A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight is a 2020 Harper publication.
Lizzie has taken a job with Young & Crane out of necessity after her marriage and A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight is a 2020 Harper publication.
Lizzie has taken a job with Young & Crane out of necessity after her marriage and finances took a serious hit.
Out of the blue an old friend, Zach Grayson, calls asking for her help. He’s in a bit of a bind after his wife, Amanda, was found dead. Seems he hit a police officer at the scene, and is perhaps the prime suspect in Amanda’s death. Although her firm does not handle criminal cases, Lizzie is given permission to represent Zach- although she’s not exactly thrilled about taking his case.
As Lizzie begins to dig into Amanda’s life, and the affluent enclave she and Zach lived in, she discovers Amanda’s closest friends were into a few unconventional activities, such as open marriages and key parties, for example. Did Amanda participate? Did someone become jealous? What about Amanda’s ambiguous past, or her best friend, Carolyn, a woman no one else has met? And what about Zach? What motive might he have for murdering his wife?
I was expecting the usual domestic thriller set-up with this one, but got a little more than I bargained for. I love Legal Thrillers, and this book has a bit of that included in the story, so that certainly enhanced my enjoyment of this book. The story is also a bit titillating, kind of soapy, but oh so entertaining.
There were a few open- ended threads I would have liked to have been tied up or given a little more explanation- because some avenues seem to just dead end. The exploration of marriage in general, the secrets hidden behind closed doors, the struggles no one else knows about, or the dangerous games people play, was a great backdrop and the way the case intersects with Lizzie’s life was surprising.
Overall, this was a twisty, absorbing, thrill ride- a bit convoluted at times- but I still enjoyed it. This would be a good book to pack in your beach bag this summer!
Frances carries a lot of repressed burdens on her shoulders, which has manifested into comfort eating and weight gain. Her Unsettling and engrossing!
Frances carries a lot of repressed burdens on her shoulders, which has manifested into comfort eating and weight gain. Her son has also faced a few serious challenges, but is now attending the prestigious Forrester Academy. Frances had hoped his acceptance into the school would change things for her family, but neither she, nor her son, has been well received by the other moms.
The only bright spot in Frances’s life is her friendship with Kate. Kate could quite easily fit in with the other mothers at the school, but instead she’s shunned them in favor of befriending Frances.
The two women forge a bond over their children, while refusing to conform to the Forrester Academy elitism. However, a stunning discovery could damage their relationship forever….
This is another book I pulled from the middle of my mountainous TBR pile. I’d seen mostly positive reviews for this one, but I believe it might have been one of the last psychological or ‘Domestic’ thrillers I added before making a conscious decision to take an extended break from books in this category.
Now, I’m having fun going back and plucking out a handful of the better sounding books in those categories and mixing them into my current reading schedule.
While somewhat understated, the story is told through various narratives and perspectives, while examining several intriguing themes and viewpoints. While certainly absorbing, the suspense is far from gripping, as the mystery is not much of a mystery.
Although I quickly ascertained the lay of the land, it didn't lessen the impact of the alarming set of circumstances that began to emerge as the story developed. I was left with a definite feeling of unease, despite the more positive progress made by many of the characters in the book.
The story does lack something I can’t quite articulate, but it had more substance and depth, and was more thought provoking, than I had anticipated.
Overall, a solid psychological/ domestic thriller that is a cut above for this category.
The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham is a 2017 Scribner publication.
Whew! Now that was intense!!
Agatha, a store clerk, and Meghan, a stay at homThe Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham is a 2017 Scribner publication.
Whew! Now that was intense!!
Agatha, a store clerk, and Meghan, a stay at home mom/blogger with a seemingly idyllic life, two women who are vastly different in class and style, find a common ground when their lives casually intersect.
Meghan meets Agatha in the market she shops in, striking up a conversation over their pregnancies. However, what you see on the surface of their lives is not always the same as what lies beneath- and that’s putting it mildly!!
When this book first started getting a little buzz, I knew I wanted to check it out for myself. I also saw that it was compared to Ruth Ware’s novel and to…. Yep- one of “The Girl” books. So, I tried to tamp down on my enthusiasm just a bit, worried I would be disappointed.
Well, I wasn’t at all disappointed. This is a well constructed thriller, that not only kept the suspense level at a maximum peak, but was an intelligent, clever, and distinct novel. I admit, it did make me squirm a little at times, though. I had a terrible feeling of foreboding right off, and as I went deeper into the story, that feeling of dread became almost unbearable.
The characters are spectacularly flawed, morally questionable on several levels, and so you may or may not feel sympathy towards them, but there are innocent victims at stake, so I was very concerned for the welfare of some of these people.
"We need the darkness to appreciate the light, and the bumps along the road to stop us from falling asleep at the wheel.”
While there is the clear sense of danger coming, there are multi-layers of suspense. Both Meghan and Agatha have backed themselves into a corner which adds another rich layer of stress to the story, giving it an unrelentingly tense atmosphere!
The final showdown is absolutely breathtaking, and the ending is utterly chilling!
This book definitely lived up to the hype!! The writing is superb, with well drawn characters, and perfect pacing.
If you enjoy domestic and psychological thrillers, you do not want to miss this one!!
One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
This stand alone novel by veteran author, Lisa Scottoline shines the spotOne Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
This stand alone novel by veteran author, Lisa Scottoline shines the spotlight on the sad and dark secrets behind the closed doors of the seemingly ideal community of Central Valley.
Chris, the new high school teacher and baseball coach is a consummate liar and has everyone in Central Valley misled, from the faculty, the students, and their parents.
Susan, mother to Raz, is a recent widow struggling with intense grief and looking to find her place in her son’s lives after her husband’s death.
Mindy’s identity is wrapped around her successful husband, and extends to her equally popular son, Evan. But, her marriage may be in big trouble… again.
Heather is the single mother to Jordan, looking to make some changes so she can be more involved in Jordan’s life.
The connection these families have in common is that they each have a son who attends Central Valley High, are friends, and are all on the baseball team.
However, the connections to the baseball team are deeper than they appear on the surface...
I am pleased to see authors shifting the thriller elements back to domestic issues. This book reminds us there are still many homegrown threats to our safety and we should not become complacent.
While I did get very caught up in the lives of the three women featured, and all the behind the scenes issues they were dealing with, sometimes I forgot this was supposed to be a domestic thriller. Much of the book felt more like a women’s fiction novel, with high drama and Chris's psychological profile and background making up the bulk of the story.
The in depth analysis of the three families, hampered the buildup of suspense, in my opinion. I understand why we were examining these families so deeply, as they were all connected and they could unwittingly have become pawns in a criminal plot or have been in grave danger… or had something to hide.
But, when everything finally came together at the end, and I had time to reflect on it, ultimately, I decided I would have benefited from knowing more details of the crime, and the motives behind the operation, all of which was sort of tacked on the end.
Even though the climax was very high octane, tense, and action packed, I’m not sure it made up for all the time spent on slow buildup. I enjoyed the hint of romance, but was disappointed that the fates of the other key characters were left hanging in the balance.
This is not the best effort by Scottoline, in my opinion, but it was still a thought provoking story, which touched upon some heavy issues that have us all on edge these days and reminds us that no matter how well we think we know someone, everybody harbors secrets deep within themselves, and you never know what they might be capable of or how easily they could be lured into doing something you never dreamed possible.
Although the book moves slowly, and the buildup never quite reached the intended crescendo, it is a solid novel and character study, worth trying if you are a fan of this author or domestic thrillers.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena is a 2016 Pamela Dorman Books publication.
A hypnotic and atmospheric thriller.
This story starts off with a famiThe Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena is a 2016 Pamela Dorman Books publication.
A hypnotic and atmospheric thriller.
This story starts off with a familiar- ripped from the headlines- setup where a couple, Ann and Marco, decide to leave their young daughter home alone while they attend a dinner party next door. They bring the baby monitor and check on the baby every half hour. However, when they return home from the party they discover the child has been kidnapped.
After reading the first chapter of this book, I heaved a heavy sigh, trying to stifle an eyeroll. This again? I had read a book, not all that long ago, with a nearly identical plotline.
However, it wasn’t long before the story morphed into one very twisted family drama that kept me glued to the pages, especially in the last quarter of the book, where the twists were relentless.
The buildup is a little slow at first, but the atmosphere is very edgy and I admit I fell into the author’s clever trap, playing along with what appeared to be the usual child kidnap case, with the parents being suspected and all those delicious skeletons falling out of the closet. But, I never could have guessed how it would all play out.
I love psychological thrillers and have read them off and on for many years. The genre seemed to change very little until the mega success of ‘Gone Girl’ caused a spike in its popularity. Now, I see a whole new, fresh crop of debut novelist, giving the genre a little facelift, which is a very welcome change. But, for me, I thought this one was a nice blending together of the traditional, ‘old school’ style with the new and improved structure.
While I would love to gorge myself on PT, they tend to work better for me if I space them out of bit. Thankfully, I passed on this one when it was first released, taking a slight break from the genre, so I didn’t burn myself out on it. As you can tell from my attitude concerning the first chapter, I definitely needed that space.
Thankfully, the story took off and gave my brain a real workout. I thought it was a wickedly fun mind trip even if it wasn’t the most properly constructed novel I’ve ever read and the pacing wasn’t always pitch perfect. I’ve confessed many times that I tend to be a bit jaded when it comes to thrillers, often guessing the plot twists well in advance, but, there were so many whip smart turns here, I never could have seen all the twists coming, even if I had my suspicions about one or two of the characters.
So, at the end of the day, it all boils down to how engaged or entertained I was and I have to say, I thought this was a pretty solid thriller and I enjoyed reading it.
Two Good Dogs by Susan Wilson is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
As an animal lover, I was drawn to this book because of its title. Then the syTwo Good Dogs by Susan Wilson is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
As an animal lover, I was drawn to this book because of its title. Then the synopsis convinced me to take the plunge.
Skye, a widow, moves with her daughter, Cody, into an old hotel hoping to turn it into a profitable venture, something she has always dreamed of doing. However, fourteen year old Cody is carrying a heavy and terrifying burden, and this move has only compounded her stress levels.
Adam and his therapy dog, Chance, need a place to stay during a blinding rain storm which leads him to Skye’s establishment. At first it seemed like things were not going to work out because Skye had a strict ‘no pets’ policy.
Adam convinces her to make an exception, and continues to stick around for a while. Being the only guest, he soon finds himself embroiled in the mother/daughter drama between Skye and Cody, while he continues to work through his heartbreaking grief.
I really wanted to like this book, and although I have not read any of the author’s previous books, I picked up a vibe that tells me she has a dedicated fan base. However, other than Chance the pit bull’s inner thoughts, the rest of the book was disappointing.
The blurb could be partially to blame. The suggestion is that this story falls into either the romance or thriller category is pushing things a bit. There is a suspenseful element, since we know Cody is carrying a huge burden and that she has been threatened. The possibility that what she knows could put her danger, or that on any day the piper could come calling, did situate itself in the back of my mind, but the author did not utilize that to its fullest capacity. Instead, the book dealt more with the psychological consequences that Cody endures, which is responsible for her disturbing, and uncharacteristic behavior that baffled and frustrated her mother.
Adam’s arrival is fortuitous, only because he happened to bring Chance along. The chemistry between Skye and Adam was a letdown for me, as I am expecting a few fireworks, but mostly got friendship.
Adam’s struggles are deeper than his sorrow, but these issues are never fully explained or revealed, and we are forced to guess or fill in the blanks on our own. Was he a victim of abuse or the abuser, both, or none of the above? I’m sorry, but to me, unless the author intends to feature Adam’s story in a sequel or if this happens to be an ongoing saga, that’s just laziness, in my opinion.
Chance’s ‘first person narrative’ though, is the book’s saving grace. The author did do a very good job of voicing Chance’s thoughts, which was a very nice touch. I just wish the other characters, who were mostly bland were as developed or as interesting.
There were a couple of secondary threads running parallel, one of which was just a big mess, but the other introduces us to ‘good dog’ number two. I enjoyed this thread which added much needed depth to a story that was beginning to become predictable.
Overall, this book has some shining moments, which speaks to the role animals play in our overall enjoyment and well -being in life. They come to our rescue in times of trouble and need, are loyal and much more attuned to our feelings than we could possibly imagine. I wish we really could hear their thoughts. Service dogs are an absolute godsend for people. They really do saves lives and I love it when stories are centered these incredible dogs.
This aspect alone makes the book worth checking out if you are an animal or pet lover, but if you are looking for romance or suspense, in the usual terms, you might want to take a pass on this one.
Unfortunately, the story is not cohesive, had too many threads going on at once, and some aspects are simply left up to the reader to decipher on their own, with several open ended threads which left me feeling very frustrated. The characters are flat, except the dog, and the crime elements do not come into the picture until the very tail end of the book.
Overall, I’m afraid this one was a dud, in my opinion, although I appear to be in the minority on that one. However, since the author has such a stellar reputation, I'm sure this is not the best representation of her work, so, I will certainly be up for reading her back listed titles and giving her another chance in the future.
The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle is a 2017 MIRA publication.
Wow! The Marriage Lie is an outstanding domestic thriller that captured my attention frThe Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle is a 2017 MIRA publication.
Wow! The Marriage Lie is an outstanding domestic thriller that captured my attention from page one and never let go.
Iris and Will are happily married, blissful, even, until Will leaves town on a business trip. As word trickles back to her that Will may have been on an ill-fated flight, Iris discovers her husband may not be the man she thought he was. As she peels away the layers of the foundation her marriage was built upon, one shocking revelation after another is unearthed, until Iris finds herself in deep trouble, unsure what or whom to believe or trust.
Was Will on the plane that crashed? Could he still be alive? If so, why did he lie to her? Did Will place Iris in danger?
The stories centered around double lives or big secrets revealed after the sudden death of a spouse has always drawn me into their web. This story, however, did not employ that slow, steady, atmospheric pacing some domestic or psychological thrillers use in these instances. This book charges from the gate and maintains a breakneck speed, but still captures that atmospheric tone that makes your spine tingle with the anticipation, knowing something truly sinister is afoot.
The characters really stand out in this one. Iris’s emotional turmoil is palpable and felt truly genuine. The secondary characters are also well drawn and made a terrific supporting cast.
I had heard good things about this book, but, I never imagined it would be this good.
I highly recommend this one to fans of psychological thrillers/ domestic thrillers, or to anyone who enjoys a taut novel of suspense.
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