchange for an honest review.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Park Row Books for an ARC for my honest review.I was hooked right from the beginning as Lisa Unger's writing drew me in and I had no idea what was real and what was a figment of one of Poppy Lang's dreams. Her husband was brutally murdered a year ago and since then Poppy has been lost and confused in her grief. The police have no clues and Poppy is trying to remember her last days with her husband. As she is trying to solve the mystery she senses someone is following her. She begins to feel like she never really knew her husband. The suspense continues to build as Unger takes us on a wild ride with this psychological thriller that will twist and turn you around until the very end. I would highly recommend this book to those who love psychological mystery/thrillers.

[mookie86 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite books of the year. Lisa Unger brings a good mystery vibe along with all the aspects of a good thriller. The characters and all their flaws were well laid out and the suspense lasted all the way until the end, which is rare in many books of this genre lately. Very well done!

[grumpydan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am a big fan of Lisa Unger and enjoy here thrillers. And I really wanted to love this one also, but it didn’t knock me out. The story is about Poppy whose husband was murdered when he went for a run one morning. A year later, his murder is still unsolved and Poppy has been living in a fog, taking medication and having blackouts. When her nightmares seem to be real, she believes they could be memories. On top of that, she thinks she is being followed. Sounds like one for the loony bin. As the story progresses, we learn more, but is Poppy safe? I just couldn’t get into Poppy’s story and therefore was not ecstatic about this book.

[purple_pisces22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love anything Lisa Unger. That said, this seemed a bit different from her normal style. Although still extremely enjoyable, I can see how some readers had issues with the book. I found Puppy to be a bit annoying at times and not as strong as a lot of Ms Unger‘s normal female characters. The outcome was good and The ending was surprising although not completely unexpected.

[jnmegan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some people go on Internet dates to meet that special someone or to just make some sort of connection to combat loneliness. Poppy, the main character in Lisa Unger’s Under My Skin, goes on these dates to satisfy her need for physical affection without wanting to ever talk the person again. It can be a risky undertaking, and she has been flirting with recklessness ever since losing her husband the year before. Poppy and Jack were just getting started with a new photography agency, an upgrade in their living arrangements, and attempts to have a baby together when Jack was killed. He was attacked while out for a run one morning, and Poppy is filled with guilt because she did not accompany that day as usual. Right after his death, Poppy had a breakdown, disappearing for days with no memory of where she was or what she was doing during that time. Her best friend from childhood and coworkers keep a close eye on her as she struggles to keep up with the business and maintain her sanity. Poppy can’t bring herself to unpack the boxes in the new apartment, and she has been turning increasingly to overly self-medicating. When she thinks she is being followed, she contacts the detective who is still investigating Jack’s death. He tells her that some new evidence has come to light that might indicate that Jack’s death was not a random attack. Poppy experiences flashes of former events, but are they just dreams or real memories? Could she be losing her tenuous grip on reality or is her subconscious trying to send her a message? Seeking answers, Poppy searches the city for the places and people she has envisioned. Meanwhile, she also is torn by some unexpected feelings for one of her Internet dates whose persistence both comforts and unnerves her. Poppy increasingly takes chances and chases after danger as she gets closer to discovering the truth about her missing days. Her discoveries cause her to question her assumptions about her marriage and wonder about the secrets that may have been simmering beneath its happy facade. Unger’s novel is a solid page-turner with some good twists and well-developed characters. Under My Skin should be well-received by Unger’s current followers, and would also appeal to fans of A.J. Finn, Ruth Ware and Paula Hawkins.

[stressedrach · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this book had me hooked from the very beginning, how can you lose days from your memory? Poppy did, just after the funeral of her husband who was brutally murdered. Seeing dead people, going into hypnagogia, not knowing what is real and what is a dream.
This was a really interesting read with twists and turns along the way. Hoping that the killer would be found. Also hoping Poppy would get rid of the pills and find out the truth.
I love a good psychological thriller and this had everything in it to make it an enjoyable but tense read.