User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Another frustration, disappointment, another quick trip to Switzerland book (nope it doesn’t mean I’m money laundering or having a meeting with a mysterious bank manager resembles Jean Dujardin. This is not Wolf of Wall Street scene. I’m not in Switzerland, I’m Switzerland, amazing skiing place, homeland of chocolates and also a person who is exiled to stay in the middle which means I didn’t like this book but I also didn’t hate this book. I just have to forget my times I spent to turn the pages and my mind for questioning all those dysfunctional couple relations!)
I think one of my first mistake was being intrigued with this book’s blurb and using my delicate fingers (don’t worry I only use them for clicking my keyboard) to request this book without thinking a second or reading the other reviewers’ opinions.
Let’s get back to the story to give you much better picture about the progression, characters, what is going on, who am I and what the main purpose of the author was choosing to write a story like this:
We have a couple as you may quickly understand from the title. One day Gemma comes to home and she finds out her husband Danny disappeared so she starts to jump on the bed, putting cologne on her face and screaming in the mirror like Kevin from Home Alone. (Nope, this is a trick for you to make sure you are still reading me!) In the meantime there is a serial killer threatening Bristol and DCI Helena investigates the missing victims. As soon as Gemma comes to the station for reporting her husband’s disappearance, she finds out he fits with the other missing victims’ pattern.
But slowly revelations come out and Gemma sees that her marriage is full of lies. Nothing is real about their relationship and Helena suspects that she might have killed her husband (What!!! Oh come on, if she killed her husband why was she conducting a serial killer case? What were the motives of Gemma to kill the other people? Did she kill them as a sport or punishing them for reminding her husband! Nope I didn't buy it! She was regular character and she didn’t have any ability to shock me.)
In my opinion the author planned to write two different books but then suddenly she decided to unite them and now we have a suspicious husband- wife psychological thriller and serial killer hunting crime thriller and those two story lines don’t match with each other. Every time the author tried to match them to complete the puzzle, something eventually failed illogically.
So I wish she would have discarded the serial killer case and focused on husband and wife’s dysfunctional relationship drama which could satisfy a thriller lover like me. A simple and plain story would always work better.
So let’s give our mediocre three stars and move to the other book journey.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads to share this ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Ugh.Dumb police force.
Dumb protagonist.
Dumb antagonist.
Dumb choices.
Dumb conclusion.
...just dumb...
Definitely not a winner for me, and though the reviews are mixed, there are a few which are positive. Please check those out.
Available now in the United States.Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Rating: really liked it
EXCERPT: Back home, as the police officers arrived to start searching the house, I was still reeling from the bombshells of the previous day, shaky from another night of little sleep. It was all becoming too much, too impossible. Danny pretending to go to work. No money taken out of his bank account for weeks. Danny appearing on a dating app. And two murders. Two dead men. Two victims who looked so similar to my husband, and who had been using the same app before they died. I could no longer think in any sort of logical way, couldn't even begin to process it at all. What did it mean? Where was Danny? Was he dead now, too? Why had he lied to me about so many things? Was he sleeping around, seeing other women, or was his appearance on the dating site just a stupid, juvenile joke by one of his friends? But why? What would be the point? I just couldn't work it out . . . and then there was this latest thing, the thing they'd told me earlier, when they'd arrived to start trawling through my cupboards. What had it been again, exactly? That my closest neighbours, both of them, when questioned, had said they thought I'd moved in here alone? That they'd never seen or heard anything of Danny, of a husband, living here?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The perfect couple…or the perfect lie?
A year and a half ago, Gemma met the love of her life, Danny. Since then, their relationship has been like something out of a dream. But one Friday evening, Gemma returns home to find Danny is nowhere to be seen.
After two days with no word from her husband, Gemma turns to the police. She is horrified with what she discovers – a serial killer is on the loose in Bristol. When she sees the photos of the victims she is even more stunned…the victims all look just like Danny.
But, the detectives aren’t convinced by Gemma’s story. Why has no one apart from Gemma seen or heard from Danny in weeks? Why is there barely a trace of him in their flat? Is she telling them the truth, or are there more secrets and lies in this marriage than meets the eye?
