After the Devil

by Kayla Frederick

It’s our darkest parts that know us best.

Alex Alpine's life is unraveling—a dead-end job, a crumbling marriage, and a series of failed self-published books. Desperate for change, she makes the painful decision to quit writing and take on a second job, hoping to rebuild her fractured world for the sake of her daughter. But Jamie, her only fan and a man struggling with his own demons, won’t accept her choice.

Convinced he can "save" her, Jamie takes matters into his own hands. He kidnaps Alex and locks her away in his isolated home in the woods. What begins as a fleeting act of desperation stretches into weeks, then months. As the days blur into one another, Alex must grapple with her past traumas and with Jamie’s.

In a desperate bid to reclaim her life, she has to not only confront the man holding her hostage, but the dark corners of herself she’s long tried to forget.


For fans of Stephen King's Misery and the You series by Caroline Kepnes

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2024

About the author

Raised in Michigan but moved to Texas and has experienced the best and worst of both. Kayla has interests in the dark and macabre. She enjoys '80's music and movies. A little neurotic and a huge lover of Halloween, creepy stories and cats are totally her jam.

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http://eepurl.com/cwZHEz

Reviews

[Leeanne 🥀 The Book Whor3 🥀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s nearly 2AM, and I’ve just finished my first book, from my new favourite author Kayla Frederick. With my face red raw from crying, which I did a few times reading this wonderful book, I’m trying to find the right words to give this book the high praise, it so greatly deserves.

Alex Alpine is an author, who has a few self published books under her belt. She is a mother to four year old Katrina, whom she adores, and is married to Peter, who has lost his job, and basically ignores his wife. Her passion is writing, but she also works in a grocery store in order to pay the bills, and put food on the table, while Peter sleeps the day away, instead of job hunting.

All this has put pressure on Alex, and she feels that her only option, is to give up her beloved writing. After sharing this statement on social media, Jamie, her one and only fan, decides that she must continue, and will do anything to change her mind, even if it means kidnapping and imprisoning her.

I knew this book was going to be a psychological thriller, but was completely surprised with the direction the story went. The author has given us two main characters, whom, I for one, completely fell in love with.
The Pink Floyd song “Wish You Were Here” has a verse which says “we’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl…”, and that’s exactly what Alex and Jamie are…lost souls 😢

I’m not going to say anything more about this book, except that I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Thanks to the author, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, which I voluntarily leave a free review.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kalah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend this one for fans of Misery, You, and After series. It was a wild ride but I loved every bit of it.

After the Devil tells the story of Jamie who becomes obsessed with author Alex. When Alex announces she is retiring from writing, Jamie decides he'll stop at nothing to make sure that doesn't happen.

Kayla has written the characters in a way that you truly care about what happens to them. I can imagine everything that happens to them and really was worried about their outcomes. Highly recommend this one. I can't wait to see what else Kayla comes up with! Look forward to seeing her writing continue to grow! Thanks for the ARC!

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wild ride that had my loyalties shifting along with the character arcs. A complex picture of the places that obsession can lead us and how relationships are formed then manipulated.

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Devil
by Kayla Frederick

I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

After the Devil is a captivating narrative that combines crime, romance, and suspense; a psychological thriller that toys with your emotions and leaves you feeling spent.
Alex Alpine is a struggling married woman to four-year-old Katrina, stuck in what seems to be a loveless marriage. Her daily routine involves working at her monotonous job while looking after her daughter and her useless husband. It is far from the life she had envisioned for herself. Clinging to a dream of becoming a successful writer but lacking confidence and support, she eventually gives up.
But she does have one fan of her writing. In fact, not only of her writing but of herself as the person he imagines her to be. Jamie worships everything about Alex and struggles to comprehend why she will readily give up on writing the words that feed his soul. He sees Alex for what she is, a tortured kindred spirit, and taking matters into his own hands, he vows to set her free.

After the Devil is an enjoyable read brimming with suspense and unexpected romance, where the complexity of relationships develops in a surprisingly heartwarming way, especially when you discover their backstory. Kayla Frederick does an excellent job of using their memories to summarize the past and describe traumatic events. The story includes twists and turns, and although it has a satisfying conclusion, I was still left in tears and heartbroken by the end. The author has covered sensitive topics such as kidnapping and Stockholm Syndrome, and the story delves into a place I really was not expecting. It is definitely a scenario where not everything is black and white. I don’t wish to say anything else as it will reveal too much about the story; the readers should discover this for themselves.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a story with depth and complexity in the plot and character’s relationships. I recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers, crime and anyone who wants a good read with unpredictable twists. Sensitive readers need to be aware that it covers topics they may find uncomfortable.

