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Love Me to Death
Something sinister stirs in Stockport...
The same week a couple discover a crude, handmade doll in Lyme Park, the police find a young woman's body in the woods. There's something deeply unsettling about the doll, its carefully stitched clothes and too-real hair. But are the two findings connected... or a strange coincidence?
Why would anyone kill Jayne? In a town full of loners and secretly unhappy families, nothing is as it seems...
And everyone is a suspect.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2020
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Susan Gee
2 books16 followersSusan Gee was a finalist in the Good Housekeeping Novel Competition and the Daily Mail ‘Write a Best Seller’ Competition. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Manchester University.
'Kiss Her Goodbye' is her first novel.
Susan lives in Stockport with her husband and two children.
'Kiss Her Goodbye' is her first novel.
Susan lives in Stockport with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 5, 2020
I received an advance copy of this book from net galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. Release date for this book is 14 May 2020
I just could not get into this book at all. I found it to be extremely bleak and un- imaginative. The story didn’t hold my attention or intrigue me at all. The writing style was OK and I was able to follow the story fine but it held no suspense for me. I really wanted to like this book because I felt it had potential but honestly I just could not get into it.
I just could not get into this book at all. I found it to be extremely bleak and un- imaginative. The story didn’t hold my attention or intrigue me at all. The writing style was OK and I was able to follow the story fine but it held no suspense for me. I really wanted to like this book because I felt it had potential but honestly I just could not get into it.
August 18, 2022
“I LOVE YOU. YOU LOVE ME. WE’RE A HAPPY FAMILY”
I generally associate this slow burning, claustrophobic, lugubrious style of storytelling with some of the top-notch Nordic writers, who seem to excel at it. I have come across one or two authors closer to home, who have perfected the knack of really dragging an audience into the clutches of a storyline and believe me, Susan Gee has placed herself right up there with the best!
So here is my potted, hopefully spoiler free dash through the storyline…
…
The police are called when a rather unusual and very scary, homemade doll is found in Lyme Park, Stockport. This is followed in quick succession by the separate discoveries of the bodies of two homeless men, (one very young, the other older) and a teenage girl. The deaths of the two men are particularly gruesome and sickening, in their execution, although there is very little for the police to go on, towards finding the perpetrator(s) of the murders.
Middle-aged and single, librarian Mr. Anderson lives alone since the death of his mother and whilst, due to the nature of their very claustrophobic relationship, his new-found freedom is very welcome, it does come at a price, which is his abject loneliness and obsessive desire to create for himself, the perfect family of his own, although his methods are unorthodox and disquieting, to say the least.
His neighbours are the equally eccentric and dysfunctional Clarke family, comprising of Dave, his son Jacob, his daughter, and their stepmother Paula. Jacob is an excellent artist, skilled in drawing and the spitting image of his late mother, who lived a mentally tortured and fragile life, which tragically ended far too soon. Both children have begun to discover a new bond and relationship with their father, until Paula arrives on the scene, when a besotted Dave only has eyes for his new wife and Jacob discovers first-hand, the truth behind the epithet of ‘the wicked stepmother’. Jacob has always been a bit of a loner, however with Paula making no bones about the fact that she wants him gone from the home just as soon as he is old enough, he becomes very insular, insecure and missing his mother more than he ever has.
The only ‘sort of’ friend Jacob has, is Maggie, although they have a very tenuous relationship, which a naïve Jacob fervently protects as best he can, whilst Maggie tends to blow hot and cold on him, preferring instead to spend much of her time with the Vincent brothers, twins Matty and Billy, who take nothing but enjoyment from belittling and torturing Jacob and any other vulnerable person, at every opportunity and are not to be trusted. Jacob spends much of his time in the reference library, where he can escape from the realities of life, and it is here that Mr. Anderson begins to take a bit too much of an interest in and cultivate, the vulnerable young man.
The female body is discovered to be that of Jayne, Maggie’s cousin and whilst everyone assumes that the three murders are connected in some way, it becomes apparent that this may not indeed be the case, especially when information is given to the police, from a very unexpected source. The identity of Jayne’s murderer comes as a bit of a shocker to everyone, except for Mr. Anderson and events in the Clarke household take a much more sinister turn when Paula’s treatment of Jacob is outed, but only when his life is balanced on a knife-edge and genuine help comes from an unexpected direction.
