Lindsey Nash has not had the easiest of lives.
She escaped in the dark one night with her six-year-old daughter, Sophie, and just a few of their possessions. They were running from Andrew, Lindsey's drunken, abusive, and possessive husband. Lindsey knew that it was only a matter of time before Andrew killed her, leaving Sophie without her mom. But the night the two disappear, something else happens: a drunken Andrew gets behind the wheel, crashes his vehicle, and kills another woman. The accident puts him in prison for 10 years, giving Lindsey a small sense of freedom, but it's short-lived. Before she knows it, he's out, and headed for the town where Lindsey and Sophie have started over. Strange things start happen, and Lindsey is terrified for her life again--and Sophie's. Andrew claims prison has changed him, but Lindsey can't believe it. How will she and her daughter ever be safe?
This is my fourth Stevens book, and I know by now that she will keep you up late, frantically turning the pages, wondering what will happen. Of the ones I've read, I still think That Night is my favorite, but this one was quite an enjoyable and fast-paced read as well. I blew through it on vacation in about 24 hours, and it had a chilling creepiness to it that made me feel like I should be looking over my shoulder or continually pulling the curtains shut.
First, let's just put out there, as with most of Stevens' books, a big warning for abuse triggers. Please make that known to anyone who might be affected by such a storyline.
One of the best things about this novel was the way Stevens slowly unfurled bits of the plot, making you go "wow" each time something was revealed. The book is divided into three parts, and the first one switches between the present and the past, showcasing some of Lindsey and Andrew's abusive marriage. It's very effective. In the later parts, we hear from both Lindsey and Sophie, who is now a nearly grown teenager. Again, it's a compelling storytelling tool and allows Stevens to work the unreliable narrator angle. Is Lindsey just imagining all this? Can we trust her? Has she just brainwashed Sophie against her father?
The novel sets up a series of suspects, and I admit that I guessed "who did it" before page 100, but I still enjoyed the book immensely. It took me longer to work out why, and I was quite engrossed in the characters. I liked both Lindsey and Sophie, though I didn't love them or feel particularly attached to either, but I so enjoyed the mechanics of the story and what was going to come next that I was completely engaged nonetheless. The novel is very chilling, very eerie, and written so vividly that you can quite imagine many of its more frightening and suspenseful scenes. I can easily see it being made into a movie where I would be peeking tensely through my sleeves.
Overall, this was a suspenseful, fast page-turner. Definitely a good, quick read. I'd say 3.75 stars rounded up to 4. More at http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com
She escaped in the dark one night with her six-year-old daughter, Sophie, and just a few of their possessions. They were running from Andrew, Lindsey's drunken, abusive, and possessive husband. Lindsey knew that it was only a matter of time before Andrew killed her, leaving Sophie without her mom. But the night the two disappear, something else happens: a drunken Andrew gets behind the wheel, crashes his vehicle, and kills another woman. The accident puts him in prison for 10 years, giving Lindsey a small sense of freedom, but it's short-lived. Before she knows it, he's out, and headed for the town where Lindsey and Sophie have started over. Strange things start happen, and Lindsey is terrified for her life again--and Sophie's. Andrew claims prison has changed him, but Lindsey can't believe it. How will she and her daughter ever be safe?
This is my fourth Stevens book, and I know by now that she will keep you up late, frantically turning the pages, wondering what will happen. Of the ones I've read, I still think That Night is my favorite, but this one was quite an enjoyable and fast-paced read as well. I blew through it on vacation in about 24 hours, and it had a chilling creepiness to it that made me feel like I should be looking over my shoulder or continually pulling the curtains shut.
First, let's just put out there, as with most of Stevens' books, a big warning for abuse triggers. Please make that known to anyone who might be affected by such a storyline.
One of the best things about this novel was the way Stevens slowly unfurled bits of the plot, making you go "wow" each time something was revealed. The book is divided into three parts, and the first one switches between the present and the past, showcasing some of Lindsey and Andrew's abusive marriage. It's very effective. In the later parts, we hear from both Lindsey and Sophie, who is now a nearly grown teenager. Again, it's a compelling storytelling tool and allows Stevens to work the unreliable narrator angle. Is Lindsey just imagining all this? Can we trust her? Has she just brainwashed Sophie against her father?
The novel sets up a series of suspects, and I admit that I guessed "who did it" before page 100, but I still enjoyed the book immensely. It took me longer to work out why, and I was quite engrossed in the characters. I liked both Lindsey and Sophie, though I didn't love them or feel particularly attached to either, but I so enjoyed the mechanics of the story and what was going to come next that I was completely engaged nonetheless. The novel is very chilling, very eerie, and written so vividly that you can quite imagine many of its more frightening and suspenseful scenes. I can easily see it being made into a movie where I would be peeking tensely through my sleeves.
Overall, this was a suspenseful, fast page-turner. Definitely a good, quick read. I'd say 3.75 stars rounded up to 4. More at http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com
Reviews say there are twists, and I guess there are. About half way through there are enough suspects to keep you reading. This book reads quickly, maybe just a tad too long?
Lindsay Nash was mentally and physically abused by her husband, Andrew. She escaped in the middle of the night with their six-year-old daughter, Sophie, and never looked back. Lindsay and Sophie moved away to start a new life after Andrew went to prison. Now, eleven years later, Lindsay has been informed that Andrew has been released from prison. He told her that she could never leave him, so she is sure he will be looking for her.
When Lindsay discovers that someone has been inside her home, reading her mail, and looking through her computer, she knows that Andrew has found her. Lindsay contacts the local police, but Andrew claims he has turned over a new leaf. He just wants to get to know his daughter again.
This book was a definite page-turner. I found it hard to put down. The story is told from both Lindsay and Sophie's points-of-view. We flashback to Lindsay and Andrews's first meeting, their subsequent marriage, and how the relationship eventually changed. The suspense was palpable throughout this book. I worried that Lindsay and Sophie would never get out from under Andrew's abuse, both in the scenes from the past and the present.
This is a fast-moving suspense story with a big twist near the end. I did guess what was going to happen, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment. My rating: 4 Stars.
When Lindsay discovers that someone has been inside her home, reading her mail, and looking through her computer, she knows that Andrew has found her. Lindsay contacts the local police, but Andrew claims he has turned over a new leaf. He just wants to get to know his daughter again.
This book was a definite page-turner. I found it hard to put down. The story is told from both Lindsay and Sophie's points-of-view. We flashback to Lindsay and Andrews's first meeting, their subsequent marriage, and how the relationship eventually changed. The suspense was palpable throughout this book. I worried that Lindsay and Sophie would never get out from under Andrew's abuse, both in the scenes from the past and the present.
This is a fast-moving suspense story with a big twist near the end. I did guess what was going to happen, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment. My rating: 4 Stars.
This book had me hooked from the very first page. I can't say that I loved this book as it dealt with a deep topic, but I will say that it kept my attention all the way through. My biggest downfall with it is that I had figured out the plot twist fairly easily. I wasn't really surprised at the way it ended. Just a word of warning: I feel like the story may be disturbing for anyone who has ever been in an abusive relationship. It may hit a little too close to home for some people.
Reading any Chevy Stevens books, you can bet they will keep you up at night. This chilling, suspenseful thriller was no exception and I finished in two evenings.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
I am a big Stevens fan. I love all her thrillers. This one kept me reading, had some twists, turns and tense moments, but wasn't quite as much of a thriller as her previous books. It is good but my least favorite of her books to date.
This book grips you from the very beginning and does not let go until the very surprising ending! I have read one other book from Chevy Stevens, Still Missing, and liked it very much. This one also does not disappoint. It's filled with domestic violence, obsession, control and evil abuse. These are subjects that are hard to read about but worse if you have to live through these nightmares.
Chevy Stevens tells us a story about Andrew, Lynsey and their daughter, Sophie, and the horrible way they had to live. Andrew was an alcoholic and Lynsey made excuses for him and covered up every abuse she received in order to protect their daughter, Sophie, from the truth of their situation. Andrew finally has an accident in which he kills a woman named Elizabeth and he receives a prison sentence of ten years. Sophie keeps in touch with her father while he is in prison and afterwards when he is released without Lynsey's knowledge. Both Lynsey and Sophie begin to feel as though they are being followed and watched wherever they go. Lindsey is convinced it's her ex-husband, even though he claims he's a different person. But has he really changed? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?
The point of view by Lynsey and Sophie switched back and forth from the past to the present and you were able to see the pitfalls of these characters and how they tried to manipulate their way out of this abusive relationship. The emotional turmoil was hard to read about and many times I thanked God that I didn't have to live this life. When the ending unfolded after many twists and turns, I had to give Chevy Stevens a lot of credit for the a very clever way to tie up this novel. I look forward to reading other books by this author and I would highly recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers.
Chevy Stevens tells us a story about Andrew, Lynsey and their daughter, Sophie, and the horrible way they had to live. Andrew was an alcoholic and Lynsey made excuses for him and covered up every abuse she received in order to protect their daughter, Sophie, from the truth of their situation. Andrew finally has an accident in which he kills a woman named Elizabeth and he receives a prison sentence of ten years. Sophie keeps in touch with her father while he is in prison and afterwards when he is released without Lynsey's knowledge. Both Lynsey and Sophie begin to feel as though they are being followed and watched wherever they go. Lindsey is convinced it's her ex-husband, even though he claims he's a different person. But has he really changed? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?
The point of view by Lynsey and Sophie switched back and forth from the past to the present and you were able to see the pitfalls of these characters and how they tried to manipulate their way out of this abusive relationship. The emotional turmoil was hard to read about and many times I thanked God that I didn't have to live this life. When the ending unfolded after many twists and turns, I had to give Chevy Stevens a lot of credit for the a very clever way to tie up this novel. I look forward to reading other books by this author and I would highly recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers.
