16 March 2022

What a terribly sad story! Maybe that is not the best way to start a review, but this is an emotional, horrible story. The author drops you into the mind of a seriously deranged individual while telling this heartbreaking story. I simply loved it. Orenda Books again brings us a brilliant, pacing thriller you will battle to put down. I found myself racing through this book and reading till after midnight.

Vanda Symon tells this story from the three main characters’ perspectives. You jump from one character to the next with every short powerful chapter and experience each one’s emotions. The author managed to capture these characters’ emotions and leaves you overflowing with their fears on every page. I loved the look at events from each one’s view. This left me feeling connected and involved as the story unfolded. This book is a powerful, pacy read that stirs emotions in you on every page. I loved that this book held back no punches and delivered blow after blow in quick succession.

Bradley Fordyce is not a happy man. He hates his job and his wife leaves him feeling insignificant. Driving home from work he takes a detour to avoid traffic and in a spur of the moment, decision decides to pick up a young prostitute. The experience turns bad, he knocks her unconscious and takes her to an abandoned factory where he keeps her locked up.

Max, a bum stuck in a dark space is the one person who notices that Billy is missing. He promised he would look out for her. His concern for Billy’s safety and his desperation forces him to face his past and return to a world he would much rather leave in his past.

Meanwhile, Billy is tied up in the dark, endure abuse and humiliation as she knows that Max is the only one who might come looking for her. She knows Max is troubled and she is afraid to pin her hopes on him. She spends her dark hours remembering her gran and pulling strength from that memory gives her the drive to survive the horrific attacks Brandon dished out.

Can Billy hold on long enough and can Max overcome the horrors of his past to save the young girl who has given him a reason to keep living?

This was a terrible story! But oh boy, the author did a wonderful job of showing the evil, damaged mind of Brandon. A man who finds strength only by torturing someone else. A man who appears to be a normal, loving husband and father while keeping Billy locked away in the dark, treating her in a vile, disgusting manner.

It broke my heart when the author reveal how Billy ended up on the streets. I felt my heart racing as anger consumed me. The author successfully had me furious while reading this part of the story. Max’s story was not much better. He suffered deeply and made choices without considering the consequences to others.  As for Bradley – what a despicable man. The author managed to show this warped mind beautifully. This man will leave you feeling disgusted, angry and a need to lean into the pages a slap him silly. I love how beautifully the author drew her characters and how each page just oozed with emotions.

If you are a fan of a pacy, emotional thriller then this is the book for you. You will be drawn into the lives of these three characters and be drowned in emotions on every page. This book will leave you reeling.

I gave this title a five-star rating on Good Reads – it is fast-paced, gripping and full of emotions. I was drawn into the lives of the characters and submerged into their horrific lives from start to finish! I loved it and highly recommend that you add this one to your TBR.