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The Stepson
When your whole life becomes one big lie... The night my mum disappeared, after a panicked 3am phonecall, I knew something was wrong. The police tried to reassure me. There had to be a logical explanation they said - perhaps she's taking a break after the tragic death of my father. But I know my mum. Or do I? She would never leave without telling me. Or would she? The harder I look, the more I discover deep, dark family secrets I was not privy to. Worrying secrets I was never meant to know. Which means my parents have lied to me my whole life. But why? Who can I turn to? Trust? Were they scared of something in their past? Or were they trying to protect me? Has mum gone on her own free will? Or has someone taken her?
Diane Saxon's compelling new thriller will have you questioning who you can trust to keep your family safe.
Diane Saxon's compelling new thriller will have you questioning who you can trust to keep your family safe.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published June 19, 2023
671 people are currently reading
1010 people want to read
About the author
Diane Saxon
31 books373 followersDiane Saxon lives in the Shropshire countryside with her tall, dark, handsome husband. She has two gorgeous daughters, a Dalmatian, two cats, numerous rare breed chickens, and grandfurbabies too.
After working for years in a demanding job, Diane gave it up when her husband said, “Follow that dream.” She subsequently had 12 romances published for the U.S. market then turned to the dark side with her psychological thrillers published through Boldwood Books.
Nominated for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award 2024 and an International No 1 Amazon Bestseller, Diane never regrets living her second life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
June 25, 2023
3.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ June 19, 2023
Page Count ~ 376
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, missing person, murder, baby death
Our main characters:
Lorraine ~ daughter of Sandra & Henry, divorced with 2 small children, Sophie & Elijah. Trevor ~ Henry's son from his first marriage.
Sandra calls Lorraine around 3:30am scared that someone is going to break in and gives her a cryptic message before disconnecting. Lorraine can't leave her children alone and doesn't want to wake them, so when morning comes she goes around to her house and Mom is not there. The police don't take her seriously and think she is just taking a breather for a few days since she's still upset about Henry's passing 9 months earlier.
I quite enjoyed the multiple timeline in this one. It was easy to follow along with and totally built up the suspense.
Lorraine's timeline begins with the countdown of when her mom made the phone call to her right before she went missing. Since this was just every few chapters if made it seem like she's missing for a lot longer and like the police weren't doing anything to help find Sandra. She makes some questionable choices for being a 30 year old single mom towards the end there, too.
Trevor's timeline begin 31 years ago right up to the present and we slowly see what kind of person he really is.
Overall, I enjoyed my first experience with this author and I'll be back for more of her thrillers.
*Thanks to Diane Saxon, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ June 19, 2023
Page Count ~ 376
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, missing person, murder, baby death
Our main characters:
Lorraine ~ daughter of Sandra & Henry, divorced with 2 small children, Sophie & Elijah. Trevor ~ Henry's son from his first marriage.
Sandra calls Lorraine around 3:30am scared that someone is going to break in and gives her a cryptic message before disconnecting. Lorraine can't leave her children alone and doesn't want to wake them, so when morning comes she goes around to her house and Mom is not there. The police don't take her seriously and think she is just taking a breather for a few days since she's still upset about Henry's passing 9 months earlier.
I quite enjoyed the multiple timeline in this one. It was easy to follow along with and totally built up the suspense.
Lorraine's timeline begins with the countdown of when her mom made the phone call to her right before she went missing. Since this was just every few chapters if made it seem like she's missing for a lot longer and like the police weren't doing anything to help find Sandra. She makes some questionable choices for being a 30 year old single mom towards the end there, too.
Trevor's timeline begin 31 years ago right up to the present and we slowly see what kind of person he really is.
Overall, I enjoyed my first experience with this author and I'll be back for more of her thrillers.
*Thanks to Diane Saxon, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
July 10, 2023
At first, this book was hard to understand because it jumped between the past and the present. It took a while for the story to start making sense, but by chapter 18, things started coming together. Diane is a great writer, so the quality of the writing wasn't an issue. However, I didn't like the character Lorraine. On the other hand, I did enjoy the ending, which wrapped things up nicely.
December 16, 2023
At 3 am, Lorraine gets a phone call from her mum telling her some strange things about a nonexistent brother. Lorraine cannot see her because her two small children are asleep and, as a newly divorced mother, she doesn't have anybody else to stay with them.
In the morning she finds her mum's house empty and all her things are in place, except the mobile.
She reports her to the police who don't take this information seriously.
What did Lorraine know about her mother and how many lies were in their lives?
Step by step Lorraine is going to uncover the truth about their family.
There is a present storyline from Lorraine and one in the past, telling the story of Lorraine's brother Trevor.
The story is interesting but a bit confusing in some places controversial. It has a lot of repeating information and sometimes on a few pages, the same slightly modified text is written again and again. The author has to do some work to improve the writing style.
I couldn't give more than 3 stars for this book.
In the morning she finds her mum's house empty and all her things are in place, except the mobile.
She reports her to the police who don't take this information seriously.
What did Lorraine know about her mother and how many lies were in their lives?
