What a great domestic psychological thriller!

The story revolves around Melissa, a divorced woman who finally believes she has found the man of her dreams.

But is he truly as perfect as he seems?

I was hooked from the very beginning and never been bored at any time.

If you are a big fan of domestic thriller, you will love it as much as I dit 💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
Release date: July 8th, 2025

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this psychological mysterious thriller! I enjoyed the story line and really not having a clue who did it. The author did a great job in pulling me back and forth on thinking if it was Thomas or not and rooting for Thomas. Great plot twist, I had a hunch mid book!

Melissa meets Thomas, a man who appears perfect so of course there must be something wrong with him. She wasn’t expecting him to be an accused murderer though! His wife disappeared a few years back and everyone suspected him but he was never charged and her body was never found. So the book basically is about her deciding if she believes the rumors or not and how she’ll handle her budding relationship with him. She also has a young son and is freshly divorced so that adds to the ‘should I or shouldn’t I’ aspect. Most women would probably decide it’s not worth it, but then we wouldn’t have a story.

The reader not only sees from her point of view but also from excerpts from Thomas in therapy. So we have a little more perspective, but one that is carefully crafted so we’re still not sure one way or the other. Towards the conclusion, there are some other characters that skew the perspective a bit and many readers will probably be surprised by the outcome. Based on a few clues, I saw it coming but it did seem a little ‘out of left field’ at the end.

It's a fun book and I’d read more by this author based on it. Maybe the next lead female character will be a bit more discerning with her relationships, though!

“They’re more tied up than we think, love and hate—both emotions are a confession that someone matters to us, that they have power over how we feel.”

From the very first page, I was so hooked! This is a very well-written thriller with sharp pacing and a gripping plot. The emotional depth made the story even more compelling for me. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and it definitely won’t be the last!

I just finished a great mystery thriller. Stay Away From Him by Andrew DeYoung needs to be on your tbr list.

AFter a horrible break up Melissa is ecstatic to meet a handsome, friendly doctor in Thomas. Thomas is raising two teenage daughters after the tragic disappearance and murder of his wife. Thomas is dashing, charming and great with Melissa's young 5 year old son.

Soon after they begin dating strange things begin to happen, Melissa receives notes saying "Stay away from him,",, people that believe Thomas killed his wife treat her horribly and a friend of Thomas deceased wife shows up everywhere trying to warn Melissa.

As their romance moves faster and faster Melissa is caught in a whirlwind of mystery and deceit. Who should she run to, who should she run from? It's a fast paced book but the ending is both satisfying and depressing.

A cannot put down novel...red herrings and secrets...a page turner...the title is intriguing; the story is mysterious. Enjoy. Thanks Netgalley.