Although apparently living a successful life, thirty-two-year-old Louise Wandsworth has been irrevocably damaged by her past, when at the age of fourteen she was groomed and then abducted by her karate teacher. Mike is a paedophile who preys on vulnerable young girls. He served his time in prison and now he has his sights set on another girl, insecure thirteen-year-old Chloe. Lou knows she has to stop him, but what lengths will she have to go to in order to do so? And who is the other woman, Wendy, lurking on the sidelines, who seems to have a possibly sinister interest in Lou?

The narrative mainly follows Lou, Chloe and Wendy, with flashbacks throughout to the frightening time Lou spent with Mike in France eighteen years earlier.

I found The Fear to be an excellent, at times nail-biting read which examines the effect of abuse not only on the victim and perpetrator but on others around them.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This book gripped me from start to finish? I couldn’t wait to find out how the story all came together and how it ended. The ending was such a shock! I couldn’t put this book down! I can’t recommended it enough

Wow!! I think that this is the first book I have read by C L Taylor, but it won't be the last. The tension builds as the story unfolds so that it got to a stage where I couldn't put it down but had to finish the book. The author uses the tried and tested method of having different chapters presented from the viewpoints of different characters. In some cases it takes a while to discover who the characters are, but this just adds to the drama. The characters and settings are very realistic and the insight into child grooming is rather disturbing. Well worth reading.

This book is a good pacy read. I would recommend it, though I found the plot had turned completely farcical by the end, I kept going as I wanted to know what happened!

I loved this book. A brilliant storyline with loads of twist and turns to keep the reader hooked. I read it in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended. Five stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and C.L Taylor for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I'm a big C.L Taylor fan so have been eagerly awaiting her latest book.
I'm a fan of books that flit between a few people, I like to see how everybody got to where they are so all signs were pointing to a good book.
Throughout the book I thought, "this is a good solid 4*" and then Mavis happened.
OMG!! Eek! Love, love, love moments like this. Gained the extra star.
Great book, definitely recommend.

This was a totally compulsive read. I could not put it down. It is a dark and gripping novel about the hidden menace that is the grooming of teenage girls.

Louise was fourteen when she was groomed by an older man and abducted to France. Eighteen years later she discovers that her abductor is now trying to groom a thirteen year old girl called Chloe. What would you do? What Louise does is pretty extreme.

The novel is told from the view of a number of characters and that gives it a really well rounded feel. I really wasn't sure what was going to happen next! It has some really heart stopping moments and a very satisfying ending.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

C L Taylor’s ‘The Fear’ is an interesting exploration of what becomes of those who are affected by child abuse: not only the victims but also others linked to the perpetrator. Lou was abused by Mike as a fourteen-year-old. He goes so far as to abduct her and take her to France. Now in her twenties, despite outward appearances, she is still traumatised by her past. On moving back to Malvern now that her alcoholic father has died, Lou discovers that Mike is up to his old tricks – he is busy grooming troubled thirteen-year-old Chloe, despite a forty year age gap. Desperate to stop him but not keen to reveal her identity to the police, Lou kidnaps him and puts herself in a morally very difficult position by doing so. To make matters even more complicated, unbeknown to her she is being stalked by Wendy, Mike’s ex wife who blames Lou for all her unhappiness, believing that the latter tempted Mike away from the marital bed.
Over the course of the novel, we see how the three female protagonists react to a variety of dangerous situations, some more plausible than others. C L Taylor gives us a taste of Lou’s past through flashbacks as well, so that we have a very good idea of her motivation for decisions and actions in the present day. The author’s characterisation is strong; the truly appalling Mike is depicted as being just far away enough away from a stereotypical monster to be credible whilst also being an abhorrent manipulator and predator. Victim Chloe is completely believable as an emotionally neglected child with very low self-esteem, poor body image and few friends. We are even able to appreciate why unstable Wendy behaves as she does. C L Taylor reminds us that, metaphorically speaking, when the pebble is thrown into the lake the ripples are far reaching.
I enjoyed seeing how the female characters responded to all of the difficulties they encountered throughout the novel, how they grew in their understanding of each other’s position and how they worked to overcome the label of ‘victim’ over the course of the narrative. The fast pace of the narrative, the twists and turns in the plot and the topical themes means that anyone reading this novel is likely to do so quickly! My only gripe is not the final outcome but the way in which it is orchestrated. Sadly, whilst the depiction of child abuse is incredibly convincing, the way in which Mike’s nefarious behaviour is stopped is not.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a free copy of this novel.

Review



I have loved Cally for a long time and have read every book as they have come out so when i saw this was on netgalley for early review i knew i was going to get in on it.



This is a hard one to review because ever since finishing this, i literally dont know how to feel. This book has sat with me for days now and even now, im still not sure. It was creepy, it was odd & i just i dont know. However what i know is that its one of those that sits with you and its not very often that that happens so when it does, i know its something major.



Lou Wandsworth is returning to her home time to clear out her dads house after he passed away - its the first time she has been back since she was a teenager and fled after she ran away to france with her karate teacher. She planned on just getting on with her life, but when she comes across new information about Chloe Meadows what was going to be answers turns into so much more. There is more to Mike than what we are the reader are led to beileve.



This is told from a few different perspectives, i kind of guessed how some were connected quite quickly,but that didnt deter from what was going to happen. I was left shocked and kept guessing even up until the end, literally the last page still managed to throw a curveball in there.



The fear is that, it literally gave me fear, its not scary in your typical way but it still chills you with the possibilites, i flew through this to the point i finished it in 2 days - and the only reason that it wasnt quicker was because i had to sleep. Nothing is as it seems and everything you assume is thrown up into the air.



Totally worth a read - it sticks with you.

The Fear C L Taylor

19 years ago, Lou Wandsworth is in a relationship with Mike. The only problem being is that Lou is 15, and Mike is her much older, married karate teacher.

A grown-up Lou must return to her childhood home to clear out her father’s effects, and put the house on the market. Almost immediately she discovers Mike in an embrace with a young girl, Chloe. A teenager. Lou must fight to stop Mike grooming Chloe, the way he groomed her.

I was delighted to be approved for C L Taylor book, as I love her novels. She really gets in the head of normal people behaving awfully. And she goes the whole way here. There were times when I really didn’t know who the bad guys were.

I came away completely unnerved.

A definite 5 star read and thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance proof copy.

The Fear is a well crafted thriller with many a twist and turn. From recollection it bore some semblance to a real life French escapade between a teacher and student in 2012. However, that was real life and The Fear is a work of fiction. Many a twist and turn develops as Lou tries to save Chloe from the manipulating Mike. Never again will I hear Elgar’s Nimrod and dream of the Malvern Hills without bringing to mind the fate which befell Mike in Priory Park there. I thought the novel may have been flawed by the later discovery of Mike’s van but with a macabre twist the loose ends are tied, albeit very grimly. Whether you consider the cover-up Wendy creates to protect Chloe is right is up to you but one cannot fail to admire the inventive steps C L Taylor took to create The Fear.

An amazing book dealing with some current themes. Nice that it is set in a different location with a more rural feel to it. The story follows Lou who has returned home from London. It follows the story of a sexual predator she encountered when young and finds him doing the same thing again...the story then is how she protects the girl and brings closure to her own past. To say too much will spoil the book but needless to say this is a real page turner and finishes with a shock that will leave you thinking for a long time after. Read and enjoy.

As ever CL Taylor doesn't disappoint. Definitely worth a read.

There are a handful of authors books I would happily pick up without reading the book description and C L Taylor is one of them, she has the ability to turn a well used subject in fiction and turn it into the most twisted and extraordinary tale, and The Fear is no different. The Fear is shocking, yet compelling, fraught with tension and guaranteed to keep you turning the pages as if your life depended on it

Full review will be on my blog soon

Lou Wandsworth is haunted by her past. When she was 14 she ran away with her sport's coach Mike Hughes, however she soon realised that things were not as they seemed. Now 16 years later she finds out that Mike is grooming another young girl, and Lou decides to block his plans, using whatever means possible.

A dark, disturbing psychological thriller which deals with a very disturbing subject, possibly inspired by a news story from a decade or so ago.

WOW. This Fear is another brilliant novel from C.L Taylor. Her best one yet. There is a lot in the news recently about children being groomed so, I was interested to see how the author portrayed this.
Lou Wandsworth was a victim of grooming by paedophile Mike Hughes when she was 14 years’ old. He was never put on the sex offenders list as it happened a year before it started. Now 32, she comes home to deal with her father’s effects when he dies. When she sees Mike Hughes grooming another girl Chloe Meadows. She tries to warn the girl what she had gone through, but, at first Chloe doesn’t believe her and so Lou decides to take things into her own hands. After all she went through, and the years after, she doesn’t want anyone else to go through it.
C.L Taylor has done it again. What a book. This gripped me from the very first page. There was so many twists and turns in this story, that I couldn’t keep up. As this subject is a touchy and uncomfortable read, I thought Ms Taylor portrayed it brilliantly. I liked each character in this story. It showed all angles of the story which we don’t always get to find out. Well done. This is going to be a hit.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books for a copy of this book.

The Fear is a fast paced psychological thriller about a male who grooms young girls. Very well written on a scarily frequent subject. 18 years ago Lou was groomed by Mike, she spent the last 18 letting in control her life untill she could take no more. Heading back to her home town from London, Lou learn Mike is still grooming young girls and sets out to try and stop him, however it won’t be easy not with someone else looking for Lou while she looks for Mike.
While I didn’t love this book I didn’t dislike it either, I thought that subject was brilliant for a psychological thriller however I did at times think it was unrealistic and a little far fetched at times.

As a teenage schoolgirl Lou Wandsworth was flattered by the attention of Mike Hughes her Judo coach. She was not a popular girl, and without many friends she felt alone and isolated. Her home life was really awful and her father was a real bully. Lou’s self esteem was nonexistent; she was chubby and felt unattractive. She craved attention and Mike groomed her until she believed he was the love of her life, despite the massive age gap. The compliments he paid her and his kindness to her soon led to a love affair and eventually they eloped to France to build a life together. However Mike changed once he had her to himself. He kept her a prisoner in the bedroom, sometimes gagged and tied up. He controlled her and she grew frightened of him. He was a real weirdo and enjoyed playing sick games. She planned her escape before he took matters too far.
After Mike was arrested and imprisoned for his crime, Lou returned home and worked hard to make a life for herself, but she couldn’t maintain a relationship. After her father died he left the family home to Lou, who was in her thirties by then. She returned to the area she knew so well, intending to clear out the house and sell it. Out one day she walked into a garden centre and there she witnessed Mike with another teenage girl. He was kissing her, well out of sight. She was determined to protect the young girl. Mike was a predator of the worst kind; he would never stop, she knew that, so Lou decided to report him to the local, police. She was determined to confront him and tell him how he had ruined her life, taken her innocence and her chances of a loving relationship. Even more than that she wanted to protect the young girl he was abusing. If only it were that easy.
‘The Fear’ is exciting and far reaching. It deals with the issues of paedophilia, dominance, jealousy and revenge. The story plan is stunningly executed, making this exciting novel fast-paced and terrifyingly realistic. I think this is the very best of Cally’s novels so far. It’s dark, gritty, wickedly evil and utterly shocking. I literally didn’t know what to expect next. The twists and turns kept coming again and again. I never once predicted what the outcome would possibly be. It’s a real ‘edge of your seat’ blockbuster. The characters were skilfully crafted, but with agendas of their own; some very unpredictable, others less so. I found the scenes of torture absolutely nailbitingly odious, but I still felt compelled to read on. The climax of the novel is a real corker.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Avon for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. Watch out for the lesser of the two story threads involving Mike’s ex-wife. It’s an absolute classic and greatly adds to the gravitas of the story. I recommend this as an excellent read within this genre. It’s very nearly an all-round 5* review from me, but just not quite.

Lou Wandsorth gives up her life in London and returns to Malvern following the death of her father. She sets herself up with a job and determines to sell her father’s house. She is surrounded by thoughts of her past, the bullying, and her feelings of isolation, her memories of her controlling father and her memories of her karate teacher - Mike Hughes. She thought he was her saviour and did not recognise that he was grooming her, a 14 year old.

Mike has served his time in prison and now works as a driver/delivery person and works at a local nursery. Lou seeks him out here and witnesses his interaction with a young girl, Chloe and she believes he is up to his old ways. Lou has to help, her life had been ruined. If she just speaks to Chloe…. If she just speaks to the police…

I was grabbed by the idea of a teacher and pupil ‘running away together’ and the dynamics of how that would work. What I got was so much more than that. This is a psychological thriller of the first order. Lou’s manner of dealing with Mike just goes from bad to worse. As I was reading it, all I could think was ‘how can she get away with this, what can she do?’ I didn’t come up with any answers.

I was thoroughly engaged with this book. Can’t fault it. Plot development – tick; characterisation – tick; excitement – tick; brilliant read – tick, tick, tick.

Do I recommend this, I certainly do.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Fear’ by CL Taylor in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Lou Wandsworth is fourteen and meets Mike Hughes when she takes up martial arts classes. Lou believes he’s the love of her life and runs away to France with him, but Mike is a paedophile and grooms thirteen-year-old girls! Lou is now thirty-two and when her father dies she returns to the family home in Worcester where she starts looking for Mike Hughes so she can tell him how he ruined her life, but Lou sees him kissing thirteen-year-old Chloe Meadows. Can she stop things from going further before Chloe’s life is ruined too?
‘The Fear’ is a well-thought-out extremely tense novel with an intricately woven plot that had me on tenterhooks. The chapters moved smoothly between Lou’s life now and in the past. I was completely absorbed from page one, through each twist and turn to the shocking and thrilling conclusion. It was impossible to put the book down until the last page had been reached. This has to be CL Taylor’s best novel yet and I can’t wait for the next one.