Sheri White's Dark Domain
Matt Poe is the new kid in school who just wants to blend in and make friends like any other teenager. And like most teenage boys, Matt has a crush on his gorgeous English teacher, Ms. Hayden, and fantasizes about her during class when he should be working. Matt’s life is turned upside down when Ms. Hayden tells him to stay after class to talk to him about his grades. What starts out as simple tutoring soon turns into a nightmare for Matt, as well as his new friends Grace and Rusty.

At first it seems as if Matt’s fantasies have come true; Ms. Hayden seduces Matt, and keeps him in a frenzy of lust and secrecy. But after a while, Matt realizes his teacher is actually obsessed with him and breaks off the illicit relationship. Ms. Hayden doesn’t deal with it well, and blackmails Matt with a picture she took of them in bed together.

Once Matt and Grace start seeing each other, things start to go downhill in Matt’s life. Ms. Hayden makes Matt’s life a living hell, accusing him of rape, leaving him scared and angry. He finally turns to Grace, who shares her own secret about Ms. Hayden with him. Together, they decide to find the blackmail picture so Matt will be cleared.

But they’re not the only ones looking to get back at Ms. Hayden.

Don’t Stand So Close is definitely not a “Mrs. Robinson” type of story. The older woman in this novel is wicked, cunning and out to destroy Matt’s life. Once Matt is over his infatuation, he sees Ms. Hayden as she really is and desperately tries to disentangle himself from her web of evil. But the more Matt tries, the more he is stuck with no way out.

Eric Red has crafted an excellent tale of suspense. The tension throughout the story is palpable. I enjoyed Don’t Stand So Close very much; it was difficult to put down, and the ending was great and unexpected. I’m looking forward to reading more of Eric’s work in the future.


Review by Sheri White

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