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The Master of Demise
Mitch Wegner had it all: a prestigious career as a professor, a loving wife, and a reputation as a brilliant academic. But when a student takes his own life and Mitch is blamed, his life quickly spirals out of control. As his marriage falls apart and his job is put on the line, Mitch finds himself descending into a dark and dangerous world.
Haunted by his past and fueled by his own narcissism, Mitch makes a series of increasingly desperate choices that lead him down a path of violence and betrayal. When another person on campus mysteriously dies, Mitch becomes the prime suspect, but the truth behind the killings is far more twisted than anyone could have imagined.
In this gripping psychological thriller, author Nadija Mujagic takes readers on a heart-pounding journey through the mind of a man consumed by his own ego and the dark secrets that he thought he had buried. With twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, The Master of Demise is a chilling tale of obsession, revenge, and the terrifying consequences of our actions.
Haunted by his past and fueled by his own narcissism, Mitch makes a series of increasingly desperate choices that lead him down a path of violence and betrayal. When another person on campus mysteriously dies, Mitch becomes the prime suspect, but the truth behind the killings is far more twisted than anyone could have imagined.
In this gripping psychological thriller, author Nadija Mujagic takes readers on a heart-pounding journey through the mind of a man consumed by his own ego and the dark secrets that he thought he had buried. With twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, The Master of Demise is a chilling tale of obsession, revenge, and the terrifying consequences of our actions.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2023
11 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Nadija Mujagic
31 books192 followersNadija has written several psychological thrillers and a memoir series. In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports and electric bass guitar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 8, 2023
This thriller was such a surprise! I didn’t know where it was going, and it always kept me on my toes. The main character is somewhat unlikable, but I was still drawn into his world of dark academia and bad choices. Is he a coldhearted victim of circumstances, or is he the sole reason for his impending demise? “There is a thin line between the aggressor and the victim. Pain breeds more pain. It’s a vicious cycle. It gets ugly.” The jaw, dropping conclusion caught me, totally offguard. I love when an author is able to both surprise, and shock me after I’ve read so many thrillers. This was the first book I’ve read from this author, but definitely won’t be the last.Thank you BookSirens for my copy.
June 16, 2023
This thriller simply grabbed me at the start and didn't let me until the end. The plot, characters, and story are very nicely built. I had to see what would happen next, all those twists and turns kept me glued to the story guessing and I was surprised by the end. This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
July 5, 2023
Mitch has a happy marriage, a beautiful wife, and a successful career. But, when a much-liked student committed suicide and mentions Mitch and his class as the straw that broke the camel’s back in his diary/suicide note. As his marriage crumbles and his mental health deteriorates, Mitch starts making choices that take him down a dark and dangerous path. This path is shrouded in lies, betrayal, and death. When another student dies, Mitch is the prime suspect. But did Mitch kill those students? Or is he being set up?
When I read the blurb for The Master of Demise, I knew I needed to read this book. I was curious about the plotline outlined. Plus, I like reading psychological thrillers. But I wasn’t expecting what I read, and I mean that in a good way. This book was a fantastic read from beginning to end.
The Master of Demise is a fast-paced book that takes place entirely in Vermont. The pacing of this book suited the storyline, mainly because everything takes place within a couple of months of the book’s beginning. The book had zero lag; the author kept this book moving. I enjoyed it and felt that if the book had slowed down for a minute, it would have been ruined.
There were two main storylines in The Master of Demise. The first storyline is the one following Mitch and his downward spiral. This storyline was exciting because of how disjointed Mitch got as the book continued. The more things started to happen to him, the more disjointed the storyline got, and I loved it!! The other storyline started early in the book, and I didn’t understand why it was there for a while. Once I realized it was the real killer’s backstory, I started paying more attention. I didn’t understand why the author wrote this until Mitch’s big “Aha” moment towards the end of the book.
Mitch was not a likable character. From the beginning of the book, he just came across as one of those guys whose ego preceded them into the room. So, when he was named as the reason why that kid unalived himself, he couldn’t handle it. It started his descent into paranoia and madness. I liked that the author started with little things with Mitch and worked her way up to bigger things. By the end of the book, Mitch is a beaten man willing to accept his fate. I was a little put off by that. I figured it would be better to keep him alive, but I understood why the mystery man did what he did.
The other main character of this book is the mystery man. All I have to say is that my heart hurt for that poor child. He was dealing with so much at home, and having even more piled on him at school was awful. The author didn’t hold back regarding the bullying scenes; I will admit they made me tear up. I also understood why the mystery man did what he did (and he did explain it at the end of the book).
Several secondary storylines fed into the main storylines. They added additional depth and background to Mitch’s storyline. The one with Emily did confuse me. I couldn’t tell if she was just an ice-cold person or if he had been abusing her, and the ice-cold persona was something she used to protect herself. I will say that I didn’t see what happened to Emily coming or the revelation that came from it. But it did show how much people disliked Mitch. Even Mitch’s in-laws, who professed to like him, turned around and told him to pound sand at the end of that storyline. The storyline with Sarah was similar. I saw it for what it was at the beginning (she let some hints drop). But, again, I didn’t even begin to imagine what happened to her would happen (if that makes sense).
The thriller angle of The Master of Demise was on point. Several scenes took me aback in the book. It also tied in beautifully with the mystery angle.
Like the thriller angle, the mystery angle was amazingly written. There were twists and turns within this angle that I didn’t see coming. The author combined the mystery and thriller angle at the end of the book to make for what I thought was an explosive ending.
The end of The Master of Demise wasn’t what I thought it would be. I thought the book was going one way; instead, it went the opposite. It shocked me, as did the confession chapter at the end.
I would recommend The Master of Demise to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and sexual situations.
Many thanks to Nadija Mujagic for allowing me to read and review The Master of Demise. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
When I read the blurb for The Master of Demise, I knew I needed to read this book. I was curious about the plotline outlined. Plus, I like reading psychological thrillers. But I wasn’t expecting what I read, and I mean that in a good way. This book was a fantastic read from beginning to end.
The Master of Demise is a fast-paced book that takes place entirely in Vermont. The pacing of this book suited the storyline, mainly because everything takes place within a couple of months of the book’s beginning. The book had zero lag; the author kept this book moving. I enjoyed it and felt that if the book had slowed down for a minute, it would have been ruined.
There were two main storylines in The Master of Demise. The first storyline is the one following Mitch and his downward spiral. This storyline was exciting because of how disjointed Mitch got as the book continued. The more things started to happen to him, the more disjointed the storyline got, and I loved it!! The other storyline started early in the book, and I didn’t understand why it was there for a while. Once I realized it was the real killer’s backstory, I started paying more attention. I didn’t understand why the author wrote this until Mitch’s big “Aha” moment towards the end of the book.
Mitch was not a likable character. From the beginning of the book, he just came across as one of those guys whose ego preceded them into the room. So, when he was named as the reason why that kid unalived himself, he couldn’t handle it. It started his descent into paranoia and madness. I liked that the author started with little things with Mitch and worked her way up to bigger things. By the end of the book, Mitch is a beaten man willing to accept his fate. I was a little put off by that. I figured it would be better to keep him alive, but I understood why the mystery man did what he did.
The other main character of this book is the mystery man. All I have to say is that my heart hurt for that poor child. He was dealing with so much at home, and having even more piled on him at school was awful. The author didn’t hold back regarding the bullying scenes; I will admit they made me tear up. I also understood why the mystery man did what he did (and he did explain it at the end of the book).
Several secondary storylines fed into the main storylines. They added additional depth and background to Mitch’s storyline. The one with Emily did confuse me. I couldn’t tell if she was just an ice-cold person or if he had been abusing her, and the ice-cold persona was something she used to protect herself. I will say that I didn’t see what happened to Emily coming or the revelation that came from it. But it did show how much people disliked Mitch. Even Mitch’s in-laws, who professed to like him, turned around and told him to pound sand at the end of that storyline. The storyline with Sarah was similar. I saw it for what it was at the beginning (she let some hints drop). But, again, I didn’t even begin to imagine what happened to her would happen (if that makes sense).
The thriller angle of The Master of Demise was on point. Several scenes took me aback in the book. It also tied in beautifully with the mystery angle.
Like the thriller angle, the mystery angle was amazingly written. There were twists and turns within this angle that I didn’t see coming. The author combined the mystery and thriller angle at the end of the book to make for what I thought was an explosive ending.
The end of The Master of Demise wasn’t what I thought it would be. I thought the book was going one way; instead, it went the opposite. It shocked me, as did the confession chapter at the end.
I would recommend The Master of Demise to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and sexual situations.
Many thanks to Nadija Mujagic for allowing me to read and review The Master of Demise. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
March 11, 2024
Great book! I really enjoyed this exciting thriller story! There was enough twists and turns throughout to keep me engaged and wanting to read more! I enjoyed the storyline and felt it was different than a lot of books I’ve read.
June 17, 2023
A taut thriller in academia
An incisive campus novel, a portrait of a marriage, and a murder mystery all rolled up into one fast-paced and engaging read. I especially appreciated the realistic depiction of small-town campus life with its routines and fixtures, gossip and secrets. A satisfying read!
An incisive campus novel, a portrait of a marriage, and a murder mystery all rolled up into one fast-paced and engaging read. I especially appreciated the realistic depiction of small-town campus life with its routines and fixtures, gossip and secrets. A satisfying read!
June 20, 2023
This is a weird story. Not what I was expecting at all. I was looking for a psychological thriller and this just seemed to be a story of a guys life in the span of 5 weeks. It started out great but once chapter two hit I thought I was in a different story all together. This is also told in the first person and while most chapters are told by the MC a few are not and it is confusing since the chapter isn’t labeled as another character. The end arrives and all the twists and changes are told to the reader. This just seemed boring throughout and I kept wondering why I was getting this guys story especially after chapter one is so intriguing. This is a first time author for me. I give these stories a try since this genre usually entertains me. This is not a favorite but its not horrible either.
July 6, 2023
Twists and turns that keep you guessing. This is the second book I have read by the incredible Nadija Mujagic. Once again, I am kept on the edge of my seat trying to guess what direction the story will take but left guessing until the end.
Mitch Wegner is a well-respected college professor and researcher at a small Vermont campus. Married for many years, his wife seems to finally be ready for the next step, kids, only the twists leave him angry and confused where the woman he married went. The first chapter has you feeling like you know what the big finale of the book will be. Twists and turns keep you engaged as you watch Mitch’s marriage and career fall apart. The passing of a second student in less than a year causes ramifications for all moving forward. Only this time it is linked to a poor grade leading to a grading inflation that Mitch strongly disagrees with. Being blamed for the student taking his own life, Mitch feels something more sinister is at play. Not everything is adding up, a diary implicating that the student wanted the “professor in a ditch” seems the opposite of taking his own life. His students begin lashing out at him, with negative hurtful statements. Determined to keep the rumors and campus situation from his wife, more distance forms between them and more questions form as to what happened with them. Constantly feels as if he is being watched when seemingly alone. Without realization Mitch seems to be a living embodiment of his own research, “the effects of childhood post traumatic disorder and how it affects decision making in dire situations. Multiple flashbacks give insight into the trauma Mitch endured at age fourteen that caused him to lose memory of his middle school years. Only now everything is coming back like a shadow haunting his every action.
Can Mitch save his career and his marriage? Is he being framed for giving a student a bad grade? The sheer depth of the author’s ability to give you question after question and never slipping until she is ready for the grand review builds up the thrill. When the reveal finally happens, you’re left in shock remembering the little queues sprinkled throughout that gave hints but never enough to know for certainty how it would end. Nadija Mujagic has become my go-to for an in-depth psychological thriller that gives nothing away until the perfect moment. Can’t wait to read more of her amazing work.
Mitch Wegner is a well-respected college professor and researcher at a small Vermont campus. Married for many years, his wife seems to finally be ready for the next step, kids, only the twists leave him angry and confused where the woman he married went. The first chapter has you feeling like you know what the big finale of the book will be. Twists and turns keep you engaged as you watch Mitch’s marriage and career fall apart. The passing of a second student in less than a year causes ramifications for all moving forward. Only this time it is linked to a poor grade leading to a grading inflation that Mitch strongly disagrees with. Being blamed for the student taking his own life, Mitch feels something more sinister is at play. Not everything is adding up, a diary implicating that the student wanted the “professor in a ditch” seems the opposite of taking his own life. His students begin lashing out at him, with negative hurtful statements. Determined to keep the rumors and campus situation from his wife, more distance forms between them and more questions form as to what happened with them. Constantly feels as if he is being watched when seemingly alone. Without realization Mitch seems to be a living embodiment of his own research, “the effects of childhood post traumatic disorder and how it affects decision making in dire situations. Multiple flashbacks give insight into the trauma Mitch endured at age fourteen that caused him to lose memory of his middle school years. Only now everything is coming back like a shadow haunting his every action.
Can Mitch save his career and his marriage? Is he being framed for giving a student a bad grade? The sheer depth of the author’s ability to give you question after question and never slipping until she is ready for the grand review builds up the thrill. When the reveal finally happens, you’re left in shock remembering the little queues sprinkled throughout that gave hints but never enough to know for certainty how it would end. Nadija Mujagic has become my go-to for an in-depth psychological thriller that gives nothing away until the perfect moment. Can’t wait to read more of her amazing work.
July 1, 2023
Mitch Wegner is a successful academic and researcher, proud husband, and honestly a pretty self absorbed and unlikeable main character. While he is unlikeable, there's really nothing overtly wrong with him. We come into his adult life, when he is well respected and respectable as a professor, researcher, and husband. He doesn't really have any friends, but he mentions a couple people and the idea of friends throughout the book. Most are in respect to his lovely, vibrant, warm and beautiful wife, Emily.
While Mitch and Emily have had their issues here and there, they are generally happy in their huge house with their fulfilling jobs. Emily, in line with her friendly and open nature, runs a yoga studio and has a very loyal following.
As the book progresses, it follows Mitch through the series of events he has been experiencing, getting worse throughout. Is he losing his mind? Is he blanking out? Is he being framed? With no evidence of such and his name being brought into tragedy after tragedy at the university, you spend most of the story wondering. Is Mitch really a loveable guy who just lost his spark? Were honest accidents just piling up? Was he being framed? Is someone trying to make him crazy? Did he really hurt anyone? Question after question kept piling up as I twisted and turned through this thriller. I think it was like the 2nd to last page in which you are given a startling surprise, so it keeps hold of you all the way through.
While Mitch and Emily have had their issues here and there, they are generally happy in their huge house with their fulfilling jobs. Emily, in line with her friendly and open nature, runs a yoga studio and has a very loyal following.
As the book progresses, it follows Mitch through the series of events he has been experiencing, getting worse throughout. Is he losing his mind? Is he blanking out? Is he being framed? With no evidence of such and his name being brought into tragedy after tragedy at the university, you spend most of the story wondering. Is Mitch really a loveable guy who just lost his spark? Were honest accidents just piling up? Was he being framed? Is someone trying to make him crazy? Did he really hurt anyone? Question after question kept piling up as I twisted and turned through this thriller. I think it was like the 2nd to last page in which you are given a startling surprise, so it keeps hold of you all the way through.
July 8, 2023
Mitch thought his life was perfect. Successful career as a tenured professor at a University, a loving wife, a home to call his own until overnight his life was turned upside down. A student died on campus and all fingers pointed to Mitch, his reputation started to decline rapidly. Then he noticed his wife was becoming more and more distant and he had no idea why. His thoughts were running amuck with the what ifs. He thinks that someone is out to get him but who?
Mitch starts drinking heavily and starts to have gaps in his memory. He starts to rethink everything. Maybe he is to blame? He doesn’t remember doing anything but that doesn’t mean he did it, does it?
This book was a wild ride. Confusing but in a good way. I could not put it down. I had 3 theories going on for the ending of the book and I was only kind of right. The ending was a major twist. It was very hard to like Mitch as a character which actually helped with the plot. Throughout the book, you have flashbacks to middle school and it shows how Mitch is the way he is as an adult. He is narcissistic and cold but also logical and sometimes reasonable. My thoughts kept alternating between ‘awww poor Mitch’ to ‘you know what, he deserves it’. The author did an amazing job keeping the book fast paced but still so full of detail and action. You really got a feel for the emotions surrounding the characters.
If you like psychological thrillers, then give this book a read! It’s definitely worth it!
Mitch starts drinking heavily and starts to have gaps in his memory. He starts to rethink everything. Maybe he is to blame? He doesn’t remember doing anything but that doesn’t mean he did it, does it?