Step by step Lorraine is going to uncover the truth about their family.
There is a present storyline from Lorraine and one in the past, telling the story of Lorraine's brother Trevor.
The story is interesting but a bit confusing in some places controversial. It has a lot of repeating information and sometimes on a few pages, the same slightly modified text is written again and again. The author has to do some work to improve the writing style.
I couldn't give more than 3 stars for this book.
November 23, 2023
Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
September 1, 2024
5 stars audio
4 stars story.
Frankly I don't think the stepmother was blameless. I really felt bad for Trevor. He suffered a lot because his father was a spineless ass that gave up on him just to keep his bitchy wife happy.
4 stars story.
Frankly I don't think the stepmother was blameless. I really felt bad for Trevor. He suffered a lot because his father was a spineless ass that gave up on him just to keep his bitchy wife happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2023
I thought this book was just ok- it felt kind of predictable to me and I didn’t like any of the characters. The story centers mostly on Lorraine, who gets a creepy call from her mom in the middle of the night, then her mom goes missing the next day. There are also alternating chapters told from the POV of Trevor, Lorraine’s half-brother who has been estranged from the family.
While the story held my interest, it felt like a slow read that was predictable. Also, the climactic scene seemed too quick and easy. There were reasons to feel sorry for Trevor but I couldn’t really bring myself to do so because of the things he did.
Overall, decent read but not really my favorite. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While the story held my interest, it felt like a slow read that was predictable. Also, the climactic scene seemed too quick and easy. There were reasons to feel sorry for Trevor but I couldn’t really bring myself to do so because of the things he did.
Overall, decent read but not really my favorite. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
★★★★ 4.5 stars
Who do you believe...and who do you trust...?
It's 3.25am when Lorraine receives a phone call from her frantic mum. The words she utters at first she thinks the result of a few drinks to drown her depression after the tragic loss off her dad, Henry. But long after she's hung up, those words continue to circle her mind until she has worked herself up into a worry. But she can't just drop everything to go see if her mum's alright as there is no one to look after the children. So she will have to wait till morning. But as soon as she's dropped Sophia off, she'll be round at her mum's to check that she's ok...that all is well.
Only when she gets there five hours later, there is no sign of her mum. The house is in silence, the curtains still drawn, the bed has not been slept in. Her mother's handbag complete with her purse and her keys are still beside the lounge. Only her phone is missing. As is her mum. And as a cold dread fills her, Lorraine recalls those chilling words her mum uttered in the wee hours in a frightened whisper...
"Your dad was first. Now it's me. I'm so scared, but mostly for you and the children. Because once I'm gone, you'll be next."
After searching her mother's house, Lorraine goes to the police station to report her as missing. Only she's and adult and has only been gone for a few hours. She could be anywhere and be home at any moment. But Lorraine tries to impress on the man at the desk the importance of the situation. Her mother has no one. She wouldn't just disappear without telling her. Nor did she have anywhere to go. All Sandra had was Lorraine and the children. But there was nothing they could do unless her mother was deemed vulnerable. Was she vulnerable? She wasn't sure. The kindly man assured her that her mother will probably be back in no time and wonder what all the fuss was about, but if not, to return after seventy two hours...or was it forty eight hours? Lorraine can't remember. All she knows is that her mum is missing and some garbled message in the middle of the night that barely made any sense.
A return to her mum's house has her searching for answers and it comes in the form of her mum's kindly neighbour Mrs Tindall. Lorraine didn't really have time to stop and chat but Mrs Tindall was a lonely old woman and it wouldn't hurt. But little did she know that Mrs Tindall held the key to a Pandora's box and, while not a wealth of information, it was a start. She had in her possession letters written to her father over the years which he had hidden on their property, away from her mother who would go spare if got wind of it. The letters were from her father's son, Trevor. Which means he was Lorraine's half brother. A half brother she knew nothing about. Thanking Mrs Tindall, she took the letters home and poured over their contents, her eyes brimming with tears at the pleading tone. This poor boy. All he had been through. Why did her parents not give him a home?
It seems that's not all they didn't tell her as her quest for answers sends her on a three hour round trip to Liverpool and an aunt she barely remembers from her childhood, her dad's younger sister. Aunt Caroline fills in the blanks that have evaded Lorraine for thirty years...a whole life she knew nothing about.
But the question remains, where is her mother? And how much of the past has to do with her disappearance?
THE STEPSON is an entertaining, though at times heartbreaking, domestic suspense that had me turning the pages to find out what happened to Sandra. The story cleverly unfolds in the past and present narratives giving the reader a clear picture of events and how each of the threads entwined. There were so many secrets and plenty of deception which were slowly stripped away to reveal the truth. And what an ugly truth it was.
Quite honestly, I didn't like Sandra. Yes, she probably suffered from post natal pychosis as she was clearly delusional and irrational but that continued throughout the years and she was utterly horrible to poor old hen-pecked Henry. Whether she had good cause or not to make such demands, they were not her decisions to make and those she made were amidst the irrational fog of delusion. As for Trevor, I actually felt sorry for him. I wanted him to make it good, to turn his life around and never look back. No child should have had to endure what he had to. Nor should any child be used as a pawn in their parent's disputes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story far more than the author's previous one and so glad I requested it. It was addictive, compelling and thoroughly entertaining. A good solid read.
