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Action-packed. Edgy. Tense. Riveting.

If ever there was a book to inspire cinematic vibes, it’s this one. A plot thrilling enough to conjure up those things that often accompany a notable suspense flick—I’m talking perching rigidly on the edge of my seat, I won’t dare look away, as I mindlessly shovel handfuls of popcorn from bucket to mouth. A tense storyline, wintery terrain, and questionable characters collide in a way that makes NO EXIT impossible to put down. Ripe pickings for the big screen, I’d be surprised if a production company hasn't snatched this up already.

Darby sets out from Denver, in hopes of making it to Utah to see her estranged mother before she heads into surgery. That plan quickly thwarted in the face of Snowmageddon. Woefully unprepared, Darby has no choice but to hunker down in a mountainside rest stop. With road closures, no cellphone reception, and dwindling battery life there is literally no exit until dawn. And four random strangers to contend with.

It’s on a short, snowy jaunt to secure even a single bar of reception that Darby unknowingly becomes a key player in a little girl’s nightmare. Restrained in a dog cage in the back of a crappy van, Darby is the girl's only hope for escape. Her first course of action, figure out which of the four rest stop strangers the van belongs to. Second—and more importantly—pinpoint who seems trustworthy enough to ask for help.

The culprit may seem obvious at first glance, but if thrillers have taught us anything, it's that first impressions are often deceiving. It’s a race to outsmart the dirtbag responsible while keeping the little girl safe and surviving until sun up—a feat that at times feels hopeless.

Sure, there are times Darby’s decisions seem questionable—making me want to scream in frustration—but there are others when she’s fantastically tenacious. Somehow, managing to MacGyver her way out of some anxiety riddled scenarios. What fun would it be if she made the predictable and easy choice every time?

NO EXIT brings a fresh perspective to a genre rife with domestic noir, unreliable narrators, and off-the-wall twists delivered in the name of trickery. There's something to be said about an edgy, dark and action-packed thriller reminiscent of fear-inducing cinema. Although, if you’re anything like me, highway rest stops are out of the question for the foreseeable future. And nail guns, I don't think I'll ever be able to look at one again and not think of this book.

*A BIG thank you to William Morrow for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.