Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Chapel Hill : Algonquin, 2017.
Description
Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:�Original and imaginative . . . Ripping suspense, sheer terror, and a wrenching love story.� �Sandra Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Friction The terrible truth about Manderley is that someone is always watching. Manderley Resort is a gleaming, new twenty-story hotel on the California coast. It�s about to open its doors, and the world�at least those with the means to afford it�will be welcomed into a palace of opulence and unparalleled security. But someone is determined that Manderley will never open. The staff has no idea that their every move is being watched, and over the next twelve hours they will be killed off, one by one. Writing in the tradition of Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, and with a deep bow to Daphne du Maurier, author Gina Wohlsdorf pairs narrative ingenuity and razor-wire prose with quick twists, sharp turns, and gasp-inducing terror. Security is grand guignol storytelling at its very best. A shocking thriller, a brilliant narrative puzzle, and a multifaceted love story unlike any other, Security marks the debut of a fearless and gifted writer. �Be surprised, be very surprised: Gina Wohlsdorf brings more than just plot twists and a terrifically tender love story to this thriller . . . It�s her playful homage to Hitchcock and du Maurier that had me reading, howling, and just plain loving this novel.� �Sara Gruen, author of At the Water�s Edge �Grand Hotel meets Psycho in the age of surveillance . . . Security is cinematically vivid, crisply written, and sharp enough to cut . . . Wohlsdorf brilliantly subverts our expectations of the action genre in this smart, shocking, poignant thriller.� �Emily Croy Barker, author of The Thinking Woman�s Guide to Real Magic �The thrill of this novel goes beyond its wickedly clever, split-screen, high-tech wizardry�a kind of video gamer�s literary retake of Hitchcock�s Rear Window�and emanates from its strange, disembodied narrator . . . The effect is terrifying, sexy, dizzying, and impossible to look away from.� �Tim Johnston, author of Descent �Shocking and filled with Tarantino-ish dark humor. . . Structurally reminiscent of the amazing Jennifer Egan,Wohlsdorf�s book is certainly a hybrid, like nothing else. Get ready.� �Ann Beattie, author of The State We�re In �Flawless . . . Security is perfectly tuned for blockbuster status . . . They don�t make a hotel big enough to house all the people who will want to read this, and soon, as in Manderley, all eyes will be on Wohlsdorf.� �Daniel Kraus, Booklist, starred review .… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kappadeemom
Weird and creepy book. I really liked it until the last 10 pages. I would have liked the ending to have been fleshed out a bit more. And personally, I was hoping that Brian was the one that hired the killers in order to "save" Tessa or that one of the killers was Mitch. That would have been a
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pretty good twist, amIright?! Still, a pretty good book overall. Show Less
LibraryThing member dyarington
A thriller this book is not! A horror story--perhaps. The split screen pages were annoying at best. I found this book a big disappointment from the very get go. Tessa's relationship with Bryan is weird.. I ordered this book because of the fantastic hype. It definitely does not live up to the hype.
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What a letdown. Nothing about this book is worthy of praise. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jim53
In Security, first-time novelist Gina Wohlsdorf plays with some narrative devices in mildly interesting ways. We know from the name of the resort where the story takes place that the author wishes to evoke Rebecca (we also get a nameless first-person narrator, but not as exasperating as Rebecca's).
Wohlsdorf gives us an almost-omniscient narrator; the storytelling reflects the views that are available through the resort's monitoring system. The first-person narrator does not appear much early on, but his role grows as the story progresses. (At one point I suspected that he might be an AI, but this turns out not to be the case.) In addition to providing lists of camera numbers as headers, presumably indicating which of the resort's security cameras are showing the action that is described, the author uses two other techniques to call our attention to the sequencing of events. One technique is to simply switch back and forth between two simultaneous scenes in alternating paragraphs, without the extra spaces or inter-paragraph decorations that often signal such a shift. I thought this was effective in depicting the divided attention of the narrator, and in emphasizing that we can pay attention to only so many things simultaneously. The other technique is to divide the page into two, three, or four columns, describing the events in front of a different camera in each column. I found this approach more attention-grabbing and distracting. It seemed more like a gimmick than a serious technique, as if the author didn't trust us to pick up on what she was doing without being smacked in the face with it.
I couldn't tell how seriously Wohlsdorf intends us to take anything in her story. The relationship between Tessa and Brian is a little ridiculous, and I'm not sure there is a character I care about. There is a strong element of voyeurism running throughout, and more gore than I was expecting. The faceless, nameless killers are a bit of a cliche; are we supposed to expend any energy on figuring out why they're doing what they're doing? Is a senseless nihilism the point of the story? Is there even a point?
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Manderley Resort offers state-of-the-art security and discretion for those of their guests who value such things. But as the staff completes its preparations for the grand opening, several people are murdered in one evening, and it becomes apparent that everyone in the building is at risk.Wohlsdorf gives us an almost-omniscient narrator; the storytelling reflects the views that are available through the resort's monitoring system. The first-person narrator does not appear much early on, but his role grows as the story progresses. (At one point I suspected that he might be an AI, but this turns out not to be the case.) In addition to providing lists of camera numbers as headers, presumably indicating which of the resort's security cameras are showing the action that is described, the author uses two other techniques to call our attention to the sequencing of events. One technique is to simply switch back and forth between two simultaneous scenes in alternating paragraphs, without the extra spaces or inter-paragraph decorations that often signal such a shift. I thought this was effective in depicting the divided attention of the narrator, and in emphasizing that we can pay attention to only so many things simultaneously. The other technique is to divide the page into two, three, or four columns, describing the events in front of a different camera in each column. I found this approach more attention-grabbing and distracting. It seemed more like a gimmick than a serious technique, as if the author didn't trust us to pick up on what she was doing without being smacked in the face with it.
I couldn't tell how seriously Wohlsdorf intends us to take anything in her story. The relationship between Tessa and Brian is a little ridiculous, and I'm not sure there is a character I care about. There is a strong element of voyeurism running throughout, and more gore than I was expecting. The faceless, nameless killers are a bit of a cliche; are we supposed to expend any energy on figuring out why they're doing what they're doing? Is a senseless nihilism the point of the story? Is there even a point?
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LibraryThing member phillies
A great read and a wonderful first novel by Gina Wohlsdorf. The book can be described as a mystery, thriller, and love story and it does not disappoint. The story takes place in a new luxury hotel in California. While one story unfolds in one part of they hotel another story taking place in another
Security is deserving of a wide readership and I look forward to reading more form this talented author.
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part of the hotel is suddenly inserted. The first half of the novel is a parallel story and the writing style is unique and interesting as multiple stories unfold simultaneously. I was trying to decide whether I liked how the story was being presented and thought that the second half had better bring it together in an interesting way and then the second half of the book really took off and was filled with action and suspense. The book is a true page turner and once I reached the second half I could not put it down. One of the most interesting devices is the use of the narrator. The identity of the narrator does not come clear until later and it is fascinating how the narrator is gradually revealed.Security is deserving of a wide readership and I look forward to reading more form this talented author.
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LibraryThing member CatherineHsu
Actual Rating: 3.75
*I won an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The writing style for this was definitely something! It's a while before the identity of the narrator is revealed, and therefore the book is written in third person omniscient, which really adds to the eerie tone of the
There were some really cool formatted pages too - meant to depict the multi-view security perspective; I've read a few reviews who talk about the formatting made it difficult to understand. However, I've noticed that most of those reviewers were going off of e-copies; I received a hardback ARC, and I didn't have a problem! (With that being said, if you're going to buy this book, definitely buy a physical copy to get the full experience.)
Continuing on with writing style, there is the factor of "jumping around" that some people have trouble with. But for me, this type of writing really worked! It provided an aspect of suspense and chaos that I think really added to the mood of the book as well.
In terms of plot, there were so many twists and secrets to this: secret elevators, locked rooms, gory violence - everything needed to make a good horror story.
I think another thing that really made this book a success for me was the love story that came along with it.
I know, I know. A horror and a love story? But Gina Wohlsdorf really made it work. It's hard to describe, but what this book did was combine emotional and physical chaos - and this plus the writing style really set up the contrast in setting and intertwined scenes that would otherwise seem disconnected.
I'd say that the characters were really likeable as well - as a murder mystery, obviously some would be killed off - but it was always a question of who would be next. (NO, NOT THAT ONE. THEY'RE MY FAVOURITE. PLEASE.)
Anyways, this was a wild ride, and I'm so glad I got to experience what this author can do - looking forward to anything else they come up with!
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05/21/2016 - My ARC of this just came in the mail; I'll be reading it after I finish Me Before You and After You - I'm so excited!
*I won an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The writing style for this was definitely something! It's a while before the identity of the narrator is revealed, and therefore the book is written in third person omniscient, which really adds to the eerie tone of the
Show More
story. There were some really cool formatted pages too - meant to depict the multi-view security perspective; I've read a few reviews who talk about the formatting made it difficult to understand. However, I've noticed that most of those reviewers were going off of e-copies; I received a hardback ARC, and I didn't have a problem! (With that being said, if you're going to buy this book, definitely buy a physical copy to get the full experience.)
