Stay

By: Jane Bailey

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

I simply slung my rucksack on my shoulder and climbed into the car - and into the life - of perfect strangers.

It was meant to be Caitlin's perfect summer, but betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend, she finds herself hitchhiking home alone, heartbroken, and penniless.

When a smiling family pulls up on the roadside to help her on her way, she's relieved - they seem so friendly, safe. And when they offer her a warm bed in their isolated house for the night, she's grateful not to have to travel back alone in the dark. In any case, she's in no rush to get home, where a grave secret is lying in wait to blow her family apart.

One night soon turns into two, and then three. The increasingly spellbinding couple wants her to stay, and why shouldn't she? Their children need a tutor, and the longer she can avoid home, the better. But then an older member of the household warns her to leave immediately. And when her phone suddenly goes missing, when she realises that this perfect family is a perfect lie, it might not be so easy for her to leave...

©2023 Jane Bailey (P)2023 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Fiction that teaches and delights

Thrilling, poignant, sad triumphant and real.

Mild spoiler ahead.

This book made me really look at my role as a female in Western society that holds certain women and girls up as beautiful, rare flowers too precious to touch, while doing so in private.

Definitely kept me engaged

The narrator was absolutely excellent. The story wouldn't have been so engaging without her. You'll roll your eyes at all the red flags ignored by the main character, but the story kept me on the edge of my seat. I'd definitely recommend it.

Good story but more politics than i like in my books

The amount of covid and global warming talk got old and annoying. But other than that I did enjoy this story.

Bad men behaving badly

I’m of two minds with this novel. It was well written and well paced, but I wasn’t expecting so much SA and that was hard to hear. The writing was good! But the story was just too much for me.

If I could suggest an alternative title, it would be “Bad Men in Barns and the Frustrating Woman Who Hates Them (Sort of).”

Narration was fantastic as always.

The narration is outstanding!

The story is fantastic and held my attention the whole time. The way the narrator leaned into the humor was magic.

A good narrator is important regarding an audio book

Imogen Church is always so very entertaining! She has very good voice fluctuations for each character in the book which makes the book more interesting.

Too Sexual Needs a Trigger Warning

An interesting plot that had me very engaged, but overall too sexual and should really have a warning. Would not have bought the book otherwise and I’m not sure I will finish it.

The characters

The story had a great start; the characters overall were written well. But the story dragged on and I was not impressed with the ending, I expected a more dramatic ending!

Great Listen

Good story. Kept you involved the entire time. Only down fall w/the liberal noticeable inputs through out the bk.

Imogen Church strikes again!!

I enjoyed Stay! Anything set in the countryside is a plus… there was the right amount of suspense, character depth, a narrator who makes every minute worth listening to and a downright good story! Mimi & Marcus were very untrustworthy characters and I found myself wondering if one of the innocent “neighbors” was involved which kept me guessing! I loved how it ended although on a low note.