Huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers & Orion Books for my spot on the blog tour for #PerfectStrangers (a PB edition of Imperfect Women) and for providing me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
YOU'D DO ANYTHING FOR YOUR FRIENDS. BUT WOULD YOU TELL THEM THE TRUTH?
Nancy, Eleanor and Mary met at college and have been friends ever since, through marriages, children and love affairs.
Eleanor is calm and driven, with a deep sense of responsibility, a brilliant career and a love of being single and free - despite her soft spot for her best friend's husband.
Mary is deeply intelligent with a love of learning, derailed by three children and a mean, demanding husband - she is now unrecognisable to herself and her friends.
Nancy is seemingly perfect: bright, beautiful and rich with an adoring husband and daughter - but beneath the surface her discontent is going to affect them all in terrible ways.
When Nancy is murdered, Eleanor and Mary must align themselves to uncover her killer. And as each of their stories unfold, they realise that there are many different truths to find, and many different ways to bring justice for those we love...
Everyone wants a perfect life. But there is no such thing...
MY REVIEW:
Perfect Strangers is my first experience of Hall's writing. Ever since I heard how much everyone loved Imperfect Women (the hardback edition of PS), I wanted to read this book but somehow never got around to it, so I was thrilled once I was offered an opportunity to read a paperback edition for a blog tour and share my review.
Hall's book really surprised me, I did not guess who the killer was so I was gripped from the beginning. The book is divided in three parts, each focusing on one of the three friends' point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed how imperfect and real the characters in the book were - each had a relatable story and each was different to the other. Hall realistically portrayed the struggles some couples face in a marriage, especially women. None of these women are especially likeable, like many of us they are imperfect so the title fits perfectly with the narrative. It's what they've kept from themselves, as much as what they kept from each other, that's interesting.
There is more to solve than just Nancy's murder, but I will not give away any spoilers. This book is perfect for anyone who, like me, enjoys a thriller which is not too dark and lets you sleep at night. Perfect Strangers is just the right amount of dark and twisted.
Messy and immersive, Perfect Strangers is a delicious thriller with just the perfect characters. It's just what you'd expect it to be!
Perfect Strangers is out now, published by Orion Books. You can follow other reviews and wonderful bloggers on the #blogtour here:
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