Behind a Closed Door

Kelly and Kennedy #2

by Adele O'Neill

What if everything in your life was a lie? An emotionally tense story of love, loyalty, betrayal and revenge. Perfect for the fans of Louise Jenson.

DUBLIN - For the past two years Jill Ryan has tried to keep her darkest secrets deeply buried and remain relatively anonymous. Haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her life together, Jill soon realises that the last person she can trust is herself.

KILKENNY - Only Heather Martin knows the lengths her husband will go to teach her a lesson and Heather has had enough. Faced with the impossible choice of saving herself or staying to care for her ailing father, Heather has a choice to make. But does she have what it takes to survive?

When Detectives Louise Kennedy in Dublin and Tony Kelly in Kilkenny begin to investigate, their dark discoveries collide unravelling a complex web of secrets that stretch far and wide.

Genres: Thriller

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2018

About the author

Having lived and worked in the UK and Dublin since college, Adele now lives in her home town in Co. Wicklow with her husband and two teenage daughters. She writes overlooking the Irish Sea and is an active member of the Wexford Literary Festival committee.

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Gripping Read.

Behind a Closed Door is a story of survival, Abuse, new beginnings, a gripping thriller that at times is hard to read but thoroughly addictive.

Behind a Closed Door is a story of two different women and their fight for survival against domestic abuse.

Heather's husband Mike is a detective. But he hides a darker side when he physically beats Heather.
Heather's father used to work with him but he now has Alzheimer's  and is living in a care home.
Mike is getting more violent and don't care where he beats her.
You see Heather's father see a dark side to Mike and tried to warn her off him.
But unfortunately the heart wants what the heart wants. Love can be blind and at times dangerous!

Then we have Jill, who is living a secret life as she is petrified her past will catch up with her.
Now in a loving relationship with Ben she is trying so hard to move on from her past and domestic violence. As her past starts to take a toll on her the nightmares start.
Ben pursuades Jill to go to see a councillor, but it's just too painful and she runs out

Can Jill ever move on and fully let Ben into her life.

The story is told in two points of view.
Heather's story in Kilkenny in 2016 and Jill in Dublin 2018.
Both stories equally as harrowing.

Adele creates a realistic portrayel of domestic violence and how it completely breaks the victim emotionally and physically. Yes it's brutally hard at times to read but you just have to keep reading to find out if both women get their Happy ending. 

Although I have mentioned the Domestic Violence I just want to say that some readers may find this subject sensitive as it contains fairly brutal scenes.

I do applaud Adele for raising such difficult subjects as it can help raise awareness.

Behind a Closed Door is a gripping Psychological thriller that really made an impact. It's not a fast paced Thriller as Adele builds up the tension perfectly.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this compelling book. Definetly recommend this book!

Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by thanking Aria for my copy to enjoy, and how I enjoyed it!

I found it haunting, atmospheric, daunting, thrilling and gripping. Its one of those reads that will grip you and spit you out.

I loved the sense of deepness in this, there are many facets to each of us and to Heather we can see them clearly. Our innermost thoughts that we wouldn't tell anyone for fear of being judged and thought of badly and the darkness within each of us.

Awful destructive things can happen 'behind closed doors' that we wouldn't dream of or only read about but for Heather she has to 'live it'. And we, the readers are allowed to live it with her.

The author has done such a hardworking task in making the fictional characters come alive, so much so you believe that its happening.

When she was being beaten by her husband I cringed as if each blow was felt by me, the impact being so great.

I admired Heather, her Father has Alzheimers and in a home being safely looked after but Heather visits him every day "I told you not to go out with your face like that" her husbands repeatedly says.
But she goes each time hoping to be back by the time he returns from work.

Her husband the Police Detective.

There is also someone else in the story that figures within this story, it all collides into one very brilliant climax.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman told from two time frames. The first is the wife of a police officer. He is beyond abusive and she knows for sure that he will kill her one day. When one beating causes her to lose her unborn child, she decides she's had enough. With the help of a woman who is helping her father who has Alzheimer's she finally runs.

The second part deals with the woman she is now, almost two years after leaving. She's changed her name and no one knows who she really is .. not even the man she's fallen in love with.

Suffering PTSD and horrific flashbacks in nightmares, she finally seeks help from a therapist. Still mortally afraid that her husband will find her, she tells the therapist only a small part of the horrendous treatment she survived.

This is such a brutal story of the worst kind of domestic violence. This author has handled the subject very well with the character development of all those involved. At times it's gut-wrenching and sad, at other times I became angry, and the ending, although a little anti-climatic, left me emotionally exhausted. This book held me in its unrelenting grip from the very first page.

Many thanks to the author / Aria / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always intrigued by domestic suspense and thriller books. Sometimes they are done RIGHT, like the book with a similar name, Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris, and sometimes they tend to fall flat. Unfortunately, this latter was the case with this novel.

We have two separate timelines - one as the woman is going through the violent relationship with her husband and her path to getting away. The other, the same woman in the aftermath, living under a different name and unsure as to whether her husband is actually dead or not.

I found this book to be extremely predictable and we never get to any type of climax. It's not bad... it's just straight lined and nothing new to those of us who read this genre a lot. Due to this, really this is more about the victim, Jill/Heather and her emotional roller coaster of guilt, remorse, paranoia and PTSD. The "thrill" of the book just isn't there. I also found that the author is extremely wordy and it could be repetitive at times.

This one just didn't work for me.

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy in return for my honest opinion.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if everything in your life was a lie? An emotionally tense story of love, loyalty, betrayal and revenge. Perfect for the fans of Louise Jenson.

DUBLIN - For the past two years Jill Ryan has tried to keep her darkest secrets deeply buried and remain relatively anonymous. Haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her life together, Jill soon realises that the last person she can trust is herself.

KILKENNY - Only Heather Martin knows the lengths her husband will go to teach her a lesson and Heather has had enough. Faced with the impossible choice of saving herself or staying to care for her ailing father, Heather has a choice to make. But does she have what it takes to survive? When Detectives Louise Kennedy in Dublin and Tony Kelly in Kilkenny begin to investigate, their dark discoveries collide unravelling a complex web of secrets that stretch far and wide. (From Aria)

BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR
(Kelly and Kennedy: #2)
Written by Adele O'Neill
MARCH 2018; Aria (281 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, suspense, domestic violence, Ireland, police

RATING: 4 STARS

Thank you for answering my wishes and continuing Tony and Louise's story. In the second book we see more of Louise and Tony outside of their jobs. In 2018, Louise has a new promotion in Dublin, and Tony has retired and will follow her to Dublin after the sale of his house. In 2016, Heather, daughter of Tony and Louise's former Chief, is married to a police officer, Mike. Mike has been abusing Heather since they married. Afraid for her life she makes a decision. Much like, O'Neill's first novel there are two points of time (2016 and 2018) coming together to reveal the truth behind the secrets. I would not call either novel a conventional mystery or suspense, but rather a literary suspense book. There is more characterization and emotions behind the "crimes", that you become less curious of who did it, but rather what has happened and how it all comes together. I really enjoy O'Neill's writing and plots.

***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***

My Novelesque Blog

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a devastating book.

It will break your heart a dozen times - and then break it a dozen more.

While I did figure out the truth well before the reveal, I was so invested in our characters that I kept reading.

This is definitely not a feel good novel, but it did make me grateful for my own good fortune.

Good read.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I better 'fess up first: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Note: Those who have seen and read some of my previous reviews know that I do not suffer (crime writing) fools. As a seasoned crime fiction lover, I have read numerous novels covering all things dark, twisted and bloody, which is why I also have a blog that reviews good crime novels. Maybe this little aside will help those of you who find my reviews too scathing and impatient understand where I am coming from. I love a good crime novel, really, I do. But seriously? Did anybody who read this book actually discover anything in the story they did not know from the onset? Okay, let me start at the beginning:

As you can gather from the information provided with the title cover above, this is a book about a woman who became the victim of domestic abuse and finally worked up the courage to leave her husband. How this happened exactly is about the only mystery in this book and when it was finally, finally revealed (don't worry, I won't tell), it actually left me incredulous. Why? Not because it was so twisted and unexpected, but because it was so unremarkable. Why did the author give away (yet) another opportunity to make this into a really good story?

My major gripe with this book is the fact that it is too chatty. I don't want my crime story to resemble an article from Hello! magazine. I want to be gripped, overwhelmed, moved, robbed of sleep, awed, puzzled, intrigued, sent through the emotional wringer - and at best all of the above. This story just would not deliver. We can only assume that the author wanted to write a gripping novel, but that intention got lost between making tea and serving biscuits.

[Tiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Ireland and told in 2 timelines, this was an interesting and important story of the strength and resilience of a victim of domestic assault. However, I felt it was a little wordy in places as sometimes the author could (frustratingly) draw a short conversation out over 3-4 pages and I also thought it was fairly predictable as I saw most of the 2nd half of the book coming. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have secrets, we all have a past, we all have told a lie. How far would you go to keep your secrets buried and your part behind you? That my friends - is the premise of this book. Behind Closed Doors is a well written thriller but I found it a little predictable in its plot. Still a good read - I rate this one: 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it.

It grabbed my attention that this story is set in Ireland. We have Heather who is trying to get out of her abusive marriage. We also read of Jill who is hiding secrets.

Even though I found parts a little predictable I did enjoy this story. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

'What if everything in your life was a lie?’

