The Gilded Cage

If you're planning to read only one psychological thriller in 2020 then make it, The Gilded Cage. Highly recommended.
What do you call a book where the writing holds you prisoner? What do you call a book whose characters force you think about the reality of life? This book is a masterpiece written by Camilla Lackberg.
Every narration has some secrets. If not visible from the outside then they're present at the inside. No marriage is perfect.
Faye Adelheim, a woman lives in a extra stylish apartment in Stockholm with her daughter and her husband. Her family is her world. Her life seems so perfect from the outside that people would do anything to live her life. But is her life that perfect as it seems? Or the reality is different?
Her marriage was ordinary then she found herself at the police station being questioned. Something went terribly wrong.
But what? Who has to pay with their life?
Its a stunning psychological thriller and i must say it has a twist i wont see coming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for an advance digital proof.

The Gilded Cage, the book title says it all really.

Faye who's seemingly living a perfect life, from an outside perspective, has it all.. but does she?... Who actually knows what goes on behind closed doors.

This book is about a scorned woman's fight for survival and justice for all those wronged women out there.

It is set over three parts, each changing between the now, Fayes childhood memories and early adult years. For me personally, it took a bit of getting used to, as it notes when you go back to the time/place she was brought up, but then other times it seemed to change 'time' with no warning. Having said that, the more I read of this book, the more addictive it got. Overall a great read.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Camilla Lackberg at her very best. This stylish novel is one of the most perceptively observed psychological thrillers I have read in a long while. Imagine 'The First Wives Club' meets 'Second Smile', with a sprinkling of psychopathy for good measure, and you get 'The Gilded Cage'. As I would expect from one of the most astute observers of the human condition in the literary field of today, Lackberg's portrait of a disintegrating marriage and the unique characterisation of its main protagonists is both pitch-perfect and infinitely compelling. This story is primarily about a woman, who, in theory, has it all. The eponymous Faye, of 'The Gilded Cage'. is a woman who has sacrificed her own ambitions in favour of her husband, Jack's. To cut a long story short, multi-millionaire Jack is not the idealised family man of Faye's dreams. The marriage breaks up. Faye is left with nothing.... apart from a strong desire for revenge. This is no straightforward revenge thriller, however. There are no hackneyed old tropes of the thriller genre here. Not from the creative imagination of Camilla Lackberg, and not for the multi-layered, complex characters of Faye and Jack. Jack maybe an incorrigible womaniser, with an outsized ego to match, but Faye is not a woman to be messed with, as her ex-husband learns to devastating effect. This is very much Faye's story. Yet, who is Faye? A woman with hidden depths, a tortured soul, or a out- and- out psychopath? Through glimpses of Faye's past and present we learn that there is far more to this scorned woman than the Stepford Wife persona implied in the opening passages of the novel. Far more indeed. But this is for me to know and you to find out. With drooping eyelids and bated breath I finished this novel in the early hours of this morning. It was worth it. You won't find a better exemplar of a psychological thriller anywhere. Kudos to this brilliant author.

The Gilded Cage is an excellent, complex psychological thriller that will make any reader a fan of author Camilla Lackberg. It is a tale of lies, betrayal and ultimately revenge. Faye has the perfect life to anyone looking from the outside. She married Jack who she fell in love with when they were in business school. They had a baby girl. And Jack launched a successful company from the ground up while Faye held down the fort and waitressed her butt off until they could live off the wealth Jack made from the company. Jack begins treating Faye differently..somewhat coldly. Well, her life was perfect. How does Faye find herself in a police station now? This is one twisty novel! The characters are unlikable, while remaining intriguing. They're the type you love to hate. Highly recommended to readers who love an unpredictable psychological thriller. Be sure to check out The Gilded Cage today!

The Gilded Cage by Camilla Lackberg 🖤
Thanks @netgalley @harpercollinsuk
Publication date 2nd April 2020
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What an amazing book! Dark and disturbing domestic noir at its best. The story follows Faye and Jack and alternates past and present. We see the couple at the beginning of their relationship, so in love and ready for anything that life may throw at them. To the present, Faye is lonely. Although on the outside she has everything, she constantly craves love and attention from her increasingly distant husband. We know Faye is hiding a secret and has been all these years. What is this secret and will their marriage survive?
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An incredible book set in the beautiful city of Stockholm. This book is beautifully written and really ominous and dark at times. A little ‘fifty shades’ at times but it works well with the story. Absolutely devoured this. Highly recommended.

Captivating story of betrayal and manipulation within a marriage. Set in modern day Sweden Jack and Faye have become the ultimate couple with a successful business and enviable lifestyle. But Faye is frustrated with her role as sidelined, stay at home, carer of their small daughter. It was her business acumen that started it all rolling but Jack has conveniently forgotten that and treats her as insignificant-his infidelities become more blatant and finally he demands a divorce, throwing her out of the marital home with nothing but a raging need for revenge.
As she works out her strategy for climbing to the top herself we are aware of dark secrets from her past which are gradually revealed to the reader.
The resulting playing out of her plans c9mes at the end. A very different novel fro Camilla Lackberg other ones but written with the same confident style that makes her such a good writer.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Why haven’t I read this sooner?

If you are planing to read this book here is some advise: clear your schedule, buy some takeaway, fill your bottle of water, sit comfortably. You will not be able to stop. You won’t even think of taking a break!

This is not a fast paced psychological thriller! This is a full blown hurricane of emotions and drama, suspense! A perfect mix of everything that you will not be able to put down.
it!

The characters are so fantastically written and the plot is simply ingenious! I just needed to find out everything about Faye!

There is love, hate, betrayal, friendship...and to top it off... sweet revenge!

This was such an amazing read and so cleverly written! I can’t wait to read more books by Camilla Lackberg and make sure I read her previous books as soon as possible! If you want to lose yourself in a story and be at the edge of your seat, I highly recommend The Gilded Cage!

I would also like to thank

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for an advanced copy of this great novel in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of the author’s crime novels featuring Patrik Hedström and Erica Falck. I assumed this was from the same series before I downloaded it from #NetGalley. I must admit, I was disappointed to discover it was a stand-alone title – at first. But then I started to read the book and my disappointment and doubts vanished. Läckberg takes a familiar trope – a scorned woman getting revenge and does something original with it. I didn’t know where this would go and how Faye would punish Jack for leaving her for another woman, his years of infidelity and his attempt to ruin her. The book opens in the present with the seeds of her revenge coming into bloom, though I didn’t know this at the time and moves back in time to chart the history of their marriage, his betrayal and how she claws her way out of the mess he leaves her in. This is great but I hope there’s another Patrik Hedström and Erica Falck book on the way. I was delighted when it’s revealed that Faye grew up in Fjällbacka where the other books are set.

Crumbs, Camilla Läckberg - I don't know why I have not happened across your novels before now! The Gilded Cage is my first book by this author and certainly will not be my last. It is an addictive and intoxicating psychological thriller and I could not put it down.

In a captivating story of love, friendship, betrayal and revenge, the principal character, Faye, is so disingenuously written. A devoted wife to one of Sweden's most successful entrepreneurs, Jack Adelheim, co-founder of Compare a multi million kroner company, she appears to be happy and contented. Also a loving mother to her beautiful daughter Julienne, when she is swapped for a younger version, the real Faye emerges...

For me this book is exceptionally well written and the plot is scintillating and evocative. There are plenty of shocking revelations along the way giving rise to a whole range of emotions in connection with Jack in particular, but others as well. The resolution is a real surprise and beyond satisfying.

Overall, a spectacular, sexy, deliciously dark read which I highly recommend to fans of Scandi Noir and psychological thrillers with every confidence. A pat on the back to the translator who has done a terrific job. I have already checked out some of Camilla Läckberg's other books and will be adding her to my list of authors to look out for.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins UK via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Camilla Läckberg for the opportunity to read this book!

With thanks to Netgalley, Pigeonhole and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
The Gilded Cage by Camilla Lackberg is an extremely clever, psychological thriller written by an excellent accomplished writer. The story moves between Faye’s childhood and then between her friendship with Chris, Henri and Jack Adelheim. Then the story moves along to her marriage to Jack, the birth of her daughter Julienne, her divorce and her accomplishments in building a successful life on her own. Then how Faye demolishes Jack’s life and how she succeeds.
The storyline and the characters are very interesting and entertaining and the whole book is a masterclass in story telling.
Highly recommended.

Thank you Harper Collins for providing me with ARC copy for an honest review!

Absolutely brilliant and Thank you Harper Collins for providing me with ARC copy for an honest review! 

Absolutely brilliant and well developed crime psychological fiction, involving a narcissist's behavior in a very precise actions and twisted, but an interesting plot! I have read all the books Camilla has written and that have been translated in English.

