The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Twists and turns that keep you guessing. This is the second book I have read by the incredible Nadija Mujagic. Once again, I am kept on the edge of my seat trying to guess what direction the story will take but left guessing until the end.
Mitch Wegner is a well-respected college professor and researcher at a small Vermont campus. Married for many years, his wife seems to finally be ready for the next step, kids, only the twists leave him angry and confused where the woman he married went. The first chapter has you feeling like you know what the big finale of the book will be. Twists and turns keep you engaged as you watch Mitch’s marriage and career fall apart. The passing of a second student in less than a year causes ramifications for all moving forward. Only this time it is linked to a poor grade leading to a grading inflation that Mitch strongly disagrees with. Being blamed for the student taking his own life, Mitch feels something more sinister is at play. Not everything is adding up, a diary implicating that the student wanted the “professor in a ditch” seems the opposite of taking his own life. His students begin lashing out at him, with negative hurtful statements. Determined to keep the rumors and campus situation from his wife, more distance forms between them and more questions form as to what happened with them. Constantly feels as if he is being watched when seemingly alone. Without realization Mitch seems to be a living embodiment of his own research, “the effects of childhood post traumatic disorder and how it affects decision making in dire situations. Multiple flashbacks give insight into the trauma Mitch endured at age fourteen that caused him to lose memory of his middle school years. Only now everything is coming back like a shadow haunting his every action.
Can Mitch save his career and his marriage? Is he being framed for giving a student a bad grade? The sheer depth of the author’s ability to give you question after question and never slipping until she is ready for the grand review builds up the thrill. When the reveal finally happens, you’re left in shock remembering the little queues sprinkled throughout that gave hints but never enough to know for certainty how it would end. Nadija Mujagic has become my go-to for an in-depth psychological thriller that gives nothing away until the perfect moment. Can’t wait to read more of her amazing work.

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