This book was a wild ride. Confusing but in a good way. I could not put it down. I had 3 theories going on for the ending of the book and I was only kind of right. The ending was a major twist. It was very hard to like Mitch as a character which actually helped with the plot. Throughout the book, you have flashbacks to middle school and it shows how Mitch is the way he is as an adult. He is narcissistic and cold but also logical and sometimes reasonable. My thoughts kept alternating between ‘awww poor Mitch’ to ‘you know what, he deserves it’. The author did an amazing job keeping the book fast paced but still so full of detail and action. You really got a feel for the emotions surrounding the characters.
If you like psychological thrillers, then give this book a read! It’s definitely worth it!
July 8, 2023
The Master of Demise follows Mitch Wegner, a well rounded and respected college professor. He is happily married to Emily, who owns her own yoga studio with regular clients. Everything seems to be absolutely normal and perfect. Even with the ideal life, Mitch is just somehow unlikeable. I found myself disliking him early on, and can not pinpoint why. When a student takes his own life, and his journal shows a strong dislike for the professor, suspicion falls onto Mitch. This creates a downward spiral of events for the professor. His students no longer respect him, his wife becomes distant, and he suspects she may even be having an affair with her yoga partner. With flashbacks from a traumatic experience in his teen years, things seem to be making a full circle right back to him. As things continue he becomes paranoid, feeling framed, and increasingly aggressive and self absorbed. He was already an unpleasant character, but his personality really amplifies as time goes on and you really do not like him at all. I even began thinking maybe he DID have some involvement, just because I did not like him that much. After all that has happened, can Mitch save his marriage and career? WAS he framed, and if so, by who, and/or why? Once you get to the big reveal, you will be shocked and realize the author strategically gave you hints along the way. I have never read anything from this author before, but I will be checking into her other work! 5 out of 5 stars!
August 4, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Master of Demise tracks Mitch Wegner, who is a highly respected and diverse college professor. His partner, Emily, owns her own yoga studio with regular clients and they are happily married. Everything seems to be entirely normal and impeccable. After a student commits suicide, and his journal reveals a strong animosity towards the professor, Mitch becomes the primary suspect.
The professor is experiencing a series of events that lead to a downward spiral. His wife seems to grow distant, and he suspects she might be cheating on him with her yoga partner, while his students no longer respect him. Everything seems to come back to him with flashbacks of a traumatic experience from his teenage years. With time, he grows paranoid and feels like he's being set up, leading to increased aggression and self-absorption.
As time went on, his personality intensified, causing a dislike for him, despite his unpleasant character from the start. I considered the possibility that he played a role, mostly because I didn't like him. Will Mitch be able to rescue both his marriage and career after everything that's happened? Who framed him, if he was framed, and why? The big reveal will shock you, and you'll realize the author gave you hints throughout the story.
This author is new to me, but I plan on looking into her other works!
The Master of Demise tracks Mitch Wegner, who is a highly respected and diverse college professor. His partner, Emily, owns her own yoga studio with regular clients and they are happily married. Everything seems to be entirely normal and impeccable. After a student commits suicide, and his journal reveals a strong animosity towards the professor, Mitch becomes the primary suspect.
The professor is experiencing a series of events that lead to a downward spiral. His wife seems to grow distant, and he suspects she might be cheating on him with her yoga partner, while his students no longer respect him. Everything seems to come back to him with flashbacks of a traumatic experience from his teenage years. With time, he grows paranoid and feels like he's being set up, leading to increased aggression and self-absorption.
As time went on, his personality intensified, causing a dislike for him, despite his unpleasant character from the start. I considered the possibility that he played a role, mostly because I didn't like him. Will Mitch be able to rescue both his marriage and career after everything that's happened? Who framed him, if he was framed, and why? The big reveal will shock you, and you'll realize the author gave you hints throughout the story.
This author is new to me, but I plan on looking into her other works!
December 17, 2023
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book on Twitter. As soon as it arrived I was intrigued and with it not being a chunky book I dived in.
The story focuses mainly on Mitch Wegner a successful professor of Psychology. He has a beautiful wife Emily and life seems pretty good. Until it isn’t.
What causes the change? Is it Mitch’s behaviour himself? Or are there other things or other people causing his house to fall like a pack of cards.
I have to say I wasn’t a fan of Mitch’s he liked himself a little too much for me, his wife, Emily, had her own fitness studio and worked long hours but it seemed she was still expected to do everything around the house, but then as I learned more about her I am now sure if she was as sweet as she initially seemed. But at one stage they had been a happy couple but now things have changed, Mitch believed she was having an affair. When a student at the University dies of a supposed suicide leaving a diary with writing saying how much he hated professor Wegner that’s where things began there decline. Students didn’t want to be in his lectures, he was suspended but never told Emily. Why didn’t he confide in his wife?
When someone else dies on campus the heat goes up more. But along with a tragedy closer to home how much more can Mitch take?
This is an engrossing read I had no idea where the story was going to go, with some great twists and turns and an ending that will just leave you astounded.
Looking for a well written, short, psychological thriller give this one a go. It keeps you hooked from start to finish,
I would like to thank @paperquest and @pioneerpublishing for my copy of this book I really enjoyed it.
The story focuses mainly on Mitch Wegner a successful professor of Psychology. He has a beautiful wife Emily and life seems pretty good. Until it isn’t.
What causes the change? Is it Mitch’s behaviour himself? Or are there other things or other people causing his house to fall like a pack of cards.
