Camilla Lackberg | THE GOLDEN CAGE

Plot (via Goodreads):

Faye has loved Jack since they were students at business school. Jack, the perpetual golden boy, grew up wealthy, unlike Faye, who has worked hard to bury a dark past. When Jack needs help launching a new company, Faye leaves school to support him, waitressing by day and working as his strategist by night. With the business soaring, Faye and Jack have a baby, and Faye finds herself at home, caring for their daughter, wealthier than she ever imagined, but more and more removed from the excitement of the business world. And none of the perks of wealth make up for the fact that Jack has begun to treat her coldly, undermining her intelligence and forgetting all she sacrificed for his success. When Faye discovers that he's having an affair, the polished facade of their life cracks wide open. Faye is alone, emotionally shattered, and financially devastated--but hell hath no fury like a woman with a violent past bent on vengeance. Jack is about to get exactly what he deserves--and so much more. In this splashy, electrifying story of sex, betrayal, and secrets, a woman's revenge is a brutal but beautiful thing.

Review:

The Golden Cage is a stunning and remarkably well-written novel that I never saw coming. This was my first read by Lackberg and it certainly won't be my last. With a chilling and jaw-dropping opening, this psychological thriller about a scorned woman seeking revenge. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. This story is full of the best things in crime fiction: diabolical characters, sex, and a lot of blood. I mean, a lot of blood. How did we get from point A to point B? You'll have to dive in to see for yourself.

I started reading this one with a glass of wine one night when I was waiting for friends to come over and join me for dinner and had it not been months since I had last seen them, I would've desperately asked to reschedule. This novel captivated me from the beginning and held a relentless grip throughout. Nothing was getting in my way of devouring this one. I read up to page 60 in one sitting and completed the rest of it with little-to-know food or water in another sitting. Featuring dual timelines and meticulously plotted chapters, the pacing with this was pure perfection. I loved getting to know Faye and how her relationship with Jack became and then seeing the contrast to what it was during the present time; this really helped with great character development for the two of them and added a personal layer that was perfect for a thriller like this. I absolutely loved Lackberg's way of telling a story and I felt that this was seriously the perfect domestic psychological thriller.

I cannot believe how quickly this one flew by for me and I was riveted the entire time. The entire novel was perfect and I loved the ending so much, including one firework of a twist at the very end. If you want something sinister that blends together all the ingredients of a perfect psychological thriller, this is definitely the read for you.

Special thanks to Knopf for providing me with this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5