After the Devil

De: Kayla Frederick

Narrado por: Stephanie Fritz

It’s our darkest parts that know us best.

Alex Alpine is unhappy with her life—a dead-end job, a marriage that’s falling apart, and a failed string of self-published books. In an effort to better her life for her and her daughter, she makes the decision to quit writing in order to get a second job. Jamie, a recovered addict and Alex’s only fan, can’t bring himself to accept her decision.

Convinced he can fix her, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his home in the woods. As Alex’s captivity extends from weeks to months, Alex finds herself torn between her duties to the daughter she left behind and the life Jamie has made for her. To figure out where her true priorities lie, she must dive into not only her own past traumas but Jamie’s as well.

For fans of Stephen King's Misery and the You series by Caroline Kepnes

©2024 Kayla Frederick (P)2026 Kayla Frederick

I liked it

This is a review of the audiobook version, which I have received as a free copy.

Alex is a mother, wife, and author who works at a dead-end job while her husband, Peter, "looks for a job". She has only written a few books and has not really made any sales, so she decides to give up. Her number one (and only) fan, Jaime, decides he cannot allow her to quit writing, so he kidnaps her. What follows is an "awakening in herself," and as she gets to know her captor, she falls in love with him. One can argue this is Stockholm syndrome, but Alex would disagree with this idea, as any victim would. Therefore, it is up to you to decide.

This is not a typical story I would read, but overall, it was good. There were a few grammatical and character errors (which I cannot remember off hand, I just remember thinking, "huh"). The story flowed pretty well, and the author really made you despise Peter. Character development was good, and there were a few moments of suspense.
The narration was ok, it could use some work. The character voices and the areas of drama were good, but in between, when Alex had her inner monologue and for scene setting, it was a little monotone and boring. I do appreciate the narrator used emphasis where it was needed.

Overall, the book and narration were good. I would not have typically read this as it was more of a romance than a thriller or horror, in my opinion, but it was not a waste of time. I would recommend this book if romance were your genre.
3 stars
This is an honest review of my own thoughts and feelings about this book and the narration. Thank you, Kayla Frederick, for the opportunity to read and review your work.