With four psychological thrillers under their belts, I can proudly state that Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen make quite a smooth writing team. After reading their latest novel, THE GOLDEN COUPLE, I continue to be impressed by their collaboration.

Therapist Avery Chambers has been making a name for herself with a controversial process predicated on amplifying core universal emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness and happiness. However, she may have met her match in Marissa and Matthew Bishop, a young, well-to-do couple. Both Avery and the Bishops have their share of secrets, as well as personal agendas that they may be looking to forward at the expense of the other person in the relationship. It sounds like a lot of fun, or at least the basis for an interesting psychological thriller.

"THE GOLDEN COUPLE has more than a few surprising twists, which will keep you guessing right up until the final page."

It turns out that Marissa has slept with a man from her gym, and she cannot deal with the guilt. The guy means nothing to her, but she knows that even admitting this transgression to her husband could lead to the end of their marriage. Now more than ever, she needs Avery and her unique perspective on dealing with relationships during challenging times.

Not surprisingly, Matthew does not take the news well and shuts down. Avery assigns tasks for them to work on, but when anonymous flowers show up at their front door, he simply does not know how to deal with it. He continues to bury himself in his work, with little time for Marissa or their “homework.”

Meanwhile, Avery’s secrets could break the veneer of her perfect therapist façade if they’re uncovered. To begin with, she lost her professional license when she crossed the line with a patient. She is long divorced and has not had any luck with a steady beau. She runs into a man who she had dated a few times, but there is no real spark. At one point, he meets up with her while she’s out walking her recently adopted dog and accepts an invite to come in for drinks. When Avery catches him sneaking around the house --- and inside her home office --- she cannot get him to leave fast enough.

In a novel like this, you will need to have your antennas up as Hendricks and Pekkanen deftly peel away the plot layer by layer like the skin of an onion. THE GOLDEN COUPLE has more than a few surprising twists, which will keep you guessing right up until the final page.