Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

59 reviews

mecmccann's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Behind Closed Doors was a better version of the same tropes in The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden. In this book, we follow a young girl who meets and quickly marries who she thinks is the man of her dreams. But on their wedding day, her sister and bridesmaid who has downs syndrome falls down the stairs and breaks her leg. They proceed with the wedding, and her new husband turns on her. He confides that it isn't her that he wants, its her sister. (though it's not clear what for. He said this in the same breath as "having sex with you was cumbersome and I didn't want to do it," so I think he wanted to assault her). He locks her in a room, he takes all her money, he starves her and tortures her. 

It's dark. I don't mind darkness, in fact, I typically like a psychological horror/thriller book. However, this was too straightforward and lacked any suspense. And this main character was not getting that he wanted to rape her disabled sister and put off getting out of the situation until the absolute last second. Is that where the suspense was? I didn't love this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

tinkerbell2706's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Completely fell in love with this book finished it in one day, could not put it down! The characters are so well written and I can’t stop reading the last 5 pages! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting

lauren2196's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

afrobunn13's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Kidnapping

Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

kristysproule's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Infertility, and Miscarriage

ktinaisabel's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Animal death and Miscarriage

nmf16's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller and got through it in just a couple of days. 
The only reason it didn’t get 5* is because I felt the ending was a bit rushed and there were a couple of plot holes that left me thinking “but what about that…..” still a really enjoyable read though! Would recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent

eggheadean's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping

naaats21's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

To me the story was very repetitive, I found myself getting bored waiting for the falling action or waiting for the “big part” of the book. It was very repetitive until about the last 2 bourse of the book. Towards the end of the book it was very predictable. I did not love either of the main characters, found the girl a little boring. 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Kidnapping

hugsy85's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read a lot of dark thrillers and this one made me incredibly uncomfortable. Even though I read the trigger warnings before starting - or maybe I missed some - there were topics that came up that I was not prepared for. 

I had to take breaks and keep reminding myself that it is just a book. The subject matter is unsettling and the amount in which Jack tortures Grace both physically, mentally and psychologically as well as his promises for the future involving Grace's family ... It was a lot 

Overall it did keep me on edge which is the point and I was impressed with the ending. Definitely worth a read if you are into dark thrillers - but again - read the trigger warnings beforehand.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail