Customer Reviews

Behind Closed Doors

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Collins has woven an incredible plot with living, breathing characters into another fascinating read.

Jannie Fox has survived rape, the betrayal of her birth religion, and betrayal by her family for the last five years by living in an emotional dead zone. Five years as a shadow of the once vibrant person she was. Five years spent hiding from her self, five years dedicated to helping women survive their abusive relationships. But with the disappearance of her best friend, life has suddenly become three-dimensional, surround-sound, techno-color and now Jannie Fox is running to stay alive.

The Salt Lake City Police Department and Detective Colt Singer are determined to get to the bottom of Melissa's disappearance. Is Colt Singer the man to relight Jannie's heart when Jannie's ex-fiancé wants her back? Can the Salt Lake City Police stop Jannie's childhood friend Michael Holt, Melissa's husband, and bring him to justice? Will you be able to unravel the twist and turns of Jannie Fox's life and the Mormon Church? You'll never know until you read Natalie Collin's latest masterpiece Behind Closed Doors from St. Martin's Press.

Apparently I can't pick up a Natalie Collins book without being mesmerized. From the prologue to the epilogue Collins weaves a tale that sucks you into the storyline with smart dialogue, a twisted - devious plot, and very human characters - characters who live in your memory long after you read the last word and close the book. Make sure you buy Behind Closed Doors because you'll definitely read it more than once. I did.

Calista Cates-Stanturf

Natalie Collins can easily draw the reader in to what the main character is feeling. I cannot adequately describe how much I loved reading this book. I easily finished it in a day.

Regardless of what some may say, the religious aspects of the book are not the main story line and it is not an expose of Mormonism. The religion is really more like a setting.

She grew up in the Mormon faith believing in its tenets until the night her fiancé Brian raped her in the temple. The bishop says both contributed to the rape as Jennie wore provocative clothing and let things go to far; and he should have had the strength to not give in to temptation. Unable to believe the bishop's "words of wisdom" she walked out on Brian and never returned to a temple or a church.

She counsels abused and is fearful when she learns her best friend Melissa disappeared. The two women along with Michael and Brian were childhood friends until she left her fiancé, but kept close connections with the other two. Jeannie doesn't want to believe Melissa is dead even though all evidence points to Michael killing her. The more she digs the close she comes to getting murdered from a killer who is determined to keep his identity a secret.

This is a chilling thriller that exposes the dark side of religious extremism and intolerance. Even though the heroine walked away from a religion that she now believes treats women as second class chattel, she feels guilty that she no longer accepts the Mormon faith that was her bedrock as a child and teen. The characters are believable and the pace swift and action packed while the romantic sub-plot between the lead detective on the case and the heroine adds spice to a fabulous romantic thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I read Behind Closed Doors in a day. I hated to put it down for any reason. My husband was lucky to even get supper that evening! I loved the inside information about what goes on in the Mormon Temple. Jannie's life is full of hard knocks which made me care all the more about her. Jannie had known Melissa for twenty years and felt she was her best friend only to learn you can't always know even your best friend even as well as you think. Detective Colt Singer is the kind of guy all women want to care about their safety. The villains of the book are the kind of bad guys you can enjoy seeing get theirs as well. Just another great read from Ms. Collins. Brava!! Can't wait for the next book from her talented pen!

Another great book from Ms. Collins! She has a gift with her quick paced books that suck you in from the first pages & you don't want to put it down. Perfect for spring break or summer quick reads.

Yes, it gives an insider's look at the LDS lifestyle, but it's just fiction. The LDS portion gives depth to several of the characters. True some of the facts of ONE of the crimes in this book may be familiar, there is still a lot of original writing & unexpected twists & turns.

Can't wait to see what Ms. Collins comes out with next, I've only read 2 books & I'm hooked on her style!

I was riveted to my chair as I read the book. Ms. Collins presents a story that parallels the news, yet she gives it a personal stamp of authenticity. Comments on the religion involved are identical to those I've heard uttered many times from several acquaintances disillusioned with their family's faith. These comments suggest a provenance of rubber-stamped theology and well-rehearsed jargon. It's a page turner and, unfortunately, the underlying theme is all too true.

I eagerly looked forward to reading this book, because I was intrigued by the fact the characters are contemporary Mormons. While this aspect of the book was somewhat interesting, the mystery was less so, as it was fairly easy to discern which character was the one leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

Moreover, the characters were pretty unlikable, overall, and the writing was not particularly impressive, as the plot, at times, seemed to be somewhat preposterous. The writer also did not seem that conversant with law enforcement protocols. This is a book from which the reader may get a modicum of enjoyment, but it is also one that is easily forgotten, as it is less than memorable.

The only thing that elevates this book from a fluffy Harlequin Romance Suspense novel (complete with the macho hero and heroine in desperate need of help) is that the heroine is a Mormon - who is struggling with keeping her ties to her Mormon community she was raised in, and coming to terms with the great let down she has found in the Church's teachings and it's actions.

The Mormon angle and the "patriarchal family" women in it are faced with- is what makes the book interesting, and ultimately worth a read. There's are a couple of good twists wrapped into it and the disappearance of Raine's Mormon girlfriend that will keep the pages turning - and rooting for her to find her "own way" in the world.

I couldn't put this book down. Wonderful-I love her writing style and the details that are truley morman and salt lake city. You won't be dissapointed!

This book has some of the most "powerful" beliefs of the Mormon church. The temple ceremonies that are so "sacred", are to me, a bunch of hogwash and brainwashing. It totally reminds me of the teachings that I had received in the church. I left at the age of 19 and held on to the beliefs for quite a while, but not any longer. Talk about taking away a womans self esteem and worth......this is the way. I very much enjoyed this book about the self discovery and realization of what the teaching really were about. Cudos for bringing it out in the open.