This book had me at the edge of my seat, and kept me second guessing at every turn of the page. Loved it and I know you will too!


Thank you Maria Frankland and Bookouture for the advance reader copy!

This is the first book I’ve read by @writermaria_f and it didn’t disappoint. I loved it!
It’s so intense and gripping. I couldn’t put it down. With so many twists and an unexpected ending. Just brilliant.
The story follows Paul, who is awaiting trial for the murder of his wife Michelle.
It’s well written with intriguing believable characters. Told through multiple POV’s with past and present day timelines. A rollercoaster of emotions as a seemly perfect marriage unravels with secrets and lies as the story unfolds.
Overall, an enjoyable page turning compelling domestic psychological thriller. Definitely recommend if you enjoy this genre.
With thanks to #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #TheMarriedCouple in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 6 August 2024.

I don’t like leaving negative reviews because I know how hard authors work on their craft. My personal option should not impact if someone else picks up this book…we all have different things we like/don’t like. With that said, I read the entire book but quickly skimmed through much of it. I think it could have been much shorter..leaving much of the legal jargon out. Also I feel like the characters continued to go through the same battle/conversations over and over. I was a little surprised by the end but it was somewhat predictable. Didn’t really care for it since poor Emily was the one with the most to lose. Appreciate the context and raising awareness of domestic abuse. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy.

The Married Couple by Maria Frankland is not at all what you would expect, and you will be hard-pressed to put it down once you have started.

Paul and Michelle have a tumultuous relationship, and that is putting things quite mildly. While on a holiday with their young daughter, their long-simmering tensions will bubble over, and the police will be called to investigate when Michelle is brutally attacked. Naturally, Paul is taken into custody, but have Michelle's erratic behaviours and wild accusations really pushed him this far?

This is a gripping read about domestic abuse and the response when someone is forced to the very brink. None of us truly know what happens in the privacy of someone else's home. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

WOW! I went into this book blind, and I'm so glad I did! This was not what I was expecting, but this book was everything I needed it to be and more. I loved everything about this story.

Michelle and Paul appear to be the perfect couple, but there are definitely cracks in their marriage. Michelle is killed, and Paul is accused of her murder. Their daughter Emily refuses to speak after her mother's murder. Everyone thinks Paul is guilty. Is he responsible for killing Michelle? Or is there more to the story?

There is definitely MORE to the story! This is an emotional book that will pull all of the emotions out of you. I went through a plethora of emotions while reading this one. The plot moved at a great and engaging pace as we saw Paul's trial unfold as well as glimpses into what life was like with Michelle. The characters were well developed, as I really got to know Paul and Michelle and felt sympathetic to both of them.

This book was full of twists and turns, and the ending...SO UNEXPECTED! This is my favorite book I've read by Frankland to date. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not what I was expecting, but it was interesting to read about an abusive relationship where the wife abuses the husband. You don’t read or hear about this kind of relationship often, and I thought that Frankland handled the subject matter well and in an informative way.

I liked how the story was told in the present with flashbacks leading up to it. It showed Paul and Michelle’s relationship and how it progressed to Paul being on trial for her murder. I thought the subject matter was hard to read at times, and yet, I couldn’t put this book down. The trial was interesting and I liked that we got to see how the system works.

I loved how Frankland threw in a bunch of red herrings and made me feel like a few different people could have done it. I did figure out who it was which made the book drag a bit for me after the trial, but overall I thought it was a well written and unique story.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fast paced domestic thriller which may be confronting for some readers so please check trigger warnings before commencing!

The writing was easy to follow but hard to read due to the nature of the subject. Paul and Michelle have a less than perfect marriage. With Paul often finding himself being verbally and physically abused by Michelle.

When Michelle is found stabbed during a family holiday, Paul is immediately arrested. But did he do it?

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the copy of the book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #TheMarriedCouple by #MariaFrankland. Michelle is dead and all things point to her husband, Paul as being responsible. Is he guilty? They had their problems and it’s starting to all come out. This gripping book had me on edge and makes me second guess what goes on behind closed doors.

Maria Frankland returns following The Taken Child with her latest emotional and intense domestic suspense thriller, THE MARRIED COUPLE.

With a creative twist, this time around, it is at the hands of an abusive wife to her husband, pushing him to the edge. You will be glued to the pages to see how this INTENSE thriller will end.

About...

Paul is married to Michelle, and they have a young six-year-old daughter, Emily.

As the book opens, they are on holiday at Summerfield Holiday Park in Filey. Michelle has been stabbed. The traumatized little girl witnesses the tragic event.

Paul Jackson is arrested for suspicion of attempted murder.

From here the events leading up to the tragic event unfolds. From secrets, lies, and abuse, what goes on behind closed doors?

Emily is now not talking due to the trauma. A co-worker, Alana gets involved and her husband.

Paul is in an abusive relationship, but he stays and tolerates it for his daughter. However, things escalate. Will the laws protect the husband from the wife, any more than they protect wives from husbands?

What really happened to Michelle?

My thoughts...

Maria realistically explores domestic abuse by turning it around with the wife as the abuser, both emotionally, mentally, and physically.

THE MARRIED COUPLE is complex, intense, suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and captivating! Each chapter unravels hidden layers of the characters' lives and their secrets.

We hear from Michelle, Paul, Lee, David, Susan, and Alana. From alternating chapters of legalities, court appearances, defense, and events leading up to the murder. There are highly charged topics of mental health, jealousy, anger, domestic abuse, self-harm, trauma, and manipulation. Lots of dysfunction and drama.

The author offers a clever twist, with an unexpected turn in the plot that challenges the reader's assumptions about the characters and their actions. This twist provides a realistic view of domestic abuse that does not go away, making the book difficult to read at times, especially for those who have ever experienced domestic abuse.

