Review: ‘I Let You Go’

I was sufficiently creeped out by this book so much that I didn't even want to read it. This merging of stalking with technology and media would make most of us question our daily routines. Clare Mackintosh has taken stories from her 12 years on the police force to create characters and plots to keep us guessing. Her first book, 'I Let You Go,” came out one year ago.

Zoe Walker sees her face in a classified ad and knows she didn't place it there. She starts to wonder whether she is seeing things and then notices other women in the ads during the following days - only those women now are dead. Women in London are reporting things taken while on the tube, feeling like they are being followed, thinking people are in their homes, and then there are others who are raped or killed.

Zoe finds a cop who will listen, and the two of them try to find out who is behind this sick game before anyone else is hurt.

Unfortunately, the book was pretty sluggish. Details in the beginning about various characters never went anywhere. When reading a suspense novel, I want to be forced to turn the pages like mad because I want to know what is going to happen. With this one, I ended up skimming several chapters because it didn't seem to be necessary to the story.

Eventually, I found out who was behind the crimes and ads. It was shocking, but after the revelation, the story seemed unbelievable and rushed. But the author leaves you with another shocker. 'I Let You Go” is a disturbing novel that will leave you filled with dread.

For readers who like a fast-paced thriller, this book isn't for you. But if you like books set in London or thrillers that keep you guessing with lots of side stories, you might like it. Keep in mind the storyline can be disturbing to those who are sensitive toward violence against women.