B A Paris (2016) Behind Closed Doors. London, HarperCollins. 978-1-84845-412-5

 

This is an interesting book as it is almost entirely about coercive control rather than physical violence - but taken to the extreme.

[Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence]

[Spoiler alert].

The novel narrates the relationship between Jack and Grace which appears perfect on the outside, but Jack is a cruel, obsessively controlling husband looking to incarcerate Grace’s sister Millie who has Down’s Syndrome.

There is no doubt from the start that this is an abusive relationship as that is suggested a revealed from the first paragraph. The tension in the narrative is how Grace is going to escape and prevent Jack torturing herself and Millie for his own gratification.

The relationship contains many of the aspects of an abusive relationship: a very charming perpetrator, the “victim” being swept of her (in this case) feet; a quick engagement and marriage after only a few months; the perpetrator isolating the victim from family and friends, for example. Where this book is outstanding is the lengths to which the perpetrator will go and the extremes of punishment and control. The perpetrator works as a celebrated barrister defending battered women and has never lost a case.

Although there are many stereotypes in the book, it would read as if these have been deliberately chosen and exaggerated. There is very little direct physical violence - one incidence where he pulls her by her hair. He does, however, regulate her food and will punish her by withholding it – so there are physical punishments.

Awards:

·        Gold Award in the Nielsen/Specsavers Bestseller Award 2016