With two murders still left unresolved, when Paula disappears, as if into thin air, it appears that no one is really bothered. However, let’s just hope that now, a certain DIY craft project is complete…
…
Having the author writing about an area with which she is no doubt familiar, some wonderfully rendered, fluent, atmospheric and visually descriptive narrative, deeply immersed me in the Stockport location of the story and offered a really genuine sense of time and place. A real ‘armchair travellers’ heaven, although I never actually travelled more than a few miles from my starting point and the physical footprint of the storyline was actually much smaller than it appeared.
This well structured, multi-layered, gripping and intense storyline, was never going to rock the world in the ‘action packed’ stakes, however the pace was steady and enough to keep me guessing right until the end and the cloying air of constant suspicion with which Susan cloaked everyone on her suspect list, made for an oppressively tense atmosphere throughout. The lies, duplicity, double standards, and all those dirty little secrets, were so widespread and attributed to so many different individuals, all with their own agendas, that melding them together into such a highly textured and cohesive storyline, was wickedly clever, slick and polished, and pulled off to perfection, with the twists and double twists coming one after the other, right until the final scene. Just about everyone was a suspect and at one point, I had no idea whether there was one single or multiple perpetrators, so twisted, disturbing and deep did the plot become.
Susan explored many different psychological issues with her characters and the long-term effects and scars some of those events might leave. Mr. Anderson sees only similarities between Jacob and himself, in that they both suffered unhappy childhoods. As much as I tried to feel any sympathy for Mr. Anderson, I really struggled. However Jacob had known what it was like to have two parents surrounding him with love, only to have that comfort and happiness so cruelly taken away from him, by a stepmother whose abuse is so focused that Jacob hasn’t reached out to anyone for help, because he has convinced himself that no one apart from the two of them, would ever believe what was going on. Despite their age disparity, I wonder if the two men were really were so different after all, or was the only common bond between them, the refuge of the library, where they both liked to be left alone with their thoughts. They are both on the outside of society and searching for something that is just out of reach. The need for acceptance, for love and family is something universal and yet their paths couldn’t be more different.
To raise any semblance of vim or energy from this disparate, complex bunch of dark and dour characters, was like wading through a sea of treacle and never reaching the shore to be able to escape its sticky clutches. Any kind of genuine emotion or synergy was lacking, other than the negative energy which oozed from every pore of their being, and the lies which tripped so glibly from their tongues. Each has secrets which they have become adept at hiding from everyone, making them highly unreliable and volatile. Even the police officers assigned to the case seemed to be excessively weighed down by the burden of the investigation and showed no real purpose or intent to solve the crimes, until a partial answer was delivered to their door and all but dropped into their laps with a written explanation. By then it had looked as though someone might be literally be about to ‘get away with murder’! Altogether, a well defined cast of characters, some of whom were more fully developed than others, none of whom were particularly compelling, but all of whom played their parts to perfection
I almost feel a bit mean in downgrading this one to 4* rather than the full 5. However, I was a little niggled by several grammatical and spelling errors in my download, which whilst not spoiling my overall enjoyment of the story, just showed a slight lack of attention to detail. If these small oversights were corrected in later versions, then I hope the author will accept my profound apologies.
I generally associate this slow burning, claustrophobic, lugubrious style of storytelling with some of the top-notch Nordic writers, who seem to excel at it. I have come across one or two authors closer to home, who have perfected the knack of really dragging an audience into the clutches of a storyline and believe me, Susan Gee has placed herself right up there with the best!
So here is my potted, hopefully spoiler free dash through the storyline…
…
The police are called when a rather unusual and very scary, homemade doll is found in Lyme Park, Stockport. This is followed in quick succession by the separate discoveries of the bodies of two homeless men, (one very young, the other older) and a teenage girl. The deaths of the two men are particularly gruesome and sickening, in their execution, although there is very little for the police to go on, towards finding the perpetrator(s) of the murders.
Middle-aged and single, librarian Mr. Anderson lives alone since the death of his mother and whilst, due to the nature of their very claustrophobic relationship, his new-found freedom is very welcome, it does come at a price, which is his abject loneliness and obsessive desire to create for himself, the perfect family of his own, although his methods are unorthodox and disquieting, to say the least.
His neighbours are the equally eccentric and dysfunctional Clarke family, comprising of Dave, his son Jacob, his daughter, and their stepmother Paula. Jacob is an excellent artist, skilled in drawing and the spitting image of his late mother, who lived a mentally tortured and fragile life, which tragically ended far too soon. Both children have begun to discover a new bond and relationship with their father, until Paula arrives on the scene, when a besotted Dave only has eyes for his new wife and Jacob discovers first-hand, the truth behind the epithet of ‘the wicked stepmother’. Jacob has always been a bit of a loner, however with Paula making no bones about the fact that she wants him gone from the home just as soon as he is old enough, he becomes very insular, insecure and missing his mother more than he ever has.
The only ‘sort of’ friend Jacob has, is Maggie, although they have a very tenuous relationship, which a naïve Jacob fervently protects as best he can, whilst Maggie tends to blow hot and cold on him, preferring instead to spend much of her time with the Vincent brothers, twins Matty and Billy, who take nothing but enjoyment from belittling and torturing Jacob and any other vulnerable person, at every opportunity and are not to be trusted. Jacob spends much of his time in the reference library, where he can escape from the realities of life, and it is here that Mr. Anderson begins to take a bit too much of an interest in and cultivate, the vulnerable young man.
The female body is discovered to be that of Jayne, Maggie’s cousin and whilst everyone assumes that the three murders are connected in some way, it becomes apparent that this may not indeed be the case, especially when information is given to the police, from a very unexpected source. The identity of Jayne’s murderer comes as a bit of a shocker to everyone, except for Mr. Anderson and events in the Clarke household take a much more sinister turn when Paula’s treatment of Jacob is outed, but only when his life is balanced on a knife-edge and genuine help comes from an unexpected direction.
With two murders still left unresolved, when Paula disappears, as if into thin air, it appears that no one is really bothered. However, let’s just hope that now, a certain DIY craft project is complete…
…
Having the author writing about an area with which she is no doubt familiar, some wonderfully rendered, fluent, atmospheric and visually descriptive narrative, deeply immersed me in the Stockport location of the story and offered a really genuine sense of time and place. A real ‘armchair travellers’ heaven, although I never actually travelled more than a few miles from my starting point and the physical footprint of the storyline was actually much smaller than it appeared.
This well structured, multi-layered, gripping and intense storyline, was never going to rock the world in the ‘action packed’ stakes, however the pace was steady and enough to keep me guessing right until the end and the cloying air of constant suspicion with which Susan cloaked everyone on her suspect list, made for an oppressively tense atmosphere throughout. The lies, duplicity, double standards, and all those dirty little secrets, were so widespread and attributed to so many different individuals, all with their own agendas, that melding them together into such a highly textured and cohesive storyline, was wickedly clever, slick and polished, and pulled off to perfection, with the twists and double twists coming one after the other, right until the final scene. Just about everyone was a suspect and at one point, I had no idea whether there was one single or multiple perpetrators, so twisted, disturbing and deep did the plot become.
Susan explored many different psychological issues with her characters and the long-term effects and scars some of those events might leave. Mr. Anderson sees only similarities between Jacob and himself, in that they both suffered unhappy childhoods. As much as I tried to feel any sympathy for Mr. Anderson, I really struggled. However Jacob had known what it was like to have two parents surrounding him with love, only to have that comfort and happiness so cruelly taken away from him, by a stepmother whose abuse is so focused that Jacob hasn’t reached out to anyone for help, because he has convinced himself that no one apart from the two of them, would ever believe what was going on. Despite their age disparity, I wonder if the two men were really were so different after all, or was the only common bond between them, the refuge of the library, where they both liked to be left alone with their thoughts. They are both on the outside of society and searching for something that is just out of reach. The need for acceptance, for love and family is something universal and yet their paths couldn’t be more different.
To raise any semblance of vim or energy from this disparate, complex bunch of dark and dour characters, was like wading through a sea of treacle and never reaching the shore to be able to escape its sticky clutches. Any kind of genuine emotion or synergy was lacking, other than the negative energy which oozed from every pore of their being, and the lies which tripped so glibly from their tongues. Each has secrets which they have become adept at hiding from everyone, making them highly unreliable and volatile. Even the police officers assigned to the case seemed to be excessively weighed down by the burden of the investigation and showed no real purpose or intent to solve the crimes, until a partial answer was delivered to their door and all but dropped into their laps with a written explanation. By then it had looked as though someone might be literally be about to ‘get away with murder’! Altogether, a well defined cast of characters, some of whom were more fully developed than others, none of whom were particularly compelling, but all of whom played their parts to perfection
I almost feel a bit mean in downgrading this one to 4* rather than the full 5. However, I was a little niggled by several grammatical and spelling errors in my download, which whilst not spoiling my overall enjoyment of the story, just showed a slight lack of attention to detail. If these small oversights were corrected in later versions, then I hope the author will accept my profound apologies.
May 22, 2020
This is my first read by this author. Having read this I’ll be reading Kiss Her Goodbye as I enjoyed this story.
There’s certainly lots going on in Lyme Park. When the police found a young woman’s body and a creepy doll is found they wonder if it’s connected. There are two main characters in this story one of which, Jacob, my heart broke for him.
A good intriguing story that I liked.
There’s certainly lots going on in Lyme Park. When the police found a young woman’s body and a creepy doll is found they wonder if it’s connected. There are two main characters in this story one of which, Jacob, my heart broke for him.
A good intriguing story that I liked.
May 15, 2020
Atmospheric and disturbing this story focuses on dark secrets and terrible deeds. The character-driven story explores the possible murder suspects with surprising results. Told from two male third-person perspectives it balances menace and poignancy well.
Horrific abuse and murder simmer under the surface of an ordinary town. The plot is easy to follow and enhances more complex characterisation.
The ending has realistic twists that resonate.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Horrific abuse and murder simmer under the surface of an ordinary town. The plot is easy to follow and enhances more complex characterisation.
The ending has realistic twists that resonate.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 10, 2021
My thanks to Aria, Netgalley and Susan Gee. Heck, I liked this book much more than I thought I would. Just goes to show that you can read all the reviews you want, but... This whole tale was messed up! Not like messed up writing, but a messed up story. I loved it! I'm not going to get into spoilers, but it's rare to find such a despicable "family man," yet have a soft spot. The family next door was a mess. I loved that kiddo. I was a happy camper with the ending. I plan on reading more from Ms. Gee.
May 12, 2020
I truly loved Kiss Her Goodbye which was Susan Gee’s debut where my namesake was quite simply intense and extremely strange.
From the beginning Love Me To Death had a totally different feel to her debut although in saying that it was still intoxicatingly intense and unnerving. There are so many aspects to this story....the want of family, loneliness, bullying, mental health, obsession just to name a few. I’m not sure what to say without ruining the story and the spine tingling twist that once you’ve finished you’ll be sat there thinking I didn’t even contemplate that outcome because I didn’t. I was fully immersed into snowy Stockport - I think the woods, the description and the snow added to the drama of the story...
Mr Anderson was intense but in seeing his backstory you could see why he was the way he was. Not that I condone what he was doing because quite frankly he unnerved me but he also had a sense of ease and in trying to make life better. It had the same feel of Norman Bates from Psycho - you know he’s not all there but you also feel sorry for him at times. His relationship with Jacob is heartwarming and it’s also heartbreaking as they have so much pain and suffering in common.
Jacob is adorable in the strangest of ways but I felt for him. I honestly couldn’t believe how much he had to put up with, when all he wanted was to be accepted and to be loved and cared for. The total simply aspects of life, there’s so much I could say about Jacob but I don’t want to spoil the reveal but I felt for him so much.
The sense of family is paramount but it’s not as it seems at all. I read 30% on the first day and 70% yesterday when I completed it, when the tension builds and momentum takes over its intoxicating and you will continue until the final page.
As I’m taking part in the bout of books readathon I had said to myself I wanted to complete this on day one and I did and wow. This beauty hits e-readers on 14th May alongside a number of gorgeous books I’ve either read or am excited for you can order your copy Here.
Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for letting me read this beauty ahead of publication it's available for 99p and is worth every single penny.
May 18, 2020
Love Me To Death is a story of abuse and loneliness. Two people, one an adult and the other a young teen, both suffered and suffers abuse by a parent or ‘step-parent’. As a result these two damaged people just want a family and someone to love them.
Mr Anderson is making his own family and this is dark and distinctly creepy, when he befriends young Jacob, his neighbour, the tension builds and you wonder about his motives.
This is a slow burn of a tale that really draws you in with its emotion and you have empathy for the characters, even though one is a disturbing serial killer.
A tense, dark, thoughtful and utterly compelling read.
Thank you to Vicky at Head Of Zeus for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of Love Me To Death. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Mr Anderson is making his own family and this is dark and distinctly creepy, when he befriends young Jacob, his neighbour, the tension builds and you wonder about his motives.
This is a slow burn of a tale that really draws you in with its emotion and you have empathy for the characters, even though one is a disturbing serial killer.
A tense, dark, thoughtful and utterly compelling read.
Thank you to Vicky at Head Of Zeus for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of Love Me To Death. This is my honest and unbiased review.
May 9, 2020
I received a copy of Love Me to Death from NetGalley and all opinions are stricly my own.
This book has a great idea for a story line with the lead character Jacob having a very intense obsession with a girl named Maggie, who acted like a friend, but basically used him throughout the entire book. In fact, all of the characters seemed to be mean to him in one way or another, Mr. Anderson, the crazy neighbor, the twin boys Matty and Billy Vincent, his evil stepmother Paula. It's no wonder he wanted to get away from this town, and the memories of his dead mother who he misses terribly and the ongoing case of the dead girl, Jayne, cousin of Maggie.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson has his own dark obsession with dolls, watching people, and is a very lost, disturbed soul. Him and Jacob really connect throughout the book as they both feel like they do not belong anywhere, and it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering when terrible things will strike again, as dolls with real human skin and hair keep showing up in Lyme Park.
It was a good read overall , but it seemed a little disorganized as several different things went on at once. It seemed spordiac and chaotic, all while being really dark. Paragraphs and scenes also ran together without breaks and I had to read several sections twice to understand what was being said.
This book has a great idea for a story line with the lead character Jacob having a very intense obsession with a girl named Maggie, who acted like a friend, but basically used him throughout the entire book. In fact, all of the characters seemed to be mean to him in one way or another, Mr. Anderson, the crazy neighbor, the twin boys Matty and Billy Vincent, his evil stepmother Paula. It's no wonder he wanted to get away from this town, and the memories of his dead mother who he misses terribly and the ongoing case of the dead girl, Jayne, cousin of Maggie.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson has his own dark obsession with dolls, watching people, and is a very lost, disturbed soul. Him and Jacob really connect throughout the book as they both feel like they do not belong anywhere, and it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering when terrible things will strike again, as dolls with real human skin and hair keep showing up in Lyme Park.
It was a good read overall , but it seemed a little disorganized as several different things went on at once. It seemed spordiac and chaotic, all while being really dark. Paragraphs and scenes also ran together without breaks and I had to read several sections twice to understand what was being said.
May 25, 2020
I read a lot of psychological thrillers which don't really meet the definition - "a thriller story which emphasizes the psychology of its characters and their unstable emotional states" - but this author has nailed it!
When the police find the body of a young woman in the woods as well as a crudely made doll in the local park, is there a connection or is it coincidence? Like ripples on a pond, the death affects many others - her cousin, the cousin's friends and the friends' families, their neighbours and indeed the wider community. As we follow their lives, we become embroiled in the goings on in several homes and begin to understand that a lot goes on behind closed doors.
Such a huge amount going on in this one! Very clever writing; I made assumptions based on what I thought was going on but Susan Gee would make a fantastic illusionist - her sleight of hand is first class. I became completely involved in the lives of all the characters, empathising and sympathising throughout. Did I see where it was going? Well, I though I did but in retrospect I didn't have a cat in hell's chance! A thoroughly good solid read which is beautifully written and totally beguiling. This is an accomplished and skilled novel which continued to surprise me right up until the very end. A stunning five star read and one which puts this author firmly on my 'must not miss' list!
When the police find the body of a young woman in the woods as well as a crudely made doll in the local park, is there a connection or is it coincidence? Like ripples on a pond, the death affects many others - her cousin, the cousin's friends and the friends' families, their neighbours and indeed the wider community. As we follow their lives, we become embroiled in the goings on in several homes and begin to understand that a lot goes on behind closed doors.
Such a huge amount going on in this one! Very clever writing; I made assumptions based on what I thought was going on but Susan Gee would make a fantastic illusionist - her sleight of hand is first class. I became completely involved in the lives of all the characters, empathising and sympathising throughout. Did I see where it was going? Well, I though I did but in retrospect I didn't have a cat in hell's chance! A thoroughly good solid read which is beautifully written and totally beguiling. This is an accomplished and skilled novel which continued to surprise me right up until the very end. A stunning five star read and one which puts this author firmly on my 'must not miss' list!
May 20, 2020
I read, reviewed and loved Susan's debut novel which is called 'Kiss Me Goodbye'. I couldn't wait to read her second book. Well ladies, gents and children the wait is over because Susan's second book called 'Love Me To Death' was released on 14th May 2020. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Love Me To Death' but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn to this book from the author's name, the synopsis intrigued me and the story within the pages just sealed the deal. I had a feeling that this was going to be one of those books that I would find nigh on impossible to put down for any length of time. So it proved to be. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half an hour. Let's just say that I found myself reading for a lot longer than any half hour and I read way more than a couple of chapters. If I didn't have the book in my hands, I wanted the book in my hands, if I had to put the book down then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I even begrudged having to break off from reading to go and walk my two diva Labradors, which didn't go down well as you can imagine. I soon raced to the end of the story. 'Love Me To Death' was one of those unputdownable, page turner of a read, which had me gripped and left me on the edge of seat throughout the story.
'Love Me To Death' is really well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and then takes you one hell of an times unpredictable and scary journey through the worst of humanity. For me, 'Love Me To Death' was perfectly paced. The story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. There were more twists and turns to this story than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. I suspected I knew what was going to happen. Needless to say that when I read the book I had the wrong end of the stick and I was sent down another path entirely. Susan certainly knows how to keep you guessing. I felt as though I was part of the story in 'Love Me To Death' and that is all thanks to Susan's very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Love Me To Death' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Susan's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I was drawn to this book from the author's name, the synopsis intrigued me and the story within the pages just sealed the deal. I had a feeling that this was going to be one of those books that I would find nigh on impossible to put down for any length of time. So it proved to be. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half an hour. Let's just say that I found myself reading for a lot longer than any half hour and I read way more than a couple of chapters. If I didn't have the book in my hands, I wanted the book in my hands, if I had to put the book down then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I even begrudged having to break off from reading to go and walk my two diva Labradors, which didn't go down well as you can imagine. I soon raced to the end of the story. 'Love Me To Death' was one of those unputdownable, page turner of a read, which had me gripped and left me on the edge of seat throughout the story.
'Love Me To Death' is really well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and then takes you one hell of an times unpredictable and scary journey through the worst of humanity. For me, 'Love Me To Death' was perfectly paced. The story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. There were more twists and turns to this story than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. I suspected I knew what was going to happen. Needless to say that when I read the book I had the wrong end of the stick and I was sent down another path entirely. Susan certainly knows how to keep you guessing. I felt as though I was part of the story in 'Love Me To Death' and that is all thanks to Susan's very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Love Me To Death' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Susan's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
June 12, 2025
After reading and enjoying Susan’s debut novel Kiss Her Goodbye, I was really looking forward to her next novel. When I was given the opportunity to read and review Love Me To Death, I jumped at the chance and I was not disappointed. Love Me To Death is a first-class psychological thriller with one of the most disturbing serial killers around!
Susan has created a sinister story that had me chilled to the bone. It deals with the sensitive topics of mental illness, obsession, abuse and features a killer’s most gruesome of calling cards! It will take you on a wild rollercoaster ride full of twists and turns, that all lead to a thrilling outcome that I was not expecting!
The characters of Mr Anderson and Jacob are so complex that they would both benefit from a few sessions with Dr Phil I think! When reading a story like this, it is hard to wrap your head around feeling sympathy for a cold-blooded killer, but the backstory on one has you feeling that way. Susan has done a great job with both of them and they have been written perfectly.
Susan has a very unique writing style which really appeals to me. It is fluid and so visual that her descriptions of the snowy Stockport felt so real, it is like you are also in the story caught up in it its breathtaking surroundings, whilst being pulled into a nightmare all at the same time.
Love Me To Death is a dark tale that gets under your skin. It is a slow burn, but Susan is able to keep the reader engaged throughout as she expertly builds up the tension and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat. It was a pleasure to be able to read and review Love Me To Death which I recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria Fiction and Susan Gee for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Love Me To Death which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Susan has created a sinister story that had me chilled to the bone. It deals with the sensitive topics of mental illness, obsession, abuse and features a killer’s most gruesome of calling cards! It will take you on a wild rollercoaster ride full of twists and turns, that all lead to a thrilling outcome that I was not expecting!
The characters of Mr Anderson and Jacob are so complex that they would both benefit from a few sessions with Dr Phil I think! When reading a story like this, it is hard to wrap your head around feeling sympathy for a cold-blooded killer, but the backstory on one has you feeling that way. Susan has done a great job with both of them and they have been written perfectly.
Susan has a very unique writing style which really appeals to me. It is fluid and so visual that her descriptions of the snowy Stockport felt so real, it is like you are also in the story caught up in it its breathtaking surroundings, whilst being pulled into a nightmare all at the same time.
Love Me To Death is a dark tale that gets under your skin. It is a slow burn, but Susan is able to keep the reader engaged throughout as she expertly builds up the tension and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat. It was a pleasure to be able to read and review Love Me To Death which I recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria Fiction and Susan Gee for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Love Me To Death which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
December 28, 2020
This was a very interesting book but not for the reasons you would think. The murders feel very incidental to the character studies. Sure, one of the characters being developed is a murderer, but the murders themselves and their investigation is so far not the focus of the book that you are caught off guard when the investigators actually make an appearance, which I think they do a total of three times. Instead this is the story of a young boy dealing with the loss of his mother, the mental abuse from his stepmother, and his infatuation with a girl. Parallel to this is the story of a grown man dealing with the loss of and abuse from his mother and how this has impacted his personality. That felt a bit like Psycho. Oh yes, and the murders of a young girl and a few homeless people. So a good read unless you are expecting to follow along as a crime is being investigated.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
March 9, 2021
I would like to thank Aria Editions and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book. What first attracted me was the pretty cover of this book where you can see a snowy path, a baby on the ground and a catchphrase that made me want to read this book even more: "I love you, you love me, we are a happy family".
The story takes place in Stockport where a couple discovers a doll is found in Lyme Park and a body is found in the woods by the police. This doll has well sewn clothes and real hair. Do the two discoveries have a link in common?
A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked on the story, so addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters.
The story takes place in Stockport where a couple discovers a doll is found in Lyme Park and a body is found in the woods by the police. This doll has well sewn clothes and real hair. Do the two discoveries have a link in common?
A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked on the story, so addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters.
April 5, 2020
I SO badly wanted to love this book. The blurb sounded right up my street!
It just didnt hook me entirely, I think alot of that had to do with the fact it was either unedited or I just didnt get the authors style of writing, it jumped around so much I couldn't work out what was going on.
Don't get me wrong, the twists are brilliant and the ending was unexpected but it didn't have me wanting more.
I was a big fan of Kiss Her Goodbye so it definitely hasn't put me off reading any other books by Sudan Gee, this one just didn't hit the high notes for me.
Thank you to netgalley and Aria for the ARC.
It just didnt hook me entirely, I think alot of that had to do with the fact it was either unedited or I just didnt get the authors style of writing, it jumped around so much I couldn't work out what was going on.
Don't get me wrong, the twists are brilliant and the ending was unexpected but it didn't have me wanting more.
I was a big fan of Kiss Her Goodbye so it definitely hasn't put me off reading any other books by Sudan Gee, this one just didn't hit the high notes for me.
Thank you to netgalley and Aria for the ARC.
May 4, 2020
Lots of secrets and unhappy people in Lyme Park, that's for sure. And, someone is a murderer. And, someone made a doll with real hair - real hair from a scalp. Yuck. Keep your eye on Mr Anderson, who may be more than he seems. Keep an eye on Jacob, who is miserable with his new step mother and his life. This has some interesting twists that will keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
July 8, 2020
#LoveMetoDeath #NetGalley This has taken me a while to read - mainly because I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I found it very slow to get going and very repetitive in places. No real surprises as one of the killers was identified very early on and the other one wasn't difficult to guess at all. The ending was a bit lacklustre and left me feeling very disappointed. Sorry - unfortunately this book was not for me.
April 7, 2020
I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review
The plot sounded so intriguing, but the characters did not engage me as much as I had wanted them too and seemed a bit flat. The twist did genuinely surprise though, so I will give it a three and a half.
The plot sounded so intriguing, but the characters did not engage me as much as I had wanted them too and seemed a bit flat. The twist did genuinely surprise though, so I will give it a three and a half.
May 21, 2020
When a gruesome, homemade doll is found in Lyme Park, Stockport, the police are repulsed to discover that the hair once belonged to a human and that part of the scalp is still attached. Just where did this doll come from and is it connected to the discovery of the body of a young woman in the woods? In a town where everyone seems to be hiding something, who has got more to hide than most?
