My Perfect Wife: An absolutely unputdownable domestic suspense novel

Whoa, this is quite a read! Less is definitely more when describing this story. It is really best going in with only what the blurb gives you, as there is so much more and I would not want to accidentally give anything away. It is wickedly twisted, full of lies, deceit, manipulation and toxic, dysfunctional relationships. It is everything that you would not want in your life, but one you find you can’t tear yourself away from reading about. Clare has done a really great job with this book. It is an addictive story, that gets your attention and holds it right from the get-go. It is a great insight into how one can make their life appearance look so perfect on the outside, but on the inside, it is nothing like it is portrayed. Told from the point of view of Elizabeth (The perfect wife) and Heather (The girl next door), the story flows really well and its structure does a great job of helping complete the picture behind the characters. Whilst the story does contain a number of sensitive topics, Clare has written them in a way that is not overly distressing to the reader. The characters in this story have all been really well written and are a mix of likeable and unlikeable ones. it is really fascinating to see how Elizabeth’s husband Lucas is perceived by each of them. It is a credit to Clare’s writing that she has created a read that reflects that complex and raw relationships can exist and will have you questioning at what point both of these cross over into abuse? I really enjoyed Clare’s writing. She has a very relaxed style, that makes reading her books an enjoyable experience. She is able to draw the reader in and expertly builds the tension and suspense throughout. Normally I can get a sense when I am reading a story where it is going to go, but in this case, I actually had no idea how it was going to turn out. It was dramatic, a surprise and a great way to finish it up. My Perfect Wife really is a captivating read. Clare has really made excellent use of “smoke and mirrors” concept in this story and at no point can you actually have a feeling of ease with anything or anyone. You are constantly seconding guessing throughout and at times second-guessing your second guesses!! I love that in a book. This is another great read from Clare and I am looking forward to reading more from her. It was a pleasure to read and review My Perfect Wife which I recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Clare Boyd for allowing me to read an advanced copy of My Perfect Wife which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

“Smoke and mirrors” is how Lucas Huxley describes his life. A beautiful house with a soaring copper roof and floor to ceiling glass walls. Two perfectly behaved children. Elizabeth, the perfect wife. What more could he want? That question is answered when Heather, the daughter of the estate gardeners, who grew up next door, returns home to help her father. My Perfect Wife deserves to be read slowly. Summarizing the plot would give too much away. It is enough to say that the story encompasses several weeks surrounding a holiday party and its aftermath. Clare Boyd brings each character to life in a carefully crafted series of flashbacks. Lucas, Elizabeth, Heather, her father Gordon and the Polish couple, Agata and Piotr, nanny and handyman on the estate, all dance around one another in a plot where things are never what they seem. Only the walls are transparent. The devastating conclusion will leave you wondering what really was true. A psychological thriller that is also excellent literary fiction is a rare find. 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Clare Boyd for this ARC.

great plot with surprising end enjoyed reading so much that I finished in one day so glad that Lucas ended up the loser. he deserved it the 3 women won a life without him!