The Secret Stalker: A brand new absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist (The Hollywood Series Book 1)

How would you feel if you were being stalked? What would you do if the police were no help and the terrifying messages kept coming and the stalker seemed to know where you were and what you were doing and wearing every minute of the day? Now imagine that you are a famous actress in the spotlight trying to hold on to your career despite a stalker? The stress, fear, anxiety fester inside you and start to take matters into your own hands trying to find out who this stalker is. I could feel the actual fear that Rosemarie felt as the texts and packages turned up. I could feel her anxiety heighten and sense her frustration through the words on the page. The writing is sharp and flows quickly and the chapters are short. The first page drew me in from the start with action. The characters were varied and all very interesting but my favorite was Rosemarie. She was layered and had lots of depth and I enjoyed finding out more and more about her as the book went on. I could relate to her, not as an actress but as a person, and I liked that about her character. The ending was good and it seems to leave off with a chance for a book 2 which I can’t wait to read!! This book completely captured me with the thrills, the chase, and the great writing! A 5 star read. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was given an ARC of this novel by the author in exchange for reading it and expressing my honest opinions. (Side note to new ARC readers- agreeing to ARC read does not mean you’re required to give a 5 star rating, nor should you lie about the quality of a book just to avoid hurt feelings. Give an honest review, that’s how the author improves the book…)

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, but there’s a scene where one of the MMC’s says something to the effect of how he tries to sound smart and just uses big words without knowing what they mean, for example “can someone please assuage me the ketchup?” That’s this book in a nutshell.

The first half of the book I enjoyed, even with the monstrous grammatical errors and frequent changes of tense mid-sentence. I started making edit notations when I began the book, as that’s what you do, as an ARC reader. By about the third page, I stopped, because there were more highlights and edits than story (hyperbole, but still, there were a ton.) I decided I’d just read it in one go and then summarize my biggest issues, rather than giving a point by point edit.

I finished part 1, and then went to bed thinking it could use a good editor before publishing, but not particularly hating it- I was interested in the plot. Then I read part 2. It reads as though it were written by a completely different author (although the tense changes and complete misuse of words were consistent, so I’m sure it wasn’t,) but I suspect the author was rushed and didn’t edit part 2 at all. Not even a little bit.

And then the… interesting… metaphors. “Pain shot into my heart, pounding harder than a thunderstorm of lethal needles hitting the ground. Uncontrollable tears bursted (yes, bursted) down my cheeks whilst my breath began hyperventilating.” This is just one example of many “please assuage me the ketchup” moments.

I think, in the future, I will only agree to ARC read for established authors, because this is the second time I’ve read a real whopper and felt terrible for posting a review. I will say, that at least this time, I was able to finish the book. That alone warrants a minimum 2 star rating for me. And while the manuscript would look like a crime scene if an editor took a red pen to it, I was able to finish it, at least. And truly I didn’t hate it. It was predictable and definitely didn’t warrant any of the trigger warnings, nor was it dark or unhinged at all, as the author noted in the initial note to readers, with some seriously intense editing, people could enjoy this book.

I believe that it takes guts to write a book and put it out there for everyone to express their thoughts about it, and Jayde’s marketing plan for this book is super solid. She’s got a great social media hype plan and obvious direction. I approve of that. Once this goes through a MASSIVE overhaul and brutal edit, I think she could have a hit here. But to publish it now would be career suicide. The book releases October 1, and by that time, perhaps it will be the book she deserves it to be.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars from me because 1) I finished it 2) I wasn’t hate-reading it, but I definitely do not recommend this book in its current state. I look forward to reading the finalized copy and seeing what edits are made.

"The Secret Stalker" delivers a gripping narrative filled with suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The dual split points in the story add a unique twist, ensuring that your attention is maintained while you try to piece together the unfolding mystery. Although it may lack some polish in certain areas, the potential of the plot shines through, making it an engaging read. Overall, it’s a captivating story that leaves you eager for more.