Firstly I would like to thank Inkubator books and the author Theo Baxter for access to the stepfather.

The review I am going to make is an honest review regardless of the access I received for this book. It should be noted I was not paid for this review and ensure honesty in all my reviews.

Psychological thrillers are a go to read for me (not sure what that says about my character). I found initially I was engaged with this book where a girl takes a dislike to her stepfather and was unsure what was the imagination and the truth. Sadly I needed a bit more from this book to rate it higher than three starts, it was lacking something and I can’t place my fingers on it.

I felt sorry for the character Damon being in the middle of his ex wife’s new marriage and Connie telling her tales on the new husband George.

The story line does feel original and not something I have read before unlike other psychological thrillers, but it needed more twists and turns for my engagement.

In the future I would read more books published by Theo Baxter as whilst this isn’t a five star rating I did not feel like I had wasted my time reading this.

A really good book, it kept me entertained throughout, I will definitely be on the lookout for more to come

Wow what a ride! Loved this book so much. It had me in suspense all through the book. Definitely recommend and can't wait to read more books by this author.

I received this book from Inkubator Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

I got through the first 4 chapters, barely. It was very repetitive. The basics are this couple is divorced and their 16 year old daughter thinks her stepfather is a creep and doesn't like him. The mother is overly pushy about her daughter, Connie, spending time with her new husband, George. This is repeated more than several times, how she deserves to be happy and her daughter needs to spend time with George and trying to ground her for NOT doing so.

The main character, Damon, Connie's father, is dragged in the middle between his ex-wife, Madelyne, and Connie, They are constantly bickering about George and how Connie is 16 and can make her own opinions. There is barely any dialogue, just descriptions of dialogues and what happened in the past. There is no substantive depth to this book.

Connie is presented as a teenage rebel but acts like a three year old having a temper tantrum, Damon is presented as the protective, angry father, who can't control his temper, Madelyne is presented as the selfish, forceful mother who is only concerned about her own happiness and George, not her daughter's feelings. George is represented as the stepfather who is at his wits end and he says "Your daughter doesn’t respect me, and I’m the head of the family now.” No, dude, you aren't "head of the house now" IT IS A TWO PERSON ADULT HOUSE and no one is "head" of anything. And for Madelyne to bow down to that makes her a weak character, demeaning women, to bow down as subordinates to their partners. All she can do is downgrade her daughter and get mad at her because some dude claimed he's "head of the house now." and he's not happy. Nuh uh, not for me, I'm done. I actually found that degrading and almost even put the book down at that point.

The repetitiveness of the first four chapters was enough for me to finally put the book down. I can't even count how many times Madelyne felt sorry for herself and George, not caring about her own flesh and blood. and how many times it was mentioned that Damon and Madelyne fight all the time. It got exhausting and I was disinterested by this point. There was no real plot, just 4 people arguing the whole time and describing how mad they all were at each other with no stable foundation or plot. In fact, this book felt as unstable as the shaky characters and lack of plot that had no depth and no connection to the readers.

This book just didnt grab me. I found the dialogs basically non existant as all the action seems to take place in the heads of the various characters, each taking turns in chapters to narrate the story. The problem i have with it is that 90% of the book is described in the form of a thought process…”he really felt worried and decided right there and then to consult someone”. …”she is thinking she will definitely talk to him about his behavior….” And on and on without ever reading the actual dialog or discussion that should follow. The story (or i should say, peoples thoughts..are very réplétive and the story unfolds very very slowly.

I do love a psychological thriller hence the request for this book. It started off really well, laying out the plot and dynamics of this family set up. It was a familiar scenario of a young girl taking a dislike to her new stepfather. At times you never knew quite when to believe her stories or not which kept up the intrigue. I did finish the book in 24 hours but wasn’t impressed with the ending, it wasn’t as exciting as i had anticipated. A good honest read though but lacked a bit of a punch for me. I would however read another book by this author.

Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

I couldn't get through this book. The story was very repetitive in the first half. A girl doesn't like her stepfather because of a "feeling" and keeps running to her dad for support, which then upsets her mother. It isn't until halfway through the book that something actually happens, but I really didn't care at that point. All characters are infuriating in their own ways. I skimmed to the end.

Synopsis:
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She thought she knew who she was marrying. But he’s hiding a deadly secret.

After a painful divorce, Madelyne finds love with George, a successful restaurant owner with a charming veneer. Their marriage seems perfect except for one thing: her daughter Connie has taken a strong dislike to her new husband.

Sixteen and smart, Connie knows something is deeply wrong with her stepfather. His behaviour towards her mother is often manipulative and she suspects he’s cheating. The only person she can turn to is her real father, Damon. Afflicted by PTSD from his time in Afghanistan and facing financial ruin, Damon has every reason to hate his ex-wife, but he still carries a torch for her and wants to help. But when Connie hatches a plot to expose George's true nature, she stumbles instead on a truth that's a thousand times more horrifying than anything she could have imagined. Now Connie and Madelyne are in mortal danger. And Damon is the only one who can save them.

This would make a really good Lifetime or Netflix movie as it has all the elements of spookiness and terror. It is also a good read although the PTSD symptoms can be triggering for some readers...just remind yourself that it is fiction and to breathe. I think that teenagers might find this book more appealing than some adults, but that is just my view which might be skewed by my clients who seem very mature for their age as readers. ***blaming tiktok for that ****

A great book for the right audience....

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy. All thoughts (and chaotic rants) are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite hating the FMC. Whenever I pick up a thriller I don't read the summary/blurb. I like to go in with as little knowledge as possible because I am usually able to guess where the story is going, and dont need the extra help.

The twist had a very nice and smooth buildup. The mother (don't even remember her name she has me so angry) was all to infuriating. As a child that came from a background very similar to this story I wanted to wring the mothers neck. The only kimd of person that is worse than one that unknowingly makes excuses for an abuser, is one who sees the abuse and ignores it.

Back onto topic though, the book was enjoyable. Maybe not groundbreaking for a psychological thriller, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Nice twist, nice buildup, smooth resolution. I also quite enjoyed that the consequences of everything that happened wasn't just ignored or swept under the rug.



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SPOILER FILLED RANT.
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Seriously if you don't want spoilers click away.





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"She didn’t want to feel like this anymore, like she was the bad guy. Madelyne had done that plenty while married to him, and finding the courage to divorce him was the hardest decision she’d made in her entire life."
Miss girl, you are the bad guy. Through sickness and in health, for better or worse-do those vows ring a bell? You dont just give up on someone you love because things aren't going the way you wanted them to.
That says to me that you are a selfish person who cares only for herself. Which really isnt a when you are supposed to be a soldiers wife and a mother.
This is only reinforced by the fact that instead of trying to understand your daughter, and that she is uncomfortable with the man you married after 3 months (who marries someone that quickly when you have children, you barely know them, let alone know how they and your child will get along.) Instead you decide to make everything about you and your happiness while completely disregarding anyone else's feelings.
(Yes I'm bitter. I grew up with a mother like this.)

For all of the reasons listed above. I hate you. I will never feel sorry for you. And I will laugh at your misery as the book continues, and your daughter turns out to be correct. You spent so much time looking at life through rose tinted glasses, and never realized that the flags you were seeing were red.

Youre awfully certain about a man you don't truely know. -.-

Are you actually defending your drunk husband threatening to BEAT your daughter? He is a grown ass man and youre making excuses for his bum ass? No thanks.
LAUGHING in your face is a poor apology. Smiling and ignoring the problem does not a solution make. At the very least a boundary should have been set: if you drink, you do not come home drunk. If you are to drunk to not "macho man" out on your step-daughter sleep your ass in the car. Also textbook love bombing.

FINALLY you figure it out. To bad it took you being held hostage to see past your own wants.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I stopped reading this by 50 pages in. It was very dry and very repetitive. The daughter does not like her stepfather. The premise could lead to an interesting story, but this one never went anywhere for me. It just lagged on with every page saying the same thing.

Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Stepfather. I did Not like this at all but I decided to keep going hoping it would be better. It wasn’t and I’m sad to say that but it’s the truth. Damon was the most ridiculous character I have ever read in a book. Soooo ridiculously written. Pass on this one.


********BY THE WAY I WENT TO POST REVIEW AND ITS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND ON GOODREADS OR AMAZON????*****

Another solid psychological thriller from the author. It's a quick and easy read. I will say that I was sooo close to quitting the book because of how infuriating the main character is. I actively despised her, she's so weak and ridiculous and it was driving me mad. I like to think that's the sign of a well written book though when the characters come to life in such vivid detail that they evoke a strong reaction. She really is just hateful though! More so because women like her do exist and put their partner before their child and just sweep everything under the rug.

Anyways, rant aside.... as I was saying, it's an enjoyable thriller. There is tension built throughout and aside from being frustrated at the mums idiotic behaviour, I was absolutely hooked.

It's a bit odd start a book knowing who the villain is and just waiting to see how it's all going to pan out and see what he's going to do but I quite liked the reversal.and it enabled the characters behaviours to escalate from what could be overlooked and misinterpreted to the blatant, no denying what's going on.

It's really well written, clearly the characters touched a nerve but it's a really accurate portrayal of abuse, gaslighting, manipulation and coersive control aswell.

I did have to read it twice when the main character calls her hubby a monster because she's trying to talk about something serious and he laughs in her face....... that is what makes her finally call him a monster?! Not the 5 page list of crimes and abuses he's committed against her and others? But because she's trying to chat and he laughs at her? Each to their own I guess

I'd definitely recommend it though. It's an original storyline, the characters are vivid and 3d, the plot keeps moving forward, overall it delivers what it says it would