MY THOUGHTS: The Perfect Couple is mostly a good, solid read, with a few little faults. While I didn't find it gripping or compelling, there was enough going on to keep me interested.
The story is told from the points of view of Gemma, wife of the missing man, and Helena, SIO. The characters are well developed. I liked the relationships between the investigating officers, and between Gemma and her friends. The dialogue between the characters is well written and realistic. Certain facets of the plot are very clever. Others need a little more attention.
For instance, I can understand Gemma waiting 48 hours to report Danny's disappearance, but standard procedure is for the police to contact family and close friends. Danny's family wasn't contacted for a week. There were also a couple of minor contradictions in the story.
There is a distinct lack of tension and suspense in the writing, which would have made a world of difference to this read. In the acknowledgements, the author states that her first three books were cosy crime novels, but felt that she wanted to try writing something darker. This is darker, definitely, but but I don't think that she has quite shaken off her cosy mantle yet.
The ending, I thought, was a little OTT. I am not fond of endings where the 'perpetrator' confesses all to the person he is about to kill. That, to me, is taking the easy way out of making the revelation. It also appears that the author has left the way open for a follow up to this story.
This isn't a bad read, in fact it's slightly better than average. There were a few places that amused me: 'Winnie-the-poodle' being one. I also enjoyed the information on the various Saints that was imparted on Danny and Gemma's visit to the O'Connor home. Saints Christopher and Anthony were the only saints I was familiar with. I had been totally unaware that there was a patron saint of eye diseases and, weirdly enough, television and laundry, Saint Clare. 'Laundry? Why did laundry need a patron saint?' At least I now know who to pray to when I have stubborn stains!
Would I read more from this author? Yes. I think it may take another book or two for her to get fully into her psychological thriller stride, but she is obviously a good writer and I am certain that she will make it.
🚔🚴♂️💔.3
#ThePerfectCouple #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Jackie Kabler is a journalist, TV presenter and author. She spent twenty years as a TV news reporter for GMTV, ITV and BBC news, and now works as a presenter for shopping channel QVC and is author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of murder mysteries set in a television newsroom.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads, One More Chapter for providing a digital ARC of The Perfect Couple for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Rating: really liked it
If you read a lot you will know there is a plethora of books with perfect in the title and of course the husband/wife/couple/friend/child never are
I picked this book up to read ( well on the kindle ) and thought ‘well I bet I can guess this story pretty quick’
I didn’t
Its a rampage of a story about a couple, Gemma and Danny, they have recently moved when Danny goes missing and thats all I am saying about the story but it will outfox you ( well it did me ) and very cleverly make you think, a few times, you have the jist of it and have solved it, I hadn’t, by a long chalk
Characters are superbly played, story telling envelopes you in and keeps you there and as for the story, superb, original and dark as dark can get, loved it
10/10
5 Stars
Rating: really liked it
Favorite Quotes:
In the hallway, a plaster statue of Jesus, arms outstretched, greeted visitors, while the rest of the house was dominated by paintings and figurines depicting the Madonna and Child, Saint Bernadette (‘patron saint of illness’, Danny had hissed, one eyebrow raised, as he’d given me the tour), Saint Jude (‘he’s for desperate causes’) and Saint Clare (‘eye diseases. And, weirdly, patron saint of laundry and television,’ he’d said). Wildly sceptical, I’d googled Saint Clare at the first available opportunity, only to find out he’d been absolutely right. Laundry? Why did laundry need a patron saint?
They’re complicated sometimes, family relationships, aren’t they? Love and hate, hate and love, so tightly entwined that they almost become one.
DS Clarke was looking at me with a new interest, the gentleness I’d seen in his eyes previously replaced with something more piercing, as if I was a fascinating exhibit in a museum.
Karma, I thought yet again. The number of times I’d been part of a press pack, staking out the home of a politician or a paedophile, desperate to get that shot, that interview. I’d barely given a thought to how awful it must be for those trapped inside their homes. Well, I knew now, didn’t I?
