There was something about the time frame and the characters in The Golden Cage that I just could not empathize with them. Don't get me wrong, I love a good woman scorned novel. However, this one fell flat for me since I just was not able to become emotionally involved in the story. I felt it moved around a lot in location and time and I just was not able to keep up. I think this book will be an enjoyable read for many others, just not me.

I've been a fan of Camilla Lackberg ever since I read The Ice Princess years ago. While I haven't read all ten books in her Fjallbacka series, I have managed to get through quite a few, most recently The Drowning. Like The Ice Princess, The Drowning features writer Erica Falck and detective Patrik Hedstrom; it's an engaging, well plotted mystery set in a small town in Sweden. Lackberg's 11th novel, The Golden Cage, is an entirely different type of psychological thriller, one that features a protagonist who is nearly the polar opposite of Erica. From what I've read, it is the first of a two-book series that will feature Faye, a woman with a shadowy past who falls in love with a man destined to become one of Sweden's sexiest, most successful businessmen.

The Golden Cage begins near the end of the story, with a dark, brutal scene. Faye's seven-year-old daughter Julienne is missing and it looks as if her ex-husband Jack may well have murdered the young girl. The narrative then circles back in time, to the point where Faye leaves the small town she grew up in to start a new life in Stockholm. For the rest of the novel, chapters alternate between Faye's story in the immediate past with flashbacks to the more distant past. This is a revenge tale that is influenced by the #MeToo movement and I don't think I'm giving much away if I say that Jack is unquestionably a bastard. Though Faye is a brilliant economics student, she leaves school and works as a waitress so Jack can make his new business a success. Before long, he and his partner do indeed achieve their dreams. As the wife of one of the country's wealthiest men, Faye is soon living the sort of life she's always wanted. But she eventually comes to realize she's little more than a beautiful bird in a gilded cage: her marriage is nothing but a sleekly decorated prison. As bad as that is, things are about to get worse.

Faye is more than a victim, however. Not only does her childhood complicate that characterization, but her recent past and present do as well. It's hard to avoid spoilers but suffice it to repeat: this is a revenge tale. And for me, that is where this review gets difficult. While I appreciated that Lackberg didn't write a simple tale of victim and victimizer, I disliked almost all of the characters in this book. The author has touted this as a tale about sisterhood, but I simply don't buy it—Faye may have women she cares deeply about but she can also be utterly self-interested and callous toward others, some of whom are women. Yet as I write about Faye, I hear echoes of Lisbeth Salander, one of my favorite Nordic characters. There are definite parallels between the two – I even wondered at times if Faye could be considered a sociopath, a term Stieg Larsson once used loosely when referring to Lisbeth. But whereas I find Lisbeth compelling and sympathetic (and most certainly not a sociopath), Faye has the opposite effect on me. Despite her strength and her plight as Jack's unlucky wife, she is more of an anti-heroine in the Gone Girl sense of the term.

For some readers, that may be a good thing. Also, not all readers will dislike Faye—some may admire her intelligence and her ability to raise herself up again. There were times I felt exactly the same way. And I will say I found The Golden Cage oddly enthralling, though it's not a whodunit in any sense. I read it over a couple of days and could not put it down during certain sections. Lackberg is clearly a very talented writer who can craft a story and will no doubt continue to produce strong books in the future.

Much thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Cage by author Camilla Lackberg is a dark and twisty thriller that does not disappoint! Full of characters with a greatly developed plot line, this is a book you won’t want to miss!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a smart, sexy novel about a woman intent on taking her whole self back from a man who never really appreciated her talents outside the bedroom, and doing it with a flourish. The characters are memorable, the details of their lives fascinating, and the narrative well-paced. There's a modicum of brand name dropping, and enough foreign flavor to see how the privileged entrepreneurs of Scandinavia live. Revenge may be a dish best eaten cold, but in this case it's still sweet.

This book reminded me of a modern day Jackie collins. It was a sexy thrill ride about revenge being dished out by a woman scorned. How do you get even when you have been betrayed by the man you gave your everything to? Well, you do it while wearing stilettos and sipping on a glass of wine. Hell couldn't even keep up with Faye even if it wanted to. A good book to get lost in. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

DAMN...what is that saying about a woman scorned, lol?

Lackberg nailed it. Getting through Part 1 of the book was a little slow, but by the time you get to Part II this book really picks up. Now that I have finished, I can understand Lackberg's thought process for Part I.

By the time I had reached the last third of this story, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the character development.

I will definitely have to look up some of her previous novels and get in there.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this Great read.

Thank you SO much for this ARC!

I have been a huge fan of Camilla Lackberg for a long time! I love the Ice Princess series, so incredible.

BUT THIS, was spectacular and literally combined every aspect I love to see in a book - intrigue, glamour, revenge and suspense. I loved this story and love Camilla Lackberg even more than I thought I already did!

Please keep more stories like this coming!

A compulsive sexy thriller about revenge, lies, and getting even. Faye comes from a secretive background but builds a fairy tale empire with her husband. Until she finds out his secrets. Revenge plays a huge role in this sexy thriller. This is unlike Camilla Lackberg's other novels but a fun read.

Did this go off the rails a bit from time to time? Well, sure. Do I care at all? Actually, no, not even a little.

How does one reclaim their life when they have absolutely nothing? Faye learns how throughout her life. She certainly solidifies the skills when her beloved husband, Jack, humiliates her and leaves her life in shambles. The man she thought was her perfect soulmate was not who she thought and may end up even worse than suspected.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday and Net Galley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. A tale as old as time: A woman helps a man get to the top, and then he dumps her for a newer model. In this case, being dumped was even colder than most. Faye, the main character, actually had some of the ideas, gave her husband the support and even the name of the business, and then she was essentially left to the side. Instead of wallowing in what used to be, she got back to the woman she used to be and played the long "get even" game. The only thing I didn't love about this was some of it was unrealistic. Entertaining, but not realistic. That said, it's a fun read, and I really enjoyed it. This was translated from I believe Swedish, but it seamlessly weaves the story in English. Definitely recommend this one.

I have never read anything by Lackberg, but this was a great introduction. The story of Faye who becomes the victim of her cruel, unfaithful husband, but, turnabout is fair play. This is really well plotted and, if we follow the news, quite timely.

The characters are well drawn and the twisty plot kept me engaged. This is a perfect summer mystery.

Thank you Netgalley for introducing me to this terrific author.

Wow a book that drew me in from the first scenes dark dark an anti heroine a wife betrayed out for revenge Add in sex a complex cast of characters a multilayered plot an author whose words pul you in.This has bestseller written all over it a delicious read,#knopfdoubleday#netgalley

It’s a story as old as time. Faye and Jack have been in love forever and even though Jack grew up wealthy, something Faye can only imagine, they are equals in their relationship. Then Jack decides to start his own business. Faye quits college to support him, working two jobs. The business takes off and the couple have a baby, everything should be perfect, except that Jack is now treating Faye more like an employee than a wife, finding fault with everything she does and demeaning her at every opportunity. When she discovers he’s cheating on her, she’s left to her own devices, with no money and no husband. And this is when Faye begins her campaign for revenge. I loved seeing old Jack get his comeuppance and cheered Faye on every inch of the way!

I love a story that sucks you in from the very beginning and won’t let you go. You will find that in Scandinavian author Camilla Lackberg’s new book.

A main character with a past hidden in the shadows which seems to monopolize her life until she has had enough. Then you better watch out, especially if you are her husband, because vengeance can be lethal.

After you read this book you will better understand the two sayings:
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.

Highly recommended!