Stitched: A gruesome tale of control, fear and brutality

by Cheryl Elaine

[zooloo1983]

My god, are there any words that can be used to describe the feelings I have with this book. It is horrifying, gut-wrenching, dark, gruesome, raw, brutal…the list is endless but what a bloody good read. Even though I feel like I need to have a good shower and watch lots of happy things to move on.

It is hard to review this book too much without giving any details of the plot but I will try to convey my opinions somehow!

This book is a harrowing account of domestic abuse and word of warning extremely graphic. I am exhausted and drained from reading this book! Andy, the husband, is one of the most sadistic, horrifying, cruel men I have ever read in a book and that is saying something. There is no ounce of me that feels any remorse for him even when you learn of his upbringing, he is one vile human being. I think the hatred poured out of every part of me, I did not know what to do with all this pent up anger!

Emily, the wife, well all I will say is this book title means more than one thing to her. Her life was just one nightmare after another nightmare and my heart went out to her. How can one person have so much crap sent her way! A real kicker in her story.

This book is an incredibly hard and uncomfortable read, especially when you know that this does happen to women daily. Men thinking they can possess them, the way Andy possess Emily. I could not put this book down, I flew through it, wound up so tight like a snake ready to spring into action. I needed justice, I needed a happy ending, I needed tissues, I needed something!!

Ms Elaine’s writing is raw and the story focussed on the end game. She knows the right things to say to send chills to the reader and make their stomach churn and I admit I did flinch at the more graphic scenes of abuse.

Now, this is going to sound so wrong, but I loved this book. It had me gripped, it did not give and certainly did not shy away from anything. It made you watch wide-eyed with the horrors as they unfolded, showing you how abuse does not always come in the physical form.

It was an incredible read and one that will stay with me for a long time.
I really do need to pick up her other books too! Definitely, a book that will be in at least my Top 20 wrap up for the year!