[Luci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolute hooked on this book from the first sentence, which is rare these days. I immediately liked Jamie and I also immediately felt for Alex. As the story developed and we learned more about each of them, the sentiments only deepened, until Jamie kidnapped her and chained her up in the basement, later putting a shock collar on her to keep her from leaving. In the end it ended up being a positive in Alex's life, but it sucks he was so rough with her in the beginning, knowing he would have to do those things in order to get her to eventually want to stay with him. I actually ended up enjoying the romance that budded between them, the genuine care and confidence in Alex that Jamie showed her, the affection and love he had for her, the joy at having her around. I was so sad when it turned out that Peter shot and killed him. Reading all of the emotions and memories on Alex's part after this point were just so sad the whole way through. Though in the end she started to earn money from her writing, something so valuable that Jamie gave her. And Peter got himself thrown in jail for a hit and run, exactly what he deserved. I didn't realize until the end of the book just how violent Peter had been through his and Alex's relationship/marriage, and it just disgusted me and cemented my feeling that I was so glad Alex and Katrina got away and Alex was able to purchase Jamie's home for her and Katrina to live in. So sad that Jamie died, but glad Alex got to maintain a huge part of him to live in, as well as the cat, and that she got to live with her daughter away from Peter and even away from Katherine.. This is one of the few books in which I was hoping for a happy ending, and that's what I got. I enjoyed this book from start to end and, unlike many that leave you wanting more but aren't part of a series, I think this one wrapped up perfectly and makes for a perfect standalone. I don't think Alex could ever find another love like Jamie, and a sequel would just tarnish the story that unfolded between them both in the pages of this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Alpine is the author of two amazing books. The problem is only one person has ever bought her books. Alex has written another book in a few years because life has gotten in the way. When losing her job and dealing with her lazy, emotionally abusive husband becomes too much, Alex decides to tell her small group of followers that she will no longer be writing.

Jamie is obsessed with Alex's books and they have greatly impacted his life when he was feeling at his lowest. He freaks out and wants Alex to see the true talent that she has. So he does the only thing ahe could do. He kidnaps her to show her just how amazing her writing is

Alex is naturally scared and expects the worst. She's confused by the amount of care Jamie gives her because not even her own husband gives her this. Being kidnapped opened so many wounds for Alex. She relives the childhood trauma and the current pain she struggles with daily. Jamie tried to heal Alex from the inside out. Eventually Alex builds this relationship with Jamie when he shares his own hidden dark past as well. They share a bond and pain together.

Jamie's only goal is for Alex to find the confidence to follow her dreams and write another book. He wants the world to read her books. Alex just needs to find it.

After The Devil is a slow burn, but Alex's character is so well written that you feel her pain, her torment, and you want to help her too. You're almost glad that she's away from her husband and she's finally feeling love by and being able to see what love actually looks like because no one in her life has ever showed her that.

[Pheadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. I  did not allow the obvious grammatical and other errors such as main character Alex, referring to her husband Peter as her ex, when she is still very much married to him, to influence my review.

This book doesn't fit into any specific genre. I didn't find it thrilling nor romantic and the coverage of Stockholm Syndrome was romanticized which dispelled it from being a medical story. My main problem however, was that I disliked all the characters, so didn't care about what happened to them. Alex is a self-mutilating unsuccessful author. Upon putting out a post that she will be retiring from writing, Jamie, her 'biggest fan', decides to adduct her. He is himself mentally unstable and a criminal. Peter, Alex's husband is a bully and slob and reticent in reporting Alex missing. Sadly, for the majority of her stay with Jamie, Alex isn't remotely concerned about her daughter Katerina, who she tells Jamie, is a daddy's girl.

When Alex has the opportunity to escape, she chooses not to. Without giving away spoilers, I found the story more sad than thrilling and felt sorry for Katerina having the parents nature gifted her.  3 stars

[Dionne Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the gripping novel "After the Devil" by Kayla Frederick, the author weaves a captivating tale that subverts expectations at every turn.

The story follows Alex Alpine, a deeply dissatisfied woman trapped in a stagnant life, with a lacklustre job, a crumbling marriage, and a series of self-published books that have failed to gain traction. Enter Jamie Knox, a reformed addict and Alex's sole admirer, who takes the drastic step of abducting Alex and holding her captive in his secluded woodland home.