In Love Me To Death, we have two main protagonists. The first, Jacob, is a tragic character. Desperately missing his mum who has passed away, his life is being made a misery by his dad’s new partner, Paula, although no one else seems to realise what he is having to endure. He is not like the other boys, preferring to spend his time at the local library or drawing pictures of the love of his life, Maggie. My heart really went out to Jacob and, throughout the book I found myself rooting for him, hoping that his life would take a turn for the better.
It is whilst at the library that Jacob develops a sort of friendship with one of the librarians, Mr Anderson. Also his neighbour, it is not giving anything away to say that Mr Anderson is not the sort of person you would want to befriend! I found him a very complex character, and worried what his intentions were as he grew fonder of Jacob. There were definite similarities between the two characters and, despite the uneasiness I felt as the story progressed, I could see why they felt that there was a connection between them.
Although there were several parts of the story where it was obvious to see what was going to happen, there was one part that I did not see coming towards the end. This was a genuine surprise and the twist made complete sense – with hindsight, I felt I should have seen this coming!
In Love Me To Death, we have two main protagonists. The first, Jacob, is a tragic character. Desperately missing his mum who has passed away, his life is being made a misery by his dad’s new partner, Paula, although no one else seems to realise what he is having to endure. He is not like the other boys, preferring to spend his time at the local library or drawing pictures of the love of his life, Maggie. My heart really went out to Jacob and, throughout the book I found myself rooting for him, hoping that his life would take a turn for the better.
It is whilst at the library that Jacob develops a sort of friendship with one of the librarians, Mr Anderson. Also his neighbour, it is not giving anything away to say that Mr Anderson is not the sort of person you would want to befriend! I found him a very complex character, and worried what his intentions were as he grew fonder of Jacob. There were definite similarities between the two characters and, despite the uneasiness I felt as the story progressed, I could see why they felt that there was a connection between them.
Although there were several parts of the story where it was obvious to see what was going to happen, there was one part that I did not see coming towards the end. This was a genuine surprise and the twist made complete sense – with hindsight, I felt I should have seen this coming!
January 26, 2021
There are two main characters in this book, and the book is told from their perspectives. Mr Anderson is a loner, living in a house that everyone is calling a “freak house”, all he wants is his own family, and he is ready to kill for it. Jacob is a teenager, that has lost his mother and is bullied by his stepmother. Jacob has only one friend- Maggie, but after her cousin sister is murdered, he is about to lose her as well. The characters in this book were not my favourite ones, and I found it difficult to connect with them. I liked Mr Anderson’s parts in this novel, I found his thoughts very amusing and very disturbed. The man has a very damaged personality, that is pretty dark and scary. Jacob’s parts in this book were very repetitive and dull, and I found myself skimming the text on many occasions.
The narrative of this book didn’t really have to offer anything. Yes, it discusses important topics, such as bullying, mental illness, loneliness, child abuse etc. But the way it was incorporated just didn’t work for me. The plot kind of plodded along, without any interesting twists or turns, and I didn’t feel any suspense whatsoever. I kept reading in hope of something major to happen, but it never did. 😦
The writing style wasn’t to my liking as well, I feel the book was expanded with the repetitive thoughts about Maggie. The setting of the book felt dark and gloomy, as well as the characters. The chapters have a medium length but Jacob’s parts really dragged to me. The book has some gory details regarding murders, and creepy thoughts of a killer as well. I liked the ending of the book, it did leave me satisfied with the outcome.
So, to conclude, this book was not my cup of tea. I loved the killer, his strangeness and his thoughts, but other than that the characters and the plot felt bleak and boring.
The narrative of this book didn’t really have to offer anything. Yes, it discusses important topics, such as bullying, mental illness, loneliness, child abuse etc. But the way it was incorporated just didn’t work for me. The plot kind of plodded along, without any interesting twists or turns, and I didn’t feel any suspense whatsoever. I kept reading in hope of something major to happen, but it never did. 😦
The writing style wasn’t to my liking as well, I feel the book was expanded with the repetitive thoughts about Maggie. The setting of the book felt dark and gloomy, as well as the characters. The chapters have a medium length but Jacob’s parts really dragged to me. The book has some gory details regarding murders, and creepy thoughts of a killer as well. I liked the ending of the book, it did leave me satisfied with the outcome.
So, to conclude, this book was not my cup of tea. I loved the killer, his strangeness and his thoughts, but other than that the characters and the plot felt bleak and boring.
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