Published by Thomas & Mercer on October 2019
Genres: Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Every Wednesday, like clockwork, the terror returns.
It seems like an ordinary Wednesday, until the phone rings. A mysterious caller with a chilling threat. Journalist Alice Henderson hangs up, ready to dismiss it as a hoax against the newspaper. But the next Wednesday, the stalker makes another move--and it becomes clear that this is all about Alice.Someone wants her to suffer, but for what? Her articles have made her a popular local champion--could it be her past rather than her work that's put her life in danger? Alice is determined not to give in to fear, but with the police investigation at a dead end, her boyfriend insists on hiring private investigator Matthew Hill.
With every passing Wednesday the warnings escalate, until it's not only Alice but also her family in the stalker's sights. As her tormentor closes in, can Alice uncover what she's being punished for before the terrifying threats become an unthinkable reality?
Continuing on my heavy thriller month of October! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review I Will Make You Pay! The story is told through multiple POVs: Alice (MC), Past Alice, “Him” (past), and finally the private investigator that is hired to help protect Alice. Driscoll did an admirable job of juggling the POVs without slowing down the pacing too terribly much. Including the “him” POV certainly made the subject a bit more pitiful due to his rotten childhood but it was incredibly difficult to read, especially as a parent to a young child. The emotional turmoil experienced by Alice, and the younger “him,” felt all too authentic and took this reader on and unsettling rollercoaster of emotions.
In true thriller fashion, this story is rife with twists and turns that surprised me and kept me guessing. Though as the story continued, I found I didn’t care for Alice. I can’t really go into why without spoilers but I will say that if you are in danger and there is a police inquiry, it is better to be safe than sorry.
While I didn’t connect with Alice, I truly looked forward to the chapters with the private investigator, Matthew! I have a child in the midst of the terrible twos right now so I loved the small palate cleanser of Matthew and Sally’s battles with their tiny tyrant to break up the Wednesday-induced tension.
Ultimately, this was a chilling thriller that made me dread Wednesdays just a bit. I loved that Driscoll highlights the difficulties that victims face when being stalked and how limited police can be when investigating those crimes. This was my first thriller by Driscoll and I would certainly pick up more of her work in the future.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About Teresa Driscoll
Teresa Driscoll – a former BBC TV news presenter- is now an international #1 bestselling author. Her debut psychological suspense I AM WATCHING YOU hit Number One on Kindle in the UK, USA and Australia and sold more than half a million copies in its first year. Her second thriller THE FRIEND was also Kindle #1 in the UK and Australia and a top #10 bestseller in the USA.
Teresa also writes women’s fiction. Her debut in this genre RECIPES FOR MELISSA was auctioned at the Frankfurt book fair between seven German publishers and her second women’s fiction title is LAST KISS GOODNIGHT.
During her long career as a journalist, Teresa worked for newspapers, magazines and television, including 15 years presenting the BBC TV news programme Spotlight. Covering crime for so long, she was deeply moved by the haunting impact on the relatives, the friends and the witnesses and it is those ripples she explores now in her darker fiction.
Teresa’s books have been sold for translation in 15 languages. She lives in glorious Devon with her husband and two sons and blogs regularly about her “writing life” at her website – www.teresadriscoll.com.
