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The Second Wife
The honeymoon is over--and his nightmare has begun--in this twisted thriller by the author of The Husband Trap . . .
After his wife's suicide, Scott manages to find love again with Casey. For their first anniversary, she has a surprise for him--but it's not a good one . . .
Casey has been collecting photos and videos of Scott that would place his teaching career in serious jeopardy. Holding that over his head, she intends to make him suffer. As the torment escalates, Scott desperately tries to uncover why Casey is doing this and find a way out of his nightmare.
But can he outwit his vicious wife before she makes herself a widow?
After his wife's suicide, Scott manages to find love again with Casey. For their first anniversary, she has a surprise for him--but it's not a good one . . .
Casey has been collecting photos and videos of Scott that would place his teaching career in serious jeopardy. Holding that over his head, she intends to make him suffer. As the torment escalates, Scott desperately tries to uncover why Casey is doing this and find a way out of his nightmare.
But can he outwit his vicious wife before she makes herself a widow?
- GenresThrillerMental Health
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2022
190 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
N.J. Moss
11 books140 followersNJ Moss worked as a fiction ghostwriter for ten years before he turned his skills to his own work. His latest novel is The Husband Trap.
When he is not working on his next thriller, you can normally find him walking his dogs (Loki and Gizmo, a Jack Russell terrier and a Chihuahua), rollerblading up and down the promenade of Weston-super-Mare, or spending time with his lovely wife.
When he is not working on his next thriller, you can normally find him walking his dogs (Loki and Gizmo, a Jack Russell terrier and a Chihuahua), rollerblading up and down the promenade of Weston-super-Mare, or spending time with his lovely wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
January 22, 2023
Want to read a horrible psychological thriller with characters you want to strangle? Then be my guest. The second wife was so immature and unrealistic. I just wanted to shout or burn the book. There was no real motive for what she did or who she did it too, and the behavior of everyone were so strange. The abuse it described also got too much. It gets two stars instead of one since the twist was okay even if I saw it coming.
October 12, 2022
THE SECOND WIFE is a psychological crime thriller by NJ Moss. This is the third novel I have read and enjoyed by this author, and I was not disappointed. Another great read!
His Novels Include:
All Your Fault (2021)
Her Final Victim (2021)
My Dead Husband (2022)
The Husband Trap (2022)
The Second Wife (2022)
This is my review of The Second Wife.
*Note: trigger warning as includes domestic abuse and animal abuse of a cat.
“You let her in. You’ll wish you hadn’t.”
Scott’s first wife, Nathalie had committed suicide and killed herself in the garage and Scott had been devastated when he found her. Seven months later he met Casey and managed to find love again, and they soon got married. Casey had rescued Scott from his past grief.
Nathalie and Casey had been friends from the book club.
Now for their first anniversary, Casey had a surprise for him…and not a good one…
The honeymoon was over…and his nightmare had begun.
Casey had been collecting photos and videos of Scott, a secondary school teacher, that would jeopardize his current position. Casey told Scott their marriage had all been a sham, and she threatened to release these images to every member of his staff at his school. She intended to make him suffer. His life would never be the same.
She demanded money.
Scott confided in his best friend, Gary and Lauren, a teaching assistant at work for help.
Why was Casey doing this to him, and more important how was he going to escape from this nightmare?
The chapters alternate between the different characters: Casey, Scott, Nathalie and Lauren, to provide more background information.
Another great thriller from this author.
Many thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
His Novels Include:
All Your Fault (2021)
Her Final Victim (2021)
My Dead Husband (2022)
The Husband Trap (2022)
The Second Wife (2022)
This is my review of The Second Wife.
*Note: trigger warning as includes domestic abuse and animal abuse of a cat.
“You let her in. You’ll wish you hadn’t.”
Scott’s first wife, Nathalie had committed suicide and killed herself in the garage and Scott had been devastated when he found her. Seven months later he met Casey and managed to find love again, and they soon got married. Casey had rescued Scott from his past grief.
Nathalie and Casey had been friends from the book club.
Now for their first anniversary, Casey had a surprise for him…and not a good one…
The honeymoon was over…and his nightmare had begun.
Casey had been collecting photos and videos of Scott, a secondary school teacher, that would jeopardize his current position. Casey told Scott their marriage had all been a sham, and she threatened to release these images to every member of his staff at his school. She intended to make him suffer. His life would never be the same.
She demanded money.
Scott confided in his best friend, Gary and Lauren, a teaching assistant at work for help.
Why was Casey doing this to him, and more important how was he going to escape from this nightmare?
The chapters alternate between the different characters: Casey, Scott, Nathalie and Lauren, to provide more background information.
Another great thriller from this author.
Many thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
September 30, 2022
This is another cracking read from NJ Moss, who is becoming a master of the jawdropping thriller and also one of my favourite authors.
The confidence shines through his writing as he takes us on a twisted journey with Scott and Casey, and as always there are relatable characters to root for, as well as those to despise.
Reading this brought to mind a recent high profile celebrity court case of domestic abuse, and there are definitely some similarities between Casey and the actress on the stand.
Fast paced, shocking and utterly absorbing, this is the definition of a page turner.
I highly recommend.
The confidence shines through his writing as he takes us on a twisted journey with Scott and Casey, and as always there are relatable characters to root for, as well as those to despise.
Reading this brought to mind a recent high profile celebrity court case of domestic abuse, and there are definitely some similarities between Casey and the actress on the stand.
Fast paced, shocking and utterly absorbing, this is the definition of a page turner.
I highly recommend.
January 24, 2023
2 stars
This is the second NJ Moss book that I have read. It is apparent this author tries very hard for shock value. Both books had child sex abuse steeped into the storyline. Which I find perverse.
Also, the sex scenes of the book are so male written it is painful to read. Several mentions of porn, porn like sex etc., almost as if the author didn’t have anything else to draw from.
“He quickly typed on the laptop, bringing up a porn site. A second later, the most sickening video appeared on the screen. A girl who looked like a teenager was bent over in the middle of a dungeon, with countless men surrounding her, all of them exposed, all of them hard, as the girl moaned in what – to me – sounded like a completely fake way. Scott pumped his hand up and down his length ignoring me, not even caring that I was watching the grotesque show.”
The story itself is a mystery/thriller which had the potential to be good. We bounced around the perspectives of all the main characters, which I did enjoy. I figured out the “twist” about 40% in.
Potential spoilers below:
Casey’s character didn’t make sense. She didn’t fit into the storyline as to WHY she did what she did, even with the mental health issues. Also, Lauren’s character didn’t have a realistic reason for getting THAT involved. It would have made more sense to have her be Natalie’s girlfriend, rather than introduce Morgan.
This is the second NJ Moss book that I have read. It is apparent this author tries very hard for shock value. Both books had child sex abuse steeped into the storyline. Which I find perverse.
Also, the sex scenes of the book are so male written it is painful to read. Several mentions of porn, porn like sex etc., almost as if the author didn’t have anything else to draw from.
“He quickly typed on the laptop, bringing up a porn site. A second later, the most sickening video appeared on the screen. A girl who looked like a teenager was bent over in the middle of a dungeon, with countless men surrounding her, all of them exposed, all of them hard, as the girl moaned in what – to me – sounded like a completely fake way. Scott pumped his hand up and down his length ignoring me, not even caring that I was watching the grotesque show.”
The story itself is a mystery/thriller which had the potential to be good. We bounced around the perspectives of all the main characters, which I did enjoy. I figured out the “twist” about 40% in.
Potential spoilers below:
Casey’s character didn’t make sense. She didn’t fit into the storyline as to WHY she did what she did, even with the mental health issues. Also, Lauren’s character didn’t have a realistic reason for getting THAT involved. It would have made more sense to have her be Natalie’s girlfriend, rather than introduce Morgan.
October 16, 2022
This author doesn't f*&k around. When everything went to hell, it was still chapter one!
Scott's wife Natalie died by suicide, and he lost himself in self-blame and grief until he met and married Casey not even a year later. On the evening of their first wedding anniversary, Casey is waiting for Scott to come home. With a tone and demeanor that he had never seen before, Casey orders him to sit down...and then she unleashes hell. She's been taking video of Scott during his moments alone and during their intimate times together. She says she has drafted an e-mail to go to all of his work colleagues if he doesn't do exactly as she says. Scott works as a teacher, so these messages would be deadly to his career. Stunned, he frantically questions his wife and why she's doing this. He gets the shock of his life when is told that their entire relationship has been a lie.
With Scott now putty in her hands, Casey gleefully doles out the vengeance she's been waiting more than a year to unleash. Some of the abuse is quite graphic, and there is a very disturbing past scene with a pet, so be aware of those triggers.
With alternating chapters between the characters of Casey, Scott, Natalie, and Lauren, Scott's teaching assistant, the background information is sometimes jarring because you never know who to believe. This is only my second book from this author, and I'm about to treat myself to the rest of his backlist. THE SECOND WIFE is available now on Kindle Unlimited and paperback!
Scott's wife Natalie died by suicide, and he lost himself in self-blame and grief until he met and married Casey not even a year later. On the evening of their first wedding anniversary, Casey is waiting for Scott to come home. With a tone and demeanor that he had never seen before, Casey orders him to sit down...and then she unleashes hell. She's been taking video of Scott during his moments alone and during their intimate times together. She says she has drafted an e-mail to go to all of his work colleagues if he doesn't do exactly as she says. Scott works as a teacher, so these messages would be deadly to his career. Stunned, he frantically questions his wife and why she's doing this. He gets the shock of his life when is told that their entire relationship has been a lie.
With Scott now putty in her hands, Casey gleefully doles out the vengeance she's been waiting more than a year to unleash. Some of the abuse is quite graphic, and there is a very disturbing past scene with a pet, so be aware of those triggers.
With alternating chapters between the characters of Casey, Scott, Natalie, and Lauren, Scott's teaching assistant, the background information is sometimes jarring because you never know who to believe. This is only my second book from this author, and I'm about to treat myself to the rest of his backlist. THE SECOND WIFE is available now on Kindle Unlimited and paperback!
August 18, 2023
I feel like this genre is so full of books like this with the same premise that unless your book stands out it’s just not memorable.
October 6, 2022
I don't make it a secret that one of Nathan's Previous books - My Dead Husband, is up there as being one of my favourite ever reads, and i recommended it all the time when people ask for gripping, and twisted reads.
So when I got chance to read this before publication I jumped at the chance, and again it's a very easy 5 stars from me.
From the start it was quite clear that again this was going to be a very messed up read, but I loved it all the same.
I had absolutely no idea who the 'real baddy' was so to speak - I couldn't work out what was real, what was lies, and i literally couldn't stop reading.
Great book, that I will certainly be recommending it :)
So when I got chance to read this before publication I jumped at the chance, and again it's a very easy 5 stars from me.
From the start it was quite clear that again this was going to be a very messed up read, but I loved it all the same.
I had absolutely no idea who the 'real baddy' was so to speak - I couldn't work out what was real, what was lies, and i literally couldn't stop reading.
Great book, that I will certainly be recommending it :)
October 12, 2022
The Second Wife by NJ Moss is the second book I have read from this author and I loved it.It's a great psychological thriller. I was hooked from the beginning till the end and I didn't want it to end! The second wife was full of great twists and turns throughout that just had you sitting on the edge of your chair waiting for the next twist! Very clever!!!!!
I highly recommend this book and I will be reading more from this author. I love the way he writes and this book kept me up all night - I did not want to put it down to find out what happened next between newlyweds Casey and Scott.
I highly recommend this book and I will be reading more from this author. I love the way he writes and this book kept me up all night - I did not want to put it down to find out what happened next between newlyweds Casey and Scott.
November 6, 2022
This was the worst book I’ve ever read in my life!
September 30, 2022
I’ve read all this authors books and they seem to becoming more and twisted. The cruelty and degradation in the book is quite harrowing so be aware; there was a trigger for me (killing a cat) and although I skipped over it when it was mentioned it’s still there in my head. As always it’s well written with a great plotline and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. The characters are brilliantly written Casey is clearly a psychopath but what about Scott and Natalie? It was hard to fathom out until the reveal.
Briefly, following his wife, Natalie’s, suicide Scott met Casey and married her one month later. Everyone thought it was a rebound reaction but she seemed to be the perfect, almost Stepford, wife, until their first anniversary! As Casey blackmails her husband into doing her bidding her demands get crueler and more brutal. Why is she targeting him and can anyone help him?
Told from the POV of various characters, including those named above, in the past and the present, this is cleverly put together and it really is hard to know who the villain(s) are and who to feel sorry for. It’s this that keeps you turning the page long after it’s time for “lights out”. Fast paced and addictive reading. Great!
Briefly, following his wife, Natalie’s, suicide Scott met Casey and married her one month later. Everyone thought it was a rebound reaction but she seemed to be the perfect, almost Stepford, wife, until their first anniversary! As Casey blackmails her husband into doing her bidding her demands get crueler and more brutal. Why is she targeting him and can anyone help him?
Told from the POV of various characters, including those named above, in the past and the present, this is cleverly put together and it really is hard to know who the villain(s) are and who to feel sorry for. It’s this that keeps you turning the page long after it’s time for “lights out”. Fast paced and addictive reading. Great!
October 5, 2022
4.75 ⭐️
October 17, 2022
Another great thriller from this author.
Each chapter is written from another characters perspective, which leaves you wondering what is really going on.
After his wife commits suicide Scott moves on with Casey very quickly. But all is not as it seems. Who is telling the truth, what is Casey’s motives and what really happened with Natalie?
Great read once again although not my fave from this author.
Each chapter is written from another characters perspective, which leaves you wondering what is really going on.
After his wife commits suicide Scott moves on with Casey very quickly. But all is not as it seems. Who is telling the truth, what is Casey’s motives and what really happened with Natalie?
Great read once again although not my fave from this author.
November 14, 2022
I really like this author but unfortunately this book wasnt for me. It was brutal and sadistic but I did finish it to see what happened. A couple of good twists, I especially liked the ending, but overall found it pretty hard to stomach.
October 10, 2022
Gosh. I can appreciate the cray that the author always brings. I’ve enjoyed the other plots more though. This book is a basically a few hundred pages of a crazy MC being a psychopath.
November 4, 2022
This was all over the bloody place. Nothing was ever fully explained and the plot was a mess. Avoid.
November 14, 2022
Sorry, not for me! Very confusing and disjointed, persevered to the end but seriously didn’t enjoy it.
September 28, 2022
I a big fan of this author each book is so different and always shocking gripping and so twisty 'Scott lost his first wife Natalie to suicide and he never understood why she was part of a book group and that's how he knew Casey he had fallen for her fast was married within a month Scott is a schoolteacher and loves his job and gets on with the other staff, its Scott and Casey's first wedding anniversary. and that day everything changes she says I hate you I do not love you and you killed your first wife and if you do not do as I tell you I will send this Video to all your work friend s and from that day his life is hell Casey is a big drug abuser he tells his best friend Gary who tries to help him won't say no more but so dam good and this author has brought some Abuse that sadly does happen is Cassey Natalie the Victim ?
October 19, 2022
The Second Wife by NJ Moss.
After his wife’s suicide, Scott manages to find love again with Casey. For their first anniversary, she has a surprise for him—but it’s not a good one . . .
A brilliant read. Twisty and tense. Loved it. 5*.
After his wife’s suicide, Scott manages to find love again with Casey. For their first anniversary, she has a surprise for him—but it’s not a good one . . .
A brilliant read. Twisty and tense. Loved it. 5*.
January 26, 2023
3.5 stars
This one really surprised me. It was disturbing as hell, but I enjoyed it. The twist at the end worked for me. I'm looking forward to reading the authors other books now.
This one really surprised me. It was disturbing as hell, but I enjoyed it. The twist at the end worked for me. I'm looking forward to reading the authors other books now.
February 6, 2023
1.5 stars (And this is only because I have read far worse books)
I should have paid heed to the dozens of reviews stating how bad this book is. But no, I had to start the year with a shitfuck of a book, with the most abysmally predictable plot, and characters that really make you want to gauge your eyes out.
The hero is a pathetic, whiny mess who would rather be a slobby idiot than stand up for anything
The heroine - as in the second wife - is god awfully screwed up, has no redeeming qualities and really makes you wonder why such heroines are considered representative of the whole "femme fatale" concept? What was the point of creating her except to give women a bad name?
The other heroine - as in the first wife - is sinfully boring, overdramatic, and spends half the book whining. You might start off by feeling sympathy for her but then you realize just how shitty all these characters are
The side characters are nothing but a convenient way to "rescue" our hero or "spy" on our heroine. Ex machina at its finest.
Is there character growth? No
Is there a super shocking plot twist? No. Actually, the twist confuses you more.
Is there anything in the book that can justify me recommending it? No. I mean, you can give it a try but it's a tedious job, finishing this book. Took me much longer than expected and that's DESPITE there being so much gore in the book, which usually keeps me hooked.
Is there gore in this book? Yep. A lot.
Is it good? No.
So yea, waste of time.
I should have paid heed to the dozens of reviews stating how bad this book is. But no, I had to start the year with a shitfuck of a book, with the most abysmally predictable plot, and characters that really make you want to gauge your eyes out.
The hero is a pathetic, whiny mess who would rather be a slobby idiot than stand up for anything
The heroine - as in the second wife - is god awfully screwed up, has no redeeming qualities and really makes you wonder why such heroines are considered representative of the whole "femme fatale" concept? What was the point of creating her except to give women a bad name?
The other heroine - as in the first wife - is sinfully boring, overdramatic, and spends half the book whining. You might start off by feeling sympathy for her but then you realize just how shitty all these characters are
The side characters are nothing but a convenient way to "rescue" our hero or "spy" on our heroine. Ex machina at its finest.
Is there character growth? No
Is there a super shocking plot twist? No. Actually, the twist confuses you more.
Is there anything in the book that can justify me recommending it? No. I mean, you can give it a try but it's a tedious job, finishing this book. Took me much longer than expected and that's DESPITE there being so much gore in the book, which usually keeps me hooked.
Is there gore in this book? Yep. A lot.
Is it good? No.
So yea, waste of time.
September 25, 2022
This is a great psychological thriller.
Scott is shocked by his wife’s behaviour on their first wedding anniversary.
She seems to have completely lost it and threatens to send very personal images of him by email to his contacts if he doesn’t do what she says.
It’s not clear at first why Casey is doing this to him and Scott is growing more and more scared and worried as the days go on.
Scott asks his friends to help him as Casey soon turns to violence, but can they get through to her troubled mind?
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Scott is shocked by his wife’s behaviour on their first wedding anniversary.
She seems to have completely lost it and threatens to send very personal images of him by email to his contacts if he doesn’t do what she says.
It’s not clear at first why Casey is doing this to him and Scott is growing more and more scared and worried as the days go on.
Scott asks his friends to help him as Casey soon turns to violence, but can they get through to her troubled mind?
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Read
October 10, 2022I was given an ARC for review of a previous NJ Moss book, The Husband Trap, and loved it, so when offered the opportunity to once again receive an early copy for review, I jumped at the chance! This book, however, fell short for me. I won't give this one a star rating since I did end up DNF'ing it, but I did still want to leave a few words on why this wasn't for me.
This book really should have some trigger warnings add to the beginning to include domestic abuse and off-screen animal abuse - possibly more, but those two were big for myself and others in my reading group. The MC Casey was insane - almost too much so. We all have to suspend reality when reading fiction and that is all good, but this just felt too unbelievable for me to get on board with. And Scott, the other MC? Spineless. And like honestly, we get glimpses of him through his deceased wife's perspective and then the current times perspective and they don't track. At least up to where I dropped out at, they feel like two completely different people.
This one just wasn't it for me. But I look forward to reading more from Moss, and hopefully loving the next one as much as the previous one!
This book really should have some trigger warnings add to the beginning to include domestic abuse and off-screen animal abuse - possibly more, but those two were big for myself and others in my reading group. The MC Casey was insane - almost too much so. We all have to suspend reality when reading fiction and that is all good, but this just felt too unbelievable for me to get on board with. And Scott, the other MC? Spineless. And like honestly, we get glimpses of him through his deceased wife's perspective and then the current times perspective and they don't track. At least up to where I dropped out at, they feel like two completely different people.
This one just wasn't it for me. But I look forward to reading more from Moss, and hopefully loving the next one as much as the previous one!
October 9, 2022
*Possible spoilers*
With quick chapters, this tense read by N. J. Moss pits newlyweds Casey and Scott against each other. It is their first anniversary, and Scott is really looking forward to celebrating his marriage with his second wife. Tragically, Scott lost his first wife to suicide, and still can't believe how fortunate he was to find love again. However, that anniversary night when he arrives home changes everything...
Casey is not prepared to celebrate. In fact, she has an entirely different agenda. She has laid out a very detailed blackmail scheme of sorts that has the ultimate intention on ruining Scott's life. Scott's job. And their marriage. What she tells Scott shocks him to his very core. In fact, when she looks at him with sheer hatred in her eyes, Scott is confused beyond belief.
While Casey proved to be one the most vile characters I have read in a long time, Scott had absolutely no backbone. In fact, a perfect metaphor for Scott’s character would be buying a discount doormat from Walmart that you need, but you really don’t like. All it is good for would be to wipe your feet on that mat every chance you get. He exemplified that doormat to the nth degree.