Continuing on with writing style, there is the factor of "jumping around" that some people have trouble with. But for me, this type of writing really worked! It provided an aspect of suspense and chaos that I think really added to the mood of the book as well.
In terms of plot, there were so many twists and secrets to this: secret elevators, locked rooms, gory violence - everything needed to make a good horror story.
I think another thing that really made this book a success for me was the love story that came along with it.
I know, I know. A horror and a love story? But Gina Wohlsdorf really made it work. It's hard to describe, but what this book did was combine emotional and physical chaos - and this plus the writing style really set up the contrast in setting and intertwined scenes that would otherwise seem disconnected.
I'd say that the characters were really likeable as well - as a murder mystery, obviously some would be killed off - but it was always a question of who would be next. (NO, NOT THAT ONE. THEY'RE MY FAVOURITE. PLEASE.)
Anyways, this was a wild ride, and I'm so glad I got to experience what this author can do - looking forward to anything else they come up with!
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05/21/2016 - My ARC of this just came in the mail; I'll be reading it after I finish Me Before You and After You - I'm so excited!
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LibraryThing member kgallagher625
This is a thriller that takes place in the days before the opening of a luxury resort in California. As the main character, Tessa, busies herself with last minute details, a killer stalks the hotel, murdering staff one by one.
I loved the main character. Other than that, I just did not find the plot
I loved the main character. Other than that, I just did not find the plot
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very compelling or suspenseful. I did find the first person narrative and the perspective of the various security cameras interesting. There is explicit violence and sex. The book has all the elements of an effective thriller, but I guess I am not the right reader to appreciate it. Show Less
LibraryThing member anneb10
SECURITY starts out a bit slow. The narration of the story is strange, and it's distracting at first. We're introduced to all the characters and some backstory as to how they all came to be in this spot at this time. Tension grows and builds, and then like a roller coaster, crests and the wild ride
And wild it is, too. The strange narration at the beginning is explained, heightening the tension of the story. There is some romance, plenty of bravery and revealed secrets - the pacing is very fast after that first crest.
For all this is a very short book - only 229 pages - it is as satisfying as a doorstop thriller. I have a slight quibble towards the end of the book but to go into detail would be a spoiler. In any case, this is definitely worth your time. Take a read and enjoy.
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begins.And wild it is, too. The strange narration at the beginning is explained, heightening the tension of the story. There is some romance, plenty of bravery and revealed secrets - the pacing is very fast after that first crest.
For all this is a very short book - only 229 pages - it is as satisfying as a doorstop thriller. I have a slight quibble towards the end of the book but to go into detail would be a spoiler. In any case, this is definitely worth your time. Take a read and enjoy.
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LibraryThing member MsNick
While Tessa is preparing for the grand opening of the exclusive resort she helped design, a man from her past suddenly appears. Further complicating matters, there's a killer stalking all the hotel's employees. Security by Gina Wohlsdorf was a book I didn't want to put down. I don't believe I've
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ever read a combination love story, mystery, and slasher-type novel before, but I do know that I'll keep an eye out for more of Wohlsdorf's work. Show Less
LibraryThing member debralu
Interesting concept in the layout of the pages to capture multiple scenarios, but in general, I did not like the story. It did leave you thinking about what was going on and who was behind it all, but I found too much "stream of consciousness" with the narrator and somewhat juvenile characters in
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nature. Thanks for the exposure Early Reviewers! Show Less
LibraryThing member niaomiya
This book was unlike anything I've ever read. It was creepy, it was violent, and it was a poignant love story all rolled into one doozy of an original book.
Manderley Resort is a new hotel on the California coast, not yet open to the public. Taking care of last-minute touches are manager Tessa and
I struggled with the writing style at the beginning. I found the writing stilted, the descriptions of main character Tessa and her movements annoyingly simple, almost childlike, with the short, clipped sentences. If I had not been obligated to write a review and were just reading this book of my own accord, I would have given up after the first two pages because I found the writing style so annoying. I was also confused at the change in point of view. It started out 3rd person, and then all of a sudden it switches to first person. Not until I paid attention to the chapter titles did I start to understand why the book was written in both 3rd and 1st persons; it actually is a 1st-person account, but there's a reason why so much of it is written in 3rd person. I won't say why, so as not to have any spoilers in this review.
Once I got past my confusion and initial annoyance, the book started to grow on me. The pace got faster and faster, with more diabolical things happening. The occasional multi-view narration was clever; it placed the reader such that you feel like a member of the security team watching the happenings across multiple camera screens. The entire book takes place over the course of only a few hours. But it's incredible what happens in those few hours - how many people are murdered, how Tessa reconnects with someone from her past, how the character development of Tess, her long-lost foster brother Brian, and the narrator continue amidst the chaos of the fast-moving plot.
