They were living the American dream – the perfect family - Max, Susannah, and Freddy. While Max relished his entry into the academic world, Susannah enjoyed her role in making a comfortable home for the three of them. That was when the first note came “I Know Who You Are”. Both Susannah and Max have secrets they’d rather keep hidden, but someone’s about to call their bluff.
This was a totally thrilling, unputdownable book for me. I know it’s a cliché now to compare all new psychological thrillers to Gone Girl or The Woman on The Train, but this one really hits the spot. I recommend it!

Title: The Perfect Liar
Author: Thomas Christopher Greene
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Susannah’s first marriage was to an older man—her therapist—who spent a lot of time “helping” her work through her issues. Now, she’s married to handsome and charming Max, an artist and speaker whose new job at a university took them out of New York City to a small Vermont town where she hopes her 15-year-old son will thrive.

One morning, Susannah finds a note on the door. “I know who you are.” The note triggers her anxiety, and she worries her family is in danger, but Max thinks the note is just a prank. All the same, he starts looking at his coworkers and their neighbors with new eyes—do they know his secret? When a couple visit for dinner, Susannah finds Max’s behavior suspicious, and, a few days later, the man dies tragically while on a run with Max. Then, a second note appears. “Did you get away with it?”

Susannah knows Max is hiding dark secrets, but she has secrets of her own she wants to keep hidden. Who is leaving the notes? And just which secret is he or she talking about?

I was intrigued by the premise of the book, and the writing was solid, but I couldn’t stand the characters. Susannah had a history of mental health issues as well as abuse, and I felt sorry for her, but I didn’t like her at all. She let life happen to her—except near the end of the book—instead of making choices and moving forward. Max was just creepy to me. I really wish I’d liked the characters more. I finished the book, which speaks to the quality of the plot and the writing, but the characters just didn’t work for me.

Thomas Christopher Greene was born and raised in Massachusetts. The Perfect Liar is his newest novel.

(Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Domestic Thriller Done Right – Domestic thrillers have become so popular they’ve almost morphed into a genre of their own. With such competition it can be difficult to find ones that rise above and feel fresh. Alafair Burke did it last year with The Wife (my review) and now Thomas Christopher Greene has done it again with The Perfect Liar. He’s created a unique couple, with some serious quirks that manage to keep you on your toes from start to finish. Bravo!

Drawn to the Dark Side – Max and Susannah are a couple in love, but also a pair with pasts. Greene delivers those pasts in small doses, slowly revealing that neither spouse is quite who the other believes them to be. Yet, both Max and Susannah are drawn to their partners’ underlying edge.

“She saw the raw power of that time, as if his mask had been ripped off, and again it both frightened and oddly thrilled her.

Theirs is a co-dependent relationship, feeding off of the others’ drama and their lies.

“Sometimes they were symbiotic like this – two minds connected by an invisible thread. Maybe that’s why she was calm. She was calm because Max was. He knew what he was doing.”

Even as more becomes known, the two can’t quite let go of “the marriage.”

Spectacular Ending! – I’ll give nothing away, but this was one that really worked. I’d begun to suspect, but I didn’t see how it would finally play out. And, the last two lines of the book? PERFECTION!

What Didn’t
Really? Moments – As in almost all thrillers, The Perfect Liar had a few scenes that seemed quite improbable. However, I easily forgave these because without them, what would be the thrill?

{The Final Assessment}
The Perfect Liar was my very first 2019 read, making for a wonderful kickoff to my reading year. It was just twisty enough to keep me thoroughly engaged and on my toes. The characters were exactly what you want in a thriller, and their actions (while not always sane) worked beautifully. Definitely a fun domestic thriller to add to your TBR list!

Note: I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

My rating: 2.5 Stars

Max took on a new persona A new life. When Susannah, a young widow and single mother, meets Max, she thinks she has done well by marrying Max. He is an accomplished artist and terrific speaker, so Susannah is sure that she and her son will be happy. Life will be perfect.

However, she finds a note on her door saying: I know who you are. And another note, Did you get away with it. Susannah begins to seriously worry about Max. Then his new friend mysteriously dies while on a run with Max. Susannah really doubts that it was an accident. She strongly senses things are not right with him.

Meanwhile, Susannah has secrets of her own. There are things she talks about with her therapist that could easily unravel their marriage and even their entire life. Will either of their secrets be exposed? More importantly, will Max's identity ever be exposed?

Admittedly I was intrigued and did keep on reading. Dual points of view help readers really get into the minds of both Max and Susannah. As if this story isn't chilling enough, the ending just might throw you. Oh, I just have to mention Susannah's therapist Joseph. He really was something! I just cannot believe any therapist could go to the extremes that he did. Those that read this book just might remember "the white bear". I quit when it comes to my rating. Then I cannot believe Max could take on a new life and get away with it for years.

On a positive note I will will say that Thomas Christopher Greene is indeed the the bestselling author of The Headmaster's Wife, which I have not yet had the opportunity to read.

Many thanks to St. Martins Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.

How well do you know your spouse? I enjoyed this book. It had many twists and turns that I did not see coming. The main characters were unlikable many times but that added to my enjoyment as sometime you just want to root against them. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

The Perfect Liar... I’m really not 100% sure on how I feel about this book. I’d say it was ok... nothing too suspenseful or thrilling really but it was a good story. I was also surprised by the ending. However, I do feel like it was a bit bland even when revealing the surprises it felt very anti-climatic to me. The writing itself was fine. There were a couple editing mistakes but that is common occurrence and I can mostly overlook them.

With it being described as a “thrilling novel” with a “shocking climax that no one will expect...” well, I just expected more of that pulse-pounding feeling and I didn’t get that at all. I do love reading about the beautiful state I live in (Vermont) and authors close to me but this one missed the mark for me. Not horrible but I don’t really think I’d recommend it to people looking for suspense or thrills. I will say that I did finish it so if you’re looking for a book with a messed up family, you might enjoy this one.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

very suspenseful, great pace and writing style. i really enjoyed it :) want to read more from the author in the future!

Now this folks is a psychological thriller. The Perfect Liar is quite frankly the perfect title because I didn't know who was lying and what they were lying about. I had it figured out about four different times and then well, I was wrong. I was in the dark all the way until the end. Which is my kind of book!

Susannah and Max seemed to have it all. The perfect family, marriage, careers. Or was it all a facade? It is amazing how someone can create a persona for the public and yet they are entirely a different person in their private life. Secrets, murder and weird twisted stuff fill the pages of this page turner.

I flew through this in less than 24 hours, it was hard to put down. This was one wicked couple. You won't know who to trust, they each have their own kind of crazy going on. For a quick, twisted suspense filled read, I recommend you pick up a copy. Happy pub day to The Perfect Liar which is out today!

Many thanks to Thomas Christopher Greene, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my ARC!

I felt anxious through quite a few parts, but the good reading anxious not bad real life anxious. What was going to happen type of anxious.

Probably closer to a four.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Susannah comes home to a note on the front door that says “I know who you are”. She’s quite suspicious about this as her and her most recent husband Max have a past that maybe they really aren’t able to hide from. A second note comes at their door saying “Did you get away with it?” Now, it’s getting personal. Max has a darker past than Susannah and he doesn’t want her to know about it. He is suspicious of one of his coworkers…does he know what happened? Does he know his true identity? What lengths will he go to cover his tracks?

I must say, this book had me saying “what the heck?!” out loud quite a few times. While I was left in confusion, I really could not stop reading it. I just had to know what Max was going to do! I couldn’t walk away from it even with my frustrations on where the story was going. I’m still left thinking about it days afterwards. I have so many lingering questions! I’d love to chat with you, those who have read it or do plan to read it. My head is spinning on this one. I especially want to talk about that fox scene (you’ll see what I mean).

2.5/5 Stars

Susannah is married to Max W. They live with her son, Freddy, age 15, in a lovely home in Burlington, Vermont. They met not long ago in New York where Susannah, a widow, worked at an art gallery. Max began giving talks about art that made him an overnight sensation, and now he is in high demand to give talks everywhere.

Today, Max is away giving a talk, Freddy is at school, and Susannah has just returned from her daily run. On the front door of their house is a note saying: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Panic hits Susannah and she can’t wait for Max to get home.

Max has a secret past and now someone knows about it. When a second note is left, Max realizes he must be ready to protect himself and his family. How far will he go to do so?

I have mixed feelings about this book. While the plot itself is good, some of the things that happened and their outcome just simply aren’t feasible. How can Max W be known by just that name? Did no one ever check him out? Susannah is wearying in her "pathetic little helpless one" mode. I liked Freddie because he was a typical teenage boy and he made me smile. Finally, some sanity! And lastly, who confronts someone while they are standing on the edge of a gorge? Duh. All in all, it’s a very descriptive novel which was a plus. I know reviews are mixed and I will be interested to see what other readers think of this one.

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

Susannah and Max are considered the perfect couple. This is her second marriage (her first husband died) and brings son Freddy with her. They seem to have it all .. a beautiful home, a great job, plenty of money to live comfortably.

Susanna finds a hand-written note on her front door .... I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. She immediately calls her husband who dismisses it as a prank. A few days later they invite a couple to their house for dinner. Days later the man is killed in a tragic accident. The next note to show up .... DID YOU GET AWAY WITH IT.

And then the third note .... I SAW WHAT YOU DID.

