Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* The marriage of Grace Harrington and Jack Angel seemed perfect, except for what went on behind closed doors. They met in a park, when Grace took Millie, her 17-year-old Down's syndrome-afflicted sister, who was like a daughter to her, for an outing. When music from a band inspired Millie to stand up and dance alone, Jack got up to take Millie's hand and dance with her, charming Grace in the process. So when Jack a movie-star-handsome London lawyer who had never lost a case on behalf of battered wives proposed marriage, Grace accepted with delight, especially since he pledged to bring Millie to live with them once her institutional schooling ended the following year. But Grace's rapture ended on her wedding night. On their honeymoon trip to Thailand, Jack made clear his psychopathic plans, using Grace's deep love for Millie as leverage in concocting a scheme that seemed as foolproof as it was depraved to achieve his desired satisfaction. 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. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Published earlier in the U.K., this has gotten rave reviews and topped the best-seller list, with movie rights sold. Expect similar success on this side of the Atlantic.--Leber, Michele Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
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 © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
