"On the surface we were the perfect couple, but no one knows what we’ve been hiding…"


Lesley Sanderson is a new to me author, however, after this mind-blowing little journey, I shall definitely be adding more of her previous eight psychological thrillers to my list - but preferably those without water involved - Read on and you'll see what I mean!

...

It is the wedding day of Alex and Felicity, two members of a wild sea swimming group. Some of the members are friends outside of their daily dip, but many only ever meet each other on the beach, occasionally going for a warming coffee together afterwards. Both Alex and Felicity are lecturers in English at the local University, although Alex is technically Felicity's superior and Head of Department. He has also been married before, to Beth, who was a teacher when they first met in London, but who, on relocating to the coast to support Alex's career, had become a homemaker, although maybe not through choice? Their marriage was not always a match made in heaven, but when a terrible accident takes Beth from Alex, he is understandably devastated. Beth had also been part of the swimming club, so she also knew Felicity, with the two of them having struck up an instant friendship.

It is no surprise to anyone when Felicity and Alex get together, some time after Beth's accident and their beach side wedding is much anticipated, although Alex's strange request that as many of the guests as possible should partake in a midnight sea swim after the reception, is not quite so eagerly received, especially as one or two of them know they will have had a few drinks. Alex is very much a creature of habit, so after he at first enters the water as expected, hand in hand with his new wife, alarm bells begin to ring when he suddenly leaves her side and swims out alone into much deeper water than is usual. Felicity's worst fears are confirmed when Alex fails to return to the beach, after everyone else has long since left the water and changed into some warming clothes, with the police and coastguard being called out as an emergency.

When a body is washed up the following day and is identified as being that of Alex, the police begin an investigation as to whether this has been simply a terrible accident, or whether foul play might be involved, so that they are prepared for whatever results the autopsy might reveal. Felicity is at first treated kindly as the grieving widow, however several seemingly unconnected twists of fate soon sees her firmly in the frame for murder, which she vehemently denies.

But is Felicity as innocent as she makes out, or is she a lot more clever and manipulative than the police give her credit for? Although for that matter, was Alex the attentive partner he had always portrayed himself as? In fact, who amongst the remaining swimming club members, might also have had an axe to grind, either against Alex himself, or indeed Felicity too?

...

This well constructed, dual timeline storyline, narrated from multiple viewpoints, was presented in short, punchy chapters, which were well labelled so that I always knew where I was and whose voice I was listening to.

The difficult discussions surrounding coercive, gaslighting behaviour, encompassing both physical and mental abuse and control mechanisms, were pivotal elements to this story and were navigated in detail by author Lesley Sanderson, in language which was both realistic to the situation, sympathetic to the victim, yet with some excellent empathetic narrative which did not over-sensationalise the issue.

I will admit that I had worked out what was going on here quite early on into the story - or at least I thought I had! Some of my deducements were sound, however, there were elements which seemed to be shifting and changing almost by the chapter, like so much quicksand which caught me unawares every time. Names were removed from my suspect list, only to be added back again five minutes later, with what I thought had to be the last twist being one I didn't see coming, and the absolutely final twist equally as unexpected and totally mind-blowing. I was almost pleased to turn the final page, just so that I wouldn't have to face any more surprises, although I did devour the book in a couple of sittings anyway.

The well drawn characters were neither to like or dislike in strong measure either way, as none of them were portrayed as particularly genuine or authentic. Although I did have some small measure of sympathy for Beth, I couldn't really relate to, or invest in, any of them. It was only the instant synergy between Beth and Felicity which was a constant throughout, although as it transpired, this didn't prevent them from being as duplicitous or manipulative as any of their counterparts.

I can see that author Lesley Sanderson tends to write stand alone psychological thrillers. However, I felt that the characters of DS Gavin Williams and PC Chloe Button, really worked for me, as their ideas about the handling of the case were very similar and the synergy between them was excellent. I would definitely like to see them work together on other cases, should Lesley ever decide to dip her toe into writing a police procedural series.

I think that in this book, location was every bit as important as the characters and storyline. Therefore, with any hints at an actual real location being very vague, for myself and I suspect, for many other confirmed 'armchair travellers' out there, reading this was a little frustrating. However, that being said, the narrative was very descriptive about place and time and with the mere passing mention of Pevensey, I was able to check that out and deduce that I was reading about somewhere on the coast in Sussex. Author Lesley Sanderson definitely managed to use the full palette of words at her disposal, to evoke in me (a confirmed non swimmer and aquaphobia sufferer), a genuine sense of fear and dread, as she vividly brought to life the perils of wild water and sea swimming, especially in the darkness of night, which for me far outweighed any health benefits the participants in this activity may have continuously advocated for.

I was left to ponder whether 'the end in anyway justified the means' in this particular storyline, but I most certainly enjoyed the journey!

This is a gem of a book. I read this in two sittings. A perfect thriller that grips you from the very first pages. Its well written and keeps you on edge. Looking forward for other books by this author.

A great psychological thriller and gripping read. full of twists and turns which kept me reading until the early hours. The characters are all totally believable and the reader is drawn in page by page to a thrilling ending that I did not see coming.
Highly recommended.

This was a complex book, told from many POV and over different time periods, it became quite confusing at times.
Widow Alex married colleague and friend of his dead fiancé 6 months after she drowned.
Arranging a midnight swim to honour her memory - Alex doesn’t return and his body is discovered the next day. Suspicions are on many people, especially when sleeping tablets are discovered during the post mortum.
I guessed quite early on what was occurring but it didn’t stop my enjoyment. It was a good read, but just a bit busy at times.

