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One Step Behind
Jenna is a wife, a mother, a doctor. She’s also the victim of a stalker.
Every time she leaves her house, she sees him. Disturbing gifts are left at her door. Cruel emails are sent to her colleagues. She has no idea who this man is but she feels powerless against him.
Until the day he is brought into her hospital after a serious accident, and Jenna is given the chance to find out once and for all why this man is tormenting her. Now, the power is all hers.
But how many lines is she willing to cross to take back control of her life?
Every time she leaves her house, she sees him. Disturbing gifts are left at her door. Cruel emails are sent to her colleagues. She has no idea who this man is but she feels powerless against him.
Until the day he is brought into her hospital after a serious accident, and Jenna is given the chance to find out once and for all why this man is tormenting her. Now, the power is all hers.
But how many lines is she willing to cross to take back control of her life?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
147 people are currently reading
9872 people want to read
About the author
Lauren North
14 books510 followersLauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
August 29, 2020
At the background I can hear Choo choo sound of disappointment train as I shaking my head from side and side and screaming: “ Noooo!”
Don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan of stalker stories and gripping page turners about their cat and mouse game: basic plot lines like sometimes the hunter finds himself turned into a prey. The book’s promising premise attracted my attention but....
We have one of the most unlikable heroine and a story goes nowhere because till the second half of the book nothing happens. No surprise, no action, no twist! Nothing! Nada! Zero! And the ending was illogical, nonsense and haphazard.
Let’s take a look at the plot line:
Jenna is our not so lovely protagonist, a doctor, living with her two children, who has been stalking by an unknown person who leaves gifts in front of her house door and sending emails to inform her that he’s following each step she takes and later she meets her stalker in person as her patient who was hit by a bus. So she decides to find the truth and the hidden agenda of her stalker to take the matters in her own hands.
When you read those parts: you think something earth shattering, exciting, action packed will happen but no: we’re unfortunately stuck in Jenna’s head, reading her nonstop bickering thoughts and hating her more at each chapter.
Overall: The author’s debut novel “Perfect Son” was promising and brilliant so I expected more from her. I’m rounding up 2.5 stars to 3 for my love to the stalker stories but I’m still disappointed about the character and the unsatisfied conclusion of the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this ARC with me in exchange my honest review. I wish I could enjoy it more.
Don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan of stalker stories and gripping page turners about their cat and mouse game: basic plot lines like sometimes the hunter finds himself turned into a prey. The book’s promising premise attracted my attention but....
We have one of the most unlikable heroine and a story goes nowhere because till the second half of the book nothing happens. No surprise, no action, no twist! Nothing! Nada! Zero! And the ending was illogical, nonsense and haphazard.
Let’s take a look at the plot line:
Jenna is our not so lovely protagonist, a doctor, living with her two children, who has been stalking by an unknown person who leaves gifts in front of her house door and sending emails to inform her that he’s following each step she takes and later she meets her stalker in person as her patient who was hit by a bus. So she decides to find the truth and the hidden agenda of her stalker to take the matters in her own hands.
When you read those parts: you think something earth shattering, exciting, action packed will happen but no: we’re unfortunately stuck in Jenna’s head, reading her nonstop bickering thoughts and hating her more at each chapter.
Overall: The author’s debut novel “Perfect Son” was promising and brilliant so I expected more from her. I’m rounding up 2.5 stars to 3 for my love to the stalker stories but I’m still disappointed about the character and the unsatisfied conclusion of the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this ARC with me in exchange my honest review. I wish I could enjoy it more.
August 29, 2020
Jenna is an A&E Doctor, so it goes without saying that she works extremely hard, in addition, her marriage is somewhat strained, and just for the record, her kids resent the amount of time she spends at work, and as if that wasn’t enough, she’s also being stalked!
Her stalker leaves creepy dolls heads on her doorstep, sometimes with melted faces, (signifying what exactly?)she’s naturally terrified to go out, because he follows her constantly, and then there’s the threatening emails. Jenna can’t imagine why he’s doing it - why her?
She eventually gets to put a name to this monster who occupies her every waking thought, when he arrives in A&E after being hit by a bus. It’s thought that someone had pushed him. The local police don’t seem to be taking her claims too seriously, so it’s time for Jenna to take action and discover for herself, exactly what’s going on.
Gosh, where do I start with this one - it’s really difficult to enjoy a book when you don’t like any of the characters, and I really didn’t - I found Jenna particularly irritating, and the others had no redeeming qualities either. The scenario was definitely a frightening one, and there were some heart pounding moments at times, but for me, it was an ok read rather than an exciting one.
* I was invited to read One Step Behind by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Her stalker leaves creepy dolls heads on her doorstep, sometimes with melted faces, (signifying what exactly?)she’s naturally terrified to go out, because he follows her constantly, and then there’s the threatening emails. Jenna can’t imagine why he’s doing it - why her?
She eventually gets to put a name to this monster who occupies her every waking thought, when he arrives in A&E after being hit by a bus. It’s thought that someone had pushed him. The local police don’t seem to be taking her claims too seriously, so it’s time for Jenna to take action and discover for herself, exactly what’s going on.
Gosh, where do I start with this one - it’s really difficult to enjoy a book when you don’t like any of the characters, and I really didn’t - I found Jenna particularly irritating, and the others had no redeeming qualities either. The scenario was definitely a frightening one, and there were some heart pounding moments at times, but for me, it was an ok read rather than an exciting one.
* I was invited to read One Step Behind by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
April 28, 2022
Book outlet read #2. UPDATE: after a couple of days of reflection, 2 stars is a bit harsh. It wasn't as bad as some of my other 2 star reads... the ending just pissed me off so much LOL. It's more of a 3 star read.
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: please stop/5
THE PLOT
Dr. Jenna has a serious stalker and when said stalker ends up in the A&E (ER for North Americans) she's faced with the tough decision: uphold the oath she took as a doctor, or just let mans take a forever nap.
MY OPINION
OOPS THEY TRICKED ME AGAIN *Britney voice*. So, after b2b books where I survived the first 20%, I still ended up with a poo poo read. HALP.
This one started off intense and creepy enough. Jenna's fear is palpable and you can't help but feel sympathetic for her. I mean... imagine having to check your doorstep every day before you take your kids to school just to make sure this lunatic didn't leave behind any melted dolls dressed up as a dr? Nah.
Then the plot got considerably thicc and I was very invested into the who, what, where, and how of it all. BUT ALAS... SHARP left turn into wtf-ville, population me, myself, and this book. Jenna's husband (would pay $$ to fight him) has an affair with a PTA mom just for funsies; not sure why this was added to the story because it literally had nothing to do with the plot and in the end Jenna didn't even leave him. I already considered a bum before the affair reveal, so no need to add that in to drive home the point.
OK THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER SO SCROLL AHEAD IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS
Another unreliable narrator fail. When will authors realize a character lying for funsies is not the same as an unreliable narrator, and therefore is just disappointing when everything is revealed. An effective unreliable narrator, for example, needs some kind of mental illness/disorder that causes them to perceive reality differently, without the reader being aware their perception is "warped" by a manic episode or something. If there's no underlying mental illness/disorder, then why were they lying? Are you assuming a false identity? Did you suffer a traumatic brain injury? No? You just decided to lie until the very end for cheap shock value? Ok then.........
And lastly, that ending. C'mon now. Don't make this like the "Taken" trilogy.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise, great suspense/intrigue at the beginning
Cons: poorly executed unreliable narrator, OTT final event, stupid ass cliffhanger, all the men is this book were a double pack of ass
Book outlet reads
#1 - The Reunion
#3 - The Scholar
#4 - Possession
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: please stop/5
THE PLOT
Dr. Jenna has a serious stalker and when said stalker ends up in the A&E (ER for North Americans) she's faced with the tough decision: uphold the oath she took as a doctor, or just let mans take a forever nap.
MY OPINION
OOPS THEY TRICKED ME AGAIN *Britney voice*. So, after b2b books where I survived the first 20%, I still ended up with a poo poo read. HALP.
This one started off intense and creepy enough. Jenna's fear is palpable and you can't help but feel sympathetic for her. I mean... imagine having to check your doorstep every day before you take your kids to school just to make sure this lunatic didn't leave behind any melted dolls dressed up as a dr? Nah.
Then the plot got considerably thicc and I was very invested into the who, what, where, and how of it all. BUT ALAS... SHARP left turn into wtf-ville, population me, myself, and this book. Jenna's husband (would pay $$ to fight him) has an affair with a PTA mom just for funsies; not sure why this was added to the story because it literally had nothing to do with the plot and in the end Jenna didn't even leave him. I already considered a bum before the affair reveal, so no need to add that in to drive home the point.
OK THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER SO SCROLL AHEAD IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS
Another unreliable narrator fail. When will authors realize a character lying for funsies is not the same as an unreliable narrator, and therefore is just disappointing when everything is revealed. An effective unreliable narrator, for example, needs some kind of mental illness/disorder that causes them to perceive reality differently, without the reader being aware their perception is "warped" by a manic episode or something. If there's no underlying mental illness/disorder, then why were they lying? Are you assuming a false identity? Did you suffer a traumatic brain injury? No? You just decided to lie until the very end for cheap shock value? Ok then.........
And lastly, that ending. C'mon now. Don't make this like the "Taken" trilogy.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise, great suspense/intrigue at the beginning
Cons: poorly executed unreliable narrator, OTT final event, stupid ass cliffhanger, all the men is this book were a double pack of ass
Book outlet reads
#1 - The Reunion
#3 - The Scholar
#4 - Possession
December 16, 2020
3.5*
Jenna is an Emergency Room physician. Married with 2 children her life should be perfect. As is often the case it’s far from it. Her marriage strained to the limit. Oh yeah…and she has a stalker that authorities are so far unable to catch, making her life rather miserable.
What are the chances that same stalker would be admitted into the ER as a patient. Apparently a lot better than you might think, creating a major moral dilemma for our fine doctor. Can she realistically follow her oath and treat him? Or is it her one chance to take revenge?
An extremely fast read that I flew through in just a few days. I toggled back and forth between the written word and audio. Both worked well for this book.
I found the twists to be a tad predictable but overall it was a good solid read.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read and review.
Jenna is an Emergency Room physician. Married with 2 children her life should be perfect. As is often the case it’s far from it. Her marriage strained to the limit. Oh yeah…and she has a stalker that authorities are so far unable to catch, making her life rather miserable.
What are the chances that same stalker would be admitted into the ER as a patient. Apparently a lot better than you might think, creating a major moral dilemma for our fine doctor. Can she realistically follow her oath and treat him? Or is it her one chance to take revenge?
An extremely fast read that I flew through in just a few days. I toggled back and forth between the written word and audio. Both worked well for this book.
I found the twists to be a tad predictable but overall it was a good solid read.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read and review.
September 7, 2020
I enjoyed Lauren North’s book, The Perfect Son, last year, and I am loving this cover for One Step Behind!
Jenna is being stalked. The stalker leaves gifts at her door. She seems him often. He sends emails on blast.
Did I mention that Jenna is a doctor? That matters because one day her stalker is a traumatic accident and is brought to her hospital for treatment.
What will Jenna do to get her life back?
I’m careful not to expose any of the secrets of the plot. I immediately wanted to learn more about the stalker and I feel the author did a great job of peeling that onion layer by layer. There’s tension present early on (the beginning set-up is terrifying!) that never lets up.
I thought I had this book figured out, and I was totally wrong. I loved that. Recommended for fans of clever, quick-reading mystery thrillers.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Jenna is being stalked. The stalker leaves gifts at her door. She seems him often. He sends emails on blast.
Did I mention that Jenna is a doctor? That matters because one day her stalker is a traumatic accident and is brought to her hospital for treatment.
What will Jenna do to get her life back?
I’m careful not to expose any of the secrets of the plot. I immediately wanted to learn more about the stalker and I feel the author did a great job of peeling that onion layer by layer. There’s tension present early on (the beginning set-up is terrifying!) that never lets up.
I thought I had this book figured out, and I was totally wrong. I loved that. Recommended for fans of clever, quick-reading mystery thrillers.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
September 1, 2020
**AVAILABLE NOW**
Lauren North's writing and I...we just don't jibe well.
I wasn't a fan of The Perfect Son, and for many of the same reasons, I'm not a fan of One Step Behind. Both books served the answers to the "twist" up within in the first few chapters, making for very dull reads.
In this particular book, I was frustrated by fundamentals. I tried looking up whether Britain has the equivalent of HIPAA (patient privacy) laws, but honestly, I'm still in the dark...as various websites offered differing explanations. (Any of my UK friends, please fill a sista in.) Nevertheless, as a U.S. resident, all I could think of as I read this was, "HIPAA! HIPAA! You're seriously violating HIPAA laws! You should know better...you're a DOCTOR! Remember HIPAA?"
