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After the Devil
It’s our darkest parts that know us best.
Alex Alpine is unhappy with her life—a dead-end job, a marriage that’s falling apart, and a failed string of self-published books. In an effort to better her life for her and her daughter, she makes the decision to quit writing in order to get a second job. Jamie, a recovered addict and Alex’s only fan, can’t bring himself to accept her decision.
Convinced he can fix her, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his home in the woods. As Alex’s captivity extends from weeks to months, Alex finds herself torn between her duties to the daughter she left behind and the life Jamie has made for her. To figure out where her true priorities lie, she must dive into not only her own past traumas but Jamie’s as well.
Alex Alpine is unhappy with her life—a dead-end job, a marriage that’s falling apart, and a failed string of self-published books. In an effort to better her life for her and her daughter, she makes the decision to quit writing in order to get a second job. Jamie, a recovered addict and Alex’s only fan, can’t bring himself to accept her decision.
Convinced he can fix her, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his home in the woods. As Alex’s captivity extends from weeks to months, Alex finds herself torn between her duties to the daughter she left behind and the life Jamie has made for her. To figure out where her true priorities lie, she must dive into not only her own past traumas but Jamie’s as well.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2020
1 person is currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Kayla Krantz
45 books741 followersKayla Krantz is an international bestselling author of dark fantasy, psychological horror, and supernatural thrillers. She is fascinated by the dark and macabre. Stephen King is her all-time inspiration, mixed in with some faint remnants of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. When she began writing, she started in horror, but somehow drifted into thriller and fantasy. She loves the 1988 movie, “Heathers.” Kayla was born and raised in Michigan, but traveled across the country to where she currently resides, in Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 20, 2020
This story had a very intriguing beginning that left me with a bit of a worrisome feeling. It was definitely filled with a darkness and suspense as the story built and moved along.
Chapter 13 threw in a massive plot twist and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
This was such a twisted tale as it continued to build, and yet I was fascinated as I watched things play out. There were so many ways that it messed with my head as I watched what Alex went through with Jamie. It was crazy! The plot just continued to thicken and spiral. I didn't know what to believe anymore about good and evil, right and wrong. The twists and turns had my head spinning in the best way. This was such an engaging and incredible story. I loved every minute of it. Wow.
Chapter 13 threw in a massive plot twist and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
This was such a twisted tale as it continued to build, and yet I was fascinated as I watched things play out. There were so many ways that it messed with my head as I watched what Alex went through with Jamie. It was crazy! The plot just continued to thicken and spiral. I didn't know what to believe anymore about good and evil, right and wrong. The twists and turns had my head spinning in the best way. This was such an engaging and incredible story. I loved every minute of it. Wow.
April 8, 2021
Better than I imagined
I don't mean that headline in a bad way. Just wasn't what I expected and it turned out to be way better. I am super impressed by this new to me author.
I don't mean that headline in a bad way. Just wasn't what I expected and it turned out to be way better. I am super impressed by this new to me author.
July 5, 2021
I honestly couldn't, put this book down. What I loved about this is, it wasn't too flowery but more about the characters involved. Alex and Jamai are the main protaganists. Alex,unhappy with Paul, her husband, and Jaimie a sad individual who finds solace in the books that Alex has self-published. When Alex decides that she wasn't going to write any more books, Jaimie is exasperated and decides to find Alex. One way or another, he is determined to bring some life back into Alex to make her see how important her writing is----albeit, he goes about it the wrong way.
Alex is now his prisoner. Jaimee will do anything for Alex to bring back some happiness into her life, except he's still determined to keep her a prisoner.
I don't want to write any spoilers, but this story takes a sudden turn. Readers who like dark thrillers, will love this book. Get a copy now. You won't be disappointed.
5 ***** from this happy reader.
Alex is now his prisoner. Jaimee will do anything for Alex to bring back some happiness into her life, except he's still determined to keep her a prisoner.
I don't want to write any spoilers, but this story takes a sudden turn. Readers who like dark thrillers, will love this book. Get a copy now. You won't be disappointed.
5 ***** from this happy reader.
March 19, 2021
WOW I did not see that coming!
After the Devil by Kayla Krantz is about a writer who gets the attention of a certain man, her number one fan. Both characters had a very horrible childhood and, of course, not much change into adulthood.
Overall, I liked the story. I then enjoyed a wild array of emotions and the ups and downs of the characters. Although sometimes it dragged for long moments, it always picked up and pulled me back in.
