Behind Closed Doors
A Novel
by B.A. Paris
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Aug 09 2016 | Archive Date May 31 2017
Description
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
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 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.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781250121004 |
PRICE | $25.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Eerie behind-the-scenes look at the perfect couple. You will stay up late to finish the book to read this great psychological thriller.
A fantastic debut novel by B.A. Paris, 5++++ stars! A truly diabolical, twisted, psychological thriller that will have your "captured" from the beginning to the end! Kudos on your first novel!
This was a thousand times better than I thought it would be. I couldn't read this little thriller fast enough!
I received Behind Closed Doors as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Jack and Grace seem to have the perfect relationship. You never see one without the other socially. In fact, you never see or even speak to Grace without Jack around. What her friends don't know is that Jack is a psychopath who holds her prisoner, promising to "take care" of her mentally challenged younger sister. It's a frightening story that is hard to forget.
It's a psychological thriller, it's a mystery, it's action, it's addictive. I'm not sure if it was the writing, the plot, the characters or all these things, but I absolutely loved this book from page one. I have definitely found a new author.
Grace thought she’d found the perfect man when she met Jack. For years Grace has been responsible for her younger sister Millie who has Down’s Syndrome and knows that Millie will always be a part of her life which has ended many of Grace’s previous relationships. But with Jack it has been different, Jack treats Millie as his own family and her parents with respect so after a few short months they decide to marry.
Little does Grace realize she will find that things are not always what they seem rather quickly. From the outside Grace and Jack are the perfect couple and very much in love not wanting to part each other’s company. Behind closed doors however things are not at all what Grace ever expected her marriage to be.
Behind Closed Doors is told by switching between the past and present time with each chapter you read. The story slowly unfolds giving the glimpse into Grace and Jack’s life with each page turn getting you further and further hooked into just what goes on in their supposedly perfect marriage and just how this one will turn out in the end.
This book was just so hauntingly good as it went on. As the story unfolds it just becomes so scary to think that this could go on and will have a reader just wondering what could Grace have done differently all throughout the relationship. Definitely ended up on the edge of my seat wanting all the answers and couldn’t put this one down.
Overall, awesome psychological thriller that I’d definitely recommend.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a book. My first delve into psychological thrillers. It really was a compelling read, even if my biggest interruption was the palpitations in my chest! Well written, imaginative and original, It really was a book you couldnt to put down until you reached the last page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/280023530745/permalink/10154397018720746/
For those who haven't Pre-order this book please go ahead and do please you would not regret this reading this book. From beginning to end I was mesmerized by it. The Ending is super crazy it was just amazing. B.A. Paris did an amazing job writing this psychological thriller! I really hope for a sequel though because I still can't stop thinking about the ending. This book is available August 9, 2016. Disclaimer: I was sent this book by netgalley and St. Martinis press
I had read alot of great reviews on this book. I was afraid I would read it and it wouldn't be what everyone was saying.... wrong!! This book caught my attention from page one. It is really compelling I thought I had the story figured out and it would go in a totally different direction.. I read a review that said this was 2016's Gone Girl. I disagree this was so much better!
This is a psychological thriller that delivers. When Grace married Jack she thought she had finally found "the one." As soon as they left for the honeymoon she began to have doubts, and before the honeymoon was over she knew she was wrong but she couldn't escape. Jack wasn't the perfect man: he was the perfect psychopath and each stage of the story keeps the reader wondering if he could possibly get more abusive or if Grace will ever escape.
I was one of the many people who were extremely disappointed that the realize date of this gripping, amazing novel got pushed back until August. So when I saw it on Netgalley I was beyond thrilled. First off as always thank you to everyone involved of the production of this book for my advanced copy. To the author you have a lifetime fan in me I loved this so much I read it all in one sitting. Now a little bit about the story.
Jack and Grace live in a beautiful home. He makes a lot of money as an attorney and has never lost a case. He's handsome and he's well-mannered. He also takes very good care of his wife. Jack never leaves Grace's side. It isn't possible for anyone to talk to her on her own, because they are inseparable. Are Jack and Grace really such a close couple or is something else going on?
Behind Closed Doors is gripping from the start. Grace thinks she's met the perfect man. Jack is kind, he takes her on fancy dates and he wants to spend time with her sister Millie. He also doesn't mind that Millie will move in with them as soon as she turns eighteen. Millie has Down syndrome. She's very sweet and means the world to Grace. Jack knows that and certainly uses this information to his advantage. It's clear straight away that something is terribly wrong...
Grace is such a likable person which made me care about her story from the start. She's loving, she's gentle and she's fiercely protective of her sister. Millie is such a happy person, I liked her very much. The story worked really well for me and I got so caught up in it that I forgot everything and everyone around me. Behind Closed Doors is creepy and it's fabulously constructed with alternations between the past and the present. As they come closer together the story becomes more and more horrible. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Behind Closed Doors is absolutely awful and suffocating, but it's fascinating as well. I read this book in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. It's one of those stories that will stay with you for a very long time. If you're looking for a good, captivating read, get this book. I'm sure you're going to love it. A 10 star read all the way yes I said TEN not FIVE.
"Millie's room was red."
This is the novel I'm going to be recommending this summer! It is simply a great thriller that will give you chills as the tension builds and you want some resolution. Fast-paced and highly addicting, you won't want to put it down until the very last words.
Don't read any more about it on the blogs or book sites -- all you need know is that Jack and Grace are the perfect couple. He's everything a man should be and Grace is his adoring wife. At least that is what everyone sees. Behind closed doors, well, it's quite a different story...
Loved it! I'm sure I'll be thinking about it for awhile and will enjoy talking about it with fellow readers.
PS In the US, it is Down Syndrome, not Down's Syndrome. Just a pet peeve.
This book had my interest from page 1. It was given from the perspective of Grace, a perfect wife with that seems to be a perfect life. Chapters flip between the past and the present in Grace's perspective. Right away I could tell something wasn't right with Jack, Grace's husband, who was a popular lawyer that defended abused women. I knew something seemed off about Jack, but could not figure it out. I don't want to add any spoilers, but Jack's true self was quickly revealed after their quick wedding. Millie, Grace's sister who has Downs Syndrome is also in the mix as a sweet sister looking to soon move in with the newlywed couple. The suspense continues as you read to find how Grace will get Millie and herself out of what seems to be an impossible situation! If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, this is a perfect book for you that you will surely fly through! Come August 9th, this will be a perfect book to dive into! Thankful for NetGalley for giving me early access to this captivating read.
My initial reaction during the beginning of this book was, "What The Hell Is Going On." I knew it wasn't good and I had an idea but ideas are never totally what your thinking.
Jack Angel is a lawyer and his wife Grace used to be a lot of things but she's not any more. Oh, she's the perfect hostess when people are allowed to come over, but things are never what they seem. When I found out what as going on, all I could see was kill him! NOW!
How much I loathed Jack Angel is too much to describe!
Grace has a sweet sister named Millie who has Down's Syndrome. She is in a special school where she lives but she's supposed to go and live with Jack and Grace after she turns eighteen. Grace does not want this to happen and will try to figure out how she can stop it. Grace doesn't want Millie brought into the sadistic world she lives in with Jack.
At first I was upset with Grace for not getting out of there but things are not as easy as they seem. Grace is living a nightmare beyond comprehension.
And let me just say that little Millie, she's brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Millie has it figured out and now all Grace has to do is find a way to execute the plan. But in Grace's world there is nothing easy to execute. Prisoners in a jail have it easier than Grace!
But the end game. . . was magnificent! That's all I can say without giving any spoilers!
And remember. . . you never know what's going on behind any closed door!
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*I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1698303898 http://melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com/2016/07/behind-closed-doors-by-ba-paris.html
I received a copy of Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris from NetGalley for an honest review.
"Bring it on Grace-- I'm waiting for you."
"The door opens and he stands in the doorway, my handsome psychopathic husband."
