There are some books you come across by chance—and then there are others that grip you by the throat from the very first sentence and never let go. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris was one of those books for me. I picked it up on a friend’s recommendation, intrigued by her simple warning: “Don’t start it at night if you want to sleep.”
Of course, I began it at night.
The book appears at first sight as the setup of a shiny domestic drama. Introducing Grace and Jack Angel, the couple of dreams. He is an accomplished, handsome lawyer who represents battered women; she is gorgeous, sophisticated and a committed woman. They are seen in a beautiful house, throwing perfect dinners and are always in love. There is however, something wrong. And the further I read the more that uneasiness arose to a sense of dread.
Being a person who has always been attracted to psychological thrillers, I am interested in the thrillers that tend to explore darker sides of the human mind. Behind Closed Doors was not only a book of suspense, but a haunting intimacy the book dared you to ask yourself the question of whether you know anyone well, even that of the perfect person. The fact alone that it was made on that premise was enough to get me in. Then come the glowing reviews and the ominous warning of my friend and I knew I was going to have a hard time in the film.
The story of Grace is written in alternating chapters and the categories are named as Past and Present and this is one of the most spine-chilling aspects about the book. You are introduced to her apparently perfect life, only to gradually learn how well crafted the illusion really is. Those are the doors behind which Jack is not a caring husband as he may look to people in the outside world he is a cold-blooded predator.
Ever since Grace enters their common life, she becomes a prisoner: emotionally, physically, psychologically. She is watched every step she takes. She is not entitled to her money. She is screened in her phone conversations. Even her sister Millie with Down syndrome whom she loves is used by Jack in his twisted game.
I was most disturbed by the plausibility of everything itself. Jack does not have to lift a hand in order to dominate Grace. Reputation, psychology manipulation and charm are his weapons. That is what makes him frightening. He is the kind of a bad guy who can work in plain sight-and be praised by the society to do so.
When I read it, I had to wonder some awkward questions. How many individuals are walking around just like Grace, smiling through the pain, afraid to say something since they are afraid of the repercussions of saying something about it? How many predators have charm and success as their defences?
B.A. Paris does not use blood and action scenes to scare her readers. The horror of Behind Closed Doors is insidious, creeping and all the more impressive due to its realism. It creates a picture of domestic abuse that is subtle and oppressive so much more tragic due to the fact that it is concealed under the cloak of perfection.
Grace is one of the strongest and subtly strong protagonists that I have ever read. She is no damsel in distress; she is a woman who is under the compulsion of playing a life threatening game to survive and save her sister. The emotional hook of the story is her love towards Millie. Brain cannot stop working even in the moment when she is crushed under the pressure of being under the control of Jack, she is calculating, thinking, somehow trying to find the way out.
Millie also is a well-written character. Her innocence stands in contrast with the maliciousness of the intentions of Jack, and her acuity brings additional misery to the narration. She is more informed than she gives out. And her bravery is in many ways similar to that of Grace.
Reading Behind Closed Doors was an emotionally intense experience. There were moments I had to put the book down—not because I was bored, but because the tension was too much. I felt rage, helplessness, and deep empathy for Grace. The claustrophobia B.A. Paris evokes so powerful, it seeps off the page and into your skin.
It reminded me that psychological abuse doesn’t always come with bruises. Sometimes, it comes with roses, candlelit dinners, and carefully curated lies. And that’s what makes it so dangerous.
But beyond the fear, there’s hope in Grace’s story. Hope in her resilience. Hope in her love for Millie. Hope that even in the darkest of prisons, the human spirit can find a way to survive—and fight back.
B.A. Paris is a precise and urgent writer. Her writing is straightforward and without frills yet it is full of emotion. Not a single word is wasted, every scene, every dialogue, every silent moment contributes to that developing feeling of uneasiness. The rhythm is perfect. You never have to wait too long to get one reveal but she does not rush the suspense. It is like being dragged along like something in a corridor and one does not know what is at the end of it.
It is her strength to create tension without the use of any cliches. She makes out of the ordinary things, real fear. A key-hole. A telephone that does not speak. A dinner-party, in which the smiles do not quite go up to the eyes. That is the genius of this book, you are terrified that there is something lurking just in plain view.
Behind Closed Doors is not a mere thriller. It is a psychological examination of manipulation, control and the unspeakable horrors that might be in the most beautiful homes. It makes you ponder about looks, confidences and the price of survival.
But, it you want a light, fluffy weekend read- you have the wrong book. However, in case you are seeking a book that may capture your heart and never give it back, that will make you peek behind the curtain of the household idyll, and turn the pages in the middle of the night, then Behind Closed Doors is the one.
After reading it I was much more conscientious, more understanding, and frankly more reserved. It made me remember how there are times that the most dangerous people are the ones who smile the most.
And that, there are times, when the strongest people are the ones who live after them.
The last four images was gotten from web:
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