A superb read! Fantastic story line and believable characters. I finished it in one sitting. Grips you right from the beginning and keeps you hooked to the end.

Delaney is a masterful writer, having a way a with words many authors don't manage to achieve. I had no idea of the AI aspect when I read the blurb and was accepted. However, don't let this put you off. Creepy and suspenseful it manages to deliver in exactly the right way.

The Perfect Wife definitely offers some originality to the psychological thriller genre by offering a glimpse into next gen robotics as well as touching on the sensitive subject of autism. These two subjects entice the reader into considering human nature versus autonomy and what truly makes us us.

Humanoid AI’s that have crossed over and taken on human traits like empathy and in essence a personality is a subject that has been delved into numerous times before (e.g. Ex Machina), what makes this more unique is that the Humanoid has the memories of an actual human (maybe a bit closer to Ghost in the Shell). But to be honest, I felt it difficult to accept this leap in technology in an otherwise identical world to ours. Or perhaps it was the first person narration that made it more difficult for me to accept, liking myself to a robot was just a little too far for me to go?

In any event, J.P. Delaney once again delivers an expertly constructed plot with some great writing and exceptional reveals and twists. Not to mention a dose of thought provoking art, morally questionable aversive treatments, and the never ending scepticism around AI.

Thanks you NetGalley and Quercus Books for a review copy.

I was surprised to realise that this was a sci-fi book. Clearly I didn't read the blurb properly! However if ,like me, you aren't usually a fan of the genre I would give this well written and interesting book a chance.

In this story we meet Abbie and Tim. 'Abbie' is a cobot, designed to give comfort to Tim after the presumed death of his wife Abbie. The couple have an autistic son and much of the story was spent exploring their relationship and the difficulties these families face. I felt this was a very realistic representation and my heart ached for Danny and his parents.

Once you get your head around the AI aspect of the novel, this book is a fast paced psychological thriller. The author cleverly leads your thoughts and the twists and turns are unexpected and shocking.

I enjoyed this book and would certainly consider reading other works by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.

After initial doubts-this kept me gripped all weekend!

I have read both of JP Delaney's previous books, so when the chance to read a pre-publication copy of his latest one came, I just grabbed it without thinking twice, I'd really enjoyed his other books.

Wow, what a beginning. I had been struggling to find something to read, couldn't stick with one, get the motivation to read something. This book wowed from the word go. But then: What is this??? Some sort of futuristic/sci fi thing? If so, I was thinking I would go right off it, not my sort of thing at all. Would this be a disappointment? Or would it turn out something like she had been dreaming this? Had she been in a coma?

I put this down for a bit and started another book. But; I saw there were quite a few good reviews for this-and ended up going back to it. It seemed to draw me to find out what happened. It started to read really well for me so I sat back and thought I would see how it went.

It went great! I don't know-there's just something different about his books, they're intriguing, puzzling. So, after being initially put off-I found I just couldn't resist going back to it to see how it panned out.

Told in segments of past happenings, then present, alternating. With its short chapters, it was an easy, quick read. All the way through, you're not sure who to believe, or whose events to believe.
Somehow I liked it. I don't know why, I just had the urge to keep reading on-and I absolutely don't like this sort of book usually.

I wasn't sure I was that satisfied with the end-but this happens so many times for me with crime thrillers when there's been such a good build up-it can be a bit of a let down to finish. 3.75 stars.

I read a pre-publication of this book, provided by the publishers and Netgalley.

I preferred this to the first novel by this author though both are fab concepts
This is of a theme this year it appears looking at AI technology and what we may do with that.
This is a page turner and u are never quite sure where u are heading .Will the Ai turn ,be loyal ,save themselves
You get a real picture of Tim the head of the company who falls for a independent confident assertive woman who, sadly like real life becomes a shadow of herself and lacking support from the one who says he loves her . Tim thinks he's god in many ways and if something isn't correct to how he specifically sees it he will change it.
I felt for his wife their son and felt the issues were well written of and having worked with children who can present in this way.i was attached to the son someone u cared for and also yes agree with the author ,why can't society let people b who they are ,yes with boundary's of course but we try to fit ,fix individuals and can force a square peg into a round hall .
I was a bit confused at the end but reread it and think I have it down .
I will read this author again
Ty netgalley n publishers as always for advanced copy

Another interesting concept from J.P. Delaney!
If like me, you were disappointed with [book:The Girl Before|28016509] i would recommend giving this book a chance. The concepts are very different and in my opinion, this was better executed.

This story focuses on an A.I "cobot" (companion robot) who was built by a famous scientist trying to replicate his presumed dead wife.
You follow Abbie 2.0 struggle with adapting to this new form whilst trying to remember as much as she can from her old life. There is a mystery surrounding what happened to the OG Abbie which is full of twists and turns and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

Much of the story is told in second person which i usually find irritating but in this instance found to be very engaging.
As with most books i did find myself having issues with the pacing toward the middle but otherwise was pretty engrossed in this story.

I loved JP Delaney’s first 2 books, so jumped at the chance of reading the latest, The Perfect Wife.

While it does have similarities with the first 2 books; the complex characters, tense storytelling and many twists and turns, this book could be described more as a sci-fi thriller. Without giving too much away, tech does feature heavily in this, although I don’t think you need to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this. The characters, as with Delaney’s other books, are brilliantly developed, any entirely unreliable. As the story went on, I didn’t know who could be trusted as the twists and turns unfolded.

This book also features as autistic child, and we see the difficulties his parents face. As stated in the acknowledgements, the author has a son with autism who has had to deal with the same issues in everyday life as Danny. I think the addition of Danny gave a great insight into what autism is like and the dangers of trusting the wrong ‘experts’.

As the story takes place in a tech company, the issues of sexism within the industry are also raised and again I think the author does a great job describing them.

Another thrilling, complex and enjoyable book from JP Delaney.

I am very sorry I didnt read the blurb for this properly. I’m not too keen on the futuristic robot A.I idea. I loved all the other books from this author though and what I read is very well written and clever xxx

Creepy and fun, this sci fi chiller kept me entertained right until the end - it would make a great movie! I really liked how it unfolded so that we were kept as much in the dark as Abbie. I love technology sci fi so this was definitely a hit for me and I can see it being made into a film.

An enjoyable read, about a charismatic tech billionaire and his wife Abbie ... right at the beginning we learn that the real Abbie is presumed dead, and Tim has used his genius to recreate her in AI form. Yes, there will inevitably be comparisons to Stepford Wives, as it appears Tim has selectively modified 'Abbie's' memories. What he does not realise though is that she is capable of digging around until she finds out just what he has hidden .... I found this to be an engaging read, not only from the whole ethics of AI point of view, but added to that is the fact that the couple have a young son who is autistic.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Raced through this book - I just had to know what happened! A refreshing change from the usual thrillers. 5 stars.

JP Delaney establishes his reputation for intelligent, complex, thought provoking, beautifully written psychological thrillers with his latest offering. It is a blend of AI with its spectacular groundbreaking, cutting edge scientific breakthroughs and family drama with its sinister and creepy overtones that drive the narrative. Simultaneously, it asks some of the deepest philosophical questions, of ethics and morality, what it is to be human, and the question of what it that comprises our identity. Abbie is the eponymous 'perfect wife' with its echoes of the Stepford Wives, who awakens in hospital after 5 years, with no memories of who she is and how she came to be here. The man beside her tells her she is his perfect wife, and wonderful mother to their autistic son, Danny, and the victim of a dreadful accident five years ago. He tells her he wants them to be together forever. Can Abbie trust him and his version of events?

Tim Scott is a Silicon Valley tech CEO, a powerful man and billionaire, a socially awkward and tyrannical personality who makes impossible demands of his workforce. Abbie is the polar opposite of Tim, she is a free spirited and impulsive, stunningly beautiful, and artistically creative. Strangely hired by Tim as an artist in residence, her art serves as a social and questioning commentary on Tim's flawed and damaging management style but surprisingly, he is not put out or angered by this. In fact, the two end up getting married, and whilst I know the trope of opposites attracting has a strong foundation in truth, I must admit I struggled to see Tim as a an attractive proposition for any woman, with few traits that could contribute to him being suitable marriage material. Still it takes all sorts to make the world, and they have a son, although there are what might be the expected differences of opinions and perspectives within their marriage, on the autistic Danny, and his future and upbringing.

Delaney introduces the reader to the extraordinary concept of the cobot, the phenomena of AI developments in learning and development, and to the contradictory notion that AI might give us a more humane 'human', juxtaposing this with the human 'inhumanity' of Tim. This an intense and compulsive read that takes the reader into the scary possibilities in technological developments that do not necessarily feel that far fetched. Interweaved with this is the family drama and intrigue, a story of twists and turns, surprising the reader time and time again. This is a suspenseful novel which poses some fundamental questions, touching on misogyny, the nature of marriage, family, autism, what it is to be a parent and asks just how desirable is it to chase the goal of 'perfection'? A fascinating and highly engaging read. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

A very modern story dealing with the hot topic of artificial intelligence but in a very unusual way.
It opens with a high level software firm developing artificial intelligence with a very demanding leader in charge.
An AI robot is created to replace a missing person. Initially the story examines the "awakening" of the robot and the realisation that it is a replacement. It then moves on to the acceptance - or otherwise - of the artificial person.
The story then develops the life of the robot towards possible human emotions.
The final twists are amazingly dramatic weaving into the life of a very human child with significant difficulties. The child's problems explore a different kind of acceptance.

It makes an interesting read although it is difficult to identify with the main characters for various reasons.

When Tim's wife Abbie wakes up after five years everyone stares at her in awe. We quickly learn that Abbie is a robot created by scientist Tim, and expert in AI. Abbie has been created because the real Abbie went missing presumed dead five years ago and Tim couldn't bear to live without her.
All is not as it seems we quickly learn, Abbie begins to collect real memories that Tim isn't providing her with. When the public realise she is a robot there is all sorts of media attention and then the strange messages start to arrive on Abbie's phone warning her about Tim.
I was intrigued by this book, something a bit different to what I normally read. It was interesting and had a great ending that really worked for the book.

I nearly stopped reading in the first paragraph; futuristic sci-fi really isn’t my thing but remembering the author’s prior novel being fantastic, I preserved.

It’s definitely a unique.read - thought provoking (and a bit weird) but not unenjoyable and really quite a page turner.

It was really interesting to read about Danny and how to help understand how it manifests itself in people and what can be done to help. Mainly getting him to teach Abbie was really interesting and very sweet.

The dynamics between Abbie and Tim both before and after the accident were really clearly explained though I’m not sure who the narrative was from when talking about Abbie’s arrival at the company.

A thoroughly enjoyable and insightful read - a tad worrying at times, too - and throughout the whole book I couldn’t wait to find out why things happened. I got a bit confused at the end with the chain of events and ‘why?’ but it kinda didn’t matter.