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Because She Loves Me
A gripping tale of jealousy and obsession, from the #1 bestselling author of The Magpies.
When Andrew Sumner meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.
But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing in his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to confront the frightening truth...
Is Charlie really the girl of his dreams – or the woman of his nightmares?
When Andrew Sumner meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.
But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing in his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to confront the frightening truth...
Is Charlie really the girl of his dreams – or the woman of his nightmares?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2014
3271 people are currently reading
11114 people want to read
About the author
Mark Edwards
36 books5,890 followersMark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,330 reviews
December 23, 2024
Holy sh*t! What a rollercoaster ride! I just climbed out, took some deep breaths—breathe in, breathe out—and immediately begged for more water. Nope, scratch that, somebody bring me a wine bottle—or something stronger!
This book was wild. Nasty, disturbing, mind-numbing, soul-shaking, dark, and creepy! And guess what? I finished binge-watching You Season 2 on the same day. So now, I think it’s safe to say I’ve officially become the most skeptical, dubious person alive. Judging anything with a healthy, functioning mind? Not happening. Oh wait—scratch that, I was already like this before. So, nothing’s really changed after stuffing my brain with all this OBSESSION, BETRAYAL, JEALOUSY, and TWISTED MIND-BENDING drama. Yay for consistency!
Let’s dive into the story.
Our hero (heavy sarcasm implied) is Andrew, the sweet, adorable guy-next-door type who also happens to be a web designer. One day, he meets his dream girl during an appointment with his ophthalmologist (yes, I spelled that right on the first try—mental high-five!). It’s love at first sight. Charlotte—or “Charlie,” as she’s nicknamed—is too good to be true. She’s sexy, beautiful, smart, and, shockingly, into Andrew. Match made in heaven, right? Andrew’s feeling like the luckiest guy alive.
Hold up, Andrew—don’t pop the champagne just yet. Sure, the chemistry is hot, the sex is even hotter, and you’re head over heels, but maybe Charlie isn’t as normal as she seems.
Why? Well, let’s start with the small issue of people in Andrew’s life mysteriously disappearing. Yup, one by one, his inner circle starts to vanish. Horrifying events pile up, and soon Andrew realizes that if he doesn’t act fast, this madness will completely destroy him. Oh wait—his life’s already too messy to fix. My bad, Andrew, carry on!
Still, he loves her. She loves him. But then Tina Turner’s iconic voice starts blasting in his head: “What’s love got to do with it?”
This book was fast-paced, exciting, and perfect for a single sitting (with one and a half bottles of Chardonnay to keep me company). It delivered a disturbing, jumpy, heart-throbbing, yet oddly entertaining experience.
But… not everything worked for me. Some of the big reveals fell flat, which is why I’m settling on four stars instead of five. That said, I’m officially taking a break from thrillers because when I look around, all I see are stalkers, obsessed lovers, and maniac neighbors (okay, that last one is real—I do have maniac neighbors).
Time to dive into some romance binge-reading ASAP to save my poor, overworked soul!
This book was wild. Nasty, disturbing, mind-numbing, soul-shaking, dark, and creepy! And guess what? I finished binge-watching You Season 2 on the same day. So now, I think it’s safe to say I’ve officially become the most skeptical, dubious person alive. Judging anything with a healthy, functioning mind? Not happening. Oh wait—scratch that, I was already like this before. So, nothing’s really changed after stuffing my brain with all this OBSESSION, BETRAYAL, JEALOUSY, and TWISTED MIND-BENDING drama. Yay for consistency!
Let’s dive into the story.
Our hero (heavy sarcasm implied) is Andrew, the sweet, adorable guy-next-door type who also happens to be a web designer. One day, he meets his dream girl during an appointment with his ophthalmologist (yes, I spelled that right on the first try—mental high-five!). It’s love at first sight. Charlotte—or “Charlie,” as she’s nicknamed—is too good to be true. She’s sexy, beautiful, smart, and, shockingly, into Andrew. Match made in heaven, right? Andrew’s feeling like the luckiest guy alive.
Hold up, Andrew—don’t pop the champagne just yet. Sure, the chemistry is hot, the sex is even hotter, and you’re head over heels, but maybe Charlie isn’t as normal as she seems.
Why? Well, let’s start with the small issue of people in Andrew’s life mysteriously disappearing. Yup, one by one, his inner circle starts to vanish. Horrifying events pile up, and soon Andrew realizes that if he doesn’t act fast, this madness will completely destroy him. Oh wait—his life’s already too messy to fix. My bad, Andrew, carry on!
Still, he loves her. She loves him. But then Tina Turner’s iconic voice starts blasting in his head: “What’s love got to do with it?”
This book was fast-paced, exciting, and perfect for a single sitting (with one and a half bottles of Chardonnay to keep me company). It delivered a disturbing, jumpy, heart-throbbing, yet oddly entertaining experience.
But… not everything worked for me. Some of the big reveals fell flat, which is why I’m settling on four stars instead of five. That said, I’m officially taking a break from thrillers because when I look around, all I see are stalkers, obsessed lovers, and maniac neighbors (okay, that last one is real—I do have maniac neighbors).
Time to dive into some romance binge-reading ASAP to save my poor, overworked soul!
April 2, 2017
I loved this book...until I didn't...
BECAUSE SHE LOVED ME is one of those books -in my opinion- that suffered from the author thinking that it needed a twisty ending. Not all books need a twisty ending! PLEASE AUTHORS...you don't always have to stump the readers. For hundreds of years people wrote books without "WTF" endings. Don't get me wrong- I love endings with a hidden surprise..but only if it is well done- this one not so much...
When Andrew Sumner meets the beautiful and feisty Charlie- he thinks he has finally found "The One".
...But soon Charlie starts to display unusual amounts of jealousy...items from his apartment start to go missing, he feels like he is being followed, and strange and frightening things are happening to the people close to him.
Most people that have read my reviews or comments- know one of my best GRs friends is the lovely Lisa E. Those people, will also know that I enjoy disagreeing with her. So when she told me she hated, hated, hated the ending of this book- I was soooooooooooo looking forward to having an opposite view. I always feel that I have a more laaaaaaaaaaaaid back open mind...but this time I begrudgingly admit to her being SPOT ON!! ;)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I hated this ending tooooo!!! It seemed like it was written by a completely different author than the one I got to know at the beginning of BECAUSE SHE LOVES ME and from- The Magpies- which I looooved all the way through. Sorry Mr. Edwards- you can't win them all- but this will soooooo not stop me from reading more of your offerings in the future.
Thank you NetGalley!
