Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…
When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.
Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.
But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…
What did I think?
Although many things cause excitement on social media, one thing that is guaranteed to get book bloggers in a frenzy is a new C.L. Taylor book. There was a lot of hype around her latest book, The Fear, but did it live up to the hype? OH YES!!! I feel like a broken record as I proclaimed The Escape to be my favourite C.L. Talyor book but I think The Fear is the best book she has written to date - it's dark, disturbing and exceptional.
Lou was 14 years old when she fell in love with Mike. Mike showered her with affection, making her feel loved and beautiful but Mike was her older, married karate teacher and he knew exactly what he was doing. When Lou snuck away from home to meet Mike for a romantic weekend in France, she didn't think Mike had no intention of returning to England. Kept locked away in hotel rooms, it's a part of Lou's life that has naturally left deep scars in her psyche, resulting in her leaving Malvern for the bright lights of London but unable to form any lasting relationships.
After her latest relationship breaks down, Lou returns to Malvern and finds that Mike is up to his old tricks. Mike may be 18 years older but he still has a taste for grooming young teenage girls and vulnerable 13 year old Chloe Meadows has fallen under his spell. Lou can't stand by and do nothing but Mike has quite a hold over Chloe and to some extent he still has a hold over Lou...but Lou isn't a starry-eyed teenager anymore and she wants REVENGE!
You just never know what to expect with a C.L. Taylor book. There is just so much going on: not only is Lou trying to stop Mike but someone else isn't keen on Lou being back in Malvern and they are intent on messing with her life. I felt like my head was inside a kaleidoscope (in a good way) with all of the colourful pieces spinning around until the completed picture was revealed and I could finally exhale the breath I didn't even realise I had been holding.
The subject matter of a repeat offending paedophile is not easy to read about but what C.L. Taylor has done marvellously is shown how easily vulnerable youngsters can get drawn into the net of these despicable predators. Every time I read a new C.L. Taylor book, I think it is the best one yet but then she goes and does it again! The Fear didn't just get under my skin, it made my skin crawl; you will be sickened, you will be angry but you won't be able to stop reading The Fear.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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