Ooh what a super sinister psychological thriller this is! It all begins with a diary written by James Dwyer, currently in prison and under psychological evaluation. He’s telling his story, of the women that have wronged him and the path that has led him to where he is now. The title, a darkly humorous nod to the reason for James’ personal accounts. From the synopsis and this being a psychological thriller I knew this story was going to have a sting in the tail somewhere. It arrived earlier than anticipated and my jaw dropped. I don’t actually want to go into detail about it because I loved the impact of arriving at it unexpectedly and I wouldn’t want to spoil that experience for others. I’ll just say I was hooked from then on in. The story becomes equally sinister and outrageous, I found myself rolling my eyes at times before being brought back to the chilling context of James’ circumstances, then outraged the next moment. The way that Diary of a Narcissist is structured is brilliant. The depth and believability of the characterisation of James Dwyer is a credit to the research Chris Cavendish put into narcissism. The effect is a compelling, can’t-tear-your-eyes-away psychological thriller that is up there with the greats for me.
James Dwyer's life is a series of calculated moves in a dangerous game of love and control. But when the carefully crafted façade crumbles, the consequences are deadly. Imprisoned for a murder he swears he didn't commit, James finds himself fighting not just for his freedom but for his very identity. A man of elite breeding, exceptional looks, and a first-class Honours degree, he struggles to comprehend how he has fallen to such depths. Yet, as the judge who sentenced him repeatedly pointed out, James is a narcissist-an assertion he would vehemently deny. Wielding his diary as a powerful weapon, James meticulously documents the events leading to his arrest convinced that his perspective is the only one of importance. As he unravels the tangled web of his past relationships with four women, James reveals how they became drawn into his magnetic yet toxic orbit, and the chilling consequences of his coercive nature. From sweet Lucy to controlling Calypso, their stories intertwine with his, but James is determined to prove he is not the monster they portray him to be. If he ever hopes to escape this nightmare, James must charm the psychologists and lawyers who hold his fate in their hands and convince them of his innocence. Can he craft a narrative so compelling that it will secure his release, or will his own words seal his fate?