I would like to thank #DianeSaxon, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheStepson in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Who do you believe...and who do you trust...?
It's 3.25am when Lorraine receives a phone call from her frantic mum. The words she utters at first she thinks the result of a few drinks to drown her depression after the tragic loss off her dad, Henry. But long after she's hung up, those words continue to circle her mind until she has worked herself up into a worry. But she can't just drop everything to go see if her mum's alright as there is no one to look after the children. So she will have to wait till morning. But as soon as she's dropped Sophia off, she'll be round at her mum's to check that she's ok...that all is well.
Only when she gets there five hours later, there is no sign of her mum. The house is in silence, the curtains still drawn, the bed has not been slept in. Her mother's handbag complete with her purse and her keys are still beside the lounge. Only her phone is missing. As is her mum. And as a cold dread fills her, Lorraine recalls those chilling words her mum uttered in the wee hours in a frightened whisper...
"Your dad was first. Now it's me. I'm so scared, but mostly for you and the children. Because once I'm gone, you'll be next."
After searching her mother's house, Lorraine goes to the police station to report her as missing. Only she's and adult and has only been gone for a few hours. She could be anywhere and be home at any moment. But Lorraine tries to impress on the man at the desk the importance of the situation. Her mother has no one. She wouldn't just disappear without telling her. Nor did she have anywhere to go. All Sandra had was Lorraine and the children. But there was nothing they could do unless her mother was deemed vulnerable. Was she vulnerable? She wasn't sure. The kindly man assured her that her mother will probably be back in no time and wonder what all the fuss was about, but if not, to return after seventy two hours...or was it forty eight hours? Lorraine can't remember. All she knows is that her mum is missing and some garbled message in the middle of the night that barely made any sense.
A return to her mum's house has her searching for answers and it comes in the form of her mum's kindly neighbour Mrs Tindall. Lorraine didn't really have time to stop and chat but Mrs Tindall was a lonely old woman and it wouldn't hurt. But little did she know that Mrs Tindall held the key to a Pandora's box and, while not a wealth of information, it was a start. She had in her possession letters written to her father over the years which he had hidden on their property, away from her mother who would go spare if got wind of it. The letters were from her father's son, Trevor. Which means he was Lorraine's half brother. A half brother she knew nothing about. Thanking Mrs Tindall, she took the letters home and poured over their contents, her eyes brimming with tears at the pleading tone. This poor boy. All he had been through. Why did her parents not give him a home?
It seems that's not all they didn't tell her as her quest for answers sends her on a three hour round trip to Liverpool and an aunt she barely remembers from her childhood, her dad's younger sister. Aunt Caroline fills in the blanks that have evaded Lorraine for thirty years...a whole life she knew nothing about.
But the question remains, where is her mother? And how much of the past has to do with her disappearance?
THE STEPSON is an entertaining, though at times heartbreaking, domestic suspense that had me turning the pages to find out what happened to Sandra. The story cleverly unfolds in the past and present narratives giving the reader a clear picture of events and how each of the threads entwined. There were so many secrets and plenty of deception which were slowly stripped away to reveal the truth. And what an ugly truth it was.
Quite honestly, I didn't like Sandra. Yes, she probably suffered from post natal pychosis as she was clearly delusional and irrational but that continued throughout the years and she was utterly horrible to poor old hen-pecked Henry. Whether she had good cause or not to make such demands, they were not her decisions to make and those she made were amidst the irrational fog of delusion. As for Trevor, I actually felt sorry for him. I wanted him to make it good, to turn his life around and never look back. No child should have had to endure what he had to. Nor should any child be used as a pawn in their parent's disputes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story far more than the author's previous one and so glad I requested it. It was addictive, compelling and thoroughly entertaining. A good solid read.
I would like to thank #DianeSaxon, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheStepson in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 17, 2023
I thought this was a pretty good thriller! This bookfollows Lorraine, who got a strange phone call from her mother in the middle of the night saying that Lorraine’s brother is coming for her… but Lorraine doesn’t have a brother. The next day when Lorraine goes to find her mother, she finds she’s missing. As Lorraine searches for her mum, she uncovers secrets about her family that she had no idea about.
This was a really well written book that kept my interest the whole way through. We follow two different timelines in this book and it goes back and forth but it was pretty easy to follow. I really enjoy dual timelines in books so I really liked that aspect. We mainly follow Lorraine’s perspective and while Lorraine wasn’t a bad character, she did annoy me at times.
Overall this was a pretty fast paced mystery that was very well written and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you for much to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really well written book that kept my interest the whole way through. We follow two different timelines in this book and it goes back and forth but it was pretty easy to follow. I really enjoy dual timelines in books so I really liked that aspect. We mainly follow Lorraine’s perspective and while Lorraine wasn’t a bad character, she did annoy me at times.