Details like that lose me. I felt so outside the story, it was hard for me to get drawn back in. Unfortunately, there were two such instances in this book. Without giving too much away, there is zero chance a school would allow what happened to actually happen. Nope, not a chance. And I'm simply not a fan of authors utilizing these 'not-true-to-life' ploys to advance the plot. I'm sure many readers can overlook it...I cannot.
It was not all bad, however. Stalker stories truly are creepy because it's something which can happen to anyone, at any time. And as a mother with children, it obviously sent a chill down my spine to even think about some mentally-impaired, unknown entity threatening them. North nailed the feelings a mother would experience in this situation.
At the end of the day, I'm going to call this one average and rate it 2.5 stars.
Available in the U.S. on September 1.
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for my review copy.
Lauren North's writing and I...we just don't jibe well.
I wasn't a fan of The Perfect Son, and for many of the same reasons, I'm not a fan of One Step Behind. Both books served the answers to the "twist" up within in the first few chapters, making for very dull reads.
In this particular book, I was frustrated by fundamentals. I tried looking up whether Britain has the equivalent of HIPAA (patient privacy) laws, but honestly, I'm still in the dark...as various websites offered differing explanations. (Any of my UK friends, please fill a sista in.) Nevertheless, as a U.S. resident, all I could think of as I read this was, "HIPAA! HIPAA! You're seriously violating HIPAA laws! You should know better...you're a DOCTOR! Remember HIPAA?"
Details like that lose me. I felt so outside the story, it was hard for me to get drawn back in. Unfortunately, there were two such instances in this book. Without giving too much away, there is zero chance a school would allow what happened to actually happen. Nope, not a chance. And I'm simply not a fan of authors utilizing these 'not-true-to-life' ploys to advance the plot. I'm sure many readers can overlook it...I cannot.
It was not all bad, however. Stalker stories truly are creepy because it's something which can happen to anyone, at any time. And as a mother with children, it obviously sent a chill down my spine to even think about some mentally-impaired, unknown entity threatening them. North nailed the feelings a mother would experience in this situation.
At the end of the day, I'm going to call this one average and rate it 2.5 stars.
Available in the U.S. on September 1.
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for my review copy.
May 19, 2021
3.5 Stars
A compelling read!!
Jenna is an emergency room doctor who has been stalked for more than a year. Her stalker is unrelenting. At first, it was limited to threatening messages. But he quickly moved on to leaving extremely disturbing gifts for her to find.
The police haven’t been very much help and Jenna is starting to feel hopeless. She’s not just worried about herself but her family as well.
Jenna doesn’t know what to expect when stepping out her front door. This is taking a toll on her entire family.
Will it ever stop?
But then something happens that puts the control in Jenna’s hands.
Now SHE has the power. What will she do?
I read the description for this book and thought it would be right up my alley. It was fast-paced and gripping and it definitely kept me guessing. A little over the top and unrealistic at times but I was still entertained. I do have to say that I was a bit perturbed by the ending.
Overall this was a good domestic suspense novel. I look forward to reading more from Lauren North.
September 30, 2020
I WON ANOTHER GIVEAWAY! THIS ALMOST MAKES UP FOR ALL THE BAD THINGS 2020 HAS BROUGHT!
although, full transparency, dumdum entered this thinking it was a book by Anna North, but perhaps it'll be a happy accident and i'll discover a new author i love?
review to come!
although, full transparency, dumdum entered this thinking it was a book by Anna North, but perhaps it'll be a happy accident and i'll discover a new author i love?
review to come!
January 11, 2021
Seriously creepy and a tad unbelievable.
Jenna is an ER Doctor who happens to have a stalker. It's been over a year now and the police have no leads (my first thought here was REALLY?! (none at all?). Throughout this time, Jenna has received threatening notes and gifts and has tried to keep her family safe from him but to no avail.
The day her stalker is wheeled into her ER after a life threatening accident, Jenna has an ethical dilemma to consider. Saving his life would mean wreaking havoc in her own. Oh the tangled web we weave.
Once all was revealed as the why the stalker had it out for Jenna.. well. my eyes rolled.
A psychological thriller, that left a little to be desired.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the arc.
Jenna is an ER Doctor who happens to have a stalker. It's been over a year now and the police have no leads (my first thought here was REALLY?! (none at all?). Throughout this time, Jenna has received threatening notes and gifts and has tried to keep her family safe from him but to no avail.
The day her stalker is wheeled into her ER after a life threatening accident, Jenna has an ethical dilemma to consider. Saving his life would mean wreaking havoc in her own. Oh the tangled web we weave.
Once all was revealed as the why the stalker had it out for Jenna.. well. my eyes rolled.
A psychological thriller, that left a little to be desired.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the arc.
September 3, 2020
3.5 Stars — ONE STEP BEHIND presents an intriguing and difficult dilemma for main character Jenna, a mom, ER doctor, and victim of a relentless stalker. After a year of receiving threatening messages and disturbing “gifts,” Jenna is at the breaking point. The police have made no progress in the case, and Jenna fears for herself and family. Then one day her stalker is wheeled into the emergency room near death after an accident. Now that she has control over his life, how far is she willing to go?
This book is a fast-paced and tense domestic thriller that shows what can happen when someone is threatened and put under mental stress for so long. Jenna’s behavior gets a bit wacky as she investigates her stalker, but I can’t say I blame her. I enjoyed how Jenna’s chapters are written in second person, with the “you” she’s talking to being her stalker.
The author crafted several red herrings and suspicious characters that kept me guessing. I thought the alternating chapters with another character, particularly the backstory, dragged a bit. Another quibble I had was that I thought the final twist, the “reasoning” behind the stalking, was a bit unbelievable. Still, it was an intense ending to wrap up the story. Recommend to readers who would enjoy a cat-and-mouse mystery.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a fast-paced and tense domestic thriller that shows what can happen when someone is threatened and put under mental stress for so long. Jenna’s behavior gets a bit wacky as she investigates her stalker, but I can’t say I blame her. I enjoyed how Jenna’s chapters are written in second person, with the “you” she’s talking to being her stalker.
The author crafted several red herrings and suspicious characters that kept me guessing. I thought the alternating chapters with another character, particularly the backstory, dragged a bit. Another quibble I had was that I thought the final twist, the “reasoning” behind the stalking, was a bit unbelievable. Still, it was an intense ending to wrap up the story. Recommend to readers who would enjoy a cat-and-mouse mystery.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
When I read the premise of "One step behind" I found it pretty disturbing and I thought I was gonna find a cat and mouse story, with the hunter turning prey and lots of twists and turns. Instead the cat spent half of the story playing with yarn and not torturing the mouse enough.
Jenna is an A&E doctor. She's had a stalker for the last year. She sees him taking pictures of her, watching her and her kids when she goes out. He leaves her creepy gifts and sends her cruel emails. But one day he's admitted into her hospital after being hit by a bus and then tables turn.
Jenna, after tables turned
While the beginning of the book managed to grab me quite easily because of the eerie feeling the stalking situation gave off, after roles were reversed it stalled quite soon. Initially I felt sympathy for Jenna and her situation, but she soon became quite self centered and, truth be told, a bit of a hot mess, bickering non-stop and alienating everyone around her.
It was not till the last third that things starting moving along, but they lead to an ending that didn't make much sense imo. I'm all in for surprising endings provided they are not totally lame, and this one was touching that thin line between credible and totally bonkers.
Although this one was only middle of the pack for me, I've heard that the author's debut was quite good so maybe I'll give that one a chance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/Corgi for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna is an A&E doctor. She's had a stalker for the last year. She sees him taking pictures of her, watching her and her kids when she goes out. He leaves her creepy gifts and sends her cruel emails. But one day he's admitted into her hospital after being hit by a bus and then tables turn.
Jenna, after tables turned
While the beginning of the book managed to grab me quite easily because of the eerie feeling the stalking situation gave off, after roles were reversed it stalled quite soon. Initially I felt sympathy for Jenna and her situation, but she soon became quite self centered and, truth be told, a bit of a hot mess, bickering non-stop and alienating everyone around her.
It was not till the last third that things starting moving along, but they lead to an ending that didn't make much sense imo. I'm all in for surprising endings provided they are not totally lame, and this one was touching that thin line between credible and totally bonkers.
Although this one was only middle of the pack for me, I've heard that the author's debut was quite good so maybe I'll give that one a chance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/Corgi for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2020
I'm a pretty tough thriller and mystery critic as we all know. One Step Behind is definitely a book that I should have left behind on the shelf not to read.
One Step Behind is about a mom with two children that has been stalked for awhile. The stalker has been leaving her little gifts in front of her house and has been sending her emails and following her every move. Jenna is a doctor and one day her stalker ends up in the hospital due to being hit by a bus and none other than Jenna is the doctor on staff treating her stalker.
The police seem not to be doing anything for Jenna and Jenna decides to take the matters into her own hands becoming a stalker herself trying to figure out who this mysterious person is and why.
Alright... Jenna was pretty annoying and I wasn't fond of any characters in this book. Jenna came across as whiny and just a little bit of a hot mess.
It took way to long for something to happen in this book and the majority of the novel was us following Jenna in trying to figure out her stalker with nothing going on!!! The final reveal at the end was just pretty lame to be honest and was completely disappointing after all that. Another thriller that left me disappointed.
Overall, 2/5 stars.
Huge thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 9/1/20
Published to GR; 6/20/20
One Step Behind is about a mom with two children that has been stalked for awhile. The stalker has been leaving her little gifts in front of her house and has been sending her emails and following her every move. Jenna is a doctor and one day her stalker ends up in the hospital due to being hit by a bus and none other than Jenna is the doctor on staff treating her stalker.
The police seem not to be doing anything for Jenna and Jenna decides to take the matters into her own hands becoming a stalker herself trying to figure out who this mysterious person is and why.
Alright... Jenna was pretty annoying and I wasn't fond of any characters in this book. Jenna came across as whiny and just a little bit of a hot mess.
It took way to long for something to happen in this book and the majority of the novel was us following Jenna in trying to figure out her stalker with nothing going on!!! The final reveal at the end was just pretty lame to be honest and was completely disappointing after all that. Another thriller that left me disappointed.
Overall, 2/5 stars.
Huge thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 9/1/20
Published to GR; 6/20/20
September 10, 2020
Jenna knows she is being stalked and when the opportunity to find out why she instantly jumps at the chance.
Her stalker has just arrived in A&E with a head injury and she is tasked to deal with the patient...
This was a really enjoyable psychological thriller, the first I've read from Lauren North.
Whilst the main mystery was enticing, they way she wrote Jenna's experiences added to plot.
Her work colleges were starting to worry that she wasn't acting herself, whilst her husband was sympathetic - the long work hours and obsession with the stalker was taking a toll on the marriage.
First learing the identity of the guy who's following her, Jenna can't resist having a peek at his phone.
Even though Jenna could get into serious trouble, I think we'd all struggle to not have a little look to find some damning evidence.
Plenty of suspense and numerous clues that kept me guessing.
I'd happily read more from this author.
Her stalker has just arrived in A&E with a head injury and she is tasked to deal with the patient...
This was a really enjoyable psychological thriller, the first I've read from Lauren North.
Whilst the main mystery was enticing, they way she wrote Jenna's experiences added to plot.
Her work colleges were starting to worry that she wasn't acting herself, whilst her husband was sympathetic - the long work hours and obsession with the stalker was taking a toll on the marriage.
First learing the identity of the guy who's following her, Jenna can't resist having a peek at his phone.
Even though Jenna could get into serious trouble, I think we'd all struggle to not have a little look to find some damning evidence.
Plenty of suspense and numerous clues that kept me guessing.
I'd happily read more from this author.
February 13, 2021
Man this was just not a good fit. I went in thinking the premise sounded intriguing, unlike anything I’ve read.. But for me it just dragged. It’s not even a long book but there were entire sections I wished I could’ve skipped- I just had a really hard time getting through. (Some felt repetitive, but mostly it was just drawn out.) Then the end? I can’t say much without giving spoilers but it definitely did not redeem this 1 for me.🙄 I can take a step back & see where some of the stalker-ish stuff was creepy, but overall it just didn’t pan out for me.
April 21, 2020
Jenna an A&E Doctor is struggling to juggle working full time at the hospital and raise her two children Beth and Archie with her husband Stuart.
Jenna is constantly living on the edge, looking over her shoulder, paranoid that she and her family are being watched. She has a stalker, who has left her creepy doll heads, follows her and constantly sends her emails.
When her stalker has an accident and ends up as a patient at her hospital, the power is in her hands, as he is admitted in a critical state. Could she let him die?
Jenna starts to look into who her stalker is and why he picked her?
The story is told from Jenna and Sophie’s perspectives.
We go back to when Sophie was 8 and her parents adopted Mathew, who was a strange child who hardly spoke and grew up to be a loner, who loves to take photographs and is slightly creepy.
This book had me hooked from the first page with its eerie sinister feeling that Jenna was being followed, it gave me the Heebie Jeebies!! I could actually hear his footsteps behind me as I read!
OMG I love when you read a book and you think you have it all worked out then suddenly the rug is pulled from under you’re feet and you don’t know if you are coming or going.
I can’t recommend this book enough, its twists kept me guessing until the end. I couldn’t put this down and ended up reading until I could hardly see the words on the page.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Jenna is constantly living on the edge, looking over her shoulder, paranoid that she and her family are being watched. She has a stalker, who has left her creepy doll heads, follows her and constantly sends her emails.
When her stalker has an accident and ends up as a patient at her hospital, the power is in her hands, as he is admitted in a critical state. Could she let him die?
Jenna starts to look into who her stalker is and why he picked her?
The story is told from Jenna and Sophie’s perspectives.
We go back to when Sophie was 8 and her parents adopted Mathew, who was a strange child who hardly spoke and grew up to be a loner, who loves to take photographs and is slightly creepy.
This book had me hooked from the first page with its eerie sinister feeling that Jenna was being followed, it gave me the Heebie Jeebies!! I could actually hear his footsteps behind me as I read!
OMG I love when you read a book and you think you have it all worked out then suddenly the rug is pulled from under you’re feet and you don’t know if you are coming or going.
I can’t recommend this book enough, its twists kept me guessing until the end. I couldn’t put this down and ended up reading until I could hardly see the words on the page.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
September 3, 2020
This is quite a tense book and for the first couple of chapters I thought it was going to give me a headache, I could hardly breathe. Then the momentum slowed a little and I found it a little easier to take in.
Jenna Lawson is an A&E doctor who has had a stalker for around 12 months. The police are investigating but seem unable to find enough evidence to pin it on anyone. Jenna lives her life on a knife edge, only feeling relaxed at work in the chaos of a busy emergency room. Her children are anxious and stressed and her marriage is becoming strained. Jenna has become mistrustful of everyone around her and seems to be losing her ability to be rational.
After a sequence of events Jenna comes face to face with the man she believes is stalking her. Although she feels a little safer knowing where he is, other things begin to happen that make her suspect he potentially has an accomplice.
Not wanting to spoil this I will say that I found it very hard to like Jenna and found her actions somewhat annoying. Her character did not seem to fit with someone who is calm and collected in an emergency room. I was also really annoyed with the ending of the book. I don't like it when you feel betrayed by the facts presented to you and this book seems to purposely with hold some very key information along the way.
A good tense read, but the ending sort of blew it for me.
Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna Lawson is an A&E doctor who has had a stalker for around 12 months. The police are investigating but seem unable to find enough evidence to pin it on anyone. Jenna lives her life on a knife edge, only feeling relaxed at work in the chaos of a busy emergency room. Her children are anxious and stressed and her marriage is becoming strained. Jenna has become mistrustful of everyone around her and seems to be losing her ability to be rational.
After a sequence of events Jenna comes face to face with the man she believes is stalking her. Although she feels a little safer knowing where he is, other things begin to happen that make her suspect he potentially has an accomplice.
Not wanting to spoil this I will say that I found it very hard to like Jenna and found her actions somewhat annoying. Her character did not seem to fit with someone who is calm and collected in an emergency room. I was also really annoyed with the ending of the book. I don't like it when you feel betrayed by the facts presented to you and this book seems to purposely with hold some very key information along the way.
A good tense read, but the ending sort of blew it for me.
Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2020
3.5 stars, really, but rounded down for an end that didn't quite stick the landing.
The synopsis is a good one, this time, and it doesn't take long to get to the point it describes; Jenna, emergency doctor and victim of a stalker, finds herself looking down at a face she knows all too well one day, when the man who's haunting her days is brought in after being hit by a bus. And it's a great concept - it had me thinking of what I'd do if ever I found myself in that sort of sudden power-reversal situation, would I be able to resist the urge to invade that life the way mine was? And of course, it's not just her affected; her husband and children are clearly feeling the strain, and it spills into other areas of her life as well. And we also follow Sophie, and as we find out how she's connected, things get truly twisty.
So there's lots of good in this book, and it was a gripping enough read to fly by. But the ending does something unnecessary after almost coming in smoothly . Plus, something surprisingly common in this genre, literally every man is some sort of awful - whether it's outright abuser or just mild creep with terrible timing. It's just unfortunate, though honestly not many people tend to make it out of these books looking exactly good.
Overally definitely an entertaining read, but those stumbles did get in the way of properly letting go and enjoying it.
The synopsis is a good one, this time, and it doesn't take long to get to the point it describes; Jenna, emergency doctor and victim of a stalker, finds herself looking down at a face she knows all too well one day, when the man who's haunting her days is brought in after being hit by a bus. And it's a great concept - it had me thinking of what I'd do if ever I found myself in that sort of sudden power-reversal situation, would I be able to resist the urge to invade that life the way mine was? And of course, it's not just her affected; her husband and children are clearly feeling the strain, and it spills into other areas of her life as well. And we also follow Sophie, and as we find out how she's connected, things get truly twisty.
So there's lots of good in this book, and it was a gripping enough read to fly by. But the ending does something unnecessary after almost coming in smoothly . Plus, something surprisingly common in this genre, literally every man is some sort of awful - whether it's outright abuser or just mild creep with terrible timing. It's just unfortunate, though honestly not many people tend to make it out of these books looking exactly good.
Overally definitely an entertaining read, but those stumbles did get in the way of properly letting go and enjoying it.
September 2, 2020
When Jenna's life gets turned upside down by a stalker, all she wants to know is who it is and why she was chosen.
Jenna's stalker has been leaving her awful gifts, sending her threatening e-mails, lurking behind trees and buildings, and ruining Jenna's life because she sees the stalker everywhere.
One day as Jenna was the doctor working in the ER, her stalker is brought in after an accident and is in critical condition.
Jenna could let the patient die or she could save her stalker. That was a tough decision for her, but she decided her medical oath required her to save lives.
She finds out the stalker's name is Matthew.
She still questions if saving him was the right thing to do because he still haunted her, and she still sees him even though she knows he is in the ICU.
We also meets Matthew's sister, Sophie.
We learn Matthew's background through Sophie's story. They both had a terrible childhood, but she only hears her mother’s words that she is a big sister and has to take care of Matthew. She is tired of taking care of her brother.
Something happened in this family twelve years ago that causes even more guilt for Sophie.
ONE STEP BEHIND is filled with unlikable characters, secrets, bitterness, and a great story line.
The tension and the unknown are very evident in this book with the ending ramping up the tension to the max.
Readers who enjoy a book that keeps you guessing and on alert will enjoy ONE STEP BEHIND. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna's stalker has been leaving her awful gifts, sending her threatening e-mails, lurking behind trees and buildings, and ruining Jenna's life because she sees the stalker everywhere.
