Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This was a nice read as a palette cleanser between more dense books - a crime thriller that I'm sure will please most readers of the genre.

The premise is pretty unique - Caz and her dog, Joe, manage to find the guy she's been dating dead whilst on a walk...twice. First it happens in London, then in Brighton. The mystery continues on from there, and you can't help but feel like Caz must have the worst luck in the world.

I'll be entirely honest in that this was a solid, middle of the road read for me. It didn't do anything fantastic, but it also wasn't a chore to read. I read it in less than a day, and the writing was good enough to keep my attention for long periods of time. The story itself was pretty intriguing, and Joe the dog was the best character...even if he did seem to be a little too human sometimes.

I also really liked Damian, and I was sad he wasn't included much. His character couldve been fleshed out a bit more and he deserved it.

Caz, frankly, was an idiot of gigantic proportions. I disliked her the whole way through and did some major eye rolling at her decisions and thought processes. Boggles the mind that it took her over half the book to finally suspect that maybe she was the connection between the murders...like, come on. Two men you met on the same app in different areas of England both get murdered after going on a date with you? Never mind rose coloured glasses, she'd had rose laser surgery.

On top of that, she had a really annoying attitude towards Marcy and Mark. There were at least times when she recognised it and told herself off, but the amount of times she'd think 'this should've belonged to me'. Girl, it's been like 9 years...go to therapy. And get some friends, please.

I'd love to say I didn't figure out who it was, but I figured it out relatively early on so it wasn't a huge surprise. Still, it was a relatively enjoyable read if I ignored some of Caz's idiotic decisions.

Giving this book 3 1/2 stars. Caz recently returned home to care for her ailing mother. She established herself as a popular professional dog walker. One morning while walking dog, her dog, Joe, comes across the body of a deceased man. It turns out to be Harry, a man she met on a dating app. This would be quite a disturbing thing to find the man you are dating dead, except this is the SECOND TIME this has happened to Caz! Once is a coincidence, but twice is a bit of a pattern.

Now, one would think that this was enough of a mystery for one novel, but wait! Her friend, who she is house sitting for, has gone missing! But again, Caz doesn’t seem non plussed or concerned, which was infuriating at time!

I did feel that there were too many side characters involved in the story. Additionally, the plot just DRAGGED for the first half of the book. I was hoping that with discovering a dead body in the first chapter meant that this was a fast paced book, but alas, I was wrong.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookoture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First I want to thank NetGalley & Bookouture for allowing me access to the ARC of The Perfect Date.

WOW!!! This psychological thriller kept me on my toes until the very end. It kept me guessing from throughout the book and was a very easy page turner. I couldn’t put this book down!

People being killed, people vanishing and weird things happening from start to finish have you wondering who did it. When I finally got to the end my jaw was on the floor. Of course you suspect it’s this person or that one when reading the book, but to find out exactly who it is and their motive behind it was just crazy.

The Perfect Date by Julia Crouch is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. The story revolves around Caz, a woman who has faced an unimaginable and horrifying situation - finding the lifeless body of a man she was dating, not once but twice. This nightmarish experience echoes a traumatic incident from her past when she discovered another man, she was involved with had met a similar fate.

The novel delves into Caz's complicated life, unraveling a web of secrets and complex relationships. Her past entanglements and her present connections create a suspenseful backdrop that keeps the reader guessing throughout the story.
Crouch's writing style is nothing short of excellent, as she skillfully crafts a narrative that is both compelling and chilling. The way she weaves together the events in Caz's life, interconnecting her past and present, is masterful. The reader is drawn into Caz's world, experiencing her fear, paranoia, and desperation as she confronts the gruesome discoveries.
One of the standout elements of The Perfect Date is the unpredictability of the plot. The novel keeps you guessing about the identity of the murderer and their motives, creating a sense of unease and tension that lingers throughout the book. The psychological aspects of the thriller are well-executed, and the character development is impressive.
Crouch expertly explores the theme of guilt and the weight of one's past actions. As Caz grapples with the idea that she might be connected to these horrific deaths, the novel delves into the complexity of her character and the moral dilemmas she faces.