The Guilded Cage is a separate, standalone book. I found the plot so well developed as at first I kinda disliked both of the main characters, and could say I find it hard to read when the plot has sexy, but at the same domestic violence through and through. I disliked Faye at first, even she's going through all that due to her own action seem to reflect - what goes around comes around because of what she did in her early youth, I could feel sorry for her, but I just couldn't, until the moment when the author has mastered the plot so - that my views switch and I am so proud of this main female character, that I want to salute for her femininity and strong will getting back to her feet when hit so hard under the belly.

Have your life path ever crossed with someone who has narcissist traits? Have you ever gave yourself to someone who didn't value it or used it to reverse and hurt yourself? Faye has supported her boyfriend, then her husband whole time, starting from the time when they just dated to the point where she was mum and a wife - 24/7 at home. Her life does not seem to be perfect, nor her attitude at times, but what's not known she's constantly devalued, ghosted, gash-lighted and masterfully manipulated by her partner. 

Jack on the other hand is very well known by his name only, having experienced rough childhood he has mastered to be admired by women, and in the society circle. Everyone wanting to be friends with him as of the benefits that comes along those...but little do they know his smartest ideas might not be his own... He is someone you don't dare to mess, if so he will bring you down to destroy...

Unless there's someone who's not afraid of him anymore ... well developed crime psychological fiction, involving a narcissist's behavior in a very precise actions and twisted, but an interesting plot.

Wow I’m never disappointed by this author. Camilla’a latest story revolves are Faye who on paper appears to have the perfect wife. She lives the millionaire lifestyle with a husband she adores and a beautiful daughter but you should not always judge the book by its cover and the truth is much darker. The police are at her door and her world is starting to fall down around her but it everything as it seems. This book is dark and totally twisted but I couldn’t put it down.

After a violent childhood Matilda escapes to Stockholm to create a whole new life for herself and Faye appears. The narrative moves backward and forward in time. After helping create a huge business with her husband Jack and his friend Faye becomes a perfect wife and mother but betrayal comes from her husband. After begging on her knees to him to keep the family together and being rebuffed and financially betrayed Faye yet again has to rebuild herself from the bottom up. Real friends and not the wives she knew, who literally live in a gilded cage like she did, help her reinvention.
Revenge perfume and cosmetics is not only the brand that makes her millions but the method she uses to punish her husband for his betrayal and lack of love for the family.
Faye is an amazing character. At times she can be brutal and unforgiving but she is also loyal and generous to her friends.
This is an amazing read with twists and turns along the way and there is a huge surprise at the end.
Enjoyable and fast moving this is the best book I have read in a long time. Cotemporary and fast moving as Faye plans her revenge and how and why she does it becomes clear is worth reading more than once.

I’m so glad I’m not in a gilded cage of marriage to a mega wealthy man if it means eating half a lettuce leaf a day, Botox until your face is frozen and subservience. Meet Faye, who is married to Jack Adelheim co-founder of Compare a multi million kroner company. They have one child, a daughter Julienne. Their marriage is a bit faded, jaded and she’s degraded but persuaded by love to glue a smile on even while he devalues her. However, Faye has a dark past which is suppressed when she is playing the part of a dutiful wife but after she makes several discoveries the blinkers about him are removed and she sets about revenge in such a manner that it puts a whole new spin on the meaning of the word. The story goes between the past and the present until we learn just how dangerous Faye is as an enemy when pushed to anger.

First of all, let’s look at the characters. Jack is beyond awful, he’s so arrogant and has an overinflated sense of entitlement and his intellect. He is a user. I’d rather be Faye’s friend than enemy any day of the week as she’s not just dark she’s jet black in her revenge! There’s a real air of mystery about her though which is intriguing. However, she’s a good friend to Chris who is a lovely character and to Kerstin who helps her in the early days of separation from Jack.

Secondly, the book is well written although I’m not entirely convinced the plot is plausible but I really like it so I won’t dwell too long on that one and happily go with the flow!! There are plenty of shocking revelations along the way and you feel a whole range of emotions and most of them not positive about Jack and it makes me wonder what Faye ever saw in him in the first place. Their relationship and that of other wealthy couples in the story highlights the imbalance between the sexes and talking of sex it’s a bit steamy in places (blushes)!!!! I like that you feel Faye’s emotions - her suppression, her anger, of being trapped and discontented and I feel a sisterly camaraderie as she plots so surreptitiously and cleverly against those who have wronged her. I like the way her revenge empowers women in the business she set up to do more for themselves. The end is very satisfying.

Overall, a terrific rollercoaster read which I recommend to fans of Scandi Noir and psychological thrillers. Congratulations to the translator which is excellent.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for the ARC.