Book Review — The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
One has a lot to say when a book is great. One also has a lot to say when a book is a disaster. But words elude one when the book is just...meh. One such forgettable read is "The Perfect Marriage" by Jeneva Rose. Many a times after I have read a 5 starrer thriller, I have a craving for another one. So I go hunting for another bestseller thriller. Mystery/crime/detective/suspense/psychological/domestic thrillers are my staple. Crime is my go-to genre. But many a times, the next pick after an astonishing, nerve-racking read comes a disappointment. The hours of search don't bear fruit and I end up reading an average, forgetful, often domestic, thriller. This time it was 'The Perfect Marriage', the synopsis of which goes something like this-
Sarah Morgan is a successful attorney. A workaholic and a perfectionist, Sarah is married to Adam, who hit to fame with his debut novel few years ago but now struggles with writer's block. Needless to say their marriage is on rocky terrain, as Sarah is engrossed in her career while Adam is having an affair with Kelly Summers. Things get complicated when Kelly is murdered and Adam is accused of it. Now Sarah, faced with her husband's betrayal and his bleak future, decides to take on his case, defending him.
I put off reviewing this one for so long that I forgot even the names of the characters. It failed to create any lasting impression though it had its moments. It was mildly enjoyable while reading. Like any medium range suspense novel, there were the common traits of twists and turns present. First thing one notices is the writing style, and it is not what I had encountered before. The narration alternates between his and her perspective. Nothing new in that, but it was more....explanatory; quite detailed descriptions of movements and actions. That too doesn't stay consistent throughout the book. Among other things, one issue with this book is inconsistency. At first it comes across as sloppy writing coupled with generic story. Slowly it improves as the story gets complicated, the narration gets better. This book is another kind of roller coaster ride. It starts sloppy, then turns strong, again dips into sloppiness, faltering at times, becoming completely preposterous, lastly coming out triumph. I'll give kudos to the writing at the end but not the story. An irksome habit of almost every character is the raising of an eyebrow. It's quite redundant and unnecessary. Frankly I haven't seen people do that often in real life.
A thing to observe here and with many suspense thrillers (movies and books), is the habit of including a very unlikely and twisty end. A "Oh boy I did not see that happening" end. Authors, or movie makers, want to make end the one redeemable quality and bank on it. I saw that happening recently with "Run" starring Sarah Paulson and again with this book. A mediocre product slapped with an unexpected turn at the end doesn't make it appealing. It's the journey throughout plus the pay off in the end which makes for a compelling story. One that stays with you long after you turn the last page or the credits roll. Sadly, The Perfect Marriage is not perfect in that sense. It feels that the author had an idea, started strong, but then lost her way and didn't know how to proceed.
