Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. Five friends who wish they’d never met. Because the one thing they have in common is the worst thing in their lives: they are all being stalked.
When one of their group is murdered, days after their stalker is released from prison, time stands still for them all. They know their lives could end just as brutally at any moment – all it takes is for the people they fear the most to catch up with them.
When the group receive a threat that one of them will die in ten days’ time, the terror that stalks their daily lives becomes all-consuming. But they know they don’t want to be victims anymore – it’s time to turn the tables and finally get their revenge.
Because the only way to stop a stalker is to become one yourself…
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Every Move You Make by C L Taylor was published on 28 March 2024 by Avon Books. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
It's been a while since I read a C L Taylor novel, I've enjoyed her books in the past and am always impressed by the variation in plots. This book is about stalking; one of the most terrifying experiences that anyone can experience. Recently, the laws around stalking have been tightened up, but for many years victims had nowhere to turn. Their lives ruined by one other person. Constantly frightened, constantly looking over their shoulder, never knowing what will happen next.
There are five victims in this story; Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. These five met on a forum that helped victims of stalking, they then went on to create their own separate group using WhatsApp. They regularly check in on each other, give support and care. Each of them knows what the other is going through.
The novel opens with Natalie, and it is a tense, heart in the mouth beginning, which doesn't end well. Natalie doesn't make it and the remaining four members finally meet in real life at her funeral. At the end of the service, they are handed a wreath, the card just says RIP and a date. The date is not when Natalie died, it is ten days in the future and these four realise that one of them is meant to die, and soon.
It's been a while since I read a C L Taylor novel, I've enjoyed her books in the past and am always impressed by the variation in plots. This book is about stalking; one of the most terrifying experiences that anyone can experience. Recently, the laws around stalking have been tightened up, but for many years victims had nowhere to turn. Their lives ruined by one other person. Constantly frightened, constantly looking over their shoulder, never knowing what will happen next.
There are five victims in this story; Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. These five met on a forum that helped victims of stalking, they then went on to create their own separate group using WhatsApp. They regularly check in on each other, give support and care. Each of them knows what the other is going through.
The novel opens with Natalie, and it is a tense, heart in the mouth beginning, which doesn't end well. Natalie doesn't make it and the remaining four members finally meet in real life at her funeral. At the end of the service, they are handed a wreath, the card just says RIP and a date. The date is not when Natalie died, it is ten days in the future and these four realise that one of them is meant to die, and soon.
They decide to take matters in their own hands. For many reasons, they don't want the police involved. Alexandra is a well-known actress, Lucy cannot bear anyone to find out about the background to her stalking.
River, the only male member of the group takes charge. He decides that they will become stalkers themselves, they will track the four individuals that are making their lives hell and they will sort it out.
Each chapter is told in the voice of one character which enables the reader to learn more about each one of them, and the history of their stalking. It doesn't make for easy reading at all. C L Taylor has used her own experiences to portray the utter terror of a life totally overtaken by the malicious acts of another. It's powerful writing, it's often tense and anger inducing.
I enjoyed the characterisation. Taylor has created four people who are so different, yet are all victims. However, they are not all likeable, and at times, I doubted them all, and questioned just how valid their claims were. Does this make me like all of those people who dismiss stalking as minor? Maybe, it certainly made me think about how we see and perceive victims, and made me look at my own thoughts in more depth.
This is a hefty novel at four hundred pages, and to be honest, I do think there were parts that could have been a little tighter. However, it is very well written, the plot is intriguing and the twists are unexpected and certainly shocking.
Each chapter is told in the voice of one character which enables the reader to learn more about each one of them, and the history of their stalking. It doesn't make for easy reading at all. C L Taylor has used her own experiences to portray the utter terror of a life totally overtaken by the malicious acts of another. It's powerful writing, it's often tense and anger inducing.
I enjoyed the characterisation. Taylor has created four people who are so different, yet are all victims. However, they are not all likeable, and at times, I doubted them all, and questioned just how valid their claims were. Does this make me like all of those people who dismiss stalking as minor? Maybe, it certainly made me think about how we see and perceive victims, and made me look at my own thoughts in more depth.
This is a hefty novel at four hundred pages, and to be honest, I do think there were parts that could have been a little tighter. However, it is very well written, the plot is intriguing and the twists are unexpected and certainly shocking.
This is a book to make you think, to question what makes a person become so obsessed that they will stop at nothing to get to their victim. It proves that anyone can be a victim of this horrendous crime and that every person's experience will be different. A tense, twisty novel that takes an unexpected turn. Recommended
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Her psychological thrillers have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, been translated into over twenty languages, and optioned for television.
Her 2019 novel, Sleep, was a Richard and Judy pick.
C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol with her partner and son.
Instagram @cltaylorauthor
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