The Perfect Liar by Beverley Harvey
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 1st November 2020
Published: 6th November 2020
★★★ 2.5 stars (rounded up)
DESCRIPTION:
‘Are you sure he’s someone you can trust? We know nothing at all about him. Who is he, really?’
Susanne and her two best friends have been dreaming of a holiday. All of them need an escape. Especially Susanne, who is reeling from the news that her ex is getting remarried. They need the warm Tuscan sun, delicious Italian food and wine, and – most of all – the time to unwind with each other. What they get is Harry.
Handsome, charming and great company, Harry soon sweeps Susanne off her feet for a holiday fling. And why not? Except that everything he’s told them is a lie.
Who is the man they’ve let into their house – who Susanne has let into her bed? They have no idea what Harry is capable of – what he’s done to get this far, and what he’s prepared to do to ensure he gets his way.
By the time they find out, it will be too late to stop their dream holiday becoming a nightmare.
An utterly addictive, page-turning thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. If you loved The Girlfriend, The Holiday and Something in the Water, you’ll be completely gripped by The Perfect Liar.
MY REVIEW:
Received from the publisher via Netgalley to take part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Beverley Harvey's thriller THE PERFECT LIAR.
Oh man...where do I start with this book? What promised to be a gripping page-turning read ended up a slow, long-winded tale that only picked up pace from about 60% onwards. Only then did it become interesting. And to be honest, I only continued with it as I was part of the blog tour for the book...otherwise I would have binned it long ago.
The premise gave away the main spoiler so as a reader we go in knowing exactly what route it is going to take. It just takes a long time to get there. So we spend over half the book waiting for something to happen. And in my opinion, that is far too long to keep readers waiting as many will have lost interest several chapters ago. I honestly had to force myself to pick it back up to continue.
The story begins with Susanne, Dale and Evie - all forty something women - taking a trip to Italy for a summer holiday in the Tuscan villa of a friend. There is just one catch - the friend's godson, Harry, is currently staying there enjoying his last weeks of freedom before taking up a position in the financial sector back in London. Admittedly, it was a drunken decision made in haste but one the women embraced nonetheless. Susanne was missing her teenage son who had gone to Scotland to holiday with his father and new girlfriend, Dale was escaping a crazy ex who wouldn't take "no" for an answer and Evie was still grieving the loss of her mother. What better way to escape the troubled realities of their lives that a free villa in Tuscany?
The women arrive at the villa, enjoy a late supper and head off to their respective bedrooms...all complete with ensuite bathrooms. It's not untilt he following morning that they see the villa in all its beauty and meet the incredibly handsome Harry. He is gorgeous, he is charming, he is an Adonai...but...
Both Susanne and Evie melt in Harry's presence but Dale finds him a little suspicious. But it's Susanne whom Harry has his sights set on and a few whispered words coupled with several giggles, and she falls under his spell whilst he falls into her bed...and Dale and Evie are subjected to the nocturnal sounds emanating from Susanne's room on a nightly basis.
But the trouble with Harry is...that there is something not quite right about him. And while readers might suspect that he is something of a perfect liar, no one knows who he really is. Least of all Susanne, Dale and Evie. However, we discover the truth before they do as Harry's secrets are slowly revealed...but will it be too late?
I cannot say that I enjoyed THE PERFECT LIAR, sadly, although it did have the potential to be the gripping thriller it was billed as. The pace was far too slow and long-winded building up to whatever was going to happen...and by the time it peaked at around 60% and the pace picked up, it was too little too late.
And then, it annoyingly gave us two endings. I didn't like how the first one wrapped up - it was a bit like a slap in the face - but the Epilogue was a satisfactory conclusion to the only mystery in the entire story.
I would like to thank #BeverleyHarvey, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePerfectLiar in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Throughout Beverley’s many years spent working in advertising and PR, she had always wanted to write fiction. In 2015 a creative writing course inspired her debut novel, Seeking Eden, which was published in 2017. The sequel, Eden Interrupted, soon followed. Beverley’s third novel – her first with Bookouture – fulfils a long-time goal to publish a psychological thriller.
Born in Yorkshire, and raised in Kent, Beverley currently lives in West Sussex with her partner and their adorable terrier. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking the dog or listening to rock music.
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