Publisher's Weekly Review
Revenge drives this fascinating thriller from romance author Stone (Evelyn, After). Jane, an admitted sociopath, temporarily relocates from Kuala Lumpur, where she's a successful import/export attorney, to Minneapolis, where her best (and only) friend, Meg Peterson, whom she became close to in college, was living until Meg committed suicide. Jane holds Meg's boyfriend, Steven Hepsworth, responsible. She knows Steven emotionally abused Meg by repeatedly breaking up with her and wooing her back with promises of marriage and the wonderful life they would share, until he precipitously ended the relationship for good. Jane, who has gained employment as a data entry clerk in the firm in which Steven is a middle manager, proceeds to ingratiate herself into his life, determined either to take away what is most important to him as Steven did to her, or, more drastically, to murder him. Stone keeps the suspense high throughout. Readers will relish Jane's Machiavellian maneuvers to even the score with the unlikable Steven. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
When her best friend commits suicide after being dumped by a worthless man, Jane, a self-described sociopath, decides revenge will be slow and sweet.In this suspenseful, just-creepy-enough thriller, Jane travels to Minneapolis after her friend Meg commits suicide. Jane isn't sure she herself has ever felt love, or any emotion other than hatred for her abusive family. But college roommate Meg gave Jane her best chance at seeing how normal people lived. When Meg became involved with Steven, though, she turned from a funny, bold woman into a submissive girl who accepted Steven's cruel comments and control, until in her despair she killed herself. Now Jane has insinuated herself at Steven's company. Coldly analytical, she fashions herself to be just the sort of woman Steve wantsmeek, mousy, and needy. It's fascinating to hear Jane, who narrates the novel, comment on her plans and observations of others. Stone does a masterful job of creating in Jane a complex character, making her both scary and more than a little appealing. As the novel progresses, our view of Jane gradually shifts. Is Jane really a sociopath or the rare woman who doesn't care what others think? And which of us wouldn't at least dream of sweet revenge against those who cause such pain? Stone even provides the perfect ending, which can't be commented on without ruining its perfection. This beautifully balanced thriller will keep readers tense, surprised, pleased, and surprised again as a master manipulator unfolds her plan of revenge. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Stone (Half Past), who also writes as Victoria Dahl, plots a darkly irresistible double cat-and-mouse game: middle manager Steven Hepsworth targets new hire Jane as a workplace conquest, oblivious that she is stalking him. Steven's mental cruelty instigated the suicide of Jane's best friend Meg; now, in the guise of a fluttery data entry clerk with low self-esteem (precisely Steven's type), Jane is on leave from her high-paying legal career and swank apartment in Kuala Lumpur just long enough to exact revenge. As Jane embeds herself into Steven's smug Minneapolis life, collecting evidence to devise the most agonizing retribution, Nicol Zanzarella's spot-on narration flips adeptly between the apologetic cooing of Jane-in-disguise and the real Jane's candid, acid-tinged running commentary. Stone invests the psychologically scarred, complex Jane with such an unsparing assessment of humanity-herself included-that Jane diagnoses her own -sociopathy. Yet while both characters are, in fact, weaponizing façades of harmlessness, Jane seeks a single act of justice; Steven casts his career of ego gratification and sexual aggression as gender entitlement. Thus licensed to judge, readers will race through the chapters all the more avidly. VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended, especially for fans of psychological suspense and admirers of steely protagonists such as Taylor Stevens's Vanessa Michael Munroe.-Linda Sappenfield, Round Rock P.L., TX © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