Overall this was a pretty fast paced mystery that was very well written and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you for much to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2024
dragged on a whole lot and i ended up skimming till the end.
May 24, 2023
this Author has done it again. A very gripping and addictive twisty read. they say one.is always born good and one always born bad. What would you do if a past you never knew about affects the present? This is what happens to Lorraine. A phone call in the night very scared saying her brother is back but Lorraine has no brother and when she goes to her mum s house she not there. the police not worried so it is up to Lorraine to put all the pieces together. A very can't stop reading book.
July 9, 2023
Such a roller coaster of a plot does Diane Saxon weave...............how would we react to get the call Lorraine did? You can feel her panic and confusion right from the start.
An absolute cracker of a read. Fast paced, plenty of twists and turns, who to trust, who is telling the truth! You have got to read it yourself to find out!
Highly recommend, it is one of those books you want to get to the end to see what happens but, you do not want it to finish as it is such a terrific book!
Happy Reading.
An absolute cracker of a read. Fast paced, plenty of twists and turns, who to trust, who is telling the truth! You have got to read it yourself to find out!
Highly recommend, it is one of those books you want to get to the end to see what happens but, you do not want it to finish as it is such a terrific book!
Happy Reading.
June 28, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t really enjoy much of anything about this book. To be quite frank I thought Trevor was the most likeable character - right or wrong, Sandra and Henry should have gotten a divorce ages ago and Lorraine seemed to love making the wrong decision at every turn. I’m also not a huge fan of declaring children as “eViL” so that part of the book just really didn’t do it for me.
I think had there been a story about finding new family in this thriller that could have been really cool. Instead for me it felt like: Basic premise —> Genuinely interesting twist showing nobody is perfect but also that our antagonist isn’t who we think it is —> Oh wait, yeah it is, and also anything remotely bad about Sandra are all justified and his fault.
The tone for the character just feels self righteous and smug, and I personally think there was a story in this book that I would have very much enjoyed and just didn’t. Even without the idea of following through on the first twist until the end, I think there’s other things I would have enjoyed. Maybe had we kept this original plot and stressed the mother/daughter relationship I might have been okay with it? But I hated Sandra and didn’t see the appeal or how they were so close. They kept repeating it, certainly - Lorraine kept finding out secrets that she never knew and going “but we’re so close!” - but I never saw any genuine examples. It felt like character depth was forsaken for the sake of red herrings and twists. Or maybe had this book not boiled it down into a right or wrong side - I feel like the book tried to introduce nuance and complexity into the situation halfway through, but then yanked it away by the end.
Clearly this twist and book overall were not for me, but maybe they will be for someone else.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t really enjoy much of anything about this book. To be quite frank I thought Trevor was the most likeable character - right or wrong, Sandra and Henry should have gotten a divorce ages ago and Lorraine seemed to love making the wrong decision at every turn. I’m also not a huge fan of declaring children as “eViL” so that part of the book just really didn’t do it for me.
I think had there been a story about finding new family in this thriller that could have been really cool. Instead for me it felt like: Basic premise —> Genuinely interesting twist showing nobody is perfect but also that our antagonist isn’t who we think it is —> Oh wait, yeah it is, and also anything remotely bad about Sandra are all justified and his fault.
The tone for the character just feels self righteous and smug, and I personally think there was a story in this book that I would have very much enjoyed and just didn’t. Even without the idea of following through on the first twist until the end, I think there’s other things I would have enjoyed. Maybe had we kept this original plot and stressed the mother/daughter relationship I might have been okay with it? But I hated Sandra and didn’t see the appeal or how they were so close. They kept repeating it, certainly - Lorraine kept finding out secrets that she never knew and going “but we’re so close!” - but I never saw any genuine examples. It felt like character depth was forsaken for the sake of red herrings and twists. Or maybe had this book not boiled it down into a right or wrong side - I feel like the book tried to introduce nuance and complexity into the situation halfway through, but then yanked it away by the end.
Clearly this twist and book overall were not for me, but maybe they will be for someone else.
January 24, 2024
A bit more repetitive than I felt was necessary, but the story and the reveal more than makes up for it.
July 14, 2023
Confusing.
What a complicated book, 12 years earlier, 1 year earlier etc etc etc. Couldn't finish it, didn't want to either!!???
What a complicated book, 12 years earlier, 1 year earlier etc etc etc. Couldn't finish it, didn't want to either!!???
