A mesmerizing tale of psychological suspense about a woman who must fight to escape an expert manipulator determined to possess her, Claire Kendal’s debut novel is a sophisticated and disturbing portrait of compulsion, control, and terror that will appeal to fans of Before I Go to Sleep, The Silent Wife, and Into the Darkest Corner.
His name is Rafe, and he is everywhere Clarissa turns. At the … is everywhere Clarissa turns. At the university where she works. Her favorite sewing shop. The train station. Outside her apartment. His messages choke her voice mail; his gifts litter her mailbox. Since that one regrettable night, his obsession with her has grown, becoming more terrifying with each passing day. And as Rafe has made clear, he will never let her go.
Clarissa’s only escape from this harrowing nightmare is inside a courtroom — where she is a juror on a trial involving a victim whose experiences eerily parallel her own. There she finds some peace and even makes new friends, including an attractive widower named Robert, whose caring attentions make her feel desired and safe. But as a disturbingly violent crime unfolds in the courtroom, Clarissa realizes that to survive she must expose Rafe herself. Conceiving a plan, she begins collecting the evidence of Rafe’s madness to use against him — a record of terror that will force her to relive every excruciating moment she desperately wants to forget. Proof that will reveal the twisted, macabre fairy tale that Rafe has spun around them… with an ending more horrifying than her darkest fears.
Masterfully constructed, filled with exquisite tension and a pervasive sense of menace, The Book of You explores the lines between love and compulsion, fantasy and reality, and offers a heart-stopping portrait of a woman determined to survive. Claire Kendal’s extraordinary debut will haunt readers long after it reaches its terrifying, breathtaking conclusion.
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The Book of You is indeed suspenseful! Clarissa is keeping careful track of each and every instance of a very dangerous stalker, and the reader is drawn along with Clarissa on this terrifying ride. Rafe is a manipulator and controlling. Clarissa is serving an extended session of jury duty, and as the trial progresses, she is also learning how to document and act in order to make the best case against her stalker. Clarissa is a tough woman, and I was filled with her tension and fright all the way though this book!
Very good psychological mystery. One of the best
Cleverly written story that is told through the words written in a journal by a woman being stalked by a creepy, obsessed man
Page turner from start to finish! WOW
Interesting read about a stalker action packed ending
Definitely a page turner
Once I got past the writing style I loved it. I read at night and looked forward to getting back to the book each night. It was very unpredictable and kind of scary because it could happen to anyone.
Intriging.
Good.
Would like to think this is strictly fiction but knowing it could easily be based on real events makes this book very disturbing…ending was surprising…wasn’t a total waste of time.
This is a story of a psychotic woman who has you wondering if you should lock your doors and pull the covers up tight for a bumpy ride Tipsy Turvy topsy-turvy tail I’m a psychotic woman’s deepest thoughts and her lovers minds
repetitive, going nowhere. much of the plot makes no sense in that the protagonist doesn’t take obvious steps to solve her problem
I enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down.
A little too much for me in terms of what’s he going to do next.
This is one of the most mesmerizing books I have ever read. It is, sadly, more of a realistic situation these days than one would imagine. The way the writer takes her readers through the story is perfect and right on target. I was able to become lost in the book’s action. If you are a reader who love suspense so tight that you feel as if someone is winding a key in your back, you are going to happily get lost in The Book of You.
Great book
I was in this book immediately. Couldn’t put down. Highly recommend!
I did not like this book at all. It sounded intriguing when I purchased it, however it just didn’t come together! Parts of the book were great (like when Clarissa investigated the probable death of her stalkers ex) but most of it was just blah. For most of the book she’s pining for her ex (who was married to another woman and eventually left her to), or taking sleeping pills. The ending just sucked!! The way the book flipped back and forth between what was going on and the trial she was a juror on was confusing. I liked the trial better than the rest of the book, however the outcome of the trial was a complete let down! And again the ending sucked!!!
It’s a good story although I thought the heroine should have been more proactive in dealing with the stalker. She should have gone to the police much sooner.
The book was good pretty much through out the whole thing. I think the ending was a little weak though.