The author dedicates the book to those men and women who have suffered at the hands of a partner who is supposed to have loved and cherished them. This dedication, along with the resources for domestic abuse and violence, is a testament to the author's empathy and understanding of the issue.

THE MARRIED COUPLE was initially released as "The Man Behind Closed Doors" in 2020 (her first novel) and re-released by Bookouture in Aug 2024.

Thanks to Bookouture for a gifted digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 6, 2024
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He is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.



While in jail, he thinks about his life and marriage to Michelle and the story is told through flashbacks to the past. We hear of her jealousy and paranoia, her mood swings and violence when she’s been drinking, which is often. Michelle has her own issues she is dealing with but takes it out on Paul……all the while their young daughter Emily is in the middle.

Oh my gosh, couldn’t believe it, another thrilling book. Certainly kept me guessing and in fact, I had to re-read sections to fully appreciate the twist at the end.

A married couple go on holiday with their daughter to try and repair their marriage that was falling apart due to a jealous wife. Paul, the husband, gets accused of killing his wife Michelle. The story continues with suspicion everywhere. The courtroom scenes really became emotion-packed and I felt I was there witnessing it all. But the end really surprised me and as I said above, I had to re read parts to fully appreciate the twist. Boy oh boy,,,

Well done Maria.

This gripping and fast-paced book offers a unique perspective on domestic violence which I don't think is shown enough.
I loved this book. It was easy to binge in one day. The story was very easy to follow. All in all I highly recommend this book to everyone.
This will definitely be a author I will look out for in the future with upcoming books!

I did find this book enjoyable and it kept me entertained throughout. My only issue was that it dragged on a bit too much and it went into far too much unnecessary detail

Another Frankland book that I couldn't put down. Super quick read (finished in a day) and was captivated from the very beginning.
I will say it was a little predictable, and I definitely saw the twist before it came. But it was a well told story overall.

The Married Couple by Maria Frankland was a fast-paced thriller kept me on the edge of my seat.
Frankland’s writing is taut and evocative, skillfully building an atmosphere of unease and suspense.
I was so intrigued from that first chapter so I literally couldn't put this down.
This is a superb chilling thriller that I highly recommend to fans of mystery and suspense.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I loved this book right away, the twists and turns were so well done, they really kept me hooked until the very end.

My first Maria Frankland novel but definitely not my last. The characters were fantastic and kept me totally invested in the story. Some I loved and some I loved to hate. This was packed with tension and emotion. It was hard to know who to trust.
Thank you NetGalley, Maria Frankland and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book

Am nofel, sy’n dal eich sylw o’r brawddegau cyntaf, Mae’r sgwennu yn glyfar, yn symud yn gyflym ac yn llawn emosiwn. Mae themâu anodd yma fel cam-drin domestig, trawma yn ystod plentyndod ac ymddygiad sy’n rheoli. Rydym yn cael ein cyflwyno i Michelle a Paul a’u merch fach Emily wrth iddyn nhw fynd i’r afael â’u problemau personol o fewn eu priodas. Mae ôl digwyddiadau trawmatig yn ystod plentyndod i’w weld yn ymddygiad ambell gymeriad wrth i’r stori neidio rhwng y presennol a’r gorffennol, ac fe gawn ambell bennod o safbwynt eraill hefyd. Nofel yn llawn themâu heriol, sy’n gwneud i chi ddyfalu (nes i ddyfalu hanner y stori ond roedd ambell dro annisgwyl!) ac yn sicr o ddod â dagrau wrth ddarllen. Wedi mwynhau’n fawr!

What a novel, it catches your attention from the first few sentences. The writing is clever, fast paced, and full of emotion. Difficult themes crop up, including domestic abuse, childhood trauma and controlling behaviour. We are introduced to Michelle and Paul and their young daughter Emily as they try to deal with their personal marital issues. The impact of traumatic events during childhood is shown for a couple of the characters and reflected in their behaviour as the story jumps from the present to the past, with a few chapters from other perspectives too. A novel full of challenging themes, that leaves you guessing, (I only managed to guess half the story, some twists were completely unexpected!) and it will certainly bring tears to your eyes as you read. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Book Review: The Married Couple by Maria Frankland

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed 'Last Christmas' by Maria Frankland last year, which I rated 4 stars, I was eager to dive into 'The Married Couple.' Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.

When I started reading, I hadn't realized that this was a rerelease of the 2020 title 'The Man Behind Closed Doors: The Other Side of Domestic Bliss.' This surprised me because despite the republishing, there were still noticeable typos and issues that should have been addressed.

Several plot points left me scratching my head. For instance, Paul's swift arrest and charge seemed unfounded. There was no substantial evidence against his story, and no new evidence emerged to justify the case against him. The entire investigation felt flimsy and circumstantial.

The narrative structure was another major issue. The story jumps around significantly, with some chapters indicating the perspective, while most do not. The shifts between past and present are abrupt and confusing. I imagine listening to an audiobook version would make it even more challenging to follow.

By 30% of the way through, I had already predicted the killer's identity, which significantly diminished the suspense. While the book touches on the important theme of men being victims of domestic violence, I felt it was not handled effectively.

The ending was disappointingly predictable, with an unnecessary twist that undermined the book's core message. Additionally, the court case depicted was unrealistic. Lawyers asking only an average of five questions per witness seemed implausible, and the absence of medical examiner testimony was glaring.

As an Australian, I found it odd that a newspaper would report a verbal altercation as a "row." This might be a cultural difference, but it felt out of place.

Thank you to Bookoture, Netgalley, and the author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my opinions.

This book was amazing. It had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. It was easy to find sympathy for certain characters as well as to dislike others. The author also did an amazing job of drawing awareness to a problem in society that is often not talked about. Great story!