Every Wednesday, like clockwork, the terror returns.
It seems like an ordinary Wednesday, until the phone rings. A mysterious caller with a chilling threat. Journalist Alice Henderson hangs up, ready to dismiss it as a hoax against the newspaper. But the next Wednesday, the stalker makes another move—and it becomes clear that this is all about Alice.
Someone wants her to suffer, but for what? … suffer, but for what? Her articles have made her a popular local champion—could it be her past rather than her work that’s put her life in danger? Alice is determined not to give in to fear, but with the police investigation at a dead end, her boyfriend insists on hiring private investigator Matthew Hill.
With every passing Wednesday the warnings escalate, until it’s not only Alice but also her family in the stalker’s sights. As her tormentor closes in, can Alice uncover what she’s being punished for before the terrifying threats become an unthinkable reality?
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I received this book through Netgalley and got hooked because it was about a stalker (my kind of read). Very interesting. But what I didnt know is how involved it would become.
It seems like an ordinary Wednesday, until the phone rings. A mysterious caller with a chilling threat.
The story is broken into 3 parts….Alice, a journalist who is being stalked and threatened; Matthew, her bodyguard and a person named – HIM – we never find out his real name until the end. I love mysteries because I always try to find out the person who dunnit. I was sooo wrong on this one and didnt find out until the end who was her stalker and why. And I was surprised….
The book clearly keeps you turning the pages and a few times holding your breath. #Netgalley #KindleUnlimited
A five star story, read in one sitting. Lots of lovely red herrings! Clever clues placed strategically throughout the narrative. Excellent story with fear and terror interspersed with the heroine attempting to live a normal life. As a survivor myself of three and a half years of stalking, this story resonated with me – the sheer helplessness of Alice’s situation, the police unable to help unless the stalking escalates to physical violence and the cleverly disguised stalker’s identity with several suspects. A terrific story of heightening tension leading to a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.
Really good!
This was a twisted thriller that will keep you guessing! I enjoyed the way the story was told to keep the suspense building. Something happens one Wednesday to journalist Alice. And then something else. It starts to become a pattern on Wednesdays. Alice is scared but angry this is affecting her life and those around her. They have some ideas who is behind everything but things begin to escalate as time goes on. Her boyfriend hires a private detective to help keep Alice safe and to help investigate the case since the police haven’t figured it out yet. At the same tim we get glimpses of why someone is targeting Alice as we learn their story in chapters throughout the book.
Have read several books by this author and I’m hooked! Currently reading another in the (sort of) series. Each book stands alone with primary characters that are different from the others, but other characters thread through the books that really adds an interesting connect!
An interesting premise and a fully developed story with vivid details that are shared throughout the story. There several characters in this story, the journalist who receives the threats, a private investigator, the police detective, the sister, the mother, the boyfriend, the work colleague, the boss, the ex and oh yeah the stalker. All of these characters are interesting individually and together create a very intense thriller.
I was confident I knew the stalker and the twist of the plot. In fact I was somewhat disappointed because I thought how could the author make it that obvious…but then..oh then I got to the ending and I was wrong! When I saw how wrong I was, it made all the details and path I followed to the wrong conclusion even better.
This story also is a great example of encouraging readers to check out the authors notes. In this book the author shared her own experience and inspiration for this storyline which made me stop and rethink the fear and reactions of the journalist.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the chance to read this book and share my opinions!
What a great thriller. Couldn’t put it down once I started. I’ll definitely being reading more from this author. This book was so good that I didn’t know what was going to happen next. You think you know, but you’re wrong. Great book.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer
Alice is happy living in her small town and working at the paper. Life seems to be going pretty well until one Wednesday when she gets a whispered phone call tell her that they will use a cheese wire on her. Of course she is freaked out, I mean who wouldn’t be? Her boss, work friend’s and boyfriend to her not to worry. That she is a reporter and there are all kinds of people that harassing reporters with whom they do not agree. Alice does her best to move on and not think of it too often. That is until the next Wednesday when the stalker contacts Alice once again. After this Alice’s boyfriend Tom contacts Matthew Hill a private investigator to protect Alice.
As the stalker intensifies we begin to find out that Alice herself has been keeping a secret or two from the police and Matthew.
I really enjoy Theresa Driscoll novels. She does something a little bit different than most authors, she has recurring characters in her novels but it is not told solely from their POV. Each novel features a new character with her mainstays playing more of a supporting role. A little different but fun.
I Will Make You Pay by Teresa Driscoll is a psychological suspense which is told in two views, one from the stalker and one from the victim. Of course, both characters have been a victim in the past. Alice Henderson is a journalist who is working on a campaign which affects the tenets of Maple Field Housing. The flats are dilapidated and unsafe for habitation. They. need to be torn down and the tenets moved to newer and better home units. Alice has helped with the community publicity and has not encountered any opposition to the tenets being moved. On a Wednesday, Alice received a threatening call at her office. Could this be a prank or is it serious? The next Wednesday another threat arrives at the office which can not be mistaken for anything other than malicious intent. Alice’s fiance, Tom, calls in a PI to help with the police investigation into Alice’s stalker.
I won’t post spoilers but the mystery is well written and the young victim who is also narrating his story is heartbreaking. I could not help but shed a few tears as Alice describes her love for her mother and the relationship between her mother and with her sister Leanne. A few months ago I held the soft hand of my mother as she struggled to breathe as her time drew near. The author had to know the feelings of an adult child trying to say goodbye to write it so perfectly.
Publication Date: October 10, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The author does a wonderful job of making you experience the terror of a woman being stalked. The sense of paranoia and fear are real. While there are characters from earlier books, this one works well as a standalone. Told from the viewpoint of three characters, you will travel back and forth as you learn the background story. This is a book you will have trouble putting down once you start reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
This tells the story of Alice Henderson, a journalist for a small-town newspaper. One Wednesday, while at work, she receives a phone call from someone using a voice scrambler, with a disturbing message. At first, she doesn’t think anything of it and thinks it might be about a story she’s working on. Then, she gets another chilling message the following Wednesday. and hires a private investigator when the police investigation stalls. She is still not sure if this is personal or an attack against the newspaper until a threat is posed to her mother. She desperately wants to put an to this stalking but doesn’t know who would want to stalk her. She can’t figure out why it happens on Wednesdays. Does it have something to do with her own secrets she’s hiding from her past or something in her present life?
I thought the ending was a bit rushed and things were tied up nicely but it didn’t need to be so rushed.
3.5 stars rounded up
Let me preface this review by saying that as a journalist I knew I was either going to love this or hate it. That said, I felt neither. And I think that’s a good thing. Because if you can write a book about a writer without offending real-life writers the chances are you’ve got something there.
Alice is a small-town journalist who has a couple of weird coincidences that together add up to a stalking situation that escalates each week. A couple of side plots add nicely to the storyline and they are tidied up by the end of the book so we’re not left hanging.
The “twist” that thrillers are supposed to have was predictable, although there were a couple of decent red herrings. I subtracted a star for the predictability, but otherwise thought this was well-written and engaging. I tend to like a fast-paced read and this didn’t disappoint.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Intrigue, suspense, twists turns, well laid out characters except for our culprit whom has a hidden motive and is well hidden till the end.
Steve West and Elizabeth Knowelden did a very good job telling this story.
Three strikes and I am out.
Three times I have been intrigued enough by other’s reviews to walk the same path to the same outcome.
Always an interesting premise, always a well-written story and then either a crappy literary device to wrap things up or in this case the MOST predictable of endings. I kept telling myself it was a red herring, NO WAY were we going where it seemed like we were going and then? Hello!!! We’re here!!
I am just not the audience for Driscoll’s books. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me a third time? It must’ve been free on Amazon and now I know why!!
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I Will Make You Pay
By: Teresa Driscoll
*REVIEW*
I Will Make You Pay is a creepy suspenseful story with a frighteningly plausible premise. Every Wednesday, Alice answers a ringing phone and hears the threat of a crazed stalker. Whom is the caller? Why is he/she threatening Alice? This scenario could happen to anyone, and I felt like someone was watching me while I read this book. The atmospheric presence of creepiness and stalking is palpable and impossible to ignore. Alice is a sympathetic character, and I felt her fear. I enjoyed this story because it was unpredictable, dramatically tense and thrilling. You never if someone might be watching you.!
“I Will Make You Pay” is a creepy mystery. A stalker who pursues and taunts his prey every Wednesday. Why is Wednesday so special?
It’s told from varied POV’s, during several timelines. I was drawn in immediately by the first chilling phone call Alice received from her stalker.
The writing was enjoyable and the summary was intriguing. We were given plenty of suspects to keep us wondering….Who is it? I never narrowed down my list to predict the stalker, so I was surprised when he was revealed.
My biggest issue with the book was the victim—Alice. Her foolish behavior and ridiculous decisions seemed uncharacteristic of a seasoned and intelligent journalist…who supposedly feared for her life. So I was left wondering “WTH are you thinking”…A LOT! And OMG….how can one woman be so unlucky?
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Teresa Driscoll for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 3 ’s
Published: October 10th 2019 by Thomas & Mercer
Pages: 320
Recommend: Undecided on this fast-paced mystery
#IWillMakeYouPay #NetGalley
You can find the author at:
http://www.teresadriscoll.com
Twitter: Teresa Driscoll
Facebook: http://www.facebook/TeresaDriscollAuthor
Many thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
With one phone call, Alice’s life is plunged from ordinary into the hellish landscape of stalking victim. At first, the incidents seem random. A threatening phone call. A sick gift disguised as a bakery treat. For a journalist, it might seem inevitable someone would take umbrage with a controversial article or opinion.
