Cover Image: The Golden Cage

The Golden Cage

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Dark and twisted! Do not mess with Faye! There were so many twisted layers to this story. This slow unraveling of the story left me sitting in suspense, anticipating what dark turn was around the corner. Fayes character was slowly revealed to the reader, as was her husbands. I got a bit bored at times but overall, a suspenseful novel with many truths revealed. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a thrill ride of a book! It's a bit dark, but gives readers a glimpse into the sordid lives of the super-rich. Turns out they have problems, just like us. In these characters' cases, a lot of problems. I enjoyed this story from start to finish. I would have rated 5 stars, but there is one little tidbit at the very end that I felt was unnecessary and didn't align with the rest of the story. Fun ride overall, though!

Thank you NetGalley!

Was this review helpful?

Wow! All I have to say is get your hands on this book any way that you can! If you love secrets, betrayal, nasty husbands who get what's coming to them, devious characters, and so much more, this book will satisfy you!

As you know if you read my reviews, I don't give away spoilers. Really, what's the fun in that? Honestly I couldn't put this book down!

Faye is one of those wives, who put their life on the "stop button" to help out their husband achieve wealth by doing most of the work, and raising the children, in this book is A child, but still kids no matter 1 or 10 are A lot of work, especially doing your husband's work for him too. Speaking of, why has Jake been so nasty and cold lately? I wonder. It seems he's found A replacement and has forgotten Faye and all the work she has also put in to their marriage and wealth!

Beware of a Faye scorned. That's all I'm saying. Get this book! I gave it 4.5 stars just because I'm very, very picky about giving 5 unless it changes my life!


A special thanks to NetGalley and I hope Doubleday for my ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Faye Adelheim is the smart wife of Jack Adelheim, a billionaire in the Swedish corporate world. Jack's success with his friend, Henrik, came quickly. Faye gave them all the ideas. Faye was the smartest of the three, almost finished with her studies at the Stockholm School of Economics. But Faye quit school and worked as a waitress, helping her husband get the business going.

Jack and Henrik's success led to all the trappings of a grand life of expensive things. Faye had a beautiful baby and found herself sidelined as a housewife. Typically, Jack was never home and gave Faye zero credit for all she did to build his empire. Their marriage slowly dissolved, leaving Faye lonely, bored, and floundering. A startling discovery about Jack's infidelity took this novel in an exciting new direction.

Faye's best friend, Chris, was there for her when she disintegrated from shock and grief. Chris always helped Faye see that she was worth more than Jack deserved. Faye was smarter than Jack, and more importantly, had character, strength, and resolve to make things right.

I've always loved the adaptation of Läckberg's novel into the Swedish television series, and I can't wait for this one to come out. The story is brilliantly suspenseful with beautiful twists, turns, and surprises! Faye becomes the woman many of us would aspire to, even when things get a bit murky.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new CL book and hope it gets all the attention it deserves in its English language publication. Thank you to the author, Knopf Publishing Group, and NetGalley to read this e-ARC. Look for the book on July 7, 2020.

Was this review helpful?

Not only was the story predictable but very cliched. I guess Lackberg wanted to write something other than murder, and that is fine. It is just that this type of story has been written before; and this one didn’t have anything new in it.

Actually, I felt like I Was reading a fairytale: in three years Faye got the business partners she needed to build an empire with profits in the billions, bought an apartment for her AND her friend, slept with a lot of young men... really, no substance at all.

And the husband? The typical man in love who then is not in love anymore; then wife gets “fat,” husband cheats on wife with skinny bitch, leaves wife without money, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention how stupidly arrogant and ignorant husband is.

The first half of the book was boring: about how she met Jack and the asshole he had become. Then the second half wanted to turn into “Gone Girl” minus the blood. And the end, what really made her hate Jack, came out of no where. I mean, yes, Jack was an arrogant dick but, where did that last thing come from?

And I’m not even gonna get started on Faye’s life back then (before she moved to the city and met Jack). Where the heck was your mother all this time?

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.

Was this review helpful?

Jack and Faye seem to be the golden couple. When they got married as young adults, they didn't have two nickles to rub together. Faye left school so that she could waitress and help support Jack. Now they are rich, and seemingly have everything: money, the perfect marriage, and a beautiful child. However, no one really knows that goes on behind closed doors. Jack is not the perfect husband that he appears to be, and the cracks in his marriage to Faye are wide and run deep. Faye has a couple of choices: stay silent and stay with Jack, or fight back. The Golden Cage is my first read by Camilla Lackberg, but it would not be my last. I love a good, juicy thriller, and The Golden Cage delivered ten fold. It is a tale of revenge is a dish best served cold. Lackberg writes the character of Jack that you can't help but hate him, and she writes Faye in a way that you can't help but cheer for her. This is a classic tale of a woman scorned, and she does something about it. As the reader, you watch their marriage fall apart, and you watch Faye take back what was rightfully hers. There is definitely a rollercoaster of emotions that the reader will experience: from anger and sadness, to gumption and victory. If you are looking for a thriller that is sure to have people talking, make sure you check this one out. The Golden Cage will be publishing on July 7. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free digital copy of this book. I will be posting this review and a feature on my Instagram account @readingmama_reviews a little closer to the book's publishing date!

Was this review helpful?

The Golden Cage was a page turner as I was eager to see how the Faye, the main character would escape her golden cage of a marriage and exact revenge on the husband Jack who had put her there. The Nordic Swedish setting is always a pleasure to read about.. At the beginning there is a red herring about Faye and Jack's daughter that evolves as part of the elaborate scheme to destroy Jack's career.. This is not a typical whodunnit, and I can now understand how Camilla Lackberg is such a beloved mystery writer. I will definitely look for more of her books.

Was this review helpful?

Lackberg does it again with another pager turner. A story about the second wife of a billionaire and her plot to get revenge. Intrigued? You will be from the first page. Filled with betrayal, sex and secrets. Would could ask for a better combination from this skilled writer.

Was this review helpful?

I didn’t care for this book. I didn’t finish it. I don’t feel I can give a review. I didn’t care for the subject matter and can’t review honestly.

Was this review helpful?

I seem to be reading a fair amount of books about women turning the tables on the men who “did them wrong”. This is one of the better ones. Faye was a major contributor to her husband’s success. but while she was continually giving up her dreams for their family/team. that was the pattern she gave, he took until........ Uh Oh He underestimated Faye. All the smarts and talent that she contributed to his success can be turned . against him.

Was this review helpful?

Faye is leading a cushy, opulent lifestyle in Stockholm, but has paid a high cost to achieve it. She is the woman behind the successful man.

Husband Jack Adelheim's thriving firm wouldn't have been possible without Faye's sacrifices and business savvy. But Jack is anything but grateful for her love and devotion--he is a cold, controlling womanizer who treats his wife with disdain and disrespect. When Faye experiences Jack's humiliating betrayal, she is devastated. And when heartless Jack leaves her penniless, Faye vows to destroy him.

Drawing on her business skills, Faye becomes a leading entrepreneur in her own right, regaining the financial security necessary for the intricate plan of revenge she is about to unleash. Tapping her innate survival skills and the kinship of other wronged women, Faye's retaliation against Jack is diabolical and absolutely crushing. And though Jack never saw it coming, he has no one to blame for his downfall but himself.

The Golden Cage is an un-put-downable thrill ride from start to finish, with an ending twist that demonstrates Lackberg's command of the psychological thriller genre and her massive appeal as an author.

Was this review helpful?

Graphic, unpleasant. I always enjoyed Lackberg's mystery series, but this
stand alone suspense novel was a major disappointment.

Was this review helpful?

Quite a thriller. Definitely for fans who can appreciate books like Gone Girl or Girl on the Train. This is a novel that starts with apparent murder, and then details the life of Faye over a 1o year period - with brief glimpses back into her past. Then Faye's story continues into the future, with continued glimpses into the past. The teasers of information will keep the reader guessing; just what is the dark truth Faye is hiding?

Faye meets her husband, Jack by chance while he and her friend Chris are out on the town. The attraction is almost immediate, and soon they are an upcoming power couple. As the years slide by, Faye's happiness fades and she attempts in every way to hold on to Jack. Then one day, it all falls apart and Faye's life is in shambles. Suddenly, Faye remembers who she used to be, and sets forth a series of events to avenge her lost life and circumstances. But - all that glitters is not really gold. Faye is hiding a dark past, and she is really good at keeping secrets...and she really is not an innocent bystander.

The story is definitely full of twisting plot lines that will keep the reader guessing at the reality of it all until the very end.

Was this review helpful?

I skimmed most of this book as I just found it a befall disturbing. I r been a fan of Lwckberg for many years but this book left me cold.

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel details the depths that a woman went to in order to get revenge on her philandering husband. Although unrealistic, it is a satisfying read and a fun novel.

Was this review helpful?

This was an exciting psychological thriller - a classic revenge story with a great twist. I wasn't sure at first, it was hard to warm to the main character, and then I decided I was fine with not liking her very much. But for the second half of the book, hold on! I couldn't put it down!

Was this review helpful?

Having read most of Lackberg's crime fiction, I admire how she deftly puts together a story and develops characters with little effort. In this different stand-alone, I felt the writing was excellent, but the characters were almost stereotypes. This is the ultimate story of revenge, but not enough development to make it seem a complex psychological study, so despite the excellent writing, I kept waiting to be hooked. There is lots happening in the story, and it moves right along, so I think there will be a good audience.

Was this review helpful?

This story is like if Big Little Lies and Gone Girl had a baby. A very mixed up baby.

Faye seems to have the perfect life with a wealthy husband she met in business school. She gave up school and a career to be his wife, mother to their child and help with his company. But Jack is now treating her like she is stupid, and as she comes to find out, having an affair. When he divorces her, leaves her with nothing and takes their daughter, Faye wants one thing - revenge. And it turns out, Jack has really cheated on the wrong woman and Faye won't stop until she takes Jack's company, ruins his new marriage and it might not stop there...

Lackberg is a popular author in Sweden and it's easy to see why - she writes a good tale of revenge. Some of the details might be vague (I never did understand exactly how Faye's business worked so well) but that's OK, because who cares! Readers will want Faye to have her revenge and will be glad to see everything tied up at the end.

Was this review helpful?

I expected quite a lot of this book and maybe that's why I was so disappointed. It's a dull thriller with very heavy European vibes. If you are into slow-burners though, you may like it more.
This book was provided for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Camilla Lackberg for this fascinating book and the wonderful characters. Although weak women characters sometimes turn me off, the opening of this book made me keep reading.

And I'm so glad I did.



Faye is madly in love with her husband Jack who she met in business school. She gave up her own education and supported them all the while helping him build a company. But as Jacks success grew, Faye slipped into the background and became the dutiful wife and mother. They have anything money can buy. Faye and her daughter want for nothing.



When Jack decides to leave Faye for a younger woman at the office, she is devastated. She begs him to stay with her. Leaving her behind, Jack begins his new life. She is a broken woman mentally and financially. But then she devises a plot. One that is sure to take down Jack and one that he won't see coming. Especially from his weak ex-wife Faye. Jack never really did know the real Faye who is now a woman scorned and won't soon be forgotten.



As I learned more Faye and her troubled past I found myself really rooting for her and realized that she had the strength to overcome more than an ex-husband.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this fantastic read!

Was this review helpful?