The Takeaway: Bars on the windows are not a good look.
I've wanted to read this book for a long time now, but I always put it on the back burner for some reason. In my last book haul, I finally picked up a copy. And I have to say, I was not disappointed.
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris is the definition of a domestic thriller. I was immediately intrigued by the novel's tagline: The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie? Who wouldn't be? Let's face it, the theme of a woman marrying a man she never really knew has been done countless times before. But as many authors know… it's not the theme itself, but what you do with it that matters. Stories have been recycled since the beginning of time, but if you can own your version and make it unique, people will never tire of it. And that's precisely what Paris did with this novel.
The Plot
The story follows the lovely couple, Grace and Jack. They have everything: a loving marriage, a big house, money. But if you scratch the surface, things aren't quite what they seem. I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say there are bars on the upstairs windows, and Grace's husband may not be who everyone thinks he is.
"I don't suppose I could have a whiskey instead of the wine, could I?"
"Whiskey?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know you drank whiskey."
"And I didn't know you were a psychopath. Just bring me a whiskey"
-B.A. Paris (Behind Closed Doors)
The Drink
To quell the anxiety this novel evokes, I suggest pairing it with a Watermelon Basil Margarita. I went for Mexican food the other day, and when I saw this cocktail on the menu, I knew I had to recreate it. I'm obsessed with watermelon and fresh basil. So, what could be better than combining them in this amazingly refreshing margarita? The recipe below yields a pitcher because margaritas are best with friends, but it's easy to adjust the recipe for just one or two drinks.
I saved half of the watermelon/basil juice in the fridge to use the next day and found it kept just fine. For all my "I hate tequila" people out there, I bet this would taste fantastic with a vodka substitute or even white rum. I haven't tried it yet, but let me know if you do.
Watermelon Basil Margarita
Yield: 8 servings
Total Time: 20 minutes
What You Need:
¼ cup sugar
½ cup water
½ cup packed basil leaves (plus more for garnish)
4 cups watermelon cubed
1 cup silver tequila
1 cup lime juice
What you do:
For the Basil Simple Syrup:
Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over low/medium heat. Stir frequently until dissolved.
Add basil leaves, remove from heat, and let steep for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile…
For the Margarita:
Place watermelon cubes in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer or colander into a pitcher with ice.
Make sure basil simple syrup is room temperature then strain syrup into the pitcher, removing basil leaves.
Add lime juice and tequila to the pitcher. Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
Garnish with basil if desired. Serve immediately.