Don't Turn Around by Jessica Barry
I would like to thank Jasmine from Vintage for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher – Vintage
Published – 6th August
Price - £14.99 Hardback £0.99p Kindle
Two strangers, Cait and Rebecca, are driving across America. Cait's job is to transport women to safety. Out of respect, she never asks any questions. Like most of the women, Rebecca is trying to escape something.
But what if Rebecca's secrets put them both in danger? There's a reason Cait chooses to keep on the road, helping strangers. She has a past of her own, and knows what it's like to be followed.
And there is someone right behind them, watching their every move...
In the old days (ahem before 2020 locked us down) I used to enjoy the long drive going somewhere with the scenery, listen to music and think. There would be the odd occasion I’d be doing this at night and that’s a different type of journey – you’re often the only person on the road; the thoughts can get more sombre and when you do suddenly cross someone else on the road you wonder what they’re doing. In Jessica Barry’s taut thriller Don’t Turn Around we go on a night-time road trip into the wilds of Texas exploring two women’s secrets and watching them realise they are definitely being followed.
We meet Cait a secretive driver awaiting her passenger Rebecca to leave her Austin Texas home in the middle of the night. Cait is on edge hoping no one sees them. Rebecca is having second thoughts but then decides she must leave. Neither woman knows the other although they are strangely connected, and both want to hide their secrets from the other. In the middle of the night they have to keep awake; keep the car fuelled and avoid detection. Every pit-stop brings danger and yet they start to be aware at least one other driver is fixated on them and is gaining speed.
One thing I noticed pretty quickly was how this story shoots out of the block at speed. Its gripping - who are these women? Why are they being so secretive? And who are they avoiding? Barry has created a wonderful premise that raises so many questions and such an unusual scenario it hooks you in pretty quickly. As the car weaves through Texas we get flashbacks slowly leading up to the present day. We see Cait a twenty five year old bar tender who would love to be a journalist finds herself in a media storm and we also watch Rebecca a thirty year old Californian teacher who is now getting into the role of a promising politician’s wife. Both stories are compelling and as we cross various moments of their lives, we get greater insight into why they are now where they are.
I’ll be circumspect on the plot in this review as I think Barry really gives us something very meaty to chew over. What I think I can say is this story is very much about the roles that society expect of women. In Rebecca’s case what should a young republican politician’s wife be setting an example for in the world. In Cait’s world an alarming encounter with a famous musician in a nightclub leads to fame and notoriety. These are women we may see briefly on the news and we assign roles to them based on initial impressions; Barry’s skill is reminding us they are human beings – neither perfect nor immoral. A patriarchal society though is fairly unforgiving to both. As the real reason for this trip emerge this novel firmly plants itself in many issues affecting women today – control of their bodies and the right to be believed. I loved how the story makes us remind us these women are not roles but people.
This texture is fascinating, but a thriller also needs the thrills and the mystery of the women plus their growing realisation they are being followed makes for a really tense ride. Barry gives us a series of encounters on the road to unsettle us; make us suspicious and fearful. What I liked is interspersed with the action we meet various men all with issues and a desire to show the world their own importance. Barry both creates very credible threats to Cait and Rebecca but also links them to the overarching theme – we know this type of guy and what they can be capable of. There are also many of them.
Don’t Turn Around is very much a fast car hurtling into the night. Its powerfully taut in terms of building tension then unleashed action scenes yet as we get closer to events, we see more and more of what is really going on. Cait and Rebecca are by the finale very real to you and their fates lead to a tense finale for both women and asks how they can finally interact with one another. On the one hand this delivers a fast paced read you will want to devour but rather than simply the thrill of the chase it also gives the reader something to think about. The women out there who are alone; not listened to and not allowed to live the lives they want. It’s a remarkable balancing act and delivered powerfully – very much a thriller for our times and the battles to come.
