A busy doctor decides to join an upmarket dating agency to find a possible life partner. One of the first people she meets is Al – nice looking, considerate, fun to be with and interested in her. So far so good and it seemed as though the author had found someone she could consider sharing her life with. But she wants to take things slowly and when Al wants to move in with her she resists until he presents her with a fait accompli.
That is just the start. The author’s family had reservations about Al from the start and felt he was hiding something. They were so concerned they engaged a private investigator to look into his background. This is just the start of a nightmare which involves both the author and her family. Al is continually trying to pressure Alison into marriage – even go so far as to send out invitations even though she has told him she isn’t sure about marriage. He starts showing a different side of himself – sulky and petulant if he doesn’t get his own way. Always wanting to know what Alison is doing and reading her e-mails as well as checking her phone for messages.
Alison decides she wants to end the relationship but Al doesn’t want to. He bombards her with texts, phone calls, letters and presents. He waits for her outside work and forces his way into her car. She has to get her step father and brother to persuade him to move it. Before long the police are involved.
Anyone – male or female – will find this book frightening and disturbing. It shows there is a very fine line between a caring relationship and one in which one partner dominates and controls the other to the extent that they lose touch with their friends and family.
The book takes you into the author’s life and allows you to feel her fear and terror as well as the feeling of helplessness which can result if the person responsible for the harassment is also a charming and plausible individual. It shows how a career can potentially be destroyed by lies if someone is determined to do it. The book also shows how the police pulled out all the stops to prevent a fatal outcome.
As gripping as any thriller I recommend it to anyone who thinks they could never become the victim of a stalker.
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