The most amazing thing was the big reveal about the narrator. My jaw dropped, I gasped, and all I could think was Oh. My. God. Armed with this dramatic new knowledge, I immediately flashed back to the beginning of the book and re-ran the entire book in my mind from the perspective of the narrator, up to the point of the big reveal. Holy geez. My heart broke into a million pieces.
Four solid stars go to debut author Gina Wohlsdorf for writing a very original thriller. Do not read this book if you are squeamish at all; the violence is incredibly graphic. And if you find the writing style annoying, I encourage you to stick with it. You will be richly rewarded with an engrossing book.
Manderley Resort is a new hotel on the California coast, not yet open to the public. Taking care of last-minute touches are manager Tessa and
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her staff, plus the security team ever-vigilant on the 20th floor. Manderley's security measures are unusually thorough, but do the staff know just how closely they are being watched and heard? And by whom?I struggled with the writing style at the beginning. I found the writing stilted, the descriptions of main character Tessa and her movements annoyingly simple, almost childlike, with the short, clipped sentences. If I had not been obligated to write a review and were just reading this book of my own accord, I would have given up after the first two pages because I found the writing style so annoying. I was also confused at the change in point of view. It started out 3rd person, and then all of a sudden it switches to first person. Not until I paid attention to the chapter titles did I start to understand why the book was written in both 3rd and 1st persons; it actually is a 1st-person account, but there's a reason why so much of it is written in 3rd person. I won't say why, so as not to have any spoilers in this review.
Once I got past my confusion and initial annoyance, the book started to grow on me. The pace got faster and faster, with more diabolical things happening. The occasional multi-view narration was clever; it placed the reader such that you feel like a member of the security team watching the happenings across multiple camera screens. The entire book takes place over the course of only a few hours. But it's incredible what happens in those few hours - how many people are murdered, how Tessa reconnects with someone from her past, how the character development of Tess, her long-lost foster brother Brian, and the narrator continue amidst the chaos of the fast-moving plot.
The most amazing thing was the big reveal about the narrator. My jaw dropped, I gasped, and all I could think was Oh. My. God. Armed with this dramatic new knowledge, I immediately flashed back to the beginning of the book and re-ran the entire book in my mind from the perspective of the narrator, up to the point of the big reveal. Holy geez. My heart broke into a million pieces.
Four solid stars go to debut author Gina Wohlsdorf for writing a very original thriller. Do not read this book if you are squeamish at all; the violence is incredibly graphic. And if you find the writing style annoying, I encourage you to stick with it. You will be richly rewarded with an engrossing book.
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LibraryThing member coker74
Security by Gina Wohlsdorf was just what I expected, death, gore, destruction, dripping blood, with a pinch of romance thrown in for extra flavor. Something I wasn’t expecting was the writing style that crawled into the book. I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked it, but I gave the author
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points for originally. The plot, what little there was of it, was watching a story through a security camera most of the time. The writing isn’t going to win any awards, but it was a short read that takes your mind off the election for a few hours. Both have turmoil and lots of blood and guts. Before you go off without reading the book just think about what you’re looking for. If hotel plot-less mayhem with blood on almost every floor puts tea in your cup you'll love it.. The book is kinda like a slowly twisting knife in your back...it grows on you or in you. Could Gina be the economy version of Stephen King? Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
Security is the newly released debut novel from Gina Wohlsdorf.
Tessa and her team are scrambling the night before to put the final touches in place for the opening night of Manderly, an uber-luxurious hotel. In addition to the opulent touches, the security system is the ultimate in high tech.
"This
But is it enough to stop the two killers that are calmly strolling throughout the hotel, knocking off the employees one by one? The hotel is large, sprawling, and equipped with a hidden elevator - the employees have no idea that they are being hunted down - until it's too late.
But Tessa is a fighter, having survived a rough childhood with her foster brother Brian - who has stopped by the hotel to catch up. As the night progresses, they will have to draw on that toughness if they hope to see morning.
Wohlsdorf weaves a rich past and romance for Brian and Tessa amongst the carnage of the Manderly. These tender moments are juxtaposed by the calmness of the killer as they just go about their work. Romantic horror?
But - there's one more person at the Manderley - the one watching the security cameras. Who is he? The mastermind? Another hired assassin?
I loved the 'split screen' pages that echoed multiple camera views from someone watching in a security room. It was a unique idea and it really made the reader feel like they were in the room watching as well.
Wohlsdorf has a darkly wicked sense of humour. Which seems odd in what I've just described, but it really works.
Security really defies being slotted into a genre. I was kept completely off kilter. It's a nail biter and I can absolutely see it on the big screen. And, I might be a little paranoid the next time I check in at a hotel - "The most thorough safety is safety one's object of protection doesn't know about."
Tessa and her team are scrambling the night before to put the final touches in place for the opening night of Manderly, an uber-luxurious hotel. In addition to the opulent touches, the security system is the ultimate in high tech.
"This
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place is something....supposed to be the safest hotel in the world, right?"But is it enough to stop the two killers that are calmly strolling throughout the hotel, knocking off the employees one by one? The hotel is large, sprawling, and equipped with a hidden elevator - the employees have no idea that they are being hunted down - until it's too late.
But Tessa is a fighter, having survived a rough childhood with her foster brother Brian - who has stopped by the hotel to catch up. As the night progresses, they will have to draw on that toughness if they hope to see morning.
Wohlsdorf weaves a rich past and romance for Brian and Tessa amongst the carnage of the Manderly. These tender moments are juxtaposed by the calmness of the killer as they just go about their work. Romantic horror?
But - there's one more person at the Manderley - the one watching the security cameras. Who is he? The mastermind? Another hired assassin?
I loved the 'split screen' pages that echoed multiple camera views from someone watching in a security room. It was a unique idea and it really made the reader feel like they were in the room watching as well.
Wohlsdorf has a darkly wicked sense of humour. Which seems odd in what I've just described, but it really works.
Security really defies being slotted into a genre. I was kept completely off kilter. It's a nail biter and I can absolutely see it on the big screen. And, I might be a little paranoid the next time I check in at a hotel - "The most thorough safety is safety one's object of protection doesn't know about."
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LibraryThing member KevinJoseph
Gina Wohlsdorf's first novel, Security, uses an unorthodox first-person narrator to brilliant effect. Set entirely within a twenty-story resort hotel on the California coast, the story takes place in twelve hours and is told from the viewpoint of a mysterious narrator who's able to see and hear all
In addition to lots of gruesome action and suspense in the vein of Stephen King, the plot includes several interesting, complex characters. Tessa, the super-competent executive charged with ensuring the resort is operating perfectly, and Brian, a close childhood friend who tracks down Tessa in hopes of kindling a romantic relationship, are well-drawn and sympathetic characters. But what really makes this novel fascinating is the enigmatic narrator, who gradually reveals himself to the reader and makes for an unlikely and compelling hero.
I'll be interested to see what this innovative writer comes up with next.
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of the action through a network of security cameras. And there is action a-plenty, as two killers embark on a mission to find and eliminate the entire hotel staff that's putting the finishing touches on the resort in anticipation of its grand opening. One of the unique aspects of the narrative structure is the occasional use of split-page scenes, in which events that occur simultaneously but in different areas of the hotel are observed side-by-side through the security cameras.In addition to lots of gruesome action and suspense in the vein of Stephen King, the plot includes several interesting, complex characters. Tessa, the super-competent executive charged with ensuring the resort is operating perfectly, and Brian, a close childhood friend who tracks down Tessa in hopes of kindling a romantic relationship, are well-drawn and sympathetic characters. But what really makes this novel fascinating is the enigmatic narrator, who gradually reveals himself to the reader and makes for an unlikely and compelling hero.
I'll be interested to see what this innovative writer comes up with next.
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LibraryThing member willowsmom
I very much enjoyed the premise of this novel, and the setting (austere, spotlessly clean and perfect...with a rotten core) was quite vivd and added a nice extra thrum of unease. Murder mysteries aren't my usual genre, but I certainly would recommend this one--fast, absorbing, and very nicely
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atmospheric. Show Less
LibraryThing member smcgurr
I'm sure author Gina Wohlsdorf's agent is in pitch meetings with Hollywood saying "It's Die Hard in a hotel." A simplification for sure, but it has that feel. A couple of killers invade a new, high-tech hotel prior to its grand opening. Only Tessa, the hard-nosed, main character in charge of the
The book started off slow for me as I was having problems with the point of view. It was told in the present tense from the perspective of the security cameras that are throughout the hotel and its grounds. Wohlsdorf changes the focus as we jump throughout the hotel from character to character, often from paragraph to paragraph and even sentence to sentence. At times, she even goes to a dual, triple, or even quad column layout to show events happening simultaneously. At first I was annoyed by this, but as the book progresses, you realize there is a real reason for this. As the action starts to pick up, the book flies along.
Wohlsdorf explicitly thanks Stephen King, Joss Whedon, and John Carpenter among others. While this book isn't quite in that class, it is a strong debut that I'm sure someone will make into a fantastic movie.
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hotel, a handful of workers, some security staff , and a mysterious person from Tessa's past are there. Will they escape? Perhaps.The book started off slow for me as I was having problems with the point of view. It was told in the present tense from the perspective of the security cameras that are throughout the hotel and its grounds. Wohlsdorf changes the focus as we jump throughout the hotel from character to character, often from paragraph to paragraph and even sentence to sentence. At times, she even goes to a dual, triple, or even quad column layout to show events happening simultaneously. At first I was annoyed by this, but as the book progresses, you realize there is a real reason for this. As the action starts to pick up, the book flies along.
Wohlsdorf explicitly thanks Stephen King, Joss Whedon, and John Carpenter among others. While this book isn't quite in that class, it is a strong debut that I'm sure someone will make into a fantastic movie.
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LibraryThing member grammarchick
The style and pace of the story was unusual and held my attention well. could've done without some of the language. The narrator was totally unexpected but sort of brilliant. If you like psychos and hotel settings, give it a go.
LibraryThing member tsutton
"The best security is invisible security. The best safety is safety that one's object of protection doesn't know about."
Security is really best described as a slasher film in book form and it hits all the right notes in that regard. It follows Tessa, the hotel manager at Manderly Resort, the
Told in a third-person omniscient voice, Security has a different feel that other novels. Because the narrator is telling the reader what happens as they view it on the hotel's incredibly comprehensive security cameras, we not only get a play-by-play of the horror as it happens but also this unknown viewers opinions which are often laced with a bit of dark humor. For example, we get this scene in the kitchen.
"Brian attacked the grease on his hands with a kitchen towel. The towel has red stains on it, most likely cherry coulis. One could not rule out the possibility that it was not cherry coulis."
One of the things that makes this book unique is how the author chooses to show simultaneous action. The pages are split in half, thirds, or quarters with each "scene" playing out in those sections, giving the impression that they're being viewed on side-by-side television screens as they are being relayed to the reader by our mysterious narrator. In any other book this might feel gimmicky but here it's used perfectly (and sparingly) to remind you how the narrator is privy to the events as they unfold. I also have to add that when you slowly start to realize who the narrator is your jaw will drop. It was a stroke of genius I never saw coming.
The characters were both stereotypical in their make-up - the tightly wound girl-boss, the faithful maid, the temperamental French chef, etc. - but incredibly well developed at the same time. The book follows traditional slasher-film rules so much that each death is predictable in a way that doesn't decrease enjoyment of the book. (I actually had fun guessing who would die next!) Despite all of the blood and gore there's a certain playfulness in it's tone that makes it a fun read. It doesn't take itself too seriously and, because of the format, as a reader you're able to join in on that fun. You'll find yourself thinking "NO! Don't open that door!" as you read, just like you would watching it on a screen. It was a total success in that regard.
With nods to Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock, and of course Daphne du Maurier, this debut - DEBUT! - novel is a gift to horror fans. Security is funny, clever, bloody and tremendously incentive. It certainly isn't going to be for everyone, but if you like slasher films and don't mind a little gore in your life, give this a try.
(Thank you to Algonquin and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
Security is really best described as a slasher film in book form and it hits all the right notes in that regard. It follows Tessa, the hotel manager at Manderly Resort, the
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newest, flashiest, high-profile resort hotel on the Santa Barbara coast. As she oversees the staff in their preparations for Manderly's grand opening the next day a killer is stalking the halls, murdering everyone that crosses his path. All of this is narrated by a mysterious stranger who is watching the bloodbath over the hotel's closed-circuit security system.Told in a third-person omniscient voice, Security has a different feel that other novels. Because the narrator is telling the reader what happens as they view it on the hotel's incredibly comprehensive security cameras, we not only get a play-by-play of the horror as it happens but also this unknown viewers opinions which are often laced with a bit of dark humor. For example, we get this scene in the kitchen.
"Brian attacked the grease on his hands with a kitchen towel. The towel has red stains on it, most likely cherry coulis. One could not rule out the possibility that it was not cherry coulis."
One of the things that makes this book unique is how the author chooses to show simultaneous action. The pages are split in half, thirds, or quarters with each "scene" playing out in those sections, giving the impression that they're being viewed on side-by-side television screens as they are being relayed to the reader by our mysterious narrator. In any other book this might feel gimmicky but here it's used perfectly (and sparingly) to remind you how the narrator is privy to the events as they unfold. I also have to add that when you slowly start to realize who the narrator is your jaw will drop. It was a stroke of genius I never saw coming.
