You know that feeling when you're watching a car crash in slow motion? That's basically the vibe of The Stalker Paula Bomer. It's not a true crime documentary, despite what the title might make you think if you're scrolling fast. Honestly, it’s something way more uncomfortable. It's a pitch-black comic novel that dropped in 2025 and has been haunting book clubs and Discover feeds ever since because it's just so... greasy.
The book follows Robert Doughten Savile. Everyone calls him "Doughty." He’s a guy who thinks he’s a genius but is actually just a delusional loser with a crack pipe and a lot of unearned confidence. Think The Talented Mr. Ripley but if Ripley was actually an idiot who couldn't stop watching George Carlin specials.
What Most People Get Wrong About The Stalker Paula Bomer
If you go into this expecting a standard thriller where a guy hides in the bushes with binoculars, you’re gonna be disappointed. Or maybe just confused. The Stalker Paula Bomer isn't about the act of stalking in the way You on Netflix is. It’s more about the "stalker" as a social parasite.
Doughty is a predator, sure. But he's a lazy one. He doesn't need to climb through windows when he can just gaslight his way into a Soho loft. He’s the kind of guy who drops out of college, moves to New York City in the early 90s, and tells everyone he’s a high-powered real estate mogul while he’s actually doing sex work in Grand Central Station bathrooms to pay for his next hit.
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The Character Everyone Loves to Hate
- Robert "Doughty" Savile: A rich kid from Darien, Connecticut, whose family lost their money but he kept the entitlement.
- Beata: A waitress he seduces and humiliates just because he can.
- Sophia: A middle-aged book editor with a drinking problem who lets Doughty stay in her posh loft.
The most disturbing part? Paula Bomer writes the whole thing from Doughty's perspective. You're stuck inside his head. It’s gross. He’s got this weird obsession with condensation and the word "encyclopedia." He’s the "Untalented Mr. Ripley." A "Dumb American Psycho."
Why This Book Matters Right Now
We talk a lot about "toxic masculinity" these days. It’s a buzzword. But Bomer actually shows you what it looks like when it's stripped of all the cool, cinematic "alpha male" trappings. Doughty isn't a mastermind. He’s a "young loser," as the author herself puts it.
The book hits home because we’ve all met a Doughty. Maybe not a crack-smoking 90s version, but the guy who thinks he’s playing 3D chess while he’s actually losing at Connect Four. Bomer told The Guardian in an interview that the book is kind of a "divorce book"—not about divorcing a specific man, but about divorcing a type of man. The kind that wears women down just by existing and taking up space.
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1990s New York: The Perfect Backdrop
The setting is vital. 1990s NYC was a weird mix of pre-Giuliani grit and massive wealth. Doughty thrives in that gray area. He can sleep at the YMCA one night and a Soho loft the next. There were no cell phones to track his lies. No social media to verify his "real estate" job. He just existed in the gaps of a city that was too busy to notice he was a fraud.
The Ending Everyone is Talking About
Without spoiling the whole thing, the ending is... intense. Bomer has described it as "operatic." It involves a van ride to DUMBO, a bodyguard, and a level of violence that some readers find cathartic and others find stomach-turning.
What’s wild is that even when Doughty is getting his teeth kicked in—literally—he still doesn't get it. He doesn't have an epiphany. He doesn't learn a lesson. He just adapts like a cockroach. That’s the real horror of The Stalker Paula Bomer. You want the villain to realize he’s the villain, but Doughty is too stupid for self-awareness.
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Real-World Connections
Bomer drew inspiration from some pretty dark places:
- Serial Killer Lore: She researched Richard Ramirez (the Night Stalker) and Ted Bundy.
- Radical Feminism: The writings of Andrea Dworkin influenced the book's exploration of male entitlement.
- True Crime: The "con man" vibes are similar to podcasts like Dirty John.
Is It Worth the Read?
Honestly? Only if you have a strong stomach. It’s funny in a way that makes you feel like you need a shower. It’s a "master of the pitch-black comic novel" doing her best work.
If you're looking for a book that's "relatable" or has "likable characters," stay far away. But if you want a brutal, honest look at how sociopathy works in the real world—not the Hollywood version—then this is it.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Check the Content Warnings: This book deals with sexual assault, drug addiction, and extreme misogyny. It’s not a light beach read.
- Read Bomer's Other Work: If you like this, check out Nine Months or Baby and Other Stories. She’s consistent with the "uncomfortable" theme.
- Look for the Paperback: The paperback edition of The Stalker is slated for release in May 2026, making it a bit more affordable than the hardcover.
- Compare to the Classics: Read it alongside The Talented Mr. Ripley to see how Bomer subverts the "charming con man" trope by making her lead character an absolute moron.
The reality is that men like Doughty don't usually get caught in some grand police sting. They just keep failing upward or sideways, leaving a trail of exhausted women behind them. That's the takeaway Bomer wants you to have.