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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Behind Closed Doors makes no pretense about the type of book that it's going to be - a fast-paced thriller whose plot is quite obvious as it's already stated on the blurb. As such, I'll be brief about the premise of the story: Jack and Grace appear to be the perfect couple. Jack is a high-powered attorney who fights for the rights of battered wives. He is suave, well-mannered and impossibly good-looking. Meanwhile, Grace is an attractive stay-at-home wife, who tends to their lovely estate and makes the most wonderful meals whenever they are entertaining at home. Jack and Grace appear to be joined at the hip and to have the most perfect marriage but that is far from the truth. Instead, Grace is never left alone by Jack and it's impossible to get to know her without his presence. And their house, lovely as it is may be, is also her prison.
The plot of the story really is as straightforward as it sounds in my description and it reminds me a little of [b:Into the Darkest Corner|15818362|Into the Darkest Corner|Elizabeth Haynes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355923186l/15818362._SY75_.jpg|14106097], except that this book doesn't lean so much into the psychological horror aspect of the story (although Jack does a series of really terrible things) but falls more into the pulpy thriller genre. The book alternates between the past and the present. In the past, Grace falls for Jack, the first man who seems to get along with her younger sister, Millie. Millie has Down's syndrome and most of her boyfriends were daunted by the prospect of her dream that Millie live with them after she graduates from her school. Jack is the first man who seems to accept Millie and to treat her with grace and like a person. In the present, Grace is forced to live up to Jack's unyielding expectations of the most perfect wife and hostess. Any deviation from his expectations means that she will be punished.
There are parts of the story that seem rather farfetched. However, there were parts of the book that felt like it rang true: Grace's attempts at escape are often thwarted because Jack has painted her a madwoman who's prone to hysterics about her loving husband. This actually sent a chill down my back, because it seems all too believable that her incoherence, due to her fear and anxiety, could be misconstrued as mental illness, especially when her husband appears to be so eloquent and seemingly worried about her.
The story is propelled forward by its momentum, as there is a looming deadline ahead of Grace in which Grace will have to make her escape. And the ending is quite satisfying as all the loose ends are tied up.
The plot of the story really is as straightforward as it sounds in my description and it reminds me a little of [b:Into the Darkest Corner|15818362|Into the Darkest Corner|Elizabeth Haynes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355923186l/15818362._SY75_.jpg|14106097], except that this book doesn't lean so much into the psychological horror aspect of the story (although Jack does a series of really terrible things) but falls more into the pulpy thriller genre. The book alternates between the past and the present. In the past, Grace falls for Jack, the first man who seems to get along with her younger sister, Millie. Millie has Down's syndrome and most of her boyfriends were daunted by the prospect of her dream that Millie live with them after she graduates from her school. Jack is the first man who seems to accept Millie and to treat her with grace and like a person. In the present, Grace is forced to live up to Jack's unyielding expectations of the most perfect wife and hostess. Any deviation from his expectations means that she will be punished.
There are parts of the story that seem rather farfetched.
Spoiler
For example, Jack's name is literally Jack Angel, who is quite laughable and obvious actually because he's really nothing like an angel. Furthermore, we're told that Jack has never lost a single case, which seems quite impossible. And Jack's motivations remain very simple: he's simply a psychopath that enjoys it when other people fear it. Furthermore, it seems odd to me that nobody would question how Grace doesn't have a mobile phone or her own email, aside from the wife of Jack's new acquaintance. Given that it's the 21st century, it seems odd that nobody would find it strange that Grace doesn't have any of her own social media either.The story is propelled forward by its momentum, as there is a looming deadline ahead of Grace in which Grace will have to make her escape.
Spoiler
Her sister Millie is due to move into the house soon, which means that Jack would have the opportunity to terrorise her like he wishes. Grace needs to figure out a way to leave his clenches before that happens, which introduces some momentum to the story.Spoiler
Grace manages to murder Jack and passing it off as a suicide due to his first failed case. The only one who ever suspects anything is her newfound friend.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Creepy, gripping, and thankfully happy ending.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I flipping KNEW there was a reason why this was on TBR after I’d already read it, and I’ll give you this: It did NOT disappoint.
The mood is so flipping tuff the entire time. Like even though Grace had reason to be hopeless, she was so locked in. And don’t even get me started on my genuine favorite character.
Like read this ASAP or I may have a grade one crashout
The mood is so flipping tuff the entire time. Like even though Grace had reason to be hopeless, she was so locked in. And don’t even get me started on my genuine favorite character.
Like read this ASAP or I may have a grade one crashout