REVIEW: The Life Sentence by Jackie Kabler

The Life Sentence by Jackie Kabler

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 2nd May 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 9th May 2024

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Convicted. Jailed. All for a crime that never even happened…

My name is Amber Ryan.

I’m in prison, but I’m innocent.

And I’ve been jailed not just for a crime I didn’t commit, but for a crime that never even happened.

Now, my friend is going to try to prove it.

But to do that, she has to go back.

Back to the dark place.

And I know she may not get out alive…

MY THOUGHTS:

Convicted. Jailed. All for a crime that never even happened...

I have read four of Jackie Kabler's previous psychological thrillers and have enjoyed all of them but this one I found a little underwhelming, despite the intriguing description. I struggled to immerse myself and fully believe what was unfolding, as engaging as it was. But I ploughed on to the end.

While the story centres around Amber Ryan being falsely accused, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, Heather is our main character here, going in to bat for her long time former friend Amber who now languishes inside an 8 foot cell. So why was Amber now in prison? And a life sentence? I probably would have believed it had the crime been something more substantial than a robbery and apparent stabbing. Nobody died. Injured, yes. Dead, no. So why the life sentence? That just didn't sit right with me.

The man at the centre of it all is Jack Shannon. Handsome, charismatic and charming. But a narcissistic, self indulgent, entitled grown man-child-brat. Heather had once been involved with Jack. A short-lived fling that she did well to escape. Then Amber, her long time friend, became involved with him...despite Heather's pleas of warning for her to disentangle herself from him. Amber accused her of being jealous and cut ties with her.

And now Heather is told by way of a third hand acquaintance in Felicity and her brother Nathan that Jack is responsible for Amber's incarceration. That he had methodically planned to frame her and have her jailed for the crimes he was setting her up for. Because the crime never actually happened and Amber is now in prison for something not only did she not do, but never even happened.

So between the three of them, they decide to uncover the truth and bring Jack to justice. Doable? Or are they stark staring mad? It's a dangerous mission, especially if Jack finds out their subterfuge.

At any rate, there is lots of action, red herrings and a few twists along the way that will keep you turning the pages, albeit a little disbelievingly, and guessing how it will all end. There are plenty of eye-rolling moments and the story is pretty far fetched even for the fictitious kind that suspending belief kind of stretches the elasticity of it.

However, despite its flaws and my issues with it, the plot is very easy to follow and fairly fast paced. And it is a decent enough read, even if it's not one of her best. Something to pass the time, at least.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheLifeSentence in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jackie Kabler is a television presenter and crime writer.

A former news reporter, she spent more than nine years with GMTV as a roving correspondent and newsreader, covering some of the biggest stories of the decade including President Clinton’s impeachment trial, the Asian tsunami, the Kosovo crisis, famine in Ethiopia, the Athens Olympics, the Soham murders and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Jackie left GMTV to work as a freelance broadcaster in 2008. She became a regular presenter of the ITV national morning news and a reporter across ITN’s news programmes including News at Ten; a reporter and presenter on the BBC’s Midlands Today programme; presenter of property show Selfbuilder TV on Sky’s Information TV channel; and guested as a TV gardening expert. Her work also appeared on the BBC’s News Channel and on CNN.

She also worked as a media trainer and in media simulation – in particular with the armed forces – and produced, wrote and presented corporate and promotional films.

In January 2013 Jackie joined the UK’s biggest shopping channel, QVC, as a presenter.

A former newspaper reporter, she has also worked as a reporter and presenter for Channel TV, ITV West, Central TV, Five News and Setanta Sports News.

Jackie is also an internationally bestselling crime writer, author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of humorous murder mysteries set in a television room, and of psychological thrillers Am I Guilty? and The Perfect Couple. The Happy Family is her sixth book. 

Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 8th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

UK

US

Published: 11th May 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

One spring morning, a bus full of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school head off on a much-anticipated day trip.

But as night falls and the well-heeled parents – one or two of them famous, as well as wealthy – wait at the school to collect their weary offspring, it soon becomes clear that something has gone very wrong.

The children and their teachers simply do not come back.

What’s happened doesn’t seem possible.

How can an entire class of children simply vanish?

MY THOUGHTS:

What happens when your worst nightmare comes true...?

After reading a couple of reviews I wasn't sure what to expect from this my fourth thriller by Jackie Kabler but I was pleasantly surprised. Whilst many of my fellow reviewers, who read much the same books as I do, and I share similar tastes and more often than not similar ratings, this time most of those differ. But then we can't all like the same books all of the time.

So...THE VANISHING OF CLASS 3B...the further I read the more I was getting "Criminal Minds" vibes from a very similar episode in which an entire busload of children had simply disappeared whilst on an outing one day, leaving the BAU to get into the mind of the perpetrator and thus discovering not only who was behind it but where the children were being kept. But without the BAU in this case, the sleepy Cotswold village of Littleford had to rely solely on the Cotswold Police (both fictitious created for the story).

The story opens from the various perspectives of selected parents as they stand outside the gates of Littleford Primary School where ten students and four of their teachers were going on an excursion to the Cotswold Wilderness Park (another fictitious place for the story) in Stratford-upon-Avon. The school had recently acquired a brand new Mercedes minibus paid for with a generous donation by one of the more wealthy parents, Reynold Lyon, TV personality and host. But this morning there seems to be an error lighting up on the minibus's dashboard indicating a possible serious issue and rather than put the childrens' lives at risk they opt for leaving the vehicle behind and managing to secure a last minute booking with a local taxi firm. So 45 minutes after their intended departure time, the minibus departs the school with the children and their teachers for the day's excursion. Given their delay, they are now not expected to return until 5.30pm at the latest.

When that time comes and goes and the children have still not returned, parents begin to worry that something may have happened. The head teacher has attempted to contact each of the four teacher but all four phones are going straight to voicemail. And as the children are all 7 and 8 year olds, none of them are permitted to have mobile phones themselves during school hours. So as it stands, the children and their teachers are unreachable. The parents elect to contact the police without delay and given the gravity of the situation - that is, ten children and four adults disappearing - the police begin investigations immediately.

After several days with no word and no clue as to their whereabouts, police and parents are mystified as to the reason for their disappearance. And then...contact is made. Each of the parents receive a text message stating :

"All of the adults and children taken from Littleford Primary School bus trip on Friday are safe and well. We will tell you what we want from your very shortly. There will be no engagement or discussion. Await further instructions.

PS. One of you has a secret. We know what it is. And if you want to keep it a secret, it's time to PAY."

So it is a kidnap and they want something from the parents. But what exactly. And one of them has a secret? Which one of them? Because from where I was sitting every one of them had a secret, none of which they wanted to share with the police...even to get their children back! Instead they were intent on destroying their marriages and each others' lives by sharing them with each other. Well the final eight of them, that is. Which is the how the group of parents narrowed themselves down, the fact that they were hiding a secret that could potentially be the reason their children had been taken. And boy, did they go to work on blowing up their lives and sending their unsuspecting spouses into meltdown. Of course none of these secrets - bar one - was worth kidnapping for. Not in my opinion anyway. Not unless there was something more to their secrets someone wasn't sharing. So I figured it was either the pretty shocking secret one of them revealed...or it was a whole different secret altogether. One we knew nothing about...yet.

The parents in this book are all unlikeable and all pretty selfish putting the secrey of their...er...secrets above the safety of their children. I mean, wouldn't a normal person disclose whatever secret they had been harbouring if it meant saving their child? OK, so one of the secrets (the pretty shocking one) was...well...shocking and even criminal, so I can kind of understand why they were reluctant to reveal that little tidbit to the police. But affairs? Nothing worth their childrens' lives, surely. In fact, those affairs weren't even very secret because I had figured them out long before they revealed them to the "final eight". Even another little kicker of a twist I suspected. So yeah, my money was on the shocking secret or something not yet known to us.

Quite honestly, I was in the dark as to who was behind the kidnapping and was as eager as the rest of them to find out who it was...and why. I did figure out the identity of The Visitor (so dubbed by Luca) simply by one simple clue I picked up on and then later on they kind of overplayed their hand and revealed themselves to the readers in a pre-emptive move. But the big secret and reason why the kids were taken? Not as big or as shocking as the one we were already privy to but to those involved I can understand why it meant what it did to them. The ending was a little different and wrapped things up nicely...albeit with a nice little final twist to round off this addictive read. And one I definitely didn't see coming...though did wonder in passing at one point. But in the end, it was the perfect conclusion.

Overall, THE VANISHING OF CLASS 3B had a bit of a Midsomer Murders feel to it, given its setting in the Cotswolds, with a hint of "Criminal Minds". It definitely was something different and made for thrilling and addictive reading. Plenty of secrets and as many twists to accompany them.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheVanishingOfClass3B in exchange for an honest review.

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jackie Kabler is a television presenter and crime writer.

A former news reporter, she spent more than nine years with GMTV as a roving correspondent and newsreader, covering some of the biggest stories of the decade including President Clinton’s impeachment trial, the Asian tsunami, the Kosovo crisis, famine in Ethiopia, the Athens Olympics, the Soham murders and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Jackie left GMTV to work as a freelance broadcaster in 2008. She became a regular presenter of the ITV national morning news and a reporter across ITN’s news programmes including News at Ten; a reporter and presenter on the BBC’s Midlands Today programme; presenter of property show Selfbuilder TV on Sky’s Information TV channel; and guested as a TV gardening expert. Her work also appeared on the BBC’s News Channel and on CNN.

She also worked as a media trainer and in media simulation – in particular with the armed forces – and produced, wrote and presented corporate and promotional films.

In January 2013 Jackie joined the UK’s biggest shopping channel, QVC, as a presenter.

A former newspaper reporter, she has also worked as a reporter and presenter for Channel TV, ITV West, Central TV, Five News and Setanta Sports News.

Jackie is also an internationally bestselling crime writer, author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of humorous murder mysteries set in a television room, and of psychological thrillers Am I Guilty? and The Perfect Couple. The Happy Family is her sixth book. 

Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Murder List by Jackie Kabler

The Murder List by Jackie Kabler

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 1st June 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

UK

US

Australia

Published: 31st May 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

When Mary receives a blank diary as a present, she thinks nothing of it. Until she opens the diary, and sees it’s not blank after all…

1st January MURDER LISA, OXFORD

1st February MURDER JANE, BIRMINGHAM

1st March MURDER DAVID, CARDIFF

1st April MURDER MARY, CHELTENHAM

Is this some kind of sick joke? But…it’s the end of January now. And a woman named Lisa was murdered in Oxford on 1st January.

Does that mean there really is a killer out there, planning to commit a new murder on the first of each month? And is the Mary due to be killed on 1st April her?

The clock is ticking for Mary to uncover the truth, before she becomes the next victim on the killer’s list…

MY THOUGHTS:

This is my third thriller by Jackie Kabler and I was both excited and intrigued by the premise. A killer forewarning his victim? What an interesting read this could be!

Freelance crime writer Mary Ellis receives a blank diary as a gift just days before Christmas and thinks nothing more of it. Until six weeks later she's clearing a bunch of random items including a couple of unwanted gifts to send to charity. She picks up the expensive leather-bound diary and flicks through the pages...and realises it's not blank after all.

1st January - MURDER Lisa, Oxford

1st February - MURDER Jane, Birminghams

1st March - MURDER David, Cardiff

1st April - MURDER Mary, Cheltenham

Is this some kind of sick joke? It's already the end of January which means the first murder must have already occurred and the second one is now just days away. And then she recalls the body of a young barrister in Oxford found, her murder still unsolved. Was her name Lisa?

Mary knows immediately that she must inform the police and let them take charge of the diary and investigation. But as each month draws to a close, Mary begins to feel anxious knowing what is in store but not knowing exactly who the next victim will be...not until the call comes through or news hits the press.

And then Mary receives a threatening letter, naming her as the fourth victim, thus calling her Family Liaison Officer in a frantic panic. So why forewarn Mary of her impending murder when the other three are just random mystery names? How can the police possibly track down the actual intended victim before they become a victim?

Throughout this reign of terror, Mary has confided in her closest friend and housemate Pete, although the police have asked her to swear him to the utmost secrecy. But when people begin to find out her intentions, Mary starts to wonder who can she truly trust?

And as February ticks over into March, April looms closer. The clock is ticking...and time is almost running out. Can Mary and the police uncover the killer before claiming Mary has the final victim?

A fast-paced thriller, THE MURDER LIST was indeed a different concept and an intriguing one to say the least. There are many red herrings, false leads and twists that it will make your head spin. Then about halfway through comes the biggest shock of all! I did NOT see that coming...and then I began to look at the mystery differently. Did this reveal have something to do with what is really going on? Or is just another red herring? But the twists didn't stop. I had about four suspects at one stage, as I slowly eliminated them one by one...to be replaced by yet another latecomer to the mix. I was almost convinced of three of them of possible involvement when another fourth made me stop and wonder. Making me realise, I really had no clue at all. lol

Predominantly narrated in the first person by Mary herself, THE MURDER LIST also takes in the investigation from each of the local constabularies of each region. It was interesting to watch them hammer it out together and factor in key points whilst dismissing others. And it became quite clear that the police had no clue either. By the end, Mary was almost a quivering wreck from anxiety over the looming attack whilst everyone else was left scratching their heads...myself included.

THE MURDER LIST is a fun and entertaining read. I loved the underlying theme that began in the prologue and was always just a whisker away from the rest of the story. I knew it had to be important but I wasn't sure how it factored in. I wasn't entirely impressed with who the villain turned out to be and even less impressed with their motive behind the murders. My own theory was far more impressive...but to share that would be to reveal spoilers.

I really enjoyed THE MURDER LIST, though admittedly not as must as "The Perfect Couple" or "The Happy Family" - both of which I loved. Still it was an entertaining read and a good solid thriller. Perfect for fans of thrillers with a little procedural and a lot of twists to make for a fun-filled ride.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheMurderList in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jackie Kabler is a television presenter and crime writer.

A former news reporter, she spent more than nine years with GMTV as a roving correspondent and newsreader, covering some of the biggest stories of the decade including President Clinton’s impeachment trial, the Asian tsunami, the Kosovo crisis, famine in Ethiopia, the Athens Olympics, the Soham murders and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Jackie left GMTV to work as a freelance broadcaster in 2008. She became a regular presenter of the ITV national morning news and a reporter across ITN’s news programmes including News at Ten; a reporter and presenter on the BBC’s Midlands Today programme; presenter of property show Selfbuilder TV on Sky’s Information TV channel; and guested as a TV gardening expert. Her work also appeared on the BBC’s News Channel and on CNN.

She also worked as a media trainer and in media simulation – in particular with the armed forces – and produced, wrote and presented corporate and promotional films.

In January 2013 Jackie joined the UK’s biggest shopping channel, QVC, as a presenter.

A former newspaper reporter, she has also worked as a reporter and presenter for Channel TV, ITV West, Central TV, Five News and Setanta Sports News.

Jackie is also an internationally bestselling crime writer, author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of humorous murder mysteries set in a television room, and of psychological thrillers Am I Guilty? and The Perfect Couple. The Happy Family is her sixth book. 

Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler

The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Psychological drama, Suspense

Read: 29th May 2021

Goodreads

Amazon - UK

Amazon - US

Published: 4th June 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A mother who disappeared… 

When Beth was 10 years old, her beautiful, wild mother Alice walked out and never came back. Beth’s life since hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but now she is happy and settled, with a successful career, a loving family and a beautiful home. 

 

An unexpected visitor…

Then one day there’s a knock at the door. Alice has returned. Overjoyed to have the chance to rebuild their relationship, Beth invites her mother to move in.

