The Teacher: A Gripping Domestic Thriller of Motherhood, Secrets, and Betrayal

by J. Cronshaw

Every mother knows when something’s wrong. But what if no one believes you?

Isabel Draper has the life she always a husband she can trust, two children she adores, and a respectable home by the bay.

Then Daniel Craven arrives.

The new teacher is everything Isabel isn’t—charming, steady, sober.

Her twelve-year-old daughter Olivia idolises him. Her husband befriends him. The whole village trusts him.

But Isabel sees something darker. The way he watches her family. The way he positions himself at the centre of their lives.

Everyone insists she’s paranoid, but Isabel knows she isn't.

Daniel Craven is grooming her daughter—and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The Teacher is a gripping, addictive domestic noir about secrets, obsession, and a mother’s fight to protect her child—perfect for fans of K. L. Slater, Shalini Boland, and Daniel Hurst.

Get your copy now.

Genres: Amazon

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2025

Reviews

[Roxanne Rampage · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started well. However, the first blinding error was in the name. Daniel Foster became Daniel Craven in a matter of pages, alternating between the two. How was this not picked up? I chose to ignore it, as it did become more consistent throughout the book and I was starting to enjoy it. My brother lives in Bare so I thought that was quite funny.

It then became repetitive. The same scenes, describing the drizzle, the kitchen windows fogged from cooking, Olivia doing homework on the table, the same arguments, "I'll just have one glass" and it becomes three, the same knocking on the door.... over and over in a loop. So much so that I thought my kindle had skipped back and I was re-reading the same chapter.

Izzy has been drinking for years. However, after 3 glasses of wine she's slurring and staggering? If I had 3 glasses I would definitely be slurring, as I rarely drink, but how strong was this wine that Izzy was drinking?? A 'hardcore' drinker wouldn't be that drunk.

And the shocking ending? Errrr, nope! As soon as a baby was mentioned, I figured it out. Describing the familiarity in Daniel's features? Yep, I worked that out too. It's blindingly obvious, or am I just more perceptive?

The scene on the pier with her mother involved was just stupid. Why was she still speaking to her mother after all that she'd done?

I read the last chapter, closed my kindle and rolled my eyes. Not sure I'll bother with others by this author. I'll see what reviewers think of his other books. This is a 👎 from me.

[Tom Winterfeld · Rating 1 out of 5]

i don't usually rate the books I read on Kindle.

I finally abandoned reading this one 80% in, in spite of my OCD tendency to finish things no matter their degree of satisfaction.

That said, I completed 49 chapters, hoping something would change about the monotonous pattern that was set by chapter 5 or 6.

In fact, the entire book could have been condensed to those half dozen chapters.

I liked the plot idea. Tension built appropriately as the villain was revealed. However, with each new chapter I felt like I shifted gears, but they weren't engaging. just spinning in place, to find myself at the same place with a new chapter number.

Thanks, but time to start a new book...

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst it was a good book I personally struggled to be like any of the characters. There was a lot of repetition throughout the book which got a little bit boring. However the twist at the end I really wasn’t expecting so for that reason I give it 4 stars.

I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy to read and this is my honest opinion

[Liz Ducote · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was different than what I usually read. It was quite a page turner type of book. You didn't know who to believe or where it was going. There was a twist near the end which I did not see coming. The characters were very engaging. It's amazing how everyone saw a different side to the story..

[Linda Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up

I was surprised to read this author has children (maybe not school age when this book written). Since when does parent's evening consist of seeing one teacher! And do parents really wait at the school gates for children at high school in Morcambe? I think Izzy has too much time in her hands, maybe needs a job. Gave up too unbelievable for words.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Teacher

The plot of the story was good but I just didn’t like any of the characters at all. The twist was good but very predictable.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very twisted tale with hidden truths which you might guess. Depravity abounds.

[Fiona Seabrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

The book was filled with twists and turns. I could put it down as I needed to know what happened next. Highly recommended

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was one I looked forward to reading, however, it was so repetitive and sluggish it was just hard to get through tbh.

[Jolovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed abit similar to his last book. A stranger arrives and starts to turn everyone against the main character, husband chooses to believe this total stranger over his wife (very frustrating). Like the previous book it was abit repetitive and the main twist was obvious. But I didn’t see the ending twist coming and it did shock me. Overall it was an ok book, an easy read.

[Colin Devonshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

My god, what a teacher

You’ve heard of books you can’t put down? Well, that’s one.
I don’t want to give anything away, I thought I’d got all the answers, but no.