Mine To Keep
As seen:
By J.M. Simpson
avg rating
1 review
Some secrets are deadly. Some obsessions can be fatal.
Jed Thomas has worked hard to rebuild his life after the
tragic loss of his fiancée. Now remarried, he enjoys a respected job as a PE
teacher, loyal friends, and has what looks like the perfect life.
But behind closed doors, Jed is hiding a painful secret.
Just as he begins to contemplate a way out, a new danger emerges.
A fifteen-year-old pupil has become fixated on him—her
behaviour crossing lines that can’t be uncrossed. When Jed reports her actions,
no one believes him. Then, on a friend’s stag night, things spiral out of
control.
Jed finds himself accused of a crime he didn’t commit.
Betrayed by someone he once trusted, he’s arrested and publicly disgraced. His
reputation is shattered. He’s alone, discredited and running out of options.
But the worst is yet to come. As lives unravel and truths
come to light, Jed is forced to confront just how far obsession, betrayal, and
revenge can go. His world is about to implode… and not everyone will survive
the fallout.
Reviews
Thanks to Cahill Davis Publishing and J.M. Simpson for a digital advance copy in return for an honest review.
I first came across the name of J.M. Simpson on X (formerly Twitter) whilst scrolling and landing customarily on @BexBookaholic, someone I never fail to engage with for new recommendations. I had always assumed from the nature of her book titles that this author specialised only in crime drama. To have been so mistaken was a pleasant surprise.
‘Mine to Keep’ has a finite blend of characters, most of whom are school chums whose relationships have endured into adulthood. Jed, a sports teacher at a local comprehensive, is the handsome protagonist whose good looks and personality attract a host of admirers. Ordinarily such charm would not be a bad thing, but for Jed it has unintended and far reaching consequences. After the tragic, seemingly accidental death of his fiancée, Jed quickly marries a stunning partner. Lara, however, harbours a secret, her usually hidden and uncontrollable temper.
In the meantime Jed’s friend, Penny, has got engaged to Paul. The latter has lecherous tendencies, a fondness for alcohol and is prone to bouts of jealousy. Hazel, another pal of Jed’s and a working colleague, floats regularly in and out of the picture always having his back when difficulties arise. And, oh my, what hurdles they are! Throw precocious pupil, Emma, into the recipe mix and a dish of wholly incompatible ingredients results. For the reader, however, a delicious and tasty meal is about to be served.
When Cahill Davis Publishing offered me a review copy of ‘Mine to Keep’, I jumped at the chance to delve in. I was not to be disappointed. If you are currently in a reading slump and need something amazing to lift you out of it, then trust me, this is the book for you. It is a fast paced page turner with plenty of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Do this and, like me, you will be sorely tempted to seek out J.M. Simpson’s backlist of publications. What an exciting prospect.
