Stalked
A Psychological Thriller, Page-Turner (From Harvest to Harbor, Book 1)
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Stalked
Buy Now for £13.69
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Narrated by:
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Katelyn Van Gool
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By:
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JC Ward
"For a heart-stopping moment, they're gone, as if swallowed whole by the darkness and the soil below. The earth seems to hold its breath, time stretching and compressing into an odd dreamlike sensation as I stand frozen, watching, caught at the edge of this unfolding drama."
When Rachelle is compelled to return to her rural childhood home to care for her ailing mother, she must set aside her aspirations of a vibrant life in the big-city.
Isolated in endless cornfields, Rachelle finds herself overwhelmed by the monotony of country living. But soon, she begins to sense that something is not as it seems. Hidden among the tall stalks are unsettling secrets waiting to surface. Mysterious messages start to appear, leaving her fearing for her safety and questioning what might be happening in her own backyard.
"Stalked gripped me in from the beginning pages and refused to let go-I could not stop reading it! If JC Ward's debut is any indication, this is an author destined for big things!"
©2025 JC Ward (P)2026 JC Ward
Critic reviews
"J.C. Ward's STALKED is as eerie and unsettling as a stroll through the cornfields at night. Simmering with romantic tension and psychological suspense, it's a great read for those that celebrate spooky season all year long. There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming!"—Miranda Smith, author of SMILE FOR THE CAMERAS
Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.
My biggest issue was Rachelle. For a main character, she felt incredibly flat and underdeveloped. I never felt that I really got to know her as a person, understand her motivations or connect with her emotionally. There was so much potential for her character, especially given everything happening around her, but it never really went anywhere.
There was also far too much repetition. The same thoughts, concerns and situations seemed to be revisited over and over, which made the story feel longer than it needed to be and took away from the suspense.
And then we get to the climax… 😬
After all the build-up, I found it extremely underwhelming. It felt rushed and almost anticlimactic. Farmer Dan’s actions in particular should have been a major, disturbing part of the story, but they were described in such a strangely understated way that I was left thinking, “Is that it?” There was very little explanation as to why he did what he did, which made his behaviour feel more like a plot device than the actions of a fully developed character.
The family dynamics also didn’t feel believable to me. Their behaviour and reactions came across as cowardly and, at times, unrealistic, which made it difficult to become emotionally invested in what was happening.
I also listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately the narration didn’t help. I found it monotonous and lacking the emotion and urgency I would expect from a thriller. Some scenes that should have felt tense or frightening simply didn’t have the impact they needed.
Ultimately, I think the biggest problem for me was that this didn’t feel like a psychological thriller. It had the ingredients of one — secrets, isolation, suspicious behaviour, danger and twists — but I never felt that psychological tension or genuine sense of dread that makes the genre work so well.
The story idea itself was good, and I can absolutely see why other readers enjoyed it. In fact, there are plenty of positive reviews praising the suspense, atmosphere and twists. (Goodreads) But for me, the character development, repetition, rushed climax and lack of emotional intensity really held it back.
Good premise. Interesting storyline. Disappointing execution.
Not a terrible read, but definitely not the psychological thriller I was expecting.
A Good Story Let Down by Poor Execution
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It’s such a shame …….for the …….writer as the synopsis had……such promise.
Hideous narration
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