s ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ɪɴ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴅɪᴍᴇɴsɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛғᴜʟ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴇɴᴀʙʟᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴇʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜɴᴄʜ. One minor quibble I had were the names. For heaven's sake, there are millions of choices for names out there, why oh why name characters with nearly the same names? Caro, Coop, Courtney, and even a Charlie has a role. But in a group of eight people who hang out, to have three of them with such similar names is dumb. Take pity on us poor readers who need to keep characters straight in our heads! This is absolutely genius, outstandingly entertaining, extremely heart pounding, absolutely better mash up of Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars than “one of us is lying” installment! There is a plot twist I called in chapter 2 and was so annoyed when it was revealed because DUH. Like 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

There are certainly some thrilling elements in the book, but this is more of a true mystery that the characters and the reader get to unravel at the same time, which is something we do not see enough of. 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! I already talked enough. Giving my five blazing stars! I truly more books of the author. She did amazing job! 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. Told in racing dual timelines, with a dark campus setting and a darker look at friendship, love, obsession, and ambition, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is an addictive, propulsive read you won't be able to put down.

The thing about Jessica is, on one hand, she’s a privileged woman most people would look at and say, you have so much. You’re successful. A murder on campus. Six college friends. A ten year reunion. And no one is leaving this party until the case is solved. The only downside is that I waited too long to read this one. I realize it was only released last year, but it has come to my attention that ‘dark academia’ is a bit of a trend, which explains why I have found myself reading several other books recently with a similar theme. Unfortunately, the premise is already starting to wear thin for me.

The story moves very slowly, but does contain lots of twists and turns. However, some didn’t feel realistic and others went a little too far. Kudos to Winstead, as it is difficult to see where the plot is headed before it actually goes there. Once it does, the pieces fall into place. Overall, this is a good debut thriller, and I would be willing to read more from this author.The mystery surrounding Heather’s death shapes the plot but the thoughtful prose created the essence of the book. I was invested in the writing just as much as discovering the guilty party, landing me squarely into the 'I can’t believe this is a debut' camp.

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. My University days were prior to this story in a different time and place with very strict rules. I was unable to relate to this University and the events that occurred there. Reading this book was like wandering solo in some remote, little-known country, not knowing its culture, expectations, or language. I do believe many readers will find his a tense, compelling thriller, and I am probably in the minority. Jessica’s father is not alone in wanting his child to be extraordinary. What are the consequences of placing those kinds of demands on kids? Do you think Jessica is an outlier, or do a lot of otherwise-successful students worry about managing their parents’ expectations?

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.” Praise “Ashley Winstead’s mordant debut novel, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, is the latest entry in the budding subgenre of 'dark academia,' where the crime narrative takes place on a college campus...At its heart, Winstead’s novel examines what it means to covet the lives of others, no matter the cost.” Six college friends reunite at homecoming weekend a decade after graduating — This crew is brimming with dark deceit and secrets, and are forced to confront the details of a murder they’ve all tried to leave behind.