The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 

Tom's life has been defined by one thing; his love for Daisy.  He has loved her since he was four years old but finally, in high school he has managed to let her know and to his delight, she feels the same way.  Outside of Daisy, he has one friend, Slug, and a cowed mother and an alcoholic father.  Tom is smart and determined to make his way out of his little town.  

Sydney is living in New York.  She is almost thirty-five and still hasn't found her partner in life.  She thought her last boyfriend was it but they broke up over his workaholic devotion to his life as a policeman.  So Sydney and her friends are on the dating carousel, meeting men and hoping this one will be the one.

But what Sydney finds instead is the worst date ever.  She leaves the restaurant as quickly as she can only to have him follow her and attack her.  She is rescued by a mystery man, who helps her and then disappears without telling her his name.  

But fate is fate.  Sydney runs into her mystery man again and starts dating him.  It's Tom, now a doctor and also unattached, his romance with Daisy long over.   Sydney is soon hopelessly attracted to him but then the doubts start to creep in.  Is he really using a burner phone to communicate with her?  Is he really working all those nights he breaks their plans?  

There is a madman stalking the streets and when Sydney's friend downstairs is the killer's latest victim, that fact hits home.  Who could it be?  Was it one of Bonnie's dates that she gave a key to?  The handyman who has a master key?  It had to be someone who could get in the apartment house which was locked and then into Bonnie's apartment.  Could it be Tom?

Freida McFadden is known for her psychological thrillers.  This one races along at a rapid clip and delivers a shocking ending that I wasn't expecting.  Evil is out there and it only takes one unguarded moment to be a victim.  This book is recommended for thriller fans.