The characters were both stereotypical in their make-up - the tightly wound girl-boss, the faithful maid, the temperamental French chef, etc. - but incredibly well developed at the same time. The book follows traditional slasher-film rules so much that each death is predictable in a way that doesn't decrease enjoyment of the book. (I actually had fun guessing who would die next!) Despite all of the blood and gore there's a certain playfulness in it's tone that makes it a fun read. It doesn't take itself too seriously and, because of the format, as a reader you're able to join in on that fun. You'll find yourself thinking "NO! Don't open that door!" as you read, just like you would watching it on a screen. It was a total success in that regard.
With nods to Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock, and of course Daphne du Maurier, this debut - DEBUT! - novel is a gift to horror fans. Security is funny, clever, bloody and tremendously incentive. It certainly isn't going to be for everyone, but if you like slasher films and don't mind a little gore in your life, give this a try.
(Thank you to Algonquin and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
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LibraryThing member eachurch
While I enjoyed the innovative structure of this book, I didn't particularly enjoy the gore. Part of the problem is that I was expecting the book to be more of a thriller, and it is really a book of horror. (This, of course, if my fault, not the fault of the book.) There is no real resolution and
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there is no explanation of why the massacre is taking place. I enjoyed the underlying story, but found the main action and the ending to be faintly ridiculous. However, if you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino then this book may be for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member techeditor
The book flap description of SECURITY dares to compare its writing with that of Steven King. If I were King, I'd sue. It goes on with phrases like "gasp-inducing terror," "brilliant narrative puzzle," and "multifaceted love story," none of which are true. Characters in this book are shallow and
Perhaps Gina Wohlsdorf did suceed in showing the irony in calling a hotel private and secure because security cameras are everywhere. In fact, security and privacy were defeated by the security cameras.
I won SECURITY from Algonquin Books' LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway.
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even cartoonish. Nothing is gripping, shocking, or thrilling.Perhaps Gina Wohlsdorf did suceed in showing the irony in calling a hotel private and secure because security cameras are everywhere. In fact, security and privacy were defeated by the security cameras.
I won SECURITY from Algonquin Books' LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway.
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LibraryThing member wcath
Gina Wohlsdorf's debut novel Security is about a brand new hotel named Manderly Resort set on a stretch of gorgeous California beach in Santa Barbara, The hotel is set to open in just a few days and the staff and builders are working night and day to finish up the last details before the grand
I was really excited to be getting an early review copy of this novel Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let-down. Although the storyline was good and the pace was good, the gimmicky nature of the security cameras was distracting. I think there was definitely a really great idea there but it needed more finesse. I did love the way Wohlsdorf kept you wondering who was behind the cameras through a good part of the book. There were also some pretty shocking and very violent attacks that caught you very much unawares. There is a sense of Stephen King-like creepiness to the book and it has an atmospheric quality that extends to making the building itself a character. Worth a try.
(Review based on complimentary Advance Reader copy.)
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opening. Manderly Resort is being touted as the safest hotel in the world, with state-of-the-art monitoring and it's own security force. The novel opens with Tessa, the young but capable hotel manager frantically trying to get all of the final details tied down and get the resort ready to open. What she doesn't know is that there are forces at work who are trying to make sure the place never serves a single guest. I was really excited to be getting an early review copy of this novel Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let-down. Although the storyline was good and the pace was good, the gimmicky nature of the security cameras was distracting. I think there was definitely a really great idea there but it needed more finesse. I did love the way Wohlsdorf kept you wondering who was behind the cameras through a good part of the book. There were also some pretty shocking and very violent attacks that caught you very much unawares. There is a sense of Stephen King-like creepiness to the book and it has an atmospheric quality that extends to making the building itself a character. Worth a try.
(Review based on complimentary Advance Reader copy.)
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LibraryThing member amaryann21
Manderley has been reinvented as a top security, top luxury hotel, perfect for celebrities looking to recover from plastic surgery or a secret rendezvous. It's days away from opening and Tessa is overseeing the last details. Brian shows up out of nowhere, after eleven years of leaving her by
Gina Wohlsdorf is an author to watch. She's packed a LOT into this short novel and isn't afraid to pull any punches. Great suspense, intrigue and yeah, there's some blood. She does a fantastic job of weaving the character's storylines into this bizarre murder mystery taking place almost behind the scenes. And it culminates in a spectacular way. I'll be looking out for her in the future.
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herself, the foster brother she relied on and who abandoned her after his twin died. And the killing has already begun. Gina Wohlsdorf is an author to watch. She's packed a LOT into this short novel and isn't afraid to pull any punches. Great suspense, intrigue and yeah, there's some blood. She does a fantastic job of weaving the character's storylines into this bizarre murder mystery taking place almost behind the scenes. And it culminates in a spectacular way. I'll be looking out for her in the future.
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LibraryThing member 5tigger
The story is narrated, by a presence that seems to be able to see and hear all. The book has romance, lost love, terror, suspense, all laid out as an edge of your seat gory slasher thriller. It was original, and am looking forward to her next writing adventure.
LibraryThing member januthomas
A suspenseful book with many, many twists and turns. To be fair, I reviewed a very rough advance readers copy which offered alternative story lines. The book lacked cohesiveness and would be helped with editing. I did like the ending. The premise was solid.
LibraryThing member mhanlon
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley for this title and was really excited about it, since the blurb compared it to "A Visit from the Goon Squad."
I don't know if it was the copy I received, but the formatting was all off. Sure, there was the quirky way the book was narrated, flipping
"The Killer puts Delores is apologizing to Tessa -- this is
Delores's favored greeting to Tessa-- before the main elevator's doors have fully opened."
Or this one:
"The Thinker solitaire, and the Killer is -- again -- sitting on the is -- still-- playing
bed in Room 717."
Even the acknowledgements get squeezed to resemble some sort of William Carlos Williams homage.
So I don't think that was the intention, but I think it contributed to me feeling less than charitable towards the book.
We follow (ostensibly through the security cameras) Tessa and other hotel workers as they shuttle up and down the slow-moving elevator (past the distinct lack of a thirteenth floor, we're told again and again and again), up and down the stairs, and begin preparations for the big grand opening. By the end of the book I felt like if I were ever to forget what it would be like to walk up and down 15-20 floors of a hotel and maybe take the elevator, too, to relieve the monotony, I could re-read this book and be 100% satisfied.
The story line in which a Killer (or Killers) is killing everyone in the hotel is a little bit suspenseful, but it's paired with an odd, flatly described burgeoning romance between two foster siblings that I just didn't get. Perhaps that was the point, because of who the narrator was, but it made for very dull, labored reading ("Her hips move like a clock's third hand."). For example:
"Her eyes were depthless when she stared past a straining neck, palmed a contorting shoulder blade, ran another hand down perfect vertebrae to a strong ass, and cupped. Stared at the ceiling, where she was seeing someone she wished were with her instead."
It feels like a second-by-second blow. I get that maybe this was a deliberate choice based on the way the book was narrated, but it just didn't work for me.
I don't know if it was the copy I received, but the formatting was all off. Sure, there was the quirky way the book was narrated, flipping
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from story to story the way a security camera might, but there were also glaring incongruences like sentences finishing with the ending of lines a few lines down so you get sentences like this:"The Killer puts Delores is apologizing to Tessa -- this is
Delores's favored greeting to Tessa-- before the main elevator's doors have fully opened."
Or this one:
"The Thinker solitaire, and the Killer is -- again -- sitting on the is -- still-- playing
bed in Room 717."
Even the acknowledgements get squeezed to resemble some sort of William Carlos Williams homage.
So I don't think that was the intention, but I think it contributed to me feeling less than charitable towards the book.
We follow (ostensibly through the security cameras) Tessa and other hotel workers as they shuttle up and down the slow-moving elevator (past the distinct lack of a thirteenth floor, we're told again and again and again), up and down the stairs, and begin preparations for the big grand opening. By the end of the book I felt like if I were ever to forget what it would be like to walk up and down 15-20 floors of a hotel and maybe take the elevator, too, to relieve the monotony, I could re-read this book and be 100% satisfied.
The story line in which a Killer (or Killers) is killing everyone in the hotel is a little bit suspenseful, but it's paired with an odd, flatly described burgeoning romance between two foster siblings that I just didn't get. Perhaps that was the point, because of who the narrator was, but it made for very dull, labored reading ("Her hips move like a clock's third hand."). For example:
"Her eyes were depthless when she stared past a straining neck, palmed a contorting shoulder blade, ran another hand down perfect vertebrae to a strong ass, and cupped. Stared at the ceiling, where she was seeing someone she wished were with her instead."
It feels like a second-by-second blow. I get that maybe this was a deliberate choice based on the way the book was narrated, but it just didn't work for me.
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LibraryThing member Veronica.Sparrow
Security is an unusual novel in the sense of the way it was written. It jumps from killer to future victim without warning and I found it a bit disconcerting. That being said, I stayed with the novel and ended up staying up late to finish it.
Awards
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — 2017)
Language
Original publication date
2016
Physical description
256 p.; 21 cm
ISBN
1616206934 / 9781616206932
Other editions
Security: A Novel by Gina Wohlsdorf (Paperback)