BECAUSE SHE LOVED ME is one of those books -in my opinion- that suffered from the author thinking that it needed a twisty ending. Not all books need a twisty ending! PLEASE AUTHORS...you don't always have to stump the readers. For hundreds of years people wrote books without "WTF" endings. Don't get me wrong- I love endings with a hidden surprise..but only if it is well done- this one not so much...
When Andrew Sumner meets the beautiful and feisty Charlie- he thinks he has finally found "The One".
...But soon Charlie starts to display unusual amounts of jealousy...items from his apartment start to go missing, he feels like he is being followed, and strange and frightening things are happening to the people close to him.
Most people that have read my reviews or comments- know one of my best GRs friends is the lovely Lisa E. Those people, will also know that I enjoy disagreeing with her. So when she told me she hated, hated, hated the ending of this book- I was soooooooooooo looking forward to having an opposite view. I always feel that I have a more laaaaaaaaaaaaid back open mind...but this time I begrudgingly admit to her being SPOT ON!! ;)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I hated this ending tooooo!!! It seemed like it was written by a completely different author than the one I got to know at the beginning of BECAUSE SHE LOVES ME and from- The Magpies- which I looooved all the way through. Sorry Mr. Edwards- you can't win them all- but this will soooooo not stop me from reading more of your offerings in the future.
Thank you NetGalley!
July 8, 2021
Free-lance web designer Andrew Sumner meets gorgeous, red-haired Charlotte “Charlie” Summers (a project manager) one day after an eye appointment. He is happy because he has had good news concerning his eye (which had a detached retina) and now he has met this beautiful girl. And she seems to like him too. They eventually start dating. They can’t get enough of each other. Andrew’s best friend (Sasha) thinks there’s something not quite right about Charlie. She seems too good to be true. As time goes by, awful things start to happen to many of Andrew’s friends. Charlie is jealous, secretive, and possessive. Andrew can never seem to get Charlie to open up about her past. Could she have anything to do with these events?
I really enjoyed this book, I had a hard time putting it down. It was fast-paced and exciting. There were some surprises towards the end, and I really enjoyed the epilogue, and how it ended.
Another great mystery-thriller by Mark Edwards.
I really enjoyed this book, I had a hard time putting it down. It was fast-paced and exciting. There were some surprises towards the end, and I really enjoyed the epilogue, and how it ended.
Another great mystery-thriller by Mark Edwards.
May 13, 2025
Mark Edwards is one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors and Because She Loves Me is another example of his exceptional talent in grabbing his audiences attention.
I did not see the ending coming at all - A real shocker....
I did not see the ending coming at all - A real shocker....
January 24, 2016
*** 5 Stars ***
This is so good.....
I've had this on my Kindle for ages and I've no idea why I waited so long to read it.
This just captivated me straight away.I love a story of deep obsession.....think of the films Fatal Attraction and Misery and if you've read You by Caroline Kepnes, you'll probably get me.
Andrew is a little bit jaded.He's a bit of an introvert.
He's at the hospital one day having treatment when he bumps into the beautiful Charlie....
Is it a coincidence or something more???
They find themselves waiting for the tube....connect and embark on a passionate affair.
But Andrews life is about to spiral out of control...and it seems as though it's just since he's met Charlie...
I read a few reviews before starting this and that's probably why I didn't read it sooner......people were banging on about the last 15% and the twist...
Well,I've got to say I LOVED the twist.....
This is so good.....
I've had this on my Kindle for ages and I've no idea why I waited so long to read it.
This just captivated me straight away.I love a story of deep obsession.....think of the films Fatal Attraction and Misery and if you've read You by Caroline Kepnes, you'll probably get me.
Andrew is a little bit jaded.He's a bit of an introvert.
He's at the hospital one day having treatment when he bumps into the beautiful Charlie....
Is it a coincidence or something more???
They find themselves waiting for the tube....connect and embark on a passionate affair.
But Andrews life is about to spiral out of control...and it seems as though it's just since he's met Charlie...
I read a few reviews before starting this and that's probably why I didn't read it sooner......people were banging on about the last 15% and the twist...
Well,I've got to say I LOVED the twist.....
March 10, 2017
I am so torn.
The first 90% of this book gets 5 stars. The last 10% DOES NOT.
But that's just me.
I'm giving this one 4 stars because Mark Edwards really had me caught up in his world. I couldn't wait to get back to this book and find out more, more, more. But then THAT happens. My forehead hit the table. I just was not a fan of THAT happening.
Maybe you'll think the ending was amazing. I've read the reviews and plenty 'o readers do. But of course I have to be difficult and NOT like that ending. Let me know what you think when you get there, okay? Peace.
The first 90% of this book gets 5 stars. The last 10% DOES NOT.
But that's just me.
I'm giving this one 4 stars because Mark Edwards really had me caught up in his world. I couldn't wait to get back to this book and find out more, more, more. But then THAT happens. My forehead hit the table. I just was not a fan of THAT happening.
Maybe you'll think the ending was amazing. I've read the reviews and plenty 'o readers do. But of course I have to be difficult and NOT like that ending. Let me know what you think when you get there, okay? Peace.
November 22, 2014
"Because She Loves You" is a psychological thriller by Mark Edwards, (the best selling author of "The Magpies"),and is my first book by Mark Edwards. It is hard to write a review for this novel, without spoilers, so I will try to limit my comments.
This thriller novel is an emotional rollercoaster,coverings a real gambit of emotions ranging from emotional abuse, insecurities, manipulation, relationships, control, obsession, betrayal , trust and most of all JEALOUSY.
This was a gripping thriller which keeps you guessing to the very end. I had a few suspects in mind for the murderer; however, I was wrong, as well. Edwards does an outstanding job of throwing you off track and holding the dramatic disclosure to the ending.
Andrew worked as a freelance web designer, in London, and had a consultation appointment with his ophthalmologist surgeon, a follow-up to his recent eye surgery. It was there that he met the sexy and beautiful Charlotte(Charlie), a project manager/want-to-be painter. It was LOVE at first sight! The encounter immediately blossomed into a serious relationship. The sex and passion was hot, and he was soon pulled into her powerful web. Andrew felt so lucky...because he had met her, and they were in love. But it didn't take long for Andrew to notice her one main fault- she had a very jealous streak.
When Charlie’s obsession gets out of control and the women and people in Andrew’s circle begin to show up murdered—he begins to wonder who? Could the woman he loves be a killer?
I couldn't put this book now, and I can say that fans of psycho thrillers, will enjoy this thrilling intense ride. I look forward to start reading more by this talented author, and will now start reading " The Magpies".
This thriller novel is an emotional rollercoaster,coverings a real gambit of emotions ranging from emotional abuse, insecurities, manipulation, relationships, control, obsession, betrayal , trust and most of all JEALOUSY.