While the intensity of this book often shocked and sickened me, N. J. Moss did keep me on my tenterhooks. Although I cringed most the way through, I was intrigued enough to want to see what the end result for Scott and Casey would be. The book did feel triggering to me at times, making me want to put it down for good, but I did power through. In fact, this is where an occurrence of animal abuse I feel must be mentioned in this review. It is off screen, so to speak, but disturbing enough to me that I feel compelled to mention it. If you like tense drama, shocking twists, cruel protagonists who will go to any extreme, then The Second Wife just might be the book for you.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
With quick chapters, this tense read by N. J. Moss pits newlyweds Casey and Scott against each other. It is their first anniversary, and Scott is really looking forward to celebrating his marriage with his second wife. Tragically, Scott lost his first wife to suicide, and still can't believe how fortunate he was to find love again. However, that anniversary night when he arrives home changes everything...
Casey is not prepared to celebrate. In fact, she has an entirely different agenda. She has laid out a very detailed blackmail scheme of sorts that has the ultimate intention on ruining Scott's life. Scott's job. And their marriage. What she tells Scott shocks him to his very core. In fact, when she looks at him with sheer hatred in her eyes, Scott is confused beyond belief.
While Casey proved to be one the most vile characters I have read in a long time, Scott had absolutely no backbone. In fact, a perfect metaphor for Scott’s character would be buying a discount doormat from Walmart that you need, but you really don’t like. All it is good for would be to wipe your feet on that mat every chance you get. He exemplified that doormat to the nth degree.
While the intensity of this book often shocked and sickened me, N. J. Moss did keep me on my tenterhooks. Although I cringed most the way through, I was intrigued enough to want to see what the end result for Scott and Casey would be. The book did feel triggering to me at times, making me want to put it down for good, but I did power through. In fact, this is where an occurrence of animal abuse I feel must be mentioned in this review. It is off screen, so to speak, but disturbing enough to me that I feel compelled to mention it. If you like tense drama, shocking twists, cruel protagonists who will go to any extreme, then The Second Wife just might be the book for you.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
October 17, 2022
A psychological thriller by an author whose books i haven't managed to read before. Well what an introduction! If you want a dark and twisted tale this is definitely that.
Told from multiple perspectives we are introduced to Scott, A man who has lost his first wife to suicide. After meeting Casey, they have a whirlwind romance and marry. Everything changes the day he returns home to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. He is faced with a Casey who has turned into a brutal stranger. She says she has a video that will end his career as a teacher and unless he does as she wants she will make sure she releases it. Finding himself in the hell that is domestic violence how can Scott get free from this terror he lives?
Nathan Moss has definitely done plenty of research, this is a harrowing and dark tale of the reality of domestic violence. I have worked on the helplines for this and know the bare truths. This book shows it for what it is. The way the victim is broken down to succumb to the perpetrators liking and how they remold them. Yes, it is very dark but plenty of people do go through this in life.
As dark as it is I found I had to keep reading. The fact that it kept me guessing as to who, why and what would happen next made this a page turner that is a tense one!
I shall be picking up more of this author's work!
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to leave this review.
Told from multiple perspectives we are introduced to Scott, A man who has lost his first wife to suicide. After meeting Casey, they have a whirlwind romance and marry. Everything changes the day he returns home to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. He is faced with a Casey who has turned into a brutal stranger. She says she has a video that will end his career as a teacher and unless he does as she wants she will make sure she releases it. Finding himself in the hell that is domestic violence how can Scott get free from this terror he lives?
Nathan Moss has definitely done plenty of research, this is a harrowing and dark tale of the reality of domestic violence. I have worked on the helplines for this and know the bare truths. This book shows it for what it is. The way the victim is broken down to succumb to the perpetrators liking and how they remold them. Yes, it is very dark but plenty of people do go through this in life.
As dark as it is I found I had to keep reading. The fact that it kept me guessing as to who, why and what would happen next made this a page turner that is a tense one!
I shall be picking up more of this author's work!
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to leave this review.
October 4, 2022
MIND BLOWN!!
I've read all of Nathan's books and I didn't think that he could possibly shock or horrify me again.
Well I was completely wrong.
I read this book in a couple of hours it was that good that I just couldn't put it down even when I was desperate for a wee!
When English school teacher Scott's first wife Natalie killed herself Scott was beside himself with grief but when Casey a friend of Natalie's book club showed up it was an instant attraction.
After only a month together they married and Scott was blissfully happy. When their 1st anniversary night came along Casey sent Scott a text saying that she was planning a surprise. Scott was thinking about having a wonderful evening with his wife and imagining all sorts of scenarios but he definitely didn't contemplate what Casey had in mind the minute he walked in the door!
This book has you in a complete rollercoaster of emotions and boy it's the Kingda Ka.
