Man and Wife

by Andrew Klavan

Cal Bradley's marriage is the stuff of romance. For fifteen years, he has shared his life with Marie, a woman he passionately adores. In an idyllic corner of New England that has been home to his family for generations, Cal has become one of the most respected men in town: a father, churchgoer and a talented psychiatrist who runs a family clinic. Life is good.

Then one night, a nineteen-year-old boy named Peter Blue sets a local church on fire and is sent to Cal for treatment For the patient, it's a last chance at redemption. For Cal, it's a journey into fear, deception, and murder.

Because somehow Peter Blue's inner life is connected to Cal's, reality...and to his wife's hidden past. And before Cal can hunt down the truth he is going to have to choose between everything he believes is right, and everything he loves.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Psychology

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1902

About the author

Reference for now:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_K...

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Klavan is one of my favorite mystery writers. This novel is different from many of his others, but it still has great characters and is totally riveting right up until the end.

[nshowsherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello my beautiful goodreads family! It´s Foxyreading (@Foxyfangirling on twitter) with my full review of Man and Wife!

4 stars
This was a pleasant surprise! It was not what I expected AT ALL! The plot was amazing, the story was really well written and I really liked the psychology aspects! It was really interesting to read about the psychologist feelings (and his life and family) and his patients feelings and the things he went through. There were a lot of plot twists in this story, but I did see the biggest plot twist coming but it still was a really good story. Even though I think the writer emphisized a bit too much on the psychologists thoughts.

I definitely recommend this if you're into psychology or psychologic books!

[Dion Ribeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Achei este livro misterioso e uma narrativa diferente, a qual manteve o meu interesse ao longo de toda a letura. Gostei bastante mas esperava um final diferente para o Peter Blue.

[Carla C T Ferraz Cctf_book_reader1979 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quem compra este livro pela capa pensa que se trata de um possivel romance mas ao contrário do que seria de esperar, este livro leva-nos numa viagem repleta de suspense e emoções, com intervalos, ou para reflectir sobre o que faríamos naquela situação, ou para suster a respiração porque não sabemos o que vai acontecer a seguir.
O que mais gostei neste livro foi o desfecho, e as escolhas que as várias personagens fazem. É um livro que fala de decisões difíceis, que nem sempre concordamos, mas que demonstram que há coisas e pessoas pelas quais vale a pena abdicar de um pouco de felicidade.

[Lurdes Teixeira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aqui está um livro que me enganou.. o título faz-me pensar num romance lamecha, que ensina como um casamento pode ser feliz apesar dos altos e baixos que acontecem... pois nada a ver! Há um casamento sim, eles são felizes sim... mas depois a história é sobre um rapaz com uma forte espiritualidade e cativante e um passado que se tentou esconder..
O livro tem mistério, crime, suspense... e apesar de o ter demorado a ler, a verdade é que me surpreendeu muito e gostei bastante!
Nunca julgar um livro pela capa (aqui a capa até diz muito do livro), mas nunca o julgar também pelo título!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. I read the whole book thinking that I knew who the victim and murderer would be and about 40 pages from the end I began to see that I might have been incorrect. In addition to the suspense the book was interesting and the characters well developed.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast moving mystery, kept me interested to know what was going to happen.

[Leonardo Patrignani · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing thriller by Andrew Klavan, one of my favorite authors on this planet. I have so enjoyed this reading. The characters are true, the story very touching. 5 well deserved stars.

[Scott Marks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible writing, clunky and childish. Plus the writer is a misogynist, anti-feminist and it comes across quite strongly in how he writes about women.
Red flags guys, avoid this novelists books.

[Bárbara Tomé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adquiri Um Casamento Feliz por impulso numa campanha da Editorial Presença que aconteceu há uns anos, se não estou em erro, apenas era solicitado o pagamento de portes nos livros incluídos na promoção. Resolvi lê-lo agora para participar no desafio #thrillernocoelho da Mulher que Ama Livros e da The little Angie, e foi uma leitura que me surpreendeu bastante.

Cal Bradley, um psiquiatra respeitado no seio da sua pacata comunidade, pai de família e marido devoto, conta-nos na primeira pessoa a sua história, começando por dizer “Se a amasse menos, talvez não tivesse havido crime”. Assim, desde início ficamos na expectativa de saber a que crime se refere o nosso protagonista e avançamos na leitura envoltos numa aura de tensão e magnetismo.

A perfeição da vida de Cal é abalada quando começa a tratar Peter Blue, um adolescente problemático, marginal, mas ao mesmo tempo sensível e sensitivo, espiritual, cativante e enigmático. A história de ambos cruza-se quase como por coincidência, e é através desta ligação algo bizarra que Cal percebe que o seu casamento possa não ser tão perfeito como sempre o viu. E perguntam vocês como pode o tratamento de um doente desvendar segredos da vida do psiquiatra? E de que crime estaria ele a falar? Bem, são questões que me fizeram devorar este livro, e nunca havia lido nada com um ambiente parecido.

Cal enquanto psiquiatra tenta analisar tudo friamente mas apercebe-se que é toldado pelos seus sentimentos, percebendo a verdade tarde demais.

Este é um livro sobre pessoas, o meu género preferido de livros, e faz-nos pensar se conhecemos realmente aqueles que amamos e a nós próprios, e se os amaríamos de igual forma se os conhecêssemos verdadeiramente e do que seríamos capazes para os proteger.

Um Casamento Feliz é um thriller psicológico que nos prende desde a primeira página. Suspense e mistério. Segredos e confissões. O peso da verdade e a felicidade de conseguir esquecê-la.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man and Wife was riveting to the end; to the point where I couldn't put it down for fear of missing what happened next. It is a very good evening thriller - digestable, easy-to-read, and well-thought. The characters were well thought and written - notably, the wife was permitted to be womanly without being demeaning to her sex. In a literary landscape where women are often men with alternate pronouns, or excluded from major roles entirely, her portrayal was refreshing. Of course, Klavan aficionados working backwards will note that the plot here was stolen for his more recent When Christmas Comes novella, though I feel that it was put to much greater effect here than there. . That aside, it was refreshing and gripping, with a twist that felt at home. Don't expect a fresh plot - I've read enough Klavan that by the end of the first quarter, I knew (mostly) how the story was going to end, though there were still a few extra surprises thrown in here and there. Overall, the story was impressive by itself, and makes for a great fireside or beach reader - you won't want to put it down until the very end.

I also give Klavan credit here - he tied the story up very neatly, showing the reader not only how the story ended but also where the dust fell for all involved players - something frequently neglected in these sorts of novels, but much appreciated by readers like me.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well thought out suspenseful thriller of the psychological variety. As a genre it reminded me a little of percy walker's last book . The mystery the author with in the author is trying to solve is the why behind 2 suicides. The mystery of course is the marriage itself, and how well does anyone really know anyone else ?.

Not exactly a page turner but it is a 70s genre of story told from the eyes of a 50 year old through the lens of the DSM-IV. Of course i never would have picked up this book if not for this one not to be confused with . A good book, but a more subtle look at obsessive attraction.

[Joana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Não gostei muito deste thriller, pensei que fosse algo do género que já tinha lido, muito impulsionador, capaz de nos agarrar à história e fazer-nos perder a cabeça a tentar adivinhar quem teria cometido o crime. Apesar de começar de uma forma bastante curiosa, ao fim e ao cabo, começa a não interessar.
Um thriller déjà vu, onde aparece num sonho de um rapaz e este ao confessar-se ao seu psiquiatra, acaba por entender razões e situações da sua própria vida e começamos, desde logo, a perceber quem foi o verdadeiro assassino.
Não deixou de ser interessante o desenrolar da história e tudo o que podemos fazer para salvar a nossa família da desgraça. E se fosses tu? Eras capaz de denunciar a pessoa que tanto amas, destruir a tua família? Ou eras capaz de esconder, mesmo da polícia, e conviver com a pessoa que amas e saber que é um(a) assassino(a)!? Um dever entre a razão e o coração, que foi ilustrado neste livro.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well done and polished book, the author knows his stuff, the psychology aspects were interesting and it felt real, it was rally interesting to see the psychiatrist thoughts.

The plot twist were also good, and a few good tension moments were there, with good characters.

And yet, it felt too technical for me, like this book, was "written by the book", something here was missing for me, I finished reading it and all I think is "well, alright", it's hard to explain, but perhaps this feeling were what the author wanted, since the while point is that this book is a confession, and that's how it feels, you listen but you just could careless ", yeah shit is tough but stop crying and move on" vibe shit "be grateful you still have a functioning family"

[Michael Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes a decent read. Whereas the last book I read by this author was full of horrible, dis-likable characters in this one they all appear to be saints on the surface at least.
Not a 'whodunit' as much as a 'what that one? Really?' AK does a good job of conveying his protagonists fear and it all comes together at the end. In a manner of speaking.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard book to describe but it is a good one. From the first word, the pages just turn themselves. It's a perfect book for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Cal Bradley has the most wonderful marriage and wife so when doubt creeps in, he doesn't believe it - the first time or the second time or even the third time.

[Rachel Mayes Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally do a whole lot of crime novels. This didn't really make me want to do a whole lot more. I liked Cal's character, and I found some of the religious elements of the story unusual and interesting. The backstory on Marie was oddly integrated, and I'm also not sure whether Mina's character was at all necessary. The ending was well done. Really just a mixed bag.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. Barely got through 5 pages when the terrible language started. On the positive side, I didn’t spend much time on it. I thought I was going to like the storyline. It sounded interesting.

[Cristina Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good one!

As usual, Klavan delivers a gripping page turner. Chase away the Klavanless darkness, plunging into this novel, that goes well beyond the who dun it.I think I like this one better than Werewolf Cop.

[Brenda Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent story well told

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is substantially different from most books I read. Characters were well developed and story told in a straightforward way. I would read more Klavan books.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still not a fan of the filthy language, but this book sure did have my stomach in knots as I was flipping thru the pages!

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Rachel Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! 10/10

[Denise Rawling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my thing though well written for its type I suspect.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2002. Engrossing thriller.

[Evsmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. There was kind of a Sophie’s choice ending which actually fit with the rest of the narrative. Is it possible to love someone too much to avoid seeing their flaws?

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars.

[Andrew E White CPA · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best novels I've ever read.

[Matthew Meaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klavan turns in a fantastic thriller while honing in on personal relationships wonderfully.