Behind A Closed Door is the second novel from Irish Writer Adele O’ Neill. Just released on the 1st March with Aria Fiction, it is described as ‘an emotionally tense story of love, loyalty, betrayal and revenge.

I have read brothers & sisters, a novel about family and some very hidden secrets, a novel which I admit brought a few tears to my eyes.

In Behind A Closed Door Adele O’ Neill is back with some familiar characters, but with a very different offering.

Adele O’ Neill doesn’t shy away from societal issues, as readers of brothers & sisters will be well aware of. In Behind A Closed Door Adele tackles, as the name suggests, what goes on behind the closed doors of people’s homes. Many of us are familiar with the ads on television, where a person witnesses or overhears violence in another’s home, but chooses to ignore it. Domestic violence is something that frightens many of us and, often, folk would rather keep their heads buried in the sand than get involved in ‘other people’s business.’

The book opens with Jill Ryan, a thirty-three-year old sitting in a therapist’s office, struggling with providing answers and unveiling the true reason for her presence there. Jill is in survival mode. It’s now 2018 and after two years of keeping a very low profile and harbouring a secret, Jill is afraid to reveal any truths about herself. Within minutes the reader is aware that Jill is the victim of domestic violence. Having escaped the fists of a very physically abusive relationship, Jill is terrified and in pain. Emotionally she is struggling and with recurring nightmares of times past, Jill has a real and very palpable fear that her life remains in great danger.

2016 and the reader journeys to Kilkenny and to Heather Martin. Waking up to another morning of agonising pain, Heather is terrified. ‘Sleep was her only relief these days and waking up brought with it an entire new wave of panic every day.’ Heather Martin symbolizes many women all over the world today. Once a strong working woman with a bright future ahead, Heather fell in love. After a short romance, Heather wed the man she thought would bring her happiness and a loving marriage. Her father was never in doubt that this man was just not good enough for his daughter, but Heather chose to ignore the warning signs and fell head first into a living nightmare.

Meanwhile, Detectives Tony Kelly and Louise Kennedy, who also featured in brothers & sisters, have had a slight shift in their circumstances. Louise Kennedy now lives weekdays in Dublin, after a promotion at work, while Tony Kelly remains back in Kilkenny, now close to retirement. Their relationship has moved on since the first book and in Behind A Closed Door, Adele O’ Neill concentrates a little more on their story, further developing the rapport between them. Kelly and Kennedy are not without their own complications, which, in a way, makes them more humane and brings a sense of reality to their story.

As they begin to uncover information that just doesn’t appear to tally, they start to probe a little deeper in a bid to finally expose a secret that has remained hidden for a number of years.

Behind A Closed Door is an unusual novel, in that it doesn’t hold any great surprises. Due to the nature of the subject in hand, we soon know who the perpetrator is and we know who the victim is. The basic facts of the story-line are, unfortunately, something we are all to aware of from the news and media today.

For me this novel is more about the victim. The fear is tangible. One often reads how a woman, or man, may not come forward because they are just too embarrassed to admit that they have allowed themselves be subjected to such violent attacks. There is a real despair that folk will not believe them, will consider that it is all their own fault. The perpetrator knows how to transfer guilt. They are experts at lying and deceitful behaviour. The victim soon loses contact with friends, relationships with others fizzle out and eventually the victim is very much on their own. For many victims this nightmare is all too real and oft times they just give up, the abuser wins.

Adele O’ Neill writes with a very chatty and easy style, one which may not appeal to all, but does add a very personable touch to the novel. In the acknowledgements section, Adele O’ Neill refers to all the various people who assisted her in writing this novel, including technical assistance from a member of the Irish Police force, which I think adds to the authenticity of the story.

Behind A Closed Door is an emotional story, a story about a battle for survival. It deals with a very difficult subject matter, but is handled really well by Adele O’ Neill. This is a completely different book to brothers & sisters, but yet it has, what I would now call, Adele O’ Neill’s signature all over it.

My Rating 3.5*

[M T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

This was extremely repetitive and frankly quite boring in places. Very predictable and drawn out.

[Krystal Gile · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I have spent the last few days agonizing over my poor collection of books, and decided to try NetGalley to try and snag some E-books from the Publishers themselves.


Well I have managed to snag quite a few, but “Behind A Closed Door” snagged my interest so I dug right in.


Let’s start with the author, publisher and description of the book, yeah?


The publisher is https://ariafiction.com. They have quite a few books they have published and several I want to read.


The author is Adele O’Neill.

Adele O’Neill is a writer from County Wicklow, Ireland. She lives with her husband Alan and two teenage daughters and is a board member of the Wexford Literary Festival.


Adele has been offered a three book publishing deal from Caroline Ridding of Aria (imprint of Head of Zeus). Her first book, Brothers & Sisters was published in July 2017.


The description of “Behind A Closed Door” is as follows:


What if everything in your life was a lie? An emotionally tense story of love, loyalty, betrayal and revenge. Perfect for the fans of Louise Jenson.

DUBLIN – For the past two years Jill Ryan has tried to keep her darkest secrets deeply buried and remain relatively anonymous. Haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her life together, Jill soon realises that the last person she can trust is herself.

KILKENNY – Only Heather Martin knows the lengths her husband will go to teach her a lesson and Heather has had enough. Faced with the impossible choice of saving herself or staying to care for her ailing father, Heather has a choice to make. But does she have what it takes to survive?

When Detectives Louise Kennedy in Dublin and Tony Kelly in Kilkenny begin to investigate, their dark discoveries collide unravelling a complex web of secrets that stretch far and wide.

So far, it’s a bit unsettling, domestic violence. A topic that has been widely discussed, from celebrities to those who report it to the police, to those who don’t.


I find it a bit tough to keep up with the conversations when all the lines tend to run together, with the conversations being punctuated with just and apostrophe.


I’m also finding it difficult with the way it switches back and forth between the characters.


What is it between Heather Martin and Jill? I understand Heather is a victim of domestic abuse, and Jill lived through something terrible, but what is that connects the two? Especially two different years? 2016 and 2018?


Only way to learn the secret is to continue to read. Intriguing, yes?


Ooh, Jill says she is living a lie? Could it be possible that she is not who she says she is? Hmm, but I shall persist! Even if it is a tad confusing.


Answers. I love when I don’t have to wait until the end of a book to receive an answer to my question. I do have to admit, that while it’s still unsettling how it flips back and forth between the different characters POV, I am really starting to enjoy this book.


I like Jill, even though she is afraid of telling everyone of the lie she is living. I like Ben, sweet and caring and wants only what is best for Jill. I like Kelly, with his need to protect and his relationship with Louise who seems to keep him grounded.


These characters have developed and grown rapidly in such a short amount of time. I still want to see what has happened with Jill’s past and the arsehole Mike Martin, but I’ll continue reading and hope I find out. As should you.


On, the more I read, the more my heart aches for her. The battered wife absolutely terrified of her husband. The fear from Jill that her harrowing past will be found out.

Martha is a sweet woman, trying to get Heather to go to the authorities. I feel as if I were in that predicament, I would want someone exactly like Martha on my side.


This book has touched on fears, as I was a victim of abuse from a family member in my youth. I managed to survive, unlike many others. I was never a victim of domestic abuse though. It makes me want to donate to an organization, whether it be money, or feminine products or something. Anything.


This book has brought up a lot of feelings, some good and some bad. I do enjoy it though, even if some of the flip-flopping back and forth is a tad confusing.


The book has really gotten interesting now that I’m in the 20th chapter. It has me hooked. It took me a while to get into it, but that’s just how some books are, right? Some books just seem to take forever to get into it, or sometimes not at all.


Adele O’Neill has something special with the written word and the way she writes. She makes everyday issues come to the forefront. Domestic violence is especially prominent in this book.


This book reminds me of “Safe Haven,” the battered wife; the detective husband. I didn’t realize it earlier, but it definitely reminds me of that. It also sickens me that domestic violence happens every single day and it doesn’t always have a happy ending.

This book was definitely well worth the read.


The way Adele O’Neill wrote Heather’s journey; the way she wrote about Jill’s nightmares; the PTSD, the steps that were taken so she could leave, it was all written beautifully.

I couldn’t get into the book at first, it just wasn’t grabbing my attention that some books do. I am glad that I persevered and continued on. I love how it wrapped up. I love that everyone finally knew what Mike Martin did to his wife. The effort it took her to leave.


I would give this book a 3.75, if only because it took me a while to get into it. If you’ve been a victim of domestic violence, please seek help. There are a lot of avenues nowadays and it is not something to be afraid of.


Please consider reading this book, if only because it will open your eyes and make you think.


Thank you for reading my review!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while I come across a new author (well new to me anyway) whose book blows my socks off. I can’t believe that I haven’t discovered Adele O’Neill before but that’s a situation that has been rectified. ‘Behind A Closed Door’ blew my socks off and is a very cleverly written and addictive read. I loved it but more about that in a bit.
The story mainly focusses on the lives of two women called Jill Ryan and Heather Martin. Both women are the unfortunate victims of domestic violence but from two different places and in two different periods of time. The author writes from the point of view of the victims and this has maximum impact on the reader. I was initially unsure as to how the different stories were related but I just needed to have a little patience as it all became clear in the end. I don’t really want to write too much about what happens to them as I don’t want to give away too many spoilers. I must admit that I really felt for Heather as not only is her husband abusing her but her father has Alzheimers and is in a home so in a way she is being made to suffer from both directions and in different ways. I so wanted to jump into the pages of this book to give the domestic abusers a dose of their own medicine to see how they liked living in fear. In ‘Behind A Closed Door’ we also meet Detectives Kelly and Kennedy, whom we first met in ‘Brothers & Sisters’. Their relationship has changed slightly since the first book and we actually learn that they are together in a relationship. This doesn’t really affect their work because they work in two different places. However, it isn’t too long until the detectives work together and work to expose a secret that has remained hidden for years.
To say that ‘Behind A Closed Door’ is addictive reading has to be a mahoosive understatement. Once I started reading, I found that I just couldn’t stop and my Kindle had to come everywhere with me, as I couldn’t put it down. I wanted the abusers to be found out and stopped. I was also intrigued as to what connected the two women. The writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn in to the story from the first page. Yes ‘Behind A Closed Door’ is about domestic violence but the author has written it with great care and sensitivity. The author shows how the victims are not just affected physically but how their mental health and emotional wellbeing are also affected by domestic violence. ‘Behind A Closed Door’ certainly put me through the emotional wringer as I felt a whole range of mostly negative emotions. I was certainly on the side of the victims and there were several times when I wanted to jump into the pages of the book to support them.
In short as I mentioned above ‘Behind A Closed Door’ just blew my socks off as the quality of the story, the writing and the characters were spot on. It’s certainly a difficult but necessary read, which I would recommend to others. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and Aria for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Without giving any spoilers away, I think the synopsis describes this book perfectly.

Behind a Closed Door was a harrowing read. This book was so graphic at times I felt myself flinching as Heather was being beaten by her Gardai husband Mike. I felt scared for her safety when Tony Kelly one of Mike's colleagues asked about the bruises on her face. Heather's father DI Edward Clarke had early onset Alzheimers and was in a nursing home. Heather did not have any close family members and had no one to turn to.

I also liked waitress Jill Ryan and her loving boyfriend Ben. I have to admit at first I was little exasperated with Jill. Jill was paying to see a psychiatrist, why couldn't she tell her about the cause of her nightmares? Once she admitted the background to her nightmares I understood why Jill could not confide in Ben.

The book was told from the POV of Heather in Kilkenny 2016 and Jill in Dublin 2018. I liked how the author skilfully weaved together the two tales seamlessly. I thought the story of Heather's father Edward was so sad. To have the person you love there in body but not in mind must be heartbreaking. Once again I could feel her guilt at leaving her father but having little choice.

I Liked Gardai Tony Kelly and his girlfriend DS Louise Kennedy. I understand they were in Adele's previous book Brothers and Sisters and I look forward to reading more about them.

I also enjoyed the background characters in this story. I loved Sisters Martha and Valarie who were mother figures to Heather. I also liked Ben's sister Lisa and Heather's boss.

It took me time to get into this story but it was well worth it. Behind a Closed Door was gripping read with a menacing undertone. The twist towards the end was a little far fetched but it was still a great read.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read as it covers some pretty heavy topics but I very much enjoyed it. If you have a past with domestic violence, I do not recommend this book. Some scenes are very graphic and I can see that it could be a trigger for you. Behind a Closed Door is designated a thriller but I do not feel that is an appropriate place for this book. This is the story of Jill, who is hiding something and struggling to keep her life together. Also told in the perspective of Heather, an abused wife struggling to find a way out of her dangerous marriage. The author did a tremendous job conveying the emotions of these women to the reader and insight as to why they were making certain decisions. The plot is predictable yet the book is very well done, I was not bothered by the predictability of it. My heart ached for these women and I was rooting for them throughout the whole book. The author also touches on the subject of loving someone with Alzheimer's and watching the disease steal your loved one from you. While this book deals with difficult topics, it did not feel "heavy". I thought this was very well done and I enjoyed the read. Thank you @ariafiction for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review. Behind a Closed Door will be out March 1st, put this on your TBRs!

[Sharon Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, I hate writing reviews... but I wanted to say how much I throughly enjoyed this book. I imagine some people will see lots that they recognise and fear in this book. Adele O'Neil makes her characters come alive through her dialogue. The story flows along superbly and you just want to have proper time to spend with her work and figure out what might happen next to the characters. There's greatness in the scenes which delve deep into why and how awful things happen - behind closed doors. The emotion and the depth of fear is very real as you read. This is an author who knows how to drip feed a reader and one who writes very accomplished dialogue.
There are softer moments too and I especially liked the pieces of Heather and her father. Curious to know how the author would tie it all up at the end, I tried to read faster and faster. So... I know I will have to visit this book again. I feel too that this is a book young women(and men) should read before they embark on relationships. Realistic coverage of difficult and emotive topics is woven through interesting relationships. It's totally different to her previous book, Brothers and Sisters - so well done to this author on another great read! Recommend highly.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thanks to netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for a review.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't like it that much either. I think I was expecting more of a psychological thriller or mystery of some kind since I got it from the mystery section, but really it was just a story. I felt like I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen before it did and I didn't feel like there were really any surprises in the end. I did turn pages pretty quickly trying to get to the end expecting a big surprise but it didn't materialize. What happened was what I thought would happen. Beyond that, I thought the book was a little too wordy. I found myself skipping paragraphs and skimming pages and I didn't feel like I had really missed anything important. I also thought there were a lot of coincidences needed to make the story play out. Perhaps I have read too many battered women books lately and I am over the concept. This isn't a bad book, just not my thing.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“… If I always do what I always did, I will always get what I always got.”

I got this ARC in exchange of an honest review from Netgalley. Thank you Aria and Netgalley for this wonderful chance!!

Recently I have been craving thrillers a lot, so when I stumbled upon this one and I checked the synopsis, I just had to try it out!! And I don’t regret it at all!!

Its a haunting survival story of two woman from different time and place, fighting the same battle “Domestic Violence”.

I am just in love with Adele’s writing! Well DONE!!

As it deals with a gruesome topic, there are some extremely graphic contents that could be unsettling, but thats how it is, thats how Domestic Violence effects a victim’s body and mind.

It’s an amazing psychological thriller.

Rating:
4.5/5

[Anne O · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if everything in your life was a lie? Adele O' Neill has a way of drawing you into the complexities of her characters lives and the challenges they face in a realistic way that makes you really question what you would do in the same situation. I loved it and by the end, even though the story had unfolded I was still gripped by the outcomes for each of the characters especially Jill and Martha.

[Alan Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really brilliant look at the issue of Domestic Violence and the lengths people go to to try and survive. It's gripping and emotional in equal measures and the strength of the characters are so well drawn you will feel as though you know them.

[Catherine Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an emotionally tense story of domestic abuse and what one woman has to do to escape it. I loved the characters and the way the stories of Heather and Jill intertwine as Detective Kennedy and Kelly investigate. Highly recommend.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

As expected.

[Linda Tilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5* review for Behind A Closed Door by Adele O'Neill, which she allowed me to read and review via NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed her first novel Brothers and Sisters, but was a little disappointed with this one because it did not have the emotional punch of the first one for me, but that is my personal opinion.

The story is told in two different timescales and from the point of view of both Jill and Heather.

DUBLIN "For the past two years Jill Ryan has tried to keep her darkest secrets buried and remain relatively anonymous, whilst being haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her life together, she is living a secret life as she is petrified her past will catch up with her. Now in a loving relationship with Ben she is trying so hard to move on from her past and domestic violence, but then the nightmares start, and things begin to unravel.

KILKENNY "Heather's husband Mike is a detective, but as is often the case, he hides a darker side when he physically beats her. Heather's father used to work with him and always suspected a nasty streak, but he now has Alzheimer's and is living in a care home, can she leave Mike and disappear, and in the process leave her father too?"

When Detectives Louise Kennedy in Dublin and Tony Kelly in Kilkenny begin to investigate cases of domestic abuse, their stories collide, dark discoveries are unraveled with a web of secrets that stretch far and wide."

The story begins in 2018 quite dramatically and draws you in straightaway and you immediately empathise with Jill who is trying therapy to understand her nightmares and move on from her past life. Her boyfriend Ben and his sister Lisa who run the restaurant where she has worked since arriving in Dublin two years ago, are trying to understand and help her, but have no idea how.

We then switch to 2016 and meet Heather who is struggling to survive in a nightmare of relentless domestic abuse, which is so well written it actually upset me to read some of the incidents, where her husband Mike beats her, intimidates her, controls her, threatens her and seems to have no remorse for his actions. Mike is so well written that I could hear his voice in my head and started to understand how these things can go on behind closed doors where the victim is made to feel it is all their fault and they brought it on themselves. Heather realises that something must change if she is to survive and she has a moment of clarity when she hears her father's voice in her head saying "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got", which resonated with me strongly. She realises she has to leave to survive and so with the help of Martha at the nursing home, she does so. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and kept me up until the early hours because there was no way I could sleep until I reached the last page. For suspense, psychological thrills and tackling of a difficult but very real subject, this is a must read.

It had hints of the film Sleeping With The Enemy in places, but as I love the film that was no problem for me and, in fact, allowed me to visualise certain scenes so much better.

One of my favourite lines from the book, which again made the tears flow, was in reference to her father's Alzheimer's, the disease which is known as the long goodbye. Heather was aware that his memory was slowly slipping away and his lucid moment were few and far between. However she asked him once if he knew who she was and he had answered "I don't know who you are, but I know I love you". I know Adele O'Neill's book is not necessarily about Alzheimer's Disease, but I felt this moment was a poignant reminder of how difficult it was for Heather to leave, so worth highlighting. A brilliant book on all levels, well done Adele O'Neill, bring on the next one soon.

[B.R. Maycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you move in the same circles as me in terms of book blogs, Twitter and Amazon you'll probably remember Brothers and Sisters , Adele O Neill's first book which horrendously I still haven't got to (I'm onto fixing that!). When I saw that her second book was up for request, saw it was with Aria and then found out there was a blog tour open, I jumped and most definitely wasn't disappointed.

This is the story of Heather Martin, whose husband, Detective Mike Martin (I loved that he was a detective!) has terrorised her throughout their marriage. Mike is a baddy through and through, one of the bad apples on the force, who wants complete control over his wife and regularly uses brute force to get it. At the same time we see her relationship with her father Detective Inspector Edward Clarke, who is in a care home with Alzheimers. My heart (and my stomach) turned and twisted as I watched a one sided relationship, praying that her dad would respond in some way and see what his daughter was going through. I adored Heather's dad so much.

The issue of domestic violence is at the heart of the book as we follow a dual timeline to see Heather in the past and then meet Jill Ryan in the present. Jill has been having nightmares and people are wondering if her boyfriend, Ben, is at fault. I loved meeting Jill and getting to know her whilst simultaneously watching Detectives Louise Kennedy and Tony Kelly try to solve Heather's case (I'd definitely be up for meeting them again, I loved their relationship and Kelly's wise approach to everything). The book really got me thinking as there's a lot of times you think 'this would all be cleared up if you just tell people the truth' in it, and that was true, and it made you think of the character as being a little weak (and it did get tome a little that everyone constantly told her she was so strong), but then you hated yourself for thinking that as you considered what the character is dealing with.

The story was told in alternating third and first person, obviously as I said within two timelines, and I loved the dash to the end to see where they'd collide although personally I wouldn't put this as an extremely fast paced read. The emotional side to this book took my breath away, and I loved the author's voice and the way we got every characters take on things as they happened and so the book beyond flew for me.

The description above says this is perfect for fans of Louise Jensen, and while I see the comparison, I would say that this is more for fans of fiction that want to dip their toe into crime and thrillers as opposed to fans of thrillers, you know, the people who say they'd love to start reading a different genre. This book is perfect for them. Very much recomended.

Rating: 4.5/5

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt a bit like the poor cousin of I Let You Go. And I'm not trying to be mean - because I actually quite enjoyed Adele O'Neill's writing style ... it's more that I found some of the plot lacking.

The premise is two stories, two years apart - one of Heather Martin, abused wife of a police detective. The other story is that of Jill Ryan, waitress who is suffering from PTSD. There is a connection between the two women ... what is it???

The book flips back and forth between Heather Martin and her plot line in 2016 and that of Jill Ryan's in 2018. We are introduced to two detectives - Tony Kelly and Louise Kennedy - and they become the link that connects the telling of both stories.

The things is - the Heather Martin story was solid on it's own. I understand (and as a reader you will likely guess) why we have Jill's story as well - HOWEVER by adding Jill's story, I found that the tension didn't build in Heather's story. Having just focused on Heather and that time-frame I think the author could have built up the tension and the suspense. Rather, we have a story that is more about domestic violence and PTDS and secrets. Which is fine, expect then it should be more of a novel and less of a mystery/thriller type read.

That said - I thought the writing was good. Solid in fact. I thought the character development was good - the book isn't simply told by Heather or Jill's perspectives, we get to know several other characters and their points of view. I especially enjoyed the characters of Tony Kelly and Louise Kennedy - and I feel that Adele O'Neill could write another "copper book" with the two of them and it would be a success - they are characters whom I would happily re-visit.

I didn't dislike this book. I only felt that for a book that should really be a thriller or at least suspenseful, that isn't the feeling I was left with. Would I read another Adele O'Neill book - yes.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind a Closed Door is Adele O’Neill’s second novel following on from “brothers and sisters” published in 2017. As the title suggests this is a novel centred around domestic violence, a sensitive topic which I think Adele O’Neill has written about successfully in this novel.
The narrative is split between several characters, in two different time periods, each giving their own perspective on the events which are unfolding and the consequences which follow. Despite the numbers of different voices, it’s easy to distinguish between them and the story flows effortlessly among them.
Heather Martin is the main character, a shy woman who has against the advice of all those around her married Detective Mike Martin, something she has since learnt to regret as Mike has started to take his anger out on her.
Jill Ryan is suffering from nightmares about abusive events which occurred earlier in her life, when it becomes common knowledge that Jill is suffering its boyfriend Ben who comes under suspicion.
Detectives Tony Kelly and Louise Kennedy work together to try and uncover the mysteries behind the suffering of these two women, while at the same time remaining professional as their personal lives becomes even closer.
This is one of those novels where the suspense is not in the who is the victim and who is the perpetrator as its easy to figure this out early in the novel. The suspense comes from the expectation that something bad is going to happen but you’re not sure what and if anyone is going to step in help.
I found this a great read which was easy to get drawn into and very hard to put down as more and more things come to light. I loved how each of these characters drew closer and closer together until they all finally came together at the end.
Thank you so much to the publishers Aria for sending me a copy to review honestly and for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title itself was what drew me in.  Who of us doesn't like to know what really goes on behind a closed door?  We may think we know things about certain people, but this book revealed that is not always the case.