One day as Jenna was the doctor working in the ER, her stalker is brought in after an accident and is in critical condition.
Jenna could let the patient die or she could save her stalker. That was a tough decision for her, but she decided her medical oath required her to save lives.
She finds out the stalker's name is Matthew.
She still questions if saving him was the right thing to do because he still haunted her, and she still sees him even though she knows he is in the ICU.
We also meets Matthew's sister, Sophie.
We learn Matthew's background through Sophie's story. They both had a terrible childhood, but she only hears her mother’s words that she is a big sister and has to take care of Matthew. She is tired of taking care of her brother.
Something happened in this family twelve years ago that causes even more guilt for Sophie.
ONE STEP BEHIND is filled with unlikable characters, secrets, bitterness, and a great story line.
The tension and the unknown are very evident in this book with the ending ramping up the tension to the max.
Readers who enjoy a book that keeps you guessing and on alert will enjoy ONE STEP BEHIND. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2021
Writing psychological suspense novels exploring the darker side of human nature is author Lauren North's sweet spot.
Told from the POVs of Jenna (stalker victim and ER physician) and Sophie (personal trainer and the alleged stalker's adoptive sister), this intriguing novel introduces readers to the fear, despair, trauma, and powerlessness experienced by stalker victims.
Ethical issues are also explored when Jenna's alleged stalker gets injured and is brought to the emergency room. Should Jenna do everything possible to treat a man who she believes has been tormenting her for almost an entire year?
WHO IS THE STALKER AND WHY IS THE STALKER STALKING JENNA? Tension mounts when Jenna begins stalking her alleged stalker to answer these questions and stop the stalker's abuse.
Although the book started off a bit slow, it quickly picked up. I especially enjoyed this book because it was not a "typical" stalker novel. The author's character development was strong and the book's content was fresh with no shortage of twists, turns, misdirections, and red herrings.
I listened to the audiobook. Although narrator Alix Dunmore did a superb job with the narration, the book was told from two POVs, and the quality of the book suffered since only one narrator was used. Many times it was difficult to discern whose story was being told and this was frustrating and confusing.
This was my second Lauren North book and I am a fan. I will be looking forward to listening to the author's next book that is scheduled to be released in September 2021.
Told from the POVs of Jenna (stalker victim and ER physician) and Sophie (personal trainer and the alleged stalker's adoptive sister), this intriguing novel introduces readers to the fear, despair, trauma, and powerlessness experienced by stalker victims.
Ethical issues are also explored when Jenna's alleged stalker gets injured and is brought to the emergency room. Should Jenna do everything possible to treat a man who she believes has been tormenting her for almost an entire year?
WHO IS THE STALKER AND WHY IS THE STALKER STALKING JENNA? Tension mounts when Jenna begins stalking her alleged stalker to answer these questions and stop the stalker's abuse.
Although the book started off a bit slow, it quickly picked up. I especially enjoyed this book because it was not a "typical" stalker novel. The author's character development was strong and the book's content was fresh with no shortage of twists, turns, misdirections, and red herrings.
I listened to the audiobook. Although narrator Alix Dunmore did a superb job with the narration, the book was told from two POVs, and the quality of the book suffered since only one narrator was used. Many times it was difficult to discern whose story was being told and this was frustrating and confusing.
This was my second Lauren North book and I am a fan. I will be looking forward to listening to the author's next book that is scheduled to be released in September 2021.
August 11, 2020
I was looking forward to One Step Behind after loving the authors previous book. I have to say that I was disappointed. This book felt a bit long, I didn’t like the main character at all and the ending was a bit of a mess and rushed. It started off well but it didn’t for me. The story was mostly good but could have been better.
Jenna is a mother and an emergency room doctor. She is also being stalked. Presents appear at her home, nasty emails are sent to her and she is forever feeling watched. The police are helpless unless she is hurt. And then he is brought into the hospital after being hit by bus. Was it deliberate and who did it? This is her chance to find out about him.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Jenna is a mother and an emergency room doctor. She is also being stalked. Presents appear at her home, nasty emails are sent to her and she is forever feeling watched. The police are helpless unless she is hurt. And then he is brought into the hospital after being hit by bus. Was it deliberate and who did it? This is her chance to find out about him.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
August 16, 2020
Jenna has a stalker. Her relationship with her husband is strained. The police are investigating but as they don't know who the stalker is, it's making him harder to find. Jenna has only caught glimpses of him. But then he is brought in to Accident and Emergency department where Jenna works. She finally knows his name. Now she can be rid of him. But a week later, Jenna receives another email.
Jenna' s stalker sent her gifts and letters but he also sent emails to her colleagues about her. I did feel sorry for Jenna when the police couldn't help her. There were parts of this story that were a little far fetched. We also learn about Sophie, a fitness instructor who is in a relationship with Nick, the joint owner of the business. The story is told from Jenna and Sophie's perspectives. The pace is slow to begin with. There's several twists and the characters are believable..This story will keep you guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Lauren North for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna' s stalker sent her gifts and letters but he also sent emails to her colleagues about her. I did feel sorry for Jenna when the police couldn't help her. There were parts of this story that were a little far fetched. We also learn about Sophie, a fitness instructor who is in a relationship with Nick, the joint owner of the business. The story is told from Jenna and Sophie's perspectives. The pace is slow to begin with. There's several twists and the characters are believable..This story will keep you guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Lauren North for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
August 16, 2020Jenna has a stalker. Her relationship with her husband is strained. The police are investigating but as they don't know who the stalker is, it's making him harder to find. Jenna has only caught glimpses of him. But then he is brought in to Accident and Emergency department where Jenna works. She finally knows his name. Now she can be rid of him. But a week later, Jenna receives another email.
Jenny's stalker sent her gifts and letters but he also sent emails to her colleagues about her. I did feel sorry for Jenny when the police couldn't help her. There were parts of the story that were a little far fetched. We also learn about Sophie, a fitness instructor who is in a relationship with Nick, the joint owner of the business. The story is told from Jenna and Sophie's perspectives. The pace is slow to begin with. There's several twists and the characters are believable. This story will keep you guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Lauren North for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jenny's stalker sent her gifts and letters but he also sent emails to her colleagues about her. I did feel sorry for Jenny when the police couldn't help her. There were parts of the story that were a little far fetched. We also learn about Sophie, a fitness instructor who is in a relationship with Nick, the joint owner of the business. The story is told from Jenna and Sophie's perspectives. The pace is slow to begin with. There's several twists and the characters are believable. This story will keep you guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Lauren North for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2020
A hooking blurb which had me thinking about the cat and mouse manoeuvres between a Stalker and his victim. Author Lauren North managed to convey the dread which the victim felt knowing even the cops couldn’t help much.
Jenna, a registrar in the ER, was being stalked by Matthew.
My first book by this author, I was quite excited when the Stalker became Dr Jenna’s patient in the ER after a bus accident. The days preceding the accident were spent in Jenna’s fear. Ever word conveyed the palpable tremble that she felt. Safety of her children was never more at risk.
The story had a winding course in the first half, and the second half raised the pitch of the story when Jena went investigating. Past and present with dual POVs were narrated well. They made me curious about where the the characters and their hidden darkness. The ending was quite a shocker. But it came with some niggles. More suspense, more twists, more mind games were needed.
Overall, it was a gentle suspenseful tale.
Jenna, a registrar in the ER, was being stalked by Matthew.
My first book by this author, I was quite excited when the Stalker became Dr Jenna’s patient in the ER after a bus accident. The days preceding the accident were spent in Jenna’s fear. Ever word conveyed the palpable tremble that she felt. Safety of her children was never more at risk.
The story had a winding course in the first half, and the second half raised the pitch of the story when Jena went investigating. Past and present with dual POVs were narrated well. They made me curious about where the the characters and their hidden darkness. The ending was quite a shocker. But it came with some niggles. More suspense, more twists, more mind games were needed.
Overall, it was a gentle suspenseful tale.
May 7, 2020
This was such a wild ride and I absolutely loved every moment!! The best books I have read are ones I simply MUST continue with, or get back to, and this was one of those. It totally took me by surprise in the best possible way.
Jenna is a wife, mother and doctor, but she is a victim, as she has a stalker.
We go through the terrifying moments she endures from him following her and the awful emails and objects he leaves for her. But then one day, he is admitted to her hospital, after a terrible accident and she must choose whether she saves his life.
No spoilers here, except to say that I was hooked throughout. There were several questionable characters in this one and as the different story lines unfolded I began to see where this may be going, except I was wrong.
Fantastic novel and one I definitely recommend.
Jenna is a wife, mother and doctor, but she is a victim, as she has a stalker.
We go through the terrifying moments she endures from him following her and the awful emails and objects he leaves for her. But then one day, he is admitted to her hospital, after a terrible accident and she must choose whether she saves his life.
No spoilers here, except to say that I was hooked throughout. There were several questionable characters in this one and as the different story lines unfolded I began to see where this may be going, except I was wrong.
Fantastic novel and one I definitely recommend.
December 20, 2020
Jenna is a doctor ... with her own personal stalker. She sees him everywhere, but has no idea of who he is and why he's chosen her for a target. He leaves gifts on her doorsteps, and her house has been broken into. The police don't seem to be able to help as he has not actually threatened her.
When her stalker is brought into the hospital where she works, she recognizes him immediately. The man is in a coma ... and Jenna wants answers.. and she's determined to get him out of her life ... once and for all.
Suspenseful and full of twists and turns, it's a real page turner. It's fast-paced with characters that are solidly drawn.
When her stalker is brought into the hospital where she works, she recognizes him immediately. The man is in a coma ... and Jenna wants answers.. and she's determined to get him out of her life ... once and for all.
Suspenseful and full of twists and turns, it's a real page turner. It's fast-paced with characters that are solidly drawn.
November 28, 2020
Rounded up to 3.5 stars. There seem to be mixed reviews on this book, but I really enjoyed it. A tense stalker plot, and although I had some of it worked out midway through, there were still some surprises near the end. An easy, suspenseful read.
September 4, 2020
3.5 Stars.
This is North's second release and after reading The Perfect Son last year, I reread my review for that one and I pretty much feel the same about One Step Behind. I was instantly pulled in as I absolutely love stalker/obsessive stories. While this felt slow at times, it was also fast paced - I know... sounds contradictory but it truly felt that way to me and that's the only way I can put it.
We get two POVs. Jenna is a mother and doctor who has been stalked and tormenting by somebody for about a year. This obviously causes a lot of paranoia and when her stalker shows up in her emergency room - she pauses.... let him die or be the doctor she knows she is... but she needs to know why he has been doing this. Sophie's POV we get to see through various pin points in her life. Her family life isn't particularly great and now she has to deal with an adoptive brother... who just happens to be in the hospital after a terrible accident. So... now what?
Honestly, I was pretty glued to these pages and I couldn't swipe fast enough because SO MANY RED HERRINGS. I was completely unaware of where the twist was going to come in - if it ever was. And as always with these kinds of reads, I can't say too much as to not give anything away. What I will say is that the ending did surprise me and for that, I'm a happy camper. However, it also didn't *quite* make sense to me in the overall. I think maybe an opportunity was missed in seamlessly putting together a few storylines and I was left hanging a bit.
I do love North's writing style and certainly will continue to read her and I'm very curious what her next release will be like. Keep on eye on North - I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here.
This is North's second release and after reading The Perfect Son last year, I reread my review for that one and I pretty much feel the same about One Step Behind. I was instantly pulled in as I absolutely love stalker/obsessive stories. While this felt slow at times, it was also fast paced - I know... sounds contradictory but it truly felt that way to me and that's the only way I can put it.
We get two POVs. Jenna is a mother and doctor who has been stalked and tormenting by somebody for about a year. This obviously causes a lot of paranoia and when her stalker shows up in her emergency room - she pauses.... let him die or be the doctor she knows she is... but she needs to know why he has been doing this. Sophie's POV we get to see through various pin points in her life. Her family life isn't particularly great and now she has to deal with an adoptive brother... who just happens to be in the hospital after a terrible accident. So... now what?
Honestly, I was pretty glued to these pages and I couldn't swipe fast enough because SO MANY RED HERRINGS. I was completely unaware of where the twist was going to come in - if it ever was. And as always with these kinds of reads, I can't say too much as to not give anything away. What I will say is that the ending did surprise me and for that, I'm a happy camper. However, it also didn't *quite* make sense to me in the overall. I think maybe an opportunity was missed in seamlessly putting together a few storylines and I was left hanging a bit.
I do love North's writing style and certainly will continue to read her and I'm very curious what her next release will be like. Keep on eye on North - I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here.
August 28, 2020
When Jenna's life gets turned upside down by a stalker, all she wants to know is who it is and why she was chosen.
Jenna's stalker has been leaving her awful gifts, sending her threatening e-mails, lurking behind trees and buildings, and ruining Jenna's life because she sees the stalker everywhere.
