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crly1429's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Torture
kayyylawilliams's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so creepy but sooooo good. I couldn’t put it down and I literally had goose bumps when I finished it
duffjam's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, I liked the story line and the twists the book had, I found it wrapped up pretty quickly however and kinda left the reader hanging but not in a good way. Still enjoyed reading it, just wasn’t my favourite thriller
kaeleaxrose24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The plot of this psychological thriller had me sucked in from chapter 1, it kept me engaged and was a fun read throughout. It honestly makes you question any sweet and caring guy you run into. Do they have a dark past and want to do terrible things the second you say “I do”?
I liked that the chapters jumped from current to before. You got to see what Jack was like when he was being the charming man she fell in love with. Funny how quickly that changed.
The pacing was done well, however, the plot twists were a bit predictable. I was surprised by one thing that was mentioned, but the rest was easily guessed.
I think this would be a great read to a new thriller reader. It’s fast paced and easy to read in one sitting.
I liked that the chapters jumped from current to before. You got to see what Jack was like when he was being the charming man she fell in love with. Funny how quickly that changed.
The pacing was done well, however, the plot twists were a bit predictable. I was surprised by one thing that was mentioned, but the rest was easily guessed.
I think this would be a great read to a new thriller reader. It’s fast paced and easy to read in one sitting.
sannyv's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
After getting through this book like it was some actual physical labor I somehow needed to accomplish, it is an absolute mystery to me how this book can have that many fantastic reviews. Grace is absolutely unbearable in her gullibility, and the decisions she makes at every single turn are just.. Dumb. The set up is so that the author could have left out over a third of the book and we still would have come to the same conclusion. There are so many slow, tedious passages where we already know the outcome, and it was so much work and such a bore to chug through them.
The first 50 pages were so interesting, the book was really promising, but I just lost interest in the entire story at about page 90. It became so unbearably boring and idiotic, the two stars I gave are for the slightly twisting ending that wasn't even a twist, more like a gentle curve.
The first 50 pages were so interesting, the book was really promising, but I just lost interest in the entire story at about page 90. It became so unbearably boring and idiotic, the two stars I gave are for the slightly twisting ending that wasn't even a twist, more like a gentle curve.
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I had very few expectations of this novel with regard to the plot, writing style or the general construction. Any expectations that I did have were inferred from the blurb which suggested a crime novel dealing with an abusive relationship. 'Behind Closed Doors' certainly surpassed any expectations that I did have, with a very unique plot and genuinely chilling moments. The whole book was uncomfortable to read, not because it was 'bad' but because the subject was genuinely tense and frustrating and very 'good'. Every disturbing element translated so well from the page that it tickled my creepy-meter.
The plot grabbed hold of me from page one and dragged me along for the ride. The contrast between past and present really added a depth to the story-telling. Events in the present would be explained without contex. The context was eventually given in the 'Past' chapters, but they wouldn't necessarily come directly after, so there was often a wait for the reveal which built tension.
Where other novels of a similar theme can often be eye-rollingly dramatic and frustrating to read, I found this novel all the more terrifying because it was all so calm. Jack was so stunningly composed and collected and so subtle in his manipulations that it felt like it could happen to anyone. The introduction of Millie was so minor, and seemed to have no impact on the plot, but it became the key element that kept Grace to heel.
I felt like Jack was well-written and super-villainy but he wasn't the deepest of characters. Though he explained his motivations I didn't really feel that he was given enough page space to really get into his mind.
It also took me a while to warm to Grace because I felt that she was a bit too submissive and insipid at the start. She didn't seem to want to fight, and it was only as I delved into the past that I came to understand why, this also made her 'come back' all the more impacting. I just wished that she'd had a little more fight and a little more sass.
While I loved the impact of the plot, I sometimes felt that the writing style was a tad too formal and structured. The dialogue especially felt formal and unnatural. It felt as though I were reading a story that had been written with the purpose of being read, and not a natural story that I happened to be reading. If that makes any sense.
I loved how unique and chilling this novel was, and all the nuances and subtlety that made it all the more powerful. I would recommend and would absolutely read another by B.A. Paris.
The plot grabbed hold of me from page one and dragged me along for the ride. The contrast between past and present really added a depth to the story-telling. Events in the present would be explained without contex. The context was eventually given in the 'Past' chapters, but they wouldn't necessarily come directly after, so there was often a wait for the reveal which built tension.
Where other novels of a similar theme can often be eye-rollingly dramatic and frustrating to read, I found this novel all the more terrifying because it was all so calm. Jack was so stunningly composed and collected and so subtle in his manipulations that it felt like it could happen to anyone. The introduction of Millie was so minor, and seemed to have no impact on the plot, but it became the key element that kept Grace to heel.
I felt like Jack was well-written and super-villainy but he wasn't the deepest of characters. Though he explained his motivations I didn't really feel that he was given enough page space to really get into his mind.
It also took me a while to warm to Grace because I felt that she was a bit too submissive and insipid at the start. She didn't seem to want to fight, and it was only as I delved into the past that I came to understand why, this also made her 'come back' all the more impacting. I just wished that she'd had a little more fight and a little more sass.
While I loved the impact of the plot, I sometimes felt that the writing style was a tad too formal and structured. The dialogue especially felt formal and unnatural. It felt as though I were reading a story that had been written with the purpose of being read, and not a natural story that I happened to be reading. If that makes any sense.
I loved how unique and chilling this novel was, and all the nuances and subtlety that made it all the more powerful. I would recommend and would absolutely read another by B.A. Paris.
goobyworm23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The plot of the book is 5/5. It had such great potential to be a horrifying psychological thriller.
Unfortunately, the writing was too…. Obvious? Cheesy? The writing just didn’t land for me - it made it seem like a low budget scary movie.
Unfortunately, the writing was too…. Obvious? Cheesy? The writing just didn’t land for me - it made it seem like a low budget scary movie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Gaslighting
shelcatzoe's review against another edition
3.0
...it was a good premise, well written, and I was happy with the ending...
The only reason this is getting three stars is because of Molly 😭😭😭
The only reason this is getting three stars is because of Molly 😭😭😭