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The Helper
From award-winning Hollywood writer and director M. M. Dewil, The Helper is a bare and addictive psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Push.
Mary Williams--faced with unexpectedly losing her job and the possibility of losing custody of her daughter as well--answers an unusual help wanted ad. When an ailing man offers her an outrageous proposal that could solve all her problems, Mary takes fate into her own hands and accepts, agreeing to the extraordinary thing this man is asking.
It's a decision that changes everything.
Because what Mary thought was true is in fact a lie, and now she faces a new reality that is far more disastrous than anything she could have imagined.
Relentless and propulsive, The Helper is a compulsive page-turner fueled by lies, deceit, and revenge. Punctuated with biting wit and satirical social commentary, Dewil's debut gives us a peek behind the lie that was once the American dream and explores the story of one woman struggling for footing in the modern world.
Mary Williams--faced with unexpectedly losing her job and the possibility of losing custody of her daughter as well--answers an unusual help wanted ad. When an ailing man offers her an outrageous proposal that could solve all her problems, Mary takes fate into her own hands and accepts, agreeing to the extraordinary thing this man is asking.
It's a decision that changes everything.
Because what Mary thought was true is in fact a lie, and now she faces a new reality that is far more disastrous than anything she could have imagined.
Relentless and propulsive, The Helper is a compulsive page-turner fueled by lies, deceit, and revenge. Punctuated with biting wit and satirical social commentary, Dewil's debut gives us a peek behind the lie that was once the American dream and explores the story of one woman struggling for footing in the modern world.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2024
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5953 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 19, 2024
The story follows Mary Williams, who is really down on her luck. Life just keeps throwing stones at her. She ends up losing her job as a librarian. She struggles to care for her twelve year old daughter, and to top it all off, is about to be homeless.
Then, Mary replies to a bunch of employment adds in hopes to stay above water.. She meets a man in a Waffle House for an interview who needs a “helper” . Desperate, she takes the job. What is the job? Not what you think it will be.
Dewil’s writing is unique and it was a completely different style than I’m accustomed to. Some of it like poetry and others as manic thoughts and ideas. The Helper starts as a slow burn, however, the second half is highly suspenseful. In fact, the storyline reminds me of another novel. Unfortunately , I can’t tell you what it is. You’re going to have to read it for yourself to find out. As some elements were predictable it didn’t change my enjoyment of the book. The Helper is perfect for fans new to psychological thrillers with twists and turns.
I truly believe M.W. Dewil will continue to write successful stories and I’m definitely here for it! Can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
Grateful for the opportunity to Blackstone Publishing, M.W. Dewil and NetGalley.
Publication Date June 18, 2024
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Then, Mary replies to a bunch of employment adds in hopes to stay above water.. She meets a man in a Waffle House for an interview who needs a “helper” . Desperate, she takes the job. What is the job? Not what you think it will be.
Dewil’s writing is unique and it was a completely different style than I’m accustomed to. Some of it like poetry and others as manic thoughts and ideas. The Helper starts as a slow burn, however, the second half is highly suspenseful. In fact, the storyline reminds me of another novel. Unfortunately , I can’t tell you what it is. You’re going to have to read it for yourself to find out. As some elements were predictable it didn’t change my enjoyment of the book. The Helper is perfect for fans new to psychological thrillers with twists and turns.
I truly believe M.W. Dewil will continue to write successful stories and I’m definitely here for it! Can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
Grateful for the opportunity to Blackstone Publishing, M.W. Dewil and NetGalley.
Publication Date June 18, 2024
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 28, 2024
The Helper
4.5⭐️ wow!
This was unique writing style but true definition of psychological suspense as the reader is embedded into Mary’s head while she spirals. I could see it playing out as a gripping movie in my mind from beginning to end.
Mary lost her job and is desperate for income to support her daughter. Eric offers a large sum of money and one request. Mary battles with herself as she considers taking him up on his offer. When she makes her choice, things take an unexpected turn.
Mary felt so realistic and human. More than a written character. I felt like I was in her shoes and could feel her emotions to my core. The descriptions included vast amounts of imagery and were often repetitive, but in an artsy way. I appreciated the light-airy-slowmotion-montage feel and the microbursts of Mary’s daydreams when stress becomes too much and she slips into a figurative state vs remaining grounded in the present.
As a heads up: there are no quotation marks to designate speaking parts throughout the book. They are only italicized. This took some getting used to but eventually added to the charm of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. Pub Date June 18, 2024.
4.5⭐️ wow!
