The Man

by Laura Sims

From the highly acclaimed author of How Can I Help You, a New York Times Best Thriller of the Year, a singular take on the domestic suspense novel that follows a 1960s housewife turned amateur photographer who begins to fear for her life when she notices the dark silhouette of a man in the background of her self-portraits.

The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she's unprepared to hear his astonished praise. "Stunning," he calls her photos. "Extraordinary." She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.

Still, emboldened by Paul’s encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighborhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith’s story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.

Chilling and heart-poundingly propulsive, The Man is a phenomenal and timely novel exploring the inescapable fear of living as a woman, the tantalizing seduction of artistic freedom, and the very real dangers that lurk both inside and outside the confines of the mind. The Man marks Laura Sims as an extraordinary talent at the top of her game; and this, her third novel, is her greatest achievement yet.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Horror

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Laura Sims’s third novel, THE MAN, is due out from Putnam in July of 2026. Her novels HOW CAN I HELP YOU (2023) and LOOKER (2019) have been on Best Books lists in The New York Times, Vogue, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Publishers Weekly, and more. An award-winning poet, Sims has published four poetry collections; her essays and poems have appeared in The New Republic, Boston Review, Lit Hub, and Electric Lit. She lives in New Jersey, where she works part-time as a children’s librarian.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the 1960s, and Judith Stanley carries her Nikon camera with her, taking pictures for her own satisfaction. She joins a photography class and Paul, her teacher, describes her work as stunning and that she has an uncanny knack of knowing when to snap the shutter. Encouraged by his interest and positive feedback, she ventures out to take more and starts to notice a shadow in the corner of one of her unusual self portraits. Judith is sure it’s The Man. The man who leaves her physically scarred and mentally haunted as a 16-year-old. Common sense should tell her to stop but she won’t, until one night when he emerges from the shadows.

This is a chilling and haunting novel, which has me constantly questioning what’s real and what an illusion but wherever the truth lies it’s certain to be very disturbing. It’s a shocker in more ways than one as ambition overcomes scruples and so it becomes a very twisted and obsessive tale. I’m caught up in the storytelling and find it hard to put down.

It has a black and white movie feel perhaps from the 1940s. The shadow on the photographs strongly reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock’s own shadow but also his use of shadows to create a very unsettling effect, exactly what the author achieves here– it’s very clever and creepy.

This novel would be a great book club choice and would lead to many questions and interesting discussions about Judith, Paul and the enigmatic ending. Does anyone really know Judith? What do her photographs tell us about her? What exactly happens to her as a 16-year-old? What about Paul?

This is an excellent psychological suspense novel which explores the impact of trauma and also what ambition can lead to. I think Laura Sims has written another best seller.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to VERVE Books for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how to quite explain what I just read, but I liked it! It was dark! It also had a character in it that I absolutely despised. Not one redeeming quality. And I think that’s what made it so good!

Hoping to improve upon her photography skills, Judith enrolls in a photography class. One day after class, her professor, Paul, pulls her aside to examine her photos and is astonished with how good they are. He thinks they are so good they could be put in a magazine, but she politely declines.

After a busy day of taking pictures, Judith develops the film to discover that a few of her photos have what at first she thinks is a smudge on them. The more she looks at them, however, she is convinced someone is following her. Could this person following her be related to an assault she had when she was a teenager? Is this stalker just a random person? Or is Judith seeing something in the pictures that isn’t there?

The novel is broken into two parts and they both equally are good… Really good! I found the second half to be more disturbing than the first half. This is one of those novels where you think you know where it’s going and then it completely switches directions. It keeps you on your toes that’s for sure! This is definitely going to leave the reader with a ton of questions. At least it did for me. Usually this makes me a bit frustrated but in this case I found the speculation works well.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy and exchange for an honest review.

[Blair]

I’m a huge fan of Laura Sims’ Looker and How Can I Help You, both of which I recommend often. The Man is much more straightforwardly a historical suspense novel – brisker, hookier and easier to pitch in a single sentence (a housewife-turned-photographer becomes obsessed with a mysterious figure appearing in her pictures). The 60s setting lends the whole thing a certain aesthetic, and Judith’s paranoia is initially effective, if a little repetitive. The first half of the story, especially, occupies similar territory of feminine unravelling and repression as Virginia Feito’s Mrs March. I raced through it very quickly.

