Although many things cause excitement on social media, one thing that is guaranteed to get book bloggers in a frenzy is a new C.L. Taylor book. There was a lot of hype around her latest book, The Fear, but did it live up to the hype? OH YES!!! I feel like a broken record as I proclaimed The Escape to be my favourite C.L. Talyor book but I think The Fear is the best book she has written to date - it's dark, disturbing and exceptional.

Lou was 14 years old when she fell in love with Mike. Mike showered her with affection, making her feel loved and beautiful but Mike was her older, married karate teacher and he knew exactly what he was doing. When Lou snuck away from home to meet Mike for a romantic weekend in France, she didn't think Mike had no intention of returning to England. Kept locked away in hotel rooms, it's a part of Lou's life that has naturally left deep scars in her psyche, resulting in her leaving Malvern for the bright lights of London but unable to form any lasting relationships.

After her latest relationship breaks down, Lou returns to Malvern and finds that Mike is up to his old tricks. Mike may be 18 years older but he still has a taste for grooming young teenage girls and vulnerable 13 year old Chloe Meadows has fallen under his spell. Lou can't stand by and do nothing but Mike has quite a hold over Chloe and to some extent he still has a hold over Lou...but Lou isn't a starry-eyed teenager anymore and she wants REVENGE!

You just never know what to expect with a C.L. Taylor book. There is just so much going on: not only is Lou trying to stop Mike but someone else isn't keen on Lou being back in Malvern and they are intent on messing with her life. I felt like my head was inside a kaleidoscope (in a good way) with all of the colourful pieces spinning around until the completed picture was revealed and I could finally exhale the breath I didn't even realise I had been holding.

The subject matter of a repeat offending paedophile is not easy to read about but what C.L. Taylor has done marvellously is shown how easily vulnerable youngsters can get drawn into the net of these despicable predators. Every time I read a new C.L. Taylor book, I think it is the best one yet but then she goes and does it again! The Fear didn't just get under my skin, it made my skin crawl; you will be sickened, you will be angry but you won't be able to stop reading The Fear.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

A new C.L. Taylor book is highly anticipated, by me and by tons of other readers too, so I couldn't wait to get my mitts on The Fear. As always with Taylor's books, there was this panicky, intense feeling to the story, the knowledge that something really not good was going to happen.

Lou Wandsworth was groomed as a 14 year old by her karate teacher, Mike. He took her away to France and, although she was able to return home, she's never gotten over it. It's not hard to imagine how far-reaching the consequences of Mike's behaviour would have been for Lou. She's been unable to form relationships or settle down. She hasn't seen him since she was 14 but then she discovers that he might be doing the same thing to another girl, 13 year old Chloe.

From thereon, it's clear that Lou changes, becomes angry and scared about what happened to her. Everything turns quite dark and sinister and the story just goes along at such a fast and exciting pace. There are two other 'voices': that of Wendy Harrison, and that of Chloe. We obviously know who Chloe is but Wendy is more of a mystery. I liked the way the action switched between the three of them, giving us different viewpoints.

As with most psychological thrillers, in order to excite the reader the story often has to be a little far-fetched and I thought that was the case here. But it doesn't bother me if it's well-written and thrilling and again, that was the case here. It's a disturbing story and it certainly had that effect on me, especially in the sections where we have a flashback to Lou and Mike's time in France, and also where we witness Chloe's thoughts. It's scary just how manipulative some people can be, and I saw that in Mike.

For a book with over 400 pages, it didn't feel like it was long as I raced through it. I really couldn't see how all the strands could be tied up and if everything was going to work out as I wanted it to, but Taylor did a fabulous job of bringing it all together whilst constantly turning it on its head, leading up to a frankly superb ending that I didn't see coming (although perhaps I should have).

All in all, it's a really gripping read about a dangerous man and his prey and I enjoyed it very much. I though it was dark, twisty and absorbing. ( )

A timely storyline.about a predatory male who has got away with his crimes for far too long. Mike may have been jailed when he was caught in France with an underage student, but that hasn't put a stopto his disgusting ways. So when his original victim, now all grown up returns home to find him grooming 13-year-old Chloe she knows she has to put a stop to it. And when the police won't help, well it's clear she'll have to take things into her own hands. A fabulously pacey read with a sting in the ending. ( )

Lou was groomed by an older man when she was just 14 years old and when she returns home years later discovers history repeating itself with the same man and another vulnerable teenager. Looking at other reviews I was expecting to be knocked for six by this book, but was too busy feeling irritated by all the stupid, annoying decisions the older Lou kept making - it was all too much for me! I sympathised with her earlier, horrible experiences with this man, but had none for how she is now and just found her too exasperating. Wendy too wasn’t likeable - just weird. Topical subject to write about and well written as always, but not my favourite book by this author. ( )

The Fear – Every Parent’s Nightmare

CL Taylor is back, with yet another blockbusting, totally gripping, intense psychological thriller. This really will be disturbing if you are a parent of a teenager, especially one that may not have too many fans, and suddenly has secrets you know nothing about.

Like all Cally Taylor’s previous books, this will grab you by the throat, keep you enthralled from beginning to end. I lost a whole afternoon reading this, thought I would read a few chapter then watch the football. The football came and went of which I saw absolutely nothing, so engrossed by The Fear, gripped.

Lou Wandsworth is now 32, and has attempted to forget about her teenage years, when she was groomed and went with her Karate teacher to France. For what she thought would be a weekend away turned into something more. When the police eventually catch up with them, she is too scared to give evidence against him when the case comes to court. When she returns home for the first time in years, she that Mike, that teacher has not changed.

She sees him grooming a teenager, Chloe, and she will do all she can to make sure that what happened to her never happens to her. At first, she feels like she is screaming in the wind and nobody is listening.

Wendy, has never forgiven Lou, and she has been stalking her from a distance and wants to get close to her. She knows Mike would never have gone to France if Lou had not tempted him and corrupted him. She will do anything to hurt Lou and make her suffer, just as she has had to when he went to prison, and when he came out and abandoned her.

What, will Chloe, Lou and Wendy do as they realise they are all victims of Mike, who has a terrible violent streak, and not afraid to hurt them. What action will they take separately and together? What will unfold and who can stop Mike, the police just do not seem interested.

With more twists than in a hurricane you will be totally gripped by The Fear, as you fear the only winner will be Mike. He has the power, he has the skills and he knows how to hurt. This book is gripping, disturbing, claustrophobic and utterly compelling. This book will bring to the fore the fears of every modern parent, grooming and their teenage child. The Fear reminds you it can happen to any child.

This book will have you from beginning to the end and proves why Cally Taylor is a bestselling author. Her writing of psychological thrillers is as addictive as any drugs and you will not regret reading her latest hit. ( )