Frederick's masterful characterization shines through as she delves into the complex psyches of her protagonists, painting them in such vivid detail that readers may find themselves unexpectedly sympathizing with the ostensible villain. The narrative keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they eagerly turn each page, holding their breath in anticipation of the next shocking twist.

"After the Devil" defies predictability, veering off in startling and thrilling directions that elevate it far above the average thriller.

Frederick's skilful prose and intricate plotting make for an utterly engrossing read that will linger in readers' minds long after they've turned the final page.

[A.A. Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex, a struggling writer, married young to escape an abusive childhood. Her marriage isn't happy, and she finds herself talking to a handsome stranger in a bar. Except Alex is no stranger to Jamie. He's a superfan of her work, he's been cyber-stalking her for a year and he's become very keen to meet her. Events rapidly take a dark turn when he kidnaps her and researches Stockholm syndrome.

Kayla Frederick doesn't hold back from touching on uncomfortable subjects, which makes the story both challenging and insightful. By writing from the viewpoint of both perpetrator and victim, she blurs the lines between them and shows how two people can interpret the same event very differently. Even after a shocking twist when Alex's husband fights to control her once again, it is never clear how the story will end. While the final chapters surprised me, I feel Frederick brought the tale to a neat and sympathetic conclusion.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Stephan King and the You series, this book is for you.

Character development, thickening plots that keep you on the edge of your seat and an unexpected love. After Alex Alpine decides to quit her writing career, biggest fan Jamie decides to kidnap her as an attempt to help her. Just when you think you know what is going to happen next, Kayla throws another curveball, keeping you reading. I found myself constantly trying to figure out exactly how this story would end, to be overly surprised in a wonderful way when it did.

A few grammatical and other errors drop down one star for me, but otherwise I very much enjoyed this story and would highly recommend. Four stars!

Thank you Kayla for the ARC read in which I voluntarily leave a free review on.
Kayla Frederick

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s our darkest parts that know us best.
Alex Alpine is unhappy with her life—a dead-end job, a marriage that’s falling apart, and a failed string of self-published books. In an effort to better her life for her and her daughter, she makes the decision to quit writing in order to get a second job. Jamie, a recovered addict and Alex’s only fan, can’t bring himself to accept her decision.
Convinced he can fix her, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his home in the woods. As Alex’s captivity extends from weeks to months, Alex finds herself torn between her duties to the daughter she left behind and the life Jamie has made for her. To figure out where her true priorities lie, she must dive into not only her own past traumas but Jamie’s as well.
Wow this story is unique ,like no other i highly recommend it and think that every one who reads it will love it.

[Jim Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the easiest 5 Star reads I've had in a long time.
Kayla Frederick has written an novel that, yes, will have you thinking of King's Misery, but it is so much more than that.
Alex is a writer who, between raising her daughter and dealing with her pain in the ass hubby, has decided that she can't do it anymore. She's quitting writing. Why not? No one reads her books anyway, right?
Oh, but there IS someone.
Jaime is obsessed with Alex, the writer and the woman. He knows Alex is unhappy and wanting to quit, but Jaime is not having it.
So he decides to kidnap her, or is it to rescue her?
I won't go into any more detail, except to say, this book has suspense, terror, and yeah, some romance too.
Oh, it'll also make you cry.
Kudos to Ms. Frederick, and also damn her!
68 year old men aren't supposed to cry at novels.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Devil has a beautiful cover, and I was excited to see what this book was all about.

Ugh. I will be the minority here but I did not enjoy this. The characters all felt one dimensional and very unrealistic. Kayla, a young mom and author, is kidnapped by her biggest fan after she decides to stop writing.

I’m sorry, but wouldn’t someone put up more of a fight than she ever did?

The timeline is hard to follow. Sometimes it’ll be “months later”, then “weeks later” and the reader is left wondering ‘why did we just skip so many months yet nothing has really changed?’

I had a hard time believing this could ever be somewhat realistic. As a mom, I would have fought tooth and nail.

Thank you to BookSirens for this advanced copy. This is my honest review.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out like the typical stalker finds girl he wants, finds the right opportunity to snatch her and then holds her captive. I was not sure if he was going to end her life or not. At first, she does nothing but cry and be hostile (who wouldn’t?), then as he does not act like a normal abductor, she starts to question his motives. I was really surprised at how this novel turned out. IT is hard to do a review for his book because I do not want to share spoilers. I will say this book is very emotional. Some parts will make you angry, some sad and eventually acceptance. As a kid whose childhood was that of nightmares, I can see why Alex was vulnerable to Jamie. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for sure.

