- Author: Sarah Pinborough
- Genre: Gothic Thriller
- Year published: 2017
- Pages: 320
- Rating: 3.5
- Goodreads rating: 3.8
Plot introduction:
Louise meets David at a bar and they have an instant connection. They share an evening of banter, but without telling each other their names or jobs. They kiss, but he confesses that he is married and does not usually do this sort of thing. Being a single mom, she doesn’t think much of it, but enjoyed the attention for the night.
Louise is a psychiatrist secretary 3 days a week. Her old boss has retired, and when her new boss, David, comes in with his wife, she realizes he is the man from the bar. They make a point to not continue anything and be professional, but they clearly still like each other. She shows him the ins and outs of the area since he just moved. They become closer, and eventually, he spends some nights at her flat.
Louise bumps into a stranger accidentally after dropping of her son to school and they have coffee. She quickly realizes that she is David’s wife, Adele. Strangely, Adele insists not to mention to David that they ran into each other, and to keep their friendship a secret. Louise has no intention of continuing the friendship, but Adele seems fragile and lonely.
As she becomes entangled in both of them, Louise realizes their marriage isn’t as it seems, and they have a dark past. She doesn’t know who to believe, only that somethings wrong.
“To trust the truth of a thing, you have to suffer the thing. You have to get mud on your hands and dirt under your fingernails. You have to dig for it.”
― Sarah Pinborough, Behind Her Eyes
Review:
This book was absolutely wonderful and a page turner…until the last chapter. Throughout the book, I was impressed by the writing and thought it would become one of my favorites. The novel reminds me of Gone Girl, but more gothic and less stereotypically millennial. Louise was a lovable character despite her grey morals. You find yourself switching sides between David and Adele constantly. Before the last chapter, every twist is believable and foreshadowed beautifully. It has a certain aspect of magic to it, but not impossible magic.
The final twist was so stupid it ruined the whole book for me. The twist was similar to when you’re a kid and write a short story, only to end it with “…and it was all a dream,” and you think you’re the most creative writer ever. If I was holding a physical book and not my phone, I would have thrown it. It was just that bad. I recommend reading this book, but please, skip the last chapter.
