Catherine has been enjoying the single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic, spontaneous-Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each, in turn, falls under his spell.
But there is a darker side to Lee. His erratic, controlling and sometimes frightening behaviour means that Catherine is increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, and trusting no one, she plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, struggling to overcome her demons, Catherine dares to believe she might be safe from harm. Until one phone call changes everything.
Elizabeth Haynes is also the author of Revenge of the Tide, Human Remains, Never Alone and The Murder of Harriet Monckton.
This book was a chilling portrait of an abusive relationship and its aftermath. When Catherine meets Lee, she effortlessly lets him in to her life. Sure, he doesn't talk much and his job is mysterious and sometimes he disappears for days at a time, but he's handsome and a good lover and all of her friends are jealous, so what's the harm, right?
But four years later, Cathy is a mess. Her life is filled with completing her obsessive rituals and panic attacks. She is constantly in fear, and trusts no one, even the seemingly nice man who moves in upstairs. Even as he tries to help her with her OCD, the trust is slow to develop. And then a phone call ruins everything.
What exactly happened to Catherine/Cathy is a story that is unfolded through the course of the novel. It bounces back and forth in time, giving us a complete picture of what she endured.
I thought this was a really great read, and I look forward to reading more from this author!
