Search This Blog
Love reading challenges? Check out my other blog:
2021 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
-Alaska (1)
-Arizona (4)
-Arkansas (1)
-California (11)
-Colorado (2)
-Connecticut (2)
-Delaware (1)
-Florida (2)
-Georgia (1)
-Hawaii (2)
-Idaho (1)
-Illinois (7)
-Indiana (1)
-Iowa (1)
-Kansas (1)
-Kentucky (1)
Washington (6)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Louisiana (1)
-Maine (1)
-Maryland (2)
-Massachusetts (2)
-
-
-
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (3)
-Nebraska (1)
-Nevada (3)
-New Hampshire (1)
-New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico
-New York (11)
-
-
-
-
- New Mexico
-
- North Carolina (2)
-North Dakota (1)
-Ohio (7)
-
-
- Oklahoma (1)
-Oregon (4)
-
- Pennsylvania (5)
-Rhode Island (1)
-South Carolina (1)
-South Dakota (1)
-Tennessee (3)
-
-
-
-
- Texas (6)
- Utah (2)
- Vermont (3)
- Virginia (3)
- - West Virginia (1)
-Wisconsin (2)
-Wyoming (2)
-
-
- *Washington, D.C. (1)
International:
Australia (3)
Canada (8)
China (2)
England (20)
France (2)
Ireland (2)
Italy (1)
Japan (1)
Norway (1)
Scotland (1)
Spain (1)
Switzerland (1)
The Philippines (1)
Wales (1)
2021 Fall Into Reading Challenge
2021 Children's Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
(Hosted by Yours Truly!)
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge
Booklist Queen's 2021 Reading Challenge
2021 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
2021 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
The 52 Club's 2021 Reading Challenge
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Much-Hyped Psychological Thriller Compelling, But Hardly 'Amazing' or 'Brilliant'
8:22 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Newlyweds Jack and Grace Angel have what looks like the perfect marriage. Their luxurious Spring Eaton home is one of the finest in Surrey. Wealthy, successful, and beautiful, they're the perfect couple. Except that their gleaming facade is a gilded lie. Jack is a sadistic psychopath, Grace his terrified prisoner. Desperate to save her sister—a 17-year-old with Down Syndrome—from Jack's clutches, Grace must find a way to break free. But, how can she escape her personal Fort Knox? Will anyone believe her incredible claims about her refined lawyer husband? How can she save her sister when she can't even protect herself?
Behind Closed Doors, a debut novel by B.A. Paris, has been touted as "2016's Answer to Gone Girl" (Women's Health), a chilling psychological thriller that is "Amazing!", "Brilliant!", and "Unputdownable!" I agree that it's compelling; I had to keep reading just to find out how it would end. But amazing and brilliant? Meh. Not only does the plot lack depth and complexity, but it also gets a little absurd. Far-fetched. I prefer my psychological thrillers to take a subtler approach, surprising me with clever twists. Behind Closed Doors does not do this. The story is engrossing, there's no denying that. It's just not very original or satisfying overall. For me, it didn't live up to the hype it's been receiving. Not at all. Bummer, that.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs); violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Behind Closed Doors from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
7 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Listening
How to Get Away with Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Followin' with Bloglovin'
Followin' with Feedly
-
Freedom's Song1 hour ago
-
-
-
Son of Godzilla3 hours ago
-
145. The Legend of Auntie Po8 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Can’t Wait Wednesday!18 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Gated Prey by Lee Goldberg1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Books read in November1 week ago
-
-
Books I’ve Added to My TBR1 week ago
-
Happy Thanksgiving to all!1 week ago
-
Rising from the Ashes2 weeks ago
-
What is Kindle Vella?3 weeks ago
-
Blog With Character Tag3 weeks ago
-
LOVE AND LAVENDER by Josi S Kilpack5 weeks ago
-
-
-
My September 2021 Round-up1 month ago
-
On the Night Table [3]: Life Lately3 months ago
-
Backlist Bonanza: Reviewlettes4 months ago
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Design by:
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (147)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ▼ 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
The funny thing is, I think Gone Girl and Girl on a Train were nothing special. This one wasn't mind blowing or anything but I was totally engrossed.
ReplyDeleteBoth GONE GIRL and GIRL ON A TRAIN had twists I didn't see coming (granted, I'm super gullible). BEHIND CLOSED DOORS was just too straightforward - no complexity, no twists, no subtlety. It kept me reading, but in the end, it wasn't satisfying for me. At all.
DeleteSusan, it is amazing how different we are as bloggers even when we have similar interest. I wasn't a fan of Gone Girl and no interest in reading The Girl on the Train but I did really enjoy Behind Closed Doors, giving it a 4 1/2 stars. The intensity throughout I thought amazing and it would be memorable for me so as a debut definitely gets point for me. I chose it for book club and can't wait to discuss on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays
Right? That's probably what I love most about the book blogosphere - how varied people's opinions are, even when they both like the same kinds of books.
DeleteHappy Holidays to you, too!
I hated this book, n o t well written with flat characters.
ReplyDeleteI didn't HATE it, but I didn't LIKE it either. I agree on both the characters and the prose in general.
DeleteI enjoyed this one. I was pretty hooked on it but I agree the praise for it was a bit much.
ReplyDelete