The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Avery Chambers can ‘slay the demons that plague people’ - or so she claims. The Confession is the first step in her intensive short-term counselling programme. Due to her unconventional methods she has lost her licence to practice therapy. This does not deter Marissa and Matthew Bishop from paying a hefty fee for her services. It is Marissa who initiates their first visit to Avery’s home, and it is she who has a confession to make.

‘When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.’

The cashmere-clad Bishops are classically beautiful and ultra wealthy. Matthew is in business in the city and Marissa owns a high-end gift shop not far from their impressive home. Their charming eight year old son Bennett loves his oversubscribed private school. Everything in their golden world is so perfect that anything slightly different or out of place seems like a threat. Sometimes it is. 

Most of the novel is written in present tense. The narrative vibrates between Avery, speaking in first person, and Marissa, whose agonies are described in third person. This may sound confusing, but it works well. The focus of the action remains with Avery, who delves into the Bishops’ private lives to such an extent that she is often on the verge of breaking the law. As well as her investigations into the crisis in the Bishops’ marriage, she has to deal with being recently widowed, concerns about her step-daughter, a clash with the dark side of big pharma and adopting a very ugly dog called Romeo.

Meanwhile, Marissa wallows in guilt and sees danger in everyday incidents. She is depicted as a woman who cannot enjoy her luxurious life because she feels insecure about her relationships. Her son is the light of her life, partly because she has suffered from fertility problems, and she is tormented by worries about him. Other sources of distress are Matthew’s ex-girlfriend, whose child goes to school with Bennet, and the girl she employs to help her in the shop. For Marissa, the world is a frightening place. As the suspense builds, the reader begins to realise that her fears are justified.

I was completely engaged by the personalities in The Golden Couple, mainly because of the flowing style of authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I liked the balance between the characters of Avery and Marissa and the interest added by a variety of sub-plots. 

Many thanks to Macmillan for giving me an advance copy in return for an honest review.