Christine wakes in a strange bed beside a man she does not recognise. In the bathroom she finds a photograph of him taped to the mirror, and beneath it the words ‘Your husband’.
Each day, Christine wakes knowing nothing of her life. Each night, her mind erases the day. But before she goes to sleep, she will recover fragments from her past, flashbacks to the accident that damaged her, and then—mercifully—she will forget.
Chilling, exquisitely crafted and compulsively readable, S. J. Watson’s debut novel Before I Go to Sleep is a psychological thriller of the highest order. It asks primary questions. Are there things best not remembered? Who are we if we do not know our own history? How do we love without memory?
Praise for Before I Go to Sleep:
An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page.
— Dennis Lehane
The best debut novel I have ever read.
— Tess Gerritsen
A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller.
— Lionel Shriver
Thrillers seldom come much better than this.
— Joanne Harris
About the Author
S. J. Watson was born in the Midlands, lives in London and worked in the UK National Health Service for a number of years. In 2008 Watson was accepted into the first Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ Course, a program that covers all aspects of the novel-writing process. Before I Go to Sleep is the result.
Now sold in over 30 languages around the world, Before I Go to Sleep has also been acquired for film by Ridley Scott’s production company, Scott Free, with Rowan Joffe to direct. Filming is scheduled to begin in 2011.
Industry Reviews
"Brilliant in its pacing, profound in its central question, suspenseful on every page and satisfying in its thriller ending."--Anita Shreve "A truly amazing debut. The central character, Christine, is beautifully drawn. It's hard to imagine a more compelling, believable and sympathetic portrayal of a damaged human being. I loved it from start to finish."--Mo Hayder, international bestselling author of Birdman "Combining the psychological screw-tightening of Patricia Highsmith with the high concept of Memento, S.J. Watson's BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is an amnesia thriller you won't soon forget."--Andrew Pyper, author of Lost Girls and The Guardians "A deeply unsettling debut that asks the most terrifying question--what do you have left when you lose yourself?"--Val McDermid "Quite simply the best debut novel I have ever read."--Tess Gerritsen "A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller."--Lionel Shriver "An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page."--Dennis Lehane "An intriguingly fresh look at the amnesia-focused psychological thriller. . . . A captivating and highly suspenseful read, populated with believable characters who lead the reader through a taut, well-constructed plot."--Library Journal "Imagine drifting off every night knowing that your memories will be wiped away by morning. That's the fate of Christine Lucas, whose bewildering internal world is rendered with chilling intimacy in this debut literary thriller. . . . You'll stay up late reading until you know."--People (4 stars) "The summer's single most suspenseful plot belongs to BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP. . . . pure page-turner."--New York Times An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page. --Dennis Lehane" Imagine drifting off every night knowing that your memories will be wiped away by morning. That s the fate of Christine Lucas, whose bewildering internal world is rendered with chilling intimacy in this debut literary thriller. . . . You ll stay up late reading until you know. --People (4 stars)" The summer s single most suspenseful plot belongs to BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP. . . . pure page-turner. --New York Times" Quite simply the best debut novel I have ever read. --Tess Gerritsen" Memoriesreal, false, and a bit of bothare at the heart of Watson s haunting, twisted debut . Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax. --Publishers Weekly (starred review)" This mesmerizing, skillfully written debut novel works on multiple levels. It is both an affecting portrait of the profound impact of a debilitating illness and a pulse-pounding thriller whose outcome no one could predict. --Booklist (starred review)" An intriguingly fresh look at the amnesia-focused psychological thriller. . . . A captivating and highly suspenseful read, populated with believable characters who lead the reader through a taut, well-constructed plot. --Library Journal" A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller. --Lionel Shriver" Brilliant in its pacing, profound in its central question, suspenseful on every page and satisfying in its thriller ending. --Anita Shreve" Memories real, false, and a bit of both are at the heart of Watson s haunting, twisted debut . Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax. --Publishers Weekly (starred review)" Watson s debut novel unwinds as a story that is both complicated and compellingly hypnotic. . . . Watson s pitch perfect writing propels the story to a frenzied climax that will haunt readers long after they ve closed the cover on this remarkable book. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)" -An exceptional thriller. It left my nerves jangling for hours after I finished the last page.---Dennis Lehane -Imagine drifting off every night knowing that your memories will be wiped away by morning. That's the fate of Christine Lucas, whose bewildering internal world is rendered with chilling intimacy in this debut literary thriller. . . . You'll stay up late reading until you know.---People (4 stars) -The summer's single most suspenseful plot belongs to BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP. . . . pure page-turner.---New York Times -Quite simply the best debut novel I have ever read.---Tess Gerritsen -Memories--real, false, and a bit of both--are at the heart of Watson's haunting, twisted debut.... Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax.---Publishers Weekly (starred review) -This mesmerizing, skillfully written debut novel works on multiple levels. It is both an affecting portrait of the profound impact of a debilitating illness and a pulse-pounding thriller whose outcome no one could predict.---Booklist (starred review) -An intriguingly fresh look at the amnesia-focused psychological thriller. . . . A captivating and highly suspenseful read, populated with believable characters who lead the reader through a taut, well-constructed plot.---Library Journal -Watson's debut novel unwinds as a story that is both complicated and compellingly hypnotic. . . . Watson's pitch-perfect writing propels the story to a frenzied climax that will haunt readers long after they've closed the cover on this remarkable book.---Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -A deft, perceptive exploration of a fascinating neurological condition, and a cracking good thriller.---Lionel Shriver -Brilliant in its pacing, profound in its central question, suspenseful on every page and satisfying in its thriller ending.---Anita Shreve "Watson's debut novel unwinds as a story that is both complicated and compellingly hypnotic. . . . Watson's pitch-perfect writing propels the story to a frenzied climax that will haunt readers long after they've closed the cover on this remarkable book."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This mesmerizing, skillfully written debut novel works on multiple levels. It is both an affecting portrait of the profound impact of a debilitating illness and a pulse-pounding thriller whose outcome no one could predict."--Booklist (starred review) "Memories--real, false, and a bit of both--are at the heart of Watson's haunting, twisted debut.... Watson handles what could have turned into a cheap narrative gimmick brilliantly, building to a chillingly unexpected climax."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
