Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
I read Stevens' debut novel Still Missing when it was released in 2010 and remember it as one of the creepiest abduction scenes ever (let's just say I decided not to be a real-estate agent after reading it.) Her latest thriller, Never Let You Go, comes out today and I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy.
When it comes to selecting men, Lindsey Nash has issues. Her husband, Andrew, is a stellar representative of the male gender, except for his frightening control-freak tendencies, and a bone-deep meanness that occasionally lapses into psychotic rage. Needless to say, things go awry and Andrew winds up in prison. Lindsey flees to a secluded island in Canada, making a quiet but comfortable life for herself and her beloved daughter Sophie. Although still scarred by her past, Lindsey is resolute and strong even as things begin to unravel after Andrew's release from prison.
Told from three POVs--past Lindsey, present-day Lindsey, and present-day Sophie--the mother and teenaged daughter become increasingly unsettled as they realize someone is stalking them, their new relationships are threatened, and their home is invaded. Like all good thrillers, this one has a twisty, surprising end. It's a fast-paced, engrossing read, and the characters are not quite who you think they are. I wish it had a different title, because I keep conflating it with Kazuo Ishiguro's famous dystopian 2006 novel, Never Let Me Go, and Clare Mackintosh's excellent thriller from last year, I Let You Go. There's too much letting go in fiction, apparently. Anyway, if you like damsel-in-distress thrillers, I think you'll enjoy this one. Lindsey is very relatable and likable, and it's a quick, well-plotted read.
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Buy Never Let You Go HERE