Title: Keep Them Close
Author: Sophie Flynn
Published on: 7 July 2022
Genre: Mystery and Thrillers | Psychological Thriller
Gripping. Compelling. Riveting. Mind Blowing. Spine-Chilling. Page Turner. Engrossing. I am out of words to describe this marvelous masterpiece of a psychological thriller. Wow!
This might not be the kind of story that makes you hide in your comfy blanky. This might not give you nightmares. But it keeps you wondering: how far can a person go to ruin someone’s life – snatch everything from them out of pure revenge.
We have been told many times not to share our secrets online. Although online forums can be used as a sounding board, you never know who the person on the other side is in reality. A serial killer? A stalker? Or, just a good person?
Emily shared her dark secrets with a stranger on internet forum MumsOnline. She was going through a bout of post natal depression and found a friend in TwoIsTrouble. Both the ladies/moms got chatting – they had so much in common – both were mother of twins. As their ‘friendship’ grew, Emily shared a secret that she shouldn’t have.
Emily deleted her MumsOnline account and the stalking began. TwoIsTrouble found her on Facebook. When she blocked them there, they found her on another…
Emily had to seek help for her post-natal depression. TwoIsTrouble’s stalking has brought back those feelings again – fear, anxiety and paranoia to name a few. Then, things start going sideways and Emily finds herself at the receiving end of it. People close to Emily believe she’s going back to depression. But only Emily knows the truth. Talking to people about TwoIsTrouble would mean revealing her dark secret – the secret she’s been guarding closely for years.
Emily goes back to work after a gap of four years. She finds it difficult to adjust. Though part-time, she has to put in effort and dedication. But Emily has help. Her husband Mark supports her in every possible way. He was there for her when she was going through post-natal depression. She’s getting back to work and he does all the work – giving the twins a bath, cooking their dinner, dropping and picking them from nursery.
The stalking episodes kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s not just online stalking, you see. TwoIsTrouble starts to interfere in Emily’s day-to-day life and there’s nothing that Emily can do. I really felt bad for Emily’s dilemma. The poor thing was helpless at times.
The story alternates between NOW and THEN. While the past is about writings in a diary, the present deals with Emily’s ongoing predicament. It becomes clear that someone’s out there, wanting to destroy Emily for telling them her secret.
The last few chapters blew my mind. The finale – the revelation of Emily’s dark secret and the identity of the stalker. The ending was a huge shocker. I did not see it coming and it certainly left me guessing what might happen next.
Sophie Flynn is a master storyteller. Excellent storytelling. Mind blowing twists. Tension and suspense at an all-time high. I was hooked on to the story and could not put it down until the end. This book highlights mental health issues such as post-natal depression and what happens when it goes untreated.
Keep Them Close by Sophie Flynn is one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read. If you are looking for a gripping read, I highly recommend you to give this book a try.
Many thanks to Hera Books for the ARC. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The Book Decoder 
Oooh.. Creepy. Stalking is just one of those things that can really ramp up the tension in a story. I’ll be adding this, thanks!
It starts with online stalking and then, she starts interfering in Emily’s life – calls her kids’ nursery and stuff like that. Real creepy!
Ohmygoodness.. that’s so messed up. I think the worst, most terrifying part about a story like this is that you know someone, somewhere has actually been through something similar.
very true. In this case, it is the mums-online thing. One mum stalking another.
Makes you really consider just how exposed and vulnerable the internet makes us..
True dat.
What’s most scary is that this could easily happen to anyone
Exactly. It is so easy to get trapped and not even realize until it is too late.
I am reading Ruby Roy and the Buddhist Cat based on your review. Started Ruby Roy. Interesting. Guess will try this one too. And yes…. another cozy mystery…I am forgetting the name….will let you know…
I found Ruby Roy hilarious. I think I saw me in Ruby. Haha.
Another cozy mystery – hour is come? You had mentioned you signed up for the newsletter and received a copy of the book.
😁