The Golden Couple: A Novel

The story of Avery, the marriage therapist, and her clients Marissa and Matthew is bone-chillingly good. Avery is practicing therapy in what she calls her ten-step plan and has been very successful at it. She is also hiding secrets about her past and dealing with some unscrupulous people who are determined to destroy her career if not her life. Marissa contacts Avery for help when she realizes that her marriage is going downhill fast and she wants to save it. The best thing that someone could have told me before I read this book is that all is not as it seems. There are layers of deception that are peeled away slowly and methodically. The plot is so well written that it immediately pulled me into Avery’s troubles as well as Marissa and Matthew’s. The characters were totally well-fleshed out and very complex. Just when I thought I knew them well, there was another revelation about their past. This was the kind of book that was entertaining as well as thought-provoking. I enjoyed the read, but it also made me think about how well we actually know someone. Polly, Marissa’s helper in her store, was irritating at first, then more irritating and ultimately understandable. There were a lot of nuances and red herrings throughout the book that made the ending mostly a surprise for me, something I really enjoy in books since I’m such a mystery buff. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy great plots, fantastic characterization and pondering what an outcome will be. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

What guile! I fell right into a smartly laid trap and was easily led astray by these wily wordsmiths. I was totally hoodwinked by their agile misdirection and had felt so smug in my theories. I was sooo very, very, wrong! A lot was going on at once with multiple storylines that were actively engaging while taut with tension and a steadily ratcheting sense of intrigue and impending peril. The characters were an odd assortment of personalities and backgrounds with traits that prickled, enticed, annoyed, and teased my curiosity while leaving me with a desire to know more about each. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are full of craft and combined are a synergetic and breath-stealing dynamic duo.

An experienced therapist/consultant goes in deep for her clients in Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s latest collaboration, The Golden Couple. Due to her unconventional methods, Avery Chambers has lost her therapist’s license, but still takes on selected clients. Her approach is completely immersive and guaranteed to resolve any issue in ten sessions. She has a great track record, and she relies on word-of-mouth for referrals. Her skills are tested when a couple comes in, one member looking to confess infidelity to their partner. Avery performs her usual service, which includes deep background checks, surveillance, and even provocation. What she discovers is many layers of secrets and deceit that are far more involved than she had first thought. Things get personally dangerous as she researches the couple’s lives, ultimately becoming completely enmeshed in the situation. The narration is alternately provided by Avery and Marissa, the woman who may have initiated the therapy with questionable motives. None of the male characters have a voice in the novel, which allows the authors to execute a surprising twist. The story is nicely paced and suspenseful, and it is no wonder that The Golden Couple has already been optioned for tv/film. The Hendricks/Pekkanen duo proves once again how co-authorship can benefit greatly from the contributions of two talented writers.