Non 1001 Book Review: The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond

Next up before we get to our Man Booker shadow panel reviews is a psychological thriller that may be perfect for the summer. Book Worm reviews this book. Here is what she thought.

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
Published in: 2017
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: ★★★
Find it here: The Marriage Pact

This ARC was provided by Penguin UK (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: In this relentlessly paced novel of psychological suspense, New York Times bestselling author Michelle Richmond crafts an intense and shocking tale that asks: How far would you go to protect your marriage?

Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . . Never mention The Pact to anyone.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples. And then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.

Book Worm’s Thoughts: As some of you already know (and the rest of you will know now) I am getting married on the 9th September. So a psychological thriller about making your marriage last, appealed to me on several levels. I can tell you right now, I will not be signing any pacts with regard to my marriage. It will succeed on it’s own merits or not at all.

This is a solid 3 star psychological thriller that really rams home the point that you should always read the small print before signing anything. If a pact says you can’t leave, then it’s probably not a good idea to sign it.

What I liked with this book was the first person narrative from the point of view of the husband. We, as the readers, only know what the husband knows. This adds to the suspense and tension throughout the book.

I also enjoyed the statistics about what makes a marriage last: the longer the relationship before getting married (19 years I must be on a winner) and the less the wedding costs (we are having a BBQ buffet none of this fancy sit down with champagne) the better odds you have.

Who would like this? I would recommend this to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. The punishments for breaking the pact are harsh and are described in detail. So if you don’t mind a touch of torture in your reading, this could be a good choice for you.

Want to try it for yourself? You can find a copy here: The Marriage Pact

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?