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Twisted Obsession: A Dark Stalker Romance
RILEY
He let me live.
On New Year’s Eve, I became a witness to a slaughter. The massacre wasn’t just a headline for me; it was the night my life was stolen, and a nightmare was born.
I ran from the man in the bone-white mask, desperate to weave a new life from the frayed ends of my old one. Across the country, I’m determined to finish college and move on with Theo. He’s kind, understanding, and the only person who sees past the stories and rumors.
But the monster didn’t just haunt my dreams. He found me. His touch ignites a darkness inside of me I didn’t know I had—a secret, shameful hunger for the thing I fear most.
I fell for the man who held me, all while craving the one who broke me.
Maybe I was never meant to be saved.
THEO
From the moment I saw her, I knew she wasn’t meant for a shallow grave.
By day, I’m Theo, her compassionate protector, her shoulder to cry on. The perfect boyfriend built from a foundation of lies. But in the dark, I am the god of her nightmares.
She thinks she fell in love with a good man. The truth is, she fell in love with her own destruction.
I will burn down her world, friend by friend, hope by hope—until the only thing left in the ashes is me. I orchestrate her every fear, then kiss away every tear. Because I don’t just want her body; I want her soul, stripped bare and remade in my image.
She thinks I spared her. In reality, I just saved her for myself.
It’s time to hunt, my Little Doe.
This is a dark romance intended for an adult audience. Please see the author's website for a comprehensive list of CWs
He let me live.
On New Year’s Eve, I became a witness to a slaughter. The massacre wasn’t just a headline for me; it was the night my life was stolen, and a nightmare was born.
I ran from the man in the bone-white mask, desperate to weave a new life from the frayed ends of my old one. Across the country, I’m determined to finish college and move on with Theo. He’s kind, understanding, and the only person who sees past the stories and rumors.
But the monster didn’t just haunt my dreams. He found me. His touch ignites a darkness inside of me I didn’t know I had—a secret, shameful hunger for the thing I fear most.
I fell for the man who held me, all while craving the one who broke me.
Maybe I was never meant to be saved.
THEO
From the moment I saw her, I knew she wasn’t meant for a shallow grave.
By day, I’m Theo, her compassionate protector, her shoulder to cry on. The perfect boyfriend built from a foundation of lies. But in the dark, I am the god of her nightmares.
She thinks she fell in love with a good man. The truth is, she fell in love with her own destruction.
I will burn down her world, friend by friend, hope by hope—until the only thing left in the ashes is me. I orchestrate her every fear, then kiss away every tear. Because I don’t just want her body; I want her soul, stripped bare and remade in my image.
She thinks I spared her. In reality, I just saved her for myself.
It’s time to hunt, my Little Doe.
This is a dark romance intended for an adult audience. Please see the author's website for a comprehensive list of CWs
372 pages, ebook
Published November 3, 2025
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Rena Krowe
8 books34 followersRena Krowe is an author who specializes in crafting dark and edgy romance tales with morally ambiguous leads. Her stories often feature obsessive anti-heroes, villains, and the women who captivate them. With a penchant for exploring the twisted nature of love and desire, her books are a delicious indulgence for those who crave a dose of danger with their romance.
When she's not writing, Rena enjoys watching horror movies, listening to podcasts, and playing video games. Her background in psychology also influences her work, as she is fascinated by the human psyche and what drives people to act the way they do. Currently, she resides in the US with her partner and beloved furry companions.
When she's not writing, Rena enjoys watching horror movies, listening to podcasts, and playing video games. Her background in psychology also influences her work, as she is fascinated by the human psyche and what drives people to act the way they do. Currently, she resides in the US with her partner and beloved furry companions.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 21, 2025
Well, this just keeps you gripped and turning those pages 🫣
Riley, after being a witness to a m^rder flees the only home she knew, as people gossip about her, alienate her and make her feel all alone. Across the country she starts her life again at university, unfortunately for her, the stalker follows her and her story takes on a whole new meaning, from a new start to a new ending. Will he bait her for d3ath? Will she ever feel loved and not alone?
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧^*𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.
It’s a smorgasbord of ‘if’s’, ‘buts’ and ‘what’ 😬 The board throughout the story is being set but Rena ensures we don’t know where it will end, the intrigue, the m^rders, the hot spicy scenes with D/s interaction are all a prelude. It’s an in depth read of their amalgamated lives, giving us effective visuals all the way through ensuring you feel like you are a part of the story. A captivating dark stalker read…do you need more of an excuse to read it 😉 Warnings are there should you choose to digest them 🖤
Riley, after being a witness to a m^rder flees the only home she knew, as people gossip about her, alienate her and make her feel all alone. Across the country she starts her life again at university, unfortunately for her, the stalker follows her and her story takes on a whole new meaning, from a new start to a new ending. Will he bait her for d3ath? Will she ever feel loved and not alone?
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧^*𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.
It’s a smorgasbord of ‘if’s’, ‘buts’ and ‘what’ 😬 The board throughout the story is being set but Rena ensures we don’t know where it will end, the intrigue, the m^rders, the hot spicy scenes with D/s interaction are all a prelude. It’s an in depth read of their amalgamated lives, giving us effective visuals all the way through ensuring you feel like you are a part of the story. A captivating dark stalker read…do you need more of an excuse to read it 😉 Warnings are there should you choose to digest them 🖤
November 5, 2025
Personally this was not for me and is more of a two but could be the genre. If this was on a true crime podcast I may have a different response. I went into this book thinking it was a typical “Dark stalker romance” and I feel it was more of a true crime documentary. I really struggled to understand why Riley behaved the way she did and looked at reviews being promised a “plot twist”. If your even 25% of the book hoping it gets better or becomes the type of stalker romance that’s more of a romance read, then it doesn’t get better. The reader is made to believe that after “witnessing” a murder Riley becomes the outcast of her town. Closes herself off from everyone then months later chooses to move to a new town for school. Riley is meant to be smart enough to get into a psychology major. Riley is so terrified of EVERYTHING that she barely has one friend who she still is cautious of. *someone walks past her dorm room door* causes panic that sends her into a state of shocked stillness. But yet the story that unfolds had me waiting for her to be the next victim of the serial killer or acting the part of “the survivor who got away” So yeah if you’ve got your true crime glasses on this is for you, if you’ve got your romance goggles on then I’d suggest it’s probably not. Well written enough to give me all these feelings about it tho and have questions 🤣
Spoilers ahead
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Readers are meant to believe that Riley is so terrified and on edge after witnessing a murder to the point where she can’t look at people’s faces or have people approach her without her clutching the closest object to use as a weapon, no matter gender or age. I didn’t like how Josh and Lachlan were immediately painted at villains and yet we had Theo popping up out of no where and it was fine and welcomed and would’ve been the same height if not build as the “killer”. She left a party to walk a dark alley with a male stranger and she had no concerns. At all. Tbh I hit about halfway and was believing that she was in on the murders. There was a mention of her posting her fantasy on the site and I was waiting for the “twist” to be that she had invited him over and then he either killed the couple after she left or she got off on the killing then she played victim. Even after she agrees to meet and fuck the guys she’s so terrified of, she’s still playing the part. Theo’s acting deserves a Grammy and how she didn’t recognise his voice or find it weird that Theo would leave and suddenly the killer had dropped off a package baffled me. Also was she not tied up in the last main confrontation scene with the detective, how’d she get up and stab a seasoned detective? I know it’s set in 2016 and obviously their police systems aren’t great but 1 campus cop and no investigation to THREE murders directly connected to Riley. I really thought dots would connect when he dobbed in the campus cop because again Riley was the “Victim”, also how is she just chilling in her dorm no classes, or if she’s going to classes, teachers aren’t noticing her bruised face or welts around her wrists? It’s giving two psychopaths met up to live out a masked family and they BOTH got off on the killing so they TOGETHER kept going 🤷🏼♀️ couples that slay together and all.
Spoilers ahead
.
.
.
.
.
Readers are meant to believe that Riley is so terrified and on edge after witnessing a murder to the point where she can’t look at people’s faces or have people approach her without her clutching the closest object to use as a weapon, no matter gender or age. I didn’t like how Josh and Lachlan were immediately painted at villains and yet we had Theo popping up out of no where and it was fine and welcomed and would’ve been the same height if not build as the “killer”. She left a party to walk a dark alley with a male stranger and she had no concerns. At all. Tbh I hit about halfway and was believing that she was in on the murders. There was a mention of her posting her fantasy on the site and I was waiting for the “twist” to be that she had invited him over and then he either killed the couple after she left or she got off on the killing then she played victim. Even after she agrees to meet and fuck the guys she’s so terrified of, she’s still playing the part. Theo’s acting deserves a Grammy and how she didn’t recognise his voice or find it weird that Theo would leave and suddenly the killer had dropped off a package baffled me. Also was she not tied up in the last main confrontation scene with the detective, how’d she get up and stab a seasoned detective? I know it’s set in 2016 and obviously their police systems aren’t great but 1 campus cop and no investigation to THREE murders directly connected to Riley. I really thought dots would connect when he dobbed in the campus cop because again Riley was the “Victim”, also how is she just chilling in her dorm no classes, or if she’s going to classes, teachers aren’t noticing her bruised face or welts around her wrists? It’s giving two psychopaths met up to live out a masked family and they BOTH got off on the killing so they TOGETHER kept going 🤷🏼♀️ couples that slay together and all.
November 2, 2025
Manipulate (verb): control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.
Theo’s (mmc) picture should be included in the dictionary as an excellent example of how to properly utilize the word manipulate!
He’s obsessive, meticulous, tenacious. A shark preying on an injured seal.
Riley (fmc) is running from her past. But no matter of far she runs, she can’t stop the bleeding from her mental and emotional wounds.
She’s traumatized, withdrawn, reticent. The perfect prey for an apex predator.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Twisted Obsession. It pulled me in like a moth to a flame. And eventhough I knew my wings would be burned, I kept reaching for the fire. Even knowing where Theo and Riley would eventually end up, I couldn’t not turn the page. I couldn’t turn away from their story. I felt compelled to know and understand every step of their journey. Every nuance of their characters.
The characters, the plot and the world Rena Krowe brings to life for her readers is downright dark and disturbing. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
There are plot holes I wanted to be filled. Areas that needed to be more carefully thought out. (Which is why I can’t give it 5 stars.) Eventhough they exist, it doesn’t take away from the overall story.
I received an advanced copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Theo’s (mmc) picture should be included in the dictionary as an excellent example of how to properly utilize the word manipulate!
He’s obsessive, meticulous, tenacious. A shark preying on an injured seal.
Riley (fmc) is running from her past. But no matter of far she runs, she can’t stop the bleeding from her mental and emotional wounds.
She’s traumatized, withdrawn, reticent. The perfect prey for an apex predator.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Twisted Obsession. It pulled me in like a moth to a flame. And eventhough I knew my wings would be burned, I kept reaching for the fire. Even knowing where Theo and Riley would eventually end up, I couldn’t not turn the page. I couldn’t turn away from their story. I felt compelled to know and understand every step of their journey. Every nuance of their characters.
The characters, the plot and the world Rena Krowe brings to life for her readers is downright dark and disturbing. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
There are plot holes I wanted to be filled. Areas that needed to be more carefully thought out. (Which is why I can’t give it 5 stars.) Eventhough they exist, it doesn’t take away from the overall story.
I received an advanced copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 30, 2025
Riley is a witness to a double murder. She's seen by the killer, and she flees for her life. He could have caught her. He could have killed her, but he lets her go and the question of "Why?" haunts Riley every day and night. She moves 1000 miles away to hide, to rebuild. But we can rarely outrun our demons, and this demon knows exactly where she ran and he intends to find her again.
Rena Krowe has quickly become one of my favorite dark romance authors. Her dark stalker romances are something else. Dark, insidious, these stalkers always find a way to infiltrate and ruin from the inside out. Her stalkers don't have a good side. They don't show everyone else their evil side and save their softness for the girl. They trick her. They hide in plain sight. They break her down and until there's nothing left and then they rebuild her from nothing. It's diabolical, and it's one of the things that I love about her writing.
If you like your stalker romances to lean a little more black than gray, you'll enjoy this read. Highly recommend for dark romance readers! Thank you to Rena Krowe for an advanced reader's copy of this book.
Rena Krowe has quickly become one of my favorite dark romance authors. Her dark stalker romances are something else. Dark, insidious, these stalkers always find a way to infiltrate and ruin from the inside out. Her stalkers don't have a good side. They don't show everyone else their evil side and save their softness for the girl. They trick her. They hide in plain sight. They break her down and until there's nothing left and then they rebuild her from nothing. It's diabolical, and it's one of the things that I love about her writing.
If you like your stalker romances to lean a little more black than gray, you'll enjoy this read. Highly recommend for dark romance readers! Thank you to Rena Krowe for an advanced reader's copy of this book.
December 28, 2025
This story was ok for what it was, it just didn't do it for me. The story portrays Riley as extremely traumatized after witnessing a murder, yet she behaves inconsistently—walking alone with a stranger and showing no concern. Josh and Lachlan are painted as villains without much justification, while Theo, who resembles the killer, is welcomed without question. I started to suspect Riley might be involved in the murders, especially after she posted about her fantasies online. Even after agreeing to meet the guys she fears, her terror seems unconvincing. Theo's acting is noteworthy, and it's hard to believe Riley didn't recognize his voice or that she could escape a confrontation to stab a detective. The police response to three murders linked to her seems lacking, and I wondered how she could go to class unnoticed with visible injuries. It felt like a setup for a twisted couple enjoying their dark escapades together.
November 3, 2025
My god that was a ride. I wholeheartedly went through the book anticipating a wholly different ending. The dual POV had me on the edge of a seat getting both sides of the same story. I can’t lie and say I didn’t fall for the golden retriever vibes of Theo. But the sharpened blades, darkness and shadows were the things that drew me in and held me captive. Rena Krowe captured the darkness that can exist in humanity and the fragility of the human mind. She proved how fast the strongest of minds can crack and fissure under pressure… or beneath the hands of someone that lurks in the shadows. For anyone who has ever had a fantasy of a masked man that would ☠️ to have you in his possession? I indefinitely recommend this damn book. OH and did I mention he’s exceptionally possessive and if you touch her? You’ll either ☠️… or wish you had
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
November 4, 2025
Twisted Obsession is a psychological thriller with heavy slasher vibes and a dose of steamy surrender. The dynamic between Riley and Theo is intense, and I loved that readers not only get to watch Riley’s descent down the rabbit hole but also see how Todd orchestrates every move behind the scenes.
This book fully delivers on the stalker theme and doesn’t shy away from the darker edges. The spice is hot and carries that deliciously dark twisted tone.
Out of all Rena Krowe’s dark stalker romances, this one might be my favorite. There’s just something about it that hooked me, and I couldn’t put it down.
This book fully delivers on the stalker theme and doesn’t shy away from the darker edges. The spice is hot and carries that deliciously dark twisted tone.
Out of all Rena Krowe’s dark stalker romances, this one might be my favorite. There’s just something about it that hooked me, and I couldn’t put it down.
November 18, 2025
Another classic slasher style story! While the double life went on a little longer than it needed to, making it increasingly unbelievable….isn’t that kind of the point of stories like these? The juxtaposition of our female lead who is smart and a survivor, only to gaslight herself (whether she knows it or not) into believing she’s safe with her boyfriend and not see the signs as we’re screaming at her is again, classic slasher storytelling. Although I was expecting some sort of backstory from our hero/villain, do we really need one? Unhinged and for no reason other than they wanted to tends to make us uncomfortable if we don’t understand the why of something. This creates horror elements extending beyond the gore.
November 1, 2025
Loved this! It's Riley & Theo's story & it was disturbing. Riley was a witness to something truly horrible & because of it & the looks & gossip she left home hoping to start somewhere new. She does get to start over for the most part, but things start happening. Theo is all you could want in a boyfriend, but he has secrets. I loved the spice & the suspense of this book! Highly recommend this book & author!
November 2, 2025
This book truly is twisted. This is book 4 in the series of lightly interconnected stories, but they can be read separately. Definitely check the content description as this is a dark book with very mature themes.
Riley witnesses a very brutal crime and in trying to cope, she tries to start a new life where no one knows who she is. Unfortunately for her, the killer follows and what ensues was unexpected. Very spicy and very unexpected, I look forward to reading more works by Rena Krowe.
Riley witnesses a very brutal crime and in trying to cope, she tries to start a new life where no one knows who she is. Unfortunately for her, the killer follows and what ensues was unexpected. Very spicy and very unexpected, I look forward to reading more works by Rena Krowe.
November 4, 2025
This was a great addition to the series. Make sure to read the trigger warnings, this covers some dark topics. I enjoyed this book and was hooked from the start and didn’t want to put it down. After witnessing something she shouldn’t have, she is forced to move and start over. Theo is possessive and has touch her and be unalived vibes. The suspense and spice are well done and I am loving this series.
November 8, 2025
Dark, Twisted, and Dirty Thrill Ride!!
Throughout this book, I had no idea how this was going to end. For most of the book I didn’t think it was going to end well for Riley. Theo reminded me of a cat playing with his food with how he manipulated Riley. Talk about psychological warfare! It was definitely a ride with Riley’s psyche and how she was molded throughout the story. It was a hooking plot that reeled me in and didn’t let me go!
Throughout this book, I had no idea how this was going to end. For most of the book I didn’t think it was going to end well for Riley. Theo reminded me of a cat playing with his food with how he manipulated Riley. Talk about psychological warfare! It was definitely a ride with Riley’s psyche and how she was molded throughout the story. It was a hooking plot that reeled me in and didn’t let me go!
November 17, 2025
Twisted Obsession by Rena Krowe
MMC- Theo
FMC- Riley
This is my first read by this author. This is a stalker romance.
After being a witness to a murder, Riley flees the only home she has known. Across the country, she starts her life again at university. However, her stalker follows her. Enter Theo. 🖤
MMC- Theo
FMC- Riley
This is my first read by this author. This is a stalker romance.
After being a witness to a murder, Riley flees the only home she has known. Across the country, she starts her life again at university. However, her stalker follows her. Enter Theo. 🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
⭐️⭐️.5
I think this one just wasn’t for me. I liked the beginning a lot and the slasher film vibes but then it started to fall flat for me. I can definitely see why other people like this though. It’s definitely a very dark romance with the focus on the spice.
⭐️⭐️.5
I think this one just wasn’t for me. I liked the beginning a lot and the slasher film vibes but then it started to fall flat for me. I can definitely see why other people like this though. It’s definitely a very dark romance with the focus on the spice.
November 12, 2025
I’ll never turn down a good stalker romance! Theo’s mind games with Riley start from the very beginning. He loves her in a dark and degrading way. Riley tries hard but can’t deny she loves the darkness more than the “normal life” and past she tries to leave behind. A solid 4⭐️ 4🌶️
November 18, 2025
This book was WILD!!! I loved every second!!!!! The plot was really good and the spice was super spicy!!!!
December 29, 2025
As the title says, it's twisted. A deranged take on Stockholm syndrome for sure. The last few chapters were like watching the plot of natural born killers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
Another deliciously dark read… truly love this author 🖤🖤
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews