I went back to finish this and honestly, this book was just not for me. It dragged out everything and I the same stuff kept getting repeated about the house. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

A gripping read!

Lydia and Jackson Hemsworth are pillars of the local community living in Armett House, a listed building. Their children have grown up and moved out, but both they and the townsfolk are shocked when the parents jump off Newport Bridge in a joint suicide pact. Flo, Ezra and Jessica have to face their father's funeral but they can't even do that for their mother as her body hasn't been recovered. So clearing Armett House ready for sale is the best thing to do - it keeps them busy and stops them overthinking why the locals are suddenly hostile. Armett House has dark secrets - will they be uncovered or laid to rest?

My nose was glued to the page throughout this one; crisply written and with plenty happening it was so easy to just keep reading as there was always something happening! With a few shocks and surprises along the way, it really was a psychological thriller worthy of the name. Thoroughly enjoyed, easily earning all five stars and my recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Thanks to NetGalle and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this book. It's very dark, very twisted and very shocking. All the ingredients are there for a 5 star thriller. It's a story of grief, sadness, fear and anxiety. It was hard to put down. It seems the perfect parents were anything but perfect!

Three siblings are brought back together by the death of their parents. They grew up in the small town where their parents lived and died and the rumor mill about the family is running strong. The twists just keep coming with this story. It’s told in multiple POV which I love because I get to see inside the characters heads more. It is fun read that keeps you guessing.

This gripping psychological thriller centres around the Hemsworth family, whose perfect lives are shattered when a tragedy strikes. The story's dramatic start drew me in immediately, and I was eager to see how the characters would deal with the aftermath. While the pacing was slower than I typically prefer, the use of multiple viewpoints kept me engaged and interested. As the story unfolded, I found myself increasingly invested in the characters' lives and the secrets they were keeping. The plot twists throughout the book were expertly executed, and I never knew what would happen next. Although I could guess the story's conclusion, this did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. The characters' well-developed actions felt believable, making the story grounded in reality.

Overall, this captivating read kept me on the edge of my seat. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with complex characters and surprising plot twists, I highly recommend trying this book.

The Perfect Parents by J.A. Baker

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Jackson and Lydia Hemsworth are pillars of the community, feted for having the perfect marriage and three wonderful children – Florence, Jessica and Ezra.

But appearances can be deceptive.

Because behind closed doors Jackson Hemsworth rules his family with cruelty and control. His marriage is a sham; his children for years have cowed in fear.

Until the day that Jackson and Lydia throw themselves off Newport Bridge in a joint suicide pact – the final cruel blow by Jackson to control his wife and torture his adult children.

As the Hemsworth siblings return to their family home, they must try to make sense of their parents’ last act. But there are many dark secrets waiting to be unearthed at Armett House.

Like, why are the townsfolk so suddenly hostile towards them? And who are the strangers who arrive at Armett House unannounced? And why has their mother’s body still not been found?

In the aftermath of their parents’ death, it becomes clear that something terrible is about to be exposed about the Hemsworths’ perfect parents.

A secret they may all wish had stayed hidden…

My Opinion

This book gets off to a thrilling start but it is definitely a slow burn. I loved the first 20% of the book and then I found myself having to read the rest of the book in small chunks. That being said, this was full of suspense and there are several storylines to keep the reader guessing.

This was a good read, it just wasn't something I could read in one sitting. Packed with twists there is something for everyone. Some secrets are better left hidden....

Rating 4/5

This was a brilliant read, a creepy, dark psychological thriller that’s I read in one sitting.

Flo, Jess and Ezra grew up in a stately home with their parents, but their lives were far from easy. The parents jump if a bridge and they are all back in Armett House to bury their parents and relive the trauma that happened there.

Great storyline that kept me guessing what was going to happen next. A well written book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

A slow burn psychological thriller about the Hemsworth family, a seemingly wealthy family, with a perfect family! The book opens with a prologue where a woman is lying on a floor injured and bleeding. On to the first chapter and a couple jump off a bridge in a suicide pact. Told from multiple POV’s but mainly those of the two Hemsworth daughters Florence ‘Flo’ and Jessica ‘Jess’.

Briefly, the three children are reunited at their parents funeral and soon find that a lot of people in the village seem to have turned against their family. Ezra, the only son is there with his fiancée and the two girls are on their own. They have avoided the family home as their father was abusive and controlling, particularly towards his wife, Jess and Ezra, but now the house has to be cleared and they need to sell things to pay debts - it appears the Hemsworths we’re not as wealthy as everybody thought.

There was so many twists and turns in this I felt like I was going to meet myself coming in the other direction. So many lies, so many secrets, and even though he wasn’t mention that much in the book, I despised the father. I kind of had an inkling about one of the big twists, but there were so many, I defy anyone to have worked this out! Very well written and quite a compulsive read. Very good read.

This was a steady, intriguing psychological thriller, which kept me hooked to the last page.
Told in multiple POV and 2 timelines which are clearly defined and set out and are easy to follow.
The characters are interesting, well developed and richly drawn in this intriguing novel.
The story opens with a married couple going through the suicide pact they have agreed on. The couple have lived in a large house on a private estate in a small village. The story then unfolds through the points of view of 2 of their grown up children Flo and Jessica.
Overall this was well written and totally immersive. At times totally intriguing.
The old creepy Armett House added to the menacing undercurrent running through the book.
It’s a slow burn, but a very entertaining read. The plot is twisty, suspenseful and tense.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

This book was a do not finish for me. I had a really hard time getting into it, and the British slang was a little hard to follow. I found the book devastatingly slow and lost interest very quickly.

