Sweet Fury

By Sash Bischoff
** Publication Date 7 January 2025 **
4.5 stars
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I like to think that I can usually puzzle out the culprit in a suspense or mystery novel. Not this one. This one kept me guessing. So many lies and unexpected twists. Hard to believe this is a debut novel.


Lila Crayne is a beautiful, young actress, living a stellar life with her partner, director Kurt Royall. They have just started working on a new film to be based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. It’s an adaptation with a twist. Lila will star and Kurt will direct and it should be the movie of a lifetime.


Lila is also entering into therapy for emotional and physical trauma suffered as a child when her father was killed in a car accident. She and her mother were in the car. Lila has some issues to resolve, and she thinks therapy will help her better understand her role in the movie. Maybe also heal her from the tragedy of her father’s death.


Step in Jonah Gabriel, a psychotherapist who specializes in helping abused women resolve their trauma and leave unhealthy relationships. Jonah and his fiancé Maggie live in NYC in a building that houses both their home and his office. Jonah has an obsession with Fitzgerald. Has for many years. He also has an obsession with a young actress named Lila Crayne. Also for many years.


Here they are, Jonah the therapist and Lila the actress starting this therapy journey together. This, however, will be a journey unlike any therapy journey before it. Especially for Jonah. 


Truly brilliantly written. So many loose ends that are not tied up neatly in the end, but leave us wondering and saying holy moly. I loved this one. Such a page turner.