What do you think?
Rate this book
Cruel Venus
Allyson Jaymes has it all - celebrity, power, and a glamorous marriage. Until her world is destroyed by the bitterest betrayal of all: her husband's explosive affair with her 19-year-old assistant, Tessa Dukes.
Tessa's ambitions burn fiercely. Her chilling manipulation of fame and her steady destruction of so many dreams and ambitions lead all concerned into a fatal minefield of sexual obsession, psychotic jealousy and deadly treachery.
Moving from the dazzling, yet sinister, lights of London, to the deceptive haven of Italy's romantic Amalfi Coast, Cruel Venus is a suspense-filled story of love at its very best - and absolute worst.
Tessa's ambitions burn fiercely. Her chilling manipulation of fame and her steady destruction of so many dreams and ambitions lead all concerned into a fatal minefield of sexual obsession, psychotic jealousy and deadly treachery.
Moving from the dazzling, yet sinister, lights of London, to the deceptive haven of Italy's romantic Amalfi Coast, Cruel Venus is a suspense-filled story of love at its very best - and absolute worst.
487 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
46 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Susan Lewis
67 books1,209 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 14, 2020
I first read this story when it came out and just finished a re-read. Figure since I like it so much I should review it ;)
This is a first-class chick-lit story that has something for everyone. As other reviewers have noted, the ending is not a typical one and my mind goes back and forth thinking about what actually happened. I do not need every detail spelled out for me since discovering clues was part of the fun with this book - and they are there :)
This is a first-class chick-lit story that has something for everyone. As other reviewers have noted, the ending is not a typical one and my mind goes back and forth thinking about what actually happened. I do not need every detail spelled out for me since discovering clues was part of the fun with this book - and they are there :)
August 19, 2025
I'm still not sure what I read..this was sold (to me) as a psychological thriller but really it's a dumb romance book and then the last few pages, the author remembered they were supposed to be writing a thriller.
Nothing about the title matches the contents of the book. The characters are annoying, the plot development made me roll my eyes, the sex scenes were so ridiculous I laughed every time.
A one start book all in all
Nothing about the title matches the contents of the book. The characters are annoying, the plot development made me roll my eyes, the sex scenes were so ridiculous I laughed every time.
A one start book all in all
January 28, 2023
I was having heart palpitations! I both suffered and enjoyed and appreciated the wild ride,but would have preferred to enjoy the h 's HEA and not suffer the nebulous ending with a looming possibility of her guilt. ..just enough to force the query.
Genre? Not Romance for sure...but some romantic elements and super sonic betrayals and long term cheating fiesta! Uber dramatic topsy turkey Chick lit with minor elements of a thriller?🤷
FYI,sadly this may currently be out of print.😂
Genre? Not Romance for sure...but some romantic elements and super sonic betrayals and long term cheating fiesta! Uber dramatic topsy turkey Chick lit with minor elements of a thriller?🤷
FYI,sadly this may currently be out of print.😂
January 3, 2022
Not my kind of book, though I admit I had to keep reading to find out what happened in the end - Allyson and Mark a bit too perfect, Shelley and Tessa so manipulative, Bob the loser who brought everything on himself. With a huge amount of drink consumed and episodes of explosive sex.
December 17, 2024
Reminder to self: this is the one that reminds you of The Mill House but the h gets a new H. She’s a TV host married to an on air sports anchor who’s a serial cheat. Snake bff has been sleeping with hubs the whole time. Psycho assistant. New station owner is new H.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2012
A tad too long winded. Could have had more dialogues between the characters.
August 8, 2021
Excellent story, brilliant characters but that ending was definitely a little meh! Did she, didn't she, did Shelley or Bob do it, fingerprints and/or forensics urgently required ........whatever!!
August 18, 2025
This book really got under my skin, in both good and bad ways. The story kept me hooked, the tension was real, and at times I was so worked up I had to put it down just to breathe. Allyson was a character I wanted to root for, though I wish she had shown more strength when it came to Bob’s constant cheating. Tessa and Shelly were both complicated and manipulative, which made it hard to know who to trust.
But honestly, the ending left me pissed. After all that build-up, we still don’t know who killed Tessa. I kept going back and forth between Bob or even Allyson, but now we’ll never know for sure. Arghhh! It’s the kind of ending that stays with you but also makes you want to throw the book across the room.
Still, I can’t deny it was a gripping read.
But honestly, the ending left me pissed. After all that build-up, we still don’t know who killed Tessa. I kept going back and forth between Bob or even Allyson, but now we’ll never know for sure. Arghhh! It’s the kind of ending that stays with you but also makes you want to throw the book across the room.