But Alice is not controversial. She works for a small local paper with virtually no online presence, trying to write columns that help people. Like helping residents of a run down block of flats find new, better housing. But someone is very angry with Alice. Angry enough to engage in a campaign of terror that erodes her confidence and independence and disrupts her ability to manage her life.
As the story unfolds, each participant in the story is portrayed with heart rendering humanity. The stalker is not a faceless evil entity, obsessed with an imaginary relationship or seething at a woman who dared kick him to the curb. His motivations are not murky, and as they become clear the reader feels pity for the child he was, and regret that love and loyalty gets twisted into vengeance. His actions are not excusable, but his background does put the reader inside his mind, and lets them feel his heartbreak and his madness. Alice, while a fiercely independent woman, also possesses that intense loyalty, both to her dying mother and her sister, who steps in to protect her. It is loyalty that puts these two on a collision course, one that culminates in a twisted act of revenge, almost fiendish in its execution, and drags the reader through the dark and suffocating fear Alice experiences as stalking victim.
The genius of this novel is it is as much about love and family as it is about terror, drama, and suspense. With elements of both thriller and mystery it takes the reader on a ride that swings in ever-increasing arcs, until the conclusion snatches the rope from our hands and lands us jolted but safe at the end. There is happiness, but there is grief, too. Alice does not deserve what happens to her, and while the villian is justly punished for his very real crimes, the reader can’t help but think he didn’t deserve what happened to him, either. I will leave it to greater minds than mine to argue the level of culpability for those victimized early in life by circumstances beyond their control. Whatever your take on crime and punishment, this book will level you emotionally and leave you asking questions about fairness and recovery, long after you turn the final page.
When I read the very first sentence in I WILL MAKE YOU PAY, the horror of it sent my imagination into overdrive. Did it really say that? A couple of pages later I had to go back and read it again to confirm that I had indeed read it correctly. I had.
Teresa Driscoll drops you into the action and makes you want to know how things will turn out. She allots chapters to her main characters allowing them to tell their story before, and now. It is as if each of these chapters ends on a cliffhanger, and you will absolutely want to stick around for its resolution.
Driscoll does an excellent job of leading her reader down the proverbial garden path. There are clues that will seem to point in a particular direction, but I guarantee that you won’t know the identity of the culprit until the very end.
This is the second book by Teresa Driscoll that I have read, and I can say unequivocally that I will be reading more of her work.
“I am going to use cheese wire on you.”
The author wastes no time using the first line in setting the tone and direction of the novel. That is all that is said in a phone call to Alice Henderson, a reporter for South Devon Informer. After informing her editor, Alice goes next door for a coffee. She discovers that her order was called in moments earlier, and she did not do it. Alice is quite upset, and a police report made. Nothing happens until a week later, the next Wednesday, when a cake box arrived from a recently reviewed bakery. There was not a cake in the box but pink peonies, Alice’s mother’s favorite. The cycle escalates every Wednesday, and the novel escalates from here.
The story is told in the perspective of four characters. There is Alice in the current timeline of the story. The second is Alice Before that provides glimpses of Alice growing up and as a young woman. The third is Him Before that provides glimpses of villain growing up. The fourth is Matthew Hill a private investigator, who was hired because the apparent lack of progress by the police. Note that the Hill character appeared the in same capacity in two previous novels that I have read from this author.
The B-storyline also is quite rich. Alice is the center here with her relationship and history with her sister, her mother, and Tom, her fiancé. This backstory besides providing insight into the Alice character provides relevance to the current storyline. Another rich B-storyline is with the character, Matthew Hill. I did not remember this character from the previous two novels but I will remember him from here on out. Actually, this is the fourth novel in which this character appears. His ex-partner DI Melanie Sanders also plays a repeat appearance. While the main characters change, Hill, his family, and Sanders provides the connective tissue between four of her novels. Lastly, the B-storyline on the villain provides much insight to his character.
This novel has all that I desire in a thriller. Not only are there the usual twists and turns but several major bomb shells in the storyline that calls into question the analysis of much of what has happened to date. I was hooked very early in this novel and could not put it down. I finished this novel faster than normal. Lastly, after reading this novel, I have purchased the missing novel. All of these are my major criteria for a high star rating.
There are not any f-bombs, but some lesser vulgar language, especially informal British versions. There are not any sex scenes. Graphic violence is minor. There should not be any objections in this area for you, the reader. This novel has the strongest level of anxiety that I have read in quite a while. Being American, I did use my e-reader’s dictionary and Internet access for much of the British informal words.
For me, this novel was a step improvement over the two previous novels I have read. Because I really enjoyed reading this novel and am really looking forward to reading the author’s next novel, I rate this novel with five stars. I believe that you will enjoy it too.
I have received a free e-reader version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this novel early.
What a totally awesome, fantastic, page turner. I would think I would have it figured out and then nope something would happen. It wasn’t until close to the end that I figured it out! I love this book Teresa, thank you!