 

A life that comes crashing down…

At first, everything seems wonderful. But then Beth’s friends begin to drift away, strange things start to happen at home, and rumours begin to circle about her past. As the mysterious events around Beth become darker and more dangerous, she is forced to question everything. Is somebody in her life trying to destroy her happiness? And how far will they go?

MY REVIEW:

I'm excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Jackie Kabler's latest tale of domestic suspense THE HAPPY FAMILY.

Having read her previous thriller "The Perfect Couple", I had high hopes for this book...and I wasn't disappointed. Addicted pretty much from the beginning, THE HAPPY FAMILY is anything but a happy family. But oh how it's dysfunctionality worked!

When Beth was ten years old her mother walked out of their lives and never came back. Now she is forty, amicably divorced from Jacob with two children - Eloise (10) and Finley (7) - and a practice manager for a local GP surgery. Her father who brought her up single-handedly after her mother left is now 80 and living in a care home having suffered a stroke where Beth visits him regularly. Despite the upsets of her childhood and the ensuing adolescent years, Beth has found a happy contentment in her life for which she is grateful.

But Beth has a secret. A deep dark secret which haunts her still. In her thoughts and in her nightmares. And Beth believes it is only a matter of time before her past catches up to her and her secret shame is revealed for all to see.

And then something surprising happens. A knock on the door is about to turn her life upside down as an unfamiliar woman stands on her doorstep. Beth has no idea who she is...until she sees the familiar tattoo on her collarbone. Three stars - one for Beth, one for her dad and one for her mum. No...it can't be...can it? All at once, Beth is overwhelmed by a flood of tears as emotions run rampant at the realisation that the woman standing before her is her mother. She has come back.

Welcoming Alice with open arms, Beth invites her into her home and into her life, asking her to stay for a few days (at first) and then for however long she likes. So thrilled to be reunited with her long lost mother after thirty years, the questions she had about her absent years and why she left just disappear into the background as unimportant. Her mother is back and that's all that matters now. Soon Beth is introducing her mother to her friends and colleagues and they are all incredibly happy for her and accepting of Alice.

And then things start to go wrong.

Almost instantly, strange things begin to happen. Beth loses her keys, not once, but several times. The central heating develops bipolar heating the place up like a sauna despite the thermostat set at the usual temperature. Things go missing or are moved about and Beth begins to wonder if she is losing her grip on reality. Then it seems she is alienating her friends, losing her appetite and drinking far too much. Everyone around her seems to notice the change in her behaviour and become worried, but it's when her children start to suffer that Jacob steps in and tells her to get her act together.

And then videos appear online of Beth...naked...in the bath and rather lewdly in front of a mirror. Not only that, but the videos are linked on several Facebook pages - the surgery where she works, her ex-husband's business page, the care home where her father resides, her friends' pages - all posted from her personal account and is going viral. But the humiliation doesn't end there. It seems a tabloid has picked up the videos and have delved into her background and uncovered the deep dark secret she never wanted to make public.

Within a couple of months, her life has gone from happy contentment to a complete humiliating mess. And the only one who remains in her corner is her mum. Thank goodness she is there to support her. Or is she?

With her life crumbling around her, Beth looks in danger of losing everything and everyone close to her until someone totally unexpected comes to her rescue – a fabulous twist I admittedly guessed early on. But it was still a brilliant twist. So who is Beth's saviour?

There are several twists and reveals in THE HAPPY FAMILY and though I guessed a couple of the big ones it didn't ruin my enjoyment of it. For me, it made the most sense...even if Beth didn't have a clue. But what had me scratching my head was why would Beth take the word of the mother who had only just reappeared in her life (after being absent for the most part) over that of her friends who she knew far better in any case? She was so quick to believe the worst of them on the say so of her mother...and yet didn't question if Alice really had her best interests at heart? She may have briefly entertained the idea but she dismissed it just as quickly also. I realise the woman may have spent her whole life yearning for her mother but after being absent for thirty years, I'd want to be asking some questions. And yet Beth pushed all those aside. Still, maybe Alice just wanted Beth all to herself after being away for so long.

