Thank you to @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for this advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was engrossed in Gaslight's story all the way through. The present day portion of the novel takes place over the course of just one day, when two women from a cult, one who left long ago, and one still a member, come face to face after years. This edge-of-your-seat ride is interspersed with flashback chapters, following them as younger girls first becoming involved with the cult.

The alternating between past and present is done incredibly well, never feeling like it is taking away from the action currently going on, but expanding on the characters and history in a thoughtful way.

As someone with ties to religion as a child, and have been impacted ans traumatized by it, I found this to be a compelling look at what ideals and faith can do to a person when coming from someone looking to exploit you for their own purpose.

The narration was fantastic.

I love a good book about a cult and this one is a doozy. Told in a fantastic dual perspective both in the past and present, this book really shows how a cult can gaslight you into thinking, and doing, terrible things. It’s infuriating, thrilling, even darkly funny at times, but very disturbing while keeping its humanity at the core. Highly recommend

I was foaming at the mouth for so much of this. Like oh my god. DELULU IS NOT THE SOLULU in this books case. I honestly didn’t, but also did, see the twist that happened.

I was recommending this book to people when I hadn’t even finished it yet because I was like I need people to discuss it with me. I need our thoughts to be spoken about in regards to it, and I got about 3 others to join me on the journey that is “Gaslight”.

This book delivers a tense and intricately woven story of secrets, manipulation, and the fragility of human connections. From the outset, Rebecca's life is painted as idyllic but is masking a turbulent past. When Danny, Rebecca's old friend, reappears, the story explodes. The tension is palpable from Danny's first arrival. The narrative deftly balances the uncertainty of her motives with the emotional unraveling of Rebecca, who is forced to confront her past. The ISB cult is not only a manipulative entity but also a representation of the ways individuals can become lost in the promises of salvation.

The character development is exceptional. Rebecca is torn between the lies she's told to maintain her new life and the unraveling trust in herself and those around her. Danny is equally compelling, walking the line between victim and potential threat. Emotionally, the book is harrowing. It doesn't shy away from the pain of fractured relationships or the vulnerability of people searching for connections. The themes of control, trust, and self-deception explore the lengths people will go to protect what we love and how much of ourselves they are willing to sacrifice. Be warned that this book is an emotional rollercoaster.

The audio version created unforgettable characters and breathed life into a painful, raw, and beautifully written story. The narrator captured the tension-filled narratives and the desperation.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing.

This was a fantastic read! This book follows a number of individuals all involved in the same cult from a very young age. If you have ever been interested in cults, this book definitely will satisfy your curiosity. The behavior of the leader is exactly what you would expect as is the behavior of his loyal followers. Each one looking for a place to fit in. And wants to do whatever is needed for the “family”. I highly recommend this audiobook. The narration was perfect.

Couldn’t stop listening to this book! This was such an easy and interesting listen; I was hooked from the start.
The plot definitely kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened, loved all the different points of view. This story also felt so realistic, especially the brainwashing and gaslighting Ben was doing to the ISB members (creeped me out a bit).

I loved Julia Atwood’s voice, anytime I will see her as a narrator in a book I will instantly buy it! Such an amazing voice.

This book gave me some stress. It was one of those books where people were making bad decisions, and you wanted them to stop, but they kept ignoring the red flags.

WOW!!! This book is BONKERS!

Rebecca is a wife and mother, living a simple life. However, something feels off and her husband (a former addict) who once bared all of his demons with her, couldn't figure out why she couldn't reveal any of her skeletons with him. Why? That is until, a mysterious visitor, Dani, rings their doorbell, looking emaciated and refers to his wife as Becks.

Who is this woman? Why does she refer to his wife as her former best friend when Rebecca's husband had never heard of her? He didn't know of any past life before, as she never discussed it. What is going on?!

When the two of them leave the house together, her husband starts digging and he soon finds something that is the scariest thing to believe of this woman he calls his wife. What is it?
Read this book!! The title and subsequent text/written words in here are so fascinating and have been the subject of scrutiny for decades, but also felt so relevant to today and our current culture.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. I would gladly read another novel from this author!

Rebecca is living a peaceful life in Nevada with her husband, Tom, and their two young children. Her cult-related past is in the past, until her old fellow member, Danny, shows up on the doorstep one morning. Rebecca tries her hardest to figure out what Danny wants, but all Rebecca seems to find are layers upon layers of deception.

Not all books featuring cult as the main plot worked for me. In fact, they mostly didn’t. But this one did! I think it was because it played more with the action thriller elements rather than the cult aspect itself, even though the ‘past’ chapters did get into the usual cult recruitment process quite a bit.

The audio drama was fantastic. I really enjoyed the narration, and it delivered the suspense well. The start of the book was more of a psychological/domestic drama, but it crescendoed into action-packed thriller, and I really had fun. Would recommend to everyone!

Thank you to Netgalley, authors, and publishers for giving me an audio arc.

I literally could not put this book down. It had me hooked from the prologue. I remember watching a documentary years ago based on the NXIVM cult, and I'm pretty sure that's what this books is based off of. I am really loving this era of stories from the women's (victim's) perspective. Like Bright Young Women which is also a favorite of mine.

This story follows Becca and Dani - two best friends from high school who joined a cult when they were young. It's a story of them reconnecting under suspicious circumstances and weaves us through a roller coaster of past and present, understanding and brainwashing... I just loved this so much.

Also, the narrator was immaculate. Excellent choice. And despite not having the physical copy, I am obsessed with the cover art!

Highly recommend!

Gaslight
Miles Joris-Peyrafitte & Sara Shepard

4.25 / 5

This novel reminds me of the incredible movie 'martha marcy may marlene'. The tension is palpable.

I started the audio version of this novel after dinner, and couldn't go to sleep until it was completed. It was a late night.

Great writing. Feels extremely claustrophobic and anxiety inducing. I was hooked from the start.
As we learn more through the flashbacks, it all felt so perfectly paced. It kept me intrigued and thoroughly engaged.

If you're looking for a tense thriller/ character study, check this one out.

Rebecca is living with her husband Tom and two young sons in Nevada when one day, an unexpected guest shows up at their home. It’s Danny - an old friend from Rebecca’s life before children and marriage. The life she has tried so desperately to forget. The life she lived as an influential member of a cult. With Danny’s reappearance in her life, she knows she has the chance to try to make things right, get Danny to safety, and try to put an end to the nightmare for once and all.

I definitely enjoyed this audiobook. I would classify it as suspense, and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened. There are multiple points of view and everyone is somewhat unreliable, which always makes for an interesting story. The ending was slightly ambiguous when it came to Danny, which I liked. Thank you so much to @blackstoneaudio for my #gifted copy - I absolutely recommend this one.

I was so excited to read this novel - I mean, the cover is exceptional! Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. While marketed as an entirely fictional cult story, Gaslight feels overwhelmingly inspired by the real-life cult NXIVM. Almost every detail— from the manipulative leader to the specific methods of control— is lifted directly from NXIVM's history, with only the names and a few exaggerated elements changed. For anyone familiar with NXIVM, it's unmistakable; this isn't simply inspired by the actual events; it's essentially a copy, with a few additional, sometimes sensationalized twists like murder and sci-fi trackers. For me, this approach crosses a line, making it feel less like fiction and more like exploitative true crime.

The pacing felt rushed and unnatural, the entire dramatic plot taking place in a single day with some flashbacks for context. Complex events unfold in a way that barely gives characters time to process the trauma, let alone for the reader to fully engage with it. The brainwashing and deprogramming both felt too fast to be realistic, and even the information about the cult itself was delivered in ways that felt info-dumpy. At one point, for instance, a random Reddit comment exposes major cult secrets, which just seemed contrived and unrealistic.

Including the cult leader's perspective added little and, frankly, came off as silly rather than insightful. The characters feel flat and one-dimensional, and the scenes of abuse, including a detailed description of sexual assault, are deeply uncomfortable to read. It seems like the goal was shock value rather than a thoughtful exploration of the trauma experienced by cult members.

In addition, there's no acknowledgment in the book or the marketing that this story draws so directly from NXIVM. I couldn't find any indication that the authors consulted or collaborated with NXIVM survivors, which could have offered authenticity and perhaps some sensitivity to the material. Instead, the story feels like it's using the very real trauma of victims without adequate respect or depth, piling on exaggerated elements like murder for the sake of drama. This isn't a cult from 70 years ago; this is a cult that was only very recently exposed and whose leader is alive, in prison, with continued active support from a not unsubstantial number of his followers.

The authors could have chosen to either change enough details to make this story more original or, alternatively, to write a respectful, fact-based account. Instead, the result feels exploitative and, unfortunately, disrespectful to real victims.


Trigger/Content Warnings: cults, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, abuse (physical, verbal, emotional, financial), sexual assault, neglect, blackmail, victim blaming, manipulation, gaslighting, grooming, adult/minor relationships, age gap relationships, violence, murder, physical abuse, cancer, confinement, kidnapping, stalking, starvation, drugging, misogyny, fatphobia

Gaslight is an in-depth look into the mentality of women drawn into an influential leader's cult, and the anguish around both staying in and leaving. Escapee Rebecca has built a new life with Tom, when Danielle shows up at her door -- did she escape Ben or is she on a mission for him? Loyalties and motives are in constant question as Tom learns way more than he ever knew and flashbacks show life inside the cult. The story takes a while to pick up but the ending is very satisfying and to manipulation and complicity pull you in.

Gaslight by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte & Sara Sheperd and narrated by Julia Atwood is simply brilliant. It is a fictional account of the life of a cult and not just the headlines from the newspapers, but a deep delve into the inner workings of the cult itself, the domesticity, the manipulation, the ensnarement

Rebecca fled from ISB, a cult, many years ago. She is settled with her husband Tom and their young family, a world away from the life she knew, a life she has kept hidden, until Danny showed up at her door. Danny from the past. IS Danny trying to get her back or seeking help?

A stunning novel that had me absolutely gripped. It is a whole different ball-game when reading a fictional account in contrast to true-crime and I loved every single second of it. Atwoods narration is absolutely perfect! Outstanding

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks, the authors Miles Joris-Peyrafitte & Sara Sheperd and narrator by Julia Atwood for the ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Gaslight by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte and Sara Sheperd is a chilling and atmospheric masterpiece of psychological horror. This graphic novel adaptation of the classic play delves into the depths of gaslighting, a form of psychological abuse that slowly erodes a person's sense of reality.

The stunning artwork, coupled with the masterful storytelling, creates a haunting and immersive experience. The intricate details and the masterful use of light and shadow heighten the suspense and tension, drawing the reader into a world of paranoia and deception.

The characters are complex and compelling, each with their own dark secrets and hidden motives. The protagonist's descent into madness is both heartbreaking and terrifying, as the lines between reality and illusion blur.

Gaslight is a powerful and thought-provoking work of art that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. It is a must-read for fans of psychological horror and anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling.

This was a wild ride! I recently read Leah Remini’s memoir about Scientology and the way the cult roped people in in this story was so realistic to what happened with that cult. I was jaw dropped when Dani took Beck’s son but so glad she turned things around. For a second at the very end I thought she was gonna go back to the compound and try to be the new leader, but I like to think she really turned things around after.

Gaslight by Sara Shepard and Miles Joris-Peyrafotte is a suspenseful and engaging novel that kept me guessing until the very end. Shepard’s knack for building intrigue shines through in this story, blending complex characters with a plot full of twists and turns. The setting is vividly atmospheric, pulling readers into a world where secrets and lies slowly unravel in an almost Hitchcock-like suspense.

The pacing is steady and hooks you in, though there are a few moments that feel slightly predictable for seasoned thriller readers. However, the character development and plot surprises more than make up for it.

Julia Atwood did a fantastic job narrating this story. You could feel all the emotions the characters went through in her voice. I highly recommend listening to this one.

If you enjoy cult thrillers with layered mysteries, Gaslight is definitely worth picking up. Four solid stars for a page-turner that’s both captivating and chilling.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced audio copy of this book. I loved this book so much that I am putting it in my Top Five for the year. Bex is 8 months pregnant, sitting on a sidewalk in Carson City when she meets the man who will be her husband. Fast forward 7 years and Bex and Tom have a good life. She is busy with her two kids and no one talks about her past. Until her friend Dani shows up. Dani is very thin and pregnant. Tom wonders how they know each other and why Bex has never mentioned her before. Soon Tom finds out that both Bex and Dani were part of the ISB cult. Its leader, Ben, has impregnated both of them and he wants Bex’s son back. He will stop at nothing to make that happen. This book will keep you guessing. I highly recommend this for your book club. There’s a lot to dissect and the authors do a great job of holding your attention. Read this! Thank me later

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the authors for the advance audiobook copy of Gaslight. This gripping story dives into the manipulative tactics used by cults, with mistrust and paranoia driving much of the tension. I was especially drawn to the complex relationship between Becs and Danny, whose past and present dynamics take center stage and highlight the novel’s exploration of trust—or the lack thereof. The audiobook format added a layer of intensity, even though I found the narration by Julia Atwood a bit flat, making it hard to stay fully engaged at times. The minimalist prose and solid character development made this an enjoyable listen, though the plot occasionally felt convoluted and repetitive. While I appreciated the dark atmosphere and cult themes, I wish gaslighting played a more prominent role in the story. Still, Gaslight offers a compelling take on unreliable narrators and twisted friendships, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of audiobooks, true crime, and cult stories.