A review by thebigemmt505
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Behind Closed Doors is a thriller that critiques the idea perfection - there’s always potential for a skeleton in the closet.

The uneasy tone is set immediately at a dinner party that feels just off enough to make the reader suspicious, but not so much so it feels like front-loading. There’s immediate intrigue for the story, as the characters are rather flat. The pacing is pretty consistent and the storytelling is well-organized in chapters that flip between past and present. Unfortunately, it’s as the reader learns about what is going on behind closed doors that the story meanders and dwindles, falling too far into absurdity that’s it’s difficult to suspend one’s disbelief.

I have to give examples of my issues with this novel in the form of spoilers, unfortunately. Before the story, I have to point out the sentence structure. While not every story has to be written poetically to be good, this story is full of clunky and long sentences
“While I was fiercely proud of her, that she had managed to master the steps she was performing, I was also fiercely protective, and when I heard someone laughing behind me I had to remind myself that their laughter was probably kind and that even if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t affect Millie’s enjoyment of what she was doing.” “After all, he as good as admitted, when he said earlier that I was getting too clever for my own good, that he misses punishing me, so I can imagine how happy he must have been to see Esther’s message - and how he must have laughed at her attempt to help me.” goddamn those are paragraphs 
as well as bizarre adverbs
adding “-ly” to any adjective, no matter how awkward
. Also, and this is one word word usage I have to complain about:
the author says “to know the extent of his depravation” which, is a word, but is essentially never fucking used ever. why not just use depravity instead of a word that is barely correct and easily mistaken with “deprivation”?


As for the plot, it does meander in the middle. Grace’s decisions are often frustrating and bizarre. Jack’s calculation and intelligence are just as inconsistent, i.e.:
apparently he knows to check every restaurant for single bathrooms, but doesn’t think for a second Grace could be attempting to fool him when she talks about giving up + various other ludicrous decisions
. The reader is led to believe there’s more to than the story than is set up, but it truly lays all its cards on the table about 100 pages in. The rest of the tale is detailing Jacks cruelty, which, despite reviews, really isn’t all that shocking or graphic, nor is it unique or intriguing. Jack is a pretty flat character, one whose pure insanity has been done to death and much better in other works of fiction. That being said, it’s far from all bad. I found myself curious about the ending and rooting for Grace. The ending was satisfying, even if a bit unbelievable at points. The plot didn’t overstay its welcome which also helped. 

This is a debut novel, and the storytelling has a lot of potential. If you’re looking for a quick but simple thriller to read, picking this up isn’t the worst move. 
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