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/

First, I want to thank Jackie Kabler, HarperCollins Publishers LTD. and NetGalley for providing me this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW!! Jackie Kabler took you on an emotional twisty turny roller coaster ride with a shocking ending! When I mean shocking I didn’t see these two events coming!!

Right off the bat Jackie caught my attention with the disappearance of Gemma’s (I so loved that name it is so unique) husband Danny. The author put so much emotion behind what Gemma was feeling and going through during this time. She really captured what it would feel like if your husband went missing.

This wasn’t your average missing person book. Oh no there were two missing persons that both found dead that looked like eachother. How freaky is that?! Plus, no sign of Danny anywhere. The investigation into these three people was intense!

What fascinated me was there was a dating app in this book that was to be better than Tinder. Having been on dating sites myself this one didn’t seem as safe as the others. I would have not used it if it had been real. However, strangely enough all three men including Danny used this site.

This book is filled with tons of secrets, twists and turns, accusations, double lives, nd left to wonder who you can really trust.

Gemma and Danny seem to be “The Perfect Couple” until one night Gemma comes home and Danny is missing. She waits a couple of days before going to the police then learns there is a serial killer on the loose killing people who look just like Danny! Gemma is frightened for her husband, but the police assigned to the case think she’s hiding something. Both Gemma and the police are determined to find out the truth.

The premise of this book sounds so intriguing and just like the kind of thriller I enjoy. However, I could never fully engage with this story. Gemma is likable for the most part, but I became frustrated with her for overlooking obvious red flags when it came to Danny. The pace is way too slow in the beginning so I didn’t feel the tension and it was hard to get into the story. I like the author’s style of writing, but didn’t like how the story unfolded. There are a couple of big twists at the end which make the story more exciting even if some aspects are pretty far-fetched. At least one of the plot turns has some originality, which I appreciate. I liked the way things wrapped up with the author updating us on the character’s lives a few months in the future. Although this isn’t my favorite thriller, I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of One More Chapter. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma, a freelance journalist, and her husband of 18 months, Danny, is an IT Specialist. They have recently moved to a new home in Bristol. Gemma has just returned from an overnight business trip and is disappointed that Danny is not home. He had promised to be there with dinner fixed for them. When he does not show for several days, Gemma is so upset by now that she contacts the police.

Detectives Devon Clarke and Helena Dickens have a big case on their hands. Two young men in the same age group and looking very much alike, have been found murdered. They talk to Gemma, trying to calm her, and promise to look into Danny’s disappearance. They are shocked to find that he looks very much like the two men who have been murdered. They wonder if they could have a serial killer on their hands.

After much checking, the detectives learn that Danny never started his new job in Bristol and he could also be a part of a new online dating service as were the two murdered men. When other clues emerge, the detectives are convinced that Gemma murdered Danny. But did she? If so, where is his body?

There are so many events that make the detectives wonder if they truly are looking at the true suspect. The story perfectly fits the word “whodunit?” I enjoyed this book very much and my only complaint is that it could have been shortened. It’s frustrating to read a book that seems to be overstuffed with words and more words. Other than that, this is a good mystery and one that readers will not want to miss.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Perfect Couple is my first book from Kabler, and it turned out to be a pretty good thriller type read for me.

Gemma O’Connor was recently married and moved to a new city for her husband Danny’s new job. They’re still settling in when he turns up missing. She’s called everyone she can think of to find him and finally decides to go to the police and make a report. The detective she talks to has her doubts about Danny really being missing, but when Gemma shows a picture to the detective she quickly changes her mind. Danny looks very similar to the two murder victims and she soon believes he might be the latest victim of their possible serial killer.

Gemma is beside herself. She’s tried everything to find her husband. Friends, family and his work haven’t hear from him. As the course of the police investigation, she learns several things that raise red flags. No activity in his bank account and the so called new job is one he never actually took. So where is he? And what is going on?

The story alternates between Gemma and the detectives on the case. I really like being able to see both the victim and law enforcement side of things because it definitely gives the whole picture. But with so many things coming to light about both Danny and Gemma, I kept trying to figure out what was really going on. Especially when none of the neighbors have ever even seen Danny. Sounds kinda fishy right?! Is he really missing? Is he possibly another victim? The story Gemma is telling just didn’t make sense to the police or me either but I just had to sit back and let the pieces fall in to place.

There are so many twist and turns from start to finish. So many question kept coming up. So many lies exposed too. But what was really the truth through it all? I figured out a few things along the way, but in the end I was little off base when it came to the big reveal. Totally different than I thought it would be. Definitely a surprise! And another twist was at the end too. Didn’t see that coming either. It was a pretty twist for sure.

The Perfect Couple was a suspenseful and a page turning read. I will definitely be checking out some of Kablers other works.

😊 The Perfect Couple is Jackie Kabler's latest novel, a psychological thriller and an awesome and exhilarating read. The novel features Gemma, whose husband Danny has disappeared. Gemma thought they had a wonderful relationship as well as a dreamy marriage, so why has Danny apparently vanished into thin air? Gemma contacts the police only to discover there is a serial killer on the loose in their current hometown of Bristol. She is absolutely horrified when she learns that all of the victims resemble one person... her beloved Danny. But the police investigating officers aren't satisfied with Gemma's version and explanations of the situation...

Thrillers are one of my favorite genres and although the premise for The Perfect Couple is not particularly original by any stretch of the imagination, nevertheless it was still a remarkably entertaining and suspenseful read. The characters were adeptly constructed and believable in their roles, whether intended to be good or bad. The story was delivered in alternating narratives between Gemma and the detectives - an approach I generally favour - and it worked marvellously in this particular story. The clarity of Jackie Kabler's writing made it an easy story-line to follow, and the twisty plot went down a treat as it zigzagged along. With many misdirections and the unexpected events that added enrichment to the story, I continued to be surprised until the laudable finale.

If you like suspense and long roller-coaster rides, I would definitely recommend The Perfect Couple. Would I read more from Jackie Kabler? Yes... the author is obviously a very good writer. My thanks must go to Jackie Kabler for writing such an awesome book! 😊

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from One More Chapter via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Gemma and Danny have the perfect life, they met and fell in love after a whirlwind romance, they are getting ready to celebrate their first anniversary in a new town in a new house that they just rented three weeks ago. But some things are just too good to be true.

Gemma, a freelance journalist returns home from an assignment to an empty house. Her annoyance turns to fear when, Danny, fails to show up or return any of her messages. After a couple of days, she turns to the police. Danny’s disappearance rings alarm bells with the local police when they realize that he looks just like 2 other men that have recently been killed in the area.

The more the police look into Gemma’s story, the more they realize that the pieces of this puzzle just don’t seem to fit.

The mystery unfolds with just enough breadcrumbs for the reader to figure out some parts, while twisting and turning back on itself and leading to dead ends and dark corners.

The characters didn’t seem to have a lot depth and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. Still an interesting read and a good premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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

Jackie Kabler, has done it again. Moving from cosy crime to darker themes has worked wonders.

This book just kept giving you more and more gripping moments as you turned the pages. It kept you guessing right until the end.

Written in two perspectives, one from the wife of the missing husband and the other being the DCI in charge of the case. It was great to flip flop between the characters and the case. The grief and anguish Gemma was feeling and the unfathomable case the police were dealing with.

My mind was constantly changing tact, trying to work out what had happened, where the husband was, who the murderer may be. Each chapter had you on tenterhooks and guessing again.

I love a police procedural book and this was yet another good one. It kept me reading, so much so that I finished the book in one sitting.

I'm yet to read Jackie's previous book, Am I Guilty? but I have no doubt that I won't be let down. Jackie appears to be going from strength to strength and I can't wait to read more from her.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

When Gemma returns home she is expecting to see her husband Danny waiting for her, but he isn't there. She thinks he must be out, but he doesn't come home, when she finally goes to the police she discovers they are investigating murders of men that look very similar to Danny. Gemma surprisingly finds herself not a victim but a suspect in the disappearance of her husband in this slow burning, slow moving thriller. I enjoyed the story but felt at times it was very slow and the ending surprising; it had a good storyline, maybe I just didn't connect with the main characters. This book is worth a read and I will check out future books by this author.

This book was a true page turner for me. I could not put it down. I loved the different points of view (suspect vs police). I really liked the main character and the storyline. I thought the writing was great. The only downside was that I guessed the main plot twist very early on so the ending was a little disappointing but there were still some surprises so it was not a total bust. I still really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great read. I recommend checking it out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Prior to this book I was not familiar with this author but the synopsis reeled me in! I was worried I wouldn’t love it because I have read so much domestic suspense lately but WHOA...this book blew me away!
I ordered the author’s previous book as soon as I finished it, it was that gripping.

Our protagonist Gemma has been happily married for eighteen months when she returns from a business trip to find that her husband Danny is missing. She tries not to overreact but after several days she has no choice but to go the police. The police are concerned about his disappearance since they are currently investigating two murders in which the victims look nearly identical to Danny. The police find a lot of holes in Gemma’s story and they begin to consider that she is responsible for Danny’s disappearance. If Gemma killed Danny was she also responsible for the other murders they are investigating?

The Perfect Couple is a psychological thriller with police procedural elements, domestic suspense, and a possible serial killer. I was impressed with the author’s flawless execution of each aspect. The story was well paced, with the twists spaced throughout. I liked Gemma, connected with her, and I even understood the detectives’ perspectives so I think she wrote likable and unappealing characters quite well.

I am thrilled to give this book ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5 stars! I read it in a day and a half and it kept me glued to the pages! Whenever I had a spare moment I picked it back up. If you love psychological suspense add this to your TBR, you can thank me once you’ve read it!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Well, this completely took me by surprise! From reading the synopsis---I mean, we all know the "perfect couple", right?!? To be honest, I just wanted to read the "dirty little secrets" about Gemma & Danny. I have read quite a few crime dramas in my day, so I just knew I was going to know what was what early on!

Well, needless to say, I was COMPLETELY  wrong! I felt like that "loser" contestant on Jeopardy that owes money to everyone on the show because they're entirely useless!?! The writing was really good, thus throwing me a few curveballs. Don't get me wrong, I really, really enjoy stories that I can stay up all night reading and I cannot figure out the plot! This book provided both, thus earning a 5 out of 5 stars! I truly recommend giving this book a read!!

What a fantastic read!
The Perfect Couple is the story of Gemma and Danny O'Connell who've just moved to Bristol from London. The couple had a whirlwind romance after meeting online and are a month away from their first wedding anniversary. Freelance journalist Gemma works from home in their new rented home; Danny has just started his new job in Bristol at an IT security company. When Gemma returns from an overnight trip to an empty home, she assumes that Danny is caught up at work and tries to contact him via Skype. When Danny doesn't show and has no contact with Gemma, she begins to get more and more worried for her husband and reports his disappearance to the police.

When the police are given Danny's photo, they immediately notice a physical similarity between Danny and two recently murdered men in Bristol and Danny's disappearance is quickly escalated into a potential third murder victim.

Gemma's worry for her missing husband is made worse when the police enquiries reveal that nobody in Bristol has actually seen Danny since the couple moved there. And the more Gemma insists that Danny has been living with her for the past three weeks and is missing, the more evidence lines up that Danny has never been to Bristol and that Gemma is lying.

At times the police evidence points so much to Gemma lying that I was almost convinced there was no other possibility. But at the same time Gemma's absolute insistence that she's telling the truth had me doubting myself! Desperately trying not to give away any spoilers but I was trying to figure it out all the way through and felt like the reveals were perfectly timed, having built up to a climax that I hadn't guessed was coming. It's one of those books that will have you changing your mind time and time again which just adds to the enjoyment!

Very enjoyable and well written, The Perfect Couple is a fantastic book from Jackie Kabler that I struggled to put down! Highly recommended with five big fat stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jackie Kabler and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

i really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. It’s a domestic thriller, suspenseful and twisty,

I will definitely be looking out for other books by this author.

Brilliant, dark and twisty. I read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. What happened to Danny? Had Gemma anything to do with his disappearance? There are a lot of accusations and the questions keep coming. I guessed wrongly so many times and thought the ending was really good.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Gone Girl fans, grab a cup of coffee and settle in to read this twisty thriller in one sitting. A police procedural meets a psychological puzzle in The Perfect Couple.

You come home from a business trip and your husband Danny isn’t there. The dinner he promised to have waiting for you is not on the table. Finally, you call the police. The reaction is not what you expected, perhaps because the police are investigating the recent murders of two men who happen to look uncannily alike and like…Danny. So Gemma’s story begins. As the police are strangely unable to find anyone in Bristol who remembers seeing Danny, Gemma becomes the primary suspect. Since Danny and Gemma have only lived in Bristol for weeks, the story moves back to their previous apartment in London and the mystery surrounding Danny deepens. Gemma fights to prove her innocence as this thriller careens toward a heart stopping finish.

The publisher of The Perfect Couple asks “The perfect couple … or the perfect lie?” Both are true but one thing is sure. The Perfect Lie is one of the best thrillers you may ever read. 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and Jackie Kabler for this ARC>

This is the second book I have read by this author. From checking back on my review for the book ‘Am I Guilty?’ I remembered that the author wrote a great thriller with plenty of emotion tied in. This book was just the same! The storyline was interesting and based upon Gemma and her husband Danny. When Gemma returns home one day, she finds Danny missing, but all his belongings are still there. When the police become involved, they investigate Danny’s disappearance as possibly being part of a serial killer case where all the victims look the same. As the police look into Gemma and Danny’s relationship it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

The storyline was well thought out and original with the case of the serial killer and Gemma and Danny’s relationship being entwined together. There are lots of books where one half of a relationship is lying, but to incorporate it into a serial killer case was very clever and gripping! Obviously, the investigation began to look at whether Gemma had killed Danny, and the storyline took a more sinister and chilling turn when it becomes clear that perhaps Danny wasn’t who Gemma thought he was! The characters were well written, and as I continued through the book, I found myself switching opinions on them, particularly Gemma! I wasn’t sure who to believe or why was lying!

Beginning with a slow, steady build up, the story is packed with lies, mistrust and deceit, coupled with the mystery and suspense from the investigation. It has plenty of twists and turns, dead ends and red herrings. An unusual pairing of a psychological thriller and a crime storyline, but one which really works! You may guess the ending, but it was great fun getting there to find out if you’re right. Would definitely recommend!

Gripping, twisty turny domestic thriller that I enjoyed a lot. Perfect for losing yourself in it and trying to guess.

Good writing and highly entertaining.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Life has been perfect for Gemma and her husband Danny. The successful journalist and IT specialist have decided to flee busy London and settle in Bristol in a nice home where the quality of living is higher. When Gemma returns one Friday evening only three weeks after their move, she expects Danny to be at home waiting for her with dinner. However, their house is deserted, no sign that her partner has been at home after work. First, she is only slightly concerned, working overtime is not unusual in his job, but not getting hold of him makes her wonder. After changing his job, he hasn’t gotten a new mobile phone and thus, they only communicate via e-mail which he doesn’t answer. Gemma bravely waits two days, becoming increasingly frightened before she contacts the police for filing a missing persons’ report. What she learns then is that two men looking like Danny’s twins have been murdered in the area and soon she finds herself prime suspect in a serial killer case as strangely, there is not the least sign in her home of Danny ever having lived there with her. What is she actually hiding?

Jackie Kabler’s mystery novel starts quite typical for a thriller, you are immediately thrown into the plot and discover the vanishing of her husband together with Gemma. Thus, you get her growing concern first hand and can easily follow her thoughts. When the police’s side of the story is told, the author switches the point of view and leaves you quite quickly in the positing where you wonder if either you were fooled by Gemma who seemingly has set up some very good murder plot or if the woman suffers from some kind of serious mental troubles and even only imagined to have a husband whom strangely hardly anybody seems to have known. On the other hand, there is some creepy feeling that Danny might have taken advantage of Gemma for some scheme of his own, they haven’t been married that long and he proposed only weeks after they had gotten to know each other.

I totally adored the constant insecurity about whom to trust and what to believe; the more you learn about the characters and the further the events develop, you have to adapt your opinion and change sides more than once. Some unexpected twists and turns keep you hooked to the novel and make it hard to put it down. “The Perfect Couple” is a psychological thriller with an interestingly drawn protagonist and a surprising storyline which make a thrilling and gripping read.