Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and … and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.
But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.
Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.
Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.
From bestselling author B. A. Paris comes the gripping thriller and international phenomenon Behind Closed Doors.
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING DEBUT PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER YOU CAN’T MISS!
The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie?
“A hair-raising debut, both unsettling and addictive…A chilling thriller that will keep you reading long into the night.” –Mary Kubica, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Good Girl
“This is one readers won’t be able to put down.” —Booklist (starred review)
“A can’t-put-down psychological thriller.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“This debut is guaranteed to haunt you…Warning: brace yourself.” —Bustle (10 New Thrillers to Read This Summer)
“The sense of believably and terror that engulfs Behind Closed Doors doesn’t waver.” –The Associated Press, picked up by The Washington Post
“This was one of the best and most terrifying psychological thrillers I have ever read.” —San Francisco Book Review
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Why do people keep comparing this book to Gone Girl? It’s sooooo much better! This is the story of the seemingly perfect couple, Jack and Grace. The title of the book immediately tells you that things are not what they seem, but to what extent may surprise you. I’m the kind of reader that can see a plot twist coming from a mile away but I have to admit that this one blindsided me!
This book is nominated for a Goodreads award for Best Mystery & Thriller as well as Best Debut Novel and I wouldn’t be surprised if this won either award. A year from now I full expect to be sitting in a theater watching this on the big screen.
I don’t use this expression lightly, but “I couldn’t put it down!” There aren’t many books I’ve read in one sit-down, but Behind Closed Doors gave me no option!
Summary
Jack is the perfect man. As a lawyer, he protects battered women. As a husband, he is always by his wife’s side. As a brother-in-law, he cares for Millie despite her flaws. Or so it seems. Anyone could envy the kind of life that Grace has with her wealthy and handsome husband. But nobody knows why Grace doesn’t have her own phone or her own email address, and why she’s so slim when she always cooks sumptuous meals whenever there are guests in the house. There is definitely something strange happening behind closed doors, but will anyone ever know?
Review
Behind Closed Doors is a psychological suspense thriller by B.A. Paris. I’ve had this novel in my TBR list for such a long time, but I have been delaying reading it because I get scared too easily and the reviews made it seem like it’s something I can’t handle to read. Now, I finally understand what the hype is all about. There’s a different kind of suspense touch to it that doesn’t need to be too gruesome and I’m glad it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. But it was full of suspense that every chapter made me hungry for another chapter.
I’m giving this 5 out of 5 stars. It’s the subtle control that Jack had, and the awkward discreetness that Grace had to pull off, that made me love this book. On top of these, Millie’s dislike for George Clooney was amusing and it made me wonder if the author hates the actor in real life. I highly recommend this book to readers who want something that is gripping and thought-provoking.
You really really need to read this book!
Amazing!!
I loved this book! It’s clear from page one that something isn’t right. I loved the way it built up and the subtle way the narrator moves from past tense to present so that by the end of the book you’re surrounded in the action, wondering just how things will ever work out. SO WELL DONE!
OMG!! This book!! I have no words…I finished this book in a day and cannot even begin to tell you how good it was. If you are looking for a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, this is it! It is the definition of a psychological thriller. Pick it up now!
This book is way better than Gone Girl. I actually texted my husband and thanked him for not being a psychopath. This would be a great summer read (I know, its almost September). Plan on reading this in one go
A well woven psychological thriller….. kept me in knots to the very end…. I had to read it in 1 day! Grabbed me and kept me in it! I could not get out! Locked in….
I am reading each of hers!
Had me hooked right from the very first page.
This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It’s definitely a page turner! If you like mystery and crime this book is for you!
I was so addicted to this story, I couldn’t put it down. A deliciously dark story of a seemingly perfect couple with so much to hide. This story takes the usual cliches to so many different levels. It had me checking over my shoulder, my heart pounding. I can’t say enough about this terrifying and claustrophobic story. Paris is one of my favorite authors and this book is easily one of my favorite books. The ending was perfect!
Ahhhhh
The book captivated me from the first chapter and every chapter thereafter, I found myself opening my eyes wider and wider with utter disbelief. With eyes opened to its maximum and mouth hung low, I continued reading about the perfect couple in the eyes of onlookers and friends and the most horrendous treatment anyone could give another “behind closed doors” (in the confines of their “comfort zone”).
How can an author conjure up such ideas if s/he him/herself is not psychotic?
The mystery and thriller documented in this book is ingenious and leaves the reader in awe. Brilliantly written.
Will this be made into a movie? I’m ready to watch it.
My all time favorite book. Very realistic, kept me awake. Definitely worth reading!
“The most emotional and psychologically” compelling book about sums this up. I was horrified, intrigued, disturbed, and the list continues. I think the author did a phenomenal job of creating her characters. I saw a few reviews in which readers were disappointed that they knew right away that Jack was evil; for me, that’s one of the reasons the story was so compelling. Jack’s constant innuendos to keep Grace in line are emotional and disturbing all on their own.
Were there a few unbelievable parts? Yes. Did it detract from the storyline? No. Actually, some of those unbelievable parts helped make the psychological trauma more manageable, for lack of a better explanation.
This book is highly disturbing (and yes, I know I’ve used that adjective a few times already, but it fits…), so it’s difficult to recommend to others. If you’re into psychological thrillers, then yes, this book will probably be right up your alley.
The author did such a fantastic job creating such an emotional storyline without too much “graphic detail.” A lot of the traumatic content comes from the imagination in how the author describes what we know is going to happen.
If you choose to read this one, know you’re going to be thinking about it for a while after you put it down. The content is meant to be disturbing (there’s that word again) and thought-provoking, and it succeeds in that.
Are you sure you don’t know a couple like this? Makes you look at things differently!
Wow! This is a page turner! The thing is it is freaky how this could happen in real life. Towards the end there is a section that drags on a little repetitively but I was hooked from start to finish.
My MOST favorite psychological thriller TO DATE.
This would be a five-star for me, but I can’t get past some of the events because I found them so disturbing. On the upside, they disturbed me because they felt so real which means the writing is excellent.
Wow is all I got. I can’t believe what Grace goes through. Jack is horrible!!!! Millie is awesome. I love that this author keep me up late into the night and early morning reading because I had to know what would happen next. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. Great job.