Today I am reviewing Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
About the book (from the publisher): An old case makes Detective Inspector Louisa Smith some new enemies in this spellbinding second installment of New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Haynes’ Briarstone crime series that combines literary suspense and page-turning thrills.
Ten years ago, fifteen-year-old Scarlett Rainsford vanished while on a family holiday in Greece. Was she abducted, or did she run away from her severely dysfunctional family? Lou Smith worked the case as a police constable, and failing to find Scarlett has been one of the biggest regrets of her career. No one is more shocked than Lou to learn that Scarlett has unexpectedly been found during a Special Branch raid of a brothel in Briarstone.
Lou and her Major Crime team are already stretched working two troubling cases: nineteen year old Ian Palmer was found badly beaten; and soon after, bar owner Carl McVey was found half-buried in the woods, his Rolex and his money gone. While Lou tries to establish the links between the two cases, DS Sam Hollands works with Special Branch to question Scarlett. What happened to her? Where has she been until now? How did she end up back here? And why is her family – with the exception of her emotionally fragile sister Juliette – less than enthusiastic about her return?
When another brutal assault and homicide are linked to the McVey murder, Lou’s cases collide, and the clues all point in one terrifying direction. As the pressure and the danger mount, it becomes clear that the silent, secretive Scarlett holds the key to everything.
My review: This isn’t my first introduction to the writing of Elizabeth Haynes. I reviewed her psychological thriller, Into the Darkest Corner, two years ago. Then, as now, I was completely riveted by the story. Haynes is an incredibly skilled writer. She doesn’t pull punches when dealing with a story line that, in the case of Into the Darkest Corner, focuses on physical and psychological abuse, and in the case of this, her latest novel, focuses on the nightmare of human trafficking.
Haynes tells two stories: what is happening in the present, with the reappearance of Scarlett, along with the other cases Lou Smith is investigating; at the same time, she reveals, little by little, just what happened to Scarlett in the ten years since she disappeared – in Scarlett’s voice. The result is – and I’m not exaggerating here – an un-put-downable read. The author knows her subject matter and she knows how to pace a plot in a way that doesn’t rush, that carefully leaves clues here and there that keep you guessing. Yet, the plot has a forward movement that doesn’t tire, doesn’t lag. I found myself thinking about the book when I was doing other things in the course of the day. I remember one particular time where a tantalizing clue had been laid out, very subtly, and I couldn’t help but think about it, turning it over and over in my mind, thinking ‘Could it really be this ?” Isn’t that the best feeling? To be so caught up in a story that it never quite leaves your thoughts? Even now, a good week after finishing it, I’m still thinking about it.
This book features strong female characters – from Lou Smith to DS Sam Hollands to Scarlett herself. They are women who fight against those who would do harm, who do their best to survive in a world that can be unbelievably, horrifyingly cruel.
I don’t linger too much on details in the plot because I think the publisher’s blurb gives just enough away and I’m not about to spoil your reading experience. Having said that, I admire the way Haynes doesn’t just tie things up neatly at the end of the story. There are questions left unanswered. There are issues that will raise questions in your mind long after you finish the last page. That makes for a very powerful ending, but not an ending, to this extremely well written novel.
I am a fan. I haven’t read the first installment of this Briarstone series, but you can be sure I will.
I recommend this one highly.
About the author: Elizabeth Haynes is a former police intelligence analyst, a civilian role that involves determining patterns in offending and criminal behavior. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Into the Darkest Corner, Dark Tide, Human Remains, and most recently, Under a Silent Moon, the first installment of the Briarstone crime series.
Good news! One of you will win a copy of Behind Closed Doors. Just leave a comment here – on this post – and I’ll draw a winner’s name on Sunday.
Happy Thursday.
Sounds like I need to read this book. Enjoy your day. Doris
Another new author for me to add to my list. The book sounds very interesting. Thank you for the give away.
Claudia, I always enjoy your book reviews! This one surely makes me want to get this book in hand. Have a fabulous day!
Maggie
Sounds like a fun read.
A new author, a new series, what’s not to love? Thanks for the giveaway, Claudia. Have a beautiful day!
Hugs,
Deb
This books sounds really intriguing! Thanks for your review and yay for the giveaway! I’m adding this to my TBR list!
Linda
Another new author…another new series…another name to add to be reading list! ;)
once again another recommended by you book I just have to read. Please put my name in for the give away. Thank you.
Wow! Another great book to be added to the pile… so many books,,,, glad I have so much time!!
Sounds like a winner Claudia — thanks for the chance. I’m going to see if my library has any of her books.
Add my name to the hat.
Another excellent review, Claudia! Thanks for a chance to win this one. I’m definitely putting Elizabeth Haynes on my reading list.
Looks like a really good book!
Count me in. Sounds like a good read. Love a book you can’t put down.
What a great review. This novel sounds enthralling. Thanks for this feature and giveaway.
Behind Closed Doors sounds like a good read. Our family raised money for an organization to fight against human trafficking. It goes on right here in the USA.
Claudia, would you recommend reading this series in chronological order, or can each book stand alone? You are so good are writing reviews! How can we possibly resist? Please put my name in the hat.
Well, I really can’t answer that because I didn’t read the first book in the series. It worked fine as a stand-alone novel, but I always think it’s a great idea to read a series in order.
My library has the first one in the series, “Under a Silent Moon.” Might be a good place to start.
Put me in for this one..Thanks!
I am currently plowing my way through the Jacqueline Winspear mysteries, but I will definitely add this to my list. xo Laura
This sounds like a very good book! Thank you for the review and the opportunity to win it!
I have not read anything by this author, (yet) and this book really sounds like a great read. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for this one. Thanks for the chance Claudia.
Another great book review. My school did a fund raiser for exploited girls/women. Compelling story.
Sounds like another good book! Thanks for the review and a chance to win.
Sounds like a good one! Count me in!
Your book review tempts me toward a book I probably wouldn’t otherwise read!
Off subject…interesting experience I had today. I was in another city for an appointment and decided to stop at a store which I was previously aware of as a sort of children’s bookstore/toy store. What a (pleasant) ‘shock.’ It is now a doll house store, completely and entirely about doll houses, their construction and contents. The owner was present and seemed to be amazingly knowledgeable about how to build a doll house; she was giving a retired senior, a gentleman, much advice on how to restore and attach a vintage window in what sounded like an ancestral doll house in his family.
The inventory was vast; this is not a smallish shop at all…dollhouse miniatures of many scales and for many eras, i.e. Victorian to modern and also displays in glass cases of, say, a barber shop from the early 20th century to a working farm scene from the 1800s or a family in their house from the 1960s; I felt like I was in a museum. Case after case after case to look at and, truly, I could have used a magnifying glass on some of it. Any kind of rugs, flooring, whole stairways you could purchase separately; roof material. Curtains. I was almost overwhelmed.
I’ve had to give up on my new idea of actually starting a doll house because my hands struggle to hold and place small objects (too much arthritis) and my eyes also fight now to really be able to enjoy the very tiny things, plus I just don’t have the space to set up a house…but I have amassed over the years, certain miniatures and I did pick up one today there, paying ‘way too much for it (sigh) but I couldn’t resist…a small wooden treasure chest with a handpainted lid, hinged, that I can balance on my thumbnail. (I use some modest shadow boxes for my little finds/collection.) What was of real note was how busy they were in this store on a random Thursday afternoon after lunch..I couldn’t even get a clerk to help me at first, as everybody was with a customer…and the shoppers were largely mature (age 60-70+), talking at length with each other about their doll house experiences and what they were working on…it was like a little club!…and it didn’t sound like they were doing it for a grandchild but instead for themselves! Loved observing and hearing everybody talk about their doll houses! I was picking up on real passion for their subject. A younger woman in front of me at checkout was restoring a doll house that had been in her family for generations and it sounded like she’d been working a really long time on one room of the house; very precise. I couldn’t help but eavesdrop because it was taking a long time to explore everything there…in fact, if I go again, I know I need to allow more time but, ohmygosh, I could really see how one dollhouse could wind up being worth thousands of dollars depending upon how intricately you choose to furnish it. They had fully-put-together wooden doll houses for sale which were over $1,000, empty; I think one ornate/gingerbread-y, empty Victorian house was $5,000.
Like I said, I’d loved miniatures before but then got enthralled with all of your photos for your own doll house here on the blog and it’s opened up a whole new world for me. I wasn’t aware that doll houses were the big deal in today’s times, with adults…although, of course, I’d read about Tasha Tudor’s doll house, or heiress Huguette Clarke’s doll houses. I wish it had been something I’d gotten into a long time ago, when I could have actually worked with it and been creative with good eyes and good hands. But, in the absence of that, how fun to go in a good-sized shop like this…when I ever travel to this city again, I’ll try to always make it part of my itinerary. It’s great to see retirees as well as young moms embracing a doll house hobby! It just made my day. It was a happy environment with really nice people. I thought, “Wow, Claudia would love this place.”
This sounds like a very interesting book!!
One of your earlier posts introduced me to Carla Black, and I have read a few of her Paris mystery books, starting with the earliest ones.
I’d love to win this one.
Topics like this aren’t easy to read about but the fact is that this is the reality of our world today for many people. It’s scary. And it makes for a fascinating read.
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
Clearly, I need to read the books this author has produced. Your review has peaked my interest. Please include me in your drawing.
My “To Read” list grows longer with almost every book you review!
Am currently enthralled with Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport, so it may be time to check out a strong female detective next! Thanks for the interesting review.