Critic Reviews
Great
Based on 5 reviews on
A New York Times Best Thriller of the Year
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
An Apple Best Book of the Month
A tale not just of profound misunderstanding but dynastic wealth and dysfunction, of how money and power can warp a community...[A] shocker of a finale. --New York Times
''Wicked and smart. Everything you want in a great thriller.'' --Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain
One secret.Eight cryptic words.Lifetimes of ruin.
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author
Wayland Maynard is just eight years old when he sees his father kill himself, finds a note that reads I am not who you think I am, and is left reeling with grief and shock. Who was his father if not the loving man Wayland knew? Terrified, Wayland keeps the note a secret, but his reasons for being afraid are just beginning.
Eight years later, Wayland makes a shocking discovery and becomes certain the note is the key to unlocking a past his mother and others in his town want to keep buried.
With the help of two friends, Wayland searches for the truth. Together they uncover strange messages scribbled in his father's old books, a sinister history behind the town's most powerful family, and a bizarre tragedy possibly linked to Wayland's birth. Each revelation raises more questions and deepens Wayland's suspicions of everyone around him. Soon, he'll regret he ever found the note, trusted his friends, or believed in such a thing as the truth.
I Am Not Who You Think I Am is an ingenious, addictive, and shattering tale of grief, obsession, and fate as eight words lead to lifetimes of ruin.
Eric Rickstad is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Canaan Crime series novels, The Silent Girls, The Names of Dead Girls, and Lie in Wait. He lives in Vermont with his wife, son, and daughter.
Don Winslow is a crime novelist.
Congratulations to my fellow Story Factory author @ericrickstad on I AM NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM (aka that book I told you about all summer!) being named one of the BEST THRILLERS OF 2021 by @nytimes !! https://t.co/x2ZmFhbUbW
Looking for your next read? You're in the right place. Personalized recs, alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays and always here: https://t.co/WMEobU4K8g
@jostraveler You might enjoy I Am Not Who You Think I Am by Eric Rickstad or Mary Kubica's Every Last Lie. Fiona Barton's The Widow might also work.
Over 30 years of publishing bestselling books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.
The scorching #suspensethriller #IAMNOTWHOYOUTHINKIAM by @nytimes bestselling author @ericrickstad is not just an @amazon Editors' Pick in Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense...it's 99¢ on @AmazonKindle AND launching in #paperback on 11/1! 👉99¢ eBook: https://t.co/XlBIE1HL88 https://t.co/u0TGGrFL77
Rickstad weaves layer upon layer of psychological mystery--all wrapped up in vivid, elegant prose.
-- "Brian Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep, Deep Snow"The reader will entertain many incorrect theories before arriving at the shocker of a finale...Rickstad has an elaborate, old-fashioned style of narration. He sends us hurtling down one path before yanking the reins and pulling us in another direction. Soon we are in a tale not just of profound misunderstanding but also of dynastic wealth and dysfunction, of how money and power can warp a community.
-- "New York Times"I loved it. A riveting tale of lies and betrayal. Clear your calendar before you crack the cover--you WON'T be able to put this one down!
-- "J. D. Barker, New York Times bestselling author of A Caller's Game"I Am Not Who You Think I Am is a stunning achievement, equal parts searing family tragedy, gripping character study, and page-turning thriller...The ghost of gothic thrillers lurks around every sharp bend of the meticulously crafted, pitch-black plot.
-- "Big Thrill"A lean and mean thriller with a distinct gothic tinge...Rickstad has crafted a tale twisty enough to foil even mystery fans...The story's irresistible hook and complex unfolding are likely to keep readers engaged to the last page.
-- "Seven Days"Eric Rickstad's I Am Not Who You Think I Am left me spellbound and shattered. It's a shocking, heartbreaking novel, equal parts tender and vicious. I never saw the punches coming and when they landed I was left stunned and breathless. I loved every page. It should not be missed!
-- "Richard Chizmar, New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Boogeyman and Gwendy's Magic Feather"Wicked and smart. Everything you want in a great thriller. A smart, very well-written book with whiplash-inducing twists and turns that I never saw coming. I Am Not Who You Think I Am kept me reading late into the night.
-- "Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain"[An] exceptional thriller...Knowing that the story line is building toward the fatal conflagration keeps the tension high. Rickstad has raised his game to a new level.
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"I Am Not Who You Think I Am is a grim tour-de-force, full of sleight-of-hand twists. Rickstad feints in one direction, then cuts you while you aren't looking. Dark and unflinching. You're not getting out of this one unscathed.
-- "Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat"A real page-turner, this one. Brilliantly written with a wicked mystery at its heart, this is a cracker from Eric Rickstad.
-- "Steve Cavanagh, internationally bestselling author of The Devil's Advocate"Rickstad ratchets up the suspense, filling Wayland's investigations with misdirection, shadowy characters, and gothic elements. There's a sense of dread throughout the book, but the final plot twist is a jaw-dropper. Recommended for readers who like their thrillers dark and twisted.
-- "Library Journal"Eric Rickstad is the rare writer who can wrap a dark, gritty story in smooth, poetic prose.
-- "Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex"Eric Rickstad's is a name to remember.
-- "Criminal Element"A riveting tale of consequences, family, and fate--darkly poetic and deeply felt...Do not miss this.
-- "Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life"An exceptional read by an exceptional writer.
-- "Catherine Ryan Howard, internationally bestselling author of 56 Days"What an incredible, sad story. This is the kind of story that lingers long after you've finished reading. It's dark and twisted, with no redemption for the characters. And yet, it is probably a more realistic ending than the ones we normally read about...If you enjoy dark, gritty thrillers, then I recommend you read this book.
-- "Portland Book Review"One hell of a dark and twisted ride from the diabolical mind of Eric Rickstad...A fast-paced page-turner that's hard to put down, I Am Not Who You Think I Am will keep you riveted and guessing throughout. Erik Rickstad delivers the goods in this book that's sure to provide eerie and brain-busting entertainment to readers looking for a disturbing psychological thriller to sink their teeth into.
-- "Best Thriller Books"