There are so many hints dropped throughout the story that lead the reader trying to figure our exactly what is going on, tying some in knots in the process. There were always going to be questions behind Alice's sudden reappearance...even if Beth failed to ask them. But should we be suspicious? Should Beth? Nothing was ever going to be straightforward, that's for sure, but is it too good to be true? Or are we just set up to be cynical about the obvious? Kabler has certainly played upon the more conspicuous to leave us all scratching our heads wondering what to believe. Is it Beth being gas-lighted? Or is it the reader?

Throughout the story, THE HAPPY FAMILY is, of course, anything but. But the mystery, the suspense, the tension...oh, it was a car crash moment. We simply couldn't look away. We were baited in the beginning then slowly drawn in and by this stage were well and truly hooked as we witness Beth's slow decline into self doubt and self destruction.

Part psychological part domestic, THE HAPPY FAMILY is an addictive read that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of psychological drama and domestic thrillers such as Shalini Boland, K.L. Slater, Sheryl Browne, Ruth Heald, Rona Halsall and Lisa Jewell.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #TheHappyFamily in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jackie Kabler is a television presenter and crime writer.

A former news reporter, she spent more than nine years with GMTV as a roving correspondent and newsreader, covering some of the biggest stories of the decade including President Clinton’s impeachment trial, the Asian tsunami, the Kosovo crisis, famine in Ethiopia, the Athens Olympics, the Soham murders and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Jackie left GMTV to work as a freelance broadcaster in 2008. She became a regular presenter of the ITV national morning news and a reporter across ITN’s news programmes including News at Ten; a reporter and presenter on the BBC’s Midlands Today programme; presenter of property show Selfbuilder TV on Sky’s Information TV channel; and guested as a TV gardening expert. Her work also appeared on the BBC’s News Channel and on CNN.

She also worked as a media trainer and in media simulation – in particular with the armed forces – and produced, wrote and presented corporate and promotional films.

In January 2013 Jackie joined the UK’s biggest shopping channel, QVC, as a presenter.

A former newspaper reporter, she has also worked as a reporter and presenter for Channel TV, ITV West, Central TV, Five News and Setanta Sports News.

Jackie is also an internationally bestselling crime writer, author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of humorous murder mysteries set in a television room, and of psychological thrillers Am I Guilty? and The Perfect Couple. The Happy Family is her sixth book. 

Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

COVER REVEAL!! The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler

**COVER REVEAL**

Introducing...

the brand new thriller from the author of "The Perfect Couple"

Published by One More Chapter

on 4th June 2021

A mother who disappeared… 

When Beth was 10 years old, her beautiful, wild mother Alice walked out and never came back. Beth’s life since hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but now she is happy and settled, with a successful career, a loving family and a beautiful home. 

 

An unexpected visitor…

Then one day there’s a knock at the door. Alice has returned. Overjoyed to have the chance to rebuild their relationship, Beth invites her mother to move in.

 

A life that comes crashing down…

At first, everything seems wonderful. But then Beth’s friends begin to drift away, strange things start to happen at home, and rumours begin to circle about her past. As the mysterious events around Beth become darker and more dangerous, she is forced to question everything. Is somebody in her life trying to destroy her happiness? And how far will they go?

Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, C. L. Taylor and Lisa Jewell

Available for pre-order at Amazon

United Kingdom
Australia

America

REVIEW: The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler (ARC)

The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural

Read: 17th April 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 17th April 2020)

★★★★ 4 stars

I was invited by the publisher to read this book and judging by its premise, THE PERFECT COUPLE sounded like an intriguing twisty domestic thriller that I could easily devour...and devour I did! Just when you think you have it worked out, the story turns on its head to reveal something completely different!

Gemma O'Connor has the perfect life with a new home in a beautiful city, a loving husband, an adorable dog and an ideal job as a freelance journalist. Everything is just perfect...until it isn't.