My first book by J.A.Baker and I’m looking forward to reading more,The Perfect Parents is a true page turner full of twists and turns if you enjoy Psychological Thriller s and family drama grab this book #netgalley #boldwoodbooks

Siblings Flo, Ezra and Jessica attend a memorial for their parents Jackson and Lydia, who died during a suicide pact in which they jumped off a bridge into a fast flowing river. Only their father’s body has been found. The family are obviously in a state of shock and disbelief, and hope the memorial/burial gives them some closure. Sadly some of the locals, who have turned out in force, have other ideas, with the dark underside of Jackson and his dealings at the grand Armett House, being the subject of gossip and speculation.

Told from several POV, the reader soon discovers that Jackson was not an upstanding pillar of the community and Lydia was weak against his actions.

This book was so slow it never really moved up a gear. Tedious and repetitive - checking traps, upping security, missing body, sell the house, clear the house, the fence needs to be higher, the smell in the kitchen, presumption of death certificate, all said so many times.

The characters were pretty boring and lacklustre that I didn’t relate to or like.

The ending was very flat, I actually reread as I thought I’d missed something!

A new author for me,so have nothing to compare this work with. Not one for me, with apologies to the author.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

Flo, Ezra and Jessica return to their English family home after the shocking double suicide of their parents. The towns people are sharing salacious tales, some too horrible to imagine. As each day passes, the siblings are confronted with more unbelievable secrets creeping out of the closets of the large house. This is a roller coaster read that just keeps you turning the page to one more shock after another. Five stars.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the book #ThePerfectParents by #JABaker. I loved this book with all the mysterious happenings and all the gossip around town about their parents. What is double suicide covering up? At what cost will the truth come out?

This book does contain some trigger warnings. Suicide and violence.
I would consider this book a slow burn but in a very good way. The author builds on the characters and storyline,and tension throughout the book.
From the outside looking in the Hemsworth family seem to have it all, money and a great standing in the community, but everything is not as it seems.
As adults Flo, Jessica and Ezra have all left the family home only return when necessary, they can't forgive their father Jackson Hemsworth for his cruel and violent behaviour towards them as children but they all adore their mother Lydia.
When the siblings are told that both their parents have drown in a double suicide pack they are shocked to say the least but only their fathers body has been recovered so they are in limbo.
Having agreed to start clearing out the family home they discover some deadly secrets.
What have their parents been up to and what other shocks are in store for thr family?
The writing is superb and the storyline is intense.

The story opens with a murder however it is not until the end that the reader finds out who and why. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout highlighting the dysfunctional family who are at the centre of the tale and also how, having perceived wealth, does not mean happiness ensues. It is not your usual murder / mystery and there is plenty going on to keep you reading.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

This is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a women parents that are not who they pretended to be. They been hiding a big dangerous secret for a long time.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller you may want to read this book.

This was my first J.A. Baker novel, and it won’t be my last. Perfect Parents is a fast paced Psychological thriller. Baker has twist and turns and keeps the mystery going until the very end.
For those who love psychological thrillers and family drama you will appreciate adding this book to your reading list.


Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jackson and Lydia Hemsworth are pillars of the community, feted for having the perfect marriage and three wonderful children – Florence, Jessica and Ezra. But appearances can be deceptive.

This is a case of a despicable man controlling the lives of his wife and three children. To the outside world Jackson Hemsworth is a well respected man but at home he rules his house with an iron fist and his wife and children live in fear of him. After many turbulent years, Jackson makes a pact with his wife Lydia to commit suicide by jumping off the notorious Newport Bridge. As they get closer to the moment of truth, it seems that Lydia may not be on board with this decision quite as much as Jackson thinks. The author does a great job in setting the scene with descriptive text that takes the reader wholly into this terrible event that is about to occur. The chapters dedicated from the parents give us more insight into their thought processes and provide hints as to where all this darkness stems from. The question being is asked is why would they do this, why would Lydia feel that she needs to agree with her husband who is making this horrifying decision and what is Jackson hoping to achieve, apart from taking his life and the life of the woman who has put up with his abuse for many years?

After their deaths we find out more of the back story to their lives and what leads to this very dramatic outcome. The three children left behind begin the arduous task of clearing out the family home so that it can be sold, hoping to irradicate their lives away from these awful circumstances but there are surprises and shocks in store as this process moves forward, family secrets will be uncovered and these young adult lives will be changed forever.

This is definitely a slow burn, the story does not come at you at a fast pace but builds, the scene is set and the characters portrayed which will make you wish to keep reading to find out how this will all resolve, you will be looking for answers to questions that are going around in your head but are you on the right track as to where this is going? I have to say I really enjoyed this book from the first page and found myself quickly engrossed in the story. Some may say the characters do not have a lot of depth but I found that I became to know them quite well and I was invested in finding out how they would deal with revelations that have been thrown at them.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Perfect Parents was penned by an author whose books I have always enjoyed in the past, and I was looking forward to this one after reading the blurb.

The book captivated me with its family drama, and kept me eagerly turning the pages. The intrigue lies in the differing character perspectives with each new chapter telling the tale with a slightly differing tone.

This gripping tale weaves a twisty and exciting plot, uncovering a grimly dark backstory that adds depth to the narrative with each turn of the page.

Overall, a very enjoyable read that showcases JA Baker’s storytelling skills.