This is a well plotted psychological thriller which looks at how far an actor can go to get into character for an acting role. I found the exploration of method acting fascinating, bringing out the dark and obsessive side to Adam. A fast page turner that is dark and suspenseful with surprising twists I didn’t see coming!

Adam Sealey finally has an Oscar within reach. However, will his dark secrets from the past cause this to come crashing down? This wasn’t anything like I expected it to be and I found the writing style addictive. The story is told in two parts, Adam in the present and his time at the Conservatoire, an acting school, working with teacher Jonathan who has extreme teaching methods. The writing style was beautifully done and a fascinating character study into Adam and his flawed past. The story is haunting, exploring obsession, guilt and power. This is a very well written, intelligent thriller which is compelling, interesting and has some surprises thrown in. This isn’t the fastest paced book but it worked well in this instance. Overall a dark, compulsive read that will stay with me. 4.5 stars.

3.5 rounded down After a series of issues, Adam Sealey’s acting career and reputation, nosedives.. However, now he has a real shot at achieving his dream of winning an Oscar for his role in “The woodsman“. Aided by his teacher/mentor Jonathan Dors from the Conservatoire, the London drama school, that he attends 30 years ago, Adam draws on an experience to nail the final scene. He is aided and encouraged by Jonathan who subscribes to method acting, he delves deep into a traumatic past to produce next level acting. However, that night 20 years ago is Adams darkest secret and it seems as if all he has striven for is about to crumble to dust. The story is told in the present day and back tracks to Adam’s time at the Conservatoire. Initially, this novel is very hard to get into because the pace is so slow. However, it’s one of those novels you need to stick with as something clicks and I realise that it has me gripped. Central to what transpires is the character of Jonathan, the desperation of students such as Adam to attract his attention. This means that they will go to extraordinary lengths to seek his approval and this is where the storytelling becomes dark and disturbing. The impact of Jonathan goes deep and has tremendous ramifications and it’s not an exaggeration to say that it haunts some characters. The toxic atmosphere of “The church“ as students called the drama school, the manipulation and string pulling is truly shocking. These sections of the novel are where it hits a powerful level of intensity as characters, compete and seek control. It goes pretty deep into the psyche of acting, especially method acting, the disassociating of self in order to perfect a role and the impact that has on an individual. This becomes quite fascinating and these sections are very well written. The characterisation is very good, although it has to be said that if few are likeable with the exception of Nina who Adam meets at drama school. Adam is an intriguing central protagonist, he’s obsessive, dark and self-centred though to redeem him slightly, there is trauma in his life from a young age. I’ll leave you to discover Jonathan for yourself. It becomes a story of guilt as redemption is sought and I like the way this plays out. It ends on a slightly more optimistic note which I like. Overall, ultimately, this becomes a novel that pulls you in several directions, as you watch the explosion and implosion of a character. However, the slow start means a rounded down star rating from

3.5 stars from me. This journey into the actors' method and psyche that fuels that drive wasn't quite as I expected. The cult like devotion and focus was intense but lacked real punch, in my view. I'm not certain why I thought this was a thriller but it wasn't. The moments that may have been geared to shock felt a bit flat. It was quiet and thoughtful, actually ending at a level better than I anticipated, though not quite my cup of tea. Having no real investment in these shallow characters throughout, I was surprised by my reaction to the end, which felt like a worthwhile redemption.

I found this a very slow read and very difficult to get in to .I didn't really think it was a psychological thriller at all .As the title indicates it is about actors and particularly the thing called method acting which seems to me a very gruesome way of getting into a character .It is hard hitting and tells the story of the real acting world .Adam is the main character along with Jonathan neither very nice characters the only character I liked was Nina .Sorry I just didn't enjoy this book at all .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC