Arliss Pacifica Edgeworth has some serious issues. She keeps her true self hidden behind a façade of normality, believing nobody would get within 100 yards of her if they knew her true self. As a child, Arliss had everything money could buy, thanks to wealthy parents. Her father's creative accounting ended life as she knew it. He went to jail, her mother ended up in a mental ward and she went into foster care. Talk about a drastic lifestyle change! It wasn't only the easy life she lost, but her friends too: the Silverettes, as they called themselves. The friendship had been edging south a little before the big blow up, with Arliss believing her friends blamed her for missing the big Blue Silver concert. Not that Arliss ever liked the band; she just pretended to in order to fit in with them. When an old friend calls her up out of the blue, she is surprised but wary, especially when the invitation is put forth for all of the Silverettes to attend the Blue Silver concert they missed so many years ago. A little mishap with a baseball at the company picnic persuades her to go to exercise her demons as her latest therapist has advised. Maybe she'll finally get a hold of her emotions, especially her uncontrollable anger. But does she exorcise the demons she intends to? And why is lead guitarist Robert Fox hanging around her, even though she is airing all her hates and worst features? He surely couldn't be interested in her – could he?

Behind The Mask is an original story with one of the most unlikely heroines I have ever come across. Fabulous! It certainly provides me with some hope that I'll eventually find someone myself (plenty of time yet, though *wink*). Arliss is eaten up by anger and can only see the negatives – of herself and everything else. Even court compelled anger management sessions (yep, there's a story behind that) aren't doing much to help her out. In steps Robert, who proves to be an unexpectedly soothing influence, as well as having a variety of things in common with her: a dislike of nicknames, for instance. Maybe she should keep him around, eh? The detail that has gone into developing Arliss' character is superb; it has really been fine-tuned. You can imagine her existing in real life – but hoping you didn't come into contact with such a seething ball of anger and negativity (especially at a picnic with her batting). Behind The Mask is a tale that grips the reader, though the coarse language contained within may put off some readers. There is sex, described in detail. Yet, this is not the central focus of the story. Behind The Mask is largely about one woman – Arliss- and her many varied problems, including how she has managed to work through them (or rather, not work through them). If you are after hope or reassurance that you are not going to go on alone forever, you need to give Behind The Mask a go. It will certainly get you feeling better about yourself – and hopeful that Arliss' outlook will improve, too. Ellie Marvel has done a marvelous job with Behind The Mask, and I look forward to yet more of the series as well as more from the author.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth