Manipulated by fear and love…
could you cut the strings and take back control?
The Puppet Master is the debut novel from blogger and author Abigail Osborne.
Abigail featured on Swirl and Thread last year when she dropped in for a chat so I was interested to see what The Puppet Master would be like.
Please read on for my thoughts…
Book Blurb:
Billie’s hiding from the world, believing it to be the only way to take control of her life as she lives in fear of the man who nearly destroyed her. But what she doesn’t realise is that she’s exactly where he wants her; isolated and afraid.
A chance meeting with budding journalist Adam sparks a relationship that could free her from the terror that controls her. But will Adam be able to see the real Billie buried under her terror and pain?
Adam knows exactly who Billie is and is determined to expose her and get justice for the lives she ruined. But first, he needs to convince her to open up to him but as unwanted attraction and feelings blossom between them, Adam is forced to realise that all is not as it seems.
Most of their lives have been unknowingly governed by the desires and needs of someone who considers himself their master. He has influenced and shaped them for years, meticulously weaving a web of lies and control around them.
Can Billie and Adam survive the betrayals in store and cut the strings that bind them?
One thing is for sure. The master wants his puppets back – and he’ll do anything to keep them.
Manipulation and manipulators seems to be a recurring theme in a few books I’ve read recently. It has started me wondering about the extent of manipulation in the world I/we live in….
Abigail Osborne has tackled it in a rather unusual manner in The Puppet Master.
A Puppet Master or Puppeteer is defined in Wikipedia as:
‘a person who manipulates an inanimate object that might be shaped like a human, animal or mythical creature, or quite easily might be any kind of object to create the illusion that the puppet is “alive.” The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or her own hands placed inside the puppet or holding it externally or any other part of the body- such as the legs.’
In Abigail Osborne’s book the puppets are very very real as is the master…
Billie and Adam are trying to live their lives the best they can. Both have had very traumatic childhoods, both have lived shattered lives. What both are completely unaware of though is that their lives have been tied together for many years, manipulated and controlled by one rather disgusting character.
Billie is a very sad individual. Always hiding in a corner, unable to deal with people in a close fashion, she is a product of a childhood no child should ever have to experience, Left alone now to fend for herself, her life exists around her cat and her books. Panic attacks have become part of Billie’s life and her only form of protection is to isolate herself from a society that let her down.
While growing up, for reasons I found difficult to fathom, Billie’s mother, grandmother and sister all seemed to abandon her. There was no adult that Billie could turn to when she needed help to protect herself from the one person she had trusted. Billie’s mother is portrayed as a very selfish lady, undeserving of any sympathy from the reader. As a mother, she is so obsessed with herself and her own happiness, Billie becomes a very damaged and lonely young girl.
Adam as a character takes awhile to warm to. At the beginning, his motives for wanting to get to know Billie are muddied. He has his reasons and as a journalist, his instinct throws him a curve ball.
Adam has also lead a tragic life. His beloved mother passed away early in his youth. His father, unable to cope, took to the drink. Adam’s salvation came in the form of his uncle, a man Adam adored and aspired to. Adam grew up under the protection and guidance of his uncle, almost to the point of adoration. An incident in Adam’s life resulted in a life-changing experience and Adam has felt it his duty to discover what really happened and expose the person responsible for it.
What Adam and Billie were completely unaware of is that they were both being used – manipulated by an evil, despicable individual who has no compunction in ruining lives in order to achieve his goal.
Wikipedia Definition ~ Manipulation
‘The process of manipulation involves bringing an unknowing victim under the domination of the manipulator, often using deception, and using the victim to serve their own purposes.’
Abigail Osborne has portrayed this notion to a frightening degree in The Puppet Master. However, at times in the novel, I did get extremely frustrated and cross as there were certain scenes I felt I had to suspend my belief a little. Except for Billie, I didn’t particularly like any of the characters.
The Puppet Master is a very interesting debut from Abigail Osborne and I don’t doubt that we will see plenty more from Abigail in the future as her writing develops further.
Purchase Link : The Puppet Master
Meet Abigail:
I was born in the Lake District and have moved all around the UK since then. I currently live with my husband in the West Midlands. I studied English Literature at University but it took four years after I finished University to realise how much I loved writing.
I started a book reviewing blog Many Books, Many Lives last year and the encouraging responses I got to my reviews encouraged me to try writing this book.
The Puppet Master is my first novel but I’m hoping it won’t be my last.
You can read more about Abigail when she dropped by for a chat with me HERE
