A throroughly enjoyable and gripping psychological thriler, which will have you not wanting to put this down.

**Keep You Close** by Mary Burton is a gripping psychological thriller that combines suspense, danger, and a complex exploration of relationships, guilt, and betrayal. Burton, known for her talent in writing taut, character-driven crime fiction, delivers a fast-paced and intense narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page.

### Plot Overview

The story centers around **Samantha “Sam” Owens**, a talented forensic psychologist, who is drawn into the investigation of a violent crime when a troubled teenager named **Zoe** comes to her for help. Zoe is convinced that she’s being stalked by an unknown individual, and she fears for her life. As Sam becomes more involved in the case, she discovers unsettling connections to her own past and a string of violent incidents that seem linked to the mysterious stalker.

When a murder is committed in the same area that Zoe had been fearing for her safety, Sam’s instincts tell her that she is dealing with something far more sinister than she originally anticipated. As the investigation unfolds, both Sam and Zoe are forced to confront secrets from their pasts that could tear their lives apart — all while a dangerous figure lurks in the shadows, ready to strike again.

### Strengths

1. **Fast-Paced and Suspenseful**: *Keep You Close* is a page-turner with a relentless pace that keeps the tension high throughout. Burton does a fantastic job of ramping up the suspense, with every chapter ending on a note of intrigue or danger, making it hard to put the book down. The plot moves swiftly, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing, while maintaining a clear sense of direction.

2. **Compelling Characters**: One of the novel’s strongest elements is its character development. Sam Owens, the protagonist, is a well-crafted character with a complex background that informs her actions and decisions. As a forensic psychologist, she’s used to understanding the darker sides of human nature, but she finds herself entangled in a case that hits too close to home. Zoe, the troubled teenager, is also a fascinating character with her own vulnerabilities and inner conflicts. The dynamic between Sam and Zoe adds emotional depth to the thriller, as both women grapple with their pasts and their fears.

3. **Psychological Depth**: Burton excels at exploring the psychological aspects of her characters and the crime they are investigating. The novel delves into the psychology of both the victims and the perpetrator, exploring themes like obsession, manipulation, and the long-lasting effects of trauma. The complexity of the characters and the psychological tension that builds throughout the novel adds an extra layer of intrigue to the mystery.

4. **Atmosphere and Setting**: Burton creates a dark, moody atmosphere that complements the story's sense of danger. The tension between Sam and her surroundings, coupled with the looming threat of violence, creates an immersive reading experience. The setting serves to heighten the sense of isolation and dread, which makes the stakes feel that much higher.

5. **Twists and Turns**: Burton is skilled at surprising her readers with unexpected twists, and *Keep You Close* is no exception. There are several moments in the book that will catch readers off guard, challenging their assumptions about the characters and the case. The reveals are satisfying and well-paced, adding to the overall suspense.

### Weaknesses

1. **Predictable at Times**: While the book does a good job of keeping readers on edge, some elements of the plot may feel somewhat predictable to seasoned thriller readers. Some of the twists are more easily guessed than others, and a few of the character motivations feel a bit familiar. This doesn’t necessarily detract from the enjoyment of the story, but it may feel less surprising for those who have read similar psychological thrillers.

2. **Secondary Characters**: While the main characters are well-developed, some of the secondary characters, such as supporting investigators or minor figures, are less fleshed out. This isn’t a major flaw, as the focus is clearly on Sam and Zoe, but some readers may find the supporting cast somewhat one-dimensional in comparison.

3. **Pacing Lulls in the Middle**: Although the book is generally fast-paced, there are moments in the middle of the story where the narrative slows down a bit, especially as Sam begins to investigate the case more deeply. While these sections provide necessary background and build the psychological tension, they may feel a little drawn out for readers eager for more action or plot progression.

### Conclusion

*Keep You Close* by Mary Burton is an intense psychological thriller that combines a compelling, fast-moving plot with complex character dynamics and psychological depth. The strong character development of Sam Owens and Zoe, coupled with a suspenseful and twist-filled story, makes for an engaging reading experience. The atmosphere is tense, the twists are satisfying, and the book’s exploration of human nature adds a layer of depth that elevates it beyond a typical thriller.

While it may be predictable at times and features some less-developed secondary characters, *Keep You Close* is an excellent choice for fans of character-driven mysteries and psychological suspense. Burton successfully creates a narrative that is as emotionally engaging as it is thrilling, offering a satisfying blend of mystery, suspense, and psychological intrigue that will keep readers hooked until the very end.

I really loved this Mary Burton thriller! It has excellent characters development, twists & great atmosphere. I was in for the ride & am so glad I got to read this one!

A pretty good mystery from Mary Burton, you can clearly see how she's improved from her earlier novels. Full of suspense and tension, a good read when you're in the moods for a mystery

This was more of an extended romance than a crime thriller. The characters were good but I thought the plot was weak and a bit unrealistic. It really wasn't what I expect from Mary Burton.

Keep you close

Small town romance
Romantic thriller
Second chance romance
Slow burn

I really liked this book and its a short, fast read

Soon after beginning this title I had a strong feeling of deja vu and after a little investigation discovered that this is a re-issue of Mary's earlier book 'In Dark Waters' which I have already reviewed.

This book felt like I had read it before. And not in that old familiar favorite book way. In the, I've seen this plot over and over and over again way. The characters are underdeveloped. The ending is easily guessed. It was also over way too quickly. I love this author and really thought I was gonna love this book.

I have read nothing by Mary Burton before, so I was excited to delve into this. But to be honest, I couldn’t get into it. Firstly, it was short and in my opinion the story would have worked better as a longer novel. There just didn’t seem enough time to develop the characters and plot events enough to keep me engaged and on the edge of my seat. It was also so predictable and full of cliches. Rekindling with an old love (that first start off bickering and hating one another before falling back in love), protagonist returning to hometown because of some tragedy, and who also had a difficult and turbulent childhood. It was also dragged out and there was a lot of setup, and that’s why I think it would have worked better longer. As the setup itself was decent and intriguing, but then the rest of the story seemed rushed and predictable.

This wasn’t for me, but it wouldn’t put me off checking out other work by the author. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

I was disappointed with this book, feeling that the characters were not developed enough, the plot too obvious and over-done, and finally, that it was over far too quickly.

To start with, I thought the story was really slow to get started. The writer takes a lot of time to establish that there is a dead body in the quarry that needs investigating, and this just sets the pace for the rest of the story. Realising that I soon only had a fifth of the book left, I could not see how Burton would conclude the plot without it feeling rushed. Alas, it did come around too soon and I finished the book feeling I had experienced a massive whirlwind with not much to show for it afterwards.

The premise of someone returning to their home town does feel rather over-done recently. I have somehow come across several books all with the same backbone to the plot and this did not feel very original as a result. Furthermore, Kelsey has had a troubled childhood: abandoned by her mother and then only barely looked after by her aunt. This sense of isolation and a need to find out more behind her mother’s actions made me feel a bit bored by this sub-plot of the narrative. I knew that Kelsey would be dissatisfied by the answers she finds and that the big reveal about her father would eventually come as part of this murder mystery.

Finally, Kelsey’s return to her hometown inevitably leads to her working closely with her first love. Unsurprisingly, the flame is rekindled, creating some very cheesy love scenes! I’m not sure whether I really liked Mitch, particularly his comment about unprotected sex which, quite frankly, made me squirm. In my opinion, he comes across as a very dated character with out-of-touch opinions. Not my sort of hero at all!

The reason why I continued reading this book was because I was hoping for some big ‘spark’ to energise the story. I was also keen to massage my ego and see if my predictions were correct! Whilst there were some surprises towards the end, it was not enough to change my opinion that this is quite a tedious, predictable novel that felt rushed throughout.

A short mystery, with good characters and an intriguing storyline. Lots of twists,a good read over too soon.

I am a true Mary Burton fan, if she writes it, I will read it.

This was a quick read, a second chance love, a 10 year murder solved, with twists/turns, and a lot of determination.

This was an addicting mystery but the plot was a bit obvious and overdone. I feel like it could use a good edit to make it read a bit smoother. The characters were interesting, if not a bit overdone in their descriptions. The case was interesting and had me invested in the story. Overall a fine read but not my favorite of hers.

Loved it! As usual you are taken on a rollercoaster ride throughout the story. The twists are spectacular and keep you flipping pages as fast as you can. A great cast of characters and a vivid plot create an amazing story.

This was a quick little read, which was sad because I wish Mary brton books would be like 500 Pages because they are so good! This was a good mystery second chance at love, perfect for an afternoon or beach read!

Reissue of a 2005 book "In Dark Waters". I love a good tightly written Romantic-Suspense that gets the job done in a reasonable page count. Harlequin Intrigue books do a great job of doing that. This is a reissue of an older version, same story, different cover. Mary Burton is a very good writer, but as this is an early work from her, don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.

At 18 Kelsey Warren left town after a one-night stand with Mitch Garrett. Now, eight years later she is back after her estranged aunt died. Kelsey is a world class diver, and her photography has taken her around the world and made her a success. Her younger life was a disaster, a promiscuous drug addict for a mother who abandoned her at 15 to an aunt who wasn't meant to be a caregiver. Kelsey is back to lay some of those old ghosts to rest.

Sheriff Mitch Garrett is shocked to find Kelsey at the quarry for a dive to find an old, abandoned car. The real shocker is finding Kelsey's mother, Donna, in that car. Kelsey and Mitch need to find the killer before they end up dead too.

My thanks to HQ Digital, Publisher, and Mary Burton, author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

A new author, but a familiar plot. The heroine was not abandoned as a child, her mother was murdered! And now she needs to use her journalistic skills to solve the crime. Not familiar with the author but she seems well liked and famous for the plot twists which happen regularly in this book.

this is my second book from this author and i loved the arsonist. The author writes crime thrillers which is great. I was all over the place in my writing of this review and how to rate it because different parts of the book had me feeling different. I loved how the book started with a dead body, returning to the family home, and overall the main characters back story. The love scene of a rekindled romance was cheesy and so easily seen from a mile away.
I think what truly took the story away was the love interest aspect because the murderer mystery bit was very good and developed.
I also feel it was a .. wrap everything up in a pretty bow ending that felt very jarring.

Another quick read from a favourite author.

“Keep you close” it's a fast-paced romantic suspense that you have no other option but to read it in one sitting. And that's because it's addictive from start to finish.

Second chance romance, an arson attack at her aunt's house and so many dead bodies showing up when least expected. What more could I want from a great book?

Perfect for any reader.

Keep You. Close by Mary Burton unfortunately for me was a bit of a disappointment. I am a huge fan of Mary Burton, but for me, the story was over way too quickly, was way to predictable and the characters were underdeveloped. It pains me to write a review like this but I unfortunately have to.

Thank you to #netgalley and #HQ. All opinions expressed are my own.