Behind Closed Doors

by B. A. Paris

The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie? Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do. You'd like to get to know Grace better. But it's difficult, because you realise Jack and Grace are never apart. Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn't work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.

• ISBN10: 1250121000
• ISBN13: 9781250121004
• Publish Date: 9 August 2016 (first published 5 February 2016)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 1 August 2022
• Imprint: St. Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[zooloo1983]

This was a book that I buddy read with the 5-star bar girls from the podcast I am a part of. On the Facebook page, someone wrote a post about whether we would read it and it was fun to do. The discussion afterwards was interesting, as we all took different aspects of the book and our views did not always match.

I did enjoy this book, it was intense for me. I was never quite sure how it would play out. Its hard to say too much but you can guess from the blurb something is not quite right. The depth of this psychological/coercive control is deep and dark and it is enough to terrify them to behave the way they are made to. I will admit I had a couple of niggles with their behaviour because I am not sure it is how I would have expected them to act at the start. But once you allow the behaviour it's a slippery long slope down that path.

This is not the type of book where you figure out what is going on. You are told pretty much straight away this is it and this is how it is going to be. I did struggle to digest some of the attempts for escaping to how the abuser was one step ahead. The initial trip to Thailand had me scratching my head at the lengths that they would go to always be in control. Because, when you boil it down that is what this was all about. The control one person can have on another person’s life. Even though I did think it was a bit far fetched at times, if you had been beaten down that much, well I think you would just about do anything. But the power that one person holds is addictive and we are told this. It is disturbing, to say the least, the enjoyment they got, the fact they could smell the fear and they got off on it. Fear itself became a character in this book for me. It was palpable between the characters, the uncertainty of what might happen next. Who doesn’t love that feeling in a book!!

I have to say I loved Millie, Graces sister. She was far more intelligent than people gave her credit for and definitely an unsung hero of the book.

So many times I was screaming in my head for someone to cotton on, or for the abused to make it clear what was happening. Somehow though the abuser was 10 steps ahead at all times and planned for things I would never have thought of! Even when I thought an outsider had started to pick at things over dinner, still in my head I was screaming for something to happen. All this, added to how dire the situation was and how there was very little hope.

I am being elusive on purpose about the story and identity as I feel it is something you should discover and not be told by me. It is not a light read but yet I found it a book I didn’t want to put down as I wanted to see how it would all play out. Things are left to the imagination and not always sure that is a good thing

[catiebug]

I was intrigued by this book but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did.

This book is freaking amazing. It's so twisted and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I did not want to put it down.

It starts off having you interested because something seems odd and off with Jack and Grace. Then you just a point where you just have to keep reading because you just need to know what is going on. And what Grace is going to do.

[Leah]

Behind Closed Doors is one of those books you read, hardly believing what it is you’re actually reading. It makes you question everything. First off, it made me question why Grace was so willing to jump into the relationship – and then marriage – with Jack so quickly, without being even the tiniest bit suspicious? I was pretty much screaming at her in my head, wondering what she was doing, why she was so eager to jump into something so quickly, with someone she barely knew. But, that was her decision, and to give her some credit, Jack seemed like the perfect man. But I also stress DO NOT DO THIS. In this world of the Internet, make sure you thoroughly look into someone you’re thinking of marrying, don’t just jump in like it’s no big deal! IT’S A BIG DEAL.

Saying that, mind, considering how charming Jack was and the fact that Grace had Millie to consider I can see why she jumped so quickly. What baffled me the most is how it all changed so quickly. Like the blink of an eye. The synopsis itself tells you Grace ends up a prisoner in her own home, but the manner in which it all comes around, and the way those scenes made me feel will stick with me for a while yet. It was almost like Jack was an entirely different person and for his performances he deserved an Oscar. The scariest part, for me, was how absolutely thorough Jack was. Where Grace saw opportunities, Jack had already covered his back and it’s SO easy to see why no one suspects anything! It was the perfect freaking facade.

This book moves at a breakneck pace. Everyone read this book last year and I am very, very late to the party, mostly because I am allergic to reading books people hype up massively, in case I get disappointed. So I waited and I saw both of B.A. Paris’ books at the library and took the plunge on a whim and I am glad I did. It’s one of the most unique thrillers I’ve ever read, and Grace is a far better person than I am because I would have jumped off the balcony in Thailand. Everything about this book. The scope. The tiny little details. It’s scary, but it was so addictive, so hard to put down.

Grace’s frustrations, her inability to outwit Jack, all made me angry and worried and bothered and tense. I felt constantly threatened, even though I was happily (mostly) sitting on my sofa reading, but the sense of impending doom was always there. B.A. Paris has written such an incredible book. In fact, I would go so far as to say I would have loved to have had Jack’s point of view. I am fascinated by what it is that makes people like Jack do what they do, and I felt like there was untapped potential there. I don’t know if B.A. Paris would ever write that, but I would certainly read it.

And before I finish up, can we talk about that ending? Thrillers are notorious for bad endings, endings that just peter out like the author couldn’t be bothered to finish the book, but this one worked. Do I wonder what would happen in the future? Yes. But I was also immensely satisfied with how it all went down. The scariest bit about Behind Closed Doors is how the book changed Jack AND Grace. I would so read a sequel about what happened afterwards. But if that is that, that is also fine for me. Behind Closed Doors was an exceptional thriller. The writing, the pace, the sense of fear I had every time Jack was in a scene, the addition of Grace’s sister Millie who I’ve not really spoken about, but who I loved down to her bones, for being this wonderful girl, Downs isn’t something I know much about, and I feel like I learned a bit more by reading about Millie. But Grace. I admire everything about Grace, the way she was there for her sister no matter what, everything she did in this book, her strength. What a read. What a fantastic read. If you haven’t read this book you MUST.

[pagesbycyndy]

This book blew me away! It was one of my favorite books of 2016. The opening chapter is so damn deceiving but the I knew form the title that this was going to be a real twisted thriller. To date, Jack is one of my most hated fiction villains. Grace is so unsuspecting, has no idea what lies ahead for her and honestly, with each page it just got more unbelievable. The good thing about Grace is that she is a fighter and extremely resourceful. Jack is so manipulative, obviously he is a sociopath with some serious issues. We find out about Jack's past bit by bit as the story unfolds. The way that the author unfolds this story is genius really, just a little bit at a time. We meet Grace's sister early on and unfortunately for Grace, Jack manipulates Grace using her sister, who is defenseless and relies on Grace and Jack for everything. This book will probably make single girls think twice about who they will marry. It was one of the most twisted books, that actually made me cringe and gasp at the same time. I was, of course cheering Grace on throughout the book but honestly, Jack was always just one step ahead.

Verdict:

I have put this book on my top ten books read in 2016. This was a dark, twisted and unable to put down book. While the subject matter is extremely uncomfortable to read  about, the author does a fantastic job writing about it and telling this unbelievable tale!This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge

[Stephanie]

After reading books like this I'm never sure how I feel. I don't like books that could easily be someone's terrifying reality. At least not when the only aim was to terrify you but I couldn't put this down because I had to know how it ended.

[Eve1972]

6 + Stars!

HOLY FRIGGING CRAZY BATMAN!!

This book was AWESOME! This book deserves an Academy Award!

This was me whilst reading this book...







Seriously Jack...



Then I was back to...





And then that ending....