Jane Bailey's "Stay" is a gripping psychological thriller that plunges readers into a suspenseful tale of deception and danger. Caitlin, betrayed and heartbroken, finds herself hitchhiking and accepting the help of a seemingly friendly family. As they offer her a place to stay, she becomes entangled in their web of secrets and manipulation.

Bailey's storytelling is engrossing, immersing readers in the escalating tension and uncertainty that surrounds Caitlin's stay with the family. The author expertly builds suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they question the true intentions of those who initially appeared trustworthy.

The characters are well-developed, each harboring their own dark secrets that gradually unravel throughout the narrative. Caitlin's vulnerability and resilience make her a compelling protagonist, and readers will find themselves invested in her journey to escape the dangerous situation she finds herself in.

The pacing is relentless, with the story unfolding at a brisk pace that propels readers forward. Bailey's prose is evocative, capturing the claustrophobic atmosphere and increasing sense of menace as Caitlin realizes the true nature of the family she thought she could trust.

"Stay" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will keep readers guessing until the final pages. Jane Bailey skillfully crafts a tale of suspense and betrayal, exploring themes of trust, survival, and the lengths one will go to protect themselves. This is a captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers craving a twisty and suspenseful narrative.

#Stay #NetGalley
Beautifully written.
It was meant to be Caitlin's perfect summer, but betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend, she finds herself hitchhiking home alone, heartbroken, and penniless.
When a smiling family pulls up on the roadside to help her on her way, she's relieved - they seem so friendly, safe. And when they offer her a warm bed in their isolated house for the night, she's grateful not to have to travel back alone in the dark. In any case, she's in no rush to get home, where a grave secret is lying in wait to blow her family apart. One night soon turns into two, and then three. The increasingly spellbinding couple wants her to stay, and why shouldn't she? Their children need a tutor, and the longer she can avoid home, the better. But then an older member of the household warns her to leave immediately. And when her phone suddenly goes missing, when she realises that this perfect family is a perfect lie, it might not be so easy for her to leave...
It was a fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me an advance copy.

Yikes yikes yikes! I wanted Caitlin out of this crazy house ASAP!
But because it’s a psychological thriller, we had to wait for the drama to unfold before she could realize – almost too late – what she was in for.
Creepy house, creepy family - fun escapist thrills for the pool!

I could not put this down! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! She "thought" things were turning around....boy was she wrong! Great Thriller!

Stay by Jane Bailey
Release Date August 17, 2023
Publisher Orion Publishing Group


Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Suspense: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5

Jane Bailey has written a psychological thriller that is guaranteed to keep you entertained and enthralled from the first to the last page. I had to keep reading to see what happened at the end. You won’t be disappointed.

Caitlin was supposed to have a great summer in Italy but all of the changed after she was betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend. She decides to hitchhike back home with little to nothing with her. A family pulls over to help her and since they look normal and Caitlin feels safe, she hops in their car. She stays the night at their house and really just wants to stay away from her family as long a possible. So when the family wants her to stay longer, she thinks nothing of it. That is until someone tells her she needs to get away. Things start really getting strange when she is asked to homeschool the children with no internet access and then the coupe de gras was when her phone went missing. Now she has no way to call for help if needed. She has also become very fond of the girls and decides to try to make an escape with them. But can she pull it off? What will happen to Caitlin if they catch her? The ending will bring everything together and will blow your mind. I love, love, love Bailey’s writing style and how she developed her characters. Flawed, yet bad ass.

5+++ stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Absolutely gripping, I couldn’t put this down. There’s so much tension in this book and it completely pulled me right into the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

An intense keeps you hooked psychological thriller author, Jane Bailey. This is my first read by this author. The author sets up a chilling mystery which puts our main character in one horrifying predicament after another. I’d highly recommend this one to fans of suspense, psychological thrillers and mystery novels. The characters are well written, the plot chilling and dark and the suspense doesn’t let up. I found the COVID elements interesting and well used. Overall, the book was creepy, easy to read and engaging. I’d highly recommend this one to other readers.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well formed ,the story was great, and scary, and totally kept me guessing until the very end, I loved it.

This book is a tense, fast paced thriller. I literally could not put it down and read it in one sitting.
Without spoilers, it explores some very sensitive subjects and the complex way in which real people would react. The characters are imperfect and believable, making it very easy to get emotionally invested in the story.