The last chapter is what took this book from a three-star to a four-star. Again WOW! I will recommend this book and already have.
After the Devil by Kayla Krantz is about a writer who gets the attention of a certain man, her number one fan. Both characters had a very horrible childhood and, of course, not much change into adulthood.
Overall, I liked the story. I then enjoyed a wild array of emotions and the ups and downs of the characters. Although sometimes it dragged for long moments, it always picked up and pulled me back in.
The last chapter is what took this book from a three-star to a four-star. Again WOW! I will recommend this book and already have.
December 10, 2020
I am still recovering from the amazing words in this book. This was my first time reading something from this author, and I was blown away. This book had everything that I love in a story. It gripped me from the very beginning and held my attention until the very last word. A five plus star read in my opinion.
August 10, 2021
The author's ability to get under my skin never ceases to amaze me. I was on motion-overload by the time I finished this story. If you've ever felt alone or unwanted, you'll understand the difficulty of letting another person into your life and trusting them with your innermost thoughts. What started out as an abduction turned a woman's life around. But did it prove a positive result in the end? Without giving the plot away, I got the sense of role reversals between Jaimie and Alex as the story progressed. As one became more secure, the other withdrew into hopelessness. Obsession turned to trust, but in the end, did obsession win out again? Truly an insightful look into the human mind and fears.
January 21, 2021
A new author for me
First book I've read by this author. The writing style is brilliant and I found the flow of the book great. I will definitely read more from this author.
First book I've read by this author. The writing style is brilliant and I found the flow of the book great. I will definitely read more from this author.
February 26, 2021
Unpredictable & Emotional
This book isn't at all what I imagined when I read the description. It was twisted, surprising, and unexpected and I liked that the characters were raw, dealing with their own past traumas while forced into situations that would break a lot of people. It's hard to write a review without spoilers. While I didn't always like, agree with, or sympathize with the different characters I do think the book is well-written and will stick with you long after you read the last page.
This book isn't at all what I imagined when I read the description. It was twisted, surprising, and unexpected and I liked that the characters were raw, dealing with their own past traumas while forced into situations that would break a lot of people. It's hard to write a review without spoilers. While I didn't always like, agree with, or sympathize with the different characters I do think the book is well-written and will stick with you long after you read the last page.
December 12, 2020
It’s been a while since a book kept me up till three in the morning. This was haunting, beautiful, and tragic. A gripping psychological thriller full of intense moments and downright scary situations. The book does not hold back. Adult read and adult themes for sure. It reminded me a little of “You” meets “Misery” but with its own unique direction. I love when a story can embed itself into my head and make me question my moral compass.
From the start, the struggles of Alex Alphine are apparent and what initially hooked me. She’s an author and working mother trying to support her daughter. Her book sales flop and a minimum wage job aren’t cutting it. Doesn’t help that her husband is not only lazy, but emotionally abusive. I could not stand Peter. Ugh! Alex’s troubles only increase when obsessed fan, Jamie, forces his way into her life. Stalking turned into kidnapping, he refuses to let Alex throw away her writing career.
I don’t want to go too into what happens between the two because of fear of potential spoilers, but I want to go over them as characters. I would say they are complex inside and out. To say they stretched my mind in every direction is an understatement. As the story progresses, the reader gets to peel back each layer of Alex and Jamie, which is done so delicately. There is much more to them than meets the eye. They are both troubled individuals with horrific pasts who are just trying to survive their traumas. The pain that bleeds from each line, each paragraph, especially from Alex, is so incredibly loud that I found myself screaming back at them in hopes that my consolation could be heard.
Overall, complete page-turner. This author is now on my radar.
Favorite quote:
“Everyone has their scars. Some people just don’t wear them on the outside, but you can bet they’re still there. Everyone you see on the streets has their own mask of strength on. I think that’s what adulthood is. Pretending that you’ve got it all together when really, you’re confused inside.”
From the start, the struggles of Alex Alphine are apparent and what initially hooked me. She’s an author and working mother trying to support her daughter. Her book sales flop and a minimum wage job aren’t cutting it. Doesn’t help that her husband is not only lazy, but emotionally abusive. I could not stand Peter. Ugh! Alex’s troubles only increase when obsessed fan, Jamie, forces his way into her life. Stalking turned into kidnapping, he refuses to let Alex throw away her writing career.
I don’t want to go too into what happens between the two because of fear of potential spoilers, but I want to go over them as characters. I would say they are complex inside and out. To say they stretched my mind in every direction is an understatement. As the story progresses, the reader gets to peel back each layer of Alex and Jamie, which is done so delicately. There is much more to them than meets the eye. They are both troubled individuals with horrific pasts who are just trying to survive their traumas. The pain that bleeds from each line, each paragraph, especially from Alex, is so incredibly loud that I found myself screaming back at them in hopes that my consolation could be heard.
Overall, complete page-turner. This author is now on my radar.
Favorite quote:
“Everyone has their scars. Some people just don’t wear them on the outside, but you can bet they’re still there. Everyone you see on the streets has their own mask of strength on. I think that’s what adulthood is. Pretending that you’ve got it all together when really, you’re confused inside.”
January 15, 2021
I thought this started a bit slow, then It really grabbed me and I was loving it. It brilliantly reflected how complex the human brain is and how impactful our life experiences and traumas can be and how we see and interact with the world. Right up until maybe the last 20 pages I would’ve given this five stars. The characters were flawed but the writer did an amazing job of showing what can lead to the types of decisions happening in the story, and really helped you have compassion for Jamie. With that said, I almost took this all the way down to three stars just because of the last pages.
I was very disappointed and felt like the author sacrificed the character she spent the entire book building up in an attempt at a surprise twist for the ending. But here’s the thing, surprise endings are usually great when they feel authentic, and to me this one really did not. In my opinion, instead of making me leave amazed at the brilliance of that twist ending, it made me leave not wanting to read any more of her books. To me, it just felt like she tried too hard, and ended up ruining the book.
I do not believe for one second that Alex would’ve made the final choice she made, turned away from harming herself in one way because of the positive impact Jamie had on her only to harm herself in an even bigger way? One that pretty much guaranteed she would never see the one person that gave her pause about staying with Jamie in the first place, and that guaranteed her daughter may end up with the same fate as Jamie in the end? Yeah, I don’t buy it. Which is disappointing to me, because this was building up to be one of my favorite books in a long time. Like I said, five stars right up until the end and then I’m struggling as to whether I would give it two or three stars at that point. Since the majority of the book I liked I will stick with four stars as a balance.
I was very disappointed and felt like the author sacrificed the character she spent the entire book building up in an attempt at a surprise twist for the ending. But here’s the thing, surprise endings are usually great when they feel authentic, and to me this one really did not. In my opinion, instead of making me leave amazed at the brilliance of that twist ending, it made me leave not wanting to read any more of her books. To me, it just felt like she tried too hard, and ended up ruining the book.
I do not believe for one second that Alex would’ve made the final choice she made, turned away from harming herself in one way because of the positive impact Jamie had on her only to harm herself in an even bigger way? One that pretty much guaranteed she would never see the one person that gave her pause about staying with Jamie in the first place, and that guaranteed her daughter may end up with the same fate as Jamie in the end? Yeah, I don’t buy it. Which is disappointing to me, because this was building up to be one of my favorite books in a long time. Like I said, five stars right up until the end and then I’m struggling as to whether I would give it two or three stars at that point. Since the majority of the book I liked I will stick with four stars as a balance.
January 3, 2025
When Jamie whisks Alex away from her largely unhappy life, it's not romantic, it's kidnapping. Jamie is as complex an individual as she's ever encountered, and instead of hating him, she grows to appreciate the tender qualities in him that her husband lacks, and the fact that he truly cares about her and for her as opposed to her husband, who takes advantage of her. As I read, I became increasing conflicted. Factoring into the mix is a 4 year old daughter. The story is puzzling, and so complex that it makes it hard to sort out your own emotions, say nothing about those of Alex and Jamie. What would I have done in the same situation? How many of us stay in loveless marriages because they're comfortable, or familiar, or what we know? Thinking about it was riveting. I couldn't put the book down.
March 23, 2021
The kind of story that stays with you days after you've turned over the last page.
Kayla Krantz is a master at weaving psychology into a horror filled 'i didn't see that coming' story. The psychology, terrifying, the horror, real. Krantz has a knack with grabbing the reader and thrusting the mind into the horror filled trenches with her characters, burrowing into the depths of psychological prisons wrought with the illusion of hope only to hand the reader despair and gasps as each page turns over to the next, dying to find out what happens in the coming chapter. The ending is surreal, clawing into the friction that teeters on the thin line between the sane and insane. Read this book. You will not be dissapointed. This is excellent storytelling.
Kayla Krantz is a master at weaving psychology into a horror filled 'i didn't see that coming' story. The psychology, terrifying, the horror, real. Krantz has a knack with grabbing the reader and thrusting the mind into the horror filled trenches with her characters, burrowing into the depths of psychological prisons wrought with the illusion of hope only to hand the reader despair and gasps as each page turns over to the next, dying to find out what happens in the coming chapter. The ending is surreal, clawing into the friction that teeters on the thin line between the sane and insane. Read this book. You will not be dissapointed. This is excellent storytelling.
March 24, 2024
I just finished After the Devil by @Kayla Fredrick and omg 4/5. Highly recommend this one for fans of Misery, You, and the After series. It was a wild ride but I loved every bit of it.
After the Devil tells the story of Jamie who becomes obsessed with author Alex. When Alex announces she is retiring from writing, Jamie decides he'll stop at nothing to make sure that doesn't happen.
Kayla has written the characters in a way that you truly care about what happens to them. I can imagine everything that happens to them and really was worried about their outcomes. Highly recommend this one. I can't wait to see what else Kayla comes up with! Look forward to seeing her writing continue to grow! Thanks for the ARC!
After the Devil tells the story of Jamie who becomes obsessed with author Alex. When Alex announces she is retiring from writing, Jamie decides he'll stop at nothing to make sure that doesn't happen.
Kayla has written the characters in a way that you truly care about what happens to them. I can imagine everything that happens to them and really was worried about their outcomes. Highly recommend this one. I can't wait to see what else Kayla comes up with! Look forward to seeing her writing continue to grow! Thanks for the ARC!
January 10, 2021
Both good and bad
I spent a lot of the book not liking the characters or story. Alex is whiny and self absorbed. Jamie is slightly better but he just didn't fit the story. For all of that, however, the story is oddly different in an almost good way. I can't say I agree with it. I can't say I like it but I like that the author went somewhere different with the plot. I did not like the ending. It was the antithesis to everything I thought the story had developed for the characters. So that ticked me off.
I spent a lot of the book not liking the characters or story. Alex is whiny and self absorbed. Jamie is slightly better but he just didn't fit the story. For all of that, however, the story is oddly different in an almost good way. I can't say I agree with it. I can't say I like it but I like that the author went somewhere different with the plot. I did not like the ending. It was the antithesis to everything I thought the story had developed for the characters. So that ticked me off.
March 8, 2021
I have a confession to make. I thought that I would enjoy this book, but I wouldn’t find it realistic. How wrong I was. The author does an excellent job of making you understand why the characters do what they do. She makes the story realistic and believable. She makes the characters come to life as you read and you feel what they are feeling, you begin to care what happens to them. You can’t put the book down as you wonder how it could possibly have a happy ending (I won’t tell you if it does or not). I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
January 7, 2025
Thank you to the Author for sending me a copy of this book to review.
How a terrifying kidnapping can turn the victims life around. This is the story of Alex Alpine, an author in a loveless marriage with a violent husband. Her number one fan kidnaps her but they fall in love. But it is not without its turmoil and tragedies.
This is a very twisty turny tale and I loved it. It fills you with all emotions. My first read from this author and it will not be my last.
I highly recommend this.
How a terrifying kidnapping can turn the victims life around. This is the story of Alex Alpine, an author in a loveless marriage with a violent husband. Her number one fan kidnaps her but they fall in love. But it is not without its turmoil and tragedies.
This is a very twisty turny tale and I loved it. It fills you with all emotions. My first read from this author and it will not be my last.
I highly recommend this.
January 11, 2025
Yeah I don’t know.. the storyline was promising and had potential but it fell flat for me.
The theme of the characters lives was tragic but the authors ability to portray it just lacked substance. I could see where she wanted to go with it but it felt rushed and I caught myself not understanding how the characters got from point A to point B within a blurry timeframe. There was a lack of anguish and intensity given the circumstance from both characters that did not convince me of their emotional turmoil within the relationship.
The theme of the characters lives was tragic but the authors ability to portray it just lacked substance. I could see where she wanted to go with it but it felt rushed and I caught myself not understanding how the characters got from point A to point B within a blurry timeframe. There was a lack of anguish and intensity given the circumstance from both characters that did not convince me of their emotional turmoil within the relationship.
