Synopsis
Meet Bob, your local courier.
You’ve barely noticed him. You’ve barely even looked his way.
But he’s noticed you. He’s noticed everything about you.
He’s been paying very close attention indeed.
And he likes what he sees…You by Caroline Kepnes meets Engleby by Sebastian Faulks in Courier, a gritty psychological thriller novella about loneliness, warped thinking, and the dark side of desire.
What NetGalley reviewers are saying about COURIER:
‘One of the most unnerving tales of stalking and obsession I’ve ever read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘My jaw hit the floor when I came to the end.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The perfect twisted novella of my dreams.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The mailman was crazy and the obsession he had was top tier.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio review copy! I was intrigued by the cover and wanted to give the author another read. I thought the narration by Andy Stevenson was really solid. It was creepy in a sort of banal kind of way.
This one surprised me! It was compulsively listenable and totally gripping, even with there being zero feel-good emotions here on any level. It’s dark, obsessive, and super creepy.
Bob is the local courier. After the loss of his shop, he’s just sort of bumbling along. Daily life brings little joy, and there’s little to differentiate between separate days. That is, until the day he brings a particular package with him on delivery. Until the day he finally sees you. A woman in need, an aggressive partner, and no end in sight. What is Bob supposed to do, let it go? But what would she do without him, her savior?
The first-person POV worked wonderfully, tactfully placing readers into the mind of a truly troubled individual. From the driver’s seat to sickening fantasies, Bob is a character who will disgust you as much as he will intrigue you. The author does a great job of showcasing how curiosity can turn to fascination, from infatuation to unbreakable obsession. How dangerous that kind of feeling can be, and how obsession can turn into something darker still. From internal rationalization, social media stalking and catfishing, inner-circle infiltration, and even murder, the author gives an unrelenting tale that even has an uber satisfying twist. I, for one, did not see it coming.
The inner-monologuing style of the story, where he’s projecting this sort of storyteller take on explaining how he’s a savior, gave the reader the feeling of being right there with Bob, and while readers may not turn obsessive with him, it made for an interesting read. You won’t root for him, and shouldn’t, but you have to know what will happen next. A great psychological thriller.
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