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A review by powerpuffgoat
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
slow-paced
2.5
This book is completely devoid of subtlety. The way it's written feels very simplistic.
Interestingly, this matter-of-factly narration works well to build an atmosphere of dread and hopelessness when it describes the psychological torture Grace suffers at the hands of Jack.
Unfortunately, it also ruins the rest of the book. The story of how Grace Angel (yep) ended up in this situation is so utterly implausible, especially considering her background and her devotion to her sister.
You're telling me that this strong-willed and savvy woman, who had not only been in relationships before, but ended them because her sister was the main priority... The same woman ignores an entire parade of red flags because some guy danced with Millie at the park and said he would be delighted to have her come live with them. A red flag in itself! The highlights include:
Interestingly, this matter-of-factly narration works well to build an atmosphere of dread and hopelessness when it describes the psychological torture Grace suffers at the hands of Jack.
Unfortunately, it also ruins the rest of the book. The story of how Grace Angel (yep) ended up in this situation is so utterly implausible, especially considering her background and her devotion to her sister.
You're telling me that this strong-willed and savvy woman, who had not only been in relationships before, but ended them because her sister was the main priority... The same woman ignores an entire parade of red flags because some guy danced with Millie at the park and said he would be delighted to have her come live with them. A red flag in itself! The highlights include:
- Jack asking Grace to marry him three months into dating, before they ever slept together
- Jack insisting that the wedding is within the next couple of months.
- Jack asking Grace to quit her job so she could be home waiting for him.
- Jack insisting he would buy a house as a wedding present for Grace. She is not to set foot in it until after the wedding.
- Jack vanishing on their wedding night.
- Jack giving Grace an ultimatum of either going to their honeymoon or visiting her beloved sister in the hospital.
Our main character, however, ignores it all. She concedes to every creepy demand, sells her own flat for some reason, hands the money over to her future husband, leaves her job and goes to the airport with Jack even though he treats her like crap.
It also hurts the image of Jack as the villain because he is so cartoonishly evil. Once Grace falls for what is equivalent to the Nigerian prince scam, he sits her down and does his villain speech.
Toward the end of the book, when we finally get some action, it is again so clunky and unsubtle, it's difficult to read without cringing.
"Hi Jack, this is your human wife calling from abroad to establish my alibi. Love you!"
Grace's clever plan hinges on so many odd assumptions, it reminded me of the idiotic plot in A Simple Plan where
Another downside of the book was the repetitive language. Grace bursts into tears at every occasion, or the tears prickle her eyes, or she feels desperate. In case you think it's fitting considering the situation, this happens before any abuse had even began.
This could have been such a good book, had the author spent more time setting it up and avoided spoonfeeding us information. The accounts of abuse in this book are really horrific, and unfortunately, not entirely unrealistic. It's just difficult to sympathise with Grace because she acted like a dumdum at the start.