The Women: A gripping psychological thriller

· Bookouture
4.5
29 reviews
Ebook
350
Pages

About this ebook

‘Wow, just wow.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads reviewer

‘Blew me away and I'm still gasping for air.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads reviewer

‘Totally jaw-dropping.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads reviewer

‘Had me on the edge of my seat.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads reviewer

‘One of the must-read books of the year. I could not put this book down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads reviewer


The night she moves in with Peter, she’s so happy, so exhilarated, so in love. Later, she will remember a much smaller feeling, a tiny one percent in her gut. And she will remember pushing that feeling aside…


Samantha Frayn doesn’t know why Peter Bridges picks her – a nobody with bitten fingernails and a troubled childhood behind her – but she falls quickly. He’s older, charming, likes fine wine and French films, and his beautiful home has real art on its walls.

Peter transforms Samantha’s life in an instant. He sees the better version of herself – the one she’s always wanted to be. It’s only normal that there’s a little friction, when she moves in, over domestic matters like where things are kept, or the proper times to eat, sleep and shower. She’s lucky to be with someone who can help her find a new job, move on from childish friends, and speak with greater sophistication.


But as Samantha notices, more and more, Peter’s temper, she starts to wonder if there might be consequences to breaking the rules of the world he has so quickly built around her.


And then she receives an anonymous note that makes her ask: is she the first woman to feel trapped by Peter? Is she being paranoid, manipulated, or could she be in danger?


You can tell the truth about your life, but someone needs to be listening. Someone needs to trust you. And someone needs to save you from the man you thought you loved.


Readers love The Women!

‘Wow… Devoured in one sitting!!! Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘Had me reading this in one sitting, as there was no way I was going to stop until I had finished it. That to me is what makes a book great! I really loved this book’ Once Upon a Time Book Reviews, 5 stars


‘I absolutely loved this page turner of a novel… I cannot recommend it highly enough.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘This is a writer who just keeps getting better and better. The Women is S.E Lynes’ fifth book and for me it is the best yet… a novel of exceptional skill.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘I literally could not stop reading this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘S.E. Lynes has blown me away!... I will say it again, S.E. Lynes is a genius.’ Chapter in My Life, 5 stars


‘A wonderful build-up of suspense which had my heart beat that little bit faster… an enthralling story to get yourself lost into. The pacing and tension throughout the novel was perfect.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars


‘S.E. Lynes is one of my go-to authors, she seamlessly produces beautiful writing, fascinating, authentic characters and weaves them into a story which keeps you turning the pages with a building sense of dread and unease… An unreserved 5 stars.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘I absolutely LOVED this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘Clear your diary and settle in for the long haul, once you start you won't be able to stop!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘BUY IT, settle yourself down, and READ IT! I can guarantee you won't regret it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


‘Believe me when I say you are in for a thrilling read!’ Goodreads reviewer


Ratings and reviews

4.5
29 reviews
Linda Strong
May 22, 2019
Samantha is a young woman who thinks she has it all. She's moved in with Peter .. an older man but by all accounts loves her to death. She fell quickly for him, he's charming, he likes fine wine, and his spacious home is filled with works of art. But there's another side to Peter, as Samantha slowly but surely discovers. For one thing, he has a temper that never showed before she moved in. He wants things done when he says, and how he says. There are specific times for eating, sleeping, showering. And she's not allowed to break any of his rules. When she becomes pregnant, he is delighted .. so he says. He even goes so far as to find a job for her .. just a few hours a week, but not one she had really wanted. She's teaching a writing course at the local college. And then she receives an anonymous note that makes her ask: is she the first woman to feel trapped by Peter? Is she being paranoid, manipulated, or could she be in danger? Sometimes, someone needs to save you from a man you thought you loved. This author has tackled the delicate subject of domestic violence without it being over the top graphic. Mostly the violence is in the way of words and manipulation... but violence none the less. The tension gears up as one thing after another as Samantha 'learns' what the rules are. As you might expect, Peter is greatly disliked as a character as the author brings him to life on paper. Samantha causes one to wonder .... how does a smart woman with her whole life in front of her fall into this trap. Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for this excellent psychological drama. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
10 people found this review helpful
Marnie Harrison
May 22, 2019
When Samantha meets Peter, he is everything that she could want in a man. He is older, charming, handsome, experienced, says all of the rights things, and only has eyes for her. Lacking in confidence and self esteem, Peter makes her feel like the only woman in the world, but there is something that feels not quite right to her but she pushes it aside and the relationship moves full steam ahead. But it isn’t long until the cracks in the relationship start forming when Samantha moves into his home not long after their relationship begins. Peter’s whole demeanour changes and Samantha starts to pick up little hints of his controlling personality and his temper, when he enforces strict rules of when to eat, sleep, the way things always have to be in their place at all times and even when she is to shower, which is all to fit in with the way he likes it! After giving birth to their daughter, Samantha thinks it is time to get out of the house and wants to put her university degree to good use. After some reluctance on Peter’s part, he helps her get a part time job teaching a 12 week writing adult education course. This is not Samantha’s first choice, but Peter persuades her otherwise, even going as far as overriding her lesson plans to ones that he comes up with which he thinks are better! Things take a turn, when Samantha starts to receive notes mixed up in her students work hinting that Peter is not really the man she thinks he is and that she is not the only woman that Peter has controlled over the years. Trying to still see the best in him, Samantha tries to defend his actions but she soon has to face facts that Peter’s treatment of women over the years may now have come back to haunt him, and her life as well as their daughters could be in danger! Do I recommend this book: Absolutely! There is one word to describe how I felt when reading this book and that is suffocated! The character of Peter made me cringe with his domineering ways and I could really feel how Samantha was feeling. Susie did a great job at conveying this and had me reading this in one sitting, as there was no way I was going to stop until I had finished it! I really loved this book and look forward to more of Susie’s work in the future!
15 people found this review helpful
Janette Donigan
November 7, 2019
I Don't think Peters character was as strong as it should of been. Was all a bit silly. Skipped through a lot.
1 person found this review helpful

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