June 15, 2023
A few weeks before giving birth Lorraine‘s husband left her for his mistress who was also pregnant then her dad died in a car accident that cost her to go into labor but when she gets a call from her mom Sandra at 3:30 in the morning saying your brothers back and I’m not scared for me because I know he’s going to kill me but you and the kids will be next she doesn’t know what to make of it she knows her mom has been suffering from depression since the death of her father Henry and she’s been known to drink a little bit, not to mention she is an only child and Lorraine just cannot get up and run around to check on her mom because she has little Israel and 5 year old Sophia. So after dropping Sophia off at school she runs around to her moms house only to find it empty but she hasn’t taken her purse or any money. When she goes to the police station the man I acts is if he knows her mom better than she and tells her no doubt she will be back before you know it. So it seems Lorraine is left on her own to find out what happened to the mom she loves so much. Lorraine has many surprises in store for her but the biggest is that she has a brother named Trevor and there are those who believe horrible things about him but then there are those who believe him 100%. Is Lorraine‘s mom dead and if so did her long loss brother do it or is he as innocent as some of her family members believe? This is such a great book I love Diane Saxtons books but she has definitely outdone herself this time. It seems 2023 is a year for thrillers because so many authors are coming out with their A game and that includes Miss Saxton. I felt so bad for poor Lorraine so alone with her two beautiful children and so to say I loved the ending of this book is an understatement. She really is at the top of her profession in this book is proof of that a truly great great book! I received this book from BoldwoodBooks but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
June 21, 2023
A fantastic thriller.
A strange phone call from her mother, in the middle of the night. It warned her that her father had been murdered, and that someone was there to kill her, and then they would come after her next. A missing mother and an unknown stepbrother. How do you take in that you have been lied to all your life.
The characters were completely different, and they all had different perspectives and interactions that made it difficult to know who was lying to her.
The final twist was so unexpected that I was taken by surprise.
A strange phone call from her mother, in the middle of the night. It warned her that her father had been murdered, and that someone was there to kill her, and then they would come after her next. A missing mother and an unknown stepbrother. How do you take in that you have been lied to all your life.
The characters were completely different, and they all had different perspectives and interactions that made it difficult to know who was lying to her.
The final twist was so unexpected that I was taken by surprise.
June 30, 2023
Another amazing book by Diane Saxon.
Lorraine gets a 3am phonecall off her mother she sounds panicky or drunk Lorraine can't tell. She says he's watching her and when he gets her Lorraine will be next. Living on her own with her 2 children Lorraine doesn't know what to do.
Highly recommend this book
Lorraine gets a 3am phonecall off her mother she sounds panicky or drunk Lorraine can't tell. She says he's watching her and when he gets her Lorraine will be next. Living on her own with her 2 children Lorraine doesn't know what to do.
Highly recommend this book
April 15, 2025
I’m so conflicted after finishing The Step Son. This could have been a really good read but I found it so repetitive. The whole story seemed to crawl along at a slow pace.
February 25, 2024
this was such a strange one to rate!!!
had an amazing promise of a story of a girl who gets a concerning call from her mother at like 3am. this then begins a game of did he/didn’t he/wtf is going on. switches between 2 POVs as well as two timelines past and present.
was alright to follow although the addition of cousins/aunts/neighbours got really confusing to keep up with at one point.
ending was super anti-climatic and felt surface level and rushed. until the end of the end. get it girl!!!!!
had an amazing promise of a story of a girl who gets a concerning call from her mother at like 3am. this then begins a game of did he/didn’t he/wtf is going on. switches between 2 POVs as well as two timelines past and present.
was alright to follow although the addition of cousins/aunts/neighbours got really confusing to keep up with at one point.
ending was super anti-climatic and felt surface level and rushed. until the end of the end. get it girl!!!!!
July 19, 2023
kept me guessing
Diane
My mother was from Shropshire!!!
I wish she could’ve read your books. Sadly she has passed away!
Thanks
Gayle
Diane
My mother was from Shropshire!!!
I wish she could’ve read your books. Sadly she has passed away!
Thanks
Gayle
May 12, 2023
Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
When your whole life becomes one big lie…The night my mum disappeared, after a panicked 3 am phone call, I knew something was wrong.
The police tried to reassure me. There had to be a logical explanation they said – perhaps she’s taking a break after the tragic death of my father.
But I know my mum.
Or do I?
She would never leave without telling me.
Or would she?
The harder I look, the more I discover deep, dark family secrets I was not privy to.
Worrying secrets I was never meant to know.
Which means my parents have lied to me my whole life.
But why?
Who can I turn to? Trust?
Were they scared of something in their past?
Or were they trying to protect me?
Has mum gone of her own free will?
Or has someone taken her?
Diane Saxon’s compelling new thriller will have you questioning who you can trust to keep your family safe.
I know from reading the synopsis that you will wonder where the stepson has a role in this book, but he does ... this is one spooky book. It was well crafted and will hold your attention for hours: if you take it to the beach (or back yard, porch) don't forget to reapply your SPF as you will lose track of time. Enjoyable even if just sitting in front of the a/c or fan during what it supposed to be a record-breaking HOT summer (oh, yeah ... not) as it is a wonderful little thriller to pick up and add to your TBR pile.
#shortbutsweetreviews
*********************************************************
When your whole life becomes one big lie…The night my mum disappeared, after a panicked 3 am phone call, I knew something was wrong.
The police tried to reassure me. There had to be a logical explanation they said – perhaps she’s taking a break after the tragic death of my father.
But I know my mum.
Or do I?
She would never leave without telling me.
Or would she?
The harder I look, the more I discover deep, dark family secrets I was not privy to.
Worrying secrets I was never meant to know.
Which means my parents have lied to me my whole life.
But why?
Who can I turn to? Trust?
Were they scared of something in their past?
Or were they trying to protect me?
Has mum gone of her own free will?
Or has someone taken her?
Diane Saxon’s compelling new thriller will have you questioning who you can trust to keep your family safe.
I know from reading the synopsis that you will wonder where the stepson has a role in this book, but he does ... this is one spooky book. It was well crafted and will hold your attention for hours: if you take it to the beach (or back yard, porch) don't forget to reapply your SPF as you will lose track of time. Enjoyable even if just sitting in front of the a/c or fan during what it supposed to be a record-breaking HOT summer (oh, yeah ... not) as it is a wonderful little thriller to pick up and add to your TBR pile.
#shortbutsweetreviews
September 23, 2023
Highly recommend
I couldn't put this book down. From the first until the last page I was hooked, and I wasn't expecting the ending to finish as it did. Great story telling from the author of 'My Little Brother' and I can't wait to read more of her books.
I couldn't put this book down. From the first until the last page I was hooked, and I wasn't expecting the ending to finish as it did. Great story telling from the author of 'My Little Brother' and I can't wait to read more of her books.
December 23, 2023
DNF. I got almost halfway through this book and still had no idea what was going on. Too many different time frames, it’s jumping all over the place and very hard to follow. I had to force myself to keep reading until I eventually just gave up.
June 19, 2023
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
The Stepson was truly suspenseful! In some ways, it reminded me of the movie He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. The first half of the book is mainly told from Lorraine’s perspective–the synopsis reflects her inner thoughts. We also gain insight from outside sources, leading the reader to lean heavily one way when it comes to what is really going on. Yet, as we delve further in, we start to better understand the truth. I thought for sure that certain characters could be relied upon to be truthful and honest, but that completely changed the more I’d read. And for a long time, I had a lot of negative feelings towards Sandra, Lorraine’s mother, but then I’d go easy on her–until I’d swing the other way again. I felt just as confused as Lorraine is!
There are multiple timelines involved, but it really helped to round out the story. Lorraine’s timeline is the here and now. Other timelines go back decades. The secrets and lies include over thirty years of involvement, so it’s understandable. Lorraine’s frustration and confusion, her need to do all she can to find out what has really happened to Sandra felt believable. She’s following her own leads while towing around two young children, with no assistance to boot.
As one secret is revealed, more are unraveled. The tragic death of Lorraine’s father has a lot more going on behind the scenes, and is connected to Sandra’s disappearance. Lorraine begins to see him in the flesh, with glimpses that make her question her sanity. There were so many moments when I would start to worry that something might happen to Lorraine, or one of her kids, or to someone else who had reached out and given Lorraine a lifeline. But then nothing would happen, and in the next moment when I thought things were going to be OK and in the clear, BAM! That’s when trouble would ensue, completely throwing me off.
I’m a big fan of suspenseful, scary stories, and while The Stepson isn’t an outright horror genre read, it’s still scary, all the same. I was right there with Lorraine, wanting to discover the truth–no matter what. It was a definite five-star experience!
The Stepson was truly suspenseful! In some ways, it reminded me of the movie He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. The first half of the book is mainly told from Lorraine’s perspective–the synopsis reflects her inner thoughts. We also gain insight from outside sources, leading the reader to lean heavily one way when it comes to what is really going on. Yet, as we delve further in, we start to better understand the truth. I thought for sure that certain characters could be relied upon to be truthful and honest, but that completely changed the more I’d read. And for a long time, I had a lot of negative feelings towards Sandra, Lorraine’s mother, but then I’d go easy on her–until I’d swing the other way again. I felt just as confused as Lorraine is!
There are multiple timelines involved, but it really helped to round out the story. Lorraine’s timeline is the here and now. Other timelines go back decades. The secrets and lies include over thirty years of involvement, so it’s understandable. Lorraine’s frustration and confusion, her need to do all she can to find out what has really happened to Sandra felt believable. She’s following her own leads while towing around two young children, with no assistance to boot.
As one secret is revealed, more are unraveled. The tragic death of Lorraine’s father has a lot more going on behind the scenes, and is connected to Sandra’s disappearance. Lorraine begins to see him in the flesh, with glimpses that make her question her sanity. There were so many moments when I would start to worry that something might happen to Lorraine, or one of her kids, or to someone else who had reached out and given Lorraine a lifeline. But then nothing would happen, and in the next moment when I thought things were going to be OK and in the clear, BAM! That’s when trouble would ensue, completely throwing me off.
I’m a big fan of suspenseful, scary stories, and while The Stepson isn’t an outright horror genre read, it’s still scary, all the same. I was right there with Lorraine, wanting to discover the truth–no matter what. It was a definite five-star experience!
June 17, 2023
Sandra Leivesley is a frightened woman. In the early hours of the morning she spies a strange car on her drive and knows he has come for her, just as he did for her late husband Henry. She makes a frenzied call to her daughter Lorraine but no help comes. This is just the start of the nightmare for Lorraine, dumped by her cheating skunk of a husband and left struggling for money with two small children to raise, as she later finds her mother absent from home in suspicious circumstances. The police refuse to consider Sandra a missing person at first and it’s left to Lorraine to seek her own answers from her mother’s neighbour and her own estranged Aunt Caroline. At the same time the reader receives glimpses of the past thirty-one years, following the downwardly spiralling life of Trevor, Henry’s son from his first marriage, a boy who caused a split in the family and a half-brother Lorraine knows nothing about – yet.
This is such a sad story in places, teeming with bad decisions, secrets, lies, deceit, jealously and pure hatred. I’m afraid I took an instant dislike to Lorraine as she preferred to let her children sleep rather than rush to her grieving and obviously distraught mother, regardless of whether her mother’s fear was real or imagined, although I did have huge sympathy for her situation later on as she realised how much she had been kept in the dark all her life. I also found myself not liking Sandra too much as the story unfolded and felt desperately sorry for Henry and the impossibly unfair ultimatum he was given. As the narrative twisted back and forth, I kept changing my mind about Trevor – was he a cold-blooded killer or a misunderstood innocent victim? It’s a great well written and thoroughly engrossing story, full of tension and suspense, and with a very satisfying ending which I can highly recommend.
This is such a sad story in places, teeming with bad decisions, secrets, lies, deceit, jealously and pure hatred. I’m afraid I took an instant dislike to Lorraine as she preferred to let her children sleep rather than rush to her grieving and obviously distraught mother, regardless of whether her mother’s fear was real or imagined, although I did have huge sympathy for her situation later on as she realised how much she had been kept in the dark all her life. I also found myself not liking Sandra too much as the story unfolded and felt desperately sorry for Henry and the impossibly unfair ultimatum he was given. As the narrative twisted back and forth, I kept changing my mind about Trevor – was he a cold-blooded killer or a misunderstood innocent victim? It’s a great well written and thoroughly engrossing story, full of tension and suspense, and with a very satisfying ending which I can highly recommend.
June 29, 2023
‘The Stepson’ is a brilliant page-turner of a thriller that is packed full of suspense and kept me up reading to the wee hours! Despite following Diane on social media and seeing her books everywhere this is the first book of hers that I have read and it did not disappoint. I was gripped from the get-go and I certainly will be keeping an eye out to see what she gets up to next.
When you whole life becomes a lie how will you cope?! When Sandra calls her daughter at 3am in a panic Lorraine knows something is really wrong. But she can't leave her children to check up on her mum and when she gets to her house the next morning her mum is nowhere to be seen. The police tell her to give it a few days as she might just be taking a break but Lorraine knows that her Mum wouldn't do that without telling her. Or does she? As Lorraine digs deeper she finds out secrets that mean her whole life has been a lie. Who can she trust now? And who is this brother she never knew about…
I really enjoyed this in-depth look at family life and the divides and secrets that hide within it. I was fascinated by Trevor, the brother Lorraine never knew about. I felt a lot of empathy towards him as you gradually learn about his fractured childhood, life in prison and desperate attempts to be accepted into a family that will love him. But with a thriller you know nothing is as it seems and the reveals with this one are very satisfying! Diane manages to write complex and intriguing characters and that encouraged me to fly through this book. It was a gripping and entertaining read!
Let me know if you pick it up!
When you whole life becomes a lie how will you cope?! When Sandra calls her daughter at 3am in a panic Lorraine knows something is really wrong. But she can't leave her children to check up on her mum and when she gets to her house the next morning her mum is nowhere to be seen. The police tell her to give it a few days as she might just be taking a break but Lorraine knows that her Mum wouldn't do that without telling her. Or does she? As Lorraine digs deeper she finds out secrets that mean her whole life has been a lie. Who can she trust now? And who is this brother she never knew about…
I really enjoyed this in-depth look at family life and the divides and secrets that hide within it. I was fascinated by Trevor, the brother Lorraine never knew about. I felt a lot of empathy towards him as you gradually learn about his fractured childhood, life in prison and desperate attempts to be accepted into a family that will love him. But with a thriller you know nothing is as it seems and the reveals with this one are very satisfying! Diane manages to write complex and intriguing characters and that encouraged me to fly through this book. It was a gripping and entertaining read!
Let me know if you pick it up!
October 1, 2023
Diane Saxon is at her terrifying best with her chilling new thriller, The Stepson.
When Lorraine hears the phone ring at 3 am, she knows that it’s not good news and her suspicions are immediately proved right. Her mother seems to have vanished without a trace and while the police tell her that she probably needed some time to herself after the tragic death of her husband, Lorraine is not so sure. Her dad’s death had hit both her and her mum hard. But Lorraine knows her mum and she wouldn’t do something like this…or would she?
As Lorraine begins to look into her family’s secrets what she discovers shocks her to the core. The parents she loved and adored had lied to her her entire life and she is sure that it is these secrets and lies that are responsible for her mother’s disappearance. Why did her parents lie to her? What were they scared of? And just what had they got mixed up in?
The more she digs, the more Lorraine wonders whether her mother might be protecting her. But did she go on her own free will? Did someone take her? And will they come for Lorraine next?
A dark and twisted thriller from a writer at the top of her game, Diane Saxon’s The Stepson is an intricately plotted and superbly crafted tale full of menace, intrigue, tension and suspense. Diane Saxon knows what terrifies her readers and she has penned a top-notch page-turner guaranteed to keep thriller aficionados on the edge of their seat and reading all through the night.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Lorraine hears the phone ring at 3 am, she knows that it’s not good news and her suspicions are immediately proved right. Her mother seems to have vanished without a trace and while the police tell her that she probably needed some time to herself after the tragic death of her husband, Lorraine is not so sure. Her dad’s death had hit both her and her mum hard. But Lorraine knows her mum and she wouldn’t do something like this…or would she?
As Lorraine begins to look into her family’s secrets what she discovers shocks her to the core. The parents she loved and adored had lied to her her entire life and she is sure that it is these secrets and lies that are responsible for her mother’s disappearance. Why did her parents lie to her? What were they scared of? And just what had they got mixed up in?
The more she digs, the more Lorraine wonders whether her mother might be protecting her. But did she go on her own free will? Did someone take her? And will they come for Lorraine next?
A dark and twisted thriller from a writer at the top of her game, Diane Saxon’s The Stepson is an intricately plotted and superbly crafted tale full of menace, intrigue, tension and suspense. Diane Saxon knows what terrifies her readers and she has penned a top-notch page-turner guaranteed to keep thriller aficionados on the edge of their seat and reading all through the night.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 24, 2023
Loraine was shocked when she received a phone call from her mum at 3am she seemed terrified and said something that shook Loraine to the core. At first she wondered if her mum had been drinking but she couldn’t let go of that niggling doubt that something was terribly wrong.
Loraine spent the next few hours worrying about her mum however there was little she could do as she had her 2 young children both in bed and no one to look after them.
Later that day Loraine investigated her mums house and decided to report her to the police as a missing person, at first they dismissed Loraine but she knew there was more to this than her mum running off as a spur of the moment decision.
A persistent Loraine does more investigating and eventually gains the help from the police to try and find her mother. Little does Loraine know that throughout her whole life her parents have been lying to her. She realises that her family have kept secrets from her much darker than she could ever imagine and she discovers that she has a half brother named Trevor who brings a whole heap of trouble with him wherever her goes.
I really enjoyed the stepson it was nice to read a thriller that goes off on a slightly different path than many of the others do. I found this book to be an exciting read with lots of secrets and plot twists to keep the reader interested.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and he author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review
Loraine spent the next few hours worrying about her mum however there was little she could do as she had her 2 young children both in bed and no one to look after them.
Later that day Loraine investigated her mums house and decided to report her to the police as a missing person, at first they dismissed Loraine but she knew there was more to this than her mum running off as a spur of the moment decision.
A persistent Loraine does more investigating and eventually gains the help from the police to try and find her mother. Little does Loraine know that throughout her whole life her parents have been lying to her. She realises that her family have kept secrets from her much darker than she could ever imagine and she discovers that she has a half brother named Trevor who brings a whole heap of trouble with him wherever her goes.
I really enjoyed the stepson it was nice to read a thriller that goes off on a slightly different path than many of the others do. I found this book to be an exciting read with lots of secrets and plot twists to keep the reader interested.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and he author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review
May 7, 2023
Lorraine gets a very early morning call from her mother- a rather strange one- something about Lorraine's brother. Lorraine, to her knowledge, doesn't have a brother but vaguely remembers an argument between her parents mentioning a boy when she was young. Her own young daughter has mentioned seeing her (now deceased) grandfather through the fence at her school, something Lorraine puts down to imagination. On arriving at her mothers house, she is nowhere to be found and her things are still in place. Lorraine thinks this out of character and reports it to the police who don’t take her seriously. Where is her mother and what did her last strange words really mean?
This very quickly draws the reader in- there’s a tension from the start. Lorraine comes across as a sensible, well rounded person who I took to and liked. There are several timelines each chapter clearly marked which works well and I didnt find this at all confusing. There’s a lot of too-ing and fro-ing to begin with for Lorraine to try and put together pieces of the puzzle which nicely builds her character as a likeable and sensible person.
It's a very cleverly thought out plot which took me by surprise at the end- nice one! If you like plot twists then this one most certainly has this in spades. A highly entertaining read.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
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This very quickly draws the reader in- there’s a tension from the start. Lorraine comes across as a sensible, well rounded person who I took to and liked. There are several timelines each chapter clearly marked which works well and I didnt find this at all confusing. There’s a lot of too-ing and fro-ing to begin with for Lorraine to try and put together pieces of the puzzle which nicely builds her character as a likeable and sensible person.
It's a very cleverly thought out plot which took me by surprise at the end- nice one! If you like plot twists then this one most certainly has this in spades. A highly entertaining read.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
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