I’m delighted to welcome you today to my stop on the blog tour for the dark and disturbing Looker by Laura Sims. Thank you to Anne Cater for the invitation and to Tinder Press for my copy of this fantastic debut book.
About the book:
The Professor lives in Brooklyn; her partner Nathan left her when she couldn’t have a baby. All she has now is her dead-end teaching job, her ramshackle apartment, and Nathan’s old moggy, Cat. Who she doesn’t even like.
The Actress lives a few doors down. She’s famous and beautiful, with auburn hair, perfect skin, a lovely smile. She’s got children – a baby, even. And a husband who seems to adore her. She leaves her windows open, even at night.
There’s no harm, the Professor thinks, in looking in through the illuminated glass at that shiny, happy family, fantasizing about them, drawing ever closer to the actress herself. Or is there?
About the author:
Laura Sims is the author of four books of poetry, and LOOKER is her debut novel. She lives in Brooklyn.
My Review:
Looker by Laura Sims is a dark and disturbing story that will stay with you long after the final page has been turned. Although only a short book it is one that packs a punch nevertheless, with a shocking tale of one woman’s heartbreaking descent into madness and obsession.
The story is told by an unnamed narrator known only as the Professor who finds herself becoming more and more obsessed with the Actress, her beautiful and famous neighbour who lives a few doors down. Her husband has left her as she couldn’t have a baby, so now she lives alone with only Nathan’s old cat for company. The Actress has everything the Professor craves, including a husband who adores her and three beautiful children. All the Professor has is Cat and even that may not be for long, as Nathan has asked for her to be returned.
The sense of foreboding increases as the Professor fantasises more and more about the Actress and what she considers to be her perfect life. The lines between what is fantasy and what is reality become blurred as the story continues, with the Professor’s behaviour beginning to spiral out of control, leading to a tense and shocking conclusion.
I couldn’t help but feel sad for the Professor as her mental health deteriorates little by little as the story continues. She isn’t a likeable character, but as someone who’s always struggled to fit in myself, I felt for her as she began to feel more and more isolated, culminating in her final, devastating descent into madness.
Laura Sims has written a dark and unsettling story that once started I could not put down. A creeping sense of dread is simmering under the surface right from the outset, with the Professor becoming more and more unhinged as the story continues. Not an easy read by any means, but one that is as compelling as it is disturbing. Recommended.
Looker by Laura Sims is available to buy now: Amazon UK
Check out what these other fantastic bloggers have to say about this book:
Cal Turner Reviews 
I read this recently too – really enjoyed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! I want to read this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s such a good read! 😊
LikeLike
Huge thanks for this blog tour support Cal x
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome, Anne. 😊 x
LikeLike