Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

We will be starting a buddy read of Behind Closed Doors on the 14th Jan. Everyone welcome to join.

Suggested reading schedule:

Day 1 -
Chapter 1: Present, starts with "The Champagne ...." to
Chapter 6: Past, starts with "That evening ....

Day 2 -
Chapter 7: Present, starts with "When we arrive ...." to
Chapter 12: Past, starts with "Molly could only ..... "

Day 3 -
Chapter 13: Present, starts with "We're going to .... " to
Chapter 18: Past, starts with "That first time ..... "

Day 4 -
Chapter 19: Present, starts with "In the day ..... "
until the end.

Sounds good Lynn! I am so looking forward to this!

never done this before.

Got the audio from the library, so I'll be looking forward to discussing it with you guys!

Glad to see a couple more will be joining us :)

I've not bought my book yet, as I said in my original post I'll come back closer to the time and work out a reading schedule so we can discuss the same things at the same time.

I've got this on my tbr for January too.. might start a little later than the group, but I am intrigued.

I think I'll jump in on this one!

Cyndi wrote: "I think I'll jump in on this one!"

The more the merrier :)

So there are 25 chapters in the book, what would be a good rate of reading for everyone?

6 chapters per day for 4 days (7 chapters on the last day), to check in here at the end of each day with our thoughts? How does that sound?

Personally I could probably finish this off by the end of the weekend (ie two days) but I read faster than most people so went with a more conservative pace. Tell me what you think.

That sounds good to me Lynn.
I read the first chapter today to get a feel for it. I think it will go fast for me too. Am not always good at the reading time line, but will keep with the discussion time line. :)

I've posted the chapters for each day in the first post - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Chapter 1 - Interesting read from the start, especially (view spoiler)[that Jack is a lawyer for abused wives while at the same time hinting that Grace is one herself (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4: Past, start with "When Jack and I" (view spoiler)[He somehow managed to make Millie fall down the stairs didn't he? He never wanted her in the ceremony ,,,, (hide spoiler)]

Hmmmmm!!!!
I like how it builds and then switches to the past or present right when you think you are figuring something out!

Chapter 5: Present, starting with "On the way home ..."

The lunch was really interesting, (view spoiler)[to me it seems like she wants to get out of the situation, hinting about wanting to talk to people without him there, trying to memorise telephone numbers etc.

I think that Esther has twigged something isn't right, because she made a show of having to repeat her mobile number which gave her chance to memorise it.
Because trying to get a number for someone seemed so important to her, I can only assume that he locks her in the house when he's not there.

I don't believe Jack was planning on ever letting her sister come and live with them, but how is he going to get around that when she has to leave the school?

One last thought, I have a horrible feeling that the puppy was never there when they got back from the honeymoon .... I hope nothing horrible happened :/
(hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 7... Starting with "When we arrive"

I am on my kindle and it is hard to count/mark the chapters! I read up to today's chapter (well, a little further, but I won't talk about that.)

(view spoiler)[ Wow! That was quite a switch in personalities. Obviously she is in a world of trouble. The dinner just gave a glimpse, but it was all more odd than anything else!
Esther seems rude, but really, she is going to going to be the only one to see through the facade. The fact that she repeated the number really showed that she is questioning.
Yes, I think he made her fall down the stairs, but I am not sure what it going on with that.
I can't believe she went to Thailand AFTER he disappeared on the wedding night. Being in a foreign country with him can not be a good idea on any level.
And the LAST sentence... "There is no housekeeper" OMG Poor Molly! (hide spoiler)]

I've read until the end of Chapter 10 (Past, starts with "That morning ..."

(view spoiler)[The big reveal (I'm sure there's more to come) when he switched from perfect to evil, and his back story, was a little over the top pantomime evil for me. However it still hasn't stopped me enjoying the story.

What I can't work out at the moment is what he wants with Millie, why her specifically? That has me very confused.

The end of chapter 10 had me groaning 'oh no', because we all know that he's just left that little dog in the utility room to die :(
(hide spoiler)]

I am at the end of Chapter 12 (past, starting with Molly could only...)

(view spoiler)[I was so curious what he could want with her too. I was thinking maybe he was a pediphile and that is why he loved Thailand so much. But now we know that his "thing" is to impart and fear and terror. And since she has lived in a group home, there won't be coworkers and/or friends who would be missing her.

Jack's backstory was extremely disturbing and creepy. I am just not sure about him being such a "perfect" criminal where he is getting away with all this!

I realize she is trying to get away and everytime he is one step ahead of her, but this may be just a little TOO over the top perfect. I am not sure if it bothers me or not. How is he getting away for this for this amount of time? I will have to wait and see how it ends to see if the "unbelieviablilty factor" is too much for me.

One thing I do like is how my wonderings are getting explained as we go along. For example, at the dinner party there was a conversation about making a dress and being a seamstress and then later in a PAST section, it was explained about the curtain. I like how this reveal is happening. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I am liking this a lot. It is fast for me (I am glad you are a fast reader, Lynn) and I am definitely excited to see how it is going to end. (view spoiler)[ I am not sure if Esther is going to blow it up. Or maybe the caregiver, Janice (I think she might be killed, actually), or if Millie herself is going to somehow save the day. (hide spoiler)]

I've been away from my computer most of the day so couldn't comment but I have been reading. I'm up to chapter 20 and will probably finish it by the end of tonight.

Stand out thing for me in today's read, when she found out what her paintings were for ::shudders::

End of 18 (Past, "That first time..."
Am at 73% Will probably read to the end today as well.

My thoughts on this section;
(view spoiler)[Who do you think put the highlights in the book? Was it Esther or Jack? What a great idea. I can see how she was wary, because Jack has been so ingenious the whole time.
Yes! The portraits are so creepy.
Now we know why she was moved to the empty bedroom.
She has tried a lot of creative escapes. (hide spoiler)]

Still wondering how this is going to end.

Vicki - In answer to your question (view spoiler)[Who do you think put the highlights in the book? Was it Esther or Jack?

Definitely Jack (hide spoiler)]

Well, I finished and and gave it 4 stars.

Vicki's Review

I did like (view spoiler)[the tension that was created with her going to Thailand and not knowing what was happening at home. What a leap of faith.
The only way she could go on with her life was for him to be dead. I am glad she killed him. I also thought it was a good twist that the poison didn't actually kill him, but dehydration did, just like Molly, the puppy.
I also liked that Esther helped her out at the end and had "girl power" together.
Now she can enjoy that house and her life and Millie can have her yellow bedroom! (hide spoiler)]

Overall, it was a good read for me. I like ones that I fly through because I can't put them down.
Of course, (view spoiler)[you have to suspend reality and it was very over the top with how perfectly he was able to control her, (hide spoiler)] but that is fiction for you. I can overlook all that.

I have very similar thoughts of book to you Vicki and also gave it 4 stars.

You do have to suspend belief for some of the story (hence the reason for dropping a star), however it didn't spoil my enjoyment of a very addictive read.

I too thought (view spoiler)[that the plotline of having to go to Thailand without really knowing what was happening was very clever and added a great amont of suspense.

I also couldn't help grinning at the irony of how he died, which mirrored Molly's horrible death. (hide spoiler)]

Wow! I just started the book (sorry I was late). It really grabs you doesn't it?

I'm up to page 96.

I like the format too, but I would prefer numbered chapters, I guess I'm a traditionalist.

Yes, it is the kind of book you can fly through. Worth the read for sure.

Yes, for a paced read it was horrible trying to figure out where to stop. I like chapter numbers too.

Who is the author?

B A Paris --- I found

I listened to this on audible. I really enjoyed it. Both the story and the narrator.

This is the best thriller I've read in months!

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "This is the best thriller I've read in months!"

Glad you're enjoying it Kirsten :) Where are you up to?

Well, she's (view spoiler)[arrived in Thailand alone (hide spoiler)]. (Wish this book had proper chapter headings.)

I will say this book has one of the most chilling villains I've read about in years!

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "Well, she's [spoilers removed]. (Wish this book had proper chapter headings.)

I will say this book has one of the most chilling villains I've read about in years!"

Totally agreed! It made my blood run cold!

Better late than never... 1/3 of the way done, it's a fun read so far.... So creepy. Most thrillers make me roll my eyes, but this seems like it could be real!

Glad you're enjoying so far ally :)

ally ¯\(ツ)/¯ wrote: "Better late than never... 1/3 of the way done, it's a fun read so far.... So creepy. Most thrillers make me roll my eyes, but this seems like it could be real!"

That is so funny Ally! My family laughs at me because I think EVERYTHING could be real.
I am glad you are liking it. I liked it too.

Hah, I flew through it too. Wow. Is it just me, or are thrillers reaching a whole new level?

Hands down one of the best thrillers I've ever read.

That is awesome Ally! I know you don't usually like them the best.

ally ¯\(ツ)/¯ wrote: "Hands down one of the best thrillers I've ever read."

I agree, ally! I read a lot of thrillers every year and this is the first in a long time that actually gave me chills!