One day as Jenna was the doctor working in the ER, her stalker is brought in after an accident and is in critical condition.
Jenna could let the patient die or she could save her stalker. That was a tough decision for her, but she decided her medical oath required her to save lives.
She finds out the stalker's name is Matthew.
She still questions if saving him was the right thing to do because he still haunted her, and she still sees him even though she knows he is in the ICU.
We also meets Matthew's sister, Sophie.
We learn Matthew's background through Sophie's story. They both had a terrible childhood, but she only hears her mother’s words that she is a big sister and has to take care of Matthew. She is tired of taking care of her brother.
Something happened in this family twelve years ago that causes even more guilt for Sophie.
ONE STEP BEHIND is filled with unlikable characters, secrets, bitterness, and a great story line.
The tension and the unknown are very evident in this book with the ending ramping up the tension to the max.
Readers who enjoy a book that keeps you guessing and on alert will enjoy ONE STEP BEHIND. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna's stalker has been leaving her awful gifts, sending her threatening e-mails, lurking behind trees and buildings, and ruining Jenna's life because she sees the stalker everywhere.
One day as Jenna was the doctor working in the ER, her stalker is brought in after an accident and is in critical condition.
Jenna could let the patient die or she could save her stalker. That was a tough decision for her, but she decided her medical oath required her to save lives.
She finds out the stalker's name is Matthew.
She still questions if saving him was the right thing to do because he still haunted her, and she still sees him even though she knows he is in the ICU.
We also meets Matthew's sister, Sophie.
We learn Matthew's background through Sophie's story. They both had a terrible childhood, but she only hears her mother’s words that she is a big sister and has to take care of Matthew. She is tired of taking care of her brother.
Something happened in this family twelve years ago that causes even more guilt for Sophie.
ONE STEP BEHIND is filled with unlikable characters, secrets, bitterness, and a great story line.
The tension and the unknown are very evident in this book with the ending ramping up the tension to the max.
Readers who enjoy a book that keeps you guessing and on alert will enjoy ONE STEP BEHIND. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2020
Firstly, what a fantastic title! It fits the novel so well on two levels. Jenna's stalker is always "One Step Behind" her, Jenna is valiantly trying to maintain a work/life balance and she is always "One Step Behind".
Jenna's oath as a medical professional to 'do no harm' is put to the ultimate test with a moral dilemma that rocks her world.
This is a domestic thriller, and one that I'll remember for quite some time. The reason is the vivid imagery of the descriptions, and the plot twist that I really didn't see coming. Yes, I had my suspicions about part of the twist, and I was correct... yet, the second part of the twist was a jaw-dropping moment.
The characters were vivid, realistic, and relatable. The story was compelling and caused me to almost feel Jenna's fear, exhaustion, and insecurities.
I highly recommend this thriller to fans of the genre and am eager to read more of this author's work.
Jenna's oath as a medical professional to 'do no harm' is put to the ultimate test with a moral dilemma that rocks her world.
This is a domestic thriller, and one that I'll remember for quite some time. The reason is the vivid imagery of the descriptions, and the plot twist that I really didn't see coming. Yes, I had my suspicions about part of the twist, and I was correct... yet, the second part of the twist was a jaw-dropping moment.
The characters were vivid, realistic, and relatable. The story was compelling and caused me to almost feel Jenna's fear, exhaustion, and insecurities.
I highly recommend this thriller to fans of the genre and am eager to read more of this author's work.
July 22, 2023
TW: Anxiety, bullying, alcoholism, drinking, toxic family relationships, abusive relationship, divorce, cheating, suicide, language
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Jenna is a wife, a mother, a doctor. She’s also the victim of a stalker.
Every time she leaves her house, she sees him. Disturbing gifts are left at her door. Cruel emails are sent to her colleagues. She has no idea who this man is but she feels powerless against him.
Until the day he is brought into her hospital after a serious accident, and Jenna is given the chance to find out once and for all why this man is tormenting her. Now, the power is all hers.
Release Date: September 1st, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Kept me guessing til the end
2. Loved the authors writing style
3. Story flowed & was never bored
What I Didn't Like:
1. Spelling errors
2. Final revile seemed out of place
Overall Thoughts:
Nick is a horrible person. Sophie finds out her adopted brother has been in an accident and Nick rushed her through the visit and even makes her so some leg exercises as a way of punishing her because she went for a run and didn't tell him that she was going to be gone.
It's daughters like this that make me happy that I don't have any daughters. This girl is so sassy and rude to her mother all the time and her mother does nothing to correct this attitude. She just gives into it. I know that's not the point of the book but it's just driving me insane that she is being so impertinent to her.
I really enjoyed my reading experience with this book. The characters were all interesting and equally as horrible. I kept guessing at who and why someone was doing these things to Jenna. I went through so many scenarios on what was happening and I was stumped. Usually I can guess the endings of books, but this one was good.
Final Thoughts:
I'm super interested to see what else the author will put out for us to read. I liked a lot about this story and I'm curious how else she'll handle other stories.
Recommend For:
• Stalker stories
• Who did it stories that keep you guessing to the end
• Horrible characters
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Jenna is a wife, a mother, a doctor. She’s also the victim of a stalker.
Every time she leaves her house, she sees him. Disturbing gifts are left at her door. Cruel emails are sent to her colleagues. She has no idea who this man is but she feels powerless against him.
Until the day he is brought into her hospital after a serious accident, and Jenna is given the chance to find out once and for all why this man is tormenting her. Now, the power is all hers.
Release Date: September 1st, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Kept me guessing til the end
2. Loved the authors writing style
3. Story flowed & was never bored
What I Didn't Like:
1. Spelling errors
2. Final revile seemed out of place
Overall Thoughts:
Nick is a horrible person. Sophie finds out her adopted brother has been in an accident and Nick rushed her through the visit and even makes her so some leg exercises as a way of punishing her because she went for a run and didn't tell him that she was going to be gone.
It's daughters like this that make me happy that I don't have any daughters. This girl is so sassy and rude to her mother all the time and her mother does nothing to correct this attitude. She just gives into it. I know that's not the point of the book but it's just driving me insane that she is being so impertinent to her.
I really enjoyed my reading experience with this book. The characters were all interesting and equally as horrible. I kept guessing at who and why someone was doing these things to Jenna. I went through so many scenarios on what was happening and I was stumped. Usually I can guess the endings of books, but this one was good.
Final Thoughts:
I'm super interested to see what else the author will put out for us to read. I liked a lot about this story and I'm curious how else she'll handle other stories.
Recommend For:
• Stalker stories
• Who did it stories that keep you guessing to the end
• Horrible characters
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