Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Spoilers Welcome topic thread for Samantha Downing's A Twisted Love Story. Thi is our Nov/Dec group read book.

What did you think of the book? Would you read another by this author?
Please note how far you are in the book for spoiler posts.

General thoughts, entire book: Mind games are not my favorite type of book, but I was very glad we picked this for a group read.
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I found, the obsessed 'couple Wes and Ivy,' fascinating, but their on and off relationship was like a train wreck.
It took a while to decide if Wes was a total creep/stalker. Then it took a while to decide which one, if only one of them was 'insane'. Their reactions were destructive and childish when they didn't get their way (both of them) and seemed extreme most of the time. Definitely not a healthy relationship.
And then it was revealed that Wes and Ivy were not the only obsessed characters. Karen's obsession was interesting from the standpoint of an avenging angel and a zealot on a mission.
The twists were well done and demanded I keep reading as the background was revealed.

Ann - I had to reread. I remembered some of the story. But definitely forgot how it ended.

The story really did get crazy! I like to think about what was wrong with Wes and Ivy. I agree they were obsessed and childish at times. Maybe they were a bit of a sociopath too? May have been why they were so attracted to each other. And why they did the crazy things they did toward each other. And there wasn’t much remorse for killing someone. And maybe they were a bit narcissistic too? LOL Ivy demanded a lot.

Karen definitely was obsessed. And Wes’s secretary, was it Britt? (Forgot her name. But I’ll call her Britt) But it was explained why at the end. I like how it came full circle there.

The story did become a little too chaotic for me. Not very clear why Abigail agreed to help Britt in the end? She wasn’t concerned with her married lover being exposed. So what else?

The final reveal that Heath was behind the stalking that Ivy accused Wes of was interesting. And that Heath and Britt got together was kismet, I guess. Will Wes and Ivy be able to escape arrest for the rest of their lives? All I know is Wes and Ivy definitely deserve each other! LOL

I would have liked more character depth for all the characters. So I gave this 3 stars. Even though I read this again a few months later, I was still entertained all the way to the end.

Geri - Wes's secretary was named Bianca - you were close with 'Britt'. Thank goodness for Kindle x-ray. :)

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Abigail (original assistant), Bianca (latest assistant) and Karen (detective) all had their own motivations and preconceived suspicions; and each seemed quite capable of being biased as Team-Karen or Team-Wes (and switching sides as was convenient)

I suppose Bianca had a legitimate case of seeking justice - Karen was a crusader, and Abigail - I don't know If I can recall enough for her initial motivations.

Now Heath, he was much easier to ignore in the beginning. I did have a few concerns here and there. If only Wes and Ivy weren't so manipulative and played so many games with each other, perhaps they could have prevented the entire thing blowing up.

It was wild that it appears they are able to disappear - I just wonder how long they can keep from sabotaging their escape.

I thought the book was black comedy at its best! Hilarious. The author opens with a dedication which makes sense especially if combined with Plato’s quote on the first page:

“For the man who inspired this book
You’re damn right I wrote about you”

and

“Love is a serious mental disease” -Plato

aPril - great callout with the dedication and quote.
It was definitely dark comedy!

Interesting. I’m not sure I read the dedication and quote.

I can’t even imagine the man who inspired this book. LOL And thinking of this as black comedy does make sense.

Gail and aPriL- it does make sense! (it was truly a black comedy) And the man who was the inspiration is definitely intriguing to think of. Crazy.

Geri wrote: "Interesting. I’m not sure I read the dedication and quote.

I can’t even imagine the man who inspired this book. LOL And thinking of this as black comedy does make sense."

I noticed the dedication right off and thought.... "uh-oh!"

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This was a crazy ride. There were points I had to put the book down, I was so anxious about what was going to happen next, I'm not sure what rating I'll give it yet, it deserves points for keeping me fully engaged but boy, every single main character was just a little off!

I had no sympathy for Bianca because she was devious and a snoop. She was a busybody even before she learned of the connection between Wes and Joey Fisher,

I had no sympathy for Karen. She had a righteous motivation, for sure (helping abused women) but she was relentless and spun her observations to justify her own interpretation of events. I was put off by her at the beginning in that she decided after one encounter with Ivy (maybe two) that she was the victim of an abusive Wes. I thought her pursuit of the case was over the top.

Heath was fooling himself if he didn't know he was obsessed with Ivy. "Like a sister" my Aunt Fanny! He was stone in love with her and didn't realize it. His dislike of Wes was immediate and didn't let up.

Abigail, I don't know. She was cool up until the moment she turned on Wes after a 5 minute conversation with Bianca. I didn't buy it. I just went back and read the conversation. Bianca was trying to blackmail Abigail about the married man she was seeing but Abigail didn't care about that secret getting out so Bianca burst into tears in frustration. Abigail asked her what was wrong and after Bianca spilled all she admitted that Karen believed Wes was responsible for killing JF but didn't have the evidence. That was enough to turn Abigail? Don't buy it.

And don't get me started on Milo. He was a hot mess and kept popping up.

In fact, there were a number of coincidences/chance meetings and events that took me out of the story. Ivy running into Milo when she was driving away from Karen's house was one. JF being Bianca's first boyfriend was another. Bianca's killing of her boss was another... why was that in the story?

Sorry if I'm ranting, I just finished the book so I'm wound up!! Trying to figure out the mystery that was Wes and Ivy's mutual obsession did keep me interested, and wondering if they would ever be happy together, able to halt their destructive and rash lashing out when they thought the other had done something. I didn't see how the book could end on a happy note (which is what I wanted despite everything), so the ending Dowling chose was just perfect. The podcast piece at the end felt tacked on but it did shed a little light on Heath's motivations and let us know Ivy and Wes were still out there unapprehended. Bianca and Heath getting together, that also felt tacked on.

Okay, need to go off and decide if this is a 4/5 or not. I think with all my criticisms I can't give it a 5, but it certainly had me going and turning the pages like crazy, so that can't be a 3.

Whew!