EgoManiac

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the runtime—how much damage could a two-hour thriller really do? Turns out, *a lot*. *EgoManiac* is the audiobook equivalent of a perfect three-course meal: no filler, no fat, just a relentless build from flirtation to unraveling. Joerger’s writing thrives in the gaps—what’s *not* said in Cass’s texts to her assistant, the way Nic’s compliments feel like they’re being delivered with a knife held behind his back. The story’s brevity is its superpower; there’s no time for red herrings or bloated subplots, just a laser focus on the power dynamics between Cass and Nic. It’s *Gone Girl* meets *The Player*, but with the pacing of a sprint. Rachel Music’s performance is what sells it. She nails Cass’s brittle confidence—the kind that cracks under pressure—and her Nic is *terrifyingly* smooth. (Seriously, the way she drops his voice into a register that’s almost a purr? Chills.) My only critique? The ending feels *slightly* rushed, like Joerger hit the gas so hard he forgot to brake. And while the lack of background noise keeps the focus on the dialogue, a *hint* of ambient sound—a distant bassline in the club scene, the hum of a studio lot—could’ve deepened the immersion. But these are quibbles. *EgoManiac* is a masterclass in how to make every minute count. If you love your thrillers sleek, vicious, and over before you’ve had time to second-guess your life choices, this is your next listen.