My first book by this author and after reading the premise of this one, I was so excited to receive a copy to read.
This is a story full of shocks and moments of surprise, I was not really expecting that. I do enjoy a book from different perspectives, especially dark, psychological thrillers; it builds tension and makes you constantly change your mind on what is happening.
I was kept guessing until the end, what I would want from this kind of book.
A highly addictive read, I couldn’t put it down!

I've read Jackie's previous books which are in the cosy crime genre and loved them. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but she has come up with a real tale.

This book had me believing one thing and then another, I was trying to second guess what was going on throughout the book. My theories changed minute by minute and I had to take a few breaks to get my head around what I was reading. I actually read this book in a day - I just had to know what the heck was going on.

Gemma is a freelance writer and ex journalist - so when she returns home from a trip and her husband is missing and so is all trace of him having been in their home - she enlists the help of an ex colleague to try and work out what could have happened to him.

Meanwhile two men are dead and they both look like her husband - is he also dead? and if he is, who killed him?

So many things I want to write, but I fear they may give the story line away. I will say that once you've read a book it's easy to say you could see it all along, but really I doubt you could!

This was okay. It held my attention and was mildly entertaining. But that’s about it. It wasn’t gripping and lacked tension. I am willing to suspend belief for the sake of a story but a lot in this novel was over the top and too unbelievable. I don’t regret reading it but I won’t be recommending it to anyone.
2.5/5 rounded up to 3

This was a good suspenseful book. I definitely wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. The ending was a bit far fetched but it didn't ruin the rest of the story. I wasn't able to predict the ending. The main character was definitely very likeable.

The Perfect Couple is a compelling mix of domestic suspense and serial killer police procedural.

For a while, I felt the story was going one way and I suspected what the solution would be, but no! The final third of the book is a pure rollercoaster ride of new revelations that turn everything on its head.

I found the story gripping and enjoyed the alternate chapters between Gemma and the police as the plot developed. I felt invested in Gemma’s anguish and frustration, and constantly surprised by the discoveries of the police.

While some of the later twists required serious suspension of disbelief, I was happy to go along with it for the sake of this exciting story. The only thing that stopped this being a full five star book for me was that some of the police reactions or dealings with suspects seemed a little… off. They seemed very credulous for supposedly experienced, big city murder detectives.

Relatively minor gripe aside, Jackie Kabler has written a fast-paced mystery that I read in only a couple of days. It is full of twists and turns and does not end up how you think it will.

Thank you to One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Perfect Couple and to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the tour.

Gemma and Danny have moved to a beautiful flat in Bristol and seem to have the perfect life. Then Danny doesn't return home one night and life for Gemma starts unravelling. This is a good read with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I received a copy of the book from Netgalley for a fair review.

You go away on a course . You return the following day and your world falls apart. That’s what happens to Gemma.
The police look into Danny’s disappearance but things don’t add up.
Danny didn’t take up his new job in Bristol and none of the neighbours have seen him either.
Is Gemma telling the truth. Plenty of twists and turns in this book. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks NetGalley

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. .

This book had a slow ramp up. It took awhile for me to become invested in the story, but once I was hooked I was ALL IN. I really liked the alternating perspectives of a wife with a missing husband and the female cop that is searching for him. It really added to the story to have elements of the story unfold from different people in the investigation. I kept changing my mind about how the ending was going to turn out and that’s all we wish for in a thriller right? For it to keep us on our toes and be an entertaining reading experience? This one paid off for me in those categories for sure.

Although I found myself asking 'Why is everyone being so daft?' at times and found the ending a bit far fetched, overall I did still enjoy The Perfect Couple. The plot was good with plenty of twists.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

There was so many twists and turns in this book. Throughly enjoyed it as it kept me gripped until the end. Absolutely brilliant.

Gemma and Paul seem to have it all. They have been enjoying a whirlwind romance, and after eighteen months together they move from London to Bristol.

They are looking forward to the future when Gemma arrives home to find Paul not there. After a couple of days, when he still hasn’t returned, she informs the police concerned for him.

The police are dubious of Gemma, even though they inform her a serial killer is hunting around Bristol. What follows is a tense drama as the police and Gemma struggle to find out what has happened to Paul.

Highly recommended.

