Behind the Curtain launches you straight into the story, with a domestic violence scene, where the characters are immediately introduced. There is Penny-May, the narrator in the first short chapter, and there is the mention of Lucy, the first wife. And there’s Him, and I needed to know more!

Behind the Curtain then carries on with Penny-May and her first day as a Temp for an important company. It feels tame and safe after the adrenaline of the first chapter, but it keeps you turning pages, as you want to see where the lovely, insecure office temp meets danger. It makes you wonder where the lovely house mate Emma comes in, and what happens to change all this?

Anita D. Hunt, the author of this debut novel, has done a great job in painting various characters. You get to know them well, at least, for a while you think you know them… They’re easy to picture in your mind though, and Penny-May sounds lovely and sweet, and you want the very best for her. Meeting her good looking boss makes you feel pleased with her, although there are a few red flags, but like Penny-May thinks, they’re easily explained away, after all, the guy is still grieving his wonderful first wife, Lucy.

Behind the Curtain brings the characters together, and although it’s not a very fast read, with a lot of detail and conversations between characters, the story keeps you hooked, just as Sam, the hunky boss, hooks his next wife. There are a lot of bedroom type scenes, but you can see power plays in action through it all.

Behind the Curtain slowly reveals the real people, but like Penny-May, it is hard to see who can be trusted and who is not a good friend… Penny-May is confused and becoming more desperate as life goes on, until she finds Lucy’s hidden diaries, and she starts to understand Sam better, as well as becoming clear on who is foe and who is friend. The diaries help her a lot, not just to see what her life has become, but also, to understand Sam, and to realise the dangers. But will the diaries help her to be brave enough to take control of her life or is it too late?

Behind the Curtain ends with a wonderful twist that I didn’t see coming at all! The ending is tidied up nicely, after you have recovered from the surprises and shocks that suddenly enter the story. Penny-May will be missed, although it would be lovely to have another story about her, to see how life carries on for her and her brother Daniel, the Hulk.

I received a copy via Reading Between the Lines but was under no pressure or obligation to write a favourable review. The book comes with quite a few trigger warnings as well as an 18+ label!