thriller novels - Michelle Richmond

The Marriage Pact paperback cover reveal

I’m so happy to share the paperback cover of THE MARRIAGE PACT. The paperback will be released on April 10, 2018.

The Marriage Pact was reviewed earlier this month by Marisha Pessl for the New York Times. Pessl unpacks the changing nature of the modern literary thriller in Our Villains, Ourselves: A Modern Thriller Roundup.

In Michelle Richmond’s THE MARRIAGE PACT (Bantam, $27), a different kind of evil is in play, this one just as intangible and pernicious. Giddy and in love, two Bay Area newlyweds, Alice and Jake, receive a Molotov cocktail of a wedding present: an invitation to join “The Pact,” a hush-hush society-cum-cult, the details of which are pitched to them “Glengarry Glen Ross”-style by Vivian, a beautiful woman in a yellow dress with a politician’s pivot and spin.
The Pact is a “fellowship of like-minded individuals” dedicated to ensuring the survival of that exotic, captive animal known as your marriage. It was founded by an Irish woman named Orla who, sequestered on a remote island, wrote a step-by-step system for matrimony, one that is “highly effective, scientifically based.” Pact members will act unilaterally to keep you and your spouse together and happy, no matter what…It’s a fun, can’t-stop-eating-the-potato-chips kind of premise…”

I’d love to hear what you think of the new cover! You can hit the “contact” tab to send me a message, or leave a comment on my Facebook page.

O Magazine books editor’s best summer reads

O Magazine Books Editor Leigh Haber went on local New York television station PIX11 to recommend her favorite summer reads. I was delighted that she included The Marriage Pact in this great line-up of books!

See the segment with Haber’s favorite beach reads (including new books by two great writers I’ve only met recently, Janelle Brown and Jenny Zhang).

Today is also the first day of August, which means it’s time of the August Indie Next list. The Marriage Pact made the list, along with some of my favorite books of the year, including Joshilyn Jackson‘s WONDERFUL novel The Almost Sisters and Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips.

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August Indie Next

The best books of July – according to librarians in US & Canada

Librarians across the United States announce their favorite ten books each month–the ones they’ll be talking about and lending to their patrons. I’m delighted that The Marriage Pact is on the list for July, along with new titles by two fabulous writer friends, Joshilyn Jackson (The Almost Sisters) and Janelle Brown (Watch Me Disappear). Also on the list: The Lying Game, by Ruth Ware, Final Girls, by Riley Sager, Down a Dark Road, by Linda Castillo, When the English Fall,b y David Williams, The Wilding Sisters, by Eve Chase and Wired, by Julie Garwood.

Download the printable Library Reads flyer, featuring information on all of these summer suspense reads.

See the complete list at Library Reads.

Here’s what librarian Becky Bowen from Kenton Public Library in Independence, KY, had to say about The Marriage Pact in her Library Reads write-up:

“Newlyweds Jake and Alice are understandably nervous about starting married life together. So, when given the opportunity to join the exclusive group known as “The Pact” –whose stated goal is to keep married couples happy and together forever, they jump at the offer. However, things quickly take a sinister turn and readers will be hooked as Jake and Alice struggle to find their way out.”

Librarians across Canada have their own top-ten list, Loan Stars. The Marriage Pact is on their list too–along with another favorite of mine this month, Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips.

Huge thanks to librarians for believing in the Marriage Pact!

I have more exciting news about the Marriage Pact to announce in August, so stay tuned!