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Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite
Can a "monster" grant life to an anguished soul? Kayla Frederick's After the Devil explores this complex subject. When her self-published books fail to make any remarkable impact, Alex decides to quit writing and spend more of her time working jobs to help raise her daughter and support her husband, Peter. However, Peter's lack of affection and empathy leaves her feeling insignificant and drained. With nobody to share her feelings with, Alex allows her dark thoughts to drag her into a perpetual state of hopelessness. Little does she know that there is someone who has decided to save her from herself. After reading Alex's books, Jamie cannot bear the thought of never reading anything new from Alex. With his own tragic history, Jamie recognizes traces of despair in Alex and vows to save her. By his twisted logic, he decides that kidnapping her is the most effective way to do that.
Kayla Frederick's knowledge of her characters is awe-inspiring. Although Jamie has good intentions, can he trust Alex to allow him to help her? Subsequently, if he can't trust her, how can he make any difference in her life at all? Similarly, should Alex trust her kidnapper, whose mood changes with every passing minute? The most logical question for Alex to consider is why? Why would a stranger wish to help her when her own family failed to recognize her need for support? Kayla Frederick has narrated all of these complex emotions beautifully. As a reader, it was almost intoxicating to figure out whether Jamie would eventually turn into her tormenter rather than a savior. With plenty of twists and turns, After the Devil is a compelling read that will have the reader gripped to its very last page.