Both Susannah and Max are keeping secrets from the world and from each other—secrets that could destroy their family and everything they have built.

So what did Max do? Why?

The story premise is exquisite .... highly suspenseful, full of secrets and lies, twists and turns. Step by step the reader learns what those secrets are..But it's the ending that grabbed my attention. It's riveting and so unexpected.

Many thanks to the author / St Martin's Press / Netgalley for the advanced digit copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

This book is a slow starter, but as you get more and more into it, it surprises you by hooking your attention with a grip hold! It’s desperate housewife’s meets dexter (a friend wrote this about another book, but this one fits it even more), but which is dexter, and is it a good dexter or a bad dexter! Shows spouses should either never lie or never ever tell the truth! Highly recommend!
Will use in a challenge, buzz up, and highly recommend in Chapter Chatter Pub!

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. This is the note Savannah finds on her suburban doorstep one morning. Just when she thought she had created the perfect life in suburban Vermont, her world becomes jostled by one simple note. Widow and single mother to her fifteen year old son, Savannah rebuilt her life with artist and public speaker, Max. But this new life isn't based entirely on truth, and both Max and Savannah are hiding secrets from one another. Now, when the note appears on their doorstep, fear develops within both of them. Then, when an accident occurs, truths begin to surface. Which one of them is hiding the biggest secret? Who has been found out?

Before I even begin my thoughts on the book, let's talk about my thoughts on the title. This is the perfect title because it is so layered, so much so that until you read the story, you just can't understand how perfect it actually is.

This one started out strong for me. In fact, it was an overnight read. I felt an immediate connection with Susannah, and an equally immediate dislike for Max, her husband. I couldn't help but feel a kinship with under appreciated wife and mother, Savannah, as she worked hard to create the perfect family life in Vermont suburbia.

ill admit that the middle of the novel slowed down a bit for me, but once that "bit twist" happened, I couldn't put it down. The plot is well developed. It leads the reader to have suspicions towards Savannah, but because she is so likable, it's hard to come to terms with the possibility that she's a liar. Just when the reader starts to wrap her head around it, new suspicions arise, and a new "liar" surfaces. And as for the ending- the only thing I could say was, "No. Way."

I know that at times you need to distance a novel from reality, but The Perfect Liar seems so far from reality that it was hard to imagine Susannah and Max as a normal couple. They had so many secrets from each other and when one of them would call the other one out, they just told more lies. It was hard to be on one of their sides because it was so over the top.

I did love all of the secrets though. And boy was there so many of them. It was hard to tell at times who was the perfect liar. I also didn’t see the ending coming at all! Talk about jaw dropping!

3 stars out of a potential 5. If you are a reader that can suspend belief then I think you will really enjoy this novel!

Secrets are the theme of this thriller. Susannah, and Max seem to have the perfect marriage but they are keeping secrets from each other. Max (Phil) has built a life on a con. He was appointed to a three year professorship at a college that takes them away from the busy New York life that they have. All seems perfect until notes start to appear on their door. But who is the object of those notes - Susannah or Max? Could their secrets destroy their family and everything thing they have built?

3.5 stars Listen. I don’t even know where to start. This book held my attention the entire time even if my face looked like this 🤨
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It was a solid 3 for me throughout the majority of the book and gained a half star towards the end. It’s crazy and while not everything came together for me, the most important parts were wrapped up. If you pick this one up, go in with an open mind for sure! While it’s not totally unpredictable, there were still a couple twists I didn’t guess!
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

What a roller coaster of a ride. This book was a thrilling psychological mystery. We all have secrets we keep, and some of us more than others. This book goes to show that you never truly know someone. I did feel that there were some things could have been explained better and divulged on more like Susannah's back story and even more details on Max. It was an easy read that kept me engaged, but there were so many parts that left me wanting more. Overall, I can give this book 3 stars.

Wow, I DID NOT expect this roller coaster of a psychological thriller! I loved the shocking turn of events and the characters were so crazy and wonderful. Susannah and Max were both deeply flawed and keeping so many secrets from themselves and each other and it made for such an interesting read. I was hooked from the first page, and was so engrossed in the book that I finished it in one sitting. I loved the unexpected ending!

5 out of 5 stars The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I was captivated by how Susannah and Max handled the notes being left on their door, I was never drawn in by these characters. I found myself not quite connecting with them. We, the reader, learn deep, dark secrets about Max and how life brought him to the point he's at today. Susannah hasn't lead a pristine life, but her soul isn't dark. I felt like some things I saw coming, while others came out of left field. I have mixed feelings about this book. This was an interesting read, but it was hard for me to get into it. While I would recommend this book, I wouldn't tell someone to put it at the top of their TBR list either. Maybe you will find yourself drawn into these characters and this read better than I was.