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The Perfect Life - Valerie Keogh


Description

How far would you go to maintain the illusion of The Perfect Life?

Appearances can be deceptive…

Molly Chatwell has a beautiful house, a handsome husband, two children and a job she likes. It all seems so perfect but when her two children leave for university, she realises her life has become dull and empty. When her husband refuses to go away with her, Molly decides to go alone. 

But what should have been a relaxing break turns into a nightmare. 

Back at home in London, Molly tries to put it all behind her but when the police arrive at her door and tell her that a body has been found with connections to her, Molly realises that her perfect life is under threat… 


Review

What I liked most about this book was the dialogue - it really felt true to life and so did the day to day activities of the characters. I got a real feel of understanding for all the characters but most of all for Molly.

The book begins with Molly having to economise in the home, letting her housekeeper go and then the cleaner also. I did find it amusing that her husband felt they could cope now the children had left home, yet he continued to do nothing to help on the housekeeping front, not even a mug in the dishwasher!

Molly then goes away alone for a weekend with a friend and her husband. Things aren't looking good for Molly and her husband and she is constantly second guessing what he could be up to and with whom. Maybe that's what leads her to have a little "moment" of her own with a complete stranger. It's this that leads to her perfect life being under threat, as the stranger is found murdered. 

Who was the stranger?, what did Molly do that's now threatens her perfect life? These and more questions are at the root of this clever book together with a lot more too. I was on the edge of my seat for the second half of the book - I couldn't put it down.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Bloodhound books for the ARC to review.

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