Behind Closed Doors

Title: Behind Closed Doors
Author: B.A. Paris
Genre: Thriller
Source: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 paws


On the surface, Grace and Jack seem to have the perfect marriage and are completely devoted to one another.  Jack is a successful lawyer protecting battered women, while Grace is the perfect little housewife with the green thumb and cooking skills that rival Gordon Ramsey.  But behind closed doors things are not always as they appear.  Grace and Jack are suspiciously never apart and it seems Jack always has his hand on her elbow or back, one might see this as a sign of affection, but could it be more?  Why doesn't Grace's friend ever see her without Jack.  What secrets could this couple be hiding behind closed doors?

I kept seeing this book in the stores, on Goodreads, and being recommended by friends in my book club.  I finally picked it up and snuggled into bed with the literary cats and devoured this book.  Everything else faded, I barely heard text messages or even the music I had playing.  I got lost in this story I could not get enough.  Everything I read online had me intrigued to begin with and then once I started in on it exceeded my expectations.


I was a little weary about reading it because I was unsure if there would be actual abuse which is something sometimes I have a hard time handling, but with all the raving reviews, I decided to see how dark this book actually got.  I can honestly say there is no outright physical abuse, it is all psychological. Jack feeds off fear and the anticipation of what will happen next, and the thrill of attempted escapes and pretending to be the perfect husband to the perfect wife knowing what is hidden within his perfect home. 


Paris' writing is fantastic and there are so many quotes and moments that make the reader kind of snicker even though this is a rather serious novel such as Millie's claims of not liking "Jorj Kooney" (George Clooney)  here are a few samples of Paris's writing from the book:


“We go downstairs and in the hall, he takes my coat from the cupboard and holds it open while I slip my arms into it. In the drive outside, he holds the car door for me and waits until I’m in. As he closes it behind me, I can’t help thinking it’s a shame he’s such a sadistic bastard, because he has wonderful manners.”


“And afterwards, as he drank in the sound of her fear and breathed in the smell of it, he wished he could keep her there for eternity"


Paris has an excellent way with using her words to describe every emotion, every sense, every interaction and minute detail.  She spared nothing with this novel and nothing is filler information.  It goes back and forth between present and past, but it doesn't mess up with the continuity of the novel and it is easy to follow along and keep up with what is happening and when.  I love the intelligence of not only Grace, but also Millie.  I loved seeing a character with a major disability like Down Syndrome be portrayed as highly intelligent and capable of many things.  I think this is something we need to see more often to help bring awareness to the awful stereotypes.  And the ending oh my gosh, it really makes the book.


So far this is probably the best book I have read this year, and I highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for that one great book to read.  I cannot wait to get my hands on another one of her books.

Girl Gone Rogue

Title: A Girl Gone Rogue

Author: Forrest Kane

Genre: Thriller, Psychological thriller

Source: eBook

Rating: 3 out of 5

Waking up in a psych ward with little memory of her past, Iraq veteran Dominique Wolfe must come to terms with her demons as she works through her troubling, psychotic history. Dominique is unsure if she can trust her own mind: it has been tainted by several bad choices she has made since coming home from deployment. As flashbacks help her begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together, Dominique realizes that sometimes, things are not always as they seem.

This debut novel from Forrest Kane is very well written and keeps the readers guessing.  After reading this the reader will have the understanding that this novel is not like any other thriller or psychological novel out there.  It breaks the mold and sets a new standard as far as storyline and character development goes.  There are a few moments when the author repeats something he already said for example:


"The room has nothing inside, no windows, no objects I can use to escape with.  The place is utterly empty..."


It doesn't take away from the story and gives the reader an idea of what the character is thinking right off the bat, but at the same the reiteration is not necessarily needed.  Some parts don't make sense or make the reader wonder how did that happen:


"my attempts to turn the doorknob appear to be futile, which is, in fact, secure from the outside."  So the door to the room is locked from the outside correct?  just a paragraph later:


"I peer down the hallway and do not see anyone coming."  If the door was secure and there are no windows, how did the narrator be able to peer down the hallway?




Despite the few inconsistencies, this was an enjoyable book to read as we watch Dominique piece together the fragmented portions of her life.  Readers cannot piece together the whole puzzle  until Dominique discovers something new, which makes this novel fun and engaging as readers want to know what will happen next.  What will she figure out next about her life. 




It is an interesting look at memory fragments, and psychosis.  It is a novel that makes you think and ponder some of the more challenging aspects of one's own mind.  There is a lot of emotion throughout this book as the character slowly discovers different aspect of herself and her past.


I would recommend this novel if you enjoy psychological thrillers and are looking for something that is a little different from the normal. If you want something new and different, then definitely check out this novel.

What She Left Behind

Sara and her mom had it all planned out, finally they will be able to escape her abusive father and start a new life together.  Sara waits eagerly for her mother to pick her up, but her mom never shows up and doesn't answer her phone.  She is convinced her father has something to do with her mother's disappearance, although he continues to claim she on a business trip.  Her friends know something isn't right as Sara begins to act on edge and jumpy, but she doesn't want to endanger anyone else.  As each day passes her fears and worry grow stronger as she tries to find out what has happened to her mother, and pray it doesn't happen to her.



This book is marketed as YA, but I honestly think adult readers would enjoy this thriller as well.  It is one of those books that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is a dark, deep atmosphere to this book that doesn't waver through the story and draws you in.  I found myself almost biting my nails waiting to see what would happen next.  Sara is a strong female lead.  I like the fear in Sara that radiates off the page especially at the thought that she has no help from the cops as her father is still friends with many of them.  Bilen does a great job at making her readers feel the emotion with her characters.


While I loved this book, there were a few short comings such as the feeling of disconnection to some of the other characters.  We don't get a chance to feel connected to her mother before she disappears, and then Alex just pops onto the scene which is almost jarring.  I understand he provides the romantic interest for Sara, but in a story like this a romantic interest is not necessary and almost at times takes away from the story.  There are things that make the story memorable, but other elements that make it forgettable.  I feel like the story was very well written and well told to the readers.  Bilen does paint a terrifying picture with her words, it's just some elements were un-needed, others almost unrealistic.


If you enjoy mysteries, dark thrillers, suspense then this is a book you should look into adding to your collection.  What She Left Behind is Bilen's first novel, and I think it was a great beginning and look forward to seeing what she has in store for readers.  Overall I give this book a 3.5 out of 5.

Thr3e

Title: Thr3e by Ted Dekker
Media Source: Paperback
Rating 5 out of 5 stars

"And does man simply choose evil, or does he create it?"

Thr3e is a chilling tale about Kevin Parson who is plague by a mysterious person threatening his life.  This whirlwind tale takes you to places you wouldn't expect with twists and turns along the way.  It definitely earns the title: thriller.

Kevin Parson is in his car alone, when he receives a phone call from an unknown person.  This person tells him to confess his sin to the world in 3 minutes or his car will explode.  Kevin struggles to determine what sin is the person talking about.  He rushes into a parking lot and runs from the car, seconds before it explodes.  Thus marking the beginning of a thrilling game of cat and mouse.  He comes across a childhood friend who helps him try to figure things out.  But the longer they take to figure out what sin the caller wants, the more dangerous he gets.

Wow...just wow.  Ted Dekker has always been one of my favorite authors and will continue to be one.  His stories are so captivating I stay up all night just to finish it.  I couldn't pry myself away from the story.  Right off the bat he hits the wow factor with the car explosion and keeps his readers hooked throughout the story.  There are so many twists and turns that you cannot even attempt to predict what will happen next or who is the mysterious caller.  His characters develop exceptionally well throughout the novel, readers witness the shift in Kevin's behavior almost immediately.  We see him turn from a put together seminary student to someone completely paranoid and on the verge of breaking.  He does with his use of language in descriptions and dialogue.  Nothing is done generically, Dekker truly has his own style.

There is suspense around every corner.  While the novel is considered Christian thriller, the Christian elements are not shoved in the reader's face.  They are paramount to the story, but the story doesn't revolve around them.  That is one thing that makes Dekker an excellent author, while he adds various elements into his writing nothing is over the top.  He does a great job at pulling his audience in and creates an atmosphere that is both chilling and fascinating.  There were so many times I let out an audible gasp as I was reading through this novel.  You just never know what to expect.  Dekker touches his readers on a psychological level, not only in Thr3e, but in his other novels.

Recommendation:  I would recommend Thr3e to everyone.  It has a little something for everyone: suspense, action, mystery, even a little romance  If you get the chance after reading the novel, check out the movie.

SEVEN - X

SEVEN - X:  written by Mike Wech;
media source: Kindle ebook.
Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

This novel is not simply a tale of good verses evil, but rather the battle with one's own darkness.


Eddie Hanson is determined to find out the truth behind the disappearance of a death row prisoner: Annette Dodson.  The tip he receives takes him to a behavioral health institution located in the middle of no where, just outside of Dell City, Texas.  In order to get the story he wants, Eddie willingly commits himself to the center while he does video entries and writes journals to document his findings.  But what Eddie finds there is not what he expected.  Are the things he is experiencing true or an illusion (or rather delusion) created by those who run the facility?

Eddie begins to see and hear things that cannot be explain, although those running the center try to explain it as demons attacking and possessing those living there and trying to gain access to Eddie as well.  They believe they are "helping" people like Annette Dodson by commanding the demons out of their bodies.  They believe the criminals were possessed by these demons at the time of their crimes and have no recollection of the horrors they have committed.  Eddie is skeptical about this and begins to believe everyone there is being drugged, himself included.

**Disclaimer ** This novel will chill you to the core.  I have read numerous novels that have dealt with the occult and demonic possession, but never have I read a book like this one.  If you have an active imagination, do not read this at night before bed.

Mike Wech does an excellent job with this novel.  He has excellent use of various languages such as Latin, Hebrew and Greek.  Rather than generically having the demons speak completely in English, he has them speaking languages they would be more familiar with.  Having this element in the novel, this characteristic of the demons, adds to the chill factor of the novel.  Another aspect that makes this a superb novel is much of the Biblical references don't come from the pastor or other members of the facility staff and occupants, but rather the demons themselves.  Portraying that even demons and the fallen have knowledge and understanding of the Bible making it easier for them to deceive.  One thing that I personally enjoyed was the underlying theme of once a demon is exorcised, it returns with 7 of it's buddies. This continues until the host is left worse than ever.

Throughout we hear of Ose and references are made to a leopard, but there is the feeling that not enough was done with either one.  I would have liked to see more use out of Ose and his desire to capture Eddie's soul.  There didn't seem to be too much development with the demonic characters just a few references to their actions and possessions, but we don't see the true nature of their evil.  Ward E is still left a mystery, possibly to be explained in another novel?  I wanted to see more of the spiritual battle that was supposed to be happening between the demons and those at the center, the Pastor included.  He wasn't as much of a major character as I feel he should have been.

With all that being said, I cannot believe this is Mr. Wech's first novel.  It was fantastically well written and kept me on the edge of me seat.  I didn't want to put it down!  I look forward to reading more from this talented author.