Goodreads/Amazon/Author Website
Release date: September 1, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Goodreads blurb: 

You tried to save a life. Now you’re fighting to save your own. 

It should have been an idyllic day for the Turner family – until a dying man, beaten beyond all recognition, arrives at their home, uttering the words, HELP ME. 

Rob and Wendy Turner and their children try to explain away the horrific scene as being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but in the days that follow their lives are threatened in ways they could never imagine. 

The family is unaware that they are being watched by someone with their own terrifying agenda, who will stop at nothing to fulfil their own twisted desires. 

But when hidden secrets come rushing to the surface, it’s clear not everything is as it seems in this happy family. Are the Turners a victim of circumstance – or does the key to their fate lie closer to home? 

Forced to fight for everything they hold dear, can they save themselves before time runs out – or will their act of compassion see them paying the ultimate price…? 

Review: 

This book wastes no time and jumps straight into the action with a severely injured man appearing at the backyard barbecue of the Turner family. Where in the world did this poor man come from, was it just a case of a random happening? Or is there more to the entire event?

After the initial rush of adrenaline at the beginning of the book, the action ratchets down a notch, but make no mistake, there is still heavy suspense. Strange things begin to happen immediately after the afternoon where the unknown man appeared. Threatening letters, the uncomfortable feeling of being watched, some downright creepy and unsettling stuff.  It lays the foundation for a series of frightening events that are chilling, methodical and brilliant.

The Turners are a family on the brink, most of them are hiding things, but are these secrets related to all the unpleasantness they are now experiencing? Or are they just victims of unfortunate circumstances? 

I’ve used the phase heart pounding to describe books before when reviewing them, but this time I mean that literally. There were moments in this book that my heart was racing and I was experiencing genuine fear for the Turner family. Just when you think you know exactly which direction Bale is heading, he throws another curveball at you that knocks you on your ass. I quite like that, sick and twisted reader that I am! 

I do want to add, that there is quite a bit of violence in this one. It doesn’t bother me, but I know some people would rather avoid it so I thought I should warn you. I do hope that won’t keep people from reading this one though as its astoundingly good and while violent, it is necessary violence to the storyline if that makes sense.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review.