"Descending into Darkness: A Riveting Tale of Domestic Noir in 'Behind the Curtain'"

BLURB

Two wives:

One dead,

One alive,

One perfect  husband

Penny-May cannot quite believe her luck when the handsome and charming Sam is interested in her, especially so soon after the death of his first wife, Lucy.

As the relationship develops and Sam’s true nature begins to emerge, Penny-May believes that it is all her fault for not being perfect, for not doing as she is told, for not being Lucy.

After all, according to everyone else, he’s the perfect gentleman. Isn’t he?

As desperation sets in, Penny-May is stunned to come across the diaries of Sam’s first wife.

Will the legacy of Lucy’s hidden diaries finally give Penny-May the strength and upper hand to escape Sam?

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY 

Anita D Hunt lives in the beautiful County of Cornwall. She has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and is a published poet, theatre critic and short story writer with four of her short stories appearing in the three volumes of Cornwall Writers anthologies. She is also an admin on the Cornwall Writers team. 

 Anita works in the care industry working with people with dementia and delivering cognitive stimulation therapy sessions for them. She is passionate about equality and accessibility for all. With this driving force, she has several volunteering roles within the County as well as singing and performance signing for Rock Choir Cornwall. 

In what spare time she has left, she spends her time with her family, walking her elderly dog and turning her hand to anything crafty. 

She has often been known to say that ‘sleep is for wimps…

Review.

Behind the Curtain by Anita is a riveting psychological thriller that takes a deep dive into the harrowing realities of domestic abuse and coercive control. From the very first chapter, the tension is palpable, with a prologue that hints at Penny-May's deteriorating marriage to Sam, setting the tone for the dark and complex relationship that unfolds throughout the book.

Penny-May is a refreshingly flawed and relatable character. Her insecurities, particularly about her appearance, and her touching relationship with her brother Daniel, who has Down's syndrome, add layers of emotional complexity. These personal struggles make her journey through a controlling and toxic marriage all the more affecting. What begins as a seemingly normal romance with Sam slowly devolves into a chilling portrait of manipulation and abuse.

Anita’s narrative technique is highly engaging. She smoothly transitions between Penny-May’s first-person narrative and third-person chapters that offer glimpses into Sam’s unsettling mind and Lucy’s secretive diaries. The pacing builds steadily, with the tension increasing in every chapter, making it difficult to put the book down. Sam is portrayed as a master of deception, presenting a respectable image to the world while hiding his true, cruel nature, which is revealed in chilling detail.

The discovery of Lucy’s hidden diaries serves as a pivotal moment in the story. These entries not only reveal haunting parallels between Lucy and Penny-May’s lives but also add a new layer of urgency to Penny-May’s situation. The novel’s twist is both unexpected and satisfying, leaving readers reeling.

Behind the Curtain is a gripping and darkly atmospheric thriller that keeps you on edge until the very end. With its powerful themes and expertly crafted suspense, it’s a standout in the domestic noir genre and a highly recommended read.

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Website – Piskie Dreams – https://piskiedreams.com

YouTube – @piskiedreams1961

X– https://twitter.com/Janxie12

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