"I do, Charlie, I do understand. And we really
appreciate everything you do, Maggie and I; we do appreciate it, I promise, all
the long hours and hard work, and we love you for it. Placated, you nod and I breathe a sigh of
relief. For a moment there I wasn't too sure which way things would go, and I
realize that I am constantly living on a knife-edge, where even one sentence
taken in slightly the wrong manner can mean the difference between war and
peace. "......
This psychological thriller is about a married couple, Sal
and Charlie. They love each other but the edges have frayed and neither is
happy anymore. Sal would leave but can't. The reasons are many and become oh so
clear how easy it is to stay and how hard it is to go. Like being mired in
quicksand. You are taken on a ride where
the clues of what will eventually happen are warning you of the impending
danger. One is the controller and one gives in to save peace for their
daughter, Maggie.
Told back and forth between Sal and Charlie's point of view.
Charlie can rationalize the behavior and place blame on Sal. After all, Charlie
is the one who works hard for the family, and thinks Sal sits around all day
doing nothing at home with Maggie. Sal
does the best that can be done, everything but leave that is. Always trying to
anticipate Charlie's moods and behavior.
Domestic violence is so much more than physical acts of
abuse. The mental cruelty throughout this book is heart wrenching. Charlie is not someone you will like.
Charlie gets involved in something shady at work. Proving
that everything about Charlie is off, and has little distinction between right
and wrong. Sal is attempting to make a new life, but there will be a drastic
outcome for all involved when fate brings everything together.
Surprise ending, but I did suspect it. Still a gripping
suspense. In one sense the domestic violence is just a peek at what it's really
like and as in real life one doesn't know how badly it will end, just that it will end badly.
Thank you Netgalley and Carina UK Publishers
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