The Assistant by Cathryn Grant

4 Stars from me

Another belter from Cathryn Grant – hats off to her for creating such rich and defined characters.

The workplace dynamics at play in The Assistant are genius, anyone who has ever worked in an office or corporate environment will recognise traits from their colleagues, or even themselves.

None of them are all that likeable, I seem to remember feeling the same after reading The Guest. Half way through I was thinking this isn’t a story that paints women in a great light… actually by the end I can say it doesn’t really paint either sex in a good light! Message = people are awful!

I enjoyed the way the story alternated between Vanessa and Laura and the little snippets of their very different home lives. Both of them hiding so much and both seemingly infatuated with Hank.

Also, much like in The Guest, the book did not go down the route I was expecting – the story develops all the way through, which makes for a refreshing change.

This is a psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes and make you look at your ambitious colleagues in a whole new light!

My thanks to @CathrynGrant and @damppebbles for letting me be a part of this #damppebblesblogtours

Blurb: Two women. One office. A fight to the death.

Laura has sacrificed a lot for her high-powered career – her marriage, the chance to have kids. Now, finally, she’s in line for a big jump up the corporate ladder – all the way to the boardroom.

But there’s a fly in the ointment in the shape of beautiful Vanessa, a lowly assistant who seems to have it in for Laura.

Vanessa is PA to Hank, the most powerful executive in the company, a man whose support Laura desperately needs if she is to secure the job of her dreams. Repelled by Laura’s naked ambition, fiercely possessive of her boss, Vanessa deliberately sabotages Laura’s every attempt to make a good impression on Hank.

Laura threatens and cajoles but Vanessa just won’t play fair. Soon their mutual dislike escalates to an all-out war.

But career-obsessed Laura has always been willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. And if Vanessa stands in her way… she’s going to pay the ultimate price.

The stunning psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Guest.