December 31, 2020
Wow! I had a lump in my throat reading most of this story. Adult themes for sure but incredibly well written. This is one of my favorite Psychological thriller reads of the year. Although I don't agree with all of the main characters thoughts and actions, I can see how they came to be. The chain of how the mind changes forms a smooth transition throughout the book. It's a must read!
January 11, 2021
Dark and gripping
This is a rather brilliant noir psychological thriller. Deep, emotional and utterly absorbing. The dark labyrinth of the mind is pulled apart in this drama. I would have preferred a different ending, but then I always want my heroines to discover their strengths. This is rawer than that, this is dark and thoroughly gripping. Great book.
This is a rather brilliant noir psychological thriller. Deep, emotional and utterly absorbing. The dark labyrinth of the mind is pulled apart in this drama. I would have preferred a different ending, but then I always want my heroines to discover their strengths. This is rawer than that, this is dark and thoroughly gripping. Great book.
July 11, 2023
What an emotional roller coaster. This book keeps you turning the page. It keeps you wondering what is going on. It makes your imagination spin. Is the character Jamie evil or just misunderstood? Then there is Alex. Is she of sound mind or innocent? A must-read to discover what brings Alex and Jamie together and an ending you never see coming.
Recommended.
Recommended.
April 4, 2022
Jei nuoširdžiai - pabaigiau, nes tiesiog pradėjus buvau skaityti. Patiko? Nežinau. Dviprasmiški jausmai užvertus paskutinį puslapį. Meilės istorija, trileris, netikėta pabaiga. Lyg ir viskas gerai, ir tai kas man patinka, bet tuo pačiu, kažkodėl manęs neįtraukė 🤷♀️ ir neįtikino 😁
February 14, 2024
Yet another book enjoyed by this author. The story was really interesting and kept me wanting to read on until reaching the end.
March 14, 2021
Jamie had always been connected to books. He adores the fact that they are something special. From the moment you open a book you enter different world. A world where you 'can be' anything. A world far away from the reality and our own worries. One day he found new author, Alex Alpine. Once he read one sentence from her book, he couldn't stop. He fell in love with every single word that came from her. But one day he woke up and found something that shocked him. Alex posted on Facebook that she is not going to be writting anymore. How is that possible? He can't accept that fact, so from the moment he saw that post he tries to find a solution. To find a way to enter her mind. All of a sudden Alex finds herself in a situation where if she wants to live she has to go deep into her soul. The deepest parts of her that she's been pushing for years. Will she be able to face them?
I was speachless when I finished this book. The beginning was a little bit slow for me, but then it grabbed me and didn't let me go until the very end. The story is perfeclty put into words, I really love the style of the author. The story itself is very deep and opens so many questions. I found myself stop reading and thinking about some things. It is crazy how the human mind works. I am amazed every time I get to see how different people think and react. For some reason I really liked Jamie. Like Alex herself said, no one is perfect, every single person has made a bad decision in their life. He has his reasons for what he did. Even though, some people might find it unacceptable, I can understand why he did those things. We might ignore all the things that were done to him, and not accept that as a excuse for his actions, but the sad reality is that so many people are going through it. This is evil world and everyone copes differently. I don't approve his actions, but I do understand them. Kayla has found some way to crawl under my skin with her words. Some parts of the book stabbed me right in the heart. I love how the story ended. After finishing the epilouge, I thought that it would be intriguing the end to be also the prologue. 😏
I was speachless when I finished this book. The beginning was a little bit slow for me, but then it grabbed me and didn't let me go until the very end. The story is perfeclty put into words, I really love the style of the author. The story itself is very deep and opens so many questions. I found myself stop reading and thinking about some things. It is crazy how the human mind works. I am amazed every time I get to see how different people think and react. For some reason I really liked Jamie. Like Alex herself said, no one is perfect, every single person has made a bad decision in their life. He has his reasons for what he did. Even though, some people might find it unacceptable, I can understand why he did those things. We might ignore all the things that were done to him, and not accept that as a excuse for his actions, but the sad reality is that so many people are going through it. This is evil world and everyone copes differently. I don't approve his actions, but I do understand them. Kayla has found some way to crawl under my skin with her words. Some parts of the book stabbed me right in the heart. I love how the story ended. After finishing the epilouge, I thought that it would be intriguing the end to be also the prologue. 😏
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews