Stalker Stalked by Lee Matthew Goldberg: Book information

· Amazon link: http://mybook.to/StalkerStalked

· Genre: Psychological thriller

· Print length: 164 pages

· Age range: This is an adult book but suitable for mature teenagers age 16+

· Amazon Rating: New book, not yet rated

About Stalker Stalked

Lexi Mazur is a depressed, alcoholic, pill-popper whose only joy has become her reality TV shows, often fantasizing that the people on TV are a part of her world. After her boyfriend Steve leaves her, she fixates on the show Socialites and its star Magnolia Artois, following every facet of the girl’s life on social media in the hopes of befriending and becoming more like her.

But stalking isn’t new to Lexi. She ultimately won over her ex Steve by following and manipulating every minute detail about him so he’d fall for her. In fact, she landed her other ex-boyfriend Jeremy in the same way. Being a pharma rep, she’s used to manipulation to get doctors to buy her drugs, along with the perk of saving pills for herself.

But what happens when the stalker gets stalked?

Recently, Lexi has felt someone watching her: in her apartment in Queens, at her job. At first, she thinks her mind’s playing tricks, but the watcher is behaving just like she would. And soon they begin leaving threatening clues like she starts to do to Magnolia once her obsession grows more dangerous. Is it one of her exes out for revenge? Her only real friend from childhood who she’s always had an unhealthy rivalry? A detective who may have figured her out? The reality star Magnolia trying to turn the tables? Or even someone she might not know?

Lexi learns the only way to beat her stalker is to use her own stalking prowess to outsmart them at their own game. But has she finally met her match?

Praise for Lee Matthew Goldberg’s writing

“You feel yourself in the hands of a master storyteller and that feeling never lets up.” — SJ Rozan, best-selling author of PAPER SON”

“Lee Matthew Goldberg is an animal–there is no other way to say it. His prose is heavyweight ambitious, as visceral as a sweaty-toothed dog at your throat.” – Matt Phillips, author of Countdown and Know Me from Smoke

“A beautifully sinister novel filled with enough twists to give you whiplash.” –Jon Bassoff, author of Corrosion, a Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere nominee.

“Goldberg is a masterful storyteller, and this tale of jealousy and ambition is one that will stay with you long after you’re done. ” – Jennifer Close, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses and The Smart One”

“Goldberg’s characters are well-formed, memorable and complex, adding humanity to a story that is sweeping in scale and remarkably focused.” — Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Blackout and Dangerous Ends

MY REVIEW
Stalker Stalked is a wild ride. It's probably one of the craziest books I've read all year, but that's not a bad thing. In fact, I rather enjoyed this book, even though I also absolutely hated everything about it (also not a bad thing, so bear with me as I explain my thought process).
One, I'm already a fan of the author's other stories (especially The Mentor). So when this came across my radar, I knew I wanted to read it. I mean, who doesn't want to read a book about an addict who stalks people being stalked herself, am I right?
Two, that cover art looks like someone I actually know in real life. I was both intrigued and amused by that fact, so it was another reason I wanted to read the book. As far as I know, though, the person I know isn't a crazy stalker, nor is she being stalked.
And three, I scheduled this review for my birthday (because why not), so reading this was also, in some weird way, a present to myself (even though I read books all the time). This one was extra special.
Anyway, I flew through this book. I finished it in a few hours, and after, I felt like I had just gotten off some sort of wild rollercoaster that had done a million loops before slamming to a stop.
The story follows Lexi, a pill-popping alcoholic who suffered an abusive childhood and has no friends. Well, she has one friend, Pria, whom she treats like garbage. But Pria is loyal and sticks it out, no matter what. Good ol' Pria.
Lexi has also just been dumped by her boyfriend. He's an outdoorsy guy who enjoys hiking and sports. Lexi only really cares about numbing herself and imagining the people on reality TV shows as her friends. Hence the breakup.
When Lexi randomly comments on an Instagram photo of a reality star she wishes she could be friends with and/or like, and the girl responds, Lexi immediately fixates on that and decides she's going to infiltrate the inner circle and become one of them.
Unfortunately for Lexi, reality TV is not actual reality, and things start to spiral out of control. Not only is Lexi's mind a whirling mess thanks to the pills and the alcohol (which makes her own version of reality skewed), causing her to stalk these reality TV stars, but now she might have her a stalker of her very own. Could it all be in her head? Or is someone really out to get her?
Honestly, I hated Lexi. She was a disaster, but like a terrible car accident, I couldn't look away.
I hated Magnolia. I hated Steve (but only a little). I hated Lexi's mom. I think I hated everyone other than Pria, although she had moments where I was like, why is she even bothering? I didn't hate her, but I was annoyed with her at times.
Reading this made me feel a little dizzy. Keeping up with Lexi and her frame of mind throughout most of the book was stressful at times. She was definitely a mess. And Magnolia and her group of "rich bitch bimbos", as I like to call them, were just... ugh. I hated them all, even when things took a turn.
And yes, there is a twist. It happens about 3/4 of the way through the book, and it's one I probably should have seen coming, but I didn't. Strangely enough, though, even after the twist when things started to change, I still hated Lexi. But I was also rooting for her. It was a weird moment for me.
Overall, this was a crazy, strange read that made my head spin. But I quite liked it.
4.5 stars!

About the Author

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of the novels THE DESIRE CARD, THE MENTOR, and SLOW DOWN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the 2018 Prix du Polar. The second book in the Desire Card series, PREY NO MORE, is forthcoming in 2020, along with his first Sci-Fi novel ORANGE CITY.

His new endeavor will be as the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Fringe Press and Fringe Digital, dedicated to publishing fiction that’s outside-of-the-box.

His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests.

After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in the anthology DIRTY BOULEVARD, The Millions, Cagibi, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press and others. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City.

Follow him at

· Website – Leematthewgoldberg.com

· FB – https://www.facebook.com/leemgol

· IG – https://www.instagram.com/leematthewgoldberg/

· Twitter – https://twitter.com/LeeMatthewG