Title: Behind Her Eyes
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Publisher: HarperCollins

[Synopsis]

Only two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
It’s said that the only people who really know what goes on in a marriage are the couple themselves. But what if even they don’t know the truth?
David and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He’s a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?
Louise, David’s new secretary, is intrigued. But as Louise gets closer to each of them, instead of finding answers she uncovers more puzzling questions. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise could never have guessed how wrong things really are and just how far someone might go to hide it.

[My Review]

Well, Behind Her Eyes left me feeling completely dazed, impressed and kind of taken aback – but in a good way! The book feels like a great, gripping psychological thriller, with some extra elements thrown in (some of which do require some serious suspending of your disbelief, but I was completely fine with that!) and so I was happy enough knowing that I’d found a new book in this genre that I would be happy to recommend. Then, towards the end, it steps up AGAIN and it feels like the whole game has just shifted!
Because the novel is written from two (sometimes three, in a way, because of the diary entries) perspectives, you get contrasting versions of events and different impressions on who is being genuine and who isn’t. There are twists, turns and characters that you hate to love – or love to hate… both, mostly! I spent a LOT of time feeling like I had no idea who was actually ‘good’ and who wasn’t, but this is a feeling I genuinely enjoy when I’m reading a book like this. Also, some characters should be seen as negative – surely no one thinks having an affair is an admirable character trait? – but then in other ways they seem quite redeemable and likeable.
The sense of confusion, in my mind, simply makes reading this novel more exciting and adds suspense. You just know there’s bound to be a surprise at the end. I can’t give much away without spoiling it but I definitely finished Behind Her Eyes with a satisfied sigh (and simultaneously an excited squeal!) and a feeling that I’d just read something amazing… something that could truly stand apart from others in this genre. And, as someone who generally loves suspense and psychological thrillers anyway, that’s no mean feat!

[Rating: 5/5]

Many thanks to HarperCollins who provided a copy of this novel. Behind Her Eyes is published in the UK on 26 January.