This book was crazy!  And I mean that in a good, couldn't-put-down, suspenseful way!  This is the first book I have read by Adele O'Neill. It really grabbed me within the first chapter, and within a few minutes, I was almost in tears (graphic, descriptive scenes of physical and emotional abuse), but knew there was a heroine that I wanted to see to the end!

There are two locations, and two time periods, so the book does jump back and forth between them.  However, the writing is done very well to keep you on track as you're following along.  The characters were extremely believable, and realistic.  Heather's husband, Mike, is consistently the resident jerk, wearing the proverbial mask and acting like all is well, meanwhile, the battered wife, Heather's  behavior fits the mold for what you'd expect from someone in that type of environment.  

I enjoyed the plot, the way that things lined up, the dramatic moments of fury and failure, but also the successes along the way, and the slow reveals.  I didn't feel that the ending was super climactic, I just felt like it tied up all of the loose ends nicely, and as a reader of this type of genre, I could see the link ahead of time, but that doesn't mean the ride wasn't worth it.  I would read another book by this author, and have already downloaded Brothers and Sisters.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Aria Fiction.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Don Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Adele’s first book a few months back (Brothers and Sisters 4/5) I was delighted to hear that another book was just around the corner, and happier again that we would see the return of Kelly and Kennedy. While this is billed as Kelly and Kennedy #2 in many places, I do think that this book would work just as well as a standalone. It is quite a different animal to the first installment, but that is in no way a bad thing.
As with the authors previous book the story is told by mixing events from two time periods. This time we are in Kilkenny in 2016, while we also visit Dublin in 2018. What we are given here is a story told in increments where in each chapter we are given just enough new information to keep us guessing. The author weaves these two time periods together brilliantly and I felt the change of setting every so often flowed brilliantly.
As you can see from the blurb this book deals with the lives of two women, with a strong focus on domestic violence. While not as fast paced as some books in the genre I think that Adele has build the tension perfectly here. I really felt for the characters and the lives they were leading. Our returning characters Kelly and Kennedy are up to their same antics, but I actually felt that the other characters in this book outshone them for the most part.
This book really took me through the ringer, at times it had me laughing out loud (I’m looking at you Kelly), and then in the next couple of pages I wanted to reach into the pages and shake some characters by the scruff of the neck. Some of the scenes in this book are quite harrowing, but really show what sufferers of domestic violence go through, not only during the violence, but after it has stopped.
This book had me up to the wee small hours trying to finish it, I couldn’t put it down.
Thoroughly recommended. 4/5

[Don Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Adele’s first book a few months back (Brothers and Sisters 4/5) I was delighted to hear that another book was just around the corner, and happier again that we would see the return of Kelly and Kennedy. While this is billed as Kelly and Kennedy #2 in many places, I do think that this book would work just as well as a standalone. It is quite a different animal to the first installment, but that is in no way a bad thing.
As with the authors previous book the story is told by mixing events from two time periods. This time we are in Kilkenny in 2016, while we also visit Dublin in 2018. What we are given here is a story told in increments where in each chapter we are given just enough new information to keep us guessing. The author weaves these two time periods together brilliantly and I felt the change of setting every so often flowed brilliantly.
As you can see from the blurb this book deals with the lives of two women, with a strong focus on domestic violence. While not as fast paced as some books in the genre I think that Adele has build the tension perfectly here. I really felt for the characters and the lives they were leading. Our returning characters Kelly and Kennedy are up to their same antics, but I actually felt that the other characters in this book outshone them for the most part.
This book really took me through the ringer, at times it had me laughing out loud (I’m looking at you Kelly), and then in the next couple of pages I wanted to reach into the pages and shake some characters by the scruff of the neck. Some of the scenes in this book are quite harrowing, but really show what sufferers of domestic violence go through, not only during the violence, but after it has stopped.
This book had me up to the wee small hours trying to finish it, I couldn’t put it down.
Thoroughly recommended. 4/5