It’s publication day for my psychological suspense novel, Watch For me.
Happily married, Tom Harper cannot understand why a woman not much older than his teenage daughter is suddenly obsessed with him. Watch For Me tells the story of one man’s struggle in the face of overwhelming psychological and physical torment by a female stalker. Set on Vancouver Island, the book is published by US publisher Down & Out Books and is my fifth crime novel.
A man being stalked by a woman is far less common than the other way round, but it happens, and more frequently than you might think. In the US alone, the National Center for Victims of Crime estimates there are around 370,000 men stalked annually. And when it does occur, men find it far harder to obtain the psychological and legal support they need. I wrote the novel to draw attention to this most intrusive and threatening behaviour which affects both sexes.
Already, the book has won some excellent advance reviews:
“Deliciously creepy with a twist you won’t see coming!” – Helen Hardt, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“I read spellbound as Tom Harper’s life is demolished brick by brick. Assured, remorseless writing, that grabs the reader and doesn’t let go. Highly recommended.” – Michael Ridpath, author of The Diplomat’s Wife
“I absolutely loved this book. One of the best I’ve read in ages – gripping, thrilling and pretty scary!” – Alex Pine, author of The Christmas Killer
Here’s the synopsis from the back cover:
“Tom Harper, a Vancouver Island realtor, has the client from hell, Ali Page, a beautiful and intelligent young lawyer returning from the mainland to take up a job with an island law firm. Trouble is there’s always something wrong with the properties Tom shows her, always a reason not to commit. Finally, after they find a condo she likes, he receives a text thanking him for his help. Ali signs off: I’m sad we won’t get to spend more time together. Often cold and withdrawn throughout their weeks of searching, Ali’s words seem strangely out of character.
The texts keep coming, increasingly incoherent and disturbing. What does Ali mean by: we have a special connection, and why on earth would she say: I’ll be here for you when you leave your wife? Happily married, Tom cannot understand why a woman not much older than his teenage daughter is suddenly obsessed with him. When he rejects Ali’s unsolicited advances, Tom soon discovers the sinister depths to which a delusional mind will sink to obtain what it wants. Isolated and seemingly abandoned by the police and legal system, this is the story of one man’s struggle to rescue his marriage, his family, and his sanity in the face of overwhelming psychological and physical torment.”