I have to say I wasn’t a fan of Mitch’s he liked himself a little too much for me, his wife, Emily, had her own fitness studio and worked long hours but it seemed she was still expected to do everything around the house, but then as I learned more about her I am now sure if she was as sweet as she initially seemed. But at one stage they had been a happy couple but now things have changed, Mitch believed she was having an affair. When a student at the University dies of a supposed suicide leaving a diary with writing saying how much he hated professor Wegner that’s where things began there decline. Students didn’t want to be in his lectures, he was suspended but never told Emily. Why didn’t he confide in his wife?
When someone else dies on campus the heat goes up more. But along with a tragedy closer to home how much more can Mitch take?
This is an engrossing read I had no idea where the story was going to go, with some great twists and turns and an ending that will just leave you astounded.
Looking for a well written, short, psychological thriller give this one a go. It keeps you hooked from start to finish,
I would like to thank @paperquest and @pioneerpublishing for my copy of this book I really enjoyed it.
June 21, 2023
5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor......I was very intrigued by the cover of the book and knowing that this is a psychological crime thriller, I decided to give it a chance....and can I say.....
Holy Wow......I did not see the twists and turns coming! This author gave me a plot that is totally mind blowing to me....I definitely will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Mitch Wegner is a smart and prestigious professor at a university. When a student. in his class dies, all eyes are turned to Mitch due to his grading system....the University did not want the attention from the press if students are taking their lives over the pressure of grades....or was the student murdered. Rumors circled around Mitch...and when rumors start circling, Mitch goes down this dark spiral....students no longer liking him, his marriage to his wife Emily on the rocks and his fellow colleague also questioning Mitch.....
What will this lead to? Is Mitch responsible for students deaths on campus or is there something more dark hiding in the corners?
This story really got me, just when I think I had it figured out....this author threw many wrenches in my thinking and had me until the end....I had not seen anything coming. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store in the future...this is a true must read!
Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor......I was very intrigued by the cover of the book and knowing that this is a psychological crime thriller, I decided to give it a chance....and can I say.....
Holy Wow......I did not see the twists and turns coming! This author gave me a plot that is totally mind blowing to me....I definitely will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Mitch Wegner is a smart and prestigious professor at a university. When a student. in his class dies, all eyes are turned to Mitch due to his grading system....the University did not want the attention from the press if students are taking their lives over the pressure of grades....or was the student murdered. Rumors circled around Mitch...and when rumors start circling, Mitch goes down this dark spiral....students no longer liking him, his marriage to his wife Emily on the rocks and his fellow colleague also questioning Mitch.....
What will this lead to? Is Mitch responsible for students deaths on campus or is there something more dark hiding in the corners?
This story really got me, just when I think I had it figured out....this author threw many wrenches in my thinking and had me until the end....I had not seen anything coming. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store in the future...this is a true must read!
June 17, 2023
A gripping psychological crime thriller which kept me captivated throughout. At the start of the novel professor Mitch Wegner has it all, a prestigious career, a loving wife, and a reputation as a brilliant academic. It doesn’t take long for his life to spiral out of control when one of his students commits suicide and Mitch is blamed. With his job on the line and his marriage falling apart, Mitch descends into a dangerously dark world where he is haunted by his past. Mitch then makes a series of increasingly desperate choices resulting in violence and betrayal. When a second person mysteriously dies on campus, Mitch is the prime suspect, however the truth behind the killings turns out to be more twisted than anyone imagined.
This novel had me on the edge of me seat and glued to my book as the drama and suspense built. Mitch is not a very likeable main character especially as he’s consumed by his own ego and dark secrets, however he is an intriguing character. The descriptive narrative brings both the setting and the characters vividly to life making me feel immersed in the storyline. The unpredictable plot along with the twists and turns kept me guessing as to the outcome of the novel. I was hooked from start to finish and was left stunned by the shocking ending!
This novel had me on the edge of me seat and glued to my book as the drama and suspense built. Mitch is not a very likeable main character especially as he’s consumed by his own ego and dark secrets, however he is an intriguing character. The descriptive narrative brings both the setting and the characters vividly to life making me feel immersed in the storyline. The unpredictable plot along with the twists and turns kept me guessing as to the outcome of the novel. I was hooked from start to finish and was left stunned by the shocking ending!
June 17, 2023
The Master of Demise is a gripping and fast-paced psychological crime thriller about one man’s downward spiral into a path of self-destruction. Mitch had a seemingly perfect life with a loving wife and a great career as a well-respected professor. Then his life turned upside down when one of Mitch’s students took his own life and fingers were pointed at Mitch. As he slowly starts to lose everything that he had worked so hard for Mitch begins to make a series of choices fueled by desperation and his own narcissism. As Mitch becomes driven by his own ego, he makes one bad choice after another that lead to violence and betrayal. When other deaths occur, Mitch becomes the main suspect, and he is asked to leave the university. The author did an amazing job of keeping me hooked from the first few pages and building suspense throughout. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending took me by surprise. The characters were well written, and Mitch was someone that I loved to hate. It was hard to tell if he was a victim of circumstance or if he was more sinister than he let on. This book had action, suspense, mystery, intrigue, drama, secrets, lies, and twists and turns that will keep you reading until the end. I highly recommend this book!
June 18, 2023
There are things that may be a trigger to some readers.
The Master of Demise is full of obsession, desperate choices, violence, betrayal, death and dark secrets. This dark and gripping psychological thriller hit the mark. There are characters that you will like and others not so much but that is the credit of Nadija’s work to evoke such strong emotions.
There is so many facets to our main character who once had it all. He now lives in a world where there is much darkness and danger. No one likes to take a look at themselves and realise they are not what they seem. Nothing like being knocked down a peg or two but nothing like being blamed for a murder or two.
