"Fast-paced, smartly written psychological thriller is a great debut novel for this author."
Reviewed by Tanzey Cutter
Posted June 4, 2011
Thriller Psychological
For three months, psychology professor Dr. Sheila Tao has
been sleeping with Ethan Wolfe. Not only is Ethan her
teaching assistant and 16 years younger, but Sheila is
engaged to marry Morris Gardener, a wonderful man she loves
dearly and who loves her in return. The affair with Ethan
has to stop immediately, but when Sheila breaks it off, she
has no idea the intensity of his obsession with her or his
mental instability.
In an elaborate plan of complex disguises, Ethan instigates
an attack against Sheila and Morris. He not only threatens
to expose Sheila's sexual addiction and post explicit
photos on the Internet of the two of them together, but he
plans to do whatever it takes to ruin her career and the
man she loves. Sheila is stunned at how far Ethan will go
for revenge, never anticipating the true depth of his
depravity. The final resolution is shocking for everyone
involved.
Debut author Jennifer Hillier gives thriller fans a
quick-paced, smartly written psychological suspense that
will surprise readers with not only its content, but with
its shocking ending. I never saw it coming, and it takes a
lot to blow me away. I can't wait for Hillier's next
thriller!
Learn more about Creep
SUMMARY
Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in
human behaviour. And when she began an affair with sexy,
charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was
playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were
together, desolate and depressed when they weren't, she
realizes the three-month fling with her teaching assistant
has to end. After all, she's engaged to a kind and loving
investment banker who adores her, and her life is about to
change for the better. But when she attempts to cut the
affair dead in its tracks, Ethan Wolfe won't let her walk
away. Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a
sex tape that would surely get her fired and destroy her
prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting
him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening
move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her
most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound
State University: a female student, a star athlete, is
found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of
violence, sex and blackmail...and before she knows it,
Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with
the lover she couldn't resist — who is now the monster who
won't let her go.
ExcerptA trio of students still lingered in the lecture hall,
chattering loudly in one of the aisles. Hesitating, Sheila
walked toward Ethan, her insides tight.
She couldn't put it off any longer. It was time.
"Professor Tao," Ethan said as she approached. His
light gray eyes crawled over her face, missing
nothing. "Great lecture today. Very engaging. Even
learned something new, though of course I took this class
as an undergrad. You have such a refreshing take on
classic theories."
Always the terrific bullshitter. He usually got away
with it because of his good looks and cocky demeanor. But
today, the very sound of his voice made her want to throw
up.
"We need to talk." Her voice was low. She was
hyperaware of the three students still chatting about
twenty feet away in the otherwise empty hall.
"Oh?" He continued to study her. "About anything in
particular?"
"You know exactly what this is about."
"Let me guess. Leanne Armstrong tattled on me." He
finally broke eye contact to glance at his watch. "Can
this wait?"
Unbelievable. He knew damn well this wasn't about
Leanne. Fine, he wanted to play it that way, so be it.
"No, it can't." Her voice was still quiet, but she
spoke with authority. "Whatever the hell's going on
between us, you still work for me, and you still need to do
your job."
Ethan laughed, and the sound echoed in the large
auditorium. He didn't care who might be
listening. "You're ballsy. I always liked that about
you. Always so professional."
"Ethan—"
"So why don't you do my job as well? From now on, I'll
redirect all student concerns to you. You can handle that,
can't you?" He cocked his head to one side. "I know how
much you care about your students, Dr. Tao. You'd never
let them down. Especially me."
The three students still chatting in the lecture hall
were watching them, perplexed looks on their faces. Sheila
didn't think they could hear anything from where they were
standing, but there was no way to know.
Ethan leaned in closer and she could smell his cinnamon
breath. "I watched our video again last night, Sheila, and
I am this close to making you famous. Go ahead. Push me."
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