But I also think the tradeoff for that increased marketability is depth of character. The main reason Sims’ previous books worked so well for me was that their protagonists felt psychologically layered; here both Judith and Paul are noticeably thinner. Perhaps as a natural consequence of the structure, they’re a little bit one-note, and I unfortunately thought it was pretty obvious very early on where the story was heading with both of them. The historical setting helps contextualise some of the novel’s ideas about gender and power, but it also removes nuance; the story’s relationship to its themes doesn’t have enough space to evolve. Still, even though this one was much less to my personal taste than her earlier work, I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if it ends up being Sims’ biggest book yet. It has that very readable book-club type of energy where, even when I found myself wishing for more substance, I nevertheless kept turning the pages.

I received an advance review copy of The Man from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Leisa Back Porch Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

✨Wow! This is a truly haunting and disquieting, yet quite powerful, read. It’s an absolute page-turner delivered with a pervasive sense of dread and a point of view shift that left me with my jaw on the floor.

✨The book is suspenseful thriller, but it’s also a scathing examination of female agency and gender power dynamics that confronts the ways vulnerable women are exploited or dismissed. While the timeline is 1960s, the themes continue to ring true today.

✨Complex topics like mental health, untreated trauma and women in middle age heightened the tension and have me thinking on this book days after turning the last page.

✨I think this is a book everyone will be talking about when it comes out July 7.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Domestic suspense
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Historical fiction
✨1960s era
✨Photography
✨Atmospheric tension
✨The art world

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Photography is an art, and art can be a razor blade, peeling back layers of civility to reveal stark truths…”

I really enjoyed this- couldn’t put it down! ‘The Man’ is the second book I’ve read by Laura Sims now, and I’ve enjoyed them both equally. She’s definitely an author to watch.

‘The Man’ is a dark thriller full of atmosphere, with themes of creativity, ethics, and gender dynamics. The story is set in the 1960s, and focuses on Judith Stanley, a middle-aged housewife who has taken up an evening photography class to try and rediscover herself. Judith has quite a talent, but shuns the spotlight as she’s hiding from a traumatic past - but she finds great comfort and joy in her newfound hobby, until she starts seeing a dark figure appear in the background of all her self-portraits.

The POV shifts unexpectedly half-way through the novel, taking the story in a whole new direction - and opening up a lot of moral questions, like how far is it acceptable to go for the sake of art? Or whose right is it to tell a person’s story? I was pleasantly surprised by this twist, and it reminded me a lot of one of my favourite books, ‘A Ladder to the Sky’ by John Boyne.

I found it very interesting how the concept of ‘The Man’ could be seen as literal, or quite figurative, manifesting in different ways throughout the story. I also loved how well the author captured the inner lives of the two main characters, helping us to understand their actions (even if nefarious at points). The ending leaves things open to interpretation - we don’t get all the answers, which some readers may find frustrating.

Overall, very enjoyable- I’d highly recommend to thriller fans. ‘The Man’ is published by VERVE books and will be out in the UK 23rd July 2026. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited for this as I’d loved How Can I Help You? Unfortunately this doesn’t quite get off the ground. There are lots of intriguing ideas here but it may have worked better as a short story because it grew fairly redundant. Halfway through there’s a nice shift in the narrative that drew me back in but ultimately it suffered the same fate of feeling redundant.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story involves Judith, a housewife with a passion and talent for photography. She begins to notice a man in the background of all her self-portraits and starts to wonder if her past is coming back to haunt her.

For the first 50% I was heavily invested in Judith’s story. It was heartening to see that, even with such a difficult past and constant attempts to force her hand, she remained strong.

I found Paul unlikeable from the beginning, both haunting and devious. This won’t come as a surprise given what he represents.

Where this fell short for me was the ending. All of the excellent build-up of tension seemed to come to nothing. I don’t mind ambiguity, but this felt like no real answers were given and no conclusion was reached, which was a little disappointing.

I would still recommend this as overall I did enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brielle Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man is about a woman, Judith Stanley, a photography student that keeps seeing a man in all her self portraits. It’s based on real life stalking cases from the 1960s, but it is also about so much more than that.

“Photography is art, and art can be a razor blade, peeling back layers of civility to reveal stark truths.”

The stark truth of this novel explores the inescapable fear of living as a woman with the tension of artistic freedom. The push and pull of this thriller examines identity, agency, and often blurs the lines between past trauma and present dangers. It’s also about men, and what they think they deserve/are entitled to.

This was a thoughtful and impactful story. My only complaint was too much time spent on Paul’s POV and not Judith’s.

✨4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this e-arc. The Man comes out July 7, 2026.

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photography is an art, and art can be a razor blade, peeling back layers of civility to reveal stark truths[...]

This is a book which is full of atmosphere and full of questions, many of which do not get answers. I am not surprised to hear that Sims' past books are divisive — I'm guessing maybe for the same reasons as this one — but I also ended up really enjoying The Man. I could hardly put it down.

Don't expect a typical thriller. It has more of a Runcie's Bring the House Down vibe, but darker. The Man's true mysteries are moral questions, such as: whose right is it to tell a person's story? How much is truth and how much is perception? And how far is it acceptable to go for "art"?

All of these questions emerge through the story of Judith Stanley, middle-aged 1960s housewife turned amateur photographer. Judith doesn't want fame — she has a traumatic past that she'd rather hide from — but she has found some comfort and passion in her new hobby, especially when she discovers that she's actually very good at it. However, when a dark shadow of a man starts to appear in the corner of her photographs, Judith starts to fear her past has come back to haunt her.

It is a very interesting book in which the concept of "The Man" is both literal and figurative, and manifests in various ways throughout the novel. It is also a book where the second half is quite a departure from the first, and I was pleased to find the story went places I was not expecting.

There is a very fascinating kind of despicable character portrayed in this book, one that called to mind another of my favourites, Boyne's A Ladder to the Sky. I found them exceptionally fun to read about— the exact kind of unlikable character that can keep me invested. Even as I watched this scumbag shit on others, invade their privacy and ignore their wishes, their inner life was conveyed spectacularly. They, too, were haunted by demons. It was interesting to see how their demons mirrored and differed from Judith's.

Overall, a super interesting read about art, ethics, and gender dynamics.

[Paul Wagenbreth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Sims’ artistically provocative literary thriller “The Man,” in which photography enthusiast Judith Stanley is being traumatized by mysterious things that seem to be going on both in her photos and her real life, takes a distinctly surprising turn at its halfway point in the manner of a similarly startling development that comes at the very beginning of another recent thriller, Loretta Rothschild's “Finding Grace.”
Which may be giving away the game for those familiar with Rothschild's novel, but just as in that novel, with its dramatic turn concerning a significant character, here too there is a sudden character development which risks loss of readers’ interest with how it removes from the main action a character with whom readers have become deeply emotionally invested.
Still, even with that development, the book continues to hold reader interest with its combination of thriller elements and, of especial interest to anyone with artistic inclinations, issues of artistic composition – something of particular importance for Judith, with how she keeps being troubled by a figure she seems to be seeing in the background of her self-portraits that may just be a photographic glitch or perhaps nothing at all.
Not just in her craft, though, is she feeling troubled, but also in her personal life, where she is enduring unsettling telephone calls from an unidentified person as well as alarming physical encounters with someone who may or may not be the unknown caller.
And then there’s the question of what exactly happened in an assault she suffered in her childhood which might or might not be tied to whatever is going on now – questions made all the more frustrating for a reader by the elliptical way in which the details of the attack are teased out a bit at a time.
Indeed, ellipticalness could be said to be the defining feature of the novel, which, as I’ve indicated, could be seen not just as a straight thriller but also a depiction of Judith’s artistic aspirations which have her spreading her photographic wings a bit after the instructor in a course she’s taking is smitten enough with her work that he urges her to let him try to publish it. But as in the other aspects of the novel, all is not as it appears with his seemingly benevolent interest in her work, something that becomes clearer in the novel’s second half.
Saying more would be giving away too much about the novel, which, as I’ve indicated, alternates between straight thriller fare and more distinctly artistic fare in the vein of another author whose very hallmark might be said to be ellipticalness, John Fowles, whose “French Lieutenant’s Woman” Judith is reading and which is very much about authors and their art.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by the author; I wanted to read it because the premise sounded intriguing: a stay-at-home mother with an empty nest returns to her passion for photography and notices shadows in her pictures that she believes may be the man who abused her when she was a child. I am very happy to have gotten a chance to read an early copy of this great thriller, which is coming out in July 2026.

It's the 1960s in suburban New Jersey and Judith has a Nikon camera and a drive to take photos that are achingly realistic. The way she describes her compositions brings to mind the work of Diane Arbus, a photographer quoted in the epigraph of this book. I really enjoyed all the photography talk and could easily imagine what she was talking about.

Judith's photography professor tells her she has "an uncanny eye"; she also has sharply honed powers of description, which makes her words very effective as well as beautiful. The professor continually presses Judith to share her work with the class, or with the world through submissions to publications that would make her work widely seen, but she maintains her stance on the importance of her own privacy. This creates further internal conflict and ramps up the psychological horror she experiences.

The second part of the story is told from the perspective of Paul, the photography professor. He is not as likeable as Judith, and the tone of the second part of the book is very different from the first. I enjoyed spending time with Judith and getting to know her as she is very sympathetic, but Paul is so selfish it borders on loathsome and this heightens the strength of the first part of the book. The end might not satisfy some readers, but I think it is the best possible outcome given the details outlined in the plot. I really enjoyed this one and I recommend it to fans of unusual psychological thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith Stanley is a wife and empty nester that spends her days taking photographs. In an effort to do something for herself she decides to enroll in a photography class at the local community college. Here she meets her professor Paul who thinks Judith could be a rising star. He urges her emphatically to enter her photos for publication. Something Judith is adamant NOT to do.

When Judith was a teenager she experienced a trauma that was left unresolved and being raised by a grandmother that would rather admonish her than to help her has left her in a fragile mental state. Even her own husband doesn't know the truth of what happened.

Now when Judith takes her photos and develops them in her darkroom at home she notices a man just out of focus in the background. It's not just one, it's all of them. She worries that the man that caused her so much pain long ago has once again returned.

Who is this mystery man? You'll have to read this to find out!

I've been a Laura Sims fan since reading her debut, Looker, years ago. I was thrilled to score an early copy of her latest novel and I'm so pleased to report that it doesn't disappoint.

If I'm being completely honest, I almost DNF'd this one. This started off strong and I was all in trying to figure out who the man was and what was actually happening but around 40% I started getting restless and I couldn't help but wonder if anything would ever happen.

I needn't have worried, as this is Sim's we're talking about, because when part 2 starts it's a head spinner. In the best way possible. From here the momentum skyrockets until we reach the satisfying conclusion. I urge anyone that's thinking of setting this aside to stick with it. The pay off is undoubtedly worth it. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for my complimentary copy.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISTURBING and HAUNTING, I will be looking over my shoulder the next time I walk down the street…

1960s housewife, Judith Stanley, is an empty nester who also just lost her beloved dog, and constant companion, Rosie. To fill the void, she signs up for a photography class-and begins carrying her Nikon camera with her everywhere.

This new passion seems to be helping, especially after she shares her photos with her new photography instructor, Paul Sorenson, who is EFFUSIVE with his praise, and his firm belief that she should submit her work for publication. She has a knack for capturing CANDID shots which show TRUE life-unlike the POSED photographs that she hates taking. But, Judith is a private person who isn’t looking for fame.

Her joy becomes FEAR, when she begins to notice the dark silhouette of a man in the background of every one of her self-portraits-like a smudge.

And, then the phone calls start.

Her greeting of “ Hello-Stanley Residence” is met with silence initially, and then with worse…

The FIRST part of this book is almost like a FEVER DREAM, and you have to wonder if we are reading about another unfulfilled woman’s slow descent into madness. The Paranoia. The Obsession. I was itching to move on….

And, then PART TWO takes us to another place entirely.

Like with her first two books, the author examines the darker side of human nature. You may think that Laura Sims has left what happens open to interpretation. I think she trusts her readers to understand EXACTLY what happened.

I will be thinking about this one for quite some time.

Read it with a friend if you can-you will want to discuss it!

4.5 stars

Expected Publication Date: July 7, 2026

Review for : “How Can I Help You”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

[ruthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to VERVE Books, Laura Sims and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Man before it is released! I first came across Laura Sim's work with her 2024 release, How Can I Help You and LOVED it! So when I spotted The Man on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it early.

I was sucked into the story from the first page and had to remind myself that it was set in 1960s often. Honestly, it could be set now and I would believe it. The Man is a haunting and has an underlying sense of dread running all the way through it. At only 288 pages, I found it impossible to put down and ended up reading it in two sittings. It is now the bar for all domestic suspense/psychological thriller reads from now on. I absolutely devour books with unreliable narrators and The Man was no exception to this rule. I just know that this story is going to stick with me for a long time, I don't think I've read anything like it before and I'm not sure anything will come close to how this has left me feeling anytime soon. I love reading books like this!!!!! A true readers' high!!!!

