Review: The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels

In The Scream Behind Her Smile, author Athena Daniels takes readers into the dark heart of emotional turmoil, and into the devastating picture of a toxic marriage, but also offers a slice of hope.

The novel centers around Claire, a woman who suffered too much at too young an age, and found herself locked in a loveless marriage following the loss of a child – a marriage where psychological manipulation and dangerous games were the norm. As Claire feels control in her life spinning away, she chooses to make a change, leaving Derek and his mistress behind. However, this is easier said than done, as the strangling vines of abuse can be difficult to sever.

As Claire emerges into her new chapter of life, even discovering a source for joy in another lover, the wounds inflicted since her teenage years begin to re-emerge. There is self-doubt and self-loathing, an imprinted struggle to speak her own needs and stand up for herself, and the constant worry that this new happiness will also pass. Half-packed with suspense, and half-loaded with romance and the promise for a better future, Daniels keeps readers teetering on a volatile edge, unsure until the very end whether this tale is one that will end in violence or tears or triumph.

While the book is clearly a romantic thriller, the examination of emotions delivered by the author is a poignant manifesto about modern relationships and the damaging mindset so many women still hold to this day. Daniels’ masterful control of the narrative, and the unwavering tone of the writing, make for an edge-of-your-seat read comprising a whirlwind of raw emotion.

What is particularly valuable is the depth of each key character, including Zach, the man who opens Claire’s eyes to the concept of real love. Zach isn’t depicted as the hero swooping in to save the imperiled princess; instead, he’s a man with his own demons that he’s working through, revealing a path forward to healing for Claire, and for himself. Similarly, Derek isn’t the supreme villain whose every motivation is sinister. This is a brutally realistic story of flawed humans, floundering through the pain of losing a child, the struggle of expressing grief, the death of intimacy, and fundamental threats to gender roles and societal expectations. These are heavy topics to address in a thriller, but Daniels keeps a masterful balance of tone.

On the technical side, the writing is clean and Daniels is meticulous in her word craft. The narration can be leading at points, essentially telling the readers what they should be feeling in a given moment, despite clear context urging us in that very direction. Additionally, some of the dialogue is a bit clunky, and Claire does have the occasional line that can only be described as a head-scratcher. These moments aren’t frequent, but they are a bit jolting.

Overall, The Scream Behind Her Smile is both thrilling and thought-provoking, and particularly timely given the current cultural moment, from an author who has earned her acclaim.