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Recently, Charles Portland has become a bachelor again following his separation from his wife, Erica. He is flabbergasted by the turn of events, which seemed to arise without warning. Charles is a journalist and is often out of town on assignments, but when he has been home, he hasn't noticed anything amiss in their marriage. If anything, Charles is more concerned about Erica's ambition and workaholic behavior as a doctor at St. Ambrose Hospital. Charles believes that Erica's devotion to her career will ultimately lead her to abandon the idea of starting a family.
Erica met Charles while he was at the hospital for a routine checkup. Despite a twelve-year age gap between the pair, a relationship soon developed. While Charles missed the signs of discord in their relationship, Erica took notice of Charles' emotional unavailability when home. Their relationship was further strained when Charles happened upon a seemingly harmless interaction between Erica and a co-worker while he was dropping something off for her. Erica believed Charles was jealous, and she was taken aback when, during a moment of reconciliation, Charles engaged in forced intimacy.
While unable to communicate with Charles, Erica maintains an anonymous blog where she can pour out her marital woes to the blogosphere. The blog resonates with many sympathetic readers who follow the exploits of Mary (Erica's alias) and her husband Bill (aka Charles). The most polarizing blog post is when she recalls the alleged marital rape that occurred between her and Charles. Many readers leave comments with either support or vitriol. Erica separates from her husband and flees to her hometown of Toronto.
Dr. Nathan Milo is a renowned psychiatrist who has been treating Erica. He has taken a great interest in her life and marital troubles and offers her a place to stay after she leaves Charles following a failed reunion. Erica believes that Milo has her best interests at heart, but when she discovers disconcerting information while snooping through his files, she views him as dangerous. Upon discovering Erica's evident inquiry, Milo begins a campaign of targeted character assassination against his one-time patient. Meanwhile, Erica reaches out to Milo's former patients and colleagues to warn them about his checkered past and his Svengali-like tendencies.
The breakdown of a marriage serves as the backdrop for Marvin's impressive psychological drama/thriller. Erica is a woman whose vulnerability is barely concealed as she still hurts from past psychological trauma. Erica's narrative revolves around the affection she yearns for from Charles and how his failure to reciprocate represents a betrayal that is further compounded by his alleged assault. In addition, Charles commits infidelity during their time apart. While still hurting from the separation from Charles, the ability to express her feelings on her blog gives her character purpose and agency. Marvin's incorporation of a second betrayal in the storyline that comes from Milo, who attempts to invalidate her blog by asserting that her stories are fictional, causes readers to identify with Erica even more.
The author does an excellent job of contrasting Erica's genuineness with Milo's calculated malevolence. The latter is a master manipulator whose villainy is unquestioned in the narrative. The plot intensifies when Erica learns of Milo's ulterior motives, and when various characters begin keeping tabs on one another in hopes of uncovering dastardly deeds. The story culminates in a memorable climax. This novel will hold immense appeal for readers who enjoy dark psychological dramas with dynamic plot twists.