Review: Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

July 3, 2016 Angela Enemies to Lovers, Mystery, Reviews, Romantic Suspense

Review: Corrupt by Penelope DouglasCorrupt (Devil's Night #1) by Penelope Douglas
Series: Devil's Night #1
Published by Self-Published on November 15, 2015
Pages: 461
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Jeremy York, Tatiana Sokolov
Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense
four-stars

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From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new dark romance...

Erika
I was told that dreams were our heart's desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession.

His name is Michael Crist.

My boyfriend's older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college's basketball team and now gone pro, he's more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.

But I noticed him.

I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid... For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.

Now, I've graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven't stopped watching Michael. He's bad, and the dirt I've seen isn't content to stay in my head anymore.

Because he's finally noticed me.

Michael
Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.

My brother's girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven't had her body, I know that I have her mind. That's all I really want anyway.

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.

In my city.

Unprotected.

The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they're out.

We've waited. We've been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.

*Corrupt is a STANDALONE dark romance with no cliffhanger. It is suitable for ages 18+.

What the hell did I just read?! I must be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome because there are so many reasons I should hate this book, but I could not stop reading! Corrupt messed with my mind and compromised my common sense.

The book gets off to a sluggish start but quickly picks up steam. The story is told from Rika’s and Michael’s points of view, and it alternates between the present and the past. At times I grew frustrated with the flashbacks. The past isn’t boring by any means, but the flashbacks interrupt the flow of the story too frequently, and I was anxious to get caught up to the present.

I have a fairly long list of issues, most of which I can’t state because they are spoilers. However, I will say the book has:

 

* An anti-hero that remained irredeemable in my eyes

* A naïve female protagonist who fails to speak up for herself

* Implausible actions

* A completely avoidable crucial misunderstanding

 

Yet despite all my objections and the things that still have me scratching my head, I enjoyed Corrupt. Whether you love the characters or hate them—and there are quite a few that fall heavily on the “dislike” side—all the players are fascinating. Penelope Douglas knows how to weave a spellbinding mystery, and this one is particularly addictive. Say what you will, Corrupt is a gripping, erotic, disturbing, all-consuming thrill ride.

 

Recommended for fans of:
Mysteries & thrillers
Anti-heroes
Angst

Save

four-stars

About Penelope Douglas

Penelope Douglas

Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She dresses for autumn year round, loves anything lemon flavored, and shops at Target almost daily.

Her books include the Fall Away Series (Bully, Until You, Rival, Falling Away, and Aflame), as well as, Corrupt and Misconduct. Please look for Punk 57, coming September 2016 and Next to Never (A Fall Away Novella), coming January 2017.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.


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