Well, 2018 has started off well in the book realm for me. The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s hard to put down (even to watch “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which, sidebar, is another gripping way to spend some time). Alice and Jake, a lawyer and therapist, respectively, have just married and received a crazy wedding present – membership in an elite group, The Pact. While the goal of the group is simple – to keep marriages alive and thriving – the cost is anything but simple. But, when Alice and Jake want out, things become complicated. Amazing literature? No, certainly not. Keep you reading for all 400+ pages? Absolutely.