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Behind Closed Doors
Two kidnappings, thirty years apart. Can Stacey face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter?
When Stacey’s ex-husband turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra, the terror is all too familiar. Stacey’s own violent kidnapping thirty years ago was never solved, and while a severe case of amnesia spares her from recalling the specific horrors, she remembers enough…
Stacey knows her father never paid the ransom—she has the missing pinkie finger to prove it. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.
Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not get involved. But Stacey can’t shake the eerie similarities between the two cases, and she’ll use whatever she can, from her journalistic powers to her shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. Desperate to find any link between Lyra’s abduction and her own, Stacey forces herself to revisit her forgotten, traumatic past for clues.
But can she make sense of the terrible secrets she unearths in time to save Lyra? And if she does, is she ready to face her own tormentor?
When Stacey’s ex-husband turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra, the terror is all too familiar. Stacey’s own violent kidnapping thirty years ago was never solved, and while a severe case of amnesia spares her from recalling the specific horrors, she remembers enough…
Stacey knows her father never paid the ransom—she has the missing pinkie finger to prove it. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.
Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not get involved. But Stacey can’t shake the eerie similarities between the two cases, and she’ll use whatever she can, from her journalistic powers to her shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. Desperate to find any link between Lyra’s abduction and her own, Stacey forces herself to revisit her forgotten, traumatic past for clues.
But can she make sense of the terrible secrets she unearths in time to save Lyra? And if she does, is she ready to face her own tormentor?
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
645 people are currently reading
5516 people want to read
About the author
Carol Wyer
37 books1,235 followersUSA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
December 17, 2022
Is history repeating itself? Or is this one HUGE coincidence?
Those are the questions Stacey is asking herself, after her ex -husband desperately begs for her help!
She thinks this better be good…and it is. His daughter was just kidnapped and he felt the only person he could turn to was Stacey! Strange right!?
The fact is, Stacey has a great deal of experience in this department! She too was kidnapped at a young age. So hopefully she can find a way to bring her step-daughter back home safely.
But as her step-daughters’ kidnapping eerily begins to mirror her own, Stacey fears the original kidnappers have returned with a vengeance.
This was a speedy thriller with a bounty of shocking moments that kept me firmly glued to the pages.
I’ve been wanting to read a book by Carol Wyer for years and so glad I finally jumped at the chance with her latest here. I look forward to more from this talented author! And may need to take a look at her backlog until her next release!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK
Those are the questions Stacey is asking herself, after her ex -husband desperately begs for her help!
She thinks this better be good…and it is. His daughter was just kidnapped and he felt the only person he could turn to was Stacey! Strange right!?
The fact is, Stacey has a great deal of experience in this department! She too was kidnapped at a young age. So hopefully she can find a way to bring her step-daughter back home safely.
But as her step-daughters’ kidnapping eerily begins to mirror her own, Stacey fears the original kidnappers have returned with a vengeance.
This was a speedy thriller with a bounty of shocking moments that kept me firmly glued to the pages.
I’ve been wanting to read a book by Carol Wyer for years and so glad I finally jumped at the chance with her latest here. I look forward to more from this talented author! And may need to take a look at her backlog until her next release!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK
October 1, 2022
Thirty years ago Stacey endures a horrifying kidnapping and the criminals responsible are never caught. The experience leaves her with dissociative amnesia and just a few flickering and fleeting memories. What she does know with absolute certainty is that her father never pays a ransom. In the present day and now an investigative journalist in Lancaster, it seems history may repeat itself when her ex-husband Jack knocks on her door. His daughter Lyra, who Stacey really cares about, has also been kidnapped, the ransom demand is for half a million pounds and no police. Jack appeals for her help and she agrees which ultimately forces her to take a deep dive into her traumatic past in the search for clues.
This is yet another gripping and chilling read from Carol Wyer. I really like the way the author fuses the past with the present and the manner she chooses to tell of Stacey’s ordeal works well and is most effective. You wonder, just as Stacey does, if she can trust her ‘memories’ or if she is transposing given the current situation. Once her utterly shocking story emerges it’s little wonder she erases it from her memory.
There are plenty of discordant off notes with some behaviour that is strange and doesn’t entirely add up and your suspicion antenna twitches north, south, east and west. In addition there are some red herrings that put you off the scent. The characterisation is good, you grow to utterly admire Stacey and despise others. I love the setting in and around Morecambe Bay and the city of Lancaster and all locations are used really well to add atmosphere and moments of tension.
Although I figure out part of the plot, never fear the author has plenty of surprises to keep her readers of their toes! It’s an intense, compelling read with some bone chilling moments which amounts to a novel I find hard to put down.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is yet another gripping and chilling read from Carol Wyer. I really like the way the author fuses the past with the present and the manner she chooses to tell of Stacey’s ordeal works well and is most effective. You wonder, just as Stacey does, if she can trust her ‘memories’ or if she is transposing given the current situation. Once her utterly shocking story emerges it’s little wonder she erases it from her memory.
There are plenty of discordant off notes with some behaviour that is strange and doesn’t entirely add up and your suspicion antenna twitches north, south, east and west. In addition there are some red herrings that put you off the scent. The characterisation is good, you grow to utterly admire Stacey and despise others. I love the setting in and around Morecambe Bay and the city of Lancaster and all locations are used really well to add atmosphere and moments of tension.
Although I figure out part of the plot, never fear the author has plenty of surprises to keep her readers of their toes! It’s an intense, compelling read with some bone chilling moments which amounts to a novel I find hard to put down.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 24, 2022
As a teen Stacey was kidnapped and held for ransom, losing a finger and part of her ear in the process. She always blamed her father for not paying the ransom, and police the police for suggesting he shouldn't. Thirty years later her ex-husband, Jack, asks for her help after his daughter is kidnapped for ransom. He thinks she can help because of her experience being kidnapped and because she is an investigative journalist.
Ugh, I so dislike writing bad reviews but this book just didn't do it for me. The fact that none of these fathers want to go to the police just didn't fly with me. I also found Stacey's amnesia hard to believe. And the flickering "cinema" images of her memory coming back was a little over the top. The book takes place over four days and the chapters are separated by each day. It is told in the present tense with "flashbacks" of Stay's lost memories. The storyline was really out there, I mean how many times can one person get away with kidnapping teenage girls!!?? I found this really slow-going, unbelievable, and repetitive. I am really sorry to the author who put so much into this work of fiction but it really wasn't my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#BehindClosedDoors #NetGalley
Ugh, I so dislike writing bad reviews but this book just didn't do it for me. The fact that none of these fathers want to go to the police just didn't fly with me. I also found Stacey's amnesia hard to believe. And the flickering "cinema" images of her memory coming back was a little over the top. The book takes place over four days and the chapters are separated by each day. It is told in the present tense with "flashbacks" of Stay's lost memories. The storyline was really out there, I mean how many times can one person get away with kidnapping teenage girls!!?? I found this really slow-going, unbelievable, and repetitive. I am really sorry to the author who put so much into this work of fiction but it really wasn't my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#BehindClosedDoors #NetGalley
October 31, 2022
I really do love Carol Wyers crime novels and characters. Behind Closed Doors is a standalone book, and yet again she had me turning those pages as fast I as I could, needing to know what would happen. I had some ideas of what was happening but as always, I was way off the mark on most of them! Another compulsive and clever story that I highly recommend.
30 years ago, Stacey was kidnapped. She was left traumatized and missing body parts. He father, a well-known and respected judge, refused to pay the ransom and she has never forgiven him for that. Her memories of what happened during that time are hazy, with small snippets coming back to her at random times. She is now working as an investigative journalist in Lancaster. When her ex-husband, Jake, knocks on her door frantic with worry, she isn't sure what to do. That is until she discovers that his daughter, Lyla, has been taken and the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of half a million pounds. Stacey and Lyla always had a close relationship, despite them not being blood relatives. Now Stacey must use all of her contacts and knowledge to find the girl before she is hurt...or worse. The situation feels far too close to her own experience, and she needs to remember in order to help Lyla.
An explosive ending will shock and disturb you. I was worried for Stacey and her mental health, but she was the kind of person who could not let it go. Another fantastic read from Carol Wyer.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on December 6th.
30 years ago, Stacey was kidnapped. She was left traumatized and missing body parts. He father, a well-known and respected judge, refused to pay the ransom and she has never forgiven him for that. Her memories of what happened during that time are hazy, with small snippets coming back to her at random times. She is now working as an investigative journalist in Lancaster. When her ex-husband, Jake, knocks on her door frantic with worry, she isn't sure what to do. That is until she discovers that his daughter, Lyla, has been taken and the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of half a million pounds. Stacey and Lyla always had a close relationship, despite them not being blood relatives. Now Stacey must use all of her contacts and knowledge to find the girl before she is hurt...or worse. The situation feels far too close to her own experience, and she needs to remember in order to help Lyla.
An explosive ending will shock and disturb you. I was worried for Stacey and her mental health, but she was the kind of person who could not let it go. Another fantastic read from Carol Wyer.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on December 6th.
October 15, 2022
This is my first read of a Carol Wyer novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story got a grip of me early on and I struggled to put the book down.
Stacey’s ex husbands thirteen year old daughter is kidnapped and her ex turns to her for help. The ordeal is very poignant due to Stacey herself suffering the same crime thirty years ago. Stacey’s kidnapping was never solved and due to the trauma has suffered a severe case of amnesia. She is unable to recall the details of her own kidnapping.
In Stacey’s case her father never paid the ransom and the kidnappers removed one of her fingers as a result. Stacey was saved when the police received an anonymous tip off. Her ex step daughter Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not be involved but Stacey knows she needs help. There are similarities between the two kidnaps and Stacey who has a journalist background is determined to use her contacts to investigate wherever she can.
This was an enjoyable read and left me wanting to read more of the authors books.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Stacey’s ex husbands thirteen year old daughter is kidnapped and her ex turns to her for help. The ordeal is very poignant due to Stacey herself suffering the same crime thirty years ago. Stacey’s kidnapping was never solved and due to the trauma has suffered a severe case of amnesia. She is unable to recall the details of her own kidnapping.
In Stacey’s case her father never paid the ransom and the kidnappers removed one of her fingers as a result. Stacey was saved when the police received an anonymous tip off. Her ex step daughter Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not be involved but Stacey knows she needs help. There are similarities between the two kidnaps and Stacey who has a journalist background is determined to use her contacts to investigate wherever she can.
This was an enjoyable read and left me wanting to read more of the authors books.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
Behind Closed Doors is a gripping story that has you guessing and questioning everyone and everything from start to finish. We follow Stacey who suffered a traumatic kidnapping thirty years previously and still doesn't know what is fact or fiction from the flashbacks she gets. When her ex-husband Jack appears on her doorstep, Stacey's lpresent ife is thrust back into this traumatic past event as her step-daughter Lyra has been taken and similarities unfold from the kidnapper. Stacey frantically tries to remember what happened to her and filter through her memories as to what really happened to her and what was real and what her mind has made up. Stacey's father didn't pay the ransom thirty years ago and Stacey was punished for this physically - Stacey fears for Lyra as every second ticks by. Can she remember enough to stop thie same events happening to Lyra and find the kidnapper before it's too late? This book gripped me from chapter one and I couldn't put it down. I thought the author did a great job of blending the dual timelines and keeping the reader on their toes with the clever twists written into the plot. I enjoyed the characters and the team of support Stacey has around her. The book is set in Morecombe which is only an hour away from me so I loved this element too!
Behind Closed Doors is a gripping story that has you guessing and questioning everyone and everything from start to finish. We follow Stacey who suffered a traumatic kidnapping thirty years previously and still doesn't know what is fact or fiction from the flashbacks she gets. When her ex-husband Jack appears on her doorstep, Stacey's lpresent ife is thrust back into this traumatic past event as her step-daughter Lyra has been taken and similarities unfold from the kidnapper. Stacey frantically tries to remember what happened to her and filter through her memories as to what really happened to her and what was real and what her mind has made up. Stacey's father didn't pay the ransom thirty years ago and Stacey was punished for this physically - Stacey fears for Lyra as every second ticks by. Can she remember enough to stop thie same events happening to Lyra and find the kidnapper before it's too late? This book gripped me from chapter one and I couldn't put it down. I thought the author did a great job of blending the dual timelines and keeping the reader on their toes with the clever twists written into the plot. I enjoyed the characters and the team of support Stacey has around her. The book is set in Morecombe which is only an hour away from me so I loved this element too!
February 10, 2023
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is her first standalone crime thriller, by bestselling author Carol Wyer. Having loved reading her three crime thriller detective series, I was anxious to read her new standalone novel.
Stacey O’Hara had been kidnapped thirty years ago, a horrendous ordeal, where she had been brutally treated and missing a pinkie finger, after her father, a well-known judge refused to pay the ransom, for which she never forgave him. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.
Following the rescue, Stacey moved from Staffordshire to Lancaster to start a new life, as a senior reporter for the newspaper. Her memories of the ordeal are cloudy, as she suffered a severe case of amnesia, and is unable to remember any details of her own kidnapping.
Then Stacey’s ex-husband, Jack, turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra. The kidnappers are demanding a huge ransom…but no police involvement. Stacey and Lyra have always had a close relationship, and just because of the divorce, they still stay in touch.
Why are the two cases so similar? Stacey must face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter.
Can Stacey remember any details from her past to save her stepdaughter?
This well written novel had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. An ending I never saw coming, kept me glued to my seat. A great read!
Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my digital copy.
Stacey O’Hara had been kidnapped thirty years ago, a horrendous ordeal, where she had been brutally treated and missing a pinkie finger, after her father, a well-known judge refused to pay the ransom, for which she never forgave him. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.
Following the rescue, Stacey moved from Staffordshire to Lancaster to start a new life, as a senior reporter for the newspaper. Her memories of the ordeal are cloudy, as she suffered a severe case of amnesia, and is unable to remember any details of her own kidnapping.
Then Stacey’s ex-husband, Jack, turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra. The kidnappers are demanding a huge ransom…but no police involvement. Stacey and Lyra have always had a close relationship, and just because of the divorce, they still stay in touch.
Why are the two cases so similar? Stacey must face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter.
Can Stacey remember any details from her past to save her stepdaughter?
This well written novel had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. An ending I never saw coming, kept me glued to my seat. A great read!
Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my digital copy.
October 18, 2023
When Stacey's ex-husband turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen -year-old daughter, Lyra, the terror is all too familiar. Stacey's own violet kidnapping thirty years ago was never solved, and a severe case of amnesia spares fer from recalling the specific horrors, she remembers enough. Stacey knows her father never paid the ransom - she has the missing pinkie finger to prove it. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.
The tension slowly builds until we find out what happened thirty years ago. There are plenty of twists to keep us invested in the storyline. I never knew who I could trust. The story is told through Stacey's flashbacks and the present day. Is this a copycat kidnapping or the same kidnapper? You'll need to read this well written book to find out.
#KindleBook
The tension slowly builds until we find out what happened thirty years ago. There are plenty of twists to keep us invested in the storyline. I never knew who I could trust. The story is told through Stacey's flashbacks and the present day. Is this a copycat kidnapping or the same kidnapper? You'll need to read this well written book to find out.
#KindleBook
October 15, 2022
This is my first read of a Carol Wyer novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story got a grip of me early on and I struggled to put the book down.
Stacey’s ex husbands thirteen year old daughter is kidnapped and her ex turns to her for help. The ordeal is very poignant due to Stacey herself suffering the same crime thirty years ago. Stacey’s kidnapping was never solved and due to the trauma has suffered a severe case of amnesia. She is unable to recall the details of her own kidnapping.
In Stacey’s case her father never paid the ransom and the kidnappers removed one of her fingers as a result. Stacey was saved when the police received an anonymous tip off. Her ex step daughter Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not be involved but Stacey knows she needs help. There are similarities between the two kidnaps and Stacey who has a journalist background is determined to use her contacts to investigate wherever she can.
This was an enjoyable read and left me wanting to read more of the authors books.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Stacey’s ex husbands thirteen year old daughter is kidnapped and her ex turns to her for help. The ordeal is very poignant due to Stacey herself suffering the same crime thirty years ago. Stacey’s kidnapping was never solved and due to the trauma has suffered a severe case of amnesia. She is unable to recall the details of her own kidnapping.
In Stacey’s case her father never paid the ransom and the kidnappers removed one of her fingers as a result. Stacey was saved when the police received an anonymous tip off. Her ex step daughter Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not be involved but Stacey knows she needs help. There are similarities between the two kidnaps and Stacey who has a journalist background is determined to use her contacts to investigate wherever she can.
This was an enjoyable read and left me wanting to read more of the authors books.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2022
Strong start and ending was pure poetic justice!
Just two weeks after Stacey’s mother took her own life, she was kidnapped. Her father, a young judge at the time, chose not to pay the ransom. Although Stacey was rescued, she was not unharmed. The kidnappers removed a finger and inflicted other injuries but she blocked the entire event.
Stacey is now an adult with a career as a reporter when her ex-husband comes to her in a panic. Her stepdaughter has been kidnapped and he needs her help. The situations are similar and she feels they are connected somehow.
This thriller started strong and the conclusion is pure poetic justice! However, in between those two points lacked the same suspense. It felt a little slow at times. Some events were discussed so much that predictions came easily.
Thanks to the author and publisher for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
#BehindClosedDoors #CarolWyer #thomasandmercer #ZooLoosBookTours #booktour #booktourhost #honestbookreview #giftedbook #kindleunlimited
Just two weeks after Stacey’s mother took her own life, she was kidnapped. Her father, a young judge at the time, chose not to pay the ransom. Although Stacey was rescued, she was not unharmed. The kidnappers removed a finger and inflicted other injuries but she blocked the entire event.
Stacey is now an adult with a career as a reporter when her ex-husband comes to her in a panic. Her stepdaughter has been kidnapped and he needs her help. The situations are similar and she feels they are connected somehow.
This thriller started strong and the conclusion is pure poetic justice! However, in between those two points lacked the same suspense. It felt a little slow at times. Some events were discussed so much that predictions came easily.
Thanks to the author and publisher for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
#BehindClosedDoors #CarolWyer #thomasandmercer #ZooLoosBookTours #booktour #booktourhost #honestbookreview #giftedbook #kindleunlimited
November 25, 2022
I have been an avid fan of this authors work for a few years now and I loved her Natalie Ward series so I jumped at the chance to read her latest work. The main character Stacy was kidnapped 30 years ago and has never been able to recall what she endured in captivity. It is too traumatic and her brain just shuts down. Now she must try to relive this event as her ex stepdaughter is Lyra has been kidnapped and being held for ransom. This book is good don't get me wrong, there are some shocks but for me it was too long and at times very slow. Not one of her best books, I will keep on reading this author it's just this book did not live upto MY Expectations.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 3, 2022
I'm such an avid fan of Carol's crime thriller series that I couldn't wait to dive into her new psychological thriller BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. From the very first page we are thrown headfirst into the chilling fragmented memories of the past before landing in the present, faced with something of a similar dilemma.
Thirsty years ago, Stacey endured five long torturous days tied up, beaten, battered and bruised in a horrifying kidnapping before being rescued by a police officer answering a routine call. The people responsible for her kidnapping have never been identified or apprehended. The experience was so harrowing for the then 16 year old Stacey that she is left with dissociative amnesia and a few fragmented pieces that flicker in her memory. The lasting reminders being her amputated finger and her ear having also been cut off. The only thing she knows without a doubt is that her father never paid the ransom...and Stacey has never understood why. Even stranger was that as soon as she was discharged from hospital, her father packed up their belongings and moved them from Staffordshire to Lancashire...where she knew no one. He said it was for a new start...but was that really the truth?
Now Stacey is four years shy of the big five-oh and is an investigative journalist for a Lancaster paper where she is the senior reporter. She lives in a quaint little cottage in the seaside town of Hornby, living the quiet life she now appreciates. But when her ex-husband Jack comes knocking on her door one evening, it seems history is repeating itself. His daughter Lyra, who Stacey adores, has been kidnapped and the ransom demand is for £500,000 - the same amount as the ransom for Stacey 30 years before. Coincidence? Jack appeals to her for help but states in no uncertain terms that there is to be no police, as per the kidnapper's instructions. But can Stacey go down that rabbit hole and come face to face with her traumatic past? If it means saving Lyra, then yes.
Unfortunately, Jack doesn't the money - nothing even close to that amount - so Stacey uses all her skills as an investigative journalist to delve for clues as how to find Lyra...and who has her. But she cannot escape the similarities to her own kidnapping, right down to the last detail. But after thirty years? It doesn't seem feasible. But Stacey is sure her kidnapping holds the clues to finding Lyra before it's too late. But can she trust her memories or are they false narratives her mind is conjuring up?
This is an intriguing thriller from the very first page and I was eager to find out who was behind it all, and just how it related back to Stacey's own kidnapping. But I must admit to being bogged down by the lengthy chapters of which I am not a fan and for me that does slow down the pace a little. But boy, were there twists!! Just when you think you know who it could be, something shifts and it changes direction. But I did have one or two niggles at the back of my mind, both of which proved to be the case, although I wasn't sure of the exact details or anything else. Just a couple of niggles is all they were that didn't sit right. Trust your gut, follow your instinct. But it seemed Stacey wasn't listening...lol But then if she did, there wouldn't be much of a story...lol
Although Stacey was a strong lead I wasn't really a fan of her too much. Too stubborn and didn't listen to those who actually knew best. But she was the best of a bad bunch, believe me. Her father Henry and her ex Jack were two of the most despicable narcissistic and manipulative characters. I couldn't believe Henry wouldn't pay the ransom for his daughter and his reasoning was just ludicrous. And Jack? Well, we know why Stacey left him...had he really changed?
I loved the setting around Morecombe and could really picture it after seeing Carol's numerous posts of the area leading up to publication. Of course, I also remember it from the TV crime series "The Bay".
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is a taut and tense thriller with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing throughout. My only complaint is that the chapters were just a bit too long which slowed down the pace.
Overall, an intense and intriguing read sure to delight thriller fans.
I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley, #AmazonPub and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #BehindClosedDoors in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Thirsty years ago, Stacey endured five long torturous days tied up, beaten, battered and bruised in a horrifying kidnapping before being rescued by a police officer answering a routine call. The people responsible for her kidnapping have never been identified or apprehended. The experience was so harrowing for the then 16 year old Stacey that she is left with dissociative amnesia and a few fragmented pieces that flicker in her memory. The lasting reminders being her amputated finger and her ear having also been cut off. The only thing she knows without a doubt is that her father never paid the ransom...and Stacey has never understood why. Even stranger was that as soon as she was discharged from hospital, her father packed up their belongings and moved them from Staffordshire to Lancashire...where she knew no one. He said it was for a new start...but was that really the truth?
Now Stacey is four years shy of the big five-oh and is an investigative journalist for a Lancaster paper where she is the senior reporter. She lives in a quaint little cottage in the seaside town of Hornby, living the quiet life she now appreciates. But when her ex-husband Jack comes knocking on her door one evening, it seems history is repeating itself. His daughter Lyra, who Stacey adores, has been kidnapped and the ransom demand is for £500,000 - the same amount as the ransom for Stacey 30 years before. Coincidence? Jack appeals to her for help but states in no uncertain terms that there is to be no police, as per the kidnapper's instructions. But can Stacey go down that rabbit hole and come face to face with her traumatic past? If it means saving Lyra, then yes.
Unfortunately, Jack doesn't the money - nothing even close to that amount - so Stacey uses all her skills as an investigative journalist to delve for clues as how to find Lyra...and who has her. But she cannot escape the similarities to her own kidnapping, right down to the last detail. But after thirty years? It doesn't seem feasible. But Stacey is sure her kidnapping holds the clues to finding Lyra before it's too late. But can she trust her memories or are they false narratives her mind is conjuring up?
This is an intriguing thriller from the very first page and I was eager to find out who was behind it all, and just how it related back to Stacey's own kidnapping. But I must admit to being bogged down by the lengthy chapters of which I am not a fan and for me that does slow down the pace a little. But boy, were there twists!! Just when you think you know who it could be, something shifts and it changes direction. But I did have one or two niggles at the back of my mind, both of which proved to be the case, although I wasn't sure of the exact details or anything else. Just a couple of niggles is all they were that didn't sit right. Trust your gut, follow your instinct. But it seemed Stacey wasn't listening...lol But then if she did, there wouldn't be much of a story...lol
Although Stacey was a strong lead I wasn't really a fan of her too much. Too stubborn and didn't listen to those who actually knew best. But she was the best of a bad bunch, believe me. Her father Henry and her ex Jack were two of the most despicable narcissistic and manipulative characters. I couldn't believe Henry wouldn't pay the ransom for his daughter and his reasoning was just ludicrous. And Jack? Well, we know why Stacey left him...had he really changed?
I loved the setting around Morecombe and could really picture it after seeing Carol's numerous posts of the area leading up to publication. Of course, I also remember it from the TV crime series "The Bay".
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is a taut and tense thriller with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing throughout. My only complaint is that the chapters were just a bit too long which slowed down the pace.
Overall, an intense and intriguing read sure to delight thriller fans.
I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley, #AmazonPub and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #BehindClosedDoors in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 14, 2023
Stacey O'Hara had been kidnapped thirty years ago as a teenager, losing a finger and part of an ear in this traumatic ordeal. Her father had refused to pay the ransom and she has never forgiven him for this and the police had never found the perpetrators.
In the present time Jack her ex husband is desperate for help as his daughter Lyra has been kidnapped for ransom. He thinks she can help because of her previous experience and she is an investigative journalist.
Is it a coincidence that the two cases are so similar? Can Stacey remember her past trauma to save Lyra?
This was a well written book that kept me turning the pages desperate to find out how this would all end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
In the present time Jack her ex husband is desperate for help as his daughter Lyra has been kidnapped for ransom. He thinks she can help because of her previous experience and she is an investigative journalist.
Is it a coincidence that the two cases are so similar? Can Stacey remember her past trauma to save Lyra?
This was a well written book that kept me turning the pages desperate to find out how this would all end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2022
After writing some of my favorite crime series, Carol Wyer is back with Behind Closed Doors, her first stand alone crime novel, a story of psychological suspense as gripping as those of her fantastic police procedurals.
Thirty years ago Stacey was kidnapped. She was only found after the police received an anonymous tip-off, but the culprit was never caught. The experience left her with several physical scars, dissociate amnesia and a estranged relationship with her father, whom refused to pay the ransom. Now, she’s an investigative journalist and still trying to find some answers. When her ex-husband Jack knocks on her door telling her his daughter Lyra has been kidnapped, Stacey feels there’re too many similarities with her own abduction. Is it a copycat or is history repeating itself? Stacey will have to delve into her past to try and save Lyra before is too late.
Carol certainly knows how to grab her readers’ attention and the story takes off with a very shocking scene that immediately had me on its grip. Stacey joins Carol’s group of strong female characters that are not afraid to upturn every stone necessary to find out the truth. Her past trauma and her inability to remember what really happened to her make her such an interesting lead. The reader can’t help but wonder if the memories she’s slowly starting to get back are real or if she’s projecting what she’s learning about Lyra’s abduction. You could say she’s an unreliable narrator, but not in an annoying way as it’s sometimes the case. The more we learn about her ordeal, the more we want her to succeed in her endeavor.
With a small cast of characters and a not so big pool of suspects, you’ll try to wrap your mind around what really happened to Lyra. Slow building tension will unveil the full picture of what happened thirty years ago, through several twists and turns that will lead to an explosive ending that offered some jaw dropping revelations. Although not a complete surprise, as some weird behaviors were grating on me right from the start, it was absolutely satisfying.
I liked how, even with the characters you don’t fully trust, Carol managed to give them that sense of despair that makes the reader wanna give them the benefit of the doubt, asking themselves “but what if they’re telling the truth?”
The atmosphere was good and the underlying sense of foreboding, of a ticking bomb that could go off at any time, was present all throughout the story.
With Behind Closed Doors, Carol Wyer has another winner on her hands, with this story of suspense, family secrets and revenge.
Thanks to Carol Wyer, Thomas & Mercer and Zooloo’s Book Tours for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review and my spot on the tour.
Thirty years ago Stacey was kidnapped. She was only found after the police received an anonymous tip-off, but the culprit was never caught. The experience left her with several physical scars, dissociate amnesia and a estranged relationship with her father, whom refused to pay the ransom. Now, she’s an investigative journalist and still trying to find some answers. When her ex-husband Jack knocks on her door telling her his daughter Lyra has been kidnapped, Stacey feels there’re too many similarities with her own abduction. Is it a copycat or is history repeating itself? Stacey will have to delve into her past to try and save Lyra before is too late.
Carol certainly knows how to grab her readers’ attention and the story takes off with a very shocking scene that immediately had me on its grip. Stacey joins Carol’s group of strong female characters that are not afraid to upturn every stone necessary to find out the truth. Her past trauma and her inability to remember what really happened to her make her such an interesting lead. The reader can’t help but wonder if the memories she’s slowly starting to get back are real or if she’s projecting what she’s learning about Lyra’s abduction. You could say she’s an unreliable narrator, but not in an annoying way as it’s sometimes the case. The more we learn about her ordeal, the more we want her to succeed in her endeavor.
With a small cast of characters and a not so big pool of suspects, you’ll try to wrap your mind around what really happened to Lyra. Slow building tension will unveil the full picture of what happened thirty years ago, through several twists and turns that will lead to an explosive ending that offered some jaw dropping revelations. Although not a complete surprise, as some weird behaviors were grating on me right from the start, it was absolutely satisfying.
I liked how, even with the characters you don’t fully trust, Carol managed to give them that sense of despair that makes the reader wanna give them the benefit of the doubt, asking themselves “but what if they’re telling the truth?”
The atmosphere was good and the underlying sense of foreboding, of a ticking bomb that could go off at any time, was present all throughout the story.
With Behind Closed Doors, Carol Wyer has another winner on her hands, with this story of suspense, family secrets and revenge.
Thanks to Carol Wyer, Thomas & Mercer and Zooloo’s Book Tours for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review and my spot on the tour.
November 13, 2022
Behind Closed Doors by Carol Wyer
I give this book 4.25 stars
Two kidnappings, thirty years apart. Can Stacey face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter?
Can she make sense of the terrible secrets she unearths in time to save Lyra? And if she does, is she ready to face her own tormentor?
This is a standalone by this author.
A well written plot and tense story line this book really deserves the title…….page turner!
Told between Stacey’s flashbacks to her own kidnapping which slowly come back to her and present day with her frantically trying to find her stepdaughter.There was the perfect amount of suspense and twists throughout to keep me turning the pages and 2nd guessing all the way to the end.
With thanks to Netgalley,Carol Wyer and Amazon Publishing for my chance to read and review this book.
June 27, 2023
I saw the high reviews on this book and was prompted to read it. It’s actually a little slow. It picked up near the end, but I was never invested in it. I can see how others might like it, so don’t let me dissuade you. It’s about 2 kidnappings 30 years apart with surprisingly similar mos. The second kidnapping is the stepdaughter of the woman kidnapped long ago. She is horrified that these two kidnappings exact the same cruel punishment, and the original kidnapper was never found. Is it a copycat or the same kidnapper?
December 7, 2022
This is the first book I've read by this author and it definitely won't be the last!
It was well written and had me hooked from the start. It was chilling and there were plenty of twists. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
I found the storyline gripping and loved how it went between past and present. There were some great characters in this standalone, I particularly liked Stacey.
If you love a thriller then you should grab yourself a copy!
It was well written and had me hooked from the start. It was chilling and there were plenty of twists. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
I found the storyline gripping and loved how it went between past and present. There were some great characters in this standalone, I particularly liked Stacey.
If you love a thriller then you should grab yourself a copy!
December 10, 2022
⚠️ TW: abduction, violence, domestic abuse, torture, suicide, brief mentions of drug use ⚠️ If you're looking for a slow burn that will keep you guessing then this one is for you! This book follows Stacey and her ex-husband, Jack, who turns up on her doorstep begging for her help after his 13 year old daughter, Lyra, has been abducted. But this terror is all too familiar for Stacey who was abducted 30 years earlier in a violent ordeal that was never solved and left her with severe amnesia. All she knows is that her father never paid her ransome and she was only saved thanks to an anonymous tip off to the police. And now Lyra is in the same situation and her captors have made it clear not to involve the police but Stacey can't help to notice eerie similarities between the two cases and she knows that she will do whatever she can, from using her journalistic powers to speaking with shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. This book was a gripping read that made you second guess everything you thought you already knew about the characters while you try and piece together a complex whodunit puzzle. I did sort of guess it from quite early on but it was still really enjoyable to see it unfold and there were some great twists and plot points that I didn't see coming at all which I loved. It was a little slow in certain parts but with so much going on it made it more manageable in those slower paced chapters. However my main downside was that I felt the bad and dislikable characters outweighed the good ones but that also gave you lots of people to suspect 🤷🏼♀️ Overall though I quite enjoyed this read and recommend it if you're into the abduction/whodunit type reads.
October 8, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
The main subject of this book is the kidnapping of two young women, a subject I found quite disturbing because of the graphic descriptions. Plus, the book didn't pull me in, I got a bit bored early on and didn't finish the read. I had read several of the author's other books and liked them, but this one just didn't do it for me.
The main subject of this book is the kidnapping of two young women, a subject I found quite disturbing because of the graphic descriptions. Plus, the book didn't pull me in, I got a bit bored early on and didn't finish the read. I had read several of the author's other books and liked them, but this one just didn't do it for me.
January 29, 2023
I meant to have this up for publication week - last week
December 8, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Behind Closed Doors' by Carol Wyer.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carol Wyer, Zooloos Book Tours and Thomas & Mercer publishers.
Publication date 6th December 2022.
This is the seventh book I have read by this author. I have also previously Carol's 'Detective Natalie Ward' series and her 'Detective Kate Young' series which I would also highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its gorgeous eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge fan of Carol and if this is half as good as any of her previous books it is sure to be a fantastic read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Thomas & Mercer. I have yet to read a book published by Thomas & Mercer that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 22 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Lancashire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited holidayed in Lancashire this year so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Stacey O'Hara. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
OMG!!!! ANOTHER ABSOLUTE PAGE TURNER!!! What are you doing to me!!!!! Seriously!!!!! I hope you are writing your next book as I write this!!! I'm talking to you Mrs Wyer!!!!! Right, yes, well anyway let's give you my review....
Carol Wyer does it Yet again!!! ABSOLUTELY Fantastically written as always ensuring a smooth and easy read that sucks you straight into the pages. Vivid descriptions put me in the middle of the action looking at everything going on in High definition. The cover and synopsis works perfectly with the storyline.
This is the first standalone I have read by the fantastic Carol so was excited to see if it would be just as good as her 'Detective Natalie Ward' and 'Detective Kate Young' series. Well... Mof course it bl00dy well was!!! This is Carol Wyer we are talking about here!!! A woman full of talents and surprise who can write psychological thrillers, comedy's, romance, series and standalones and each one will completely suck you in from the beginning to the end!!!
The storyline itself was very fast paced, rammed full of action, murder, mystery, suspense, tension and twists and turns. OMG the bombshells and unexpected twists which I was not expecting (a rarity to surprise me after the amount of crime books I've read but Carol does it without fail every time!!!) and WHAT AN EXPLOSIVE ONE at the end!!! I CANNOT WAIT for the next book this queen of crime comes out with next!! The storyline was realistic so easily imagined and the events themselves were unique which is definitely a positive when you have read the same ones over and over again!! An absolutely addictive and compelling page turner!!! If your going to start reading this then clear your schedules because it is absolutely unputdownable!!!! It is filled with crime, loss, romance, bribery, corruption, lies, deceit, excitement, tension, suspense and so so much more!! I mean it literally ticks every single box that you could ask for when looking for THE BOOK. You could NOT get any better than this. This is the best book I have read this year. I have loved all Carol's books but she just keeps getting better and better!! How do you do it?!?! The research Carol has put in absolutely shines through as does all her trips to Morecambe. I loved the photos which she posted online which made it even more realistic plus recognising some names of places I've visited and I was completely sucked in. There were so many times I looked up and had no idea where I was as I was just so lost in the storyline. The descriptions are perfect as is the atmosphere. The ending just completely blew me away!! One minute I thought I knew what was going on and the next I thought I was on the wrong track completely. I didn't know who to trust or who to believe. It is so rare to find a unique storyline when it comes to crime as there are so many out there but yet again Carol has absolutely blown my mind and slamdunked it. The ending was just WHAT THE HELL SHUT THE THE FRONT DOOR!!! I literally shouted when I read it which earned a few strange looks from my partner lol.
IF YOU LOVE A GOOD BOOK THEN THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!!!
I absolutely loved meeting all the characters!! Stacey is just amazing, an extremely strong female lead who didn't hold back the punches while going through hell herself after the trauma she had been through. I always love it when an author brings in strong women. I also liked Stacey's personality and really felt for her on several occasions. I love the fact that she refused to back down in what she believed was going on although there were times when I thought maybe she should consider other options more. It is hard to write what I want to about the rest of the characters without giving too much away. It is clear that Carol has done her research on hypnotherapy and police procedures among all the other topics that she covers in this explosive storyline. Regardless of who I did or didn't like they were all very strong and well defined characters. As always Carol brings her characters to life ensuring they jump out at the reader and drag them deep into the storyline with them.
I am really looking forward to the next book that this amazing lady comes out with and would LOVE to see this made into a movie!!! It would definitely be a best seller along with this amazing novel which kept me up late at night (early in the morning) as I just could not put it down!!!!
Congratulations Carol on another absolutely blooming page turning success!! This is exactly why you are my favourite crime author and because you lady have talent!!! Keep up the amazing work and here is to your next success 🥂
Overall a not to be missed, must read, addictive and explosive page turner with a BOMBSHELL ending!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Fiction, Thriller, Women Sleuths, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as Angela Marsons, Tess Gerritsen, anyone looking for a good book and YOU, your friends, your neighbours, just everyone!!
335 pages.
This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £4.99 in paperback via Amazon (during time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#BehindClosedDoors #Thomas&Mercer #CarolWyer #ZooLoosBookTours #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads
@CarolWyer @Thomas&Mercer @ZooLoosBT @ZooloosBookTours @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley
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Review for 'Behind Closed Doors' by Carol Wyer.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carol Wyer, Zooloos Book Tours and Thomas & Mercer publishers.
Publication date 6th December 2022.
This is the seventh book I have read by this author. I have also previously Carol's 'Detective Natalie Ward' series and her 'Detective Kate Young' series which I would also highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its gorgeous eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge fan of Carol and if this is half as good as any of her previous books it is sure to be a fantastic read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Thomas & Mercer. I have yet to read a book published by Thomas & Mercer that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 22 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Lancashire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited holidayed in Lancashire this year so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Stacey O'Hara. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
OMG!!!! ANOTHER ABSOLUTE PAGE TURNER!!! What are you doing to me!!!!! Seriously!!!!! I hope you are writing your next book as I write this!!! I'm talking to you Mrs Wyer!!!!! Right, yes, well anyway let's give you my review....
Carol Wyer does it Yet again!!! ABSOLUTELY Fantastically written as always ensuring a smooth and easy read that sucks you straight into the pages. Vivid descriptions put me in the middle of the action looking at everything going on in High definition. The cover and synopsis works perfectly with the storyline.
This is the first standalone I have read by the fantastic Carol so was excited to see if it would be just as good as her 'Detective Natalie Ward' and 'Detective Kate Young' series. Well... Mof course it bl00dy well was!!! This is Carol Wyer we are talking about here!!! A woman full of talents and surprise who can write psychological thrillers, comedy's, romance, series and standalones and each one will completely suck you in from the beginning to the end!!!
The storyline itself was very fast paced, rammed full of action, murder, mystery, suspense, tension and twists and turns. OMG the bombshells and unexpected twists which I was not expecting (a rarity to surprise me after the amount of crime books I've read but Carol does it without fail every time!!!) and WHAT AN EXPLOSIVE ONE at the end!!! I CANNOT WAIT for the next book this queen of crime comes out with next!! The storyline was realistic so easily imagined and the events themselves were unique which is definitely a positive when you have read the same ones over and over again!! An absolutely addictive and compelling page turner!!! If your going to start reading this then clear your schedules because it is absolutely unputdownable!!!! It is filled with crime, loss, romance, bribery, corruption, lies, deceit, excitement, tension, suspense and so so much more!! I mean it literally ticks every single box that you could ask for when looking for THE BOOK. You could NOT get any better than this. This is the best book I have read this year. I have loved all Carol's books but she just keeps getting better and better!! How do you do it?!?! The research Carol has put in absolutely shines through as does all her trips to Morecambe. I loved the photos which she posted online which made it even more realistic plus recognising some names of places I've visited and I was completely sucked in. There were so many times I looked up and had no idea where I was as I was just so lost in the storyline. The descriptions are perfect as is the atmosphere. The ending just completely blew me away!! One minute I thought I knew what was going on and the next I thought I was on the wrong track completely. I didn't know who to trust or who to believe. It is so rare to find a unique storyline when it comes to crime as there are so many out there but yet again Carol has absolutely blown my mind and slamdunked it. The ending was just WHAT THE HELL SHUT THE THE FRONT DOOR!!! I literally shouted when I read it which earned a few strange looks from my partner lol.
IF YOU LOVE A GOOD BOOK THEN THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!!!
I absolutely loved meeting all the characters!! Stacey is just amazing, an extremely strong female lead who didn't hold back the punches while going through hell herself after the trauma she had been through. I always love it when an author brings in strong women. I also liked Stacey's personality and really felt for her on several occasions. I love the fact that she refused to back down in what she believed was going on although there were times when I thought maybe she should consider other options more. It is hard to write what I want to about the rest of the characters without giving too much away. It is clear that Carol has done her research on hypnotherapy and police procedures among all the other topics that she covers in this explosive storyline. Regardless of who I did or didn't like they were all very strong and well defined characters. As always Carol brings her characters to life ensuring they jump out at the reader and drag them deep into the storyline with them.
I am really looking forward to the next book that this amazing lady comes out with and would LOVE to see this made into a movie!!! It would definitely be a best seller along with this amazing novel which kept me up late at night (early in the morning) as I just could not put it down!!!!
Congratulations Carol on another absolutely blooming page turning success!! This is exactly why you are my favourite crime author and because you lady have talent!!! Keep up the amazing work and here is to your next success 🥂
Overall a not to be missed, must read, addictive and explosive page turner with a BOMBSHELL ending!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Fiction, Thriller, Women Sleuths, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as Angela Marsons, Tess Gerritsen, anyone looking for a good book and YOU, your friends, your neighbours, just everyone!!
335 pages.
This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £4.99 in paperback via Amazon (during time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#BehindClosedDoors #Thomas&Mercer #CarolWyer #ZooLoosBookTours #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads
@CarolWyer @Thomas&Mercer @ZooLoosBT @ZooloosBookTours @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
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December 6, 2022
Jack needs Stacey’s help.
Behind Closed Doors opens dramatically and the pace is maintained throughout with a high octane finale that elevated my pulse considerably. I loved the timed and dated chapters because they lent a sense of urgency, heightening the tension in the story. I thought it was inspired to present the italicised events from the past through the present tense, because it gave them an immediacy and made it feel as if they were still occurring, drawing in the reader completely. It sounds somewhat ridiculous, but when I returned to Behind Closed Doors I often wondered what had been happening whilst I was away because I was so convinced by the writing!
What strikes me incredibly forcefully every time I read Carol Wyer is her profound understanding of humanity. She knows exactly what frailties we all have, and what the flaws are in our natures, so that reading her writing feels intimate, sensitive and affecting even when the plot is something we have never experienced. Behind Closed Doors swirls with human greed, deception, revenge, desire for love, intimacy and belonging and so many other forms of human interaction that it would reward many re-readings even after the plot is known. This is a layered and fascinating story.
It’s this level of human understanding that makes Stacey such a brilliant character. She’s complex and convincing, making her an ideal protagonist. Alongside her strength and intelligence is a vulnerability and occasional short-sightedness that doesn’t always serve her well. As Stacey’s responses are affected by her past, Behind Closed Doors has a sharply observed psychological edge. Stacey did infuriate me, because I wanted her to walk away from the investigation into Lyra’s disappearance as it felt too demanding for her, and yet at the same time I admired her fortitude and tenacity. This had the effect of making me feel as conflicted as Stacey is and hooked me in further.
Compelling plot and character aside, however, what’s so interesting here is the manner with which Carol Wyer makes the reader question their own view of morality. In Behind Closed Doors there’s a fine line dividing the innocent and the guilty so that different types of crime, of immorality, permeate the story making it so fascinating to contemplate long after the final page is read. Sometimes doing the wrong thing is completely understandable! This dilemma mean that the writing is intelligent and affecting as well as highly entertaining in Behind Closed Doors.
I so enjoyed this book. Certainly Behind Closed Doors is a fast paced thriller that can be read as sheer entertainment, but I felt it had depths and qualities that deserved reflection and contemplation too. It felt like grown up writing of the best kind.
Behind Closed Doors opens dramatically and the pace is maintained throughout with a high octane finale that elevated my pulse considerably. I loved the timed and dated chapters because they lent a sense of urgency, heightening the tension in the story. I thought it was inspired to present the italicised events from the past through the present tense, because it gave them an immediacy and made it feel as if they were still occurring, drawing in the reader completely. It sounds somewhat ridiculous, but when I returned to Behind Closed Doors I often wondered what had been happening whilst I was away because I was so convinced by the writing!
What strikes me incredibly forcefully every time I read Carol Wyer is her profound understanding of humanity. She knows exactly what frailties we all have, and what the flaws are in our natures, so that reading her writing feels intimate, sensitive and affecting even when the plot is something we have never experienced. Behind Closed Doors swirls with human greed, deception, revenge, desire for love, intimacy and belonging and so many other forms of human interaction that it would reward many re-readings even after the plot is known. This is a layered and fascinating story.
It’s this level of human understanding that makes Stacey such a brilliant character. She’s complex and convincing, making her an ideal protagonist. Alongside her strength and intelligence is a vulnerability and occasional short-sightedness that doesn’t always serve her well. As Stacey’s responses are affected by her past, Behind Closed Doors has a sharply observed psychological edge. Stacey did infuriate me, because I wanted her to walk away from the investigation into Lyra’s disappearance as it felt too demanding for her, and yet at the same time I admired her fortitude and tenacity. This had the effect of making me feel as conflicted as Stacey is and hooked me in further.
Compelling plot and character aside, however, what’s so interesting here is the manner with which Carol Wyer makes the reader question their own view of morality. In Behind Closed Doors there’s a fine line dividing the innocent and the guilty so that different types of crime, of immorality, permeate the story making it so fascinating to contemplate long after the final page is read. Sometimes doing the wrong thing is completely understandable! This dilemma mean that the writing is intelligent and affecting as well as highly entertaining in Behind Closed Doors.
I so enjoyed this book. Certainly Behind Closed Doors is a fast paced thriller that can be read as sheer entertainment, but I felt it had depths and qualities that deserved reflection and contemplation too. It felt like grown up writing of the best kind.
December 7, 2022
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I’ve read all three books of her previous series and I loved them. So I knew what I was getting myself into when I got this new story.
Same fast paced, suspenseful and intriguing twists.
What I didn’t expect was that ending. I really didn’t expect the villain to be that person.
Yes, I had my theories about her father and all the one and off moments of lucidity, but I wasn’t expecting that. I think the author has incorporate do many important topics in here that really makes us more aware that life is never as easy as it may seem from outside.
And I’m happy to say that this story is taking its place in my favourite of the year.
📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
I’ve read all three books of her previous series and I loved them. So I knew what I was getting myself into when I got this new story.
Same fast paced, suspenseful and intriguing twists.
What I didn’t expect was that ending. I really didn’t expect the villain to be that person.
Yes, I had my theories about her father and all the one and off moments of lucidity, but I wasn’t expecting that. I think the author has incorporate do many important topics in here that really makes us more aware that life is never as easy as it may seem from outside.
And I’m happy to say that this story is taking its place in my favourite of the year.
📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
January 2, 2023
Carol Wyer's writing style really works for me; Behind Closed Doors is a standalone tale, and yet again she had me turning those pages so quickly, needing to know what would happen. There are some red herrings strategically placed to throw you off course. The characterisation is good and the setting in the locale around Morecambe Bay, Lancashire and the city of Lancaster are used to great effect adding atmosphere and tension. Well worth a look.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 5, 2023
Two kidnappings, thirty years apart. Can Stacey face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter?
Behind Closed Doors was a book I kept seeing just before the holidays and clearly it was a sign 😉. This was a fast paced thriller that had you thinking and rethinking every clue and just about everyone was a suspect! I was like a ping pong ball 🤣. I liked the dual time line with Stacey trying to recall her own kidnapping ordeal for clues while looking into the kidnapping of her step daughter. Are these cases related or pure coincidence 🤔. Guess you’ll just have to read the book to find out. 3.5⭐️
Behind Closed Doors was a book I kept seeing just before the holidays and clearly it was a sign 😉. This was a fast paced thriller that had you thinking and rethinking every clue and just about everyone was a suspect! I was like a ping pong ball 🤣. I liked the dual time line with Stacey trying to recall her own kidnapping ordeal for clues while looking into the kidnapping of her step daughter. Are these cases related or pure coincidence 🤔. Guess you’ll just have to read the book to find out. 3.5⭐️
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October 12, 2022Stacey gets a desperate plea for help from her abusive ex husband. His daughter that she is close to has been kidnapped. She herself had been kidnapped as a child and has the scars from it but very little memory. In her attempts to save her step daughter, she forces herself to remember as she becomes convinced the two kidnappings are connected. Most of the book focused on the details of trying to find the money, trying to find the kidnappers and rescue her. There were some relationship secrets and family secrets to be revealed. This book wasn't my favorite of this author,
October 5, 2022
I received a free copy of, Behind Closed Doors, by Carol Wyer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Stacey was kidnapped when she was younger, she never really got over it either. When her ex calls her to help her find a kidnapped child, it all comes back to Stacey. This book was way too disturbing for me, being sent Lyra's finger, was too over the top for me.
December 10, 2022
This book was crazy! I couldn’t put it down wondering what was going on! Copy Cat kidnappings…Greedy people. This book definitely keeps you on your toes!
December 20, 2022
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel
two kidnappings 30 years apart but involving the same family
staceys first kidnapping occured as a young girl and the perp has never been found...she suffered horrendous injuries and has flash backs for years for those 5 days she was held captive
but its when her step daughter goes missing and her ex husband asks for her help that brings it more to the foreground, as the similarities rock stacey world
could it be the same perp who kidnapped her all those years ago..is he after revenge for the lack of money he never received
as the deadline slowly comes closer can stacey unlock her memories to help bring her stepdaughter home
oh my word what a tangle of emotions this was reading it...the horror of everything and the revelation when it comes
brilliantly written
two kidnappings 30 years apart but involving the same family
staceys first kidnapping occured as a young girl and the perp has never been found...she suffered horrendous injuries and has flash backs for years for those 5 days she was held captive
but its when her step daughter goes missing and her ex husband asks for her help that brings it more to the foreground, as the similarities rock stacey world
could it be the same perp who kidnapped her all those years ago..is he after revenge for the lack of money he never received
as the deadline slowly comes closer can stacey unlock her memories to help bring her stepdaughter home
oh my word what a tangle of emotions this was reading it...the horror of everything and the revelation when it comes
brilliantly written
November 29, 2022
Another great book from Carol Wyer.
This is a standalone book and will definitely have you racing through the pages.
Stacey was kidnapped 30 years ago but struggles to remember what happened during this traumatic time.
Her ex, Jack, contacts her out of the blue and is desparate for help as his teenage daughter has now been taken.
Stacey thinks a lot of Lyra and tells Jack she’ll do all she can to help.
They’ve been told not to go to the Police or else Lyra will be harmed, and there is a demand for money to contend with.
Stacey asks an old friend who is a PI to help but they struggle to work out where Lyra is being held.
With time ticking away Stacey sees a therapist to unlock some of the memories of her abduction and this is key to this situation.
This is a great read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a standalone book and will definitely have you racing through the pages.
Stacey was kidnapped 30 years ago but struggles to remember what happened during this traumatic time.
Her ex, Jack, contacts her out of the blue and is desparate for help as his teenage daughter has now been taken.
Stacey thinks a lot of Lyra and tells Jack she’ll do all she can to help.
They’ve been told not to go to the Police or else Lyra will be harmed, and there is a demand for money to contend with.
Stacey asks an old friend who is a PI to help but they struggle to work out where Lyra is being held.
With time ticking away Stacey sees a therapist to unlock some of the memories of her abduction and this is key to this situation.
This is a great read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
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