Carter Wilson | MISTER TENDER'S GIRL

Plot (via Goodreads):

At fourteen, Alice Hill was viciously attacked by two of her classmates and left to die. The teens claim she was a sacrifice for a man called Mister Tender, but that could never be true: Mister Tender doesn’t exist. His sinister character is pop-culture fiction, created by Alice’s own father in a series of popular graphic novels.

Over a decade later, Alice has changed her name and is trying to heal. But someone is watching her. They know more about Alice than any stranger could: her scars, her fears, and the secrets she keeps locked away. She can try to escape her past, but Mister Tender is never far behind. He will come with a smile that seduces, and a dark whisper in her ear…

Inspired by a true story, this gripping thriller plunges you into a world of haunting memories and unseen threats, leaving you guessing until the harrowing end.

Review:

WOW. Last winter, I had the pleasure of reading FINAL GIRLS by Riley Sager and was blown away with the suspense novel that mixed together a novel with some elements of the horror movie genre. This read had such a similar feeling atmosphere that weaves together a dark past, a cunning and twisted stalker, and a beautiful blend of psychological and horror vibes. This is the ultimate fast paced suspense novel.

Wilson wrote one hell of a protagonist with Alice. I couldn't help but take on the novels beautiful imagery with this strong, yet fearful woman as she battles her inner demons, a clever stalker, and a multitude of shady characters as she gets to the bottom of the truth surrounding a website that is a little too close to home bringing light to events from fourteen years ago. The characters really jump from the page with this one and all have a dire purpose to the novel. They aren't there just to confuse you, distract you from the real antagonist, or fill pages. Each character is a puzzle piece to not only Alice's life, but the story Wilson is telling. And what a story it is.

With short, addicting chapters, this novel really seduces you further and further into a chilling plot that is action-packed, psychologically mystifying, and cleverly written. Told in three parts, the amount of cliffhangers sprinkled at the end of each chapter will not only completely draw you in, but the rather large twists and turns at the end of each section will seal your fate as you turn the page and sacrifice sleeping, eating, and all responsibility to get to the bottom of Mister Tender's Girl. Gripping, deliciously dark and violent, and masterfully wound, this is definitely one for fans of the 80's and 90's slasher films as well as those who have followed the Slender Man case.

*Special thanks to Sourcebooks for providing me with this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5