Both a legal thriller and a psychological suspense novel

Beware of old friends asking for favors, especially when you’re a lawyer and the friend is calling you from jail where he’s held after being charged with murdering his wife. Lizzie Kitsakis is an up and coming associate at a large law firm when she receives a call from an old law school friend, Zach Grayson. Until recently, Lizzie had been a happy, if underpaid, federal prosecutor. She’s married to a man so lacking in ambition or willingness to take responsibility for his misdeeds that Lizzie is forced to give up the career she loves to take a much higher paying job as an associate with a large corporate law firm in order to pay off a large debt owed by him. Against her will, Zach expertly manipulates Lizzie, at first subtly and then more flagrantly by threatening to disclose information that could cost her her job if she doesn’t agree to represent him on the murder charge. It’s clear from reading the details about Lizzie’s marriage that she’s a both a decent person and classic codependent, making her vulnerable to being manipulated. And Zach is a master manipulator, a psychopath who will do anything to get what he wants. As the reality of who and what Zach is unwinds, the plot masterfully twists and turns. If you’ve enjoyed Scott Turow’s books, especially Presumed Innocent, you’ll love A Good Marriage. Ditto for fans of Hitchcock movies. McCreight’s previous books were excellent but A Good Marriage is even better.