Nadija has given us a chilling original tale with an interesting premise. There were times when I could see things coming but there are enough twists and turns the biggest being the ending. That is a surprise.
It had me looking in the darkness and shadows just to make sure no one was around. It is one of those stories to keep the most avid reader glued to the pages and the pages turning because you have to know how it ends.
If you love a dark and gripping tale of revenge and so much more, you will fall in love with Nadija Mujagic’s The Master of Demise.
I look forward to what comes next.
The Master of Demise is full of obsession, desperate choices, violence, betrayal, death and dark secrets. This dark and gripping psychological thriller hit the mark. There are characters that you will like and others not so much but that is the credit of Nadija’s work to evoke such strong emotions.
There is so many facets to our main character who once had it all. He now lives in a world where there is much darkness and danger. No one likes to take a look at themselves and realise they are not what they seem. Nothing like being knocked down a peg or two but nothing like being blamed for a murder or two.
Nadija has given us a chilling original tale with an interesting premise. There were times when I could see things coming but there are enough twists and turns the biggest being the ending. That is a surprise.
It had me looking in the darkness and shadows just to make sure no one was around. It is one of those stories to keep the most avid reader glued to the pages and the pages turning because you have to know how it ends.
If you love a dark and gripping tale of revenge and so much more, you will fall in love with Nadija Mujagic’s The Master of Demise.
I look forward to what comes next.
June 3, 2023
I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers giveaway from LibraryThing's May 2023.
I recently had the pleasure of reading a psychological thriller about a university professor, and it was a wild ride. The book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, with unexpected twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end.
The protagonist, a brilliant and charismatic professor, is the character you can't help but root for, even as you question their motives and actions. The book delves into the complexities of the human psyche, exploring themes of power, control, and obsession in a way that feels realistic and chilling.
What I appreciated most about this book was its ability to keep me guessing. When I thought I had everything figured out, the author would throw in another curveball that left me reeling. The writing was sharp and engaging, with vivid descriptions that brought the characters and setting to life.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller. It's a gripping and thought-provoking read that will keep you up late.
I recently had the pleasure of reading a psychological thriller about a university professor, and it was a wild ride. The book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, with unexpected twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end.
The protagonist, a brilliant and charismatic professor, is the character you can't help but root for, even as you question their motives and actions. The book delves into the complexities of the human psyche, exploring themes of power, control, and obsession in a way that feels realistic and chilling.
What I appreciated most about this book was its ability to keep me guessing. When I thought I had everything figured out, the author would throw in another curveball that left me reeling. The writing was sharp and engaging, with vivid descriptions that brought the characters and setting to life.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller. It's a gripping and thought-provoking read that will keep you up late.
June 4, 2023
I read an advance copy of this book in return for a voluntary review and did not allow the numerous grammatical and spelling errors to affect my rating. One has to assume that this being an early copy is still to be edited.
I really enjoyed this story of a bullied youngster seeking revenge against one of his persecutors later in life. Main character Prof Mitch Wenger was well developed and the traits he exhibited totally plausible of those in higher learning being arrogant and narcissistic. It starts with a student( Brad) dying whose death is suspicious as Brad has left a note and voices hulis unhappiness with the way Mitch graded one of his assignments. Then Mitch's wife dies, supposedly having fallen down the stairs while inebriated. The third death, Sarah, Mitch's assistant is the final straw and Mitch is asked to leave the university regardless of having attained tenure and not being proved guilty of the crimes. The twist when it came was unforeseen and clever. 4 and a half stars.
I really enjoyed this story of a bullied youngster seeking revenge against one of his persecutors later in life. Main character Prof Mitch Wenger was well developed and the traits he exhibited totally plausible of those in higher learning being arrogant and narcissistic. It starts with a student( Brad) dying whose death is suspicious as Brad has left a note and voices hulis unhappiness with the way Mitch graded one of his assignments. Then Mitch's wife dies, supposedly having fallen down the stairs while inebriated. The third death, Sarah, Mitch's assistant is the final straw and Mitch is asked to leave the university regardless of having attained tenure and not being proved guilty of the crimes. The twist when it came was unforeseen and clever. 4 and a half stars.
July 8, 2023
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic. This is my favorite genre so I was so excited to read this book and I was not disappointed. I didn't want to put it down which to me is the number one sign of a great book. Its the story of Mitch who is a college professor, happily married and seems like he has it all together. When one of his students commits suicide and leaves a note saying that Mitch and his class was the final straw everyone blames Mitch. His whole world falls apart. His wife leaves him and then he find himself going down a dark and twisted path making decisions that lead him to bad places. When another student dies everyone automatically assumes Mitch killed him so he is the prime suspect. Mitch is even beginning to wonder if there is the psycho side to himself that he doesn't even recognize. Full of lies, betrayal and death this story is amazing. Mitch sets out to clear his name but ends up getting himself into more danger. This book will keep you flipping pages way past your bedtime!
June 18, 2023
I’m still reeling from the conclusion of this book! I am still shaking from the unexpected plot twists. This is a fantastic riveting thriller.
At the beginning of the book you are instantly brought into the events after a mysterious murder. Then you are introduced to the cocky main character who has an extremely inflated ego. The author’s placement of the post murder intro plus the introduction to Mr Ego makes you wonder if the two events are connected. Hold on to your hats because then the story reveals additional characters, more ego, lots of drama, mysterious circumstances and more to help create a mystery unlike any mystery.
I found myself hating the main character only to feel sorry for him a bit later and changing over and over again as intriguing pieces of information are shared about his background, and his current state of mind.
If you enjoy mystery, thrillers and impeccable storytelling, this book is for you!
