Security

Security follows events at the Manderley Resort, an opulent hotel preparing for its grand opening on the California coast. The main character Tessa is the hotel's manager, efficiently coordinating final preparations with her staff. The story takes place over 24 hours and is told through multiple perspectives, including that of a mysterious observer watching through the hotel's extensive security camera system. What begins as routine preparations soon transforms into something far more sinister. The narrative structure plays with viewpoint and surveillance, filtering events through both traditional storytelling and clinical security footage. The format creates a unique interplay between intimacy and distance, control and chaos. Beyond its thriller elements, Security examines themes of observation, privacy, and human connection in an increasingly monitored world. The hotel setting becomes a microcosm for broader questions about safety versus freedom, and the price of security in modern society.

Readers call this book a unique thriller that blends slasher horror with surveillance camera perspectives. The unconventional narration through security cameras creates tension and a cinematic feel that many compare to watching a movie. Readers appreciated: - The creative multiple-perspective format - Fast pacing and building suspense - Technical execution of complex scenes - Romance subplot that adds emotional depth Common criticisms: - Confusing point-of-view shifts - Gratuitous violence - Character development feels shallow - Ending disappointed some readers One reader noted "The security camera angle was clever but made it hard to connect with characters." Another said "The violence felt excessive and took away from the story." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (230+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.4/5 (100+ ratings) The book seems to appeal most to readers who enjoy experimental formats and don't mind graphic content.

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🔍 The novel's unique narrative structure employs multiple perspectives through security camera feeds, creating a cinematic feel reminiscent of split-screen movies. 🏨 The story takes place at Manderley Resort, an upscale hotel in Santa Barbara, California—a deliberate reference to Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca," which features a mansion called Manderley. ✍️ Security is Gina Wohlsdorf's debut novel, published in 2016 after she completed her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Virginia. 🎬 The book's innovative storytelling technique and suspenseful plot led to comparisons with both Quentin Tarantino's directing style and Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thrillers. 🩸 Wohlsdorf crafted the novel's complex murder sequences by physically acting them out to ensure the timing and movements were realistic and technically possible.