I have read all of Jackie Kabler's earlier books and, as such, I was keen to get my hands on a copy of The Perfect Couple. However, with anticipation always comes with the risk of disappointment. I'm happy to confirm that The Perfect Couple did not disappoint in the slightest! Kabler has produced yet another fantastic read.

Told in an easy-to-read style, the book is a combination of psychological thriller (told from Gemma's first person narrative) and police procedural (written in third person). It really is very cleverly plotted and well written.

The main character, Gemma, is the typical unreliable narrator. I was never sure quite how much truth there was to her version of events. In fact, I found myself doubting all of the characters, including her friends - Clare, Tai and Eva - and especially her suspicious neighbour Clive (he's an odd one!).

The Perfect Couple is a real page-turner. The tension grows steadily as the story progresses, packed to the brim with clues, red herrings, twists and turns. It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat from start until finish. Every time I thought I'd worked out what happened, the plot would suddenly veer off in another direction. Absolutely gripping!

The book delves into a number of interesting underlying themes, including nature vs nurture, mental health and the role of social media in today's society. It explores how well we really know those around us and whether loyalty comes (or should come) with boundaries.

It is quite hard to discuss the book in any detail without revealing any spoilers and, believe me, it's one of those books where the less you know before starting, the more enjoyable it will be.

The Perfect Couple is a real page-turner. It's suspenseful, twisty and sinister - very entertaining and everything you would want to find in a psychological thriller. I absolutely loved this book and I would certainly not hesitate to recommend it.

I absolutely loved this book from the get go. I couldn’t put it down and finished it basically in a day. It was so fast paced and thrilling and I had to know what was going to happen. The whole time I couldn’t decide if Gemma was crazy or not, it could have gone either way, which I think made for great writing. I definitely did not guess the ending. I loved all the characters except Danny, which is probably or be expected, but I really loved Gemma because even though she seemed potentially crazy, she was very like able to me the whole time. I love thrillers and mystery, and I definitely don’t mind ones that involve cop POVs, so if you don’t mind those either, I highly recommend picking up this book!

Gemma is a happy newlywed when one day, her husband Danny doesn’t come home. When she finally decides to contact the police about his missing whereabouts, she cannot believe it but they suspect HER. Suddenly she is finding out all this information about her husband that she never knew. Or, is she just lying about what she is telling the police? This book seemed predictable at first but it did have some twists like a possible unreliable narrator. I went back and forth like I knew what was gonna happen but something else would shake things up. I’d say this was a good, quick read!

I loved this book and so looked forward to having time to read it. The plot kept me guessing until near the end. I was pleased at the outcome having got to know the characters pretty well. It was pretty far fetched but great escapism and although the subject matter was gruesome, there was not too much time spent on the murders so I didn't feel depressed by that part of the story. A good balance throughout.

Well this was a massive disappointment. I was officially tricked by an exciting premise, which reminded me a lot of The Hand That Feeds You by A. J. Rich. Sadly, what I received was a cheap knock-off of Gone Girl reversed. Let's get into the things I didn't like about this book.

There was absolutely no mystery, I had guessed the outcome from the very beginning, so it was a very boring the-rest-300-pages. Even if you don't guess every single detail, there is still no suspense.

The characters were really dumb and bland, especially the police officers, even by the end I could hardly tell them apart. And never in any crime novel before had I seen police work written in such odd way. Countless times I was forced to read them saying something like: "Oh I don't know, this is probably just a stupid idea, just a shot in the dark, an out-of-nowhere theory, a big pile of nonsense, I'm most likely wrong" about some minor or obvious detail, which was just annoying. And I really didn't see a point in including several police officers' perspectives if they just blend into one anyway. All characters, even the main ones, were boring and one-dimensional.

Usually even if I guess the mystery in crime novels, I definitely don't mind it if it's done well and I can still enjoy the plot, characters or SOMETHING, which was not my experience with this book. It was just bland through and through.

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

I absolutely loved this book! What a page turner! I was bummed when it was over. I’ll definitely be checking into more books by this author.

This follows the story of Gemma whose husband of 18 months has just disappeared weeks after they’ve just moved to Bristol! One morning she goes away for the night for work and the next she comes home and he has disappeared! It doesn’t add up to her!

I really enjoyed that it goes between Gemma and the DCIs who are investigating the disappearance!

L