The Dilemma
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3.7 • 468 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Knowing the truth will destroy her.
Keeping it secret will destroy him.
‘A powerful, beautifully crafted story that ratchets up the tension with every page and packs a huge emotional punch’ TM Logan, bestselling author of The Catch
It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad she won’t be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.
Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? But she’s so happy, so excited – and the guests are about to arrive.
The Dilemma – how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness?
One day that will change a family forever, The Dilemma is the breathtaking, heartbreaking new novel from the international, million-copy-selling, Sunday Times bestseller, B A Paris.
Praise for The Dilemma:
‘A powerful, beautifully crafted story that ratchets up the tension with every page and packs a huge emotional punch’ TM Logan
‘A departure from B A Paris’s previous psycho-thrillers, this emotional story is gripping’ Daily Mail
‘A heartbreaking page-turner that will have you up at night reading just one more chapter’ Catherine Steadman
‘A dark family drama … builds a palpable wall of tension that leaves you desperate to find out what happens next’ Sunday Mirror
‘A beautifully written story of love and loss which will stay with me’ Louise Jensen
‘What a book… utterly unputdownable!’ Samantha King
‘A beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. B A Paris has a unique ability to get inside your head and stay there!’ HC Warner
About the author
B.A. Paris is the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of seven novels including the word-of-mouth hit, Behind Closed Doors.
Over 7 million editions of her work have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 41 languages. Three of her novels have been optioned for major screen adaptations.
Before becoming an author, B.A. Paris, who spent most of her adult life living in France, worked in finance as a trader before retraining as an English teacher. She and her husband then ran a language school together whilst bringing up their five daughters. Today, she writes from her cottage in Hampshire, England. She has a newsletter and is on social media @baparisauthor.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Have you ever experienced the eerie atmosphere of a party where every guest is desperate not to ruin the big night? Welcome to Livia’s 40th birthday. Her husband Adam has a secret he’s keeping from everyone, and if he tells her now it won't just ruin the night, it'll potentially destroy her life. English-French author B. A. Paris has thrilled us before with 2016’s Behind Closed Doors and is just as suspenseful here, with the claustrophobic party atmosphere seeping through the narration. As Adam ponders his dilemma across fast-paced chapters, the consequence of his timing becomes clear.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Destructive secrets abound in this maddeningly melodramatic psychological thriller from bestseller Paris (Bring Me Back). Adam Harman is busy preparing for his wife Livia's 40th birthday party, an event for a hundred guests under a marquee tent in their backyard in Windsor, England. Adam is expecting their 19-year-old daughter, Marnie, who's studying in Hong Kong, to make a surprise appearance at the party. But as he and 22-year-old son Josh set up chairs and choose a playlist, Adam learns that Marnie may have died in a plane crash in Cairo. His quandary is whether he should tell Livia and ruin her evening's happiness. Livia, on the other hand, has discovered a highly personal fact that Marnie has withheld from both parents. Does she tell Adam and affect his relationship with Marnie? The novel bounces back and forth between guilt-ridden lies and deceitful behavior, such as Livia's betrayal of Adam. By the end, the reader is likely to feel frustrated by a psychological thriller that withholds information for far too long. Debilitating circumstances aren't enough to excuse egregious behavior of reprehensible characters. 150,000-copy announced first printing.
Customer Reviews
Boring
A lot of effort to finish..
Don’t bother
Slow and predictable.
The dilemma
This story was interesting but it went on for too long and I skipped a whole of the last bit. A tad better editing would have made this a better story.