C. L. Taylor is one of my favourite authors and I was delighted to receive an ARC of her latest book. The Fear is a very cleverly crafted book which gives an interesting but very disturbing insight into grooming. The book follows two girls who get entrapped and groomed by Mike, at different times and the frightening consequences of this. The Fear is a great thriller that will keep you reading long into the night.

I received this book from Netgalley never having read any of this author's work previously.

The story deals with child grooming and abuse in the present time and the harrowing details Lou's ordeal in running away to France with the paedophile Mike along with the long term damage the relationship has had on her over the years.

All the characters are well rounded, developed and believable and the plot draws the reader in from the beginning. There is no way of guessing the twists and turns that the story takes and the reader is often left wondering if the despicable Mike will ever have his comeuppance.

Three brave woman, each of whom has suffered at his hands make sure that he does although how this pans out will have you on the edge of your seat.

C.L. Taylor is certainly a name I will be looking out for in future.

Lou has rebuilt her life after being groomed and kidnapped by her karate teacher Mike Hughes but finds herself having to return to her childhood home when her dad dies and she has been left the family home. She intends to sell up and be back in her new life asap but her plans lay in tatters when she realises that Mike is grooming another teenager. She feels somewhat responsible as she hadn't testified against him and so she tries to stop him. Not her best move, and the predicament she finds herself in is of her own making but things just seem to be getting worse and worse. Will it ever end and will she ever be able to go back to her new home and boyfriend or will she be damaged forever. I couldn't put the book down and needed to know how it ended and end it did such a surprising way.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of the book.

The Fear covers very dark territory, but as with all of C.L. Taylor's books, it is handled realistically and sensitively through her excellent writing and brilliantly drawn characters. I flew through this book, desperate to know how it was all going to pan out as the tension was firmly ratcheted up - right up to an ending that was so perfect, it made me grin. Fantastically plotted and perfectly paced, this dark thriller gets a standing ovation from me.

When Lou Wandsworth was 14, she was involved in a case that made headlines. Her karate instructor, Mike Hughes, groomed her and abducted her, taking her to France. Now in her twenties, Lou is moving back to her hometown and she's still livid about the impact Mike has had on her life. Determined to give him a piece of her mind, instead Lou discovers that Mike may be grooming another young girl, 13 year old Chloe Meadows. Lou will not let this happen again.

I really like Cally's books, they're always full of action and they're addictive to read. This was no different - the pacing is great, the characters are well rounded (I found myself oddly rooting for Wendy, who was deliciously nuts) - and the story, while a bit far-fetched towards the end, was engaging. I enjoyed this a lot and I'll have to bump the rest of this author's back catalogue further up my TBR pile.

Fear, shame and confusion go hand in hand in this story. Lou is still haunted by her past and the way it follows her like a lingering bad smell.

Unfortunately this tale of grooming and abuse carries the misnomer of love, because that is what paedophiles convince their victims it is. What is even more tragic is how many people confronted by these scenarios or read about them think that it is about a convoluted love story. It isn’t, it’s about a child being preyed upon by a sexual deviant.

It isn’t a vivacious Lolita seducing an unsuspecting older man, and then crying rape after the event. This is how the majority of society sees situations like this. It is easier to put the blame on a naughty little girl than to accept we have men and women in our midst who want to have sexual relations with children.

Lou has to live with the doubts of others, the recriminations and the guilt of not knowing whether she was to blame, and yet at the same time fearing the person she knows was to blame.

After the death of her father she returns home to sort his belongings and his house, and finds herself drawn to the man who took her childhood away from her. She walks a fine line between complete terror and the need for Mike to admit his guilt. Nothing too outlandish or unachievable until she stumbles upon proof that he is in the middle of stealing another childhood.

The Fear is a crime hidden within a crime with a stark layer of reality throughout. As a reader you feel empathy for the child Lou used to be and the adult still suffering from the fallout of being groomed by a predator. Although Lou feels guilty for getting revenge and trying to save someone, I applaud her temerity and her courage.

I think Taylor has written a well-timed story in the midst of the #MeToo movement and chorus of voices speaking out about abuse against girls and women in our society. Shedding a light on the hypocrisy victims encounter and the fear that sits in the back of their neck for the rest of their lives. It’s a captivating read with some hard home-truths. At the same time it is an equally compelling psychological thriller, so kudos to Taylor for bringing the two together.

One distinctive attribute this author’s storylines is nail-biting tension and The Fear follows suit, having more than its fair share of heart-stopping moments.

The life-shattering consequence of child grooming is narrated from the diverse perspectives from the characters at the centre of the unfolding drama. Gradually learning of the depraved and manipulative behaviour of the offender was terrifying, a feeling that escalated when his previous target realises her tormentor has directed his warped attentions at someone new.

