A Good Marriage 3.5⭐️/5

A Good Marriage by Kimberley McCreight

3.5⭐️/5

⇞Though the title may seem obvious, this mystery/thriller focuses on the age old question, “what makes a good marriage?” (Spoiler: the answer is not murder).

⇞The plot is centered around an investigation set in one of the more affluent, picturesque neighborhoods of Brooklyn: Park Slope. It’s there we discover Amanda Grayson is found dead at the bottom of her stairs. Lizzie Kitsakis, a lawyer at the elite law firm Young & Crane, gets a call one night while she’s working late from an old friend, Zach. Zach, as it turns out is calling from Rikers asking for help - can she help him clear his name as the primary suspect in his wife’s, Amanda Grayson, murder case?

⇞We watch as the idyllic backdrop to the Park Slope Elite™ is only just that, a backdrop for secrets, lies, and in this case, murder. Zach and Amanda weren’t exactly what they seemed, and as Lizzie finds herself further entrenched in the web of Park Slope neighbors, friends, and parents at Brooklyn Country Day School, Kimberley McCreight never lets us forget what’s at the heart of the story: what makes a “Good Marriage”?

⇞I thoroughly enjoyed the mastery and complexity of legal language from former lawyer and author to this gripping novel, Kimberley McCreight. Though by the end, it felt a bit convoluted, like it was trying to be too clever at times. It wasn’t a question of a satisfying ending or not, but rather, certain themes developed early on felt a bit lost or hollow by the end.

⇞I think for fans of this genre, some of the twists may not come with quite as much shock value, but that’s not always the reason to reach for a great story. Well-developed characters, perspective changes, a slow burn to the end, and plenty of legal jargon that is written in a delightfully consumable way all contributed to what I’d deem a quick, enjoyable read!