The Perfect Daughter: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller you won't be able to put down

“The Perfect Daughter… Or the perfect liar”… After a lifetime of living life for the benefit of her mum, Jess finally meets a man who not only seems to truly care about her for who she is, but is encouraging her to follow her own hopes and dreams and live her life for herself. But what does it mean for her when he is suddenly gone and not only does she now have to navigate without him, but even worse it’s seems the police think she has something to do with his disappearance. The Perfect Daughter is a compelling read full of manipulation, control and a complex relationship between mother and daughter and I was all there for it! Stone entices the reader straight off the bat with an opening chapter that had me instantly hooked and from there each chapter left me wanting more! The deeper you get into it the story the more toxic it becomes and with its sinister undertones simmering in the background, its claustrophobic vibe throughout as well as an unreliable narrator, makes for a thrilling read. I throughly enjoyed this tale and outcome which left me feeling very satisfied. Alex Stone is a new author to me and one I am so glad to have been introduced to. She certainty knows how to weave a tale and I look forward to reading more from her.

Now here’s a novel to get your teeth into! Jess has spent her whole life trying to please her mother, and Abigail is not an easy woman to please. She expects her daughter to seek her rarely given approval on all matters, be it the job she does, the clothes she wears, where she lives and anyone she dates. Her latest boyfriend, Adam, is a plumber – certainly not good enough where her mum is concerned – and when he disappears, the police have Jess is in the frame and with no body it’s hard to prove she is innocent. This is a well-written novel which drew me in from the very start and kept me there. At times I wanted Jess to stand up to her mother but, as I know from experience, it’s not always that easy. Little by little, we discover Jess’s history and there is a drip of information which any amateur detective will jump upon as I did and come to conclusions – and not always the right ones. This is a very smartly crafted novel which keeps it’s secrets right up until the very end. You may think you have it all worked out but, trust me, there are more surprises to come. A perplexing novel, and one which kept my attention until the very last. 4.5*.