Publishers Weekly - Audio
10/03/2016
Newlyweds Grace and Jack Angel seem to lead a perfect life in British author Paris’s gripping debut, but appearances can be deceiving. In addition to being a handsome, successful attorney, Jack is also a sadistic psychopath, and the couple’s picture-perfect home in Spring Eaton, England, doubles as Grace’s prison. She makes the postnuptial discovery that he’s a controlling, sadistic misogynist who murdered his mother and has disturbing plans for Grace and her younger sister, Milly. In delineating the ways in which Jack creates a physical and psychological prison for Grace, Paris pushes credibility one step over the line. But with reader Maguire’s help in making listeners feel every torturous moment of Grace’s hellish married life and her almost feverish plan to gain freedom for herself and her sister, credibility is trumped by emotion. Along with Grace’s helplessness, Maguire provides the voice of sweet innocence for Millie, as well as the convincingly soft-spoken, kindly Jack and the equally credible but icy cold, domineering, and psychotic post-wedding version. A St. Martin’s hardcover. (Aug.)
Publishers Weekly
05/09/2016
Newlyweds Grace and Jack Angel seem to lead a perfect life in British author Paris’s gripping debut, but appearances can be deceiving. In addition to being a handsome, successful attorney, Jack is also a sadistic psychopath, and the couple’s picture-perfect Spring Eaton, England, home doubles as Grace’s prison. Jack forced Grace to quit her job, refuses to allow her unsupervised contact with the outside world, and cruelly punishes her escape attempts. Grace would welcome death were it not for her 17-year-old sister, Millie, who intends to come live with them once she finishes school. Grace’s life may be hell, but Jack has made it clear that Millie’s in for far worse, so Grace must free herself in order to save her sister. Paris reveals the couple’s past and present in alternating chapters, creating suspense regarding both their origin and their fate. Jack’s mustache-twirling monologues occasionally sap the story of tension and believability, but Grace’s terror is contagious, and Millie’s impending peril creates a ticking clock that propels this claustrophobic cat-and-mouse tale toward its grisly, gratifying conclusion. Agent: Camilla Wray, Darley Anderson Agency (U.K.). (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Debut-novelist Paris adroitly toggles between the recent past and the present in building the suspense of Grace’s increasingly unbearable situation, as time becomes critical and her possible solutions narrow. This is one readers won’t be able to put down.” —BOOKLIST, Starred Review
"Newlyweds Grace and Jack Angel seem to lead a perfect life in British author Paris's gripping debut, but appearances can be deceiving...Grace's terror is contagious, and Millie's impending peril creates a ticking clock that propels this claustrophobic cat-and-mouse tale toward its grisly, gratifying conclusion." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"The writing was incredible, and the pace is quick, offering up too many chills to count...Behind Closed Doors screams: Stay single!” —SUSPENSE MAGAZINE
"This debut is guaranteed to haunt you — especially if you're about to tie the knot. Jack and Grace, the couple at the center of this totally enthralling novel, are so clearly not what they seem you'll have no choice but to read and read and read until their darkest secrets are revealed. Warning: brace yourself." —BUSTLE
"[Georgia Maguire's] overall narration is calm and elegant but emotional and alarming during the horrific moments Grace experiences." -AudioFile
Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2016
Jack and Grace Angel had a whirlwind meeting, courtship, and marriage, and quickly became the envy of all of their friends. Jack is a successful attorney, and Grace is a magnificent hostess and homemaker. However, Grace is rarely seen outside of her home, she's losing weight, and she doesn't have her own cell phone or email address. Despite being an independent and successful career woman when she met her husband, Grace is now secluded in the home Jack created for her. Grace's only link to her former life is her disabled 17-year-old sister for whom she is guardian. Debut novelist Paris presents an exceptionally clever and swiftly moving thriller that covers the span of 18 months, deftly moves between past and present tenses, and tells the story of the radical changes that have occurred in Grace's life and the lengths to which she will go to remain present for her sister. The audio production is of fine quality, with narrator Georgia Maguire doing a great job navigating the various characters and the rapid transitions in time periods. VERDICT Listeners who like books by Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, and Ruth Ware should enjoy this title. ["A can't-put-down psychological thriller": LJ Xpress Reviews 7/22/16 starred review of the St. Martin's hc.]—Nicole A. Cooke, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NOVEMBER 2016 - AudioFile
Narrator Georgia Maguire shows her ability to present the polar opposite traits of the husband and wife. They seem like the perfect couple. Jack Angel is an attorney who represents battered women. Grace Harrington is a caregiver to her disabled sister. They meet and quickly become newlyweds—and things go downhill from there. It soon becomes apparent that this is a psychological thriller centered on mind games and manipulation. Maguire gives Grace a delicate and soft voice, complementing the character’s vulnerability. Jack sounds simple and direct but turns cold and sharp in his treatment of Grace. Maguire’s effectiveness at depicting a desperate woman and a troubled man makes a less-than-credible plot more believable. Her overall narration is calm and elegant but emotional and alarming during the horrific moments Grace experiences. D.Z. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