Gemma met Danny via dating app Tinder eighteen months prior and after a whirlwind romance, Danny proposed and the two were married on St Patrick's Day. Wanting a change of pace, the couple made the move from London to Bristol the following year, settling in a charming Victorian semi in the leafy suburb of Clifton. Danny worked in IT and after wrapping up one final job, followed Gemma to Bristol a week later to begin work at a new IT firm the following week. As a freelance journalist, Gemma was her own boss and wrote columns and pieces for various magazines. Not as exciting as that of a crime reporter or chasing stories on the frontline, after suffering a breakdown as a result of her work in that field, Gemma changed pace and became freelance instead. The job meant she needed to travel from time to time writing about the places she visited and the food on offer.

One Thursday morning, Gemma left on a short overnight stay in the Cotswolds at a hotel spa, paid for by the magazine for which she was writing the piece. Upon her return, Danny has promised to cook her dinner the following night and she is looking forward to enjoying a quiet evening with her husband.

So when she arrives home to darkness and silence, she finds the house empty. At once, Gemma realises that Danny must be once again working late...and so she doesn't worry. Until she wakes the following morning to find he still hasn't returned. Frustratingly she can't call him as he hasn't yet been supplied with a phone and the two of them have been relying on emails to communicate. So she fires off a quick email expecting that he will soon respond. By Sunday, she decides to report his disappearance to the police.

The police, however, are dealing with a frustrating investigation of their own. Two men have been murdered in The Downs area with nothing whatsoever connecting them except the fact that they bear such a striking resemblance to each other they could be brothers. Then when Gemma walks in to report Danny's disappearance, they are at first quick to dismiss her...until she produces a photo of her missing husband. He looks exactly like the two murdered men. Enquiries are ramped up with the possibility that there could be a third yet undiscovered victim as the police begin to look into Danny and Gemma's lives.

Throughout the course of their enquiries, police can find no trace of Danny having ever been in Bristol and his job at the IT firm, which he was offered, he in fact had turned down. None of their neighbours had ever seen Danny, none of their friends had seen or heard from him since the end of January...when he was to have finished up with his previous job in London. His bank accounts haven't been touched - no withdrawals and no deposits - and by all accounts, there is no trace of him since London. So DS Devon Clarke and a DC make the trip to London to take a look at their old flat, as it hadn't been let since the couple moved out three or so weeks ago. When the pair walk in, nothing prepares them for what they are about to walk into.

What they find turns the investigation on its head as they change course and begin to come after Gemma. Is she lying? A very good actress? Or does she believe everything she is telling them?

Finding the police are of no help, Gemma attempts to find out for herself what happened to Danny...but nothing will prepare her for the truth.

I didn't know what to expect when I walked into THE PERFECT COUPLE, except maybe to discover that they were anything but...as is generally the case of thrillers with "perfect" in the title. But I was drawn in from the very beginning as I began to piece together my own theories as to what may have happened...and I couldn't have been further from the truth. And the truth, when it came, was so far out of left field it did seem a tad far-fetched but still incredibly compelling. My one niggle is that the version given to the police and the version given to Gemma at the end both differed greatly, with only the former giving a satisfactory explanation about "the week in question" between the end of January and the second week in February. I was left wondering what was actually the point.

What did make the story compelling and intriguing throughout was the alternating narratives between Gemma in the first person and the police in the third. You got to see both sides of the coin and how both narratives were woven together. I loved the camaraderie between DCI Helena Dickens and her DS Devon Clarke, and the rest of the team. It was a breath of fresh air to enjoy a police procedural (in part) without all the stereotypical angst that generally goes along with it. I liked the police characters so much I would love to see this become a series featuring them.

What also makes THE PERFECT COUPLE an engaging read is the combination of two genres of thriller and police procedural with well-written characters that are believable and well-rounded, both the likeable and the unlikeable.

A definite page-turner, THE PERFECT COUPLE is a twisty domestic thriller that will keep you guessing to the end. A must for lovers of crime, mystery, thrillers and suspense.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #NetGalley and #OneMoreChapter, #HarperImpulse and #KillerReads for an ARC of #ThePerfectCouple in exchange for an honest review.