I Will Make You Pay by Teresa Driscoll

Alice Henderson, a journalist with the "South Devon Informer", is busy finalizing her article about the scheduled demolition of a council block when she gets the first call. An electronic voice insinuates an alarming threat. She's a bit rattled, reports it to her boss, arranges for more security at her home and contacts the police. A stalker, perhaps? Comes with the territory, maybe someone Alice upset with a story? She goes on about her business, until the very next Wednesday when a flower delivery to her office creates more concern for Alice. Her boyfriend, Tom Stellar, an attorney, decides to engage private investigator, Matthew Hill, to watch over Alice especially on Wednesdays. It doesn't seem to deter the stalker because the very next Wednesday, Alice is attacked in the street even though Matthew is right with her. Things escalate. Alice is panicked and afraid, takes time off work, hides out at her boyfriend's place or with her sister. This cannot go on. Who is the person behind these threats and what is their end game? The truth is, no one can protect Alice. NO SPOILERS.

I really was enjoying this book with the stalker theme until the ending. Although I didn't really care for the "HIM" chapters, I understood that the reader was getting a look into the personality of the person who would eventually be revealed as the stalker. Alice did the usual stupid things that women in fiction books do when there is someone who is going to harm them -- they don't listen, they take risks, they trust the wrong people. It's not being brave, it's being dumb to go out when there's a lunatic wanting to hurt you. There were red herrings but most readers will be able to figure this out pretty quickly. Alice was definitely the perfect victim and I just couldn't warm to her or worry too much about her. She was lucky she had so many people interested in caring about her and protecting her. In the end, the whole reason for the stalking was pretty lame and I just felt let down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery thriller, contains references to sexual abuse of children, stalking