The narration of the characters is wonderfully written even though they are psychologically challenging.
This book is very dark in places and brings up issues of domestic abuse, torture, rape and the harming of a cat. So please be aware of these factors. But saying that it is one of the best disturbing reads I've ever read.
I've read all of Nathan's books and I didn't think that he could possibly shock or horrify me again.
Well I was completely wrong.
I read this book in a couple of hours it was that good that I just couldn't put it down even when I was desperate for a wee!
When English school teacher Scott's first wife Natalie killed herself Scott was beside himself with grief but when Casey a friend of Natalie's book club showed up it was an instant attraction.
After only a month together they married and Scott was blissfully happy. When their 1st anniversary night came along Casey sent Scott a text saying that she was planning a surprise. Scott was thinking about having a wonderful evening with his wife and imagining all sorts of scenarios but he definitely didn't contemplate what Casey had in mind the minute he walked in the door!
This book has you in a complete rollercoaster of emotions and boy it's the Kingda Ka.
The narration of the characters is wonderfully written even though they are psychologically challenging.
This book is very dark in places and brings up issues of domestic abuse, torture, rape and the harming of a cat. So please be aware of these factors. But saying that it is one of the best disturbing reads I've ever read.
October 12, 2022
I read this in one sitting, it kept me that riveted. A shocking book of domestic violence with twists and turns that had me guessing after I thought I’d figured it all out.
Scott enters his house on the first anniversary of his second marriage full of anticipation of a celebratory night with his wife, Casey, only to find himself faced with a stranger with other, sadistic plans in mind. She holds him hostage to her whims with video footage taken without his knowledge, which she threatens to release if he doesn’t do her bidding. Videos that could end his career as a teacher.
A very realistic and heartbreaking tale of the results abuse have on the victim. The way it tears them down and turns them into a shell of the person they once were. A shocking insight into the mind of a sadistic abuser and how it works.
Told from various viewpoints, including the first wife, it kept me guessing about the true nature of all involved, proving just how and why it’s so difficult to prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence and why the victims often don’t come forward.
The characters were sensitively and realistically portrayed, and this is the very definition of a page-turner.
A very easy ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. I look forward to reading more books from this incredibly talented author.
Scott enters his house on the first anniversary of his second marriage full of anticipation of a celebratory night with his wife, Casey, only to find himself faced with a stranger with other, sadistic plans in mind. She holds him hostage to her whims with video footage taken without his knowledge, which she threatens to release if he doesn’t do her bidding. Videos that could end his career as a teacher.
A very realistic and heartbreaking tale of the results abuse have on the victim. The way it tears them down and turns them into a shell of the person they once were. A shocking insight into the mind of a sadistic abuser and how it works.
Told from various viewpoints, including the first wife, it kept me guessing about the true nature of all involved, proving just how and why it’s so difficult to prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence and why the victims often don’t come forward.
The characters were sensitively and realistically portrayed, and this is the very definition of a page-turner.
A very easy ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. I look forward to reading more books from this incredibly talented author.
September 28, 2022
I was somewhat intrigued by the plot of this book: Casey is Scott's second wife, (his first wife, Natalie killed herself). Scott and Casey married quickly, and all was going well until…
One year on and Casey changes totally! She casually drops the bombshell that she has never loved Scott and begins controlling him, beating him, and humiliating him. She reveals that she has been secretly recording him in ‘private’ situations and threatens to send the videos out to everyone he knows and works with unless he ‘does as he is told’. We then see the real Casey and it is not pleasant! In fact, I think she has to be one of the worst female characters I have ever read! I feel I must point out that this book is hard to read in places due to the levels of abuse – and it is most certainly not for the faint hearted.
Each chapter is written from another character’s point of view, which whilst I like this style of storytelling, it did leave me slightly confused in places. Towards the end things are brought together well and the sections I was unsure about, became clear. All in all, this is a good read - 4-stars from me.
One year on and Casey changes totally! She casually drops the bombshell that she has never loved Scott and begins controlling him, beating him, and humiliating him. She reveals that she has been secretly recording him in ‘private’ situations and threatens to send the videos out to everyone he knows and works with unless he ‘does as he is told’. We then see the real Casey and it is not pleasant! In fact, I think she has to be one of the worst female characters I have ever read! I feel I must point out that this book is hard to read in places due to the levels of abuse – and it is most certainly not for the faint hearted.
Each chapter is written from another character’s point of view, which whilst I like this style of storytelling, it did leave me slightly confused in places. Towards the end things are brought together well and the sections I was unsure about, became clear. All in all, this is a good read - 4-stars from me.
September 28, 2022
OH MY DIDDY. This is one twisty brilliant book.
Secondary school teacher Scott Smith and his wife Casey.
Casey is Scott's second wife, his first wife Natalie killed herself.
Scott and Casey had only a short romance and were married within a month he was totally obsessed with her. Until a year later on their anniversary she drops a bombshell that she had never loved him, controlling and beating him even got secret videos of him that she threatens to send that would ruin his career as a teacher.
This woman is rotten to the core and wants his money not only for items that she will not ever use but also for her drug use. Scott just does not know which way to turn and confided in his best mate Gary and also his TA at work.
I'm telling you now honestly if this character was real, I could give her a good slap at the beginning and I just had to read on there has to be a massive twist coming. I just could not put it down.
This book really is strong stuff of abuse that is certainly not for the faint hearted.
Secondary school teacher Scott Smith and his wife Casey.
Casey is Scott's second wife, his first wife Natalie killed herself.
Scott and Casey had only a short romance and were married within a month he was totally obsessed with her. Until a year later on their anniversary she drops a bombshell that she had never loved him, controlling and beating him even got secret videos of him that she threatens to send that would ruin his career as a teacher.
This woman is rotten to the core and wants his money not only for items that she will not ever use but also for her drug use. Scott just does not know which way to turn and confided in his best mate Gary and also his TA at work.
I'm telling you now honestly if this character was real, I could give her a good slap at the beginning and I just had to read on there has to be a massive twist coming. I just could not put it down.
This book really is strong stuff of abuse that is certainly not for the faint hearted.
Read
November 9, 2022It’s a nice shortish book 200 odd pages so easy to finish quickly
“Meet Scott , who’s first wife Natalie took her own life and he meets and falls for Casey very quickly in a whirlwind to block out the thoughts of finding Natalie dead … to find in the first chapter all is not what he thought with his second wife - in fact it’s the polar opposite and his life is going to head down a dark dark road “
It’s hard to rate a book thats based on so much hurt and manipulative behaviour - so much abuse and mind games
It’s the writing that was on point and kept me reading on
I’ll leave this unrated and say have an open mind when going in
There’s so many triggers in this book - Rape talk, Domestic violence , Emotional abuse (in the worst form) animal cruelty& violence towards a pet , mentions of religion and LGBTQ+ , Suicide , torturous behaviours & financial abuse … so I really do not recommend to anybody who triggers with any of the above topics .
Gosh I need a cheesy happy Christmas read after this !
“Meet Scott , who’s first wife Natalie took her own life and he meets and falls for Casey very quickly in a whirlwind to block out the thoughts of finding Natalie dead … to find in the first chapter all is not what he thought with his second wife - in fact it’s the polar opposite and his life is going to head down a dark dark road “
It’s hard to rate a book thats based on so much hurt and manipulative behaviour - so much abuse and mind games
It’s the writing that was on point and kept me reading on
I’ll leave this unrated and say have an open mind when going in
There’s so many triggers in this book - Rape talk, Domestic violence , Emotional abuse (in the worst form) animal cruelty& violence towards a pet , mentions of religion and LGBTQ+ , Suicide , torturous behaviours & financial abuse … so I really do not recommend to anybody who triggers with any of the above topics .
Gosh I need a cheesy happy Christmas read after this !
October 12, 2022
Rarely have I despised a main character in a book as much as I hated Casey, but you see on this book this feeling is a good thing because the writer definitely want us the readers to feel a visceral repulse at her. She really is a very twisted person, because of her upbringing? Because of her past live? Or because deep in her core she’s just plain evil? The answer to these questions is the job we as readers have ti try to discern.
This book, as well as other by NJ Miss, is so well written that I couldn’t put it down and when I thought I have figure out what was going on another twist appear in the book and proved I was wrong again. This tension and suspense makes us the readers so invested in the plot that we need to continue reading to know what will happen.
There are very hard scenes in the book that are not for the sensible person, because they are hard to read.
I can wait for the next book by this author.
This book, as well as other by NJ Miss, is so well written that I couldn’t put it down and when I thought I have figure out what was going on another twist appear in the book and proved I was wrong again. This tension and suspense makes us the readers so invested in the plot that we need to continue reading to know what will happen.
There are very hard scenes in the book that are not for the sensible person, because they are hard to read.
I can wait for the next book by this author.
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