This was a gripping thriller which keeps you guessing to the very end. I had a few suspects in mind for the murderer; however, I was wrong, as well. Edwards does an outstanding job of throwing you off track and holding the dramatic disclosure to the ending.
Andrew worked as a freelance web designer, in London, and had a consultation appointment with his ophthalmologist surgeon, a follow-up to his recent eye surgery. It was there that he met the sexy and beautiful Charlotte(Charlie), a project manager/want-to-be painter. It was LOVE at first sight! The encounter immediately blossomed into a serious relationship. The sex and passion was hot, and he was soon pulled into her powerful web. Andrew felt so lucky...because he had met her, and they were in love. But it didn't take long for Andrew to notice her one main fault- she had a very jealous streak.
When Charlie’s obsession gets out of control and the women and people in Andrew’s circle begin to show up murdered—he begins to wonder who? Could the woman he loves be a killer?
I couldn't put this book now, and I can say that fans of psycho thrillers, will enjoy this thrilling intense ride. I look forward to start reading more by this talented author, and will now start reading " The Magpies".
May 17, 2025
Superb! Another brilliant psychological thriller that will keep you guessing from the pen of Mark Edwards. Very well written twists and turns in this novel. I had a few moments of my eyebrows being raised and making shocked sounds. All readers like to be clever to work out what's going on in books, well I was not so clever reading this one as it got me. But I love that. The book won!
What's the book about?
When Andrew Sumner meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.
But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing in his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to confront the frightening truth...
Is Charlie really the girl of his dreams – or the woman of his nightmares?
My Review:
For the first half of this book I was hooked in and waiting, waiting for pieces to fall into place that I thought I had worked out in my head, then by the second half I was just blown away. The plot picked up pace, the twists were spectacular and I was frantically reading to get to the end to see what our grand finale was going to be, I was not let down in the slightest.
Andrew is a freelance web designer who works from home, Charlie (Charlotte) enters his life in whirlwind and before long they are enmeshed in each other and an intense passionate relationship ensues.
BUT in the midst of all the loving, fun and sex, weird things are going on in Andrew's life. at At first it's just small things, things he passes off as not important but then things start to get very strange and he is trying to connect the events with reality, it's not gelling very well.
WHO is Charlie? Is she the best thing that ever happened to him? Or is she the biggest mistake of his life?
It's hard to write a review for this book without spoilers, as the whole book is really about messing with your head wonderfully as the reader. Mark Edwards has done an exceptional job with writing this book and keeping the hooks in the reader for more reveals and more truth.
It's tense at times, it's can be dark, it has some shock factor, it's very readable and I just really enjoyed the book, especially past the halfway mark, for me that pushed this book up to a 4.5 star review from a 4 star read.
It's a book that questions trust, relationships and what we see before us that we know to be true (or is it?). Is everything as it seems in this world? Not likely! Nothing is as it seems. My cryptic review is really about expressing how clever this book is at being sneaky and surprising you as the reader.
So go to it. Read it? Tell me if you worked it all out before the end.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks SO much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻
Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews. You can browse through my many great books reviewed for your next awesome book to enjoy.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
You can also find me on Amazon UK where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
What's the book about?
When Andrew Sumner meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.
But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing in his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to confront the frightening truth...
Is Charlie really the girl of his dreams – or the woman of his nightmares?
My Review:
For the first half of this book I was hooked in and waiting, waiting for pieces to fall into place that I thought I had worked out in my head, then by the second half I was just blown away. The plot picked up pace, the twists were spectacular and I was frantically reading to get to the end to see what our grand finale was going to be, I was not let down in the slightest.
Andrew is a freelance web designer who works from home, Charlie (Charlotte) enters his life in whirlwind and before long they are enmeshed in each other and an intense passionate relationship ensues.
BUT in the midst of all the loving, fun and sex, weird things are going on in Andrew's life. at At first it's just small things, things he passes off as not important but then things start to get very strange and he is trying to connect the events with reality, it's not gelling very well.
WHO is Charlie? Is she the best thing that ever happened to him? Or is she the biggest mistake of his life?
It's hard to write a review for this book without spoilers, as the whole book is really about messing with your head wonderfully as the reader. Mark Edwards has done an exceptional job with writing this book and keeping the hooks in the reader for more reveals and more truth.
It's tense at times, it's can be dark, it has some shock factor, it's very readable and I just really enjoyed the book, especially past the halfway mark, for me that pushed this book up to a 4.5 star review from a 4 star read.
It's a book that questions trust, relationships and what we see before us that we know to be true (or is it?). Is everything as it seems in this world? Not likely! Nothing is as it seems. My cryptic review is really about expressing how clever this book is at being sneaky and surprising you as the reader.
So go to it. Read it? Tell me if you worked it all out before the end.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks SO much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻
Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews. You can browse through my many great books reviewed for your next awesome book to enjoy.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
You can also find me on Amazon UK where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
November 16, 2014
Because She Loves Me is the first book by Mark Edwards that I have read. This is a very compelling read of psychological suspense.
The set up encompasses the first 15% of the book and moves along nicely. The suspense factor starts to creep in at that point and slowly builds to a crescendo over the last 85% of the book. I love that steady even progression of tension; I think Mr. Edwards pulls this off better than anyone else I have read in the last year. The protagonist, Andrew, is a good guy, but a lonely fellow who has had a lot of tough breaks in life. You want him to find the happiness he deserves, but Andrew has a big problem. He loves Charlie. But is Charlie the girl of his dreams or is she a monstrous nightmare from hell? The reader is struggling with this question right along with Andrew. If she is indeed the right woman for him, then how does he explain all the horrific events that are happening in his life that logically seem to be emanating from Charlie? But Charlie loves Andrew. Doesn't she? Can Andrew trust her? One thing is clear. Andrew will never stop loving Charlie. This means Andrew will either end up blissfully happy or in a horrendous living hell where death could be the better option. How can Andrew possibly unravel this dilemma? I couldn't stop reading this book.
The only thing keeping this was being a 5-star read is that I was disappointed in the explanations for one or two of the bad occurrences. This demerit, however, is not serious enough to deter me from highly recommending Because She Loves Me to all fans of psychological suspense/psychological thrillers. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Edwards' novels.
The set up encompasses the first 15% of the book and moves along nicely. The suspense factor starts to creep in at that point and slowly builds to a crescendo over the last 85% of the book. I love that steady even progression of tension; I think Mr. Edwards pulls this off better than anyone else I have read in the last year. The protagonist, Andrew, is a good guy, but a lonely fellow who has had a lot of tough breaks in life. You want him to find the happiness he deserves, but Andrew has a big problem. He loves Charlie. But is Charlie the girl of his dreams or is she a monstrous nightmare from hell? The reader is struggling with this question right along with Andrew. If she is indeed the right woman for him, then how does he explain all the horrific events that are happening in his life that logically seem to be emanating from Charlie? But Charlie loves Andrew. Doesn't she? Can Andrew trust her? One thing is clear. Andrew will never stop loving Charlie. This means Andrew will either end up blissfully happy or in a horrendous living hell where death could be the better option. How can Andrew possibly unravel this dilemma? I couldn't stop reading this book.
The only thing keeping this was being a 5-star read is that I was disappointed in the explanations for one or two of the bad occurrences. This demerit, however, is not serious enough to deter me from highly recommending Because She Loves Me to all fans of psychological suspense/psychological thrillers. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Edwards' novels.
February 7, 2016
I am hovering between a 2 and 3-star rating. My initial reasoning for the 2-star rating is based on the fact that Because She Loves Me by Mark Edwards is just like every other novel based on obsessive love connections.
Everyone knows the type of story I'm referring to. Boy meets insatiable girl who warps his mind with sex, more sex, better sex, and even better sex. He's so wrapped up in this woman's love (and legs) that he can't see straight and that's besides the fact he's initially dealing with problems with his eyes. He refuses to see that strange things are happening. Items are missing from his home, friends are having scary encounters, and words of wisdom from weird kooks don't dissuade this guy, Andrew, from ignoring all the signs that things aren't right with Charlie.
The reason I decided to go with the 3-star rating is because this book wasn't entirely awful. We observe what it's like to be so overcome with someone else. We ignore their jealous rages to the point of finding them to be endearing. We even make excuses for all the unexplainable bad luck we've been having since meeting that person. All for the sake of love and keeping it. Thank God I haven't been there.
My other reason behind the 3-star rating is that Because She Loves Me is just so damn entertaining. Sure, the characters are a little thin, the plot is a lot predictable, and the hero is a complete dummy, I was still totally entertained. That's essentially the point of psychological thrillers. To be entertained and thank your lucky stars she doesn't love you.
Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley
Everyone knows the type of story I'm referring to. Boy meets insatiable girl who warps his mind with sex, more sex, better sex, and even better sex. He's so wrapped up in this woman's love (and legs) that he can't see straight and that's besides the fact he's initially dealing with problems with his eyes. He refuses to see that strange things are happening. Items are missing from his home, friends are having scary encounters, and words of wisdom from weird kooks don't dissuade this guy, Andrew, from ignoring all the signs that things aren't right with Charlie.
The reason I decided to go with the 3-star rating is because this book wasn't entirely awful. We observe what it's like to be so overcome with someone else. We ignore their jealous rages to the point of finding them to be endearing. We even make excuses for all the unexplainable bad luck we've been having since meeting that person. All for the sake of love and keeping it. Thank God I haven't been there.
My other reason behind the 3-star rating is that Because She Loves Me is just so damn entertaining. Sure, the characters are a little thin, the plot is a lot predictable, and the hero is a complete dummy, I was still totally entertained. That's essentially the point of psychological thrillers. To be entertained and thank your lucky stars she doesn't love you.
Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley
January 4, 2020
Didn't believe the resolution. I'm bummed cos I was really hoping for something similar to *Misery*.
Sigh.
August 8, 2016
The short review is that I never really enjoyed this book, which was about twice as long as it needed to be, and then it had a really stupid twist ending. So then I really hated it.
The long story is:
Boy meets Manic Pixie Dream Girl and they have a ton of mind-blowing sex. When he comes up for air, he notices a few things about her are a little off. But, she's really hot, and, you know, mind-blowing sex! So he's in love with her. Because of course he is. Charlie is a bundle of impulsive, outrageous behavior and other red flags, but she looks good, cooks for the guy, and is always ready to jump into bed, so that's good enough for our hero, Andrew.
Then bad stuff begins to happen to Andrew and everyone close to him. Could it be Charlie who is causing all of it?
No! Guess what? Andrew's so unlucky that he's managed to attract *two* totally psychotic chicks into his life - but only of them, a minor character who has thus far demonstrated absolutely nothing that might tell the reader she's anything other than a minor character, is homicidal. Surprise! Then there is eye torture, and more carnage.
After we're asked to swallow that craptastic twist, we learn that Andrew still loves Charlie, the lesser of two psychos. She only lied to him countless times, kept from him that she was still living with her ex-boyfriend the whole time she's been seeing him, destroyed things, messed up his apartment and slashed herself with a butcher knife in a drunken, jealous rage, accused him of sleeping with other women several times, and offered his pretty cleaning woman money to stop cleaning for him. Only compared to someone who killed several people, framed a man for pedophilia, disfigured a woman with acid and pushed Andrew down the subway stairs can Charlie still seem like good girlfriend material. Good luck with that, Andrew! You are a moron.
The long story is:
Boy meets Manic Pixie Dream Girl and they have a ton of mind-blowing sex. When he comes up for air, he notices a few things about her are a little off. But, she's really hot, and, you know, mind-blowing sex! So he's in love with her. Because of course he is. Charlie is a bundle of impulsive, outrageous behavior and other red flags, but she looks good, cooks for the guy, and is always ready to jump into bed, so that's good enough for our hero, Andrew.
Then bad stuff begins to happen to Andrew and everyone close to him. Could it be Charlie who is causing all of it?
No! Guess what? Andrew's so unlucky that he's managed to attract *two* totally psychotic chicks into his life - but only of them, a minor character who has thus far demonstrated absolutely nothing that might tell the reader she's anything other than a minor character, is homicidal. Surprise! Then there is eye torture, and more carnage.
After we're asked to swallow that craptastic twist, we learn that Andrew still loves Charlie, the lesser of two psychos. She only lied to him countless times, kept from him that she was still living with her ex-boyfriend the whole time she's been seeing him, destroyed things, messed up his apartment and slashed herself with a butcher knife in a drunken, jealous rage, accused him of sleeping with other women several times, and offered his pretty cleaning woman money to stop cleaning for him. Only compared to someone who killed several people, framed a man for pedophilia, disfigured a woman with acid and pushed Andrew down the subway stairs can Charlie still seem like good girlfriend material. Good luck with that, Andrew! You are a moron.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2015
Returning with another stellar thriller, akin to THE MAGPIES, Edwards helps readers forget his blip that had fans staring at the skies and asking that the former author be returned to earth. Andrew Sumner has been through a great deal at a young age: some significant relationships turning sour and a major eye operation that almost left him blind. When Charlotte (Charlie) appears at a vending machine, Andrew is left to wonder from where this ginger-haired goddess came and how he might see her again (pardon the pun). Through a series of lucky events, Charlie and Andrew cross paths again and soon become inseparable lovers, their lives intertwined from the beginning. The attentive reader will read between the narrative lines and feel the frissons along their spines as Andrew continues his infatuation. Charlie spends much time with Andrew and gives off an air of jealousy and mystery when his past surfaces, revealing none of her own. This leaves Andrew unclear about the woman he's come to love with all his heart and body. Numerous events, which seem innocuous on their own, can be woven together to give the reader that omnipresent view that red flags appear at every turn, with a likely suspect. What began as a lustful connection soon spills into a horrific bout of jealousy, all in an attempt to keep Charlie from sharing Andrew with anyone. Edwards adds his own twists and storylines to capture the reader as never before.
While this is a stand-alone novel, after reading THE MAGPIES, I was pleased to see at least a little follow-up in this novel. The theme is similar, showing how a thriller can evoke the reader's emotions and keep them up late into the night to finish "just a little more". While some may say that the plot is cookie-cutter and the physical connection over the top, those readers miss the bigger picture of Edwards' work. He posits that humans tend to be jealous beings, prone to acts that defy their character. Also, there are some out there who are completely detached from reality, a la Lucy Newton (see THE MAGPIES). Edwards knows just how to pull the strings to bring the story a chilling reality, to which many readers can relate. Leaving the door open for more Lucy Newton was an added bonus that has me, and likely many others, begging for more publications in the coming years.
Kudos, Mr. Edwards for returning to what you do best. You keep it real and ask the reader to pull on personal experiences, rather than the inane idea of visitors and cult lifestyles.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While this is a stand-alone novel, after reading THE MAGPIES, I was pleased to see at least a little follow-up in this novel. The theme is similar, showing how a thriller can evoke the reader's emotions and keep them up late into the night to finish "just a little more". While some may say that the plot is cookie-cutter and the physical connection over the top, those readers miss the bigger picture of Edwards' work. He posits that humans tend to be jealous beings, prone to acts that defy their character. Also, there are some out there who are completely detached from reality, a la Lucy Newton (see THE MAGPIES). Edwards knows just how to pull the strings to bring the story a chilling reality, to which many readers can relate. Leaving the door open for more Lucy Newton was an added bonus that has me, and likely many others, begging for more publications in the coming years.
Kudos, Mr. Edwards for returning to what you do best. You keep it real and ask the reader to pull on personal experiences, rather than the inane idea of visitors and cult lifestyles.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 27, 2020
Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh the frustration!! I can’t say all the ways I loved this book without giving spoilers.. But I enjoyed it more than anything I’ve read in a long time! From the beginning to the end, & all in between! (& did I mention that ending??!) Wow!! If you like these types of books, please read it. (Btw, this was my first by this author & im ALL in!) SO good!!
PS. Thanks Dita, you were spot-on!!
PS. Thanks Dita, you were spot-on!!
November 6, 2021
I was pretty hooked on this one, it's a fast paced thriller full of sexual tension, and jealously.
Charlie, Rachel, Sasha, Karen and Tilly, all connected by Andrew and only a few of them will survive. Who is behind it all?
I was really surprised by the outcome, a good page turning novel.
At time is posting this title is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Charlie, Rachel, Sasha, Karen and Tilly, all connected by Andrew and only a few of them will survive. Who is behind it all?
I was really surprised by the outcome, a good page turning novel.
At time is posting this title is available on Kindle Unlimited.
November 26, 2016
Having finished this book, I find myself torn when it comes to rating it. On one hand it was gripping throughout, especially the latter third, upon which I struggled to put it down. And, the characters were well drawn and strikingly individual. On the other hand, for such a top selling author, I found elements of the writing a little amateurish and dotted with errors.
The twisty ending came as a big surprise. Not that there would be a twist, but in the direction that the twist went, as it wasn’t sign-posted at all. Now, I don’t mind if a story has a surprising twist or if there’s no twist and I’m just going on a journey with the characters. Both work equally well for this reader, but if there is going to be a massive twist it should come with a light-bulb moment, an of course, why didn’t I see it type of realisation at the reveal.
Taking the above into account then, I’m giving this a four star rating, pushed up there by the fact that it just refused to be put down.
The twisty ending came as a big surprise. Not that there would be a twist, but in the direction that the twist went, as it wasn’t sign-posted at all. Now, I don’t mind if a story has a surprising twist or if there’s no twist and I’m just going on a journey with the characters. Both work equally well for this reader, but if there is going to be a massive twist it should come with a light-bulb moment, an of course, why didn’t I see it type of realisation at the reveal.
Taking the above into account then, I’m giving this a four star rating, pushed up there by the fact that it just refused to be put down.
August 12, 2015
I had heard a lot of good things about Mark Edwards novels from my Goodread friends so I decided to see for myself.
I instantly liked this book, so much that I read it in one sitting and then started on the other book I had of his straight after. Great characters, excellently developed plot that is well paced and twists and turns to keep you guessing.
A psychological thriller that is so well written you will struggle to put it down as I found to my cost.
You just want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen.
I instantly liked this book, so much that I read it in one sitting and then started on the other book I had of his straight after. Great characters, excellently developed plot that is well paced and twists and turns to keep you guessing.
A psychological thriller that is so well written you will struggle to put it down as I found to my cost.
You just want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen.
January 25, 2015
3.5 stars
So I read my friend's reviews for this psychological thriller and every one alluded to the ending of this book. Naturally I had to know what they were talking about...but...
And of course everybody was right!
This is the story of Andrew who has had a hard time in life. He meets Charlie and they embark on an intense love affair but then things start to go wrong.
Charlie is incredibly jealous and Andrew starts to have doubts about Charlie's sanity...especially when people close to him start getting murdered...
This is a well written psychological roller coaster, it's just that the ending is a bit off!
Read it and you'll know what I mean...
So I read my friend's reviews for this psychological thriller and every one alluded to the ending of this book. Naturally I had to know what they were talking about...but...
And of course everybody was right!
This is the story of Andrew who has had a hard time in life. He meets Charlie and they embark on an intense love affair but then things start to go wrong.
Charlie is incredibly jealous and Andrew starts to have doubts about Charlie's sanity...especially when people close to him start getting murdered...
This is a well written psychological roller coaster, it's just that the ending is a bit off!
Read it and you'll know what I mean...
September 13, 2014
Loved it...until I didn't.
This book was kind of like eating an ice cream cone that was soooo amazing and when you get to the cone you find out it's made of cardboard instead of sweet waffle cone goodness.
This book was kind of like eating an ice cream cone that was soooo amazing and when you get to the cone you find out it's made of cardboard instead of sweet waffle cone goodness.
September 2, 2014
So another madly addictive and excellent thriller from the pen of Mark Edwards who is fast becoming a favourite of mine when it comes to adult psychological fiction with those lovely little twists and turns and mad misdirection that make a reading experience so much fun.
In this novel we meet Andrew who believes he MAY have found the love of his life. But all is not right and as more and more things go wrong around him, he begins to wonder just who it is he has become involved with…
Another difficult book to review without spoiling it that is for sure – things ebb and flow and just when you think you have grasped the point it will slip away from you – hey even I did not work out the truth behind the web of deceit until VERY late on, ooh just a touch more Mr Edwards and you’ll be in my hall of fame. It is absolutely addictive reading, no way once you start you will want to stop and as usual the author has brought his unique style and depth to his characters making you either love them dearly or loathe them with a fiery vengeance. Not a lot of inbetween really, not even with the more peripheral supporting cast.
I often thought Andrew was a bit dim but he was very appealing, I really liked Charlie even though it is entirely possible she is a bunny boiler…and all those around them were integral to the plot often in ways you didnt see coming. All in all terribly well executed as ever and written in a brilliantly readable and engrossing style.
Highly Recommended for fans of pyschological thrillers and crime. Perfect way to while away an afternoon.
In this novel we meet Andrew who believes he MAY have found the love of his life. But all is not right and as more and more things go wrong around him, he begins to wonder just who it is he has become involved with…
Another difficult book to review without spoiling it that is for sure – things ebb and flow and just when you think you have grasped the point it will slip away from you – hey even I did not work out the truth behind the web of deceit until VERY late on, ooh just a touch more Mr Edwards and you’ll be in my hall of fame. It is absolutely addictive reading, no way once you start you will want to stop and as usual the author has brought his unique style and depth to his characters making you either love them dearly or loathe them with a fiery vengeance. Not a lot of inbetween really, not even with the more peripheral supporting cast.
I often thought Andrew was a bit dim but he was very appealing, I really liked Charlie even though it is entirely possible she is a bunny boiler…and all those around them were integral to the plot often in ways you didnt see coming. All in all terribly well executed as ever and written in a brilliantly readable and engrossing style.
Highly Recommended for fans of pyschological thrillers and crime. Perfect way to while away an afternoon.
February 8, 2020
“In the old days – or so I’ve heard – you could go round someone’s place and rifle through their record collection, take a look at their bookcases. Now you have to scroll through their iTunes or click on their Kindle.”
― Mark Edwards, Because She Loves Me
Dita is my favorite character in this book.
So I have read the reviews. Seen the differing opinions and point of views. I am going in the direction of team "Yes! This is GREAT!!". I must say this was such an addictive read.
I am to tired to do a plot summary and I blame the book. It is this book's fault that I was up all night reading. So no plot reviews because my head id aching and I want to take some aleve and eat some fresh deep dish Uno's pizza.
This was so addictive. As others have said, I could not stop reading. First book I have read by this author. Not the last.
Now..my thoughts on why YOU should read this.
Dita is in it.
It's full of Batshit crazy characters.
It is a total Mind fuck.
The writing and building of suspense is perfection.
It has some great twists.
It just rules.
Ending spoilers and yes I need to speak of them. So stop reading NOW if you do not want the ending ruined.
SPOILERS:
I LOVED it. Now I should say..I figured it out. Do not ask me HOW I did but somehow I knew it was not Charlie doing these things. I could feel a twist coming. I briefly thought of Sasha. But for me the kicker was when Rachel went missing.
I mean..the whole staying overnight with Andrew had me skeptical. What are the odds ALL the main characters would be involved with batshit crazy people? Someone had to BE one of the batshit crazy people. And I remembered how guilty Rachel would try to make Andrew feel. It just fit.
BUT..for the reviewer whose name I have forgot, who is on here somewhere, who said they thought it was the sister who was evil because she blamed Andrew for what happened to the parents etc..you should be writing professionally because I LOVED that alternative ending. Send me a friend request.
Anyway..I did not blame Andrew for not trusting Charlie and thought she was a bit tough on him at the end. I mean..she was a bundle of secrets. She lied to him about EVERYTHING. What did she expect? I liked Charlie but she really needed to take some responsibility for Andrew's paranoia. Her whole life was a lie so yeah, he was rightfully going to assume she was deceitful and feel hurt. Only he guessed wrong. Instead of merely being dishonest he labelled her a killer. OK..I guess she had a right to be a LITTLE upset..
Unlike many others, I am glad they got back together. The poor guy needed SOMETHING. Almost everyone around him was dead. So.... glad he got the girl in the end.
Only reason no five stars? To gory with the eye stuff. Yuck. That sorta lost me but I loved everything else.
Thank You Dita. As usual, you do not let me down in your book recommendations.
Will be reading The Magpies soon. Glad to discover this guy as he can write. Highly recommended.
― Mark Edwards, Because She Loves Me
Dita is my favorite character in this book.
So I have read the reviews. Seen the differing opinions and point of views. I am going in the direction of team "Yes! This is GREAT!!". I must say this was such an addictive read.
I am to tired to do a plot summary and I blame the book. It is this book's fault that I was up all night reading. So no plot reviews because my head id aching and I want to take some aleve and eat some fresh deep dish Uno's pizza.
This was so addictive. As others have said, I could not stop reading. First book I have read by this author. Not the last.
Now..my thoughts on why YOU should read this.
Dita is in it.
It's full of Batshit crazy characters.
It is a total Mind fuck.
The writing and building of suspense is perfection.
It has some great twists.
It just rules.
Ending spoilers and yes I need to speak of them. So stop reading NOW if you do not want the ending ruined.
SPOILERS:
I LOVED it. Now I should say..I figured it out. Do not ask me HOW I did but somehow I knew it was not Charlie doing these things. I could feel a twist coming. I briefly thought of Sasha. But for me the kicker was when Rachel went missing.
I mean..the whole staying overnight with Andrew had me skeptical. What are the odds ALL the main characters would be involved with batshit crazy people? Someone had to BE one of the batshit crazy people. And I remembered how guilty Rachel would try to make Andrew feel. It just fit.
BUT..for the reviewer whose name I have forgot, who is on here somewhere, who said they thought it was the sister who was evil because she blamed Andrew for what happened to the parents etc..you should be writing professionally because I LOVED that alternative ending. Send me a friend request.
Anyway..I did not blame Andrew for not trusting Charlie and thought she was a bit tough on him at the end. I mean..she was a bundle of secrets. She lied to him about EVERYTHING. What did she expect? I liked Charlie but she really needed to take some responsibility for Andrew's paranoia. Her whole life was a lie so yeah, he was rightfully going to assume she was deceitful and feel hurt. Only he guessed wrong. Instead of merely being dishonest he labelled her a killer. OK..I guess she had a right to be a LITTLE upset..
Unlike many others, I am glad they got back together. The poor guy needed SOMETHING. Almost everyone around him was dead. So.... glad he got the girl in the end.
Only reason no five stars? To gory with the eye stuff. Yuck. That sorta lost me but I loved everything else.
Thank You Dita. As usual, you do not let me down in your book recommendations.
Will be reading The Magpies soon. Glad to discover this guy as he can write. Highly recommended.
April 4, 2015
I have given this book my precious reserved 5 stars, its so well laid out and so addictive [as was the characters] holding my attention that it cannot be any less [for me]
I rarely give 5 stars these days, border on 3's and 4's, BUT if a book really does get that 'addictive' feel in my hands, holding my attention, not wanting to put it down, taking my kindle everywhere I go, going to sleep begrudgingly when all I want to do is read yet my eye lids are closing......then its definitely a 5!
I cannot believe with the amount of books I have purchased from Amazon by this author, this is the very first one I have read. I have to rectify this!
Story Teaser
Here we have Andrew, nice, loyal kind Andrew. He's had his fair share of girlfriends. He has 'girls' as friends too, and a sister named Tilly who is wheelchair bound. We later find out what happened to her.
Andrews luck with women truly change when he meets Charlie.
There is an intense sexual attraction, it then goes more than physical, they actually do 'fall' for each other. Andrew loves her more than life itself.
Gradually though, things start to happen. Strange things. Things that seem to add up to when he first got to know Charlie.
Its one of those stories that keep you turning pages. You think you really know the answer to it all.
I was falling asleep last night reading this, and I went to asleep convinced I knew the ending.
Oh no I didn't!
What I loved at the end was the instance of Andrew composing an email. (You will have to buy this book to find out what I mean,) but a superb finale, where I wanted to shout "Oncore Oncore" and get them all back on the stage and take a bow.
The actual LAST page was totally unexpected.
I also loved how the author explained how he came up with the story. DO NOT READ THAT AT THE BEGINNING!
I am sure that is what made this book superb, he drew on many of his own experiences but with the talent of growth. LOVED IT.
I would like to thank Amazon Publishing for allowing me to read this via Net Galley.
March 6, 2022
Scary things happening to ordinary people seems to be the trademark of Mark Edwards and he does it with amazing talent. I didn't at first think the book started out very well. The couple are supposed to be extremely in love with each other, but they only seem to have sex and consume lots of wine for most of the beginning. It wasn't long before the extraordinary writing style of Mark Edwards drew me into the story. In a nutshell this is the primes of the story. What starts off as a fairytale romance quickly spirals downward, as Charlie's jealousy grows, and Andrew starts to feel like someone is following him. Things start disappearing from his apartment, women start disappearing from his Facebook friends list, and a string of bad luck seems to be hitting his friends and family. As Andrew starts to question whether or not he's losing his mind, he starts to wonder if Charlie is less perfect than he originally thought. Do you think Andrew??? I wanted to yell RUN stupid. Readers that are fans of the thriller & suspense genre who are looking for a quick, fast paced read will like this one.
November 21, 2014
An interesting tale of jealousy, obsession, and murder.
Andrew Sumner has not led a charmed life, so when he meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.
But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing from his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to wonder is Charlie really the girl of his dreams or the woman of his nightmares?
I am not going to give anything further away on the plot of this one, but it is definitely worth reading. it is an easy quick read. 8:D
Andrew Sumner has not led a charmed life, so when he meets beautiful, edgy Charlie, he is certain his run of bad luck has finally come to an end.
But as the two of them embark on an intense affair, Andrew wonders if his grasp on reality is slipping. Items go missing from his apartment. Somebody appears to be following him. And as misfortune and tragedy strike his friends and loved ones, Andrew is forced to wonder is Charlie really the girl of his dreams or the woman of his nightmares?
I am not going to give anything further away on the plot of this one, but it is definitely worth reading. it is an easy quick read. 8:D
April 23, 2016
This was a brilliant psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. I binge-listened to the audiobook whenever I could, even in my car as I drove to work. It haunted me when I couldn't read on, and chilled me to the bone often. Even if some parts of the book seemed a bit far off, it still felt real. So if you want to read a book that you don't want to put down, and if you can stomach some quite disturbing pages, read it!
April 9, 2024
Labai ilgai dvejojau, ar skaityti šią knygą. Nepaisant puikių atsiliepimų ir intriguojančio aprašymo, mano pirmoji pažintis su autoriumi knygoje "Šarkos" buvo, švelniai tariant, nekokia, tad iš tiesų ilgai nesirįžau ir vis ją atidėdavau į šalį. Prisipažinsiu, buvo momentų ir vietų, kurie mane erzino, pasirodė jau per daug ar nelabai logiški, tačiau bendrai paėmus knyga man labai patiko. Tik pabaiga ir visa ta atomazga manęs nesužavėjo, taip ir liko iki galo neatsakytas klausimas "kodėl?", nes autoriaus paaiškinimas buvo labai jau trumpas bei neįtikinantis.
November 25, 2020
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 4 Drawn Out but Enjoyable Fatale Attraction Stars
Story - 4 Drawn Out but Enjoyable Fatale Attraction Stars
March 25, 2015
**2.5 STARS **
. . . Nuff said.
** Mark Edwards, I'm sorry this story didn't work for me. I wish you much continued success. **
. . . Nuff said.
** Mark Edwards, I'm sorry this story didn't work for me. I wish you much continued success. **
June 13, 2015
As I read Because She Loves Me with the Crime Detective Mystery Thriller group I cannot fault its having a thriller-mode ending in which the villain is revealed @ the finish by launching a murderous attack on the narrator pretty much without warning out of the blue & it is only after the villain has been rendered hors de combat that we are told the backstory that explains the bad hat’s homicidal motivations. I still prefer the old-fashioned method of discovering the criminal by analysing what used to be called ‘clues’ - especially when the author is honest in sharing the principal character’s discoveries with the reader. It was especially annoying that the narrator waits till he is in police custody to share a teenage backstory that makes him look guilty, esp. as it turns out to have no relevance to the book’s outcome. Anyway it was nothing but an adolescent prank - I expect most of us did equally silly things as teenagers, just were luckier they didn’t have serious consequences.
As we were warned by previous readers to expect ‘twists’ I maintained a close eye on all the characters & kept constructing hypotheses involving various of them; none turned out right but I still like some better than what we get. Take a look @ this one when you’ve finished & let me know what you think.
Should you be offered the option of taking off all your clothes & lying down & being chained to a bed or a villain’s attempting to stab you on the spot with a big sharp knife, be smarter than our narrator & risk being stabbed - if you’ve read Harry Bingham or (the appropriately named) Lisa Cutts you’ll know the right moves to make, stab wounds are often not fatal, & whatever the outcome, it’ll be less unpleasant than being slowly tortured to death. Unless you’re the narrator of a thriller like this.
I found the characters very flat & immature. As I remarked earlier, there is no way Andrew would have acquired a fourth-floor flat without a lift unless he hated his sister & never wanted to see her again. People with disabilities & their caregivers are super alert to matters of accessibility. (Believe me, been there, done that.)
Charlie seemed very much the adolescent male fantasy. (Did anyone believe the sex in the freezing pond?) She’s a knock-off of the kind of woman Amy in Gone Girl pretends to be. None of the other characters too offered anything of moral or spiritual value, tho’ there was a bit of the paranormal. Personally I’d rather go the whole nine yards with the spooky stuff or not go @ all.
So my overall judgement is that while the 1st half of this book looked promising, in the end I wish I’d spent the time with something more fulfilling artistically & spiritually. What really kept me going was not the story itself but the pleasure of reading it in the company of the group, & for this I’m grateful. I feel bad that I didn't enjoy Because She Loves Me as much as many of my GR friends, but then few readers liked Dear Daughter as much as I did. Whatever floats your boat.
As we were warned by previous readers to expect ‘twists’ I maintained a close eye on all the characters & kept constructing hypotheses involving various of them; none turned out right but I still like some better than what we get. Take a look @ this one when you’ve finished & let me know what you think.
Should you be offered the option of taking off all your clothes & lying down & being chained to a bed or a villain’s attempting to stab you on the spot with a big sharp knife, be smarter than our narrator & risk being stabbed - if you’ve read Harry Bingham or (the appropriately named) Lisa Cutts you’ll know the right moves to make, stab wounds are often not fatal, & whatever the outcome, it’ll be less unpleasant than being slowly tortured to death. Unless you’re the narrator of a thriller like this.
I found the characters very flat & immature. As I remarked earlier, there is no way Andrew would have acquired a fourth-floor flat without a lift unless he hated his sister & never wanted to see her again. People with disabilities & their caregivers are super alert to matters of accessibility. (Believe me, been there, done that.)
Charlie seemed very much the adolescent male fantasy. (Did anyone believe the sex in the freezing pond?) She’s a knock-off of the kind of woman Amy in Gone Girl pretends to be. None of the other characters too offered anything of moral or spiritual value, tho’ there was a bit of the paranormal. Personally I’d rather go the whole nine yards with the spooky stuff or not go @ all.
So my overall judgement is that while the 1st half of this book looked promising, in the end I wish I’d spent the time with something more fulfilling artistically & spiritually. What really kept me going was not the story itself but the pleasure of reading it in the company of the group, & for this I’m grateful. I feel bad that I didn't enjoy Because She Loves Me as much as many of my GR friends, but then few readers liked Dear Daughter as much as I did. Whatever floats your boat.
June 13, 2015
Rating 4.5
This is the first book I have read by Mark Edwards and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was also the first time I read with a buddy so I think that increased my enjoyment of the whole experience. There is no doubt that Edwards is a talented writer and the mystery unfolded with just the right pace. He wasn't excruciatingly slow to build the tension and he didn't throw it all at the reader in the last chapter. For each mysterious occurrence there were at least two possibilities (if not more) to explain whodunit and that kept me guessing throughout the book. Although the main character was a man there are a lot of strong females in the book which isn't always something I see in the work of a male author.
The Plot:
I'll be brief here as I am sure most of you have read the blurb. Andrew our main character, is a young man who at the tail end of a months long recovery from eye surgery; he suffered from a detached retina. At the doctors office when the tell him he is healed and doesn't have to return he runs into a stunningly beautiful woman who he sees again at the train station. They have a fun night, shopping, clubbing ect. They exchange numbers but a week later he still hasn't heard from her. Then he gets The Call. He and Charlie end up in a whirlwind romance, the type of romance where they are saying I Love You in the first week. But shortly after commencing the relationship strange things start to happen. I don't want to give any of the plot away but suffice it to say these happenings are targeting Andrew's ex-girlfriends and female friends. Before long Andrew can't deny the fact that the beautiful Charlie has a green eyed monster living inside her, and he has to ask: Is she behind this?
The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars from me is the ending. As I mentioned, the author kept me guessing throughout the book about who the bad guy was and I got this one wrong. Usually that's a great thing, it means the author stumped me, surprised me and I love to shocked by a books' ending. But I was more disappointed after the big reveal than shocked or surprised. But that is just my opinion and shouldn't prevent you from reading this book. Highly recommended to any lover of mysteries and thrillers.
This is the first book I have read by Mark Edwards and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was also the first time I read with a buddy so I think that increased my enjoyment of the whole experience. There is no doubt that Edwards is a talented writer and the mystery unfolded with just the right pace. He wasn't excruciatingly slow to build the tension and he didn't throw it all at the reader in the last chapter. For each mysterious occurrence there were at least two possibilities (if not more) to explain whodunit and that kept me guessing throughout the book. Although the main character was a man there are a lot of strong females in the book which isn't always something I see in the work of a male author.
The Plot:
I'll be brief here as I am sure most of you have read the blurb. Andrew our main character, is a young man who at the tail end of a months long recovery from eye surgery; he suffered from a detached retina. At the doctors office when the tell him he is healed and doesn't have to return he runs into a stunningly beautiful woman who he sees again at the train station. They have a fun night, shopping, clubbing ect. They exchange numbers but a week later he still hasn't heard from her. Then he gets The Call. He and Charlie end up in a whirlwind romance, the type of romance where they are saying I Love You in the first week. But shortly after commencing the relationship strange things start to happen. I don't want to give any of the plot away but suffice it to say these happenings are targeting Andrew's ex-girlfriends and female friends. Before long Andrew can't deny the fact that the beautiful Charlie has a green eyed monster living inside her, and he has to ask: Is she behind this?
The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars from me is the ending. As I mentioned, the author kept me guessing throughout the book about who the bad guy was and I got this one wrong. Usually that's a great thing, it means the author stumped me, surprised me and I love to shocked by a books' ending. But I was more disappointed after the big reveal than shocked or surprised. But that is just my opinion and shouldn't prevent you from reading this book. Highly recommended to any lover of mysteries and thrillers.
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