They say we never really know what goes on behind closed doors and for Lucy this is definitely the case. From the outside Lucy has it all, a loving husband, a career as a novelist and two successful children. However only two of those statements are true. When her marriage suddenly ends, Lucy’s life is turned upside down. She escapes to her parents house in the country where she not only has to face up to her past mistakes but also confront the secrets she’s been keeping.

The premise of this book was extremely promising but for me it just lacked pace and didn’t grip me as much as I thought it would. A pleasant enough read that I would rate 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph UK and the author for the chance to review.

Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Alliott

Lucy's life probably looked perfect to other people - a career as an author, a theatre critic husband, 2 grown up children - but behind closed doors it's a different story. Her husband Michael dies suddenly and Lucy moves in with her parents who are growing old disgracefully.

A fascinating and cautionary story - do we ever really know what goes on in people's lives behind closed doors?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book.
A few authors I have read recently tackle the subject of coercive control and this book is no different.
Lucy, has 2 grown up children and when her husband Michael calls time on their marriage she goes to stay with her parents who are in their 80’s
From there the story is very formulaic and it’s easy to predict the end. This book was one that took me a while to get in to, nor was it one I was desperate to pick up to carry on with.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for gifting me an ARC in exchange for and honest review

Catherine Alliott has always been one of my favourite authors. Her books always make me laugh out loud and this book does not disappoint. I absolutely loved it and would thoroughly recommend it.

All is just a little to perfect. The book is well written but the story is not really believable. Rich mummy and daddy, hard working less affluent sister and family, husband is famous but a bully.
This is a good attempt to show what coercive control and emotional bullying is like. Other than that the story line is disappointing.

Many thanks to Maxine Hitchcock for sending me a copy of #BehindClosedDoors. Not too many authors could write such an entertaining novel about domestic abuse and coercive control, coupled with the perils of trying to look after ageing parents who really don’t want to be looked after... but this is where Catherine’s skills come to the fore. One minute funny, the next minute horrifying, this novel encapsulates the dilemmas of people trapped in these situations. It’s yet another great read, packed with fantastic characters, uncomfortable truths, painful observations and flashes of pure comedy. Who could ask for more?

When a young woman falls for an older man, she is swept away by his apparent desire to care for her and protect. After getting married and falling pregnant with their first child Lucy realises that Michael's behaviour is something more sinister.

Having been gaslighted by Michael for over 25 years, and with their son and daughter both left home Lucy is desperate to leave also but Michael makes it clear he will never let that happen. Lucy believes he is more than capable of carrying out the threats he has made regarding their son and daughter if she tries to divorce him.

This book is a definite page turner. The story keeps you gripped to the very end. Who can Lucy trust?

Another great book from Catherine Alliott. You can never tell what goes on when people shut their front doors and I think we all hope that nothing bad happens. This book shows how even when you think you are hiding things well, people know and without you knowing they have your back as and when needed. A wonderful read and highlights that things are not always as they seem.

To the outside world, Lucy had an enviable life. Her husband Michael, a part-time theatre critic, while Lucy is a relatively successful author of a long-running cosy mystery series. They have been married for 28 years and have two grown-up children.


Life is very different on the other side of the door, where Michael is controlling and manipulating. He knows how to mentally beat her up and crush her, while there are no scars for anyone to see. When a tragic event takes place, it gives Lucy a chance to take a new direction. But now she is hiding an even bigger secret.

This book was like Lucy, as it held so many secrets, stories and emotions that made me gasp. I raged and laughed at times as I touched base with parts of this story and nodded along with fully understanding. Some incredible characters hang on to memories of their pasts while making many more of them while they can. I envied Lucy for having parents while at the same time wanting to become like them in a few years.


The story dips back to her life and events that took place at home, which made me sit back and sort of shudder a little on both counts. I liked the subtle changes that were taking place in Lucy, as she is such a likeable character but at times out of her depth and in a tailspin where I felt she would mentally crash and burn.

I really can’t recommend this book enough, it feels like living in the fast lane with so much going off and made me realise that sometimes you need to slow it down and enjoy it. I Loved the ending. Superb!

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked everything this author has written and this was no exception. Great storyline and great characters, loved every page.

An interesting story that reveals how victims of domestic abuse deny what is happening to them and how they feel. Lucy is in such a marriage and when it abruptly comes to an end it details how she manages to rebuild her life with the help of family and friends. Well thought out and believable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the advance copy of this book.

It was good read, and it was good to see how Lucy started to rebuild her life after leaving her abusive marriage.

This book has several intertwining threads - in a good way. We have Lucy, in a marriage with a horrible man, her two adult children, her sister, and her parents, both in their eighties, and causing Lucy and her sister much concern. Apart from their age and medical problems, they have a great social life, revolving around a lot of gin etc., which is very funny, but they live in grubby chaos. They also love their family but want to be left to muddle through.
Into all this comes a very dramatic event which shakes everyone and truths and secrets come out in the fallout.
I enjoyed the book very much, there is humour, drama, and a great story running throughout.

An interesting insight into family life on many different planes. The descriptions of Luce’s parents and their friends brought some light into what could be a quite dark story. A little romance is included but I wasn’t sure which suitor was best for Luce!

This book held my attention throughout. Lucy's parents were hilarious. Of course, there are dark undercurrents in this book, namely surrounding Lucy's husband, Michael. There is a little romance, but it's not central to the book. If I have one criticism it's that the book could be said to be a bit bleak at times in terms of ageing parents. And I don't think it's realistic at times either. Lucy had been in her marriage for years, and for her to come out of it (and the way it happened), added to the trauma of what happened in her youth, I can't help thinking she needed counselling. Brilliant character though. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant !! Well written and will touch many people who find themselves in the same situation as Lucy. Thank you publishers for letting me read and review this book

The title gives a clue to the issue at the heart of this book, that of the effects of a longterm relationship maintained by coercive control. When Lucy is offered an unexpected way out she takes it, but in it's turn, it continues to haunt her. She is also managing the decline of her unconventional parents, with some very entertaining scenes well imagined and described, and there is an unexpected and immensely satisfying twist towards the end of this excellent novel.

Lucy Palmer seems to have it all .a lovely house, a perfect marriage and two children. But who knows what goes on behind closed doors.
When the marriage comes to an abrupt end, Lucy rents out her house and goes to live with her parents, who need looking after. They live life disgracefully and soon Lucy bumps into an old flame. But something i holding her back and leaving her looking over her shoulder.
She will need to confront her secrets and then hopefully she can begin to live and love again

Lucy is an abusive marriage, and then her husband dies. This is the story of Lucy rebuilding her life - by going back home to look after her elderly parents. This is great, heartwarming and sometimes funny story.

To outsiders, Lucy’s marriage to Michael looked perfect - him a theatre critic and Lucy an author, with 2 grown up children. But behind closed doors it is very different, Michael is a domineering bully. So when Michael dies suddenly, Lucy had to completely re-assess her life and decides to move back in with her ageing parents to try and tame their chaotic lifestyle.

A totally fascinating book that proves you can never know what is going on in someone else’s life. I thoroughly enjoyed it.