The Control: A Psychological Thriller With a Twisted Ending

by Michael Layne, M.W. Layne

It's the dead of night when I regain consciousness in my psychology professor's office. I don't know what I'm doing here or why my favorite teacher is slumped over, dead at his computer with his head caved in.

When I stumble over to him on shaking legs, I bury my face in my sleeve to mute the smell of death. But as I lean in to see what he was working on when he was killed, the psych profile on his screen is what makes me wretch. The assessment is about one of his students--someone he describes as mentally ill, losing control, and capable of extreme violence. I scroll to the top of the document, and when I get there my stomach freezes because the name I see is my own.

Jim Straub.

I stagger away from my professor's cold body, eyes filled with tears. He was my teacher and trying to help me. There's no way I was the one who murdered him. But if it wasn't me, who was it? And more importantly, why did the killer let me live?

The Control is a psychological thriller--a dark story of nightmares, deception, and love that will keep you guessing until its unforgettable, twisted ending.

Genres: Thriller

363 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2023

About the author

Michael Layne lives in Ashburn, VA where he writes psychological and other thrillers. He also writes under M.W. Layne

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked right from the start, and it is one of those few books which sustains the sense of intrigue right till the end. The characters are complex, and the university environment/psychology department & course work as background is very interesting.

The start of the book is dramatic (as outlined in the blurb as well) – Jim finds himself in his psychology professor Benjamin Mooken’s room, who is dead. There is blood on Jim’s hands, but he cannot believe he killed his professor. There is a document open on the professor’s laptop with notes on a student with signs of mental illness (early-stage schizophrenia). Jim is shocked as he reads on to find that this is about him. The story then moves to a few weeks before this day, and returns to this scene in the final section.

At the University of Virginia, Jim works on assignments with his friends Eugene & Amber (who was his girlfriend till recently). Professor Benjamin Mooken is a strong believer of learning with real life experiences. In one exercise, for instance, Jim & Eugene interview and direct Amber & Anthony who are participants in a logical block game. They observe behaviours, reactions & interplay as Amber other than trying to make progress with her pieces, disrupts Anthony’s pieces. Their report after multiple such exercises needs to outline their conclusions against their initial hypothesis regarding personalities, collaboration & trust among other things. Jim feels drawn to Beverly (Bev), who is a teaching assistant with Prof Mooken. Jim is tortured with nightmares and feels better when with Bev. She suggests he meet Prof Mooken, who might be able to help him or at least suggest someone else he can consult with. Jim and Bev get into a relationship and find solace in each other’s company – Jim from his nightmares and Bev from a just ended abusive relationship. Sex is a strong theme in the book, in the minds of the central characters a lot of the time. While Jim feels much better when with Bev, he continues to have some problems – in one instance running after and aggressively confronting a person he refers to as Tony (who he feels is stalking him and Bev) who is actually Andrew and is taken aback. He meets with Prof Mooken a few times who offers a hypothesis about his nightmares, other than making suggestions on possible next steps.

At about 60% of the book, we get to read the story from Bev’s point of view. The darker elements of the characters and story become more prominent, as expected. The last sections alternate between the voice of Jim and Bev. The later part of the book introduces elements typical of the genre of psychological thrillers – scheming, manipulation, unreliable narrations unravelled, and many twists. I did not expect the book to end the way it did but would say the last few sections lacked the imaginative touch the early & mid portions of the book had. The exploration of mental illness is interesting, especially since the characters are complex.

For its imaginative & different story, visual environment, sustained tension, fascinating & impressionable characters, this is a book I recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.

My rating: 4.25 / 5.

[Matthias Litzmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was full of twists and turns. I didn't know who or what to believe in the last 50 pages. Definitely an interesting and enjoyable read!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for a copy of the book The Control.

The Control by M.W Layne

"The black hands of the wall clock tell me it's three in the morning - the time when demons are supposed to roam the land of the living, according to the old superstitions. But there are no evil spirits here"


I received this book from NetGalley which released on June 5th. What a roller coaster of a ride! I read The Control in one sitting. It is a dark page turner that is a psychological thriller which also has some horror elements. We are following the main character Jim. The book opens with his professor dead in his office while Jim wonders what could have happened. The book then takes us on a ride to six weeks earlier where we follow Jim around his day to day life on campus. There are many twists and turns and ends with a twist I did not see coming. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for you.

I loved the setting (campuses are always my favorite) the main character Jim and his observations ands thoughts. I loved the references to pop culture (some of my favorite movies!). The whole feeling of the book was dark and foreboding which was just what I was hoping for. I also loved that I kept telling myself one more chapter until I had finished the book!