At the beginning of the book you are instantly brought into the events after a mysterious murder. Then you are introduced to the cocky main character who has an extremely inflated ego. The author’s placement of the post murder intro plus the introduction to Mr Ego makes you wonder if the two events are connected. Hold on to your hats because then the story reveals additional characters, more ego, lots of drama, mysterious circumstances and more to help create a mystery unlike any mystery.
I found myself hating the main character only to feel sorry for him a bit later and changing over and over again as intriguing pieces of information are shared about his background, and his current state of mind.
If you enjoy mystery, thrillers and impeccable storytelling, this book is for you!
June 23, 2023
The Master of Demise
By: Nadija Mujagic
I am truly beginning to think Nadija Mujagic is going to become one of my absolute favorite authors. Every book that I’ve read by her so far has not disappointed me at all and has been a read that I don’t want to put down. I definitely want to say that this book was absolutely fantastic. I read this in one day and definitely did not want to put it down.
This is a fantastic psychological thriller filled with twists and turns. I absolutely loved the depiction of the small college town where this takes place. I feel like it perfectly depicts a college town from its charm to the people that live here. This is a story of a bullied child seeking revenge upon one of their bullies later in life. This plot sucks you in and doesn’t let you go until you finish it. This is absolutely a must read and will be a favorite of lovers of psychological thrillers!
By: Nadija Mujagic
I am truly beginning to think Nadija Mujagic is going to become one of my absolute favorite authors. Every book that I’ve read by her so far has not disappointed me at all and has been a read that I don’t want to put down. I definitely want to say that this book was absolutely fantastic. I read this in one day and definitely did not want to put it down.
This is a fantastic psychological thriller filled with twists and turns. I absolutely loved the depiction of the small college town where this takes place. I feel like it perfectly depicts a college town from its charm to the people that live here. This is a story of a bullied child seeking revenge upon one of their bullies later in life. This plot sucks you in and doesn’t let you go until you finish it. This is absolutely a must read and will be a favorite of lovers of psychological thrillers!
July 7, 2023
This was a great psychological Thriller. This author's work is amazing. I was gripped from the first page and the author didn't let me go. The story is fast paced and flowed really well. One thing I liked is that as the story progressed and Mitchs life starts to spiral this is evident in the writing.
Mitch had it all. A good job, happy marriage, everything seems perfect but when a student turns up dead he becomes the prime suspect. As Mitch falls further and further into a pit of despair his life begins to unravel even more and when another person turns up dead all fingers again point to Mitch but is he the one commiting these crimes?
This is a dark Thriller that is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is a story of secrets, lies, betrayals that you won't be able to put down.
I loved it and the author's writing was amazing. As Mitch falls further into his black hole we are dragged along for the ride.
Is Mitch committing these murders? If not him then who is?
Mitch had it all. A good job, happy marriage, everything seems perfect but when a student turns up dead he becomes the prime suspect. As Mitch falls further and further into a pit of despair his life begins to unravel even more and when another person turns up dead all fingers again point to Mitch but is he the one commiting these crimes?
This is a dark Thriller that is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is a story of secrets, lies, betrayals that you won't be able to put down.
I loved it and the author's writing was amazing. As Mitch falls further into his black hole we are dragged along for the ride.
Is Mitch committing these murders? If not him then who is?
July 9, 2023
The Master of Demise by Nadja Mujagic
3 Stars
I don’t usually read thrillers. I came across this book and the blurb drew me in. I was intrigued. Mitch has a good life. He’s married to a woman whom he loves very much. He’s an accomplished scholar and professor at a university. He also has a blown up sense of self importance. I struggled to like him. You find out that his childhood wasn’t the most pleasant. I kind of felt bad for him but I believe in karma so he got what he deserved.
The story has many twists and turns. The author did a good job keeping the reader guessing “ who done it”. There were times that I was confused because there are two characters talking in the first person but the chapters didn’t differentiate between the two. I also found the story to be a little slow at times. Honestly I was disappointed with the ending. The book started off really well then took a slow nosedive.
3 Stars
I don’t usually read thrillers. I came across this book and the blurb drew me in. I was intrigued. Mitch has a good life. He’s married to a woman whom he loves very much. He’s an accomplished scholar and professor at a university. He also has a blown up sense of self importance. I struggled to like him. You find out that his childhood wasn’t the most pleasant. I kind of felt bad for him but I believe in karma so he got what he deserved.
The story has many twists and turns. The author did a good job keeping the reader guessing “ who done it”. There were times that I was confused because there are two characters talking in the first person but the chapters didn’t differentiate between the two. I also found the story to be a little slow at times. Honestly I was disappointed with the ending. The book started off really well then took a slow nosedive.
August 6, 2023
The blurb for this book really hooked me, and I was excited to dive in. The story is interesting, with some chapters told from a different character's POV than the main character, Mitch, and it's a decent mystery to try to determine what happened and who's behind it.
I have never disliked a protagonist more than I did Mitch, which I'm sure was part of the point (or at least I hope so), and I can honestly say I kept reading mainly just to see if he would get his comeuppance at some point. There was also a ton of repetition, which bogged down the narrative to the point that I started skipping some lines and even paragraphs because it had already been said.
In the end, it's a pretty good read, and I'm glad I took the time to do so. I'll be looking into reading something else by this author at some point down the road.
3.5 stars
**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and have left this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
I have never disliked a protagonist more than I did Mitch, which I'm sure was part of the point (or at least I hope so), and I can honestly say I kept reading mainly just to see if he would get his comeuppance at some point. There was also a ton of repetition, which bogged down the narrative to the point that I started skipping some lines and even paragraphs because it had already been said.
In the end, it's a pretty good read, and I'm glad I took the time to do so. I'll be looking into reading something else by this author at some point down the road.
3.5 stars
**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and have left this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
June 18, 2023
3.5 Stars
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic is a bit of a dark, chilling psychological thriller with plenty of mystery, suspense, drama, intrigue, twists, secrets, obsession, revenge, violence, betrayal, murder, pain, shocking developments, and more. It isn’t my first read by this author- but is definitely my top pick out of her stories.
This proved to be a thought-provoking story, and had me following along trying to figure out what was going on. And for the most part it was gripping. But it wasn’t as dark as I had thought, and I wasn’t quite on the edge of my seat the whole way through- but it was definitely intriguing, and had some gripping, twisted moments- but maybe just a little more predictable than I had hoped for. But, still worth the read, nonetheless.
Looking forward to seeing what Ms. Mujagic does next.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Nadija Mujagic!
The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic is a bit of a dark, chilling psychological thriller with plenty of mystery, suspense, drama, intrigue, twists, secrets, obsession, revenge, violence, betrayal, murder, pain, shocking developments, and more. It isn’t my first read by this author- but is definitely my top pick out of her stories.
This proved to be a thought-provoking story, and had me following along trying to figure out what was going on. And for the most part it was gripping. But it wasn’t as dark as I had thought, and I wasn’t quite on the edge of my seat the whole way through- but it was definitely intriguing, and had some gripping, twisted moments- but maybe just a little more predictable than I had hoped for. But, still worth the read, nonetheless.
Looking forward to seeing what Ms. Mujagic does next.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Nadija Mujagic!
June 27, 2023
This is the third book that I've read by this author and she hasn't disappointed me yet.
Mitch's story stuch from me from the moment it started. This book was a hard one to put down, even long enough to grab a snack! It's going to suck you in and keep it's claws in you until the end...and maybe then some. This has a super suprise ending that I loved and I'm going to be disgesting this for awhile.
Mitch is an easy character to dislike. He's incredibly narcissistic and his egotistical airs are stiffling to say the least. I didn't really care for Emily though either. She should have been likeable to me but something about her didn't set well with me. Normally I could say I had a favorite character but not in this book.
Prepare to just read this one straight through with no breaks. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store!
Mitch's story stuch from me from the moment it started. This book was a hard one to put down, even long enough to grab a snack! It's going to suck you in and keep it's claws in you until the end...and maybe then some. This has a super suprise ending that I loved and I'm going to be disgesting this for awhile.
Mitch is an easy character to dislike. He's incredibly narcissistic and his egotistical airs are stiffling to say the least. I didn't really care for Emily though either. She should have been likeable to me but something about her didn't set well with me. Normally I could say I had a favorite character but not in this book.
Prepare to just read this one straight through with no breaks. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store!
June 14, 2023
A dark academia about a tenured professor whose life quickly goes downhill. It all starts the day a popular student on campus is found dead by suicide. He has a diary in which he rags upon Prof. Wegner and his demanding grades. These entries leak out and student outrage turns to blaming the professor for killing the student. But this is only the first catastrophe for Mitch Wegner.
This has a fantastic dark academia atmosphere and reminds me of Samantha Downing's "For Your Own Good". Mitch is an unlikable character but one becomes frustrated with him on just how much can go wrong for him. This was a page-turner for me and I couldn't wait to find out what was going on. The twists were shocking and the ending unexpected. A unique thriller.
This has a fantastic dark academia atmosphere and reminds me of Samantha Downing's "For Your Own Good". Mitch is an unlikable character but one becomes frustrated with him on just how much can go wrong for him. This was a page-turner for me and I couldn't wait to find out what was going on. The twists were shocking and the ending unexpected. A unique thriller.
June 17, 2023
This has to be the best psychological thriller I’ve read this year. I couldn’t put it down once I started. Was the main character the criminal or the victim? It was really hard to tell (and I’m not telling you which he was). You have to read this. It’s a story that will play games with your mind as well as his. There are twists, some you see coming and some you don’t. I found there were characters that you could love and hate. Some things weren’t as they seemed. This book is like a total mind test to test you. After finishing, I wondered if somebody was using my mind as a test (just kidding). It’s that kind of thriller. The suspense will get you. Amazing book! I love this author. She writes fantastic books that will get you to the core. An absolute must read. 5+ book.
June 20, 2023
The book opens with a startling chapter that immediately gets the reader's attention. The main character is challenged when one of his students is thought to commit suicide, then another student the professor has a connection to dies. As the story continues, Mitch begins to spiral, receiving hit by hit of new issues he must try to cope with...or not... Psychological thrillers have become one of my favorite genre-reads, for sure, so I really love/appreciate how Mujagic has put together this story! When a plot is great, you don't really have to like the main character but still feel the pull to invest your time in finishing the tale anyway. It was intense, twisted, and had me guessing till the last chapter!
June 28, 2023
I quite enjoyed this novel, even if it was predictable. I was reeled in from the start. The preface was eye opening and drew me in immediately. The interchange between characters was entertaining and well written. The main character was not likable in the slightest. I did feel bad for him but he was so lousy that it was sometimes hard to find the sympathy.
This is a very quick read. It took me a few short hours from start to finish. I do recommend for anyone looking for a well written mystery novel. I wish there was more to the plot or more detail to the characters, which is the reason for four stars rather than five. However, overall I do recommend!
This is a very quick read. It took me a few short hours from start to finish. I do recommend for anyone looking for a well written mystery novel. I wish there was more to the plot or more detail to the characters, which is the reason for four stars rather than five. However, overall I do recommend!
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