Behind Closed Doors

Author: B.A. Paris

This will be my first ever book review written. I’m trying to read (or listen… I love audiobooks while sitting in rush hour traffic) more so I thought it might be a great idea to incorporate my thoughts on this website along with David.

Behind Closed Doors tells the story of a couple who seem to be the perfect couple. Jack and Grace have the looks, the charm, the wealth, and the elegance of a perfect marriage. But that’s all is seen on the outside. Behind Closed Doors, Jack and Grace are not so perfect and this book sends you in a fast paced tale of a psychopathic man and the strong will of a scorned woman.

SPOILERS from here on out.

Jack is a character that you could pull right out of a Criminal Minds episode. Feeding off the fear that he instills in Grace, it’s how he gets off. Jack tricks Grace into marrying him (being charming until the day of their wedding), he convinces her to quit her job, sell her house, and allow her autistic sister to move in with them. He doesn’t really care if he has Grace, Jack just wants her sister, because the fear from a young autistic woman is everything he has ever dreamed of. The fact that he only cares about the fear is a bit interesting to me. He never does anything sexual to her and he never beats her, just the sheer fact that she is terrified is all he needs.

Grace on the other hand, is putting up with it for two reasons. One, she just can’t get away. Each time she tries, he doesn’t allow her to see her sister, which is basically her most loved thing in the world. And second, she’s trying to find a way to not allow her sister to move in with them, to save her in some way.

The relationship between Grace and her sister is a great one that I loved hearing about. Though having autism, she seemed to be smarter than Grace in a lot of things, which is excellent. She even was able to find the way for Grace to get rid of her husband and save the both of them.

Esther is a new friend to Grace, and honestly I really enjoyed their blossoming relationship (well what little they had. I found myself tearing up at the end of the book when she offers her help to Grace.

One thing that pissed me off was the dog. I’m just glad that the author didn’t go into grave and gory details in this. I almost started crying even though it was completely obvious that the story was going to take me to that point. And it made me hate Jack even more than I already did.

I enjoyed what little suspense there was in the beginning. While they were dating and while they were at dinner with their friends (the first past and present scenes) it was obvious that something wasn’t quite right with Jack by the way Grace talked, but it was unclear as to what would happen. At least until they got to Thailand, then the plot spiraled up and up until the end of the book. It was a pleasant thing to listen to (audiobook this time… I found myself thinking in Georgia Maguire’s voice a lot while listening to this book).

END

Behind Closed Doors is full of anticipation after each time we are told past and present events. The ending was perfect and I definitely recommend this to people who love thrillers and Criminal Minds (my favorite show by far!). I would be interested in reading some of Paris’s other books: The Breakdown and Bring Me Back which is being released this summer. I’ll give it a 5/5 for my first ever book review!

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