Cover Image: Lead Me Home

Lead Me Home

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Member Reviews

Such an easy read, I was able to sit and read it in one sitting which I don’t do often. I wasn’t always able to predict things which was nice too

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A great novel that kept me hooked throughout. Would have liked the story to be tied up a little more at the end but I suppose life isn’t always like that.

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Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

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I've had this book for years, I still haven't, unfortunately, got to it, so this is a placeholder review to reduce my shelf for my own sanity, but will replace this if I ever get to the book

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This was a well written thrilling read, that had me glued to my seat until the very end. Luckily I'm not a psychiatrist, my nerves would never last! Recommended.

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I really enjoyed this book and was really surprised to see that it is the author's debut it certainly reads like a book from an author who is prolific in this genre!

The pace in this book was spot on and it helped the story creep along to build up the suspense. I love a good psychological thriller and this was definitely up there.

The character development was great and they worked really well within the story to make me doubt my assumptions and second guess where the plot was going!

Four stars from me - a really enjoyable read and highly recommended!

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My review is written with thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bloodhound Books for inviting me on the tour and for providing me with a copy of the book through Netgalley.
Clancy McLean is an NHS psychiatrist. She is constantly battling to meet the needs of her patients within the overstretched budget of her department, whilst trying to find a healthy home-life balance for herself and daughter, Rowan. Rowan has her own troubles, including a controlling boyfriend. When a stalker is prowling the local area, Clancy's personal and professional lives threaten to collide dangerously. Can she keep both her daughter and her patients safe?
From the beginning, Lead Me Home has a very oppressive atmosphere. Throughout the novel, many of the characters have the feeling they are being followed, and it's difficult to tell whether this is in their imagination, or if their fears are grounded. It is hard to trust anyone, and I was gripped trying to work out who the stalker was and what their intentions were. There are several chapters written from the point of view of the stalker, and these show how twisted he is, and give Lead Me Home an overarching sense of danger, from which it was impossible to tear myself away!
Clancy and Rowan both make some very questionable decisions. At times, I wanted to shake them and tell them to wake up and smell the coffee! However, ultimately they are vulnerable and they do have likeable qualities which made me root for them as the novel progressed.
Throughout Lead Me Home, the reader is given insight into Clancy's working day as an NHS psychiatrist. I found this fascinating, as I learnt about the symptoms of different mental health conditions and the way in which the patients are cared for. Savage has clearly done extensive research which she weaves into the novel expertly to create a very compelling plot.

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This is a great thriller about a psychiatrist, her patients and her daughter. The daughter, Rowan, stays in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend because she doesn't want to be alone. But will she look for someone else while staying in the relationship? What will that do with an already abusive boyfriend? Then there is a patient who thinks she is being stalked. Problem is, there actually is a real stalker out there and he is getting closer to him victim. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of the book from Bloodhouond Books and Net Galley.

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I thought this was going to be a thriller that blew my mind, but the beginning of the book dragged on and I lost interest quickly and unfortunately could not complete the book.

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Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and C S Savage for the opportunity to read Lead Me Home.
What a great debut novel. I thought the storyline was well thought out and fast paced.. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Will definitely be reading more from this author.

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I can't believe i stuck with this to the end. UGHHH

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a very clever book. CS Savage gives us a great deal of choice, both of victim and perpetrator of evil. Each web is cleverly spun so the reader remains entirely unsure as to who is the spider and who is the fly. Reading about Dr Mclean's struggle to get some sort of work/life balance and be the kind of mother her daughter so obviously needs, it's very clear as to how she is getting it wrong. But isn't it always easier to see the mistakes in other families? Mistakes that we would never dream of making in our own lives. It is clear however, that Dr Mclean takes her responsibilities to her patients seriously and, additionally, she needs the kind of validation she only receives through her work. The mother/daughter dynamic between Clancy and Rowan is all too believable, and seeing their relationship disintegrate, whilst heartbreaking, was realistic and poignant. All in all a sad story that is far too credible in today's pressurised NHS. I will definitely be reading more by CS Savage.

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Hooked from page one. Great writing.. couldn't put it down. Really enjoyed the style of writing. I would read more by this author.

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What a debut by C S Savage! Lead Me Home is a very well written and a very creepy psychological thriller. It's a great page turner and the tension just builds and builds. I highly recommend this book and will be looking out for more by this author, 5 stars from me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhoundbooks for an advanced copy - a terrific read!

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Interesting, but the plot didn't really grab me as it should have. Teen angst has never caught my imagination, and it's a fairly major sub-plot of this book. I also felt as though the main female character was perhaps not as proficient in her field as I would have expected her to be. Still, the book held my interest to the end, so I can't rate it lower in stars. Average, but readable.

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Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, the author has pulled out all the stops in this story to keep the readers wanting more, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, the twists were breath taking!

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This is a wonderful debut novel. It surprised me that this was this authors first book, I hadn't realised that until after I had read it, it certainly has its place on the thriller section.

There are four major characters, Beth, Clancy and her daughter Rowan, but you will see I have mentioned only three name. That is because the other person is initially unknown.

Clancy is a psychiatrist who not only has a demanding job but has to juggle her home life she finds it overwhelming at times.

The NHS has to make cuts and Clancy finds herself laden down with more work. There are some major change too.

Some chapters give the unknown person a voice; creepy and sometimes more than creepy.

This author has pulled out all the stops to keep us interested from start to finish with an eagerness to keep on reading, that's what us readers need, a good solid based story, and this is it.

I selected this book to read from the publishers on Net Galley and the review is based on my own thoughts,.

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I received this book free to review.
The book is cleverly written. It regards Clancy, Clancy's daughter Rowan and Beth.Clancy is a mental health worker, often stressed, overworked and under pressure and her daughter overlooked. Family nights are a thing of the past due to Clancy's workload. Rowans ex boyfriend is a violent pig. A new man catches her eye and is he all that he seems though? Clancy comes across Beth, through her work, who is suffering hallucinations after stopping medications. Clancy cannot in all honesty say no, when Beth asks to stay as she feels unsafe at home on her own. For a while, they become family, which is a nice respite for them all. Beth also meets a man and things are looking up as she returns to work and her home. Then things take a sudden and nasty downfall. Clancy's worst nightmare is realized due to staff shortages, overwork and no time.
The ending leaves a lasting impression. How we all struggle on yet how things can change in a heartbeat. The lives of these ladies are about to be changed forever.
I hope that there is a future book with Clancy and her cohorts. The reason i gave it 4 starts and not 5 is although the ending was sudden, severe and in all it's horrible glory, there were questions left to be answered about Clancy's future work or repercussions in mental health, her budding relationship, her daughters future and how that panned out. I definitely liked the authors presentation of characters and dialogue and would read another book by this author.

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Clancy is a psychiatrist with a heavy caseload who is juggling several patients with psychosis and other disorders. Her daughter Rowan is in a somewhat abusive relationship. Her patient Beth is paranoid and convinced someone is following her. Meanwhile, someone is stalking one of the women. I really wanted to like this book, but there was so much about the characters that annoyed me. Clancy is overworked, okay, and she wants to help Beth, okay, but she has other clients to worry about that she is forgetting to deal with because she's focused on doing everything she wants to do. I am really tired of the "female lead ignoring authority at risk to herself and others to follow her own heroic agenda" plot line. I know Rowan is young and insecure, but jumping quickly into a new relationship with a complete stranger is just desperate. And do people really meet via Facebook? Just adding total strangers who call you "Babes" right off the bat, is that a thing?? I don't know, I just wasn't into this one from the start, but maybe it's me. 2 stars.

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Visit all my reviews <a href="https://alternative-read.com">here</a>. I love to chat books! Pop by, leave your review links! You can also follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Sassy_Brit">@Sassy_Brit</a>.

Lead Me Home by C.S. Savage instantly reminded me of The Blind by A.F. Brady, and The Binding Song by Elodie Harper, both also feature an overworked NHS psychiatrist struggling to cope with their demanding roles, who end up going beyond the call of duty in order to protect the most vulnerable.

In this book, Dr Clancy Mclean has her suspicions about a couple of her psychotic patients. One of which, Beth, is convinced she is being stalked and her health is declining rapidly. Feeling forced to take it upon herself to protect Beth, Clancy irresponsibly brings Beth home to stay with her and her daughter, Rowan. Not allowed!

But teenager Rowan is having troubles of her own, in the form of an abusive ex-boyfriend who will not leave her alone. When she meets her new boyfriend, an older and more mature man, she is so smitten she decides to keep him a secret to prevent her mother interfering ~ at least until she gets to know him better. After all, she met him online. Her mother would never approve.

Would you?

The story is narrated by four characters. Clancy, her daughter Rowan, Beth who is one of Clancy’s patients and an unknown, deranged psycho, who shares his murderous plans in great (and very gruesome) detail.

Reading 'Lead Me Home' was like watching an episode of 'The Wire in the Blood', based on Val McDermid's book of the same name ~ tense, gripping and oh, so horrific I could hardly breathe as I raced through to the end.

In fact, this is such a fast-paced read, it's without a doubt one of my favourite psychological thriller's this year. The psycho's scenes totally freaked me out and I don't think I've ever read a book quite as fast as this one!

When one person fell victim of the psycho, I felt absolutely, and emotionally, sucker-punched! Really, how could the author do that to me? Is this really C.S Savage's debut novel, because I have to say I can hardly believe it, as I loved every minute of reading this. I'll certainly be looking out for more by this author, and so should you!

I heartily recommend 'Lead Me Home', to other lovers of creepy, well-written crime fiction! Love creepy, psychological thrillers heavily steeped in horror? Then grab a copy of this book and prepare for a scare!

Thanks to the publisher, #BloodhoundBooks and #NetGalley for my copy of #LeadMeHome. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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