It seems almost impossible that Noelle Andrews, an intelligent, educated, successful physician could be so taken in by ‘Adrian,’ a handsome, charming, and charismatic rock star impersonator. But she was. Adrian wooed and won her through a heady and irresistible combination of flattery, adoration, and brilliant manipulation. Once Noelle found herself paying for everything, having to deal with disturbing events, and evidence of her orderly life crumbling around her, the proverbial honeymoon was over. Noelle shares the chilling details of her short, dramatic, and horrendous marriage to a man she soon realized was a complete psychopath. However, Noelle is not the first and she certainly won’t be the last woman to be fooled by the glib talk and cunning mind of the expert psychopath. Through Noelle’s courageous stance in telling her tale, perhaps other women will be forewarned, and forearmed, when enticing Prince Charming comes knocking on their door. Women who meet people online are particularly vulnerable to this kind of predator, and predator is the only word to describe this kind of man. Although all the signs are there--lies, alcohol and drug abuse, financial instability, mood swings, promiscuity, shallow self-absorption, sponging off the partner with money, self-aggrandizement—-who wants to admit publicly or privately that one has made a dreadful error in judgment? Who wants to admit they have married a narcissistic and violent man?

Up to 4% of the population falls into the category of Psychopath. The Internet, with its quick-fix solution to the problem of loneliness, is the perfect place for people to pretend they are someone else. A psychopath is the ultimate imposter, and like Adrian, many believe their own lies, flying into uncontrollable rages when found out, or blaming everyone else.

The author is a tremendously courageous woman, and no doubt, many readers will shake their heads and ask, “But why didn’t she see though him?” Like many women, the author had what is called “malignant optimism” i.e. the futile belief in every spark of good and happiness, fervently hoping the nightmare will end and the real dream marriage will begin. Noelle Andrews describes the pain and shame of having her eyes opened in a way that is shocking and brutal, of realizing the sleazy and disgusting levels to which her husband was prepared to stoop. Psychological research references are woven between the episodes to highlight potential warning signs for others. This story gives solid advice, enabling other sufferers to make some sense of the psychopath’s behavior. How many women have said, “It’ll never happen to me.” But it does, all the time, with figures running into the tens of millions. Heart-wrenching and brutally honest, this cautionary tale is a must-read for internet daters, and perhaps any woman contemplating entering a relationship that is “too good to be true.” After all, if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t worth very much. An excellent book. Highly recommended.