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Synopsis
Can a good man go too far to protect his family? That is the question underlying this gripping tale of a family fighting for its life, which pulls the reader into its stranglehold of terror in the tradition of Straw Dogs and Cape Fear. Having survived a childhood of physical beatings and psychological torture, successful Manhattan lawyer Jacob Schiff cherishes his stable family life with his wife, Dana, a psychiatric social worker, and their teenage son, Alex. But Jake sees it all unraveling when John Gates, a homeless man who has become Dana's patient, starts stalking her and menacing the family. As Gates's behavior becomes even more bizarre and violent, and no one seems able to stop him, Jake is driven to the breaking point by fear and desperation and takes a fatal step that could destroy everything he cares about.
The Intruder: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This adult psychological thriller contains strong violence, themes of stalking and harassment, child abuse backstory, and explores a protagonist driven to murder. The content involves mental illness, sustained menace, and morally complex situations involving life-or-death family protection.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include child abuse, emotional abuse, and murder (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be gripped by this tense psychological thriller about how far one man will go to protect his family.