Thriller Thursday: Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall

Title: Our Kind of Cruelty
Author: Araminta Hall
Page Count: 288
Rating: C
Format Read: Hardcover
Genre: Thriller
Keywords: Obsession, Kink, Murder
Kid Appropriate: Not at all

Synopsis from Goodreads:

This is a love story. Mike’s love story.

Mike Hayes fought his way out of a brutal childhood and into a quiet, if lonely life, before he met Verity Metcalf. V taught him about love, and in return, Mike has dedicated his life to making her happy. He’s found the perfect home, the perfect job, he’s sculpted himself into the physical ideal V has always wanted. He knows they’ll be blissfully happy together.

It doesn’t matter that she hasn’t been returning his emails or phone calls.
It doesn’t matter that she says she’s marrying Angus.

It’s all just part of the secret game they used to play. If Mike watches V closely, he’ll see the signs. If he keeps track of her every move he’ll know just when to come to her rescue…

A spellbinding, darkly twisted novel about desire and obsession, and the complicated lines between truth and perception, Our Kind of Cruelty introduces Araminta Hall, a chilling new voice in psychological suspense.

My Review:

I chose this as my Book of the Month. Creepy stories with possibly warped perceptions are some of my favorite reads. They make you think and leave your mind racing even after you've put the book down.

This one had a good start to it. You felt like you were inside Mike's mind and felt his mental state shifting further and further away from stability as he watched V. Unfortunately, this promising beginning fell a bit flat. The second half of the book drags on for far too long and the ending was just bleh.

I don't regret reading it but wish I'd gone in with lower expectations. If you're interested in this sort of twisted story line I would recommend picking up You by Caroline Kepnes.