I like reading a good thriller that grips me from the beginning, and can keep me engaged until the end.
This book did just that I'm am happy to say I will be reading more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

WoW Her Perfect Revenge by Lesley Sanderson was absolutely addictive psychological thriller and I loved it. It was a brilliant book that had lots of twists and turns throughout that just kept you in your toes!
Every book I have read by Lesley has been a five star read and this one was no different! I love the way she writes once I started to read it I was hooked and didn't want the book to finish it was so addictive.

I highly recommend this book and will be reading more books from this author.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Bookouture for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book and pretty much read it in one go .Beth and Alex just married and on the evening they have arranged a midnight swim as part of the celebrations , when Alex doesn’t return from the swim Beth is under suspicion straight away , we find out that Alex’s first fiance also dies in a similar way and that Alex may not have been all he seemed .
Lots of suspects to keep you guessing , a really good read ! Would recommend

What a smartly executed thriller! Twisted, fast-paced and surprising story plot. Really full of surprises..!

It’s my first book that written by Lesley Sanderson. I enjoyed the writing style and the dual timeline. An easy read with great enjoyment there.

I hadn't read anything by Lesley Sanderson before this book, although I will in future. This is a perfect thriller. I found it easy to read and absorb and loved the twists.

Very suspenseful storyline, was told in past and present times as needed to give the backstory, kept me interested in finding out who was out for revenge and why.
Very good read, hard to put down.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

This is the perfect psychological thriller for fall, it definitely gives you all the feelings and reactions you expect from thrillers
I actually enjoyed pretty much all the characters and im already thinking about a reread
Thank you netgalley for the arc

Within six hours of marriage, Alex was gone, drowning in the water that was part of his every day life. However, as the police start investigating, it quickly seems like the grieving wife is not exactly who she seems. Or the husband?
Lots of twists and turns which kept me engaged the whole way through!
Highly recommended.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest review

Love the cover and tagline. The story itself statys off at a wedding where a midnight swim leads to a tragerdy. The story is told via various chatacyers and different timelines. You are gradually give twist after twist. The major twost ibdid gueese correct but the true culprit was ia necer saw.
Its a quick fast pce read once you get into the chatacters. I loved the way the story was told and the red herrings folliwed by lotsvofvtwists. Some of which i would have licked to gave known more as some were briefly mentioned. Also as woth a lot of pov its nearly always just women characters. I would like to have read a bit from Alex's pov just a chapter as it felt i was lean-to think of him by other characters opinions. I realise this may have been del3.
A really solid 4.5 star read. Thank uou netgallery and publisher and author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. I did not know who to believe in this book, which makes it a decent thriller. When a groom drowns in the water after the wedding, there are many suspects. Overall, four stars, I like her books and will continue to keep reading.

I enjoyed this book, although i struggled to get into the storyline once i did i was gripped, i was guessing along for most of the story and it was very enjoyable

Her Perfect Revenge by Lesley Anderson is a jaw-dropping, heart-pounding thriller that takes readers on a rollercoaster of suspense, secrets, and shocking twists. This gripping narrative revolves around a seemingly perfect couple, Alex and Felicity, who have been harboring hidden truths that come to light in the most unexpected and tragic way.

My Impressions

For days, I found myself glued to my Kindle, utterly engrossed in the enigmatic death of Alex. The story begins with the couple's beautiful beachfront wedding, which quickly takes a nightmarish turn when Alex drowns in the very waters that hold special significance for them. What appears to be a tragic accident soon morphs into a dark mystery when the police arrive, casting suspicion on Felicity as the main suspect.

Alex seemed to have it all – a beautiful fiancée, a successful career, hobbies, and a loving family. However, as the narrative unfolds, we discover that beneath the surface, both Alex and Felicity were concealing secrets of their own. The past holds the key to a series of peculiar events that have marked their lives, beginning with Felicity's disappearance during her morning swim, years prior to Alex's death.

Three years later, it's Alex who meets a tragic end under eerily similar circumstances during his wedding to Felicity's former friend. The question looms: Is it a strange twist of fate or a pattern that points to something more sinister?

The novel is a masterclass in weaving suspense and intrigue. As the layers of the story are peeled back, readers are left guessing at every turn. Is the perfect revenge Felicity's, or does it belong to her ex-fiancée, or perhaps someone else entirely? Lesley Anderson brilliantly keeps the suspense simmering, and the twists and turns in the plot are nothing short of astonishing.
Her Perfect Revenge is an enthralling psychological thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat, racing to uncover the truth behind the secrets of these seemingly idyllic lives. If you're a fan of authors like Lisa Jewell, Daniel Hurst, and Freida McFadden, you'll be captivated by the mesmerizing web of intrigue that Anderson has expertly woven in this tale.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a thriller with a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and twists that will keep you guessing until the very end, Her Perfect Revenge is a must-read. Lesley Anderson's storytelling prowess in this gripping narrative is sure to leave you astounded and craving more.

What a fantastic book. A fast-paced gripping psychological thriller with twists and turns all the way through. i could not put it down. Highly recommended.

I found this a very easy book to get in to and I was hooked from the start. I did guess one of the twists but that didnt spoil the story at all. Great story and one I would definitely recommend
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Her Perfect Revenge' by Lesley Sanderson
3 ⭐⭐⭐

Her Perfect Revenge' by Lesley Sanderson
is a slow burning psychological thriller. This is the first book I've read by this author and I must say I'm not so sure if I would read another book by her. I found it confusing at times jumping from present to past and so many different pov's . I never felt connected to any of the major characters either. Hopefully others will enjoy it much more than I did.
#netgalley

This is a wonderful psychological thriller which from that first chapter you will become addicted and not be able to put this down.. in fact I've read this whole book in a single sitting, it kept me up until the wee hours. A book that will stay with you forever.