I've spotted that Laura Sims has another book, Looker - I've added it to my Libby holds so I can't wait to jump back into another Laura Sims story soon! The Man is sure to be a talked about book this summer when it's released and I can see it being a book club pick! I'm excited to see what more people think about it. The Man is out 7th July on ebook and 23rd July in paperback! I can't wait to listen to this on audiobook when it's available!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man is one of those novels that gets under your skin in the most unsettling way. Laura Sims has created a slow‑burn psychological suspense that feels both intimate and claustrophobic, following Judith—a 1960s housewife whose private passion for photography becomes the doorway to something far darker.

Judith is such a compelling narrator. Her world is small, orderly, and carefully controlled, and watching her step beyond the boundaries of her suburban life is fascinating. The early chapters have a dreamy, almost nostalgic quality, which makes the creeping dread that follows all the more effective. Sims captures that era’s quiet domestic constraints so well, and then cracks them open with a single, haunting detail: the shadowy figure appearing in Judith’s self‑portraits.

The tension builds beautifully. Is the man real? Is he a memory? A threat? Sims keeps you hovering in that uneasy space where fear and imagination blur, and it’s incredibly effective. The sensory details—the click of the camera, the hush of Judith’s home, the city’s pulse—add to the atmosphere without ever overwhelming the story.

What I loved most is how the novel explores the vulnerability of being a woman, especially in a time when your voice and your fears were so easily dismissed. Judith’s desire for artistic freedom collides with the terror of being watched, followed, remembered. It’s haunting, but also deeply human.

Elegant, eerie, and quietly propulsive, The Man is a standout domestic suspense novel that lingers long after the final page.

With thanks to Laura Sims, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, VERVE Books, and Laura Sims for an ARC of 'The Man'.

This book follows Judith, a 1960s housewife with a quiet life and a passion for photography. But she has a darkness looming over her: a man who appears as a blurry silouhette in the background of her shots, as an anonymous caller, lost in the faces of New York crowds, and ultimately at the other end of a blade. Following her murder, the narrative is picked up by her photography lecturer Paul, a kleptomaniac who becomes obsessed with championing Judith's work, no matter the cost.

But who is this man? He is simultaneously a literal figure stalking his victims and a figurative representation of everything negative in their lives. He is a manifestation of Judith's submissive, oppressed, sheltered, traumatised life. He is an embodiment of Paul's violent tendencies, his criminal acts, his greed, his lust. I particularly enjoyed the theme of photography in this dynamic, symbolising the interplay between the constructed illusions caught by Judith on camera and the illusions which creep into our everyday lives... through tricks of the light, and tricks of the mind. I also liked the questions raised my 'The Man' around moral obligation, obsession, and gender dynamics - I found it interesting that the only man who champions Judith does so violently, against her will, and for his own gain.

While I mostly enjoyed this book, I was left feeling unsatisfied by its end. Quite what or who "the man" is, and what actually happens to Judith and Paul, remain unclear. I understand it is left purposefully vague, but instead of feeling like a mystery, the puzzle just felt unfinished. Unconsidered by the author. Overall, though, a good read.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was...weird. So was the last book of hers that I read - How Can i Help You - so this wasn't completely unexpected. What was completely unexpected was the perspective shift and the reason for it - that one hit me from left field. I'll be honest, leading up to that point I had almost stopped reading several times and was in fact skimming - right up until the stunning surprise twist. I was re-energized and excited to keep reading after that, but things quickly fell back into the same slow-burn lull that I had felt in the lead-up to that point.

I guess what it all boils down to for me is that this was a really uneven read in which there were moments of tremendous engagement followed by periods of extensive disengagement. The concept is really fantastic and I liked a lot of things about the book, but I do feel that the tension was drawn out so far that it actually served the opposite purpose and wound up de-escalating my feelings of anxiety and curiosity to see what would happen next. The result was an up and down in attention and engagement that I found distracting and almost led to me putting the book down for good several times.

I'm glad I stuck with it, on the whole, but I'm also glad I skimmed when necessary. The characters are pretty universally unlikable - yes, even poor Judith - and that made the establishment of true connection with them difficult for me. Add in the uneven pacing and the result, while interesting, really wasn't my cup of tea. It was fascinating but not necessarily enjoyable...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

TBH I only wanted to read this book because the @putnambooks team KILLED the cover, but did it deliver on its intrigue? 😇 🤔

Laura Sims’s THE MAN is a dark, unsettling psychological thriller that follows Judith Stanley, an empty nester who discovers an unexpected talent for photography. Encouraged by her instructor to share her extraordinary work with the world, Judith instead becomes consumed by strange figures appearing in her photographs—particularly a shadowy man she believes may be connected to a traumatic assault from her past. As her obsession grows, so does the question of whether she is being stalked or losing her grip on reality. Thank you @putnambooks for this gifted copy and @prhaudio for my gifted ALC! I chose to read this book via the audiobook route and it did not disappoint!

I found this novel impossible to categorize, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story takes a sharp and unexpected turn halfway through, transforming from a slow-burning mystery into something far more disturbing and thought-provoking. Judith is a fascinating protagonist, but there's other characters that lead the story along as well. Though the book leaves me with plenty of unanswered questions, the ambiguity works in its favor, creating a chilling and memorable exploration of trauma, fear, and the dangerous allure of artistic freedom. I read Sims's debut Looker and if you told me that this is the same author, I wouldn't have believed you because it is vastly stronger in craft and storyline. I would definitely pick up another book by this author if its anything like THE MAN. STARS: 4, PUB: 7/7

[Sherry Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
60s housewife, Judith, doesn’t have a lot, but she has her Nikon and endless rolls of film, a darkroom in her basement. And once a week, she attends a course on photography at the local community college just outside NYC in New Jersey.

Judith also has a secret, something she’s never told anyone since it happened when she was a teenager.

Her husband, Tom, is quiet and stoic. He doesn’t understand her little hobby but supports her nonetheless.

Paul is her instructor at the college. A photographer who dreamed of fame, caught a glimpse but he could never grab hold.

In Judith’s photos he sees a remarkable gift, begging her to let him help her pursue publication or a gallery show.

Judith is adamant. They are just for her - and Paul.

Then one night everything changes.

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
What the hell did I just read?

I went in expecting a straightforward, creepy thriller but what I got was a creepy book divided into two distinct halves with a lot of psychological torment and an open ending.

Loved the setting. NYC in the 60s and everybody was using film cameras? Yes.

I found Judith to be complex and absolutely unreliable. Paul through her eyes was one man; Paul as a narrator was something else (a real piece of work).

𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
It feels like you’re being gaslit and also think of a man you hate who really has it coming to him and it’s that vibe.

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
Tricky to be sure. Ambiguous endings are usually difficult for me but this one was so much more than that. I went down a rabbit hole reading other people’s thoughts on this one to see what I might have missed.

It’s that kind of book.

3.5⭐️

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and VERVE Books for the advance copy!

Set to be the book club staple for 2026 and for good reason, The Man by Laura Sims is a suspense novel that looks at trauma, tension and gender dynamics. It follows 1960s housewife Judith, who lives with a dark history and a passion and unique skill of photography, who after a small tragedy starts to see a mysterious figure appearing in her self-portraits and seems to be following her. Judith finds her escape in photographic and is extremely skilled as pointed out by her professor Paul who reminds her of her worth throughout, but the escape starts to be impacted by this man who won’t leave Judith alone.

I did enjoy this overall, especially the split parts which made for a tone change I didn’t expect to see, and which kept me guessing even when I was convinced I knew what was happening a few times. An engaging read but one that felt a little bogged down in some themes that left me feeling like this was unresolved, which may be part of the point, I get. The look at how our inner demons can overtake and invade all parts of our lives even when we think we have a hold on things was done very well, but unfortunately the ending didn’t work for me completely, which was a shame!

As mentioned, this is something a lot of people will enjoy and get a lot from, and will definitely spark great conversations about trauma, gender dynamics, the ethics of art and the nature of ownership.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this one, especially since it was my first time reading this author, but I appreciated that it took a different approach to psychological suspense. Rather than relying on shocking twists or nonstop tension, the story slowly unravels through an unsettling atmosphere and an intimate look at its protagonist’s state of mind.

The strongest aspect for me was the writing. It has a quiet, almost hypnotic quality that perfectly complements the 1960s setting, creating a lingering sense of unease throughout. Judith’s love of photography also added an interesting layer to her character, giving her a unique perspective while subtly reinforcing the novel’s themes of perception and reality.

That said, the pacing was a bit too slow for me, and it took me longer than expected to finish this one. I kept waiting for the tension to build into something more gripping, but the story remained restrained from beginning to end. While I don’t mind ambiguity in psychological fiction, some of the unanswered questions in the end felt more vague than thought-provoking.

Overall, this wasn’t a standout read for me, but I can absolutely see it appealing to readers who enjoy slow-burning, atmospheric novels that prioritize character study and mood over action, twists, or high-stakes suspense.

** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **

[Eman Elkwisni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man by Laura Sims was so riveting, I couldn’t put it down. This story lingered long after I finished, leaving me deep in thought. We follow Judith Stanley, a housewife with a passion for photography, as she navigates past trauma while taking a photography course. She's incredibly talented, and her professor, Paul Sorenson, pushes her to share her art with the world. As Judith works on her craft, she becomes tormented by the unsettling feeling that someone is watching her from the shadows and the events that unfold are truly haunting.

What makes The Man even more gripping is experiencing the unfolding events through the eyes of deeply unreliable narrators. You’re left questioning everything, what really happened, who can be trusted, and how much is shaped by perception. There’s a rawness and creepiness woven into this story that gets under your skin in the best way. Following the characters’ thoughts and unraveling their psyches through their shifting points of view is deeply compelling and eerie. We come across themes of self-discovery and how trauma can linger for years, resurfacing as fear and self-doubt. The paranoia of surveillance and being watched pulses through these pages. There are powerful explorations of perception, blurred realities and entitlement. This truly is psychological thriller at its finest!

[Jess Reads Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for the eARC.

Judith is a housewife, a mother. A regular 1960s woman who does all her chores and waits for her husband to come home for dinner. She has a keen eye for photography, and she proceeds to take photography classes at a local college. However, the more she immerses herself in her hobby, the more her past comes back to haunt her. Until one day she can no longer fight back.

I had no idea what to expect from this book and I went in mostly blind. I was so blown away and it evoked such strong emotions within me while reading. Anger, hatred, pity, sorrow, and of course, massive anxiety. Judith is a very likable character. I feel for her, but also knowing that this story takes place in the 1960s, expectations and such need to be managed. Women did not have what we have nowadays, and many times they were seen as below men. A standard patriarchal society.

I don’t want to give anything away, because this whole story took me by surprise halfway through. But if you’re looking for a character spirals, a domestic thriller, and varied characters, and also okay with ambiguous endings… definitely give this a go. It’s so tense, and I had a hard time putting it down. I did have to take breaks because I was so anxious though! I really wanted to know more about Judith, but it seems that the author intentionally left some things unsaid.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into The Man with zero expectations since this was a new-to-me author, and ended up feeling like I’d taken a slow, eerie walk through someone’s mind. This isn’t a flashy, twisty thriller — it’s quiet and unsettling, with more focus on atmosphere and psychology than plot.

The story follows Judith Stanley, a 1960s housewife who notices a mysterious man appearing in the background of her self-portraits, and from there explores obsession, fear, and what it means to feel seen or invisible. What worked for me was the haunting, introspective writing and the moody 1960s domestic vibe, which felt more like a psychological portrait than straight suspense. I also liked how Judith’s passion for photography was woven into her identity and growing unease.

A couple things that didn’t work for me, though, were mainly the pacing and tension. It’s very slow, and I found myself wanting more urgency or at least one real pulse-pounding moment. Some of the ambiguity felt intentional but ended up a little foggy instead of intriguing.

Although this wasn’t a particularly interesting read for me, I’d recommend this for those who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven psychological fiction rather than fast-paced thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the advance copy of this new-to-me author in exchange for my honest review.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychological thriller set in the 1960s dealing with the effects of early trauma on a life and the ends to which someone will go to achieve success.

Judith Stanley is a simple housewife which a passion for photography. She takes pictures only for herself but one day she shares some with her photography teacher, Paul Sorensen, who appreciates Judith’s creative abilities. But as Judith continues her work, a male figure keeps appearing on the fringes of her pictures. Is this the man who caused her trauma years ago? Paul’s discovery of Judith’s pictures leads him to visioning himself as an art entrepreneur but he soon finds this creates hate over his hyping of Judith’s work. This brings out Paul’s dark side as the book comes to its stunning conclusion.

The book is cleverly split into two parts. The first part is narrated by Judith giving insight into her earlier trauma and how this impacts her work and life. Part two is narrated by Paul as he exploits Judith’s work and becomes unhinged by the criticism he’s being given over this. In separating the two protagonists, I think by fashioning the book this way we experience different people experiencing “parallel” paranoias: she’s meek but innovative; he’s talented but egotistical. It’s the outcome in the telling that blends the two together.

My thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam & Sons for allowing me access to this ARC.

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a remarkably unsettling story about agency and trauma. "The Man" follows Judith, a housewife in the 1960s who uses her passion for photography to self soothe. It helps her process things and work through her feelings. When she shows her photography professor her work, she is shocked at his immediate enthusiasm for her photos.

Judith is equally enthralled and terrified by her pictures when she begins seeing the same man in every photo. She fears this is connected to something awful that happened to her as a child, something that unfortunately shaped who she is. Her professor begins to pressure her to publish her work, but Judith refuses. Judith finds herself in very grave danger and we are taken on a non stop thrill ride through the mystery, obsession, and entitlement this book provides.

Every level of this book was intense. This breaks the typical story mold and does it in such a great way. The time period gave a great vibe to the story. We know how talented women have been taken advantage of through the years, and how overbearing men can and will be in different power dynamics. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.

[Bryony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing drew me from the first chapter, every sentence is carefully chosen to add meaning and depth to the story and the characters. The writing enthralls me, reading about the obsession has made me obsessed with this book. We follow Judith, a talented photographer who had a troubled childhood which has stuck with her to adulthood. She goes to a photography class, and the increased photos has shown a man, a shadow, in the back of every self portrait. However, he doesn't stay in the photos.


This is a literary suspense novel, with psychological terror throughout, for the character and the reader. We are always left hanging on every word, wondering what is going to happen next. The short chapter format heightens this feeling, until the reader is left looking over their shoulder wondering if there is a shadow in their life waiting to be revealed. 


The ending isn't clear cut, we are left with our own imaginations and interruptions about what it all meant, about Paul and Judith. This is one of the best books I have read this year and I will never stop praising the author and her writing this is the second book I have read of hers and the second 5⭐.

[Tabathareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC!

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a slow burn psychological suspense that completely pulled me in. The atmosphere was unsettling from the very beginning, and there was a constant sense of unease that only grew stronger as the story progressed. I loved following Judith as she stepped outside the boundaries of the life she had always known and became more consumed by her photography.

Even though this is a slower paced story, it really worked for me. The tension builds gradually, and I found myself fully invested in Judith’s perspective and questioning what was real right alongside her. The themes surrounding womanhood, fear, freedom, and creativity were woven into the story so well.

My only real issue was the ending. It is very ambiguous, and while I can appreciate what the author was trying to do, I personally wanted more closure. I finished the book with a lot of thoughts and interpretations, but also with a few lingering frustrations. Even so, I loved the journey and found this to be a haunting, thought provoking read!

[livvy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

Judith Stanley is a middle aged housewife-turned-hobby-photographer with a talent that goes beyond that of her younger night school professor, Paul. Captivated by her innate ability, Paul unsuccessfully encourages Judith to allow him to submit her photographs to a magazine, not understanding the depth of her protests. Judith has been cropping a dark, menacing stalker out of her work.

The book considers gender disparity and outlines people’s response to gender based violence in the 1930’s and 60’s well, invoking anger at ‘The Man’, the art world and human nature’s morbid curiosity.

Having not one but two unreliable narrators (a split I was not expecting) emphasises the suspense throughout the novel, keeping you guessing when you think you can predict what happens next.

Ultimately, the ending was not satisfying enough and left me with too many questions! What actually happened?!

[Michael Schein · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface, The Man...like Laura Sims's other books...seems like a modern literary thriller. And sure, it is that. But her work has long struck me to have more in common with classic masters of dread like Edgar Allen Poe than with the spate of "Girl-On-A" books flooding our Amazon recommendations and Barnes & Noble end tables. What keeps you turning a Laura Sims book is the warped and twisted results of resentful people deluding themselves. The Man turns this dynamic up to eleven. It takes us directly into the hearts and minds of characters who torture themselves relentlessly without even realizing what they're doing. It took me in all kinds of directions I didn't see coming. Multiple times, in fact. Sit on the beach or on the porch or at the pool this summer and read The Man. None of the people knocking beachballs around in their swim trunks will have any idea you are living inside of the darkest parts of the human psyche.