Book Summary
Catherine Bailey has been enjoying the single life long enough to know a catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic and spontaneous, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell.
But what begins as flattering attentiveness and passionate sex turns into raging jealousy, and Catherine soon learns there is a darker side to Lee. His increasingly erratic, controlling behaviour becomes frightening, but no one believes her when she shares her fears. Increasingly isolated and driven into the darkest corner of her world, a desperate Catherine plans a meticulous escape.
Four years later, Lee is behind bars and Catherine—now Cathy—compulsively checks the locks and doors in her apartment, trusting no one. But when an attractive upstairs neighbour, Stuart, comes into her life, Cathy dares to hope that happiness and love may still be possible . . . until she receives a phone call informing her of Lee’s impending release. Soon after, Cathy thinks she catches a glimpse of the former best friend who testified against her in the trial; she begins to return home to find objects subtly rearranged in her apartment, one of Lee’s old tricks. Convinced she is back in her former lover’s sights, Cathy prepares to wrestle with the demons of her past for the last time.
My Review - 5 star
This is a chunkster read, 611 pages but what an intense thrill, I completed it in 4 days and I am a normal 1 book a week reader with most books at 400. This was completely an edge of your seat read.
I loved the 3 year span, Chapters about 2004 with her boyfriend, being swept off her feet to the destructive controlling relationship vs 2007 now living in fear that he will find her and this time, be successful in killing her. Both time periods were gripping and effective to moving the story along.
Cathy used to party hard with an amazing group of friends. This all changed once Lee came into her life. Everyone thought he was perfect, including Cathy at first. She tried to talk to best friends about the changes but wanting their own perfect boyfriend made them become overshadowed with really understanding. This sounds crazy but Elizabeth Haynes made it all so real and complicated.
Cathy started a new life after escaping near death. I enjoyed learning more about OCD and PTSD, which she was diagnosed for as part of her escape mechanisms. Cathy became a new person, different personality in order to protect herself. Throughout this she met someone also which helped her confront her OCD. The repetition of her checking doors etc for her safety may seem to much for some readers, but I thought it hit home with the intensity of it.
I thought the ending was brilliant. At times there was some gruesome abuse scenes but so effective, none for the shock factor. Controlling manipulative people can be so charming, it is truly amazing to see the destruction many were affected by. I loved the end, totally made you think and realise how strong Cathy really was to have survived and fought for her life and rights.
I highly recommend, the repetition for me, created the intensity of the story but may put others off.
Another bloggers review - Matt from A Guys Moleskin, the review that sold me.