My Review:
This tale had me chewing on my lips and wanting to pull my own hair, it was cunning, deviously clever, and maddeningly paced. I devised numerous wild and far-fetched theories and while partly correct, I hadn’t worked it all out as this plot was so twisty I doubt anybody could have and dare anyone to claim they had. The little pea in my brain was scorched from the effort and during the big reveal I wanted to shout at the idiocy of the main character, but I’m not sure how I feel about the conclusion other than brain bruised and distressed. Several of these characters were chillingly abhorrent and I despised the nearsighted and mono-focus of the police. Oh the sheer guile and artifice of this crafty author, Jackie Kabler is a full-blown trickster who ruthlessly tipped her own special blend of itching powder into my gray matter.
Rating: really liked it
4☆ A Twisty, Gripping, Psychological Thriller Mystery
When Gemma returns home from being away on business, she is expecting to see her hubby Danny but he's no where to be seen, no note, no phone call, she starts to worry that something has happened!
With still no news as to where he has gone she does no more but report him as missing.
The police open up an investigation to see if they can locate Danny, but something just isn't adding up.
Not only are they investigating his disappearance, there is also a serial killer on the lose... could his disappearance somehow be connected?
The police begin to suspect, suspicious circumstances and Gemma is their target. Despite being the one to report him missing and being away for several days on business she couldn't possibly be involved!..... could she?
With the police not helping matters, Gemma has no choice but to try and find Danny herself. But where does she start? Does Danny really want to be found? Is Gemma as innocent as she proclaims?
The Perfect Couple is a Very Twisty and Gripping, slower paced Psychological Thriller. Some of the storyline may stretch your imagination, but it didn't stop me enjoying the plot, it still kept me guessing!
I liked the serial killer and missing person twist it kept the plot compelling, with a mystery element.
The police procedural was well written and the characters complex.
If you are looking for a psychological / Domestic thriller that has plenty of secrets, lies and lots of twists that will most definitely keep you guessing the whole way through, then The Perfect Couple is the book for you!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
Rating: really liked it
The Perfect Couple, a mystery/thriller, was a solid 3.5 stars. The book centers around main character Gemma-a happily married woman who just relocated to a new home due to her husband’s job. After Gemma comes home to find her husband missing, she later discovers that there is a potential serial killer targeting men that look eerily similar to each other, including her husband.
The Perfect Couple was an entertaining book that was full of twists and turns and had me guessing until the very end. Overall, I enjoyed The Perfect Couple but I did find it a bit slow at times. Recommended to fans of mystery/thriller books. Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
The Perfect Couple was a very twisty and quick read that I read in an evening.
Gemma and her husband Danny have moved to Bristol for a new start. When Gemma returns home from a work trip and Danny is not there she is annoyed. After 2 days when he still hasn’t returned home she isn’t worried. The police get involved when it turns out that Danny is the spitting image of 2 men in the area who have been murdered recently. As they start looking into Danny and Gemma a lot of things do not add up. Mostly the story was enjoyable, but the ending really lost me. It was a bit over the top and too out there for me.
Thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Rating: really liked it
I’ve sat on this book for quite awhile now. Something about it was holding me back. Maybe the mixed reviews? Finally, with some hesitation, I gave it a go and so glad I did! This is a gripping, twisted thriller that goes in surprising directions I would have never predicted.
When Gemma’s husband, Danny, goes missing, she is at a loss of what to do. Nobody has heard from him and he’s not answering his phone. The police become very interested when they discover Danny looks very similar to two men who were recently murdered. They also find it interesting that it seems there are many people who haven’t heard or seen from Danny since a few weeks prior to his disappearance, and Gemma’s new neighbors thought she lived alone even though she swears Danny was living with her in their new residence right up until his disappearance.
That is all I will say on the plot, but I was extremely impressed by author Jackie Kabler’s efforts, as this was the first book of hers I’ve read. She managed to keep me entertained from the get-go, and I was caught off guard plenty of times through the reading process. I highly recommend to mystery fans. One thing I will point out is that there is a lot of dialogue in the novel. This wasn’t a problem for me, but might be for others.
Thank you to Jackie Kabler, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for an ARC.
Rating: really liked it
I didn't enjoy this book at all. I found all the plot twists way too obvious. I didn't care for any of the characters, apart from Albert the Miniature Schnauzer, and that's only because I'm biased when it comes to Schnauzers as I have one called Milo.
