That’s Not My Name

A girl wakes up in a ditch on the side of the road, injured, with no memory of how she got there or of who she is. After being picked up by a police officer, she is eventually reunited with her dad, Wayne Boone, who tells her that her name is Mary Boone and that she was involved in a car accident. However, as Mary begins to experience flashes of memory, she begins to suspect that Wayne’s story might not be entirely truthful, which leads to another, more important question: If she is not Mary Boone, then who is she?  

At the same time, in a nearby small town in Washington, Andrew “Drew” Carter-Diaz is under suspicion for the murder of his girlfriend, Lola Scott, who went missing five weeks ago. He fights to clear his name and locate his missing girlfriend. At the same time, he faces an internal battle, consumed by guilt. He knows something happened on the night of the disappearance—something he’s keeping from the police.  

Mary struggles to adjust to her life after her accident. With no memory of who she is and only Wayne’s word to go off of, she fights to remember something, anything, about her life before her accident. As her memory begins to return in flashes, she realizes that Wayne isn’t being entirely truthful about her identity. As Wayne becomes progressively more controlling, Mary begins to doubt his story and wonder if he might be up to something nefarious. After catching him in multiple lies, she decides that she can’t trust him and must figure out a way to escape him.  

Drew is shut out by the entire town except for his dad and his cousin, Max. Everyone believes that he is responsible for the disappearance and presumed death of his girlfriend, Lola. Drew fights to prove his innocence, and he spends his time creating missing person flyers to post around town. With the sheriff constantly on his back, every one of Drew’s moves seems suspicious. Additionally, Drew is keeping a secret about that night: he had broken up with Lola, which prompted her to get out of his car and walk two miles into town, during which she disappeared. After receiving a tip of a possible Lola sighting, Drew, Max, and their friend Autumn decide to take the investigation into their own hands and prove Drew’s innocence once and for all.  

That’s Not My Name is a well-written thriller novel that alternates points of view between Mary and Drew, providing readers with both sides of the story and allowing them to piece together the details to solve the mystery. This alternating perspective adds to the overall suspense and keeps readers hooked as they are left on small cliffhangers between chapters. Mary’s chapters are exciting and riveting as readers discover things along with her. At the same time, both Drew’s and Mary’s sections are intense and emotional in a way that is realistic and believable, given their situations. 

The book builds an engaging, fast-paced mystery that will keep readers interested and invested in both characters’ stories, keeping them on the edge of their seats until the very end. The reveal includes a shocking twist that is emotional and action-packed, delivering a strong conclusion that readers will enjoy. 

That’s Not My Name revolves around trusting yourself and fighting for what you believe is right. Even though Drew faces animosity and accusations from everyone in town, he doesn’t let that stop his search for his girlfriend. Similarly, even though Mary is being fed details about her life from Wayne, she learns to trust herself and the small pieces of memory that have returned to her, giving her the courage to fight for her life and safety. While the characters often break the rules set by authority figures, they gain confidence in themselves and learn to fight for what is right. 

Sexual Content  

• When a police officer finds Mary, he suggests that she should get “checked out by a doctor” and “get a rape kit.” 

Violence  

• When searching for Lola, Drew, Autumn, and Max assume that a serial killer has kidnapped her. Max threatens to “punch Ted Bundy” multiple times during their discussions about her disappearance.  
• While debating whether to run away, Mary spots a coyote holding part of a man’s corpse. She finds the remains of a body. “Bite marks from animal teeth on the side of a partially dirt-covered face. Blood. Ripped skin. Open milky eyes. Giant gaping wounds on a mutilated neck.” Mary realizes that Wayne has killed this man, as he was last seen speaking to him outside their cabin.  
• Wayne chases Mary, who is attempting to run away. “Mary smashes a rock into his temple, driving his whole head to the side. He drops to his right knee, his eyes unfocused as a river of blood runs down his cheek.” Although this deters him for a few seconds, he is able to get up and grab her as his injuries are not grave. 
• Before Mary can scream for help, Wayne catches up to her. “A hand wraps around [her] throat from behind. Dots pepper [her] vision until they wipe [her] out completely.” He chains her up in a basement, and when she wakes up, she notices bruising on her neck. 
• After capturing Mary again, Wayne punishes her by “[backhanding her] so hard [she] falls off the cot and onto the floor.” 
• Drew finds Mary chained in the basement of the cabin and attempts to save her. Wayne catches them, and a fight occurs. Wayne attacks Drew, and they “roll around and hit each other.” The two struggle and land a few more punches, during which Wayne punches Drew in the face. The fight scene spans five pages and results in serious injuries for both of them.
• As Mary attempts to free herself from her restraints, she “[hears] a crack like two rocks slamming together, and Drew reels back, hand going to his nose as blood rushes from it.” As Wayne strangles Drew, Mary “[picks] up the cot and slams it into Wayne’s back… again and again.” She then picks up some clippers and “[slams] the clippers into the back of Wayne’s neck.”  
• Wayne manages to get up and, once again, attacks Drew. Wayne “stomps on him with the heel of his boot.” As Drew lies on the ground, Wayne and Mary struggle. She “[grabs] the little metal shovel and [drives] it straight into his leg.” Then she grabs a fire poker, “[wielding] the fire poker like a bat… [powering] it down and catching him in the forearm… the face… then [she kicks] him down the stairs.” Wayne dies.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

• Wayne mentions Mary misbehaving, mentioning “the sneaking out. The drinking. The boys.”   

Language  

• Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes fuck, shit, asshole, and whore.  

Supernatural  

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None 

by Gabie Rivas