[Connie Lafortune · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Devil is an intriguing read about an unknown author and her obsessed fan. It makes reference to the movie Misery...

Alex is a wannabe author who is just going through the motions but not truly living her life. Fearing her husband is losing interest or having an affair. Her daughter is the glue that keeps them together.

Enter Jamie. An obsessed fan who is waiting for her next book from his favorite author. When he reads on her social media that she's not going to pen another one, he's devastated. Forcing him to take matters into his own hands.

After the Devil is a wild adventure with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

[S.E. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming.

I loved this book. I loved the storyline that had me turning every page wanting more. The characters that seeped into my skin. The emotions that spilled onto every chapter. Incredibly, the story focuses on two main characters, Jamie and Alex. Other supporting roles hover around the sidelines and add their own input, but it’s Jamie’s and Alex’s journey that keeps the reader invested. And what a journey it is, for the reader as well as the characters, watching their lives twist and turn with so many heartwarming and heartbreaking consequences ~ I didn’t want it to end. I will certainly be looking out for more from this author.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex has some tough decisions to make, her daughter or her writing. So she announces that she is giving up writing which sends her one true fan spiralling out of control. He kidnaps her to help her escape her loveless marriage and mundane life, to help her find her creativity and write her books. It’s an intriguing and suspenseful read and the author does a fantastic job introducing Stockholm Syndrome and throwing twists and turns in our path and keeping us hooked to this psychological thriller.

[Tara Durham · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I finished Residency last night and loved it so I charged into this one today.
I can see why there are parallels with Misery considering the basic premise of the book. But that’s where it ended for me.
The story moves along quickly and gets to the punch immediately. I was hooked on the first page. It just fell flat after that. I think my expectations were set too high and it didn’t get the chance to live up to them.
Yes, I’ll still go to the local bookstore and snag all of her titles I can, for sure! But this one didn’t strike home for me.

[Kristine Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing Story!

“After the Devil” it’s a wonderful read!! Facebook tells the story of Jamie, a flawed, but likable character, and Alex, a battered and unsure author. I really enjoyed the mystery and thrilling romance that develop in this story. The character development was wonderful. Rooting for this duo to survive, even though you probably shouldn’t!! Great job! Highly recommend it!

[Meredith Livingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story started out very strong and interesting. I was engaged with Alex and Jamie. I enjoyed hearing the story from each of their perspectives. The narrative lost me about mid-point through the book. I do lack sympathy and understanding for this plotline, it just didn’t seem believable to me and I was disappointed. The last half of the book was just lackluster then. I love this author, she’s written some great stories! This was very well written, the plot just wasn’t for me.

[Joy Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the moment that I started reading. The pace at which it moves along is perfect for the flow of the story speeding up and slowing down when needed. The characters are amazing and no matter what happens you want to be there for them, you cant help but love them. This book needs to be on your TBR list, you will not be sorry that you did.

[Anya Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story started slow. But after a while the story and the characters grow on you. Their relationship evolves. I had some trouble with the concept of the kidnapping of a writer with only one huge fan, but when past that, it's a good book. Recommended.

I received an ARC from the writer and offer my opinion freely.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting storyline immediately drew me in and kept me engrossed throughout the book. It is well written and delves into complex relationships between strangers as well as family. The characters are engaging with well developed personalities and back stories. A very good read.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Punam Farmah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex and compelling

A fascinating story that draws you in. I can see the parallels with misery, that doesn't diminish this story. A really engaging story that also respectfully references mental health concerns. A good story that wouldn't be out of place as a documentary or tv movie.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!
Love Kayla’s work, she has a fantastic writing style and her books are so gripping.
After the Devil is the 3rd book I’ve read by her and it’s been such a wild ride!

The story is set as the perfect pace and leaves you on the edge of your seat the entire time!

[Alexandra Huffaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if my review could even do justice for this one. This is a very emotional Rollercoaster. The feelings for the main 'villian'. I'm pretty sure I got second hand Stokholm. Currently writing my review in tears. It's beautifully written and I could feel exactly what the characters felt.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an intriguingly entertainment book that will have you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing; then stunned... well, this is the book for you. One of those, "can't put down now that I have picked it up", books. Highly recommended read.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very dark and gothic tale that kept me intrigued until the very end. Highly recommend for those who enjoy a dark story.

I received a copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[John Bitsko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, there was excellent character development and a well paced story. I definitely recommend this book.

[Malen Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first psychology horror an it was a good read I missed the violence of some sort but I thoroughly enjoyed it