I suggest picking this book up, you will not be disappointed!

Thanks again to NetGalley. The opinions of this review are solely my own. #NetGalley #The Control

[Jenny M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a wild ride. I loved this book! As a psychology major, I found the author's exploration of psychology absolutely fascinating.

The book starts off with the main character, Jim, looking over his dead psychology professor's body. Jim leans over to read his professor's computer screen - only to find out that his professor has been keeping tabs and diagnosing his mentally ill students. And this includes Jim. Jim knows he didn't kill his professor. But then if he didn't, who did?

The book then jumps back some weeks prior to the death of the professor. The first part of the book is told through Jim's eyes. We meet his friends, Amber (also his ex) and Eugene. Jim also is pining after his TA, Bev. We get to know all these characters and Jim's life on and off campus. The second part of the book is told through Bev's perspective. All through this, there are so many twists and turns. I was captivated throughout and could not put it down. It is definitely one you will read in one or two sittings.

This book was full of twists and turns. I was constantly changing my theory of what was happening. And wow, the final 15-20% of the book was wild! What an ending. The author also did an excellent job depicting mental illness,. I am looking forward to more books by M.W. Layne!

Thank you M.W. Layne and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shanelle Ypema · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on my toes the whole time! The author did a good job of balancing the characters despicableness. I was not rooting for any of them but I didn’t dislike them to the point where the story was difficult to read. I feel like that’s a pretty delicate balance so kudos to the author for accomplishing that!

I liked that the author narrated the same situation from both Jim and Bev’s POV. Given the character complexities and differences, it didn’t feel repetitive at all even though part 1 & 2 were essentially the same story retold from a different perspective.

Overall, from start to finish this book was super engaging! I disliked all the characters but not to the point where it made the book unpleasant to read, and I think it ended in the best way possible.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

[Kalah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished my ARC...highly recommend this one! I really thought I had it figured out pretty early on in the book, but I was so far off! The ending 🤯🤯. This one will have you saying "just one more page" over and over until you realize you've finished the book in one setting.

[Louise Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story and I loved the switch in perspective partway through. This is a genuine roller coaster and you will find you have to keep reading or the story will stay with you until you get back to it. The writing style is quite dramatic, so be prepared for that if you prefer your prose a bit drier.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started and ended with a bang. Plus the second half I kept reading “one more chapter” for who knows how long. There was a lengthy part however where I was wondering if anything was going to happen apart from quite a lot of orgasms. It did redeem itself though by the end and I’d def call it a page turner.

[Deenah King · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If the narrator can’t tell what’s real from what’s not, how can the viewer” 🤯
This book was right up my alley! Starting Darkest Deceit now…..

[kaceylewisrddddx · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book captured my attention from the very beginning and held it until I finished. Fast paced and filled with twists and turns.

[Ashley Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

The unreliable narrarator!! I love not knowing what's real and what's not. Ending was spot on and perfect for the story.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different. I loved it. scary

[Susan Duttry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sex is a strong theme throughout this book. Jim has been having violent, dark sexual dreams throughout most of his life. The only thing that seems to relive these nightmares are to have sexual relations. Jim and his friend Eugene are conducting psychological tests on subject to determine if sexual attraction will effect the outcome of another persons urges of violence or anger for their term paper in Professor Mooken’s class. Here, Jim meets Mooken’s TA, Beth and becomes obsessed with her. Soon they are dating on a regular basis. This story is told from two POV, one from Jim and one from Beth. The games begin and it seems that Jim cannot define what is real and what is a hallucination. Is Beth playing a psychological game with him, or is it someone from the collage? Who is really the same one at the end? The ending has a real twist that ties it all together.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. There were many twists and turns and I often found myself questioning what was real.

"The Control" is a dark psychological thriller that follows the main character Jim, who is a university student studying psychology. We get to see viewpoints from both Jim and another character, Bev. I really liked how you get both of their points of view, giving you multiple perspectives throughout the whole book.

This book is engaging from the beginning but gets even crazier at the end! I think Layne did a great job accurately depicting mental illness as well. I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to M.W. Layne and NetGalley for the advanced copy of "The Control" in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as an arc from Netgalley. I loved how right from chapter 1 this book can hook you and make you want more on the twists. I loved how the middle switched perspectives to the other character. I didn't expect the ending to have the twist it did. Side note this book does have a lot of trigger warnings. So be warned if you read this book. Thank you to the author, netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

[Denise Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. This book is a very dark psychological thriller. It grabs your attention right from the beginning and then hold onto your seat the rest of the way. I enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading more from this author. I also liked the different point of views.

[Reagan Barlow]

This was like 75 pages too long