Recently life has been good for Mallory Hansen: a great job, a lovely home, and a wonderful man, Nathan, to share it with. In 2018 Rachel released the first book in a new series - And So It Begins. This was followed by The Murder Game in 2020 (The Invitation in the US).

Kažkas stebi Džo, laukdamas/a tinkamos progos. Diena po dienos tūno jai už nugaros, bet Džo to nepastebi,nes ji tik regi savo nepriekaištingą pasaulį. Džo turi viską:namus, kurių nevertina, nuostabų vyrą, už kurio nenori tekėti, ir vaiką, be kurio Ašas (Džo partneris, ir netikras mergaitės tėtis) mano negalįs gyventi. Džo turi tai, ko kažkas kitas trokšta ir iš jos tai bus atimta.There are the author's trademark twists and turns which make for a highly entertaining read. The characters are very authentic, I really liked Martha and thoroughly disliked a number of the others. It is testament to Rachel's writing that I felt so strongly about the individuals.

What I love about the Tom Douglas series is that is not just a straight police thriller. The stories are as much about the characters who are at the heart of the case as it is the police and their day to day investigations. This time around the focus falls on Martha who finds herself under suspicion when her bosses wife is murdered. But rather than stay and face the police and profess her innocence, Martha disappears, for reasons that are slowly unveiled as the story progresses. There is far more to Martha than her colleagues know, and whilst as readers we become all too aware of why she has maintained such a air of secrecy amongst her colleagues, it only adds to the suspicion of guilt as far as her colleagues, and the police, are concerned. Rachel Abbott always takes a strong theme and builds a complex and often twisted story around it, keeping readers both informed and in suspense at the same time. Whilst we often feel we are one step head of the police, being as we often are in the mind of the central suspect or victim, she always retains some small element of the story, a vital piece of the puzzle which is revealed just at the point where the jeopardy will be most keenly felt. It means the tension and the pacing is just right, the story always holding my attention. This time around the author explores the theme of coercive control and psychological abuse, and introduces a character who is outwardly charming and charismatic but who ultimately makes the skin crawl. Rachel Abbott has created a situation which is totally believable and which will play with your emotions, especially given the ultimate impact of what comes to pass. Right Behind You is the 9th book in the DCI Tom Douglas series and Rachel Abbott is amongst a small handful of authors that I would read without even glancing at the blurb! I enjoy seeing Tom Douglas come almost full circle as he is now enjoying a loving relationship with a wonderful woman and is once again a father. Tom's love for his daughter has not diminished by the arrival of the new baby. He seems to finally have the life he wants.As always the book centres around the victim of the crime and whilst this is a DCI Tom Douglas book, the story is primarily told through Martha. As well as the murder investigation, there is a parallel story of psychological coercion and manipulation – and this is why I understood the title of the book. Some aspects made for uncomfortable reading because it seemed so authentic and realistic. The characterisation was very well done and I did get emotionally involved – I always feel an author has done their job well when you care what happens to a character. There were some characters that made me so angry and others I just felt so sad for. I don’t think I’ll ever kill off Tom Douglas. Most detectives have some kind of flaw – their marriages are breaking up, they drink too much, sometimes they’re almost derelicts – but I intentionally wrote Tom as a good person. Readers love him.’

P. S. Aš vis dar nesuprantu, kaip kiti žmonės, taip lengvai pasiduoda ir greit įsitraukia į sektas? Na, paaiškinkit jūs man, kaip???Don’t let him under your skin. He’ll destroy you. Don’t fight him. He’ll win. Run. Never let him find you.’