Encouraging anyone to listen to her concerns without revealing her own damaged childhood means Lou must engage in a dangerous game where there are no winners, only survivors. Her experience is a frustrating, frightening, and an emotionally draining one, but hopes her impulsive choices will prevent another young girl from suffering the same fate.

The plot tackles its subject well and has a few impressive surprises up its sleeve. While The Lie and The Escape remain my favourite titles by this author, The Fear is a highly compelling read presenting both moral and psychological challenges for its characters throughout.

I devoured this book with everything I had. I was obsessed from the first chapter and looking back I wish I had done a FIF as I think my thoughts would have been so far from the reality of the plot. It is a powerful thriller with twists and unexpected suspense around every corner, and I gave it a well deserved 5 stars!

This was another book told in duel perspectives (I have been enjoying a lot of these recently) which used chapters to flick between a couple of characters. We hear a lot from the protagonist Lou but we also hear from another older woman and younger girl. It was very interesting to read it in this way, as I really liked how we found out how these 2 other characters were connected.

There were so many twists and turns, I never knew which direction the book was going to head in next. Each one was better than the last, the suspense was thrilling and I simply could not stop reading.

I have always found that Taylor is remarkable at creating characters. They always have huge personalities and each one of them is different in their own right. I loved Lou and soon found myself really engrossed in a couple of others too. For obvious reasons there was never any doubt that I would hate Mike, but I cant even begin to explain how well Taylor created such a monster. People in such positions are never as straight forward as they seem, and Taylor didn't just create some horrible, nasty and revolting character, she managed to capture that essence of someone who has hidden secrets and has built a personality to ensure these all stay well and truly hidden. A nice, likable guy on the outside, but so very different in reality, and for this alone I applaud her.

I thought the ending was perfect. It was unexpected and didn't end prematurely or abruptly. We got to read every single detail and I couldn't be more impressed.

An excellent book which kept me gripped from beginning to end! Lou was groomed by her teacher and years later when he is released from prison and she sees him with another young girl...Lou snaps with Terrible consequences! A classic c.l Taylor book with a fab plot!!

So, you know when you read the taglines..."gripping", "mesmerising"...and you think to yourself, 'hmmm' - yes, well take these superlatives and plaster them all over ''The Fear'' because it's all this and more. I can't remember the last time that I had such a knot of anxiety in my stomach whilst reading a book, and not just for a part, no, I'm talking the whole of the book.

If I were to describe what happens (which I'm not because I'm not spoiling this for anyone!) you'd probably look at me with a modicum of disbelief, but honestly everything that happens is so naturally evolved that it makes perfect sense. The story is told through the 3 voices of teenage Chloe, Lou and Wendy; all of whom are linked to the vile Mike, and these different narratives only serve to heighten the tension and keep that book very firmly in your grasp at all times. The initial subject matter of child grooming is, unfortunately, all too real and disturbing and it was heart-breaking to read the insecurities and vulnerabilities that led Lou and Chloe to come under the power of Mike. The trauma which Lou suffered being evident through her actions and failure to maintain healthy romantic relationships in adulthood. And so, whilst this is a thrilling read, it also manages to be thought-provoking and chilling in an altogether more fundamental way.

And so to the action, which is there in abundance. That knot of anxiety that I spoke of at the start, was not in any way abated by me willing Chloe to get out from under Mike's spell, or from yelling at Lou to be careful. The story begins by Lou running away from current beau Ben, reasoned by flashbacks from her past. These flashbacks are disturbing enough as they are, but only when we get to read the full history behind her trip with Mike when she was just 14 do we realise quite how traumatic and devastating it was, even putting aside the whole abhorrence of the grooming (if one ever could). This then becomes a story of protection and revenge, and of course, I couldn't do anything but root for all the females; not just Chloe, Lou and Wendy, but also the belittled mothers of Lou and Chloe. Mike is a predator, so we see the gentle, nice and supportive side to him, but he is essentially...scum...I'm trying so hard to think of a better description for him, but in truth he doesn't deserve it. I felt no sympathy, empathy or anything vaguely approaching liking him; and to be fair wished him nothing but pain and misery from the beginning. The tension that is so cleverly built-up on different levels just never really lets up until the end, and so by the time the end does unfortunately draw near, that knot is just a swirling mess of, well fear; that the outcome will live up to your expectations or desires.

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this; even if perhaps, my nails did not! If you're after a thrilling page-turner look no further - a brilliant read.

I loved this - from start to finish! Sometimes I am lucky enough to read a book that almost consumes me, where I cannot put it down, and where I don’t want to finish it as it has gripped me so much and this is one of them. 3 main characters - wendy, the wronged wife, lou, the woman who is trying to piece her life back rogether after being groomed by the utterly hideous mike, and Chloe, the insecure latest victim! The book is told from all 3 perspectives, and although my sympathy was greatly with lou, I had enough empathy to go round! Well written, extremely disturbing, but with plenty of karma moments, I cannot remommend this enough! Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the advance copy.

With most books, I switch off when I get half way through it, but this one kept me engaged and interested right to the very end.
Having read all of the other books by this author, this is definitely the best one yet and I would strongly recommend it.

As a teenager, Lou was groomed by a teacher and he persuaded her to go with him to France.
Now, returning to the area she grew up in, she believes that he is targeting another girl. The police won’t listen to her and she decides to take matters into her own hands. She looks back over what happened to her as she now sees the childish infatuation for what it was – a child being groomed by a paedophile.
It’s a twisty and convincing thriller. Weaving the past story of Lou with that of the current target of his affections and interacting with the mysterious but determined Wendy, who seems to be stalking Lou as she stalks her former abductor.
This is a twisty entertaining thriller, well written, leaving this reader a little breathless in places and hoping Lou didn’t do anything stupid. Wendy was also a revelation and injected humour into a dire situation.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a review copy of the book.

Wow this a pretty powerful read , wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it considering the storyline but I was pretty caught up in it as the story line that wove around it was brilliant, definitely a 5star read with a wicked twist at the the end ....awesome

Wow! That was an intense read. At one point, I wasn't sure I would be able to hold my nerve. A great read that pulls you in and in no time is running at full speed. Highly recommend.

A very interesting book, telling how easy it is for girls to be groomed by older men in there innocence to be loved.
Grooming probably happens all the time but in our every day life do not come across it. Thank you for letting me read this very thought provoking book. The book should be read by teenagers and parents alike.

Well she's only gone and blown it out of the water AGAIN!!! I get nervous when I come to rely on an author for a good read. But maybe I should stop with the nerves now, as this is the fifth book of C L Taylor's I've read, and yet again she didn't disappoint.

This is a story of Lou who was groomed by her teacher at the age of 14, and then they ran away to France together. We've all heard stories like this before, but what sets this story apart, is what happens after...

This is a fantastic book, set at C L Taylor's usual high standard. 100% recommended!

Wonderful! Love this book. Really had me hooked! Definite one to read.

What can I even say about this book? Wow! I read this over two days because I just had to know what happened and now I'm in dire need of adding any previous C.L. Taylor books to my library.

Based around the subject of child grooming this book may not be the easiest read for some but it really is, in my opinion, a must read. It was so realistic it did actually remind me of a similar story that was in the news several years ago.

Lou Wandsworth was only fourteen years old when she was groomed by her Judo teacher Mike. Subsequently this lead to them running away to France for a weekend but Lou does not realise that Mike has something more permanent in mind. It is only when he locks her away in a motel room does she realise that Mike is not the man he lead her to believe he was. In fact he is violent, possessive and ultimately refusing to let Lou return home.

Fast forward twenty years and Lou's life is a mess and she finds that she must return home to face her demons. Deciding it's time to confront Mike she stumbles across another illicit affair that Mike is yet again conducting with an underage child. Can she convince the authorities to take her claims seriously or will Lou have to take matters into her own hands?

The Fear is not only told from Lou's point of view but also from Mike's ex wife Wendy and the child, Chloe, he is currently grooming which makes the book fast paced but also multi-layered.

As we read on the book does feel more sinister and Lou finds herself in a very precarious situation that she does not now how to overcome but one thing is for sure; she must stop Mike from making any further contact with Chloe.

I could not get enough of this book and the ending really did have me gasping as it was so shocking.

All in all a fast-paced read that will have you squirming and living on the edge throughout.

Highly recommended.

OH MY GOD. I don’t know where to begin to describe this book. I read it in a day. I was THAT good, I was hooked, it was brilliant.

I also feel as though I have to say that this book has to be my FAVOURITE C.L.Taylor book to date. I was gripped from the first page.

I have to admit that I tend not to read a lot about books when I pick them on NetGalley, mainly because I enjoy the surprise. I picked this one because I trusted the author and because I had heard good things about it on social media. So I had no background knowledge about the book, this made it all the more intriguing.

The story I found was original, you heard from different points of view throughout the book and though you could work out who they were very quickly (one slightly longer than the others) it was fascinating to see the point of view from different angles. How many people were affected in this one story kept going on. All of the characters were written brilliantly, yes even Mike. They all seemed real, very real. Even as the actions got what some could say ‘drastic’ you managed to reason with all of them.

It had great twists and turns throughout the book and I honestly couldn’t see what was going to happen next. Often I was literally on the edge of my seat not believing what I was reading. It was strangely real. To be so close to a story where a 14 year old is groomed and what she goes through is heartbreaking to read. But it is written in such a way in which you just have to read on find out what happens.

Yes I can safely say it was a great psychological thriller and one I urge you to pick up you won’t want to put it down.
Oh and that end. BRILLIANT!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Until next time,
George x