This was unique writing style but true definition of psychological suspense as the reader is embedded into Mary’s head while she spirals. I could see it playing out as a gripping movie in my mind from beginning to end.
Mary lost her job and is desperate for income to support her daughter. Eric offers a large sum of money and one request. Mary battles with herself as she considers taking him up on his offer. When she makes her choice, things take an unexpected turn.
Mary felt so realistic and human. More than a written character. I felt like I was in her shoes and could feel her emotions to my core. The descriptions included vast amounts of imagery and were often repetitive, but in an artsy way. I appreciated the light-airy-slowmotion-montage feel and the microbursts of Mary’s daydreams when stress becomes too much and she slips into a figurative state vs remaining grounded in the present.
As a heads up: there are no quotation marks to designate speaking parts throughout the book. They are only italicized. This took some getting used to but eventually added to the charm of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. Pub Date June 18, 2024.
February 14, 2024
ARC for review. To be published June 18, 2024.
Mary Williams has lost her job, may lose custody of her daughter and is teetering on the edge of destitution. Then she sees a help wanted ad from a sick man and, for money, agrees to do what he wants….and that changes everything.
This is a taut thriller, but I didn’t love the ending. Still enjoyable, though.
Mary Williams has lost her job, may lose custody of her daughter and is teetering on the edge of destitution. Then she sees a help wanted ad from a sick man and, for money, agrees to do what he wants….and that changes everything.
This is a taut thriller, but I didn’t love the ending. Still enjoyable, though.
July 3, 2024
I did win this book from Goodreads in June and I absolutely loved it! The writing style and characters draw you in! Recommend reading!
September 6, 2024
I am much more of a crime thriller reader than a psychological thriller reader, so this book started slowly for me. My reading pace picked up once I was past 50%, and the book became more enjoyable.
The crazy stuff going on in the main character's head was driving me crazy. As the story progressed, I had questions about the main character. Luckily, I stayed with it, and the ending satisfied me.
The crazy stuff going on in the main character's head was driving me crazy. As the story progressed, I had questions about the main character. Luckily, I stayed with it, and the ending satisfied me.
March 14, 2025
Just when Mary thinks her life can’t get any closer to “rock bottom”, she accepts a job offer to assist with a suicide. She doesn’t want to accept this $200,000 offer but it will go a long way in getting her daughter back, paying the back rent, and putting food on the table. There’s just one problem. . .she didn’t assist with just a suicide.
The first 1/3 of the story is slow. And I couldn’t believe the bad luck Mary was having. But then she accepted this job and things get interesting quickly. I also loved the ending.
The first 1/3 of the story is slow. And I couldn’t believe the bad luck Mary was having. But then she accepted this job and things get interesting quickly. I also loved the ending.
May 28, 2024
Up until the "twist" (which let's be honest, was visible from miles away), I was entertained to a point. As soon as we hit the twist? I was ready for it to be over. I expected more oomph to be drawn out over the last half of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2024
i had to get used to the fact that it kept going back and forth between third person writing and first person. i was so entertained and this book just flew by. it has such a good plot i just didn’t love the ending i felt it was very rushed. hadn’t read a thriller book in a while and this was a great one!
October 18, 2024
This novel was ok for the genre, but I’m not sure all the quotes worked for it. Nonetheless, there were enough interesting twists in the story and good background into the justice system to keep me reading. There were a few problems that editing could have helped I.e. Jasper Jones is not the name of the artist Jasper Johns. I did not expect the ending, which is a good thing.
April 12, 2025
READ NOW!
This was such a great book overall! I was already enjoying the book as it led up to the final decision being made, and then, it got even better. I really enjoy reading books that make you seriously think about what you would do if you were in the same situation. It's always so much easier said than done.
This was such a great book overall! I was already enjoying the book as it led up to the final decision being made, and then, it got even better. I really enjoy reading books that make you seriously think about what you would do if you were in the same situation. It's always so much easier said than done.
October 5, 2024
Definitely one of my favorite reads lately. Very well written and heartfelt. It's sad, depressing almost, but it's also very twisty. It's a book that I thought about for days after finishing it. It's also one of those books that I enjoyed so much that I had a hard time starting something new.
March 3, 2025
A thriller and a good rendition of the an everywoman caught up in something wild! I did not see ahead of time how it could end and it was so satisfying! I like the author's movies too! It is so fab he has begun writing novels!
A tip of the hat to librarians out there too - they are SEEN.
A tip of the hat to librarians out there too - they are SEEN.
June 25, 2024
Decent writing, relatable MC, just predictable.
July 2, 2024
had potential to be a good story but then just fell flat. didn’t really like the way it was written- felt a bit pretentious
October 8, 2024
good twist
The main character was well developed so you really could feel what she was feeling. The ending was a good twist.
The main character was well developed so you really could feel what she was feeling. The ending was a good twist.
October 16, 2024
Loved this unexpected book - would recommend
October 25, 2024
Wow! I loved this clever, intensely haunting suspense novel. A “there but for the grace of God” story I won’t ever forget.
November 7, 2024
What a pleasant surprise. Not sure why this book has such a low rating, the writing was fire 🔥
August 3, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked this book. I like a book that isn’t afraid to take the gray route when it comes to right & wrong. It was a very quick listen for me.
December 20, 2024
I wasn't too sure about this book as I began reading it, but boy oh boy, it actually delivered in the way of a plot twist that I did not see coming.
Mary Williams, a single mother who loses her job is desperate to make it and takes on a "job" so to speak, that will change her life in ways that she could never imagine. The title also takes on new meaning as Mary not only becomes somewhat of a reluctant helper, but is later helped by others in her life when she most needs it.
Mary Williams, a single mother who loses her job is desperate to make it and takes on a "job" so to speak, that will change her life in ways that she could never imagine. The title also takes on new meaning as Mary not only becomes somewhat of a reluctant helper, but is later helped by others in her life when she most needs it.
January 9, 2025
This was really good.
An amazing blend of poetry and suspense.
An amazing blend of poetry and suspense.
January 26, 2025
This was absolutely enthralling! I enjoyed every aspect of this book, I have no idea how it is not more popular!
February 14, 2025
That ending, though!!
May 26, 2024
I hadn't heard much about this book or author, but when I saw "perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Push" plus terms like revenge and satirical social commentary, I was sold.
I think there were some really great ideas in this book. The characters were interesting, the plot was unique, and I always love a woman working on her inner strength. My struggle was with the pacing and wishing some parts were more fleshed out. I wish we knew more background about the villain. The ending could have been more satisfying if it was given more time and detail.
This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- villains who are easy to hate
- mother-daughter relationships
- a splash of Indian lore and culture
I would truly enjoy seeing a movie based on this story, so it makes sense the author is a screenwriter.
Rating: I liked it! (3)
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook early in exchange for an honest review.
I think there were some really great ideas in this book. The characters were interesting, the plot was unique, and I always love a woman working on her inner strength. My struggle was with the pacing and wishing some parts were more fleshed out. I wish we knew more background about the villain. The ending could have been more satisfying if it was given more time and detail.
This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- villains who are easy to hate
- mother-daughter relationships
- a splash of Indian lore and culture
I would truly enjoy seeing a movie based on this story, so it makes sense the author is a screenwriter.
Rating: I liked it! (3)
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook early in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2024
Unique plot. Tough to read at times but only because the author does a great job writing about the pain and emotions of the main character.
June 27, 2024
In relentless stride, The Helper is an enthralling thriller driven by deceit, manipulation, and vindication. Dewil's first novel offers insight into the fallacy of the American dream. It delves into the story of a woman struggling with the complexities of modern society while exhibiting sharp humour and morally grey characters.
With flawless and enticing narration, it effortlessly brings the story to life. With an easy-to-follow storyline and shocking twists, I am confident that fans of this genre will love this new release. I look forward to reading further releases by this author in the future.
‘The Helper’ is out now!
With flawless and enticing narration, it effortlessly brings the story to life. With an easy-to-follow storyline and shocking twists, I am confident that fans of this genre will love this new release. I look forward to reading further releases by this author in the future.
‘The Helper’ is out now!
December 14, 2024
TL;DR
I did not enjoy this book, bland characters, boring story and a rushed ending.
My Scoring System
I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:
X - Main Story: Started really slow and boring, got interesting once the main thing happens and then it got rushed towards the ending.
X - Side Stories (if it applies): Not interesting at all, the stories of her daughter and her boyfriend were really boring and I found myself skipping through most of those chapters.
X - Characters: The only character I liked is the detective Rose, all the rest I did not find interesting at all.
X - Setting/Ambiance: Nothing out of the ordinary, just your average city.
✓ - Ending: I felt the ending was really rushed, it did finish the story and plot points. It didn't end in a cliffhanger at least. But I think it should have taken a bit more time to end.
Extensive Review
I don't like how this book is written, every chapter ends so abruptly that it's jarring. I would say that the first half of the book is the most boring part of it because you just read about this woman's life. How she is struggling and her problems. I don't care and it's not interesting at all.
Then the main thing happens and the story starts to go somewhere, we get introduced to the detective and we switched point of views from her and Eric, which were far more interesting (except the constant movie scenes references he makes in all of his interactions, they were annoying). I found myself reading skimming though the chapters with out main character because I did not enjoy them.
And when you get to see how this thing plays out and start to wonder what's going to happen you see that there are 30 pages left. The ending needed more time in my opinion.
I didn't enjoy this book and I wouldn't recommend it for people who are looking for a thriller as it's marketed.
I did not enjoy this book, bland characters, boring story and a rushed ending.
My Scoring System
I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:
X - Main Story: Started really slow and boring, got interesting once the main thing happens and then it got rushed towards the ending.
X - Side Stories (if it applies): Not interesting at all, the stories of her daughter and her boyfriend were really boring and I found myself skipping through most of those chapters.
X - Characters: The only character I liked is the detective Rose, all the rest I did not find interesting at all.
X - Setting/Ambiance: Nothing out of the ordinary, just your average city.
✓ - Ending: I felt the ending was really rushed, it did finish the story and plot points. It didn't end in a cliffhanger at least. But I think it should have taken a bit more time to end.
Extensive Review
I don't like how this book is written, every chapter ends so abruptly that it's jarring. I would say that the first half of the book is the most boring part of it because you just read about this woman's life. How she is struggling and her problems. I don't care and it's not interesting at all.
Then the main thing happens and the story starts to go somewhere, we get introduced to the detective and we switched point of views from her and Eric, which were far more interesting (except the constant movie scenes references he makes in all of his interactions, they were annoying). I found myself reading skimming though the chapters with out main character because I did not enjoy them.
And when you get to see how this thing plays out and start to wonder what's going to happen you see that there are 30 pages left. The ending needed more time in my opinion.
I didn't enjoy this book and I wouldn't recommend it for people who are looking for a thriller as it's marketed.
July 4, 2024
What would you do if someone offered you 200K to kill them, no questions asked?
This is the dilemma that faces former librarian Mary Williams. After losing her job and on the verge of losing her home and daughter, she responds to an online ad seeking a 'helper'. The strange man Eric is suffering from several different ailments and needs to end his life. However, he wants to make sure his elderly mother still receives full payout from his life insurance, which means suicide is out of the question.
Mary eventually agrees, realizing that 200K could change her life. She should have followed the old adage: 'Be careful what you wish for'. Playing out like a modern tale from the Twilight Zone, THE HELPER from M.M. Dewil is a haunting tale that will leave readers pondering the decisions made by Mary and inevitably putting themselves in her place and deciding how desperate a person has to be to be willing to take a life.
This is the dilemma that faces former librarian Mary Williams. After losing her job and on the verge of losing her home and daughter, she responds to an online ad seeking a 'helper'. The strange man Eric is suffering from several different ailments and needs to end his life. However, he wants to make sure his elderly mother still receives full payout from his life insurance, which means suicide is out of the question.
Mary eventually agrees, realizing that 200K could change her life. She should have followed the old adage: 'Be careful what you wish for'. Playing out like a modern tale from the Twilight Zone, THE HELPER from M.M. Dewil is a haunting tale that will leave readers pondering the decisions made by Mary and inevitably putting themselves in her place and deciding how desperate a person has to be to be willing to take a life.
July 18, 2024
The Protagonist ist just too damn stupid for me to feel any compassion or kinship. Also repetitive and could use some editing. DNF 35%
Skimmed to the end. It suffices to read two sentences on every page to get the gist of what is happening. Now I really hate her. How pathetic can a person be?! Oh and I knew what would happen the moment the offer was made and she fell for it like the dumbass she is. The ending is appropriately terrible and I’m glad I’m done with this terrible thing.
Skimmed to the end. It suffices to read two sentences on every page to get the gist of what is happening. Now I really hate her. How pathetic can a person be?! Oh and I knew what would happen the moment the offer was made and she fell for it like the dumbass she is. The ending is appropriately terrible and I’m glad I’m done with this terrible thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
Interesting plot, I guess. But two stars as writing was ridiculous. So many over the top metaphors, insufferable characters and boring cliches. The end just suddenly arrived with everything wrapped up like the author was running out of pages. Do not recommend unless you fancy a giggle at the silliness of it.
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