Important but harrowing insight on domestic abuse!

When Kevin Davis’ twin brother died, it left him feeling lost, confused, and guilty—the perfect target for a predator like CEO James Lancaster, whose power and money lets him get away with a lot. It’s a few years later and their toxic relationship follows a sick cycle where James physically and mentally abuses Kevin in attempt to control every aspect of his life then apologises profusely, professes love, and the cycle repeats. Kevin has walked away a number of times but James is a master manipulator, knowing exactly which buttons to press to trigger Kevin’s guilt and shame. When Kevin walks away for the last time and develops a more healthy relationship with someone else, James starts a systematic campaign to ruin every aspect of Kevin’s life in a perverted attempt to get him back.

Stalking, domestic violence, and abuse are important topics and author Lee Hayes captures the distorted thinking of both abuser and abused perfectly. The book opens in the middle of a violent episode and doesn’t relent until the final page; it’s a harrowing ordeal that left me wrung out and sad. On the positive side, this psychological thriller / romance is extremely well-written and we also get an insight into some of the issues facing young black gay men today. There are also moments of hope and resilience which I clung to to help me get through the darker episodes. I can’t say I enjoyed this, but I appreciated the journey a lot. 🎧 African-American narrator Vance Goodwin goes a superb audio performance—utterly impressive (currently free on the Audible Plus catalogue)!

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