Many thanks to Emma and damppebbles blog tours for my spot on this Blog Tour
This book was so bloody brilliant! It was the ending which left me tingling all over and caused my soul to shudder. The shock of the story which culminated at the last page had me struggling to take a breath. So much of the story made sense now.
After the death of her husband Mark, Tessie was shattered. She went into depression and was barely surviving. Only her son Jamie kept her alive, she lived only for him. Then came Shelley a grief counselor, and Tess started depending on her… Maybe… A bit too much.
Strange things happened, people following her, calls from unknown numbers and hang-ups, missing items, rifled papers. Her brother-in-law Ian too started troubling her about a loan which Mark had supposedly taken. Everything got to her, and she knew she needed to take action… And she did… A knife to the stomach and the story unravelled.
Initially, I found myself feeling sorry for Tess, her grief touched me immensely, then I got irritated by her when she depended too much on a virtual stranger. Then as she started taking steps, I started tapping my kindle constantly. Pages flew till the explosive end which completely shredded me apart.
My first book by author Lauren North, and I was completely hoodwinked by the plot. Every line in the book sucked me deeper into the story. The trail of red herrings laid down were so perfect that I rushed down those lanes trying to be a top-notch Detective.
There I was thinking I had the clues down pat and had weaved the story perfectly without realizing that I was dealing with a master storyteller who had trapped me into a thriller-y web. Well played, Ms. North. I was truly checkmated by you. One thought wandered through my mind the whole night -—how wicked the pathways of your brain cells must be to write this maze of a book. It was a perfect psychological thriller which completely messed up my mind.
I received an ARC from Emma and publisher Transworld, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be read here
Photo credit ©Lindsay Wakelin Photography
Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and from her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation. Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope.
When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life.
But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be . . .
Publication Date: 14th March 2019
Publisher: Transworld
43 Responses
Ooh Yes, that ending! I remember reading this book.
Agreed… I couldn’t have guessed at all
Amazing review! Thanks so much, Shalini x
Woohoo amazing book had so much fun with it
nice review shalini
Thank you so much
Your choice of words in the reviews really goes under the skin, my dear Shalini! Like the needle of an infusion. You become directly addicted to read the books as well. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
Aww Michael… You are so kind. Thank you so much ❤️
Love it when the author surprises you like that. You think you know it all and then…you knew nothing, lol.
Exactly… You have said it perfectly ♥️
Ooh interesting review! I love the books Transworld publishes! ❤️
Thank you so much ❤️
Fab review! I love the sound of this story.
It was absolutely twisted so perfect for me
This looks divine – I wished for it on Netgallery
I hope you get it too… ♥️
Wonderful, Shalini💜 There’s nothing like a 5-star reading experience.
This was simply awesome. I loved it
Great review dear! ♥ Sounds like you really enjoyed it!
This was unbelievable. Thank you so much ❤️
Wonderful review, Shalini! Sounds like a great thriller.
Brilliant thriller unbelievable ending.. ❤️Thank you so much
MUST. HAVE. NIW!😁
You have to read it to believe it
Oops. That was supposed to be NOW.
I agree, this book was wonderful. I raced through when I got to the end because I couldn’t believe what I was reading.
Exactly shocked me completely ♥️
Fab review! This book left me speechless but it was so brilliantly done, I loved it!
Agreed. I couldn’t believe it too
Woohoooooo! We’re so on the same page about this one! It was so good! And like you, I felt sorry for Tess… before wanting to shake her for trusting a stranger so easily. But sometimes when we need someone, it’s easier to rely on someone who wasn’t part of our previous life. Fabulous review! x
I agree, I too share with strangers more. But Meggy, she had a child so mothers are generally more careful then… Hence I was irritated with her… 😂 😂
🤣🤣 I get it, but the woman was losing it, so the mother couldn’t function… What a mess!!!
Reblogged this on Angie Dokos.
Thank you ❤️
This sounds amazing too! My TBR is growing (and it doesn’t need to! lol) <3
Hahaha all of ours are toppling over… 😂 😂 Thank you so much ❤️
OMG, another 5 star review. This one also sounds like a winner and one that I would enjoy. Awesome review Shalini. I love those endings that blow you away.
This was FANTASTIC. Read it if you can. I loved it
This one is only available in paperback and is $11.00 plus shipping!!! I will have to see if the library gets it.
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Betrayal-Lauren-North-ebook/dp/B07DRXZLS8/
It is available on kindle
I will check, it wasn’t showing when I checked.