Mary Torjuseen is a "new to me" author and I was very excited when Berkley Publishing reached out and asked if I would be interested in reading and review her April 2020 release, The Closer You Get. I love domestic suspense/thrillers so when I read the book description I had high hopes!

I found this book totally engaging and full of twists and turns. It is a perfect example of "be careful what you wish for". While the plot was fairly predictable, it was a totally entertaining reading ride filled with love, jealousy, secrets, and plenty of manipulation.

We meet Ruby and Emma who take turns narrating this fast-paced novel. Their lives become intertwined and the drama ensues. I loved the alternating perspectives and the ability to look at these plotlines through differing lenses. I loved Torjuseen's writing style and the pacing of this book was perfect for a "quarantine read" that you can devour in an afternoon.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Solid 4.5 stars. ( )

Harry and Ruby, coworkers, love each other. They plan on leaving their spouses and go live together. The problem is, Ruby is waiting in a motel as planned but Harry never shows up. Ruby has lost everything, her job, her home, her husband and she finds out that Harry's wife is pregnant. Harry does not return her calls and she wonders what happened to Harry.

Ruby gets herself a cheap apartment and looks for jobs. When Ruby thinks all is well, strange things start to happen to her. Someone is getting into her apartment and moving things around. She is being followed late at night.

Who is trying to make her life a misery? Is it her husband, her stepson, or someone else?

This story is told from different points of view, Ruby, and Emma, Harry's wife. The reader learns more about both marriages and the dynamics of each. This is a story that is both addictive and page-turning. I love a good psychological thriller and this one fits right in. I enjoyed the book immensely and look forward to reading more by this author.

Who is deceiving who? Ruby is stuck in an unhappy marriage. Her husband Tom is controlling and cruel.
And then she meets Harry. They both make plans to leave their spouses and be together when something goes wrong and Ruby finds herself homeless and jobless. Soon after, strange things start happening and she thinks someone wishes her harm.
This was such a good book; the second that I have read by this author and both are 5 star for me. It is fast paced and has all the right elements for a psychological thriller and is really hard to put down. I look forward to reading more by this author. ( )

Ruby has an 18-month affair with her boss Harry; they agree to leave their spouses to begin a new life together. Ruby leaves Tom but then Harry doesn’t show up, and she quickly finds herself unemployed and looking for a new home. As she tries to construct a new life for herself, she starts receiving threatening messages and it seems as if she is being stalked. As her fear builds, she debates returning to Tom; he is controlling and psychologically abusive but provides physical safety.

Initially, Ruby is the first-person narrator; later, Emma, Harry’s wife, becomes a second first-person narrator. Having the perspective of both women develops character and explains motivations. And it is important for the reader to understand why they behave as they do. I certainly felt sympathy for Ruby; it is obvious that Tom has had such an effect on her that she doesn’t even know herself. For instance, when she first goes food shopping for herself, she picks up a box of cereal that she never liked but “Tom liked it and used to say there was no point in getting two different cereals, that they’d go stale.” She then wonders, “What should I buy? What did I actually like? My head started to hurt. I didn’t know. I just didn’t know what I liked. It hadn’t mattered what I liked.”

The women do not always behave in a credible fashion. Emma’s reaction to an unfaithful husband doesn’t seem realistic. Likewise, Ruby doesn’t freak out enough when bizarre things start happening to her; her reactions are definitely understated. And knowing what she does know about people, she should be able to figure out who is responsible for the strange and threatening events.

I liked the fact that Ruby proves to be a dynamic character. In many ways, she begins a journey of self-discovery when she leaves Tom. Gradually, she faces the truth about her relationships and gets to know herself. Her decisions at the end had me cheering. Emma too realizes her mistakes and shows personal growth.

There are coincidences which stretch credibility. Two chance meetings between women are especially problematic.

This book about lies and misperceptions is not flawless, but it provides an entertaining read. Certainly, character development is a positive element.

Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski) ( )