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Heleen Kist

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Stay Mad, Sweetheart Paperback – November 13, 2019

by Heleen Kist (Author)

4.6 111 ratings

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"Simply superb!" —MW Craven, bestselling author of The Puppet Show and The Curator
"On point topical and beautifully written. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★" —Jo Spain, international bestselling author of The Confession

There's a fine line between innocence and guilt. An even finer line between justice and revenge.

Shy and sensible Laura prefers the company of her books to the real world – let alone that cesspit online. But when her best friend Emily becomes the victim of horrific cyberbullying, she makes it her all-engulfing mission to track down the worst culprits using her finely-tuned data skills.

Petite corporate financier Suki is about to outshine the stupid boys at her firm: she's leading the acquisition of Edinburgh's most exciting start-up. If only she could get its brilliant, but distracted, co-founder Laura to engage.

Event planner Claire is left to salvage the start-up's annual conference after her colleague Emily fails to return to work. She's determined to get a promotion out of it, but her boss isn't playing ball.

As the women's paths intertwine, the insidious discrimination they each face comes to light. Emboldened by Emily's tragic experience, they join forces to plot the downfall of all those who've wronged them.

But with emotions running high, will the punishments fit the crimes?

A pacy suspense fiction novel with its feet firmly in the #MeToo era. 9 to 5 meets Suits with a dash of Black Mirror.

"A topical, engaging thriller." —Booklife Prize

THIS PERFECT BOOK CLUB READ IS GETTING RAVE REVIEWS:
“With Stay Mad, Sweetheart, Heleen Kist takes the psychological thriller out of the domestic setting and into the workplace. With its on-the-money themes of technology, the darker side of the social media and the #MeToo movement, Kist has crafted a superb and thought-provoking page-turner.”
—Alison Belsham, internationally bestselling author of The Tattoo Thief and Her Last Breath

"An intelligent and topical read. A book that - while you're hungrily turning the pages - also makes you think. Makes you angry. Highly recommended."
—Louise Beech, bestselling author of Call Me Star Girl and I Am Dust.

"WOW! The author has created an emotive, insightful, empowering and suspenseful novel capturing the #MeToo moment while injecting justice to deliver a most satisfying conclusion. Hell yeah! A must read! Nailed it!"
—Noelle Holten, author of the DC Maggie Jamieson series.

“This incredibly important book will make you think about everyday sexism, what consent looks like and cancelling your social media!”
—Madeleine Black, author of Unbroken.

"Twisting and thrilling, topical, nuanced and insightful – and so beautifully written. It's a bold, relatable, REAL, lyrical, standout read and it's going to knock everyone's socks off."
—Rob Parker, author of The Ben Bracken Thrillers.

“A topical, twisted tale of revenge with a cast of kick-ass female characters - something a bit different and just what I needed – recommended!” —SJI Holliday, author of The Lingering and Violet.

“Stay Mad, Sweetheart is a timely and relevant novel for the Me Too era, with brilliantly-drawn characters and a twisting plot.” —Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake Series.

“This is one book that engaged and enraged me. A contemporary feminist novel that packs an almighty punch.” —Chapter In My Life crime fiction blog

"A delicious, addictive read." —Lost in the Land of Books Blog

"It's a fresh and enthralling story that really hits home. An outstanding read." —By the Letter Book Reviews

Print length

335 pages
Language

English
Publication date

November 13, 2019
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.84 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1913331199
ISBN-13

978-1913331191
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Red Dog Press (November 13, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 335 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913331199
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913331191
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.84 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #7,806,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,059 in Financial Thrillers (Books)
- #8,805 in Domestic Thrillers (Books)
- #10,861 in Technothrillers (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 111 ratings

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About the author

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Heleen Kist

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Heleen Kist is a Dutch, formerly globetrotting career woman who fell in love with a Scotsman and his country, and now writes about its (sometimes scary) people from her garden office in Glasgow. 'Killer Bodies' is her fourth novel, inspired by her hatred of exercise.

She was chosen as an up-and-coming new author at Bloody Scotland 2018. Her novels have been finalists in a variety of awards, both in the UK and USA, and she yearns to some day 'be the bride'.

Heleen hopes you enjoy her writing, and would love to hear from you on twitter (@hkist), Faceboook (@heleenkistauthor) or Goodreads. You can also sign up to her newsletter on www.heleenkist.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

111 global ratings

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Cat Loves Books

A book with an important message

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2022

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I won't go into details about this book's plot, as I want you to read it, but I will tell you that Heleen Kist is a brilliant writer.
Stay Mad, Sweetheart is an important and unfortunately very relevant story. The characters are extremely well developed and I found myself relating in different ways to each of the three women. The three of them coming together for justice felt believable and somewhat satisfying.
While I would not class the story strictly as suspense, Kist's skilled writing ensured that I couldn't get to the next page quick enough. I found myself forgoing other tasks so I could read one more chapter, then another... a clear sign of a gripping story.
This is a book that is as important to men as it is to women, and I could easily imagine it as a series on Netflix, one I'd binge watch for sure.
I very much look forward to reading Heleen's debut now, In Servitude, and will watch for the release of any more books she writes as she is an extremely talented author.