Rating: really liked it
Sorry...Have you ever read a book that was so bad you can’t even review it in complete sentences? Let me just hit the bullet points:
Ridiculous plot
Characters contrived and boring. Caricatures.
Storyline was silly.
The big reveal neither big nor much of a reveal.
Dialogue stilted. Middle-school fiction quality. Ok. Maybe high-school at best.
Complete waste of my time.
Recommend? Not on your life.
Rating: really liked it
Based on its blurb, The Perfect Couple sounded like a great, twisty domestic suspense thriller and, at times, it was with its intriguing premise and loads of red herrings. But it wasn't a good fit for this avid suspense reader for a few reasons.
The story was very slow moving almost from the start and never quite gripped me. It was also unclear to me what kind of book the author was going for. It's not quite a crime thriller but not a domestic suspense either and as the story progressed it took on a Movie of the Week feel that I did not enjoy. The plot required me to suspend disbelief more than I was willing to go but what frustrated me the most was Gemma's character who, for a former crime reporter, came off aggravatingly naïve, dense and someone I just couldn't get behind as a main character.
What I did like about this book was the diversity of its characters and how the police investigator was given more depth than you'd typically expect. But, as a whole, these experienced police detectives came off bumbling at best - ignoring evidence and focusing on Gemma as their one and only suspect. The last straw for me was towards the end when one character's confession is revealed - it felt like it came out of nowhere and readers are just supposed to go along with a far-fetched twist. And don't get me started on the last 'surprise' which had Movie of the Week written all over it.
As you may have guessed The Perfect Couple wasn't a good fit for me. I was more frustrated than intrigued as I pushed myself to finish this predictable story. Perhaps this would be a good pick for someone entering into the world of suspense reads but regular readers of suspense may find too many holes in its plot.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: really liked it
3,5 stars rounded up to 4
When Gemma returns home from a business trip, she finds that her husband, Danny is not at home. He doesn't come back. The local police are dealing with a potential serial killer. Had Danny been a victim? They had only been married a few months. They had just moved into their new home. But the neighbours thought Gemma had moved into the house alone. They had never seen Danny. With o activity on his bank account and o one hearing from him, just what had happened to Danny?
The story is told in alternating chapters between Gemma and the police. Although it's a little predictable and repetitive at times, I just had to keep reading to find out what had happened to Danny. There's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. In parts, this is quite a chilling read. I liked the authors writing style. I did prefer the first half of the book to the second because of the repetition ut it was still a good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and the author Jackie Kabler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Oooh what can I say about the deliciousness that coursed through me when I read this story? Hooked to it I was from beginning to end. The words, the plot, and the wicked mind of author Jackie Kabler, all three made the best combination to rock my world and keep me cosseted in it too. The author was quite nimble in keeping me guessing throughout the story. I never would have guessed the different plot lines. (My guesses were a bit sci-fi, and they were all wrong.)
Husband Danny disappeared, wife Gemma was worried. She went to cops and tables turned when certain evidence forced the cops to charge her as the prime suspect in his ? disappearance ?murder.
Having read the earlier book by this author, I was most excited to get my newly sanitized hands on this beauty. The story pulled me in from the get-go, where my mind raged with brilliant theories. The author managed to shoot them all down with every chapter. Emotions coursed through me when the cops wore their blinkers, but that gave me a pause too. Was that possible? How exciting!! A few of my thoughts.
The story reached a zenith where the cup of woes overturned. The plot raced through like the galloping horses, pulling me with it. I barely held on. There were a few far fetched scenes, but that made the book more exciting. Go figure!
After the far fetched, never could have thought in my entire life, unbelievable world crisis, nothing in this book remained far fetched. My mind said it could be possible, and there it was. A big 5 star for transporting me to a different world for a couple of hours.
I heard parts of the story via the audiobook, and the narrator had done a great job with it. I am a slow listener, but with this I could hear half the book between 1-3 am.
Rating: really liked it
Gemma returns home after working away for a few days and finds that her husband Danny is missing.
She calls the police to report this and finds that they are already investigating the murder of two young men who bear a striking resemblance to Danny.
This is a slow moving psychological thriller.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