Overall, The Perfect Date is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Julia Crouch's storytelling prowess and her ability to create a genuinely suspenseful atmosphere make this novel an enthralling and thrilling read. If you're looking for a book that will keep you glued to its pages, this is undoubtedly one to consider. It's a tale of intrigue, secrets, and the haunting question of whether the past can truly be escaped.

thoroughly enjoyed this little thriller I was lucky enough to read an ARC of through #NetGalley.

Had my mind constantly racing trying to figure out who the killer was! So many good twists in this book!

In a crowded market, Julia Crouch's work stands out for its plotting and genuine care for its characters. There's no such thing as a perfect date, but this is an excellent read

I thoroughly enjoyed this little thriller I was lucky enough to read an ARC of through #NetGalley.

Had my mind constantly racing trying to figure out who the killer was! So many good twists in this book!

Wow. I didn’t want to put this down, I found it captivating as I was eager to find out who the murderer was. Granted, I managed to figure out who it was about halfway through the book, but I still wasn’t 100% until the big reveal. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing.
While I found the main character, Caz, to be quite frustrating at times, and a little ignorant to other people’s struggles, a lot of the side characters - and the dogs - made up for her shortcomings.
All in all, a great read that kept me captivated.

I love this author and have thoroughly enjoyed all of her books. And this one was just absolutely wonderful. Brilliant from start to finish. Loved it.

Why this book is called the perfect date and why this is the tagline made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Like the first chapter mentions the main characters "perfect" man who she went on one or two dates with who ends up dead. I kept reading cause I was interested to know who killed her so called perfect man but it kinda got boring because the story dragged on with nothing new being added to it. The person who ends up being the killer had their back story was revealed at the end so there isn't really the opportunity for the reader to guess who it was and I like to guess so for me it really wasn't that fun. I think the book premise had potential but the execution let it down because the title and tagline have nothing to do with the story and I feel bamboozled.

I loved the concept of the book but I felt it was too much build up which made it difficult for me to want to carry on reading. The ending was quite predictable for me and often books in this genre leave me really shocked.
Would have preferred to learn more about some of the more likeable characters such as Damien.

A little predictable in places and I was waiting for the main character to catch on! An enjoyable read.

I was excited to read this book, the title and the description of the book made it seem like it was going to be interesting. I quickly found that it was a slow read. I really want to like this book but I just couldn’t get into it.

Thank you NetGalley, Julia and bookouture for the ARC!

Initially I thought this book was gonna be a wash but I GOT SO INTO IT. So many twists and turns and I couldn’t stop until I’d finished. The ending was slightly anticlimactic as I could tell where it was going but I still loved it

I loved this book! It was a nail bitter the entire read! I wanted to finish this at once and not wait! Thriller. Suspense. Exciting!

The Perfect Date is a mystery. The title seemed off after completing the book. It didn’t have anything to do with a “perfect date”. Odd. Anyway, the relationship between characters was not developed well. Why would Caz housesit for an ex friend who stole her boyfriend? Didn’t make sense. Or how Mark would come into the story and all the sudden be on great terms with Caz and they hook up, for Mark to leave the storyline.
The entire book was a mess for me. The fact that Caz told so many people about the crazy story of a finger/ dead bodies and not one went to the police is too far out there to me. The last couple of chapters were a bit suspenseful I will say on a positive note.

Personally this book was not my cup of tea! That doesn’t mean that it won’t be yours though so I definitely encourage you to read it ! The plot was just a little too slow to get in to for me.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Perfect Date' by Julia Crouch.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Julia Crouch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 6th October 2023.


This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The New Mother' and 'The Daughters' which I would also highly recommend!


This novel consists of 42 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


What an absolutely fantastically written book with vivid descriptions that make your heart raise and keeps you on the edge of your seat!!! The cover, synopsis and title suit the book perfectly!!

This book has a very realistic storyline and one which I was completely invested in. Once I picked it up I could not put it down so if you are about to read this then make sure you clear your schedules. If your not going to read it then a) why the heck not?!?! And b) definitely your loss!!! . It is absolutely filled with family, drama, crime, deception, love, tension, lies, suspense and a few shocks and twists thrown in!!! It was a complete minefield of twists and turns and I just had no idea who to believe. I was definitely not expecting the twists or the ending so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Julia. I have read thousands of thrillers so it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you managed to completely blow my mind! The fact that Julia has done her research shines through. There is not much worse than a book filled with errors that have could easily have been avoided through research. I loved the addition of Caz's dog Joe who had a personality of his own. I'm a massive animal lover and even run my own cat rescue (Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice) so any storylines with animals playing large parts are always a huge bonus for me and Joe was definitely a big part in this fab read! I absolutely loved the mind-blowing twist at the end which I would have never seen coming!!! As always Julia's fantastic evocative writing skills had me completely invested and absorbed from the very first to the very last word!!

This is one of the few books that I have listened to 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but this time I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Sarah Durham who did an amazing job bringing this story and the characters to life with both male and female characters. I have previously listened to Liz Lawler's 'The Nurse's Secret', 'The Doctors Wife', 'The Doctors Widow's and 'The Family On Smith Street' that were all also narrated by Sarah Durham and I would highly recommend listening to or reading them all as they are other fantastic page turners from other great authors!! I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Julia but also to listening to more books narrated by Sarah!

I was completely invested in the characters, especially the gorgeous Joe!!! My heart went out to Caz who had been betrayed by her childhood friend, her mum had been left disabled and now her dates keep turning up dead!!! What I love about her is that she still stays strong when everything around her is tumbling and is determined to find out what is going on. I adored her relationship with her mum Ruth and both had me smiling and laughing on several occasions which helped to lift the dark and twisty atmosphere. I won't say anything else as this is the type of book that leaves you questioning many of the characters and I don't want to risk giving anything away. Regardless of how you feel about any of them though they each played their part is this gripping storyline perfectly!! Julia's evocative writing skills and Sarah's fantastic narration brings each and every one of them to life!!! Congratulations both!!


Congratulations Julia on one heck of a page turning psychological read!!! I absolutely loved reading this book and have already added all your previous books to my wish list. I look forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie which I can guarantee will be a sell out!! This is why you are in my favourite authour club!!! Here's to your next success 🥂

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Julia's 'The Daughters' which is actually one I have already read and if you enjoyed this book then I can guarantee you will love that one too. I would highly recommend reading it!!!

Overall an absolutely page turning, intense, heart racing psychological thriller that will get you addicted!!!


332 pages/ 9 hours 24 minutes


This book is just 99p to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 on paperback and £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Perfect Date” by Julia Crouch. I devoured the book in just a few hours. Wow! Crouch has done it again, this book was absolutely fantastic!
Caz just moved home to live with her mother. She is a dog walker and discovers a dead body on her walk. But it’s not just any dead body, it’s her current flame. And the same happened a few months ago to her!
I couldn’t put this down because I had to see how this story played out.Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Happy Reading!

#ThePerfectDate #JuliaCrouch #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Mystery #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

Another absolutely stunning read from the very talented Julia Crouch!! Wholly deserved 5 stars!

Caz has moved back home to Brighton to look after her mother Ruth after Ruth has had an accident. Caz is more than happy to return home after experiencing a traumatic event in London where she used to work as a Secondary School Maths teacher. She has set up a very successful dog walking business in Brighton since returning and very much enjoys what she does now. When her old friend Marcy has to suddenly go away Marcy asks Caz if she will dog sit, and house sit for her and despite their friendship ending badly years back the pair have reconnected, and Caz agrees to help Marcy out. Once again, she experiences another traumatic event and decides that moving into Marcy’s house for a bit might help her heal from that with different surroundings. However, as soon as Caz moves into Marcey’s house strange things start happening, the neighbours seem weird, Marcey isn’t answering any of Caz’s texts about when she is coming back and then she starts to get letters threatening her loved ones. Caz doesn’t know who to trust and then when she discovers a huge secret that Ruth has been hiding from her, she realises that she is in extreme danger and so are her loved ones. People she knows start to go missing and Caz needs to put the pieces together but can she do it in time to save them and ultimately herself?!

Wow, wow and WOW!! Julia Crouch has done it again with an excellent hard to put down page turner!! I was hooked very early on in the book and the tension just built and built! I wasn’t sure what to make of Caz to start with and I did find myself screaming in my head about some of the life choices she was making, but ultimately, I did like her. I was definitely led down the wrong path over who the baddie was which was excellent as I love being surprised when reading a book and this one did just that.

Overall, another great offering from the talented Julia Crouch, twisty and satisfying. I would highly recommend this to any psychological thriller fans, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next. Completely deserved 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Julia Crouch and Bookouture my advanced reading copy. Out now.