This book is dark. So dark it's hard to read at times but it was like a bad car accident, you just can't stop looking. That was me, I just couldn't stop reading.
The beginning was slow at first, I had doubts about where it was going, then about 20% in it just took off. Everything in the beginning had a purpose. EVERYTHING.
There are lots of triggers and heavy topics thrown around in this book. Heck this book IS one giant trigger. From abuse to down syndrome, to murder and suicide, down to fear from fear itself.
What do you do when nobody will listen? Grace did whatever it took. What if someone was listening though, someone you'd least expect!?
A terrifying read! I read this in just over a day and it was one of the most thrilling books I have read recently! It was so good, I almost wanted to stop reading so I could just read a little at a time and keep it going. Grace thought she had found perfction when she fell in love with Jack. He accepted her sister, Millie, who had Down's Syndrome, and wanted Millie to be part of their family. The story opens with Grace and Jack in their home, hosting a dinner party. The author teases you with snippets of suspicion. You are pretty sure something sinister is going on, or is about to start, but you don't know for sure, and you are left with a shivery feeling, waiting for the bomb to drop. And when it did, I felt such anger, and understanding and compassion. I cannot say any more as I don't want to give any part of the story away. It is a thrilling, psychological suspense story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and B.A. Paris for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. By far one the best book of 2016 for me. I was only about 30% into the book when I had my first OMG moment. A domestic psychological thriller with such surprises in store for it's readers that I plowed through just to get to the ending. Bravo.
I have just finished reading Begind Closed Doors by B.A.Paris. I give it an enthusiastic 5 stars! I could not put this book down. I was hooked after the first chapter. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I will just focus on the positives. The story is beautifully written. The details are just enough to allow you to picture every scene without boring details. I must admit I first thought Grace was weak, and that when in social situations she could have found away to make her plight known. As I continued reading...I took under consideration the fear she must have felt and her desire to keep Millie safe. I look forward to reading more from B.A. Paris.
Firstly I would like to thank St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
After all the historical fiction I've been reading recently I fancied something a little different. This was certainly that and I read it in 24 hours.
After a couple of pages I found myself really not liking Jack Angel, and feeling immensely sorry for Grace. Mainly because of the behavior and what can only be described as the "body language" of Jack. On the outside and to friends and family they really do seem like the perfect newly wed couple. But very quickly we learn that Jack is a sadistic psychopath. But how none of the couples friends could figure things out is beyond me. The only one that did was Esther who is a new found friend that helps in the end.
Personally I think a lot more could of been wrote in this book. For example although we know a little bit of Jack's history I would have liked to have heard from him as well and he told his side so we can all look into his mind and how he thinks.
I'm going to rate this book at 4/5. I did really enjoy it and it was completely to what I've been reading a lot of recently. It was a welcome change. More could of gone into the story and backgrounds but it was still an enjoyable book.
A stark, dark tale of twisted obsession and the nightmare we all feel when we marry someone we may not know well enough. Well-written and powerful, this psychological drama twists its way to a satisfying conclusion.
Beginning this book, I figured I wouldn't really like it that much, but as it turned out, I really enjoyed it. It terrified me in the best ways possible.
So to begin Grace is traveling as a buyer for Harrod’s. She has a Down's Syndrome sister, Millie. Grace has had troubles finding a good man (who hasn't? Phhhhhh). Anyway, she meets Jack Angel and falls deeply in love with him never questioning his name at all! They have a whirlwind romance, and he is the perfect man, wealthy, attractive, and willing to help take care of her sister Millie someday. They get married, and it's the day of her dreams...until Millie falls down the stairs and breaks her leg! :O
She goes on with the wedding anyway and is whisked to Thailand for their honeymoon. What comes next is stomach churning and frightening. This story is sure to keep you on your toes throughout the book, page after excruciating page...in a good way. It is definitely a story for the thriller reader . However, it is not comparable to Gone Girl. The story flips back and forth from the past to present which makes it an interesting read but you must keep your attention on the book for sure.
I received a free copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author B.A. Paris, Net Galley, and the publisher St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this.
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