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Nancy M. Stroer

Even when you don't feed the trolls, sometimes they come for you, anyway

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020

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This story was both alarming and satisfying on so many levels. First of all, it firmly centers the stories of unabashedly smart, clever women. The obstacles placed in their way are the results of men's actions, but the women don't make things easy on themselves, either (there are realistic misunderstandings and rivalries) - so while it's a #MeToo story, it's also a story as old as time.

The women come up with their own solutions and problem solve for themselves along the way. Not everyone is gloriously beautiful, perfectly good, or purely evil. The punishments, when they finally come, fit the crime and make the reader fist-punch the sky. If you've ever been on the receiving end of vicious gossip, you'll feel vindicated at the end.

NB - the author obviously knows enough about data science to truly scare the reader. I suppose technically the book is a thriller, but it is for sure unsettling, what is being done with our online information - and what can be done *to* us if we dare disturb the bottom-feeders of the internet.

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Batiz

Great read and illuminating story

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2019

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Stay mad, sweetheart
This book is a great read! And once again (this is Heleen Kist's second novel) a very illuminating story and highly relevant topic. This time around the story plays out in the world of start-ups, data scientists, high-stakes financial deals, and corporate PR. I enjoyed this setting but what really got me hooked was the trio of female protagonists and their standing up to the unfair challenges they face due to a male-dominated business and corporate culture.

As a man, reading this book is a chance to view what many people consider normal office dynamics with a new lens: the receiving end of all the unsolicited advances, and gender entitlement. Interestingly, the author makes very clever choices to leave a ton of grey areas in the story which force the reader to actually think about serious issues and take a position.

This is important because this book is not lecturing or trying to undermine men, but rather presents an opportunity for us readers to consider a different point of view, a set of less-than-clear-cut facts, and have meaningful discussions about what happened, and whether the characters's choices are justified or not.

I finished the book with a satisfying sense of justice and retribution (revenge?) but not all around, which makes the story even more credible.

I do hope Kist will continue to develop the character Suki in future novels. She reads as a fascinating protagonist.

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Amazon Customer

A fabulous read that leaves you questioning and empowered at the same time!

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2019

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Quite simply, a fabulous book. A book that calls out bad behaviour, from both genders, in a very nuanced, and "real-world" kind of way, all interspersed into a great story. The characters's words and actions, the nuanced innuendos and gestures as well as the in-your-face "I can't beleive he said that" moments all made me reflect about how ingrained and destructive these behaviors are to individuals, groups and companies. The heronies save the day and give us hope! A great read for all!

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Melanie

I'm not mad at Stay Mad, Sweetheart!

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2019

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What a book! It was a great page turner that I couldn't get back to fast enough. I loved the intrigue and planning that ran through the pages. I loved reading 3 amazing women grow together and get theirs!

Satisfying and fun. I've missed my Edinburgh, so it was nice to get caught back up with that friend.

If you are interested in a topical read, this is the one for you!

Agree with the other reviewer that I hope Suki joins us again for another go around!

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Jane V. Blanchard

This book appeals to readers of many genres

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2019

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The opening chapters of Stay Mad, Sweetheart by Heleen Kist confused me and I almost did not proceed. Boy, am I glad I continued the read!

I debated whether to categorize the book under Mystery and Suspense or Women’s Fiction. I decided on the former as a subgenre of the latter. But it makes no difference which genre, this is a good book.

The story revolves around the results of cyberbullying and seeking justice for the victim, Emily. The protagonist, Laura, is frustrated by how little the police can do to find those who instigated the intimidation. As a data scientist, she develops a program to find out the influences on social media. This program later becomes integral to getting justice to the culprits.

As Laura is working out her plan, she encounters Suki and Claire who are also victims of workplace discrimination. Together they form a club seeking to avenge their wrongs. How far will they go? Who will come out ahead?

I recommend this book for lovers of women’s lit, thrillers, suspense, and the growing awakening of the potential horrors of social media.

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Top reviews from other countries

Sarah Faichney

Highly recommend!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2021

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A feminist tale of revenge set in Scotland, "Stay Mad, Sweetheart" will appeal to anyone who enjoys crime fiction, information technology and strong female characters. Heleen Kist has married her professional knowledge to her considerable writing talent to conceive this brilliant book. Themes include the high cost of full disclosure online, privacy and anonymity, doxxing, the corrosive nature of incels and keyboard warriors. "Stay Mad, Sweetheart" is also about the power of female friendships, sexism and workplace discrimination, and business ethics. Kist's narrative raises questions about current legislative arrangements as regards the Internet, with a particular emphasis on social media, and culpability. Through protagonist Laura we also see the frustrations of dealing with a police service pitifully under-resourced. I loved Laura and it was particularly refreshing to see a female tech genius and company founder. Whilst the book has an obvious feminist agenda, it's not preachy and highlights that feminism is, at its heart, a quest for equality. The plot is compelling and I held my breath for much of the final chapters. There is a lot to unpack and Kist does it with skill and grace. She makes us consider the impact of male entitlement and imbalances of power. We see sexual harassment and racist stereotypes being played out in the workplace. The characters in this novel aren't perfect either. Sometimes they make mistakes, reflect and then try to fix them (I'm looking at you, Claire). I found the three women at the heart of the story relatable and authentic. There are some important lessons in "Stay Mad, Sweetheart" but they're cleverly concealed within a story which makes a compelling read - a true testament to the talent of the writer. When the reason for the book's title was revealed, I was jumping up and down with excitement and pride. Hell hath no fury and there's more than one way to skin a cat! I'm unsure whether some of the software in the book exists but if it does, I want to know more and if it doesn't, then I hope someone gets onto it soon as the possibilities are fascinating. I was buzzing when I finished this book. Highly recommend!

One person found this helpful

Dave Holwill

Revenge and revelations combined

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2020

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Gives an insight into the murky world of tech start-ups and corporate takeovers while remaining a fast-paced excellent tale of female camaraderie and revenge.
Wonderful believable characters I was sad to let go.

Ania

One of the best books I've read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2020

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Throughout her life, Heleen Kist has been fondled, patronized and ordered to smile by random men. So she wrote 'Stay Mad, Sweetheart'. Whilst her professional knowledge of technology start-ups fed the novel's setting, its theme of insidious harassment and discrimination required no research: it is familiar to all women.

Heleen was chosen as an up and coming new author at Bloody Scotland 2018. Her first novel, 'In Servitude' won the silver medal for Best European Fiction at the Independent Publishers Book Awards in the USA and was shortlisted for The Selfies awarded at London Book Fair.

Stay Mad, Sweetheart is one of the best books I've ever read. It's hard to find words that'll describe how important the book is. It discusses gender inequality in a workplace, sexual harassment, rape, hate and trolling (which we can see on almost every single popular profile on Twitter).

Emily has been raped, she was too scared to say "no", and because her rapist was a famous person, she was bullied by internet trolls. The bullying moved into the real world - packages with dildos and hateful messages kept appearing on her doorstep. She had enough.

Laura, her best friend and a data scientist, couldn't stop the tragedy but promised to punish the guilty ones. Police was useless, everything was in Laura's hands (and scripts). Using an algorithm she was trying to reveal the identity of internet haters.

Looking for perpetrators wasn't easy, especially while preparing her company to be sold. She was working together with Suki and Claire, who had enough of being mistreated by others. They made a great team, getting together to fight for justice, and make sure that revenge comes - and a fair one.
Violence and hatred never wins, however, you can follow the law and punish people without hurting them.

I absolutely loved the strong characters and the importance of topics that are all around us. A gripping story that will help you see the modern world problems better. I was speechless when I finished reading, I think that 'Stay Mad, Sweetheart' is a novel that everyone should read.

Outstanding, thought-provoking and a dark thriller that should be on every bookshelf.

One person found this helpful

Joel

Fascinating and thrilling in equal measure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2021

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A really entertaining read, with the advantage of being both topical and thought-provoking at the same time. Stay Mad, Sweetheart (what a title, by the way!) isn't your run-of-the-mill revenge fantasy, and it's certainly more than a financial thriller or a technothriller or whichever other category Amazon wants to put it in. As the author points out in her commentary at the end of the novel, she's not driven by genre, and she's proven here that you don't have to be if you have a great idea, an engaging style of writing and some kick-ass characters to enjoy the ride with.
As an aside, it's got a fantastic sense of place - you're very much in Edinburgh as you read - and it's so well-researched even a nitpicker like me couldn't find any nits to pick!
Highly recommended, enjoyable and smart, and I'm looking forward to more by Heleen Kist.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

An unusual and twisty read capturing the zeitgeist

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2020

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This book was unlike any other I’ve read and delved into the murky world of corporate finance and technology, uncovering the misogyny and inequality that unfortunately still exists in m at modern work places. If you like a quirky read with a cast of interesting characters you might not get in other crime novels, you’ll love this.

One person found this helpful

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