Still, I can’t deny it was a gripping read.
June 16, 2015
It is incredibly rare for me to read a book from this kind of genre. If I do, I am normally rolling my eyes in despair after the first ten pages. I can't stand chick-lit books about how horrible men are, adultery, women's moans etc. I only began to read this because my grandma had been raving about it, gave it to me, said I had skipped in front of a long queue of friends who were to be loaned this book, and urged me to read it.
I have to hand it to her, it is gripping. By reading the blurb I had thought it would be all "cry cry cry my husband has cheated on me with a younger woman boo hoo" and so forth. Although there was, of course, a great deal of that; it had a lovely little edge of spite to it. I am a huge fan of spite and scandal, so Lewis lured me in with this. I was forced to abandon my literary puritanism, throw caution to the wind, and immerse myself in the backstabbing and betrayals of wronged against women. Fascinating!
Lewis did well with her characters here, I feel as though I was provoked to like and dislike as Lewis saw fit. The depth was good, although I'd have liked to hear a bit more, slowly but surely of Tessa's damaging past. It was almost as though we were being fed little by little, in quite a tantalising way, then Lewis hits us with "YES this is everything that has happened to her, look I need to go, let's not talk about it again, no I don't know anything else about it."
The novel is filthy, though, to the point where I will struggle to look my grandmother in the eye when handing her copy back to her. The sex scenes occurred incredibly often - I think this Susan Lewis is more of a romance writer than anything else. It was a very sexy book.
The narrative was consistent throughout the novel, with chapters being sectioned off into smaller chunks given from the point of view of different characters. I was irked by the fact that the novel was broken into three large sections of a number of chapters each, which were named after the three main female characters. Surely if you name a section of a novel after a character then that section should be narrated by them or from their point of view? Why stick their name at the front of a section for no reason?
The ending wasn't incredibly satisfying and didn't tidy things up very nicely. My grandma had actually asked me to tell her who I think 'did it' (a murder, not it, everyone was doing it in this novel) as she couldn't work it out. I think I know, but the final sentence is very ambiguous and incredibly annoying.
I enjoyed this, although I see it as a literary escape, a rest for my mind, and an easy read. It really didn't take me too long to read, didn't challenge my mind in any way, I didn't learn anything substantial from it (apart from a few shocking sex acts that I had no idea existed or were indeed possible), and I am not intrigued in the slightest to read any more Susan Lewis novels. However, I would definitely recommend this to lighter readers who like a bit of bitchiness and suspense; it's definitely worth a read as a holiday novel.
I have to hand it to her, it is gripping. By reading the blurb I had thought it would be all "cry cry cry my husband has cheated on me with a younger woman boo hoo" and so forth. Although there was, of course, a great deal of that; it had a lovely little edge of spite to it. I am a huge fan of spite and scandal, so Lewis lured me in with this. I was forced to abandon my literary puritanism, throw caution to the wind, and immerse myself in the backstabbing and betrayals of wronged against women. Fascinating!
Lewis did well with her characters here, I feel as though I was provoked to like and dislike as Lewis saw fit. The depth was good, although I'd have liked to hear a bit more, slowly but surely of Tessa's damaging past. It was almost as though we were being fed little by little, in quite a tantalising way, then Lewis hits us with "YES this is everything that has happened to her, look I need to go, let's not talk about it again, no I don't know anything else about it."
The novel is filthy, though, to the point where I will struggle to look my grandmother in the eye when handing her copy back to her. The sex scenes occurred incredibly often - I think this Susan Lewis is more of a romance writer than anything else. It was a very sexy book.
The narrative was consistent throughout the novel, with chapters being sectioned off into smaller chunks given from the point of view of different characters. I was irked by the fact that the novel was broken into three large sections of a number of chapters each, which were named after the three main female characters. Surely if you name a section of a novel after a character then that section should be narrated by them or from their point of view? Why stick their name at the front of a section for no reason?
The ending wasn't incredibly satisfying and didn't tidy things up very nicely. My grandma had actually asked me to tell her who I think 'did it' (a murder, not it, everyone was doing it in this novel) as she couldn't work it out. I think I know, but the final sentence is very ambiguous and incredibly annoying.
I enjoyed this, although I see it as a literary escape, a rest for my mind, and an easy read. It really didn't take me too long to read, didn't challenge my mind in any way, I didn't learn anything substantial from it (apart from a few shocking sex acts that I had no idea existed or were indeed possible), and I am not intrigued in the slightest to read any more Susan Lewis novels. However, I would definitely recommend this to lighter readers who like a bit of bitchiness and suspense; it's definitely worth a read as a holiday novel.
May 10, 2017
this book ! ohmygod ... it was such an emotional roller coaster for me , got me so worked up sometimes i just had to put it down because it was too much .. i liked allyson's character ; though i wish she was a bit stronger when dealing with bob's cheating . shelly and tessa both were complicated to me ! both manipulative . the ending wasnt that satisfying we didnt know for sure who murdered tessa .. i had a feeling it was bob . but i guess i was wrong ? anyways i think this book should be turned into a series or a movie !
November 1, 2024
Fantastic book !
This is one of the best books I’ve read for a very long time. Absolutely gripping, couldn’t put it down. I would read at night when I couldn’t sleep but got so engrossed time raced away! Thank you Susan I have no hesitation in recommending. It’s a must read xxx
This is one of the best books I’ve read for a very long time. Absolutely gripping, couldn’t put it down. I would read at night when I couldn’t sleep but got so engrossed time raced away! Thank you Susan I have no hesitation in recommending. It’s a must read xxx
January 6, 2019
Eish it was gripping and you never knew what was going to happen but then also very cheasy!!! I had to do skip the scenes and would normally not read a book like this, was it not for the unuasual storyline.
Read
November 25, 2019Having read a few disappointing Susan Lewis books in the recent past I was looking for something gripping by her. I loved this one. Unexpected ending. Leaves you wondering. Nice that there weren't so many irrelevant people in the book. Easy to read. Main character was not dull.
March 11, 2025
I have re-read this book twice, and I still love it as much as I did the first time around! A completely gripping read from the very few first pages and doesn’t disappoint when wrapping up at the end! Highly recommend, well written, engaging story and captivating characters.
April 1, 2018
Couldn't put the book down
Read the book in two days - always left you wondering at the end who was telling the truth. Definitely worth reading
Read the book in two days - always left you wondering at the end who was telling the truth. Definitely worth reading
January 16, 2019
Good story a surprise at the end I didnt expect good read though
February 12, 2019
Could not put this book down!! An author to read more of!!
June 16, 2020
This was hard to get into but part way through it had me gripped till the strange ending. I really thought her husband had done it.
January 1, 2021
Really would have given it a 2.5 stars, so rounded up to 3.
June 12, 2023
There were a lot of words. It was interesting.
July 31, 2023
A 'who-done-it' book, that's left me still wondering who did.
I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it.
November 11, 2023
Great end twist
December 11, 2023
Total rage read. All the tropes, cheating, ow, bf as ow, betrayal!
August 22, 2024
So who did it??? You can't convince me it wasn't Bob. I know Shelby is innocent. I loved the book.. But the ending was a bit shallow? I expected a twist but well... Lewis left us guessing😩
December 29, 2018
I chose this for a little light beach Christmas holiday reading and found it mildly entertaining. An old fashioned thriller based on mental illness, deception and good old fashioned murder...all the ingredients to what should have been a fascinating read but the climax and the reveal just sort of ...fizzled.
November 4, 2014
I would have gave this 5 stars but for the ending which left me saying wtf! Another brilliant detailed story by Susan Lewis full of characters you can't help but like Allyson and some I just couldn't like her best friend Shelley she was just hateful whereas Tessa was hateful because she clearly had a screw loose.
Allyson's husband Bob was well depicted as he turned from this charismatic man into a desperate failure and I just wanted him to get his comeuppance.
My mind went to and fro and back again with regards Mark,did I like him,did I not..jury still out on that one!
Allyson's husband Bob was well depicted as he turned from this charismatic man into a desperate failure and I just wanted him to get his comeuppance.
My mind went to and fro and back again with regards Mark,did I like him,did I not..jury still out on that one!
April 12, 2019
3.5 not my usual type of book but I liked it anyway. Can't give it more than 3.5 though as I skipped a lot of it. Parts dragged. Wasn't interested in any of the src scenes as they were all with characters I despised. The only characters I liked were Allyson. And sometimes Mark. Shelley and bob were disgusting people and it was so great to see Thor comeuppance. Tessa was also revolting but her being so damaged actually made you feel sorry for her in a very creepy single white female kind of way.
Read
February 12, 2014This entire story, IMO, is so messed up. *****spoilers*. I usually sit back and read reviews and choose by ratings. This story was a total mf. The H has so many f**d up issues. The TSTL h was on the same wavelength. No HEA for two totally f'd up people that have absolutely no idea what love and true redemption are. Don't waste your time unless you are into a total mind fuck!!
August 12, 2016
I either love or hate Susan Lewis books and this one I loved. Some great characters and the ending ?? well that was an interesting one. Did she